Preseason Older Male Division Rankings for Emerald Downs

A quick look at the older colt/gelding division and my preseason top ten rankings:


(1) Stryker PHD (Betrando - Striking Scholar) - Do I really need to explain why? Taking their time with him so I expect they will be on the same schedule as last year and we will not see him until the Budweiser Handicap on June 14th. The champ will remain on top until he loses. Latest workouts from Equibase:

Emerald Downs	4/13/2015	Dirt	4F	48.20	Handily	10/31
Emerald Downs	4/6/2015	Dirt	3F	37.60	Breezing	6/6

Highest Equibase number is 115. Picture of Stryker Phd by the talented Terra Lee:



(2) Scatdaddy Baby - (Scat Daddy - Bianconi Baby: http://www.pedigreequery.com/bianconi+baby) - Speedy horse is working well. I expect that he will be able to win the early sprint Allowance races and possible the first Stakes Race. As the distances stretch out, Stryker Phd comes back into the fold, and Del Rio Harbor and Noosito start to mature, I think he could start to become vulnerable.

Emerald Downs	4/13/2015	Dirt	5F	1:00.80	Breezing	16/34
Emerald Downs	4/6/2015	Dirt	6F	1:11.40	Handily	1/9
Emerald Downs	3/30/2015	Dirt	5F	1:00.00	Handily	3/10
Emerald Downs	3/23/2015	Dirt	5F	1:01.20	Handily	1/11
Emerald Downs	3/16/2015	Dirt	4F	47.80	Breezing	2/8
Emerald Downs	3/9/2015	Dirt	4F	49.40	Breezing	11/16
Emerald Downs	3/2/2015	Dirt	3F	36.20	Breezing	2/31
Emerald Downs	2/23/2015	Dirt	3F	37.60	Breezing	7/12

Highest Equibase number is 108.

(3) Absolutely Cool (Absolute Harmony - Coup de Foudre) - Multiple Stakes Winner will likely be back up here for a late summer campaign and looks to have the sprint stakes races in his sight. 8-year-old is very sound. The dam is simply amazing and one of my favorites. Highest Equibase number has been a 112.

(4) Noosito (Harbor the Gold - Julia Rose) - I feel that last year's three-year-olds will hold up well against the older horses. Hard to separate #4 and #5 but I will give the nod, for now, to Noosito. Full to Music of My Soul (now standing at stud at El Dorado Farm) and Noosa Beach, he will be able to hold his own this year against the older horses.

Emerald Downs	4/15/2015	Dirt	5F	1:01.60	Breezing	8/12
Emerald Downs	4/8/2015	Dirt	5F	59.60	Handily	8/27
Emerald Downs	4/1/2015	Dirt	4F	50.60	Breezing	10/13
Emerald Downs	3/25/2015	Dirt	4F	52.00	Breezing	10/13
Emerald Downs	3/18/2015	Dirt	3F	38.40	Breezing	13/17
Emerald Downs	3/8/2015	Dirt	3F	35.80	Breezing	7/39
Emerald Downs	3/1/2015	Dirt	3F	38.60	Breezing	40/61

(5) Del Rio Harbor (Harbor the Gold - Bahati) - Big fan of this horse. Like Noosito, he should be able to handle the transition to racing against older horses. Barn switch in the offseason is something to watch. Del Rio Harbor is a full to Couldabenthewhisky and Legion of Boom (who races this weekend). There are three more Harbor the Golds out of Bahati in the pipeline including a two-year-old named Temptatious.

(6) Prohibition (Lawyer Ron - Tuesday Prayer) - Thought this horse had a big chance in the Longacres Mile last year but he did not perform. It is possible that he ends up running at Hastings rather than Emerald but he has been working out at Pegasus so hopefully we will see him here.

(7) Mike Man's Gold (Liberty Gold - Chedoodle) - Multiple Stakes Winner. I feel like he has been around forever, but he is only five. The workouts show that he is ready to go this year. Hard knocking and healthy horse won last year's Muckleshoot Tribal Classic. Owned by K-Swag whose rap vinyl album drops at Tower Records next week. Every song is about municipal bonds. Picture of Chedoodle:

(8) Mebossman (Petionville - Peaceful Wings) - Emerald Downs Derby winner is another that should hold up well in the transition to racing against older horses. Privately purchased the horse then race in the BC Derby, but finished a distant 7th. Now owned by Pegasus and Glen Todd so this horse may race at Hasting rather than Emerald. Waiting.

(9) Dontmesswithkitten (Kitten's Joy - Trio) - A horse with a serious turf pedigree has shown an affinity for the dirt. Multiple Stakes Placed and sound. Has been racing at Turf Paradise but I imagine will be back up at Emerald soon.

(10) Disruption (Street Boss - Disrupt) - Back on the work tab after a break for most of March. Twice Stakes Placed and won an Allowance Optional claimer earlier in 2014. Finished 8th in the Longacres Mile. Wait and see how the works progress.

Emerald Downs	4/10/2015	Dirt	4F	49.80	Breezing	22/32
Emerald Downs	4/5/2015	Dirt	4F	48.40	Handily	7/24
Emerald Downs	3/30/2015	Dirt	3F	39.00	Breezing	8/11
Emerald Downs	2/23/2015	Dirt	3F	36.60	Breezing	4/12

Other horses to consider include: Dare Me Devil (DNF a Claiming 10k race at Del Mar gives me concern), Mr. Bowling (looks to race at Hastings), I Keep Saying (Just worked once at Emerald), and Why Not Be Perfect (been racing just at Golden Gate).

Always Love Your Animals,

Will

Preseason Older Filly and Mare Rankings for Emerald Downs - Sponsored by Barn 3 at Emerald Downs

We got Barn 3 at Emerald Downs to sponsor this blog post. Here is their promotional video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W35lV7hxrPQ

The older filly and mare division was the most difficult list to determine with the exception of who should be #1. There has been some attrition in the ranks of this division. First, the Northwest Farms trio are now back in Kentucky as broodmares. They dominated the older filly and mare division last year with the exception of the Pegasus Training Stakes, which was restricted to Washington-breds. Second, there are several older filly and mares from last year who are no longer on the work tab: Spot on Babe, Ms. Sutherland, Find Your Spot, Seventypercentcocoa, and Papa's Flashy Girl. In addition, it appears that the consistent Stephanie Plum is taking a break. Finally, it appears that Chu and You is not working and may be back in Kentucky.

Also, there are several that are currently at Golden Gate that I could see coming up here but they currently are still in training and racing down there so they are not on the list: Tabled with Gold, Beautranda, and Alert in Class. All three have connections to Emerald Downs, so I could see them shipping up here at some point.

Again, this is the hardest division to figure. I am not sure how this whole division will shake out but here goes:

(1) Madame Pele - (Salt Lake - Striking Scholar) The obvious #1 pick. She won the Pegasus Training Stakes last year and with the Northwest Farms trio out of the way, the division is hers for the taking. She is a half to Stryker PhD (both being out of Washington Broodmare of the Year Striking Scholar).  Should be a horse to contend with in the Hastings Handicap with a little pace to run at. The works, from Equibase, have been solid:

Emerald Downs	4/3/2015	Dirt	5F	1:00.40	Breezing	4/31
Emerald Downs	3/28/2015	Dirt	4F	48.60	Breezing	5/19
Emerald Downs	3/22/2015	Dirt	4F	49.80	Breezing	14/23
Emerald Downs	3/17/2015	Dirt	3F	36.60	Breezing	3/42
Emerald Downs	3/11/2015	Dirt	3F	41.40	Breezing	9/9
Emerald Downs	2/24/2015	Dirt	3F	38.40	Breezing	8/15

(2) Mylast Sweet Pea (Grindstone - Secret Game) - Making the transition from three to four can be tough but this filly is very capable of pulling it off. She is Stakes Placed four times, but is still eligible for the N1X condition. She is capable of sprinting, but I thought she was better going long last year.

(3) Guinevere's Finale (Tale of the Cat - Guinevere)  - Took on some serious competition down south in her last three races. Before that she won a MSW as a 2-year-old at Emerald Downs against Sanibel Harbor and then won a 75k claiming racing at Santa Anita; not an easy thing to do. Back on the work tab and the last breeze looks pretty good. Giving this horse a serious chance to become a contender in this division:

Emerald Downs	4/8/2015	Dirt	4F	47.80	Breezing	1/8
Emerald Downs	4/1/2015	Dirt	3F	37.20	Breezing	5/10
Emerald Downs	3/25/2015	Dirt	3F	38.80	Breezing	3/6
Emerald Downs	3/16/2015	Dirt	3F	38.60	Breezing	2/3

(4) Kikisoblu (Kodiak Kowboy - Horse B With U) - Three-time starter has won a Maiden Optional Claimer and a N1X race in her last two races at Turf Paradise. Equibase figures compare favorably to the three horses listed above. Good breeding for Emerald Downs. Expect her to keep moving forward.

(5) Decatur Princess (Broken Vow - Manda Island) - Stakes-placed daughter of Broken Vow who also finished 4th in the Gottstein as a 2-year-old against the boys. Works are up to 5 Furlongs now. In pretty decent condition because she was running at Turf Paradise in January. She blew the doors off a Maiden Optional Claiming race last September at Emerald. Time to step up.

(6) Lady of the Nile (Pioneerof the Nile - A.P. Cindy) - A recent claim from Golden Gate comes up to Emerald Downs and has worked 4 Furlongs over the track. A three-time winner who has some good speed. The big question for her is the dirt as she finished last in the only time she started on the surface. From hot sire Pioneerof the Nile:

Emerald Downs

4/13/2015

Dirt

4F

49.20

Breezing

16/31

(7) Sunpenny  (Good Reward - Cascade Corona) - Like this horse. She always seems to knocking on the door. Just waiting for the breakout. She is Multiple Stakes Place and finished third in a Stakes race on the turf at Turf Paradise over the winter. Back to working 3 Furlongs at Emerald Downs. Sunpenny picture from Terra Lee:



(8) Bee Dees Bid (Tapit - Seeking Simplicity) - Ran off in a $30,000 MOC last year. Came back in an N1X and faltered after pressing the pace 4 wide. Think this horse has something to offer going forward but it is time to prove it. Tapit seems to be barely holding his own as a sire but maybe someday he will get it together.

(9) Finding More (Tricky Trevor - Green Mountain Girl) - Not sure what to do with this horse. Last year she found the competition early too difficult to handle, but even in claiming races she was getting fourth and fifth. She needs to find more (get it). She is back on the work tab and has some very good back class as she was the Washington-bred two-year-old champion. She stays on the list but needs to show some of that old class.

(10) Red Ran Back (Closing Argument - Rerunnedaway) - Not sure what to do with this last spot. I decided to go with Red Ran Back. The horse is working well and won a good MSW here last year. Expect some improvement from three to four.

Honorable Mentions: Hetty (like this horse personally), River of Aces, Belladiva, Tinkerbelle Tops, Classy and Sassy and Sanibel Harbor.

*It should be noted that Preachinmerit and Preachinattheforum in a previous post. Both are worthy of a top ten placing. Preachinmerit is a 3-year-old colt worth watching.

Always Love Your Animals,

Will

Preseason 3-year-old Filly Rankings for Emerald Downs and More Executive Orders

Caused some drama with my top 10 three-year-old colts/geldings post. Was called out by trainers and owners for not putting their horses in the top 10. Feelings were hurt; crying ensued; reconciliation made. It was like an episode of Beverly Hills 90210 (or Days of Our Lives for our baby boomer readers). I guess all 12 of my readers really care about their horses. Good on you.

The trail of WTBOA Presidential tyranny continues. I issued two other Executive Orders this past week to add to my Pinochet-like regime:

Executive Order #3: All Tack Rooms must be sanitized on a monthly basis.

You know why.

Executive Order #4: You are not longer allowed to ask the President of Emerald Racing, LLC about whether there is going to be a NASCAR rack instead of a horse racetrack on the property. End of discussion.

Now on to the list:

First, it should be noted that Ethan's Baby would be very high on this list, but is training down in Southern California at Los Alamitos so she will not be included in these rankings. Also, I have not seen any works from Seattles Best Copy so she is not on this list.  Again, this list will change massively as the year goes along because we have a bunch of unraced three-year-old fillies that look like they could have some good potential. Now on to the list:

(1) Herculette (Indian Charlie - Seattle Shimmer) - Back in the barn of Tom Wenzel, she won big in her first start by 8 and 3/4 lengths. May be a while until we see her but she is going to be hard to beat.  Owned by a group of Wenzel fans who call themselves "Wenzealots" (sort of like how One Direction fans call themselves Directioners).

(2) Val de Saire (Harbor the Gold - Follow Your Shot) - Like the owners of this horse and wish them the best this year with this filly. She finished third against the boys in the Gottstein Futurity and finished third in the Shinpoch. She has a half brother by Abraaj who I thought was nice looking that sold for $18K at the WTBOA Sale last year. Current works for Val de Saire provided by Equibase:

Emerald Downs	4/8/2015	Dirt	5F	1:03.00	Breezing	27/27
Emerald Downs	4/1/2015	Dirt	4F	49.00	Handily	4/13
Emerald Downs	3/25/2015	Dirt	4F	51.00	Breezing	8/13
Emerald Downs	3/18/2015	Dirt	3F	37.80	Breezing	10/17
Emerald Downs	3/8/2015	Dirt	3F	36.80	Breezing	16/39
Emerald Downs	3/1/2015	Dirt	3F	40.80	Breezing	58/61

(3) Seeking the Light (Heatseeker - Brightest) - Multiple Stakes Placed filly broke her maiden in her first race out. Didn't do great down at Golden Gate but won she did win a Starter Allowance race. She has won two races so she may be waiting on the sidelines looking for a race (most horses have only one win on this list and will opt for a N1X race) but will likely see her in the Seattle Handicap on May 31st(?). Works:

Emerald Downs	4/9/2015	Dirt	5F	58.60	Handily	4/29
Emerald Downs	4/2/2015	Dirt	4F	47.00	Breezing	3/29
Emerald Downs	3/26/2015	Dirt	4F	49.20	Breezing	6/14
Emerald Downs	3/17/2015	Dirt	3F	37.00	Breezing	8/42

(4) Pippa Bou Peep (Harbor the Gold - Annie's Bou Peep) - Finished 1st, 2nd and 3rd in her three stakes tries last year. The third was as the strong favorite in the Northwest Farms stakes. From the very popular barn of Charlie Essex.

(5) Perhaps a Pie (Tale of Ekati - Royal Stimulus) - Watch out.

(6) Fine Red Wine (Private Gold - Ty's Princess) - Won first time out at 25k and then placed in the Northwest Farms' Stakes behind Seattle's Best Copy. She finished off the year with a 4th in a stakes race at Portland Meadows but the workouts lead me to believe she is doing well:

Emerald Downs	4/4/2015	Dirt	4F	48.20	Handily	6/29
Emerald Downs	3/27/2015	Dirt	5F	1:00.80	Breezing	9/47
Emerald Downs	3/19/2015	Dirt	4F	47.00	Handily	1/29
Emerald Downs	3/5/2015	Dirt	3F	36.40	Breezing	2/15
Emerald Downs	2/24/2015	Dirt	3F	35.20	Breezing	1/15

(7) Sneakin' a Kiss (Stephen Got Even - Coded Princess) - Finished 4th in the Shinpoch and then broke her maiden in a 25k race in September. This breeding leads me to believe that she will get better as the races get longer.

(8) Dance with Effie (Chhaya Dance - Dances on Water) - Have a soft spot for this horse. Ran 4 very game races last year including a 4th place finish in the Northwest Farms Stakes. Fired a bullet on April 12th at 4 Furlongs.

(9) Another Winter (Demon Warlock - Royal Snowflight) - An impressive maiden win at Emerald for her but the trip down south did not goes as well as they probably hoped. However, she is back on the work tab and it looks like things are going back in the right direction.

(10) Preachinmerit - (Preachinatthebar - Snowbound Elite)

Other horses who look good on the work tab but have not started so they are not in the top 10: Velocita, Whoisareyou, Cantkeepasecret, Alexa Alexa, Rahys Ransom, T.J.'s Only, Crystal n Gold, Hugs and Kisses, Calientie Gold, Lauren's Bluff, Top Platinum, and Quibble.

Always Love Your Animals,

Will