2/12/22
10 GG El Camino [KYD]
$100.000 3yo 1 1/8m Dirt 121lbs +penalties
To the left coast and the TC Trail keeps on moving as we look at the field for the El Camino, where the sophomores get a chance to stretch out to a mile and an eighth and see what they really have in the tank. When it comes to TC races and the road to such, the answer usually lies with Mb Stables and I took Rent Free as my top and only pick today… more to come on that. He’s won four in a row but this is his first trip against stakes types. I think he has what it takes so he gets the nod. As for anything else here, I think there is a ton of talent but most have failed vs. black type foes, so it becomes a point of who can step up. The Green Card may have the right idea going with a lightly raced horse like Closing Color… it looks wide open so let’s get them in the gate and see how it plays out.
Here’s The Field –
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Closing Color |
Mwn Racing |
Arrieta F |
121 |
12/1 |
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Broke maiden at PEN in his first trip to the starting gate and he took down PA-bred MSW in that outing. He was close to the pace throughout and got past them in the late stages after being sent off at 16/1 odds. He could be any type and I believe the barn is very happy with what they have seen thus far. Give him a look.
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Grande Foire |
Big Guns Stables |
Smith M E |
121 |
6/1 |
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He’s been very consistent showing a pair of wins and a second from his first seven starts, including that second in his last out race vs Alw types at SA. He’s struggled vs. stakes horses, but seemed to like the added distance, so… maybe.
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Neds Influence |
The Sidley Stud |
Fuentes Ru |
121 |
10/1 |
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A pair of wins from only five starts and also shows a pair of runner-up finishes. The down side is the only bad race was the only stakes outing, a seventh at DED, so he will need his best with this group, but I think the horse has some real talent.
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Championship Rounds |
Mb Stables |
Franco M |
121 |
12/1 |
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The big barn plunked down a pretty penny for this one and sends him into the deep end of the pool, first start. Broke maiden at DMR in his second start and was ninth in the Smarty Jones, then transferred. This barn is always dangerous.
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Venezia |
D J C Racing Stables |
Sanchez M J |
116 |
10/1 |
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Only three starts for this one and she’s never been off of the board. Broke maiden over this surface last out taking down Cal-bred MSW opening a big lead and lasting to the wire. I know the f/m debate right now, but I’ll take some others today.
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Wiggling Road |
Jive Inc. |
Pennington F |
121 |
7/2 |
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Six starts for this one and really hasn’t run a bad race… even that fith was only a length back vs. some nice horses are the high end Alw level. He was second at DMR vs. graded horses and won at SA vs Cal-bred Alw horses… but is he a turf specialist now? I think he can run on any surface and has to be respected here.
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Good Guy |
Arindel |
Pereira T J |
121 |
8/1 |
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Another that has been 1-2-3 in all of his starts except… yeap, his only stakes start. He was ninth in the jerome at AQU but came back to beat Cal-bred Alw horses at SA so he can obviously run a bit. I guess we see.
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War All The Time |
John Henry |
Leparoux J R |
121 |
9/2 |
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Broke maiden two back then struggled a bit in stakes company as he was fourth in the LA Futurity (GII) closing ground late but tired to be tenth at FG last out. Can he bounce back from that race? I know that FG is one of those odd tracks that some horses just don’t like, so…
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Rent Free |
Mb Stables |
Carmouche K |
121 |
7/2 |
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hard to say anything bad about this one with four consecutive wins after a third place finish in his debut. This is his first try against stakes company, but the big barn knows horseflesh and you have to think this one has some real talent.
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EE Early Scratch
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Palace Guard |
Sccj Stables |
Prat F |
121 |
5/1 |
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If I told you we had another that has struggled in stakes company, would you be surprised? Tenth vs. Cal bred stakes horses and again in the Sham (GIII) last out at SA, but all of his other races have been sharp. That Alw win at CD certainly stands out, so can he finally put it together on the big stage?
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Early Scratch
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Family Ferro |
Mental Bloch Racing |
Bejarano R |
121 |
8/1 |
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Everything has been vs. Cal bred types but he has two thirds and a win, so he’s done ok. He broke maiden over this track, although he’s been on the turf in all starts, so there’s a few questions that have to be answered today.
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Slim Goodies |
Hunk Of Buring Love |
8Ayuso A |
121 |
7/1 |
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Three wins and a second from four starts, that’s sure hard to sneeze at… but he’s been racing against much softer, so it’s a matter of can he keep it going vs. tougher. It looks like he wants the extra distance and may come with some odds. He’s an interesting horse.
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Jorge Regula |
South Shore Stables |
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121 |
AE |
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Shesabeaut |
Rock Creek |
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121 |
AE |
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COZMAN 9 Willie’s Green Card 9 / 1 / 3
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, THE TRIPLE CROWN, Ungraded
