17 horses and alot of questionmarks make this a potentially tough race to call, as with all 3yo races this early.
PP1 DUSTY QUE 4-2-0-2, topicount stables from the NWR, at 29-1. The overweight lockey may hold this youngster back in a big way. Unraced as a 3yo, hit 92 at 6f last out, which was a recovery from his previous race's 77. Lightly raced, may have more, will need more...can't bet here.
PP2 AIRO, Viking Racing, ibrox stables, 9-1. 8-2-1-0 in sprints. High speeds are 85 at 6F, 90 at 8F, 93 at 7F, 5 races at 6F. The Seeking the Gold offspring is telling me he likes 7F. This one's 6...
PP3 DADTHIRDUNBCJ, Minnesota's entry, graywolf4 at 15-1. 8-3-2-0 in sprints, running a 91 in the G1 Harvest Moon Sprints awhile back, but has gone downhill from there. Don't see him factoring here.
PP4 SAINT SHARON, Missouri, redturkey2 stables, 22-1. Only filly in this one, and hasn't raced against the boys in 4 races. High speed of 88, 5-3-1-0 in career. May have been better suited in the Filly race.
PP5 STAR DE PYE, EWC, lordpye 6,234 stables. Lightly raced 3-1-1-1 with two 80 speed sprints last two races. This won't get it done here
PP6 TAN FLINT(IRE), Ireland's rep at 31-1, saltwfarm4 stables. Record of 8-2-2-2, but took 8 races to hit high speed of 85 at 6.5F. Again, this won't win here.
PP7 GILLESPIE, railrider, 16-1 from Queensland. 3-2-1-0 lightly raced son of Gulch. 79-88-85 speed in 3 races. Tough to predict if he'll get better or if this is it. Good jock may coax more from this one and may factor at some point.
PP8 COUNTRY HOOPER, from ASR and ninerae, 10-1. 3-2-0 in sprints, 7-5-0-0 overall. High speed of 100 in week 1250, maybe had a tuneup in week 1278 when ran an 85 speed 8th place finish. If it wasn't a tuneup, look out, if it was we could have our winner here. Likes the lead and with that speed will wear out quite a few in this field.
PP9 KING CAT, 5-1, masterab from the Independents. 8-7-1-0 so far. The son of Cat Thief knows how to win, but wether he knows how to run faster may be what he need to know. 8 races, high speed a respectable 96, 94 last out. Likes the lead or just off it. Excellent jockey will probably keep him just off the pace, and hope the 100 speed frontrunners tire. A deserving favorite, but needs to kick it up a notch here or may fall sort. Top 3 for sure.
PP10 FAR SIDE, 10-1 from Germany and mabuse. 8-3-3-0. Hit 8 race high speed 0f 91 last out in a 2nd place finish. Another frontrunner, but without the speed of a few here. May run into the *Dark Side* if he can't muster more speed in this one.
PP11 NORTHWARD, 8-1 from New South Wales and pirie. Woodman child is 8-2-2-1 in sprints, htting high speed of 100 last time out as a 3yo...likes to stalk. Should be running along side KING CAT watching COUNTRY HOOPER try to run away with it...
PP12 THUNDER KING, 25-1 from SERA and trooper7. 6-2-2-1 in sprints. High speed only 84 at 5.5f which will not factor in this one. WIth a pedigree of Thunder Gulch X Kingmambo X Halo, you'd like to see more, especially a run on turf which he has not.
PP13 ASHBURY, 7-1, from Vermont and socalman. 7-1 odds, only run in sprints twice and won both. Hit 100 at 8F as a 2yo, but has only hit a respectable 91 at 6F. Needs to get more early speed out of his Storm Cat X 49er X Northern Dancer pedigree to win here. Definite darkhorse who likes to be near the lead if not on it.
PP14 THE DOMINATOR, 11-1, Nebraska and davarto3 stables. What has Davarto pulled from his anals in this one? Storm Cat X AP Indy X Northfield newbie with a 2-2-0-0 record. 79-92 speed races....big questionmark...definite darkhorse who if isn't rattled, may be a big factor. Unfortunately his jockey will not help at all...
PP15 RAIDER GREED, DelPenn, comeonmom at 18-1. Hasn't run to his royal pedigree of Sadler's Wells X Seattle Slew X Secretariat, only 9-3-0-5 so far. Seems to be unsure of what distance he likes. Has run 91 at 6F in week 1222, 81 at 8F twice. May need to grow up a bit more. Won't be today.
PP16 GULLIVER(IRE), Terrapin club and dinamoehum is at 11-1. 7-5-2-0 in sprints, 9 races overall. The Giant's Causeway X Danzig boy hit 90 at 6.5F 3 races back, 89 in 2 routes. Will have to pull and Emeril Lagasse here and "kick it up a notch" to be there.
PP17 MAEVE"S AFLEET Nexis and donraw101, 12-1. 11-5-3-0 in sprints. Only hit 90+ twice, with a high of 92 at 6.5F. Ran last week...maybe a tuneup but 9F on turf? We'll see if it helps.
Very tough race to call, as horses this lightly raced can do anything. As I've laid out, I see COUNTRY HOOPER and NORTHWARD going for the lead, with KING CAT, ASBURY, and THE DOMINATOR close behind. Since I have to put my money where my mouth is, I'm going with NORTHWARD to win for $50 and place for $100, hoping for his continued development....but any of the 5 above can win, and maybe one of the others will grow up and take this one. Just like we play the Super Bowl....that's why we run the races!!
doctahg
