Now an 8yo, he makes his come back to the races after a bit of a rest – his last start of ’15 was a third place finish over this strip in the Dayton (GIII) where he closed fast after trailing through the early stages of that one.  He won three of nine last year so you know he can run a little and it’s just a matter of if he’s ready off of the layoff.  He is the defending champion (DH) so he likes the distance.

He’s been in for a tag most of his life and they jump into the deep end of the pool with him today off of that win at FG v $20.000 claimers.  This is obviously an acid test, but sometimes they don’t know the difference and just keep on running… is he one of them?

Bit of a slow start in ’16 for this one.  He was fourth then third, both over this strip and both v. OptAlw types.  He won four of seven starts last season and if he want to repeat that, he’d best start finding his way to the winner’s circle.  This is a tough spot for that.

Tagged for $20.000 at FG in his most recent start, and this one shows a long line of turf sprint efforts.  He’s shown an off-the-pace style which may point to him wanting the extra ground that he sees here today, but this is a class hike and I don’t know that he’s up for this.

Back to back wins at the Alw level and they point him towards black-type after those wins.  He’s been working over the DMR strip so it looks like they were pointing at this race.  He may be an up and coming type so maybe use him in the trifecta.

Co-winner of this race last season and it’s been a bit of a rough road in the last couple starts after the win here and in the Jaipur (GIII) back last spring.  He tired badly in the Play King (GII) north of the border and then was ninth on BC Day.  He’s been rested since so we see what’s left in the tank today.

Both of his seasonal starts have come at today’s distance on the downhill course and he has a win and a third to show from those.  He loves to get to the front and that’s going to be a big tougher today with a bunch of these coming from 5f sprits.  Still, he is rapid and can get on with it.

Comes back on short rest after winning at 7 1/2f at PRX in his most recent.  Now he ships cross-country, comes back quick and faces horses that’s sure to give him a tussle.  That seems like a lot to ask.  He certainly has ability but I just see too many things that make me shake my head.

Got back to the winning ways taking an Alw race here on the downhill course in his most recent effort.  He shows some nice starts v. stakes horses and that race at KEE seems key to me.  If he could repeat that effort, he may just get his picture taken.

Well the come back race didn’t go exactly as planned, but the fact that he ran head and head for six furlongs is rather impressive to me.  He’s lightly raced so I don’t think that was a shut down type of a move, but more that he just needed a race.

            Willie’s Green Card    1  /  9  /  5

Categories: Grade III