It's all about the three year old runners once again in my weekly column. I guess you can say, Triple Crown fever has remain since that epic victory by American Pharoah in the Belmont Stakes. Because, all we have yesterday, today and tomorrow is three year old restricted races to talk about! Things got started early Friday afternoon, when the latest three year old race added to NYRA's Saratoga schedule; the Curlin Stakes with seven runners entered. This was for sophomores who haven't won a stake race this year. Second and third tier horses pointed to this one with the hope of making the Travers field in a few weeks down the road.
But, it's today and tomorrow we'll see no less than 23 thoroughbreds entered in three different races with many of them cross-entered in multiple spots. The question is, who's going where and who's avoiding American Pharoah on Sunday evening at the Jersey shore! Let's "try" to sort things out with who is going where, among the contenders. The cross-entered runners are; Stanford - (Curlin / West Virginia Derby), Tommy Macho (Curlin / West Virginia Derby), Tekton (Curlin / Jim Dandy or West Virginia Derby), Upstart (Jim Dandy / Haskell), Competitive Edge (Jim Dandy / Haskell). Three of these cross-entered horses hail from the Todd Pletcher barn. He has three types in the pecking order; 2nd stringer - Competitive Edge, 3rd stringer - Stanford and "bench warmer" - Tommy Macho. My guess is that, Tommy Macho is better suited to race in the Curlin Stakes (yesterday) because he fits the conditions best. Stanford would be more likely to go in graded stakes competition in the West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer Park. Competitive Edge has committed to the Haskell taking on the Pharoah and going two turns for the first time, dangerous spot for him!
As for the other two of the five cross-entered runners, Tekton is a third stringer at best and will stay at Saratoga racing in either of the stakes there, to avoid the Pharoah. As for Upstart, I believe it's worth a shot for him to face the Triple Crown champion. Not seen since his poor Kentucky Derby effort, Upstart needs to prove he can beat American Pharoah to cement reasoning that he is the 2nd best three year old behind the champion. If not, the current runner-up and 2nd place Belmont Stakes runner; Frosted will stay in that spot. Then again, these two could square off in today's Jim Dandy right here and again in a few weeks down the road in the Travers Stakes. That would be "good for racing" as they say.
So with all this stated, here are my selections for the three, three year old races today and tomorrow. West Virginia Derby (Mountaineer 8th) post time : 5:10 ~ Bent on Bourbon (#8) recent sharp winner of the Iowa Derby, Madefromlucky (#10) no factor 6th in the Belmont Stakes and another of Plecther's second tier runners. With the 8/10 I'll use underneath 11/6/5. Next up the Jim Dandy Stakes (Saratoga 10th) post time : 6:25 ~ Frosted (#7) second best three year old out there at this moment, Japan (#2) late blooming sophomore faces tougher competition today and underneath these two; 3/4/6. As for tomorrow's Haskell Invitational (Monmouth 12th) and the American Pharoah show, I'll take a stab and try to beat him with; Competitive Edge (#2). A good horse racing friend of mine said that this runner may have done well if he raced in the Belmont Stakes versus the champion. Well today, this Pletcher runner who disappointed greatly in the Wood Stephens Stakes at seven furlongs, gets to redeem himself today going two turns for the first time. American Pharoah (#4) will hold 2nd and the runners to use underneath my two top picks will be; 6/7/5.
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