Sunday's Runners and Riders
Seven competitive races, including four contests with $20k+ in purses and
BABY GRAND found the company far more to his liking when eased marginally in class last time. He reappears here at the same level and should make his presence felt. There’s very little between Foot Soldier, Juvee Too and Lucky Luke, with all three chasing home Baby Grand last time. Flyunderthegraydar’s win on opening weekend brings him into the reckoning if he can replicate it.
Kay’s Kitchen is one of three runners from the all-conquering Edgar Mendoza barn and she drew right away from her rivals last time to break her maiden in some style. This is clearly a tougher test, but the Jersey Town filly has a touch of class and should give her two male barn rivals plenty to think about. Mendoza’a pair of geldings Valuable Cowboy and Value Max line up here on the back of comprehensive maiden wins and there appears to be little between them. Craig MacPherson saddles two: JUST JIMMY, who is morning line favourite based on a promising second-place finish at Emerald Downs and Silk Stilettoes, who returns here in short order after last weekend’s mission was aborted when her saddle slipped.
It surely can’t be long before KICK UP THE DUST wins this season to add to her five victories last year. A head second to Run Lola Run puts her close to the winner’s circle here, although she faces stiff opposition once again in the shape of Rea Mea and Floral. Rea Mea was a good fourth to Solarity in last month’s Emerald Downs Stakes. Floral, meanwhile, is another who has been consistently close to winning a good prize this season and was only a half-length behind Kick Up the Dust last month, with Definite Pleasure behind in fifth. An import from Golden Gate, Boundforjamaica can progress for her sole race so far this season.
A difficult contest to decipher, with several of these maidens perfectly capable of landing their debut wins. Easters Memory should progress from his introduction to racing last time, while morning line favourite Donegal Boy showed up for a long way before weakening behind Bettin’ Man and Northern Kid. Mt. Seymour is dropping in class but has shown little so far this season, while CAROLINA GENT has been working well, is dropping into the bottom claiming level and should come on following his return to action last month. Keepingthedream has also been knocking on the door and has hit the board five times in six previous starts.
PADDY D’ORO has hit the board in all three starts this season, the past twice at today’s distance. He should be thereabouts again today if he can replicate his neck defeat to Sanawar two runs ago. Calamazeus won with a little in hand last week, but he faces a different distance and, like Moussaka Chief, is making a quick return to action. Mustachio has not been the luckiest of horses this year in terms of traffic and pace, but should again be coming on strong at the business end, while Jack’s Reign makes his first attempt at a mile-and-sixteenth this season and has some form at the distance last year that brings him into contention.
A classy-looking maiden claiming contest, with a mix of experienced, lightly-raced and first-time runners. Double Saw is another runner from back east making his first Hastings start as part of the Fresh Horse program. The son of Goldenscents has solid Woodbine form and should go well. Whiskey Talk and Bakken Overdrive have plenty of experience and the latter is also technically a ‘winner’ after finishing first on his season debut before being disqualified. Both should break their maidens officially before too long. REMARKABLE ANGEL was third to the useful-looking Rimfire on her debut, while the unraced trio Royal Air Force, Dynamiter and Bakalley will be interesting to watch.
SLOOP JOHN B has had the winner’s circle surrounded in three runs this season and he must surely break his maiden before long. Wisely Played, He’s a Saint and Greytogo renew rivalry here after filling minor places last time behind All Liquord Up and it would be no surprise to see one of the three break through today. Eddie Who and Faulkner both ran well enough on their sole efforts to-date to suggest more is to come.
Latest Standings
OWNERS:
George Gilbert - 6
Tod Mountain Thoroughbreds - 5
Joe and Gloria Russo - 5
TRAINERS:
Edgar Mendoza - 16
Barbara Heads - 16
Mark Cloutier - 13
JOCKEYS:
Amadeo Perez - 25
Antonio Reyes – 24
Efrain Hernandez - 17
Mike & Drew’s Derby Bar & Grill Picks - Sunday, July 10
Longshot Classic Causeway lands the G1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational
One-time Kentucky Derby fancy CLASSIC CAUSEWAY made the switch to grass in some style in New York on Saturday when he led gate-to-wire in the $1 million Grade 1 Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational at 26-1.