Curlin's Approval Horse for Course in Princess Rooney
By: Jeffrey Cobb, S. FL ThoroFan Member
On Saturday, July 1st
the Summit of Speed will be held at Gulfstream Park. The Summit of Speed was once a Summertime
staple of Calder Race Course. Now that CRC is out of the horse racing business,
the Summit has moved 5 miles east.
The weather Saturday
is predicted to be partly cloudy with a chance of a passing morning
shower. If the forecast is true, the
track should be dry and fast by race time.
Of course, this is South Florida, and it is officially Summer, so rain
at any time is always possible. The good news is that GP does a good job of
keeping their eye on the radar and sealing the track before any serious rain
occurs.
The track at the 7-furlong
distance plays fair with respect to post position. Like most North American
tracks, it tends to favor speed; however, given the right pace scenario,
closers do have a chance.
Here is the field.
PP 1 Money Or Love (30-1): a 5 year old mare
trained by Anthony Russo and ridden by Ramsey Zimmerman. Money Or Love ran
poorly last out in the 100k Ginger Punch, but that race was on turf and 8.5
furlongs. At 0 for 6 on grass, I'm guessing that is not Money Or Love's
surface. The race before was 7f on the main track was the100k state bred
Musical Romance. Money Or Love took the
prize in that race. Overall Money Or
Love appears to be a little too slow for others in the field might be able to
get a piece of a vertical exotic so use underneath in supers and trifectas.
PP 2 Birdatthewire (6-1): Thomas Procter,
trainer and Van Dyke Drayden in the saddle. Bird is shipping in from Presque
Isle Downs in Erie, Pa. The Bird recovered from a slow start at Churchill in
November to get up for 2nd in the Grade 2 Chilukki stakes is 2 for 5
at the distance and always in the money in 4 tries at GP with two wins
including a 3rd place finish in last year’s edition of the Princess
Rooney. Birdatthewire is one of those teaser horsedswho always seems to be a
little late at the wire. Contender for a minor prize, nothing more.
PP 3 Dearest (4-1): Gilberto Zerpa, trainer and Emisael
Jaramillo the jockey. There is a lot to like about Dearest. She won the G3
Sugar Swirl two back and finished 3rd a half-length behind Distinta
(4) and Wheatfield (5) last out. Dearest likes to win (8-5-1-2), likes GP
(6-4-0-2), and the distance (3-2-0-1). Jaramillo is a good fit for the filly.
Downside is her last race was a step slower than her usual. However, Dearest
has been freshened and Zerpa is 27% off > 90 days rest. In addition,
Jaramillo wins for Zerpa at a 50% rate in the last 60 days (10 times out and 5
wins). If can regain her previous form, she will be right there at the wire.
PP 4 Distinta (8-1): Trained by Victor Barboza, Jr. and
ridden by Edgard Zayas. Distinta beat Dearest (3) and Wheatfield (5) last out,
yet her ML odds are twice those of Dearest. Let me tell you why. Dearest is 5
wins in 8 tries and Distinta is 4 wins in 22 tries. Distinta's Brisnet speed
figures are, on average not good enough to win this race and usually only good
enough for a minor prize. A mare who likes to finish 2nd. Maybe use
underneath.
PP 5 Wheatfield (20-1): Trained by Nick Zito and piloted by
C. J. McMahon. Wheatfield has been struggling lately. Coming down from Belmont,
she's been keeping pretty good company but has been unable to find the winner's
circle this year. Wheatfield finished 2nd in 1 try at GP and has not
won in 3 tries at the distance. I think
I will look elsewhere.
PP 6 Patriotic Diamond (12-1): Trained by Patrick
(the pit viper) Biancone and ridden by Cornelio Velasquez. PD is has not yet
cleared on winners of 1 other than.... yet is lined at only 12-1. Explain that
to me. 12-1 is too short. Next.
PP 7 Curlin's Approval (9-2): Trained by Martin
Wolfson and ridden by Luis Saez. There
was a time when this would be Marty Wolfson's day and he might have 2 or 3
entries in this race and a couple of others.
At one time Wolfson was a premier South Florida trainer, but he has been
quiet the last couple of years. Curlin's Approval has had good results at GP
(8-5-1-0) and the distance (5-2-0-0). Saez is a very capable rider who can get
his mount home if he's got the horse. Curlin's Approval has won a couple of
nice races here, but her last two indicate that she may be cycling down. She's
had a bit of a rest and good recent works suggesting she may be ready to return
to her strong form. I think, 9-2 may be a little light, but if the public goes
where I think the will, I could be taking a long hard look at Curlin's
Approval.
PP 8 Lightstream (7-2): Trained by Brian Lynch and ridden by
Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. The morning line makes Lightstream the
favorite; however, I am not a fan of horses shipping into hot and humid South
Florida in the Summer. Lightstream has won at GP, but that was her maiden
win. If Brisnet speed figures are to be
believed, it was also her best and she has yet to run back to that maiden
figure. In spite of that failure,
Lightstream still has a couple of graded stakes wins and must be regarded as a
contender. I think we can take a stand
against this one for the top prize. Lightstream will likely be less than 7-2 at
post time, and will make it easier to play against her. Will look at her in the
walking ring and post parade to see how she's adapting to the climate.
PP 9 More Than a Party (20-1): Trained by Edwin T.
Broome and ridden by Luca Panici. This one seems to be a little slower that the
rest, so I am going to move on.
PP10 Concealedwithakiss (15-1): Trained by Luis
Duco and ridden by Marcos Neneses. Annette will like this one because of the
name. I think again, this one doesn't have what it takes to win here. So again,
moving along.
PP11 Kinsley Kisses (6-1): Trained by Todd A.
Pletcher and ridden by Tyler Gaffalione. Now I have the Annette exacta for this
race. Did anybody notice that Todd had removed his “Evil Todd” goatee at the
Belmont? And, has anybody noticed that Tyler Gaffalione is 44% when riding for
Pletcher, most of which have come at GP? Anybody notice that KK is 2 for 2 at
GP? KK is another GP maiden breaker and has won every non-stakes race she has
competed in. Oh wait, this is a stakes race. Ok in stakes races she likes to
finish 2nd and 3rd a lot, so why should this one be any
different. Bet you thought I was going
to drink the Todd Kool-Aid here, didn't ya? Use underneath, not on top.
Bottomline: The 2017 edition of the Princess Rooney has
turned out to be a highly competitive race in which it is difficult, in most
cases to separate the contenders from the pretenders. No real strong opinion on
this race, and my opinion could change between now and Saturday. But as of now,
this is how I see it.
I am looking for
Marty Wolfson to relive some of his old South Florida glory. Castellano and
Pletcher involved on different entries will suck up most of the weekend warrior
money. Wolfson has always been good off
the layoff and Curlin's Approval (7)
has the ability to win here if she gains regain her good form. The recent workouts give me reason to think
she will. I will look for Dearest (3)
and Kinsley Kisses (11) to fill out
the exacta and trifecta. Because this is
such a competitive race, you might want to spread out a little in the
exotics. A price horse here would not be
a shocker and the payoff could be good.
Good luck to
everyone.
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