Handicapper's Corner: Bob Hope Stakes (G3)

Mucho to Like About These KY Derby Hopefuls

By: Laurie Ross, Pedigree Power

The Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings rarely has implications on the Kentucky Derby, but there are some distance-oriented pedigrees in this seven-furlong contest.

Recent winners of the Bob Hope Stakes include  2013 Champion 2 Year Old Colt, Shared Belief and CashCall Futurity winner Mastery.  Bob Baffert has conditioned eight previous winners of the Bob Hope and has two entrants this year.

Let’s take a look at the field.

SPARKY VILLE (3-1) is the most experienced of the lot with five starts under his girth. He was last seen winning the 6 1/2-furlong Sunny Slope Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths over three other foes, including Savagery. Previously, the son of Candy Ride placed second in the Best Pal to Instrgrad. Granted, he was ten lengths back of the speedy winner, but Sparky Ville finished 3 1/4-lengths in front of the third place runner. The Jeff Bonde trainee is the class of the field, and jockey Gary Stevens can let the colt press the pace or sit farther back, a good place to be in a field of wannabe front-runners.

Bob Baffert sends out a pair of last out maiden winners.  MUCHO GUSTO (5-2) ran them off their feet in a six-furlong event at Los Al. The track is noted for producing very fast fractions, and this son of Mucho Macho Man zipped along in 12.96, 45.75, 57.82 and finished up four lengths to the good in 1:10.14.  Out of a Giant’s Causeway mare, Mucho Gusto is bred to handle middle to classic distances.

The other Baffert colt, METROPOL (4-1), beat three other colts in his 6 1/2-furlong debut at Santa Anita in 1:17.56. His dam is a half-sister to multiple G1SW turf router Wonder Again, and another half-sister bore Bashford Manor (G3) hero Ten City, so who knows how talented Metropol will be, or which surface he may eventually prefer? The colt does have high knee action but gets over the dirt just fine. 

EXTRA HOPE (7-2) won a maiden race by eight lengths after stretching to 1 1/16-miles. The late-running son of Shanghai Bobby was unsuccessful in three other maiden attempts at shorter distances. Richard Mandella gave the colt a bullet 4-furlong breeze before the Bob Hope.  With much of the field being speed-oriented, Extra Hope would benefit from fast early fractions.

SAVAGERY (4-1) has four-lifetime starts. He’s the type to gun to the lead and hang on for as long as he can. He got in a speed duel in the Sunny Slope, but couldn’t hold on the late-charging Sparky Ville.  The extra half furlong won’t do Savagery any favors unless they leave him alone on the lead.

OWNING (15-1) captured his debut, but was out of his league in the Best Pal and Del Mar Juvenile Turf. The pretty gray colt may find the Bob Hope field a little easier to handle but still needs to prove his class.

SUENO (15-1) showed improvement in his second start, capturing an $80K maiden claimer at Del Mar by 4 3/4 lengths this summer. He’ll also do his best work late, and will hope for a speed duel up front.

SELECTIONS

Is MUCHO GUSTO mucho the best? Is he just too fast for them, will he rate, or will he be softened up on the lead?  Too many questions for a 5-2 shot.  Instead, I’ll go with SPARKY VILLE at 3-1. He’s the known class of the field and has experience. He can sit wherever Gary Stevens puts him, plus Sparky Ville has the highest late pace SF in the field.

#6 SPARKY VILLE (3-1)

#3 MUCHO GUSTO (5-2)

#2 EXTRA HOPE (7-2)

#1 METROPOL (4-1)

HANDIGAMBLING

The two Baffert babies may take the bulk of the wagering money because, well, it’s Baffert, and he’s won the Bob Hope Stakes more times than any other trainer. Hopefully, the odds will drift up on Sparky Ville to a more enticing 4-1 or better. This looks like a chalky race, so exotics are the way to go. Here’s how to use ThoroFan’s virtual $100:

$4 Superfecta — #6, #3, #2, #1 = $96

$2 Win/Place — #6 at odds of 4-1 or higher = $4