Handicapper's Corner: SHAM STAKES (G3)
By: Laurie Ross
Betting against the favorites in the Sham Stakes
The Sham Stakes (G3)
was named in honor of the 1973 underdog who chased Secretariat through the
Triple Crown and ultimately had his heart broken in the Belmont Stakes. The well-bred
colt finished second to Secretariat in the Kentucky Derby, despite bashing his
head against the starting gate so hard he lost two teeth. Sham’s time under the
wire was a sub 2:00 and faster than Monarchos' winning time in 2001. In any
other year, Sham would have been a Triple Crown winner. Sham was a superstar in his own right,
equaling the track record for 1 1/8 miles in the Santa Anita Derby.
Winners of the two-turn mile event haven’t had much impact
on the Kentucky Derby. Since the Grade
Three race was first contested in 2001, only two colts have hit the board in
both races; Empire Maker finished second in both races and in 2005, Giacomo was
third in the Sham before a successful trip in the Derby.
Overall, the Sham Stakes victors, with the exception of
Colonel John, have continued their careers as sprinter/milers.
This year, a field of nine three year old colts will face
the starter. A third of the field is trained by Doug O’Neil, while two others
are conditioned by Bob Baffert. Since 2001, Baffert has visited the Sham Stakes
winner’s circle three times, the last was in 2014 with Midnight Hawk. O’Neil’s sole Sham victory came the year
before with Goldencents. A 2016 Kentucky Derby qualifier, the winner will receive 10 points.
The Favorites:
The two morning line favorites last raced in the Cecil B.
DeMille Stakes (G3) over the lawn and will attempt to transfer their form to
dirt.
COLLECTED (City Zip -
Helena Bay (GB), by Johannesburg) has
pressed the pace in both of his starts. He grabbed the lead at the top of the
stretch of the one mile Cecil B. DeMille, but couldn’t hold off Dressed In Hermes, who bypassed him to win by 1 ¼ lengths. Although Collected has a strong turf
pedigree, his full brother Zip It Up managed to win once in five
attempts over the dirt. However, as is often the case with turf horses, the win
was over a sloppy track.
DRESSED IN HERMES (Hat
Trick (JPN) - Elusive Fashion, by Elusive Quality) has carved out a nice little
career over the lawn as a stakes miler. He sandwiched a fifth place finish in
the Breeders’ Cup Juvie Turf between victories in the Zuma Beach and Cecil
B. DeMille. The fashionable colt’s
initial start over the dirt resulted in a distant fourth place finish behind
Exaggerator. Although two of his half
siblings won once each over the dirt, Dressed In Hermes’ distaff line is solid turf. The colt has
a chance to hit the board, based on his class.
Can pull the upset:
FOUND MONEY (Square Eddie - Chanel My Belle, by General Meeting) has the best
chance of the O’Neil trio to find the winner’s circle. The son of Square Eddie
has won or placed in six of seven starts, all over the dirt and he’s 2-2 at
Santa Anita. His only off the board placings
were against 2YO Champ Nyquist in the Best Pal and behind Exaggerator in the
Delta Jackpot. There are no colts of
that caliber in the Sham. Found Money owns the only blacktype in three
generations of his distaff line and owes his class to his sire.
SEMPER FORTIS (Distorted Humor - Rebridled Dreams, by Unbridled's Song)
has the best pedigree in the bunch. He’s
a half brother to last year’s Blue Grass Stakes (G1) hero Carpe Diem, Dixiana
Breeders' Futurity winner J. B.’s Thunder and to the multiple Group winner
Doncaster Rover. The O’Neil trainee needed some time to get his act
together. After off the board placing in
his first three starts, Semper Fortis won a maiden claimer at Del Mar and came
back to win an optional claimer at a mile by a measured ½ length. The dark bay colt owns the highest late pace
speed figure in the race and could take another step up here.
LET'S MEET IN RIO (Flatter - Rio Carnival, by Storm Cat) may be Baffert’s
best shot of adding another Sham Stakes trophy to his collection. After two off of the board finishes in
sprints – in which he had good excuses, the son of Flatter stretched out to win
his maiden at a mile. His dam was off of
the board in two starts in England, yet she’s a half to a French Group 1 winner
and an English Group 3 router. The colt’s
second dam Zenda won a French Group 1 stakes and finished second in the Q.E. II
Challenge (G1) at Keeneland. Despite all
the turfy-ness in his background, Let’s Meet in Rio may do well over the dirt
and can step up here. He worked a second to last bullet 4F and should be sharp
for Baffert. His late pace speed figure is equal to that of Found Money.
Filling out the Exotics:
LAOBAN (Uncle
Mo - Chattertown, by Speightstown) is still a maiden after two attempts. After setting the pace at a good clip in his
last start at a mile, the son of leading freshman sire Uncle Moe tired badly,
blowing a five length lead to finish second to Let’s Meet in Rio by 1 ½ lengths. Laoban’s dam is a stakes placed sprinter. She’s
a half to That’s How I Roll, a stakes winning sprinter and to Santa
Ysabel Stakes runner-up Bluegrass Chatter. The second dam Chatter Chatter is a multiple
stakes winning sprinter and she’s a half to the dam of Grade 1 winning veteran
I’m a Chatterbox. Laoban has two stamina
breezes under his girth and he should be fit to handle the distance, if he
wants to run that far. He could improve enough to grab a piece of the pie.
SORRYABOUTNOTHING (Repent - Royal Card, by Chapel Royal) was beaten by a
determined neck in his second start after having to steady. He was placed first through DQ. After that strong effort, O’Neil tossed the
colt into the Los Al Futurity where he was never a factor. Sorryaboutnothing’s dam is multiple stakes
placed and there’s minor stakes winners scattered throughout the colt’s
pedigree. The dark bay gets first time blinkers and he could bounce back to
earn a minor award.
Not today:
I'MALREADYTHERE (Crown of Thorns - Wildfire Ruby, by Wild Event)
has hit the board in five of six starts, but his only win came in maiden turf
sprint at Gulfstream Park. He was outclassed by five lengths in the Del Mar
Juvenile Turf Stakes by Hollywood Don, but did return with a good effort in the
Zuma Beach Stakes. I'malreadythere hasn’t proven as effective over the dirt. He’s
been beaten a combined 18+ lengths in three starts over the dirt, including his
last start, a 7 ¼ length drubbing by Mor Spirit in the Los Al Futurity. Previously, he was third, four lengths behind
Towes On Ice in the Bob Hope Stakes. I'malreadythere
owns the only blacktype in two generations of his distaff line. He’s a nice
colt, but Hollendorfer is trying to make I'malreadythere into something he’s
not. The colt has the willingness to try and could pick up a check for third or
fourth place.
RARE CANDY
(Twirling Candy - Bold Pegasus, by Fusaichi Pegasus) won and placed in two
maiden sprints over the lawn, but he just isn’t stakes race caliber. He was tossed into the deep end in his
initial dirt attempt, which was the Los Al Futurity. He managed to finish
fourth, a half length behind Hollywood Don in third, but both had a fading view
of Nyquist and Swipes hindquarters. Rare
Candy’s second dam Bold Lady Anne won the Churchill Debutante and placed in the
Spinaway (G1) at two, and did well in stakes as a three year old, however Rare
Candy’s dam is unraced and his and half siblings haven’t shown a whole lot.
SELECTIONS:
The day may be overcast, but no rain is in the forecast.
The track should be fast.
Since the inception of the Sham Stakes, all winners have
finished fourth or better in their prep race. Nine of the last ten winners won
their last start. Let’s go with an O’Neil exacta.
#4 FOUND MONEY (6-1)
#5 SEMPER FORTIS
(8-1)
#3 LET'S MEET IN RIO
(6-1)
#9 COLLECTED (3-1)
THE PLAY:
$100 to bet:
$10 WP #4 (at 4-1 or higher)
$10 WP #5 (at 4-1 or higher)
$10 WP #3 (at 4-1 or higher)
$2 Exacta box ($12): #4, #5, #3
$2 Tri box ($12): #4, #5, #3
$0.50 Super box ($12) #4, #5, #3, #9
$1 Super Keys ($28):
#4/ #5, #3/#5, #3/ #9, #6, #7, #8
#5/#3, #4/#3, #4/ #9, #6, #7, #8
#3/#4, #5/#4, #5/ #9, #6, #7, #8
Total: $94, $6 left for a drink
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