UNBRIDLED DAMZIG (KY)                      10/1            Divisional Rank: 118

2 Year Old Colt                                    

UNBRIDLED'S SONG x DANZIG x DAMASCUS

Jockey: B Sipe ( 520 - 35 - 54 - 63 - 7% )

Record (4 : 3 – 1 – 0) $74,920                      

Best speed figure: 84

This grey colt has won three of his four starts and was impressive last out when he won a restricted allowance going a mile. He got home that day by two lengths and recorded a career best speed figure of 84. He has the speed to be near the pace, and with a lack of true early speed in this field; his jock may look to go wire to wire from the rail.

Off five weeks rest his trainer will be hoping the colt takes another step forward, since this race is a must win if he is to have any chance of running in The Breeders Bowl Juvenile.

MO BETTER BLUES (KY)              15/1            Divisional Rank: 151

2 Year Old Colt                                    

BERNARDINI x POINT GIVEN x SEEKING THE GOLD  

Jockey: D Sherman ( 433 - 39 - 44 - 31 - 9% )

Record (3 : 2 – 0 – 0) $46,800                      

Best speed figure: 85

Very generous odds for this beautifully bred colt who will only improve as he matures and the distances get longer. His lone career loss came in his second start when he was eased by his rider after something went amiss. There has been no official word on what went wrong that day, but whatever it was; it sidelined the colt for two months. He returned seven weeks ago to win a mile allowance race by ½ length for an 85 speed rating. In winning that race he erased any doubts about any lingering effects of the supposed injury he suffered in May, and if he continues to progress as his trainer believes, he offers great value for bettors.

RALLY VAN (KY)                10/1            Divisional Rank: 61

2 Year Old Colt                                    

VAN NISTELROOY x CAME HOME x A.P. INDY

Jockey: K Bortz ( 96 - 8 - 8 - 9 - 8% )

Record (7 : 3 – 2 – 0) $98,300                      

Best speed figure: 82

This durable colt has raced every month since March and Saturday marks the first time he will attempt going two turns. His best performance came in July when he was second in The Grade 3 Midsoil Stakes at 6 furlongs to Never Quit, who he will face again this weekend. Trainer Ashleigh will be hoping his colt has something left in the tank after a very tough seasonal campaign. His numbers are a bit light and he will need to move forward if he hopes to be in the winner’s circle.

MENFEE (KORE)                16/1            Divisional Rank: 261

2 Year Old Colt                                    

MENIFEE x INDY MOOD x QUIET AMERICAN

Jockey: J Godby ( 177 - 11 - 15 - 15 - 6% )

Record (6 : 1 – 2 – 1) $48,612                      

Best speed figure: 81

This Korean bred son of Menifee took five races to hand in his maiden certificate and that win has been his only victory thus far. He returned four weeks after breaking his maiden to finish second against allowance company last time out and he will make his Stakes debut this weekend. Although his form is not that strong and he is a longshot in here, his rider believes his colt has turned the corner since being sent a route of ground. “His last two races have been his best and they were both at a mile. He’ll love the distance”. Whether he’ll love the competition is another matter. 

TIZ SMOKIN' NOW (KY)               17/1            Divisional Rank: N/A

2 Year Old Colt                                    

SMOKE GLACKEN x TIZNOW x SLEW O' GOLD

Jockey: K Stabler ( 85 - 6 - 3 - 8 - 7% )

Record (4 : 1 – 1 – 2) $36,230                      

Best speed figure: 81

Another colt with only a maiden victory to his name, this dark grey was a closing second in a mile allowance four weeks ago after breaking his maiden four weeks prior. His race last time out was his first try outside a sprint and he equipped himself well enough that his connections decided to bite the bullet and enter him here. The question on most handicappers’ minds is how far he wants to go since his sire was a champion sprinter. He’ll go a long way to answering that question with his performance on Saturday.

ADMIRE SMOKE (JPN)                 10/1            Divisional Rank: 240

2 Year Old Colt                                    

ADMIRE MOON x CAPOTE x GULCH

Jockey: P Carrier ( 88 - 6 - 7 - 9 - 7% )

Record (5 : 1 – 1 – 2) $66,160                      

Best speed figure: 84

This Japanese bred got home by a nose in his first trip to the post. The problem is - that race was in February and he hasn’t won in five tries since then. He was good enough to finish third in The Grade 3 Television Stakes on Bluegrass Derby day, but last time out he was a badly beaten sixth in The Grade 3 Pea Patch Juvenile in his first attempt going long. That was his first out of the money finish and his trainer decided to give him a break after that performance. He comes to Kentucky off eight weeks rest and will look to get back on track on Saturday.

OUTLAW STAR (SAF)                     18/1            Divisional Rank: 45

2 Year Old Colt                                    

BLACK MINNALOUSHE x MT. LIVERMORE x NOHOLME II(AUS)

Jockey: P Cadigan ( 567 - 83 - 86 - 92 - 15% )

Record (7 : 2 – 1 – 1) $73,898                      

Best speed figure: 85

This South African colt was purchased in the auction by his current connections after he ran third in his first race. The purchase looked like a mistake when the colt went winless in his next four starts with three off the board finishes. In his next trip to post however, the son of Black Minnaloushe finally rewarded his new owner’s confidence in him when he broke his maiden impressively going 7 furlongs. His owner looked even smarter five weeks ago when the colt again displayed an explosive late kick in winning The 8.5 furlong Momentary Quest Memorial by 2 lengths in a 9/1 upset. Despite that effort the Kentucky odds maker has shown no respect for this colt making him the longest shot in this field. “I believe he will regress off that huge effort so I tagged him at 18/1. I really don’t like his chances on Saturday”, the odds maker told the media. We shall see.

CHAMPIONS PRIZE(KY)               9/1            Divisional Rank: N/A

2 Year Old Colt                                    

PURE PRIZE x SECRETARIAT x RIVA RIDGE

Jockey: B Fultz ( 120 - 9 - 8 - 12 - 8% )

Record (3 : 2 – 0 – 0) $36,360                      

Best speed figure: 86

After winning his first two races impressively this brown colt was moved to Stakes competition in The Grade 2 Camel Juvenile over a mile in Dubai. Although he was seventh in that race he was not disgraced, as he was only beaten 2-3/4 lengths by some very tough colts. The competition he faces on Saturday is no pushover, but it is weaker than what he faced in Dubai. With his pedigree the extra sixteenth of a mile should also be to his liking. Still he needs to bring his A-game if he hopes to walk away with the winning prize.   

NEVER QUIT (IRE)             8/1            Divisional Rank: 17

2 Year Old Colt                                    

REFUSE TO BEND (IRE) x DIESIS(GB) x STORM CAT   

Jockey: D Givins ( 658 - 183 - 110 - 65 - 28% )

Record (5 : 4 – 0 – 1) $281,672                    

Best speed figure: 91

His first two starts came on the grass and resulted in a win and a show. However, since being switched to the dirt he has reeled off three successive victories, with his last two wins coming in The Grade 3 Midsoil Stakes and The Grade 2 Dell Computer Futurity. He faces a new challenge on Saturday when he attempts two turns for the first time and the meet’s leading rider David Givins, who has the call, believes the distance will be no problem. “I worked him this week and he went nice and relaxed early and really finished up strong. He’s push button and that will help him on Saturday”.

SPANISH SWORD (KY)                  9/1            Divisional Rank: 54

2 Year Old Colt                                    

EL PRADO(IRE) x A.P. INDY x SUMMER SQUALL

Jockey: M Ketron ( 194 - 25 - 17 - 16 - 13% )

Record (5 : 2 – 2 – 0) $81,330                      

Best speed figure: 84

His only off the board finish came in his only attempt so far against Graded Stakes company when he was sixth in The Grade 2 Faber College Juvenile in July. He hopes for better results this weekend. Last time out he was second in The N Clan Stakes in his first two turn start, and with his breeding he will only get better with time and distance. On the backstretch this week a minor controversy surrounded this colt and his regular rider Paul Cadigan, who was set to ride the colt for the third straight race, but opted at the last minute to ride 18/1 shot Outlaw Star. That move perplexed many bettors who suspect Cadigan was fired by the colt’s connections after failing to get the job done in the colt’s last two starts. His agent refused to speak to the media this week, but new rider Mike Ketron was glad to inherit the mount. “I’ve never been on him, but I did win the Grade 2 race in July when he was up the track”.

CONNOTATION (KY)                     8/1            Divisional Rank: 111

2 Year Old Colt                                    

HARD SPUN x SEATTLE SLEW x MR. PROSPECTOR

Jockey: S Lynch ( 127 - 13 - 14 - 10 - 10% )

Record (6 : 2 – 1 – 2) $60,990                      

Best speed figure: 84

Consistent son of the freshman sire Hard Spun won at first asking way back in February then had to wait until August for his second victory, which came against allowance company at a mile. In between those two wins were a second, two thirds, and one fourth place finish in four starts. His win last time out, along with his 84 speed rating, has emboldened his connections to try Graded Stakes competition for the first time this weekend and if he continues to move forward in his form he could be in the shakeup at the wire.

OUR LEGACY OF RUIN (KY)                    6/1            Divisional Rank: 159

2 Year Old Colt                                    

DISTORTED HUMOR x TESTA ROSSA (AUS) x STORM CAT

Jockey: P Jazz ( 361 - 32 - 35 - 36 - 9% )

Record (3 : 1 – 1 – 0) $40,600                      

Best speed figure: 87

The lukewarm morning line favorite, this colt has only been to post three times with one victory to his credit. After running second at even money in his career bow, he returned six weeks later to break his maiden impressively in The Goswood Challenge. He returned two months after that and tried The Grade 1 Feed The Children Stakes where he was fifth beaten by just over four lengths in a very fast race. That defeat resulted in a career high 87 speed figure. His races have been well spaced out and Saturday will be his first outing in eight weeks. It will also be his first start going further than 6.5 furlongs and although his numbers are strong, they have all come in sprint races. His trainer is hoping he carries that speed further.

ROCKIN THE BOAT (ENG)                       9/1            Divisional Rank: 76

2 Year Old Colt                                    

PIVOTAL(GB) x STORM CAT x SEEKING THE GOLD   

Jockey: L Goodburn ( 193 - 20 - 20 - 18 - 10% )

Record (5 : 2 – 2 – 0) $71,850                      

Best speed figure: 87

His only out of the money finish came in The Grade 2 Little Ones Juvenile in May when he finished one from last in tenth place. That race however was his only start on the grass and he has never been off the board in four starts on dirt. He has won two of those starts and was second in the other two. His race six weeks ago was his best yet when he was a fast closing second in The Forbidden Garden Special going a mile. His speed rating that day of 87 brings him into the reckoning here if he duplicates that effort. Punters on the backstretch this week love the fact that this colt has improved as the distances have increased. He gets another half a furlong to work with on Saturday.

THUNDER DRAGON (KY)             7/1            Divisional Rank: 160

2 Year Old Colt                                    

MINESHAFT x STORM CAT x DIXIELAND BAND

Jockey: L Cardinal ( 104 - 9 - 7 - 9 - 9% )

Record (4 : 2 – 0 – 1) $53,515                      

Best speed figure: 89

After finishing off the board in his first start this regally colt has a third and two wins in three outings since. Last time out he scampered home by just under two lengths in a mile allowance race, and was awarded a speed number of 89 for that performance. He makes his stakes debut on Saturday and the Kentucky racing secretary thinks highly enough of this colt to install him the second choice on his morning line. “I think this colt has the most upside of any colt in this race. I think that not only will he run well this weekend but I believe he will be a force next year. If he had run in a Stakes before I would have made him the favorite”. His performance on Saturday will determine if he can live up to that hype.

My Picks

1.) MO BETTER BLUES (KY)  15/1

2.) NEVER QUIT (IRE)  8/1

3.) THUNDER DRAGON (KY)  7/1

I like the longshot play in here.

Good Luck To All!