April 28, 2016
The Lyman Sprint Handicap gets renewed at PRX after a three-year hiatus on Saturday afternoon and there are a few logical contenders who could step up and added the lion’s share of the increased $100.000 purse to their bankroll. Back in the day, it was won by some nice horses including multiple stakes winners Norman Bates and Sprint, as well as duel Grade I winner Cherry Cake Sailor, and while there are no true superstars in this field, they are led by a three-time Graded Stakes winner who could push his earnings past $1,000.000 with a victory from the outside.
1-Fishie Lion (Seven-year-old bay horse / Owner-Chili King Stables)
With only a single win in his last ten starts and only fourth against $18.000 claimers last time out, Fishie Lion not only jumps up the class ladder for the Lyman but cuts back in distance for the first time since October 2014 and while that was a win in the mud, this is a much tougher field for the seven-year-old to face. He was good in the middle of last season but has been unable to come through from off the pace recently and now faces tougher foes from the rail, which might see him boxed in when it is time to make his run.
Analysis-Rail runner needs to find a way through going short
Fair Odds-12/1
2-Major Momentum (Six-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Night Rider Stables)
Major Momentum could only close to be a mild fifth in the SSM Sprint against similar but has been dynamite in straight state-bred company and will be a key contender off a victory going 5.5-furlongs over this same course last time out. Speed ratings are solid and he knows how to sprint so look for plenty of speed from his inside post with the opportunity to get out there and swing for the fences early, despite the fact that this seven-furlong event might be just a little too far for him.
Analysis-Knows how to sprint and knows how to win
Fair Odds-5/1
3-Menagerie (Three-year-old chestnut colt / Owner-Pocket Aces Racing)
Menagerie was briefly put into TC action but failed to do enough at longer distances to warrant anything more and with his focus back on sprinting, he looks to upset his older rivals after just missing a wire-to-wire win at GP. His final times have been good but his speed ratings are lower than others and that might be a fact of his age versus his talent, with both trying to catch up to others who are simply more seasoned.
Analysis-Faces a tough older crowd without the experience he needs
Fair Odds-10/1
4-Mameluke (Four-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Mm Racing)
Sire Luke Duke has two entrants in this field and Mameluke is the first, with a solid record going long but none of that experience going a sprint distance and now, facing a situation where his closing kick will have to come early. His consistency is something important and he has posted some very fast workouts going six- and seven-furlongs but this distance might not be ideal and his late run might come too late, to the advantage of others.
Analysis-Will be charging home but might run out of ground
Fair Odds-6/1
5-Sun King (Four-year-old bay colt / Owner-Wolf Ridge Stables)
With excellent breeding and solid sprint experience, Sun King makes his second start off the layoff in the Lyman and should appreciate that extra furlong after falling just short at TAM in his seasonal debut. That 93-speed rating is right on par with some of the better figures in the field and he has prepped with some good workouts over the track; all in all, a nice way to come into the event with a middle post that should set him up nicely outside of the speed.
Analysis-Lots to like with improvement expected
Fair Odds-4/1
6-Lukas Duke (Four-year-old bay colt / Owner-Jkk Racing Stables)
Lukas Duke had an excellent three-year-old campaign with a pair of Grade III wins, a third place finish in the KYD and more than $630.000 in earnings but he makes his four-year-old debut against some good sprinters and will need to fire fresh to win as the class of the field. He blew them away in state-bred company two back but found the season ending Malibu much too tough, with this field more to his liking with hopes of moving back to longer races down the line.
Analysis-Classy colt debuts in a soft spot
Fair Odds-3/1
7-Union Chapel (Six-year-old bay gelding / Owner-Cajun Stables)
A top finishers in every non-stakes start since being gelded in early 2014, Union Chapel is the model of consistency with more than $300.000 in earnings and finally gets a chance to face tougher company with an outside post that should allow him to clear to the lead. He ran his inside rival to within a half-length back in October and is less than a length from being undefeated since then and if he does lose, it will not for lack of trying and more so from that crucial final 1/16th.
Analysis-Outside runners possesses speed and stamina
Fair Odds-5/2
Overall
The Lyman Sprint Handicap is not really a handicap since each entrant carries the exact same weight and with that taken out of the mix, Union Chapel looks like a solid choice to sprint clear, set the pace and wire the field come Saturday. He knows how to handle the class and should put Lukas Duke into second early, making that colt earn his victory with a big rally, while Sun King will be charging late and could show vast improvement in his second start of 2016.
Prediction
Win-Union Chapel (5/2)
Place-Lukas Duke (3/2)
Show-Sun King (4/1)
Triple T Racing 🙂
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
