12/17/22
1 RP RP Springboard Mile [KYD]
$400.000 2YO 1m Dirt 120lbs
OK City it is, as we look at the field for the RP Springboard Mile and some of the youngsters that will be hoping to make it to the TC Trail this spring. I’m going with Loko Moko as the top choice, as he just seems to have the class edge in this group. That was a sold fourth in the BC Juv (GI) and although he doesn’t have a graded win, he looks ready to change that. A horse that does have a big graded win is State Of Fury, and I think the Pharoah (GI) winner can bounce back from that tenth in the BC Juv (GI). I think traffic got the best of him that day, and I hope he can find a better trip today. It’s a wide open group and I won’t be surprised by any finish.
Here’s The Field –
Broke maiden at MTH, then was up the track in his first try vs graded types in the Iroquois (GIII) but bounced back nicely to win the Street Sense (GIII), so he’s a horse that certainly deserves a hard look as we handicap this one.
Two wins in a row getting his maiden win at KEE vs. high end claiming firsters, then took the Golden Nugget at GG, both in wire-to-wire fashion. Obviously, he has the speed, now how far does it take him?
Won his first start after the vet stopped by the barn to give him some focus. That was on the wet sod in Philly, but he has shown some quick am gallops on the main track as well. Some question marks, but he could be any type.
He’s never missed a check in seven starts including a pair of FLA-bred stakes scores don in SoFla. He just missed vs high-end Alw types at KEE last out and is another that deserves a serious look today.
Had been right in the thick of things breaking maiden at LS, then running third in both the KD Juv and Pilgrim (GII) before a poor outing in the BC Juv Turf (GI). He moves to the main track to see what he’s made of and is another that does not lack early speed.
Got the job done at FL, then followed that up with a third vs. NY-bred stakes horses before a fifth-place finish on the CD turf vs. top-end Alw horses. He comes back to the main track, which seems to be his preference to me, so give him a punchers chance.
This will be his fifth start, so it’s a spot where I like to see a big improvement and this one could be tough today. He broke maiden at DMR then won the Pharoah (GI) at CD before a then place finish in the BC Juv (GI). I like him in this group.
Another lightly raced cold, this being his fourth lifetime trip to the gate, and he’s been a weed eater to this point, all starts being on the lawn. He broke maiden on the SA downhill, and stopped badly vs. Alw types at CD, so the move to the main track is interesting.
Broke maiden at GP vs FLA-bred types then went to KEE to thump high end Alw horses, so he’s coming into this with a lot of momentum. The gelding seems to have made him a tough cookie and I’d look for another big effort today.
Three wins from seven starts, so he knows how… but, he’s had mixed results vs. graded foes. He just missed in the Best Pal (GIII) only to be ninth in the DMR Futurity (GI) then bounced back to be second in the Breeders Futurity (GI) and was fourth in the BC Juv (GI) after doing the heavy lifting in that one. Another that has a big early foot.
He’s won some big races, breaking maiden at WO, then winning the Sanford (GIII), then a sold fourth in the Hopeful (GI) before winning the Champaign (GI). The barn would like to forget BC Day, as he was last of fourteen in the BC Juv (GI), but can he bounce back from that one?
Only his fourth start, and he’s on a streak breaking maiden on the grass at AQU, then taking the GS Juv on the main track at SA. The big barn knows a good horse, so they have to feel good about his chances here.
Won his first race after the vet made the unkindest of cuts, the followed that with a closing fourth in the Notebook facing NY-bred stakes types. He looks like he wants the longer distances and could be a horse to watch.
COZMAN 10 / 7 Willie’s Green Card 9 / 4
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, THE TRIPLE CROWN, Ungraded
