The Shoemaker Mile marks the first race since his trip to Dubai for the defending champ Victor's Cry. He won this race last year in a stunning upset at 21-1. (video of that win below) Half of his six lifetime wins, and his only two stakes wins, have come over the Hollywood Park turf course. He's won off a similar layoffs in the past. He has come back solidly on the work tab in preparation for this race. His jockey for last three start Victor Espinoza is in the irons, and it looks like he has a good chance to defend his title.
The main threat to his title defense figures to be Courageous Cat. This son of Storm Cat out of the multiple grade one winner Tranquility Lake (who won multiple stakes over the Hollywood Park turf course in her career) started his year off in a winning fashion in the Poker at Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes eve. He popped a solid dirt work in the interim. CC must be going well for his connections to ship across country on three weeks rest to annex this Grade 1, which did come up softer than expected due the injury of Ryehill Dreamer and the sale & transfer of Sidney's Candy. While he has never been over the course, he should have no problem adapting to it, especially with his mother's success over it. Others who could have an impact are likely pace-setter Liberian Freighter and perennially overbet Carcortado.
Three races later, eight hook up for the Triple Bend. The favorite and highweight is Amazombie (right), who was questionably disqualified from a win in the Grade 3 LA Handicap. He hopes to continue his strong efforts in the race with his solid workout since the last race. This would be a stamp on the strong series of races he has run since October of last year. Those looking to beat him are: Grade 1 winner M One Rifle, who was interfered in the LA but was never going to better than the third he originally finished (the DQ put him up to second); Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger, who looks to bounce back after a so-so effort in the CD Handicap last out; and Color of Courage, who has run two monster races after a 19 month layoff and steps up for his first graded stakes try.So there's a quick rundown of the two Grade 1's on this Fourth of July weekend at Hollywood Park. Can Victor's Cry defend his title? Will Courageous Cat do his mama proud? Can Amazombie get a Grade 1 win? Good luck everybody!
Just to clarify, my picks are Courageous Cat and Color of Courage.
ReplyDeleteThese 2 gr.1 races lived up to their classification. The Shoemaker was simply an outstanding race with Courageous Cat getting a "show me what you got" challenge from local horse Caracortado. Courageous Cat, who gave Goldikova a real tussle when 2nd in the 09' BC Mile, must now be considered North America's top turf miler. Congrats to the connections for shipping out; they were rewarded.
ReplyDeleteCaracortado FINALLY showed more speed, and this tactic allowed him to remain within striking distance of Courageous Cat early and gave him at least some chance through the lane. Caracortado needs to be ridden like this from here on out, and should only drop further back if the pace is strong. I never understood why Talamo was riding him as a stone-cold closer when his best races have come stalking.
The Triple Bend did not have the exciting finish of the Shoemaker, but at least we were treated to an outstanding performance from a top national sprinter in Smiling Tiger. Although Camp Victory and, in particular, Amazombie, came in with really good local form, neither had won a gr.1 race nor had they competed against the top sprinters from throughout the country. In contrast, Smiling Tiger came into the Triple Bend having won 2 gr.1 races while running in a number of big stakes back East, including the Breeder's up Sprint where he was 3rd.
In the end, Smiling Tiger was simply too classy and good for the Triple Bend field. A stalker on dirt where the pace is quicker, Smiling Tiger was astutely sent to the front by Rosario, posted very solid fractions for Cushion Track, and then just kept going to post a powerful 3+ length win and a 112 Beyer. Like Courageous Cat, Smiling Tiger must now be ranked near the top of his division(#3 in the Watchmaker sprint rankings).