Viva Majorca, a home-bred by Tiago, has never started in anything about black-type. He came fourth in his first and only black-type, the Curlin Stakes (1 1/8 mile). This horse is no contender and you can quote me on this. The one race winner, Ulanbator (Offlee Wild-Ashapoo), is another horse I'm dropping.
My first real contender is Mr Speaker (Pulpit-Salute). He has only won on the turf. His lone dirt start resulting in a 7th place in the Holy Bull. I'd be willing to overlook that as a result of him not being ready for dirt racing. His next start was the Palm Beach Stakes (1 1/8) in which he came 2nd. His first turf victory was the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (1 1/16 mile). Three months later Mr Speaker jumped into grade one company for the Belmont Derby Invitational, paying $49 to win, $18.20 to place and $10.80 to show. He is by the 1994 stallion Pulpit. The Seattle Slew grandson entered stud in 1998 at Claiborne Farm. He currently stands for $50,000. Pulpit could win races between 8 1/2 to 9 furlongs. He won the Fountain of Youth (1 1/8 mile) and the Florida Derby (1 1/16). For his final race, he came 4th in the Kentucky Derby. Salute, Mr Speaker's dam, only won a maiden but she came third in the Tempted Stakes and second in the Demoiselle Stakes, both graded stakes. She was by Unbridled and out of Personal Ensign. Her dam won the Frizette Stakes, Rare Perfume Stakes, Beldame Stakes ('87 & '88), Shuvee Handicap, Hempstead Handicap, Molly Pitcher Handicap, Whitney Handicap and the Breeders' Cup Distaff. Mr Speaker has the pedigree but will McGaughey be taking a chance by entering him?
The Jim Dandy winner Wicked Strong (Hard Spun-Moyne Abbey) will be joining the field. He will wear his blinkers again. His latest win was the Jim Dandy (1 1/8 mile) over Tonalist and Kid Cruz. During the Triple Crown he managed a fourth in the Derby (1 1/4 mile) and the Belmont (1 1/2 mile). He won the Wood Memorial (1 1/8 mile) and came ninth in the Holy Bull Stakes (1 1/16 mile). He is sired by Hard Spun. He was three for three as a two-year old. He won the LeComte Stakes (1 mile), Lane's End Stakes (1 1/8 mile), King's Bishop (7 furlongs) and the Kentucky Cup Classic Stakes (1 1/8 mile). His other accomplishments include a 2nd in the Kentucky Derby (1 1/4 mile), 3rd in the Preakness (1 3/16 mile), 4th in the Belmont Stakes (1 1/2 mile), 1st in the Haskell Invitational (1 1/8 mile) and a 2nd in the Breeders' Cup Classic (1 1/4 mile), beating Derby winner Street Sense but losing to Preakness winner Curlin. Hard Spun is a very talented stallion who could win at distances between six to nine furlongs. He is sired by the three-for-three sire, Danzig. Wicked Strong's dam only won her maiden (1 1/16 mile) race out of twelve starts. Wicked Strong proves he has the pedigree and that he can compete with these horses but will he get caught up with a fast early pace set by Bayern/Kid Cruz?
As of now I still believe Tonalist (Tapit-Settling Mist) is a fluke and luck has just been on his side. He won the Peter Pan (1 1/8 mile) and the Belmont (1 1/2 mile) before managing a 2nd in the Jim Dandy (1 1/8 mile). He is by Tapit, out of Settling Mist. Tapit won the Laurel Futurity (1 1/16 mile) and the Wood Memorial (1 1/8 mile). He came ninth in the Kentucky Derby and the Pennsylvania Derby (1 1/8 mile). The grandson of Seattle Slew, Pulpit is the grandsire of Tonalist. He, like Tapit, won the Fountain of Youth, came second in the Florida Derby, won the Toyota Blue Grass (1 1/8 mile) and 4th came in the Kentucky Derby. Settling Mist won one out of nineteen races. Tonalist for sure has the pedigree but will his luck wash away?
Bayern (Offlee Wild-Alittlebitearly) showed he wasn't just a sprinter with his wire to wire Haskell win. Offlee Wild won the Holy Bull Stakes (1 1/16 mile). But didn't have much luck in grade one races, not winning for another year. His first grade one victory came in 2004 when he beat Funny Cide in the Massachusettes Handicap. He was challenged by four other horses in the Breeders' Cup Handicap. During his final win Offlee Wild, once again, beat Funny Cide in the Suburban Handicap. Offlee Wild is by the Icecapade stallion, Wild Again. He won the Breeders' Cup Classic (1 1/4th mile). Alittlebitearly was unraced. Yes, Bayern has proved himself. Yes, he is an amazing racer. But will he get stuck in a speed dual?
Commanding Curve (Master Command-Mother) has never won a race other than his maiden. I have a feeling that I am going to regret dismissing him but I will toss him as well.
The Lemon Drop colt Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid-Layreebelle) had a "perfect" final breeze. This year he has started seven times winning four of the them. His sire Lemon Drop Kid won the Futurity Stakes (1 mile), Belmont Stakes (1 1/2 mile), Travers Stakes (1 1/4 mile), Whitney Handicap (1 1/8 mile) and the Woodward Stakes (1 1/8 mile). His sire won races overseas. Layreebelle, Kid Cruz's dam, was unraced. Her sire is Tale of the Cat. He came 4th in the Haskell, 3rd in the Vosburgh (1997/98), 2nd in the Whitney and a 1st in the King's Bishop. Kid Cruz is full steam ahead in the Travers.
The Ontario-bred Coltimus Prime (Milwaukee Brew-Certainly Special) hasn't done well in America so I'll dismiss him.
V.E. Day (English Channel-California Sunset) hasn't won any graded stakes, forget starting in them. He started five times; his worst placing was a fifth in a maiden. He won his maiden (1 mile) five months into the year. In July V.E. Day won an allowance (1 1/8 mile) before winning the Curlin Stakes (1 1/8 mile), beating Charge Now and Viva Majorca. English Channel won the Virginia Derby (1 1/4 mile), Canadian Turf Handicap (1 1/16 mile), Woodford Turf Classic (1 1/8 mile), United Nations Stakes (1 3/8 mile), and the Breeder's Cup Turf (1 1/2 mile). California Sunset is unstarted. She is by Deputy Minister, the 2-Year Old Eclipse Award winner. V.E. Day has the pedigree but I'm a little worried about his black-type win being his stakes win.
Charge Now (Tiznow-Supercharger) is yet another one I will be dismissing.
Contenders:
-Mr Speaker
-Tonalist
-Wicked Strong
-Bayern
-Kid Cruz
Pretenders:
-Charge Now
-V.E. Day
-Commanding Curve
-Viva Majorca
-Ulanbator
Thanks to all of you who read my blog. Yesterday I was on FlipBook apparently. I hope you guys like my new format, if so please comment down below.
Until next time,
Madison
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