AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| COLONEL E.
R. BRADLEY H. (G3), 5TH-FG, $100,000, 4YO/UP, 1 1/16MT, 2:26 P.M. CST, 1-12 |
|
| 1 |
STORM TREASURE, 5, h, by Storm BootBoogie Beach Blues, by Cure the Blues O-Mike McCarty; B-Don M. Robinson (Ky) |
| 2 |
SILVERFOOT, 8, G, by With ApprovalNorthern Silver, by Silver Ghost O-Chrysalis Stables LLC; B-Stephanie S. Clark (Ky) |
| 3 |
GOLD SOUND (FR), 6, h, by Green TuneBorn Gold, by Blushing Groom (Fr) O-Wertheimer Et Frere; B-Wertheimer Et Frere (Fr) |
| 4 |
STERWINS, 5, h, by Runaway GroomSweet Vale, by Wild Again O-Melnyk Racing Stables Inc; B-Melnyk Eugene (On) |
| 5 |
MAJOR RHYTHM, 9, h, by RhythmSpecifically, by Sky Classic O-James M Messineo; B-Bon Marche (Ky) |
| 6 |
SIDCUP, 6, G, by Running StagNice Change, by Gulch O-Mrs S K Johnston Jr; B-Adena Springs (On) |
| 7 |
GOT THE LAST LAUGH, 4, c, by Distorted HumorTheresa’s Tizzy, by Cee’s Tizzy O-Zayat Stables; B-Brilliant Stb, Fielding, Taylor Made et al (Ky) |
| 8 |
SAVE BIG MONEY, 5, h, by Storm CatTomisue’s Delight, by A.P. Indy O-Tomisue Hilbert & John R Menard; B-Hilbert Thoroughbreds (Ky) |
| 9 |
FRENCH BERET, 5, G, by Broad BrushMisty Mission, by Miswaki O-Sam-Son Farms; B-Sam-Son Farm (On) |
| 10 |
OPTIMER (ARG), 6, h, by Incurable OptimistPeriana, by Aetolian O-Ieah Stables et al; B-Melincue (Arg) |
| 11 |
PROM SHOES, 4, c, by IncludePink Shoes, by Phone Trick O-Patricia B Blass; B-Patricia Blass & David Harris (Ky) |
Saturday’s $100,000 Colonel E.R. Bradley H. (G3) attracted 11 horses,
including a main-track only runner, and we’ll give the edge to STORM TREASURE
(Storm Boot) in the about 1 1/16-mile turf affair. Grade 1-placed on dirt, the
Steve Asmussen runner is very versatile, placing in five turf stakes, including
last year’s Fair Grounds H. (G3), and he even captured an allowance over
Polytrack three starts back. The five-year-old horse rolled to an impressive
allowance score on the sod at Churchill Downs two starts back, and Storm
Treasure exits a decent fifth, beaten three lengths, in the Buddy Diliberto
Memorial H. over the local turf course. The late runner was compromised by a
tedious pace last time, but he figures to receive a better set-up here. Storm
Treasure has worked forwardly since his last outing, and we’ll look for him to
notch his first stakes victory.
GOLD SOUND (Fr) (Green Tune) is very interesting. A Group 3 winner in France,
the six-year-old gelding owns plenty of back class and will be making his third
U.S. start on Saturday. He exits a smart win at Sam Houston for Michael Stidham
and while the competition will be much tougher in this spot, we expect to see Gold
Sound turn up with a good showing. The chestnut owns tactical speed and figures
to enjoy a favorable trip under Jamie Theirot. He’s got a shot at an upset.
STERWINS (Runaway Groom) rallied from just off the pace to win the Buddy
Diliberto last out and ran very well over the weeds in Canada last season for
Malcolm Pierce, winning the With Approval S. and recording an excellent second
in the Sky Classic (Can-G2). We project another favorable stalking trip here for
the gray gelding, and Sterwins can’t be eliminated from win consideration.
SAVE BIG MONEY (Storm Cat) switched to the turf two starts back for Neil
Howard and has recorded a couple of encouraging efforts, winning an
allowance/optional claiming event at Churchill prior to a close third in the
Buddy Diliberto. The five-year-old owns a fine late turn of foot, posting 106
and 108 BRIS Late Pace numbers in his last two outings, and he owns graded
experience. Consider for the top three.
OPTIMER (Arg) (Incurable Optimist) also exits a good showing in the Diliberto,
finishing second by a length, and he’s recorded runner-up placings in six of his
last seven starts. The Richard Dutrow trainee will be tested for class while
making his U.S. graded debut, but he is doing very well presently. He appears
capable of grabbing a small share.
SILVERFOOT (With Approval) will make his eight-year-old debut off a 434-day
layoff, and we’re inclined to give the classy gelding a race back. A four-time
Grade 3 victor and runner-up in the 2005 United Nations S. (G1), the Dallas
Stewart charge competed in the 2005-06 editions of the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1),
finishing a respectable sixth at Belmont Park in 2005. Two for three over the
turf in New Orleans, Silverfoot has run well fresh in the past, but he’s never
returned off a 14-month rest before. We won’t be shocked to see a strong finish
from the gray, but we can’t endorse his chances here.
MAJOR RHYTHM (Rhythm) exits an allowance/optional claiming win over the Polytrack, but his recent turf form is discouraging. FRENCH BERET (Broad Brush)
wasn’t a serious factor in his Fair Grounds bow, finishing third in a December 9
allowance, and he might find this company a little difficult.
Grade 3 winner GOT THE LAST LAUGH (Distorted Humor) was no factor in his last
three attempts versus stakes rivals on the turf and probably needs an easier
spot to be effective. SIDCUP (Running Stag) is winless from 14 previous attempts
on the turf, and we can’t envision him breaking through here.
PROM SHOES (Include) is entered for the main track only, and the forecast is
favorable for this race to remain on the turf.