AMERICAN
GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS
| JOHN B.
CONNALLY TURF H. (G3), 9TH-HOU, $200,000, 3YO/UP, 1 1/8MT, 10:28 P.M. CST, 1-30 |
|
| 1 |
KING DAN, 5, G, by IncludeBouche Bee, by Naevus O-Randall Jack and Clark Tom; B-Jones Brereton C. (Ky) |
| 2 |
GRETSKY, 4, G, by ToccetTsu Lou, by Tsunami Slew O-Pegasus Stud LLC and Winner Charles; B-Pegasus Stud LLC & J Arriola (Ky) |
| 3 |
ERNESTO, 7, G, by Royal AcademyMysti’s Poem, by Stalwart O-Gallagher James P and Patricia E; B-James P. & Patricia Gallagher (Ky) |
| 4 |
GOING BALLISTIC, 6, h, by Lite the FuseHoly Lightning, by Holy Bull O-Kindred Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Adena Springs (Fl) |
| 5 |
ACTING ZIPPY, 5, G, by City ZipStormack, by Future Storm O-Bennett William Don and Bowling Carl; B-Carl Bowling & Ellen Thompson (Fl) |
| 6 |
MY HAPPINESS (ARG), 9, h, by Festin (Arg)Maria Patricia, by Forlitano (Arg) O-Fritz McTarnahan; B-Thomas Michael Tribolet (Arg) |
| 7 |
ABLAZE WITH SPIRIT, 5, h, by American SpiritAblazing Grace, by Wekiva Springs O-Heiligbrodt Racing Stable; B-Donald R Dizney (Tx) |
| 8 |
RED ROCK CREEK, 9, G, by NumerousStreaming, by Oh Say O-Steven M Asmussen; B-Jim E. Nelson (Ky) |
| 9 |
GRAN ESTRENO (ARG), 7, h, by Lucky RobertoGreat Stampa, by Senor Pete O-Feel the Thunder Stable; B-Eduardo Carlos Luther (Arg) |
| 10 |
ORIENTATE EXPRESS, 5, G, by OrientateWaterwild, by River Special O-Prairie Lane Farms LLC; B-Kidder, Griggs, J & J Mamakos (Ky) |
| 11 |
POOL PLAY, 5, h, by Silver DeputyZuri Ridge, by Cox’s Ridge O-W.S. Farish Jr; B-Windfields Farm (On) |
| 12 |
BALTIMORE BOB, 5, h, by Malibu MoonGabby’s Love, by Perkin Warbeck O-Gerczak Robert and Kaygar Stable; B-Carol Kaye-Garcia & Barbara Smith (Md) |
| 13 |
FIFTEEN LOVE, 5, h, by Point GivenNidd, by Known Fact O-Jose Luis Espinoza; B-Juddmonte Farms, Inc. (Ky) |
| 14 |
REAL APPEAL, 5, h, by Successful AppealFormal Process, by Diablo O-Jose Luis Espinoza; B-Fred Allor (Ky) |
A full field of 14 has been entered in Saturday night’s $200,000 John B. Connally Turf H. (G3) at Sam Houston, and ORIENTATE EXPRESS (Orientate) is our
pick to take the 1 1/8-mile turf test. The Kelly Von Hemel charge posted a neck
victory in the Remington Green S. in his last turf try, and owns a 3-2-0 record
from six total tries on the grass. The bay gelding garnered a nice 108 BRIS Late
Pace rating for his stakes score and logged a bullet five furlongs at Oaklawn
Park last Friday to prepare for this. He could make it two in a row under Glen
Murphy.
BALTIMORE BOB (Malibu Moon) recorded his last win against allowance/optional
claiming rivals at Laurel Park in October, and rounded out 2009 with a rallying
fourth in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial H. at Fair Grounds. It wouldn’t take much
improvement for the Helen Pitts trainee to return to the winner’s circle here.
The dark bay five-year-old earned a 94 BRIS Speed rating for his stakes effort
as well as a 103 Late Pace figure, and could get the job done with the extra
distance of this one. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the call.
POOL PLAY (Silver Deputy) is a tough competitor on main tracks, but has
finished fourth and second in his only two tries on turf. The Mark Casse runner
has loads of ability and could manage to upend these rivals based on class
alone. Patrick Husbands travels from Canada to stay aboard the five-year-old.
GRETSKY (Toccet) ran third in the La Jolla H. (G2) and was only 2 1/2 lengths
back in sixth in the Del Mar Derby (G2) last season. He ended his sophomore
campaign, and his time in the barn of Neil Drysdale, with a close fifth in the
Contested Bid S. to recent San Marcos S. (G2) third Riviera Cocktail (Giant’s
Causeway). Now starting for trainer George Northrop Jr., the bay gelding could
carry his form over into this year and should be included in the top three.
Larry Taylor will be in the irons.
MY HAPPINESS (Arg) (Festin [Arg]) didn’t fare too well in his last stakes
attempt, but the nine-year-old has the talent to challenge at a nice price. Third in an allowance/optional claimer last out, the dark bay always
seems to put in a good rally for trainer Bobby Barnett. Bobby Walker Jr. will
take the mount. FIFTEEN LOVE (Point Given) will be making his first start under
the tutelage of Jerenesto Torrez in this spot following a fourth in the Play the
King S. (Can-G2) and a runner-up effort in an allowance/optional claimer. The
five-year-old is still seeking his first U.S. win and, while he probably won’t
get it here, could threaten in the exotics. The dark bay has been working
bullets over the track and will get Eguard Tejera in the saddle.
KING DAN (Include) was a head winner against turf rivals in his last grass
try in November, and the early runner will likely be close or setting the pace
in this one. He could carry his speed a long way, so consider for the gimmicks
under James Graham. GRAN ESTRENO (Arg) (Lucky Robert) captured the Washington
Park H. (G3) on Arlington’s Polytrack last year following a win in the grassy
Claiming Crown Emerald. The Michael Stidham trainee appears to be a consistent
runner and should at least earn part against these. Shane Sellers has the
pilot’s seat.
GOING BALLISTIC’s (Lite the Fuse) last few tries on turf haven’t been all
that inspiring, and he’s not really impressed much on the main track
recently either. The gray six-year-old may not be up to this task. ERNESTO (Royal
Academy) doesn’t appear fast enough to challenge. ABLAZE WITH SPIRIT (American
Spirit) brings the powerful Steve Asmussen influence into this race, but even
that might not be enough to secure the win. RED ROCK CREEK (Numerous) looks out
of his class against these.
ACTING ZIPPY (City Zip) has been more than holding his own against stakes
rivals on the main track, but hasn’t done so well in his six turf tries. This is
his race to lose if he manages to transfer his main track form to the grass, but
we don’t really see that happening. REAL APPEAL (Successful Appeal) has been
running in claimers and probably won’t make an impact here.