He's A Pirate
Eidolon
Thatswhenyoushine
He's A Pirate
Eidolon
Pioneer
Daemon
Autumn Fun
Flat Creek Racing
Ferndale Farms
Post by symphony on May 12, 2013 2:45:44 GMT -5
Juveniles
Many quality two year olds stepped out on the track for their first starts this week, in eight different Maiden Plates over both the turf and dirt. The first race to run was highlighted by the debut of Eidolon from King's Park Racing, a bay filly by popular stud Daemon and out of champion sprinter Autumn Fun who ran third overall after some trouble at the gate. The race went in favour of second-favourite Everybody Says, a Challenger filly from Flat Creek Racing who looked to be like a good Feature prospect.
Freddy Krueger, a flashy distance runner from Ferndale Farms, absolutely decimated a field of dirt runners with a four length victory in only his second start, with stablemate Dontfearthereaper running second by a short neck. Both horses are by Daemon, and Freddy looks set to take on an even classier field next start at good odds.
Buckskin filly Diamond Clock caused a disturbance in the betting when she showed up in the post parade and she did not disappoint, quickly marking herself a crowd favourite with a sweet personality and effortless turn of speed over the turf. Related to champion Magneta through her sire Cobalt, and out of GII runner Watch the Clock, there is speculation as to whether this filly can hold her own in some of the classier fields, but she looks to be shaping up to be a very solid racer for King's Park.
Undercard
The first GIII to run was the Haberman Cup, featuring excellent sprinters like Vanquished, Wand Hand and Mindset. Surprisingly, it was not to be this meet, with semi-successful runner Alphabet Falls snatching a win, a half length from rising two year old Tia Dalma of Ferndale Farms. A filly by smart sprinter Spiritway and out of famous mare Hoist the Colours, Tia Dalma looks to be almost spot on this year and an early pick for the Hollinsworth.
Animal Kingdom is back this year as well, coming out on top by a short head after a grudge match with youngsters Honoured Bravery and Wonder. All three are expected to contest the Treble later this year, promising a very classy field. Of the three, Animal Kingdom would be seen as the weaker opponent, having no fancy pedigree and now racing as a five year old, but as we have seen this meet, he is more than capable of out-running the up and coming youngsters.
A four year old son of Thatswhatyouthink running for Flat Creek Racing, Mindset, put in solid performances in his first two races this year, earning a show and a place respectively, and looks to be chasing after his parent's status of GII runner. Platinum Dream, yet another Ferndale runner, was also a well-felt presence in the Golden Quarter, beating Mindset by a length for the win.
Thatswhenyoushine of King's Park also seems to have finally found his feet, with a victory in the Adempt Handicap; the same race in which favourite In Da Dog House came a shocking dead last. Thatswhenyoushine came away two lengths in front after the perfect run on a track he seemed to enjoy, and looks to be one to watch out for this year if the footing and trip suits him, though Feature wins look to be out of his league.
Features
Most notable of the three Features run this meet was the return of He's A Pirate in the Green Isle Handicap, smashing a middle-class field by four and a half lengths with Pioneer and Autumn Spell the only others on their game enough to get on the board. There is some speculation from this run that Autumn Spell may shape up to provide competition for Ferndale's classy distance champion, but despite an impressive pedigree has only been lightly raced so far and has yet to prove himself. The three colts also ran in the Green Isle Cup later in the meet, and once again it was He's A Pirate who trounced the field, followed again by Pioneer but this time with older mare Veridical making it to third with a brave closing run down the middle of the track.
On the turf, March to Glory (another older mare from King's Park) pulled off an upset in the Man O' War Memorial with a length to spare, while favourite Honoured Bravery came nowhere and Animal Kingdom was scared into third by the menace of Devil I Am. The field was a classy one in this race, with fillies Wonder and Orao Ribar putting in good runs for fourth and fifth respectively. Rocket Away, a past Feature winner, had a hard run this time out, falling back with the long-shots in ninth position, though she is expected to shape up a little for her next run.
