The 19th Running of the G1 CD

Saturday, May 7, 2022

CD Race #9 18:30 $750.000 

4+ 122 Lbs 7 Furlongs

Track Record-1:20.69 (Point Break-2005)

Stakes Record-1:21.02 (Bold Gold-2012)

Older sprinters go 7-furlongs with $750.000 on the line in the 19th running of the G1 CD on Saturday.  Thirteen runners passed their names through the entry box and all of them will carry 122-pounds.  Angelos Stable (2010, 2011) and Mb Stables (2016, 2020) are the only HRP conditioners with more than one victory in this race and J.R. Velazquez (2007, 2016, 2018) is the only jockey to have three victories.

Some of the best sprinters in the game have signed-on for this and you can expect nothing short of chaos when they spring the gates as the vast majority of these look like they will want to be close early.  There doesn’t appear to be anyone that could be considered a current “standout” based on recent form, but this is a classy group of individuals so let’s meet the field for the G1 CD:

#1 Machine Gun Tommy (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco): 6yo gets his first crack at G1 foes in over two years and draws the rail for this assignment.  Strictly sprinting in his last six starts, he has three wins and a place effort since October.  Has some versatility in his game so he could be close to the pace or a few lengths back.  He’s in fine form, and, although he’ll throw an occasional clunker, should have every chance at the top of the lane.

#2 Street Edge (Spankys Barn/D. Van Dyke): He was picked-up in the December auction for $7.780 and has done nothing but win since.  A perfect 3-3 in his 5yo campaign, he comes here toting back-to-back G3 tallies.  Hasn’t been headed in 2022 at any point of call, he should relish this inside draw and may prove very hard to catch.  Reunited with the January pilot and couldn’t possibly be doing any better than he is.  Dangerous on the front end.

#3 Aerialist (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez): 5yo has been very useful while routing on both surfaces but one peek at the recent work tab tells you all you need to know.  Big barn doesn’t make too many mistakes placing their horses and this one is drawn extremely well.  Hard to predict where he will be in the early stages, but have every confidence that he will be right in the mix when the money is on the line.

#4 Sweet Sweet Sweet (Night Rider Stables/L. Saez): 6yo is the defending BC Sprint champion is rounding back into form with back-to-back near misses versus graded company.  The ’22 efforts have been a bit of a tactical change as he has been on the gas early compared to last season.  Drawn well to continue with that style, if he so chooses, but he can win from anywhere when he’s right.  Have to think he’s primed for a big effort here and the barn is off to a hot start at the current meet.  Contender.

#5 Shifu Tan (John Henry/M. Franco): Purchased for $440.000 in February, 4yo has two near misses at the G3 level since changing hands.  Appears to sit a rail-skimming trip from mid-pack and should have plenty of pace to rally into.  Multiple G2 winner looks to be sitting on a big effort and it would be no surprise to see him rumbling down the lane and passing horses late.  Trainer knows how to get one ready to peak and believe we see his best performance on Saturday.

#6 Caught Up In You (TwinTowersRacing/D. Davis): 5yo proved his backers had it right when winning as the favorite in his stakes debut last month.  That race was a continuation of some fine form and should be far enough in his rearview that he is ready to do it again.  He’s never faced the caliber of these, but you have to strike while the iron is hot.  Looks like he wants to be just off of the front-runners, so how he gets that trip will be interesting.  He’s headed in the right direction but a minor placing seems most likely.

#7 Gran Z (Maxmillion Farm/Ru. Gonzalez): 6yo has had quite the career with multiple graded wins routing on the main track.  Tries graded-level sprinters for the first time in here, but he did win a listed stake at this trip further down on his page.  He did everything except get his nose down at the right time last out in the G3 at OP and is another that appears to be in fine form.  He’s a horse that can beat you in multiple ways so this draw shouldn’t force his hand in terms of tactics.  Pace may be a little quicker than he’s used to, but he’s an old pro and all racehorse.  Respect.

#8 Etf Funds (Angelos Stable/M.J. Sanchez): Dual G3 winner can be forgiven for the poor effort at AQU in his latest.  He caught a muddy track that he didn’t care much for, but he has worked back strongly in preparation for this.  Been a consistent earner over the past year and a minor placing, and maybe more, is definitely within his scope.

#9 Freddo Cappuccino (Mo Mentum Farm/A. Cedillo): Last year’s Queens Plate winner should be tighter for this one following last month’s G1 try at AQU.  That one was in the slop and his first race in over two months so expect a better effort here.  This will be his third consecutive try at the G1 level and he needs to find some consistency.  When he’s right, he has been brilliant; however, those efforts are hard to predict, and we can’t fully endorse until we see it on a more consistent basis.

#10 Its A Laugher (Maxmillion Farm/S.X. Bridgmohan): 6yo has been extremely close at the graded level, but thus far he has yet to claim one of these.  He’s two noses short of coming here with back-to-back G3 scores, so we know he’s still running strongly at an advanced age.  He rarely runs a bad race and expect he will be in the thick of things when the money’s on the line.  Contender at a bit of a price.

#11 Charleys Latte (Fractious/E. Jaramillo): 5yo was sent from the gate in first effort for the new barn after being purchased privately for $550.000 but he still hung around to finish 5th.  Former BC Classic winner hasn’t sprinted in many moons and he’s wheeling back fairly quickly for this assignment.  He’s drawn wide again so he will be one to watch when they spring the gates.  This feels like a last shot before making a decision on his future, but, if he shows up and feels like running…maybe.

#12 Ukrainian Victory (Gdp Inc/P. Lopez): 6yo started his season with back-to-back wins, with the latter coming in a G2, but he was sixth in his last start at KEE in a G3.  That result is a tad misleading as he was only defeated a length for all of the money, and he got a big SRF number for the effort.  Parked wide for this assignment, it is good that he has shown he can win while getting vastly different trips.  He’s running fast times, and working lights-out, so it would be a big surprise if he wasn’t right there as they approach the wire.

#13 Crimson Sun (Royalty Stables/J. Talamo): Recent G3 winner gets parked in Indiana for this assignment and the conditioner is not the best from these wide draws.  He does retain the services of the jockey who has ridden him in both of his wins for the barn.  He’ll need to improve a bit off of the latest effort, but, if he can do so, he could be right there.  Still, that’s a big if.

Final Analysis: 4-5-3-7 in a G1 CD that could honestly be won by just about any of these.  Good luck to all of the runners and their connections.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES