Before we begin, I want to address a few rumors about my blog. I have been asked by a few people about the jokes in my blog and whether I am drunk when I am writing these. The answer is an unequivocal NO:
It's actually Cabin Fever that causes such delusional writing. As the wife is upstairs binge watching The Good Wife, The Bachelorette, or some English crap with some guy named Mr. Darcy in it, I am downstairs in the Man Cave with this thing:
Older Males
(1) (Last Ranking #4) Stryker Phd – Took down the Budweiser Handicap in impressive fashion and got a 97 Beyer. Pretty good for the first start of the year. Finished second in last year’s Longacres Mile. My prior issue with this horse was that he only had two career wins. Now that he came off the bench with a win I am less concerned about his abilities to hit the line first. Washington's best chance in the Longacres Mile. I recently wrote an article about the broodmare Striking Scholar which you can read here:
http://www.militaryhawk.blogspot.com/2014/06/broodmare-of-week-striking-scholar.html
Here is a picture of Stryker Phd who was a $40,000 WTBOA Purchase:
(Terra Lee)
(1) (Last Ranking #4) Stryker Phd – Took down the Budweiser Handicap in impressive fashion and got a 97 Beyer. Pretty good for the first start of the year. Finished second in last year’s Longacres Mile. My prior issue with this horse was that he only had two career wins. Now that he came off the bench with a win I am less concerned about his abilities to hit the line first. Washington's best chance in the Longacres Mile. I recently wrote an article about the broodmare Striking Scholar which you can read here:
http://www.militaryhawk.blogspot.com/2014/06/broodmare-of-week-striking-scholar.html
Here is a picture of Stryker Phd who was a $40,000 WTBOA Purchase:
(Terra Lee)
(2) (Previously Ranked #1) Mr. Bowling – Finally lived up to my expectations with a nice 2nd in the Budweiser Handicap. Ran 4th in the Governor's Handicap. This horse is a Grade III winner of almost $275,000.
(3) (Last Ranking #3) Jebrica – He finished 4th in the Budweiser although I expected better from him as the distances stretched out. He ran second in the Governor's Handicap before the Budweiser. $15,000 WTBOA Purchase. Here is a picture by Terra Lee of Jebrica:
(4) (Previously Ranked #2) Why Not Be Perfect - Going to forgive him a little for the Budweiser performance. His action made me believe he hated the track condition. Also, there is a chance that he bounced a little off of such a good performance in the Governor's Handicap being that it was the first start of his career.
(5) (Unranked) Hudson Landing – Looks like he will be up here for a while getting ready for the Mile. Hudson had some traffic issues in the Budweiser and I am not sure he enjoyed the track. This is a solid warrior who deserves another chance.
(5) (Unranked) Hudson Landing – Looks like he will be up here for a while getting ready for the Mile. Hudson had some traffic issues in the Budweiser and I am not sure he enjoyed the track. This is a solid warrior who deserves another chance.
Others: Finallygotabentley (Went to California), Canadian Horses (Assumed they were just coming here for the Budweiser and we may not see them again until the Mile) Absolutely Cool (Last workout was May 12th so….), Scat Daddybaby (finally back on the work tab with two works this month ), and still my Dark Horse Pick for this division is Perfect Night (full to Wasserman who just finished second in an Allowance Optional Claiming race against Polish Dollar), Disruption (Nice win after a long long break)
Older Females
(1) (Last Ranking #1) Stopshoppingdebbie – The Queen. Enough said. For more about her family, see my previous post regarding Taste the Passion:
http://www.militaryhawk.blogspot.com/2014/05/broodmare-of-week-taste-passion.html
http://www.militaryhawk.blogspot.com/2014/05/broodmare-of-week-taste-passion.html
(2) (Last Ranking #2) Blueberry Smoothie – Love this horse. She gets the #2 ranking over Goin to the Window because she was taken a little out of her element last race. She went to the lead rather than coming off the pace like she usually does. Still think she is a sliver better than Goin to the Window. Earlier in the meet, she got up for a nice third in the Hastings Handicap beating out Goin to the Window. I also discussed her pedigree in the blog link above because she is related to Stopshoppingdebbie.
(3) (Last Ranking #4) Goin to the Window – Ran an excellent second to the Queen of Emerald last race, but I got the impression Window was never going to pass her. If it wasn't for her stablemate she would have 3 more Stakes wins. She finished 4th in the Hastings prior to the Legislator's Handicap.
(3) (Last Ranking #4) Goin to the Window – Ran an excellent second to the Queen of Emerald last race, but I got the impression Window was never going to pass her. If it wasn't for her stablemate she would have 3 more Stakes wins. She finished 4th in the Hastings prior to the Legislator's Handicap.
(4) (Last Ranking #3) Madame Pele – Ran 4th to the NW Farms triumvirate in the Legislators. Ran a fantastic second in the Hastings Handicap to break that trio up but she had a recency edge which she no longer has. $14,000 WTBOA Purchase.
(5) (Last Ranking #5 "Dark Horse Pick") - Tabled with Gold won a Allowance Optional Claiming Race on May 17th and came back to run 5th in the Legislators and then won a $50,000 claimer on Sunday. My Dark Horse Pick in this division is coming around nicely. She won't ever beat the Top 3 but will be a good upper level claimer.
3 Year-Old Colts
(1) (Last Ranked #1) Del Rio Harbor – Won an Allowance race against the likes of Strawberry Dawn, Kenai King and Redsolocup in an impressive (1:03.65) to start his year. I kept him #1 after his 3rd in the Auburn Handicap because I thought that strategy for the race and the ride was odd. He proved me correct when he was allowed to run this weekend in the Coca Cola Handicap. Always thought he was better than Noosito and he proved it. Great ride by Mitchell.
(2) (Last Ranked #2) Noosito – Won the Auburn Handicap by 5 but then finished second in Coca Cola on the stretch out. A duel-stakes winner now, I expect Noosito will get better as the distances get longer. $55,000 WTBOA Purchase. Noosito at the WTBOA sale (picture taken by Terra Lee):
(1) (Last Ranked #1) Del Rio Harbor – Won an Allowance race against the likes of Strawberry Dawn, Kenai King and Redsolocup in an impressive (1:03.65) to start his year. I kept him #1 after his 3rd in the Auburn Handicap because I thought that strategy for the race and the ride was odd. He proved me correct when he was allowed to run this weekend in the Coca Cola Handicap. Always thought he was better than Noosito and he proved it. Great ride by Mitchell.
(2) (Last Ranked #2) Noosito – Won the Auburn Handicap by 5 but then finished second in Coca Cola on the stretch out. A duel-stakes winner now, I expect Noosito will get better as the distances get longer. $55,000 WTBOA Purchase. Noosito at the WTBOA sale (picture taken by Terra Lee):
(3) (Last Ranked #4) Mebossman – The son of Peaceful Wings won a Maiden Special Weight ("MSW") on April 27th. He ran a good second in the Auburn Handicap and then a disappointing 4th in the Coca Cola Handicap. He will do better as the distances get longer. $15,000 WTBOA Purchase. Here is an excellent picture from Terra of Mebossman as a baby with her mom Peaceful Wings:
And Mebossman now:
And Mebossman now:
(4) (Unranked) Charlie Thomas – A new shooter for the Spooners. Closed really well to get 3rd in the Coca Cola Handicap, albeit versus a really fast pace. Showed he can run on dirt and will get better as he gets used to Emerald Downs.
(5) (Last Ranked #5) My Chief - Been smoking up the track versus 3 year olds but when he had to face older horses, including Disruption on June 14, the party was over. I will forgive the loss because of how hard it is for 3-year-olds to take on older horses right now. Here is a picture of him at WTBOA 2011 where he sold for $5,000 to Preston Boyd:
3 Year-Old Fillies
This division is still difficult to figure out. A few things. City by the Bay who won the Seattle Handicap was up here for only one race so she does not make the rankings. The fourth place finisher Lotta Attitude is also down south. The other problem is that there is only one stakes race for 3-year-old fillies sprinting so I don't know what to do with a horse like Chu and You’s who is great at sprint distances but a question mark at the mile race coming up on Sunday. For now:
(1) (Last Unranked) Find Your Spot - Top spot up for grabs but I ended up going with Find Your Spot based on (1) the last furlong of her 6.5 Furlong race on June 14th and (2) beating better competition down at Santa Anita. Was unranked before because she has not raced yet. Sudden Departure won the King County Handicap at a Mile so I am not worried about the distance or class on the dam side. Looked like she was striding out in the last Furlong of her previous race.
(2) (Last Ranked #3) Chu and You – She was clearly the best 2-year old filly on the grounds last year. Seattle Handicap second place finish made up for her two prior poor starts. Tons of speed but the question now becomes distance. Her full brother was able to win the WTBA Lads at a mile. The question is who is going to challenge for the lead? City by the Bay is gone, Lotta Attitude had some speed but is now gone. My Last Sweet Pea turned into a closer last race. If Avadiva goes in this race there is some speed but she backed out of the race easily before having a decent gallop out in the race against Find Your Spot.
(3) (Last Ranked #1) Strawberry Dawn – She won an Allowance race by 8.5 lengths on April 13, 2014, running the 5.5 Furlongs in 103.08. She came back in an allowance race against the boys, including Del Rio Harbor and ran a respectable 4th. I expected better in the Seattle Handicap. The pedigree can handle the distance and I still have faith in this horse.
(3) (Last Ranked #1) Strawberry Dawn – She won an Allowance race by 8.5 lengths on April 13, 2014, running the 5.5 Furlongs in 103.08. She came back in an allowance race against the boys, including Del Rio Harbor and ran a respectable 4th. I expected better in the Seattle Handicap. The pedigree can handle the distance and I still have faith in this horse.
(4) (Last week #5) Belladiva - Finished second to Lotta Attitude in the AOC race. And also ran behind Strawberry Dawn in an Allowance race on April 13, 2014. Although this horse has some speed, the pedigree suggests she will be even better on the stretch out so we will see how she performs in route races later on. She got left at the gate in the Seattle Handicap and was not in her usual position right off the pace but rather had to come from last. I expect better this weekend. $5,200 WTBOA purchase. A picture of Belladiva by Terra from the sale:
(5) Dark Horse Pick - This spot is reserved for the winner of the 4th race on Saturday. The winner of this race will likely be at the top of the division by year's end.
Outside Looking In: My Last Sweet Pea surprised me with her 3rd place run in the Seattle Handicap. By Grindstone, she should stretch out nicely and her gallop out was really good in the last race. Sunpenny I expected better from last time. I hope that I can move her back into the Top 5 soon because I like but for now… (sorry, Steve). Timeless Pleasure won a Maiden Option Claiming last weekend but faltered in the Find Your Spot race. The stretch back out to a mile will help. Quiet Wisdom has the pedigree for the stretch out. looks to be a better horse as things stretch out. Charismata (also waiting for a stretch out but not entered in the stakes race this weekend). Red Ran Back finally broke the maiden and we could see in a stakes race.
Two Year Old Rankings
http://militaryhawk.blogspot.com/2014/06/broodmare-of-week-eclatante-sponsored.html
(1) Trackattacker - The obvious #1 choice as he got a 74 Beyer and broke the track record. Not bad. Again, A picture of Trackattacker as a baby taken by Terra Lee:
If you would like to learn more about the family, please see my blog entry on Eclatante located here:
(2) Forte Feroce – Won last Sunday’s Maiden Special Weight race in 51.78, finishing the last 2.5 Furlongs in 29.45. This is the first winner for Grasshopper. Expecting better things from this horse but tough division with Trackattacker in it.
(3) Seeking the Light - Ran a 57 Beyer and was an impressive winner for Blaine Wright. Purchased for $29,000 as a yearling, she has a good future ahead of her based on my review of the replay of the race. Seeking the Light ran the 4.5 Furlongs in 50.88 and the last 2.5 Furlongs in 29.31.
(4) Dancing with Effie – John Parker bought me lunch so I am ranking his horse 4th. Actually, this horse ran a good second to Seeking the Light. Ran the 4.5 Furlongs in 51.52 and the last 2.5 Furlongs in 29.93.
(5) Search is Over - Looking forward to his next race. This horse ran a very good race in his first out despite getting a low Beyer. He closed the last 2.5 Furlongs in 28.53, which was the fastest last 2.5 Furlongs in the race. If you review the race, he closes very well on the rail after being last for most of the race. I expect this horse to be a winner as the races stretch out.
Outside Looking In: Andiamo Deb's stride is fantastic if she can get it going which is hard to do at 4.5 Furlongs. She needs a stretch-out but will be a force to be reckoned with when she does. She is also gigantic so I will nickname her Hodor.
(5) Search is Over - Looking forward to his next race. This horse ran a very good race in his first out despite getting a low Beyer. He closed the last 2.5 Furlongs in 28.53, which was the fastest last 2.5 Furlongs in the race. If you review the race, he closes very well on the rail after being last for most of the race. I expect this horse to be a winner as the races stretch out.
Outside Looking In: Andiamo Deb's stride is fantastic if she can get it going which is hard to do at 4.5 Furlongs. She needs a stretch-out but will be a force to be reckoned with when she does. She is also gigantic so I will nickname her Hodor.
Always Love Your Animals,
Will
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