Horses to Watch: Hoop Tea's Hooptie Handicapper reviews races at Churchill Downs, Will Rogers Downs, Pimlico
Horses To Watch 5.29.01
By the Hooptie Handicapper
Email hooptiehandicapper@gmail.com
Brought to you by Hoop Tea
Our first race this week is the 7th at Churchill Downs on May 20. This race was a nice score for us as we had the winner, exacta, and trifecta. As predicted, the 9 horse, R Working Girl, was a false favorite. 13/1 winner Dealing Justice, was eased two back in The Ruthless Stakes at Keeneland, brought back to an $87K Allowance two months later at the same track and distance. As expected, she ran evenly in that race signaling the trainer intent that it was more of an outing after the layoff and brighter things are on the horizon. However, today we're going to focus on the 2nd and 3rd place finishers, #2 Founders Day and #5 Fabricate
As you can see from the break, Founders Day gets out to the front and Fabricate got checked early, taking her off the usual pressing style she had displayed on dirt.
As they make their way toward the turn, you can see on the top portion of this picture, Fabricate picking up the pace and running along the three path. In the bottom portion, you can see Founders Day stuck on the rail and looking for a spot to open up.
Down the stretch, the favorite, in the middle, R Working Girl, appearing to tire and Dealing Justice along the inside rail start to catch her stride and disallowing anyone to pass her. Fabricate is on the right flank of the 4 horse and Founders Day is stuck to her left. Both horses are far back and in precarious situations. To compound matters, Julian Leparoux has now swung out six wide with Founders Day.
Finally able to shake free on Founders Day, Brian Hernandez shifted her to the rail and she was full of run at the end. About halfway down the stretch, Fabricate found her best and managed to get up for 3rd. Both Fabricate and Founders Day received equally measured poor trips. This was limited to 3yo fillies only, who have never won two races. If you can catch either of these two running under similar circumstances, they'll make a solid bet.
Our next race was highlighted here last Tuesday and it was from Will Rogers Downs. This was a one mile, $7.5K Maiden Claiming race for fillies and mares 3yo↑
Our selection, #5, Cherokee Rose, broke well from the gate in on the turn was mildly checked by jockey Ronald Richard. He ended up swinging her to the outside along the three path the entire backstretch.
When they made their way to the turn, she encountered trouble and finally shook loose, swinging out to the four path.
Down the stretch, she was full of run.
Had there have been more real estate, she would have probably gotten up for the win. a clean trip with the same jockey next time equals a winner. Period. Keep an eye on Cherokee Rose with Ronald Richard in the irons.
The final horse to watch for today was raced on Sunday, May 23. It was the 2nd at Pimlico, a $40K msw for fillies that are 2yo’s and the #3 Buy The Best is whom we are focusing on. As you can see, she broke poorly from the gate, spotting the leaders three lengths.
She dropped back even further as they made their way toward the turn.
Charlie Marquez asked Buy The Best the question around the turn and as you can see with the green hat and blue/green silks, she responded well, coming within a couple of lengths while going wide.
Given her horrible start and lagging back early, she finished well, just 2.5 lengths behind the winner, Bandits Warrior. Bandits Warrior received an 80 Equibase number and Buy The Best got a 73, despite running further. Look for a win out of this filly next time.
Our list as of 5.29.01
Artos
Buy The Best
Cherokee Rose
Diva Dixie
Fabricate
Founder's Day
Indulge
Knicks Front
Miss Chamita
My Cousin Rich
Pammy’s Ready
Promptly Done
U So MoneyBaby