Pablo Verces Handicap
Grade II
Six furlongs
Fast Dirt
$225,000
All horses, 4 years old and up

PP           Entry                                                      Trainer                   Jockey                    Odds

1          AFLEET SUMMER(KY)        earthsong          O Brim             6/1      

2           INDY STREET(KY)               beefcake9        M Staples         9/1      

3           MISHRA'S BAUBLE(KY)     steller3             T Bates            5/1      

4           ANTIQUE GOLD(KY)          pureluck           J Nabbs           8/1      

5          SALTY TIGER                        plunk                R Simcox         6/1      

6           VALENDAR(KY)                  tigereye            E Nardone       11/1    

7           CHRONIC ADDICTION      pjlracing           F Gossett         5/1      

8          SUPER EMPIRE                     lgbost3             L Snyder          15/1    

9          GARYS PRIDE                       elfish                 P Incay            26/1    

10        SUPERMAN(KY)                  waremblem5     A Lewis           5/1      

11         CRAZY EIGHTS(TX)            zahree             S Beach           13/1    

12        CALL WAITING(MD)           roundtable        S Ball               16/1

AFLEET SUMMER

AFLEET ALEX x SUMMER SQUALL x CARSON CITY

Career: 32 8 5 5 $127,909

Has been slaying allowance class a lot lately while running some blazing fast speed figures that can’t go ignored. The question is whether Afleet Summer can step it up in class and get it done. He likes the early lead, but likely lacks the early speed to grab it early in this race.

INDY STREET

STREET CRY (IRE) x A.P. INDY x KEY TO THE MINT

Career: 18 7 1 0 $271,695

Is coming off a big win in the grade two Wicker Sofa Stakes in which he ran a 108 speed figure. He is coming into peak performance at age four. He could explode and destroy this field. Watch for him to make a big late kick in this one.

MISHRA’S BAUBLE

FUSAICHI PEGASUS x UNBRIDLED'S SONG x DEPUTY MINISTER

Career: 28 10 5 4 $252,684

Based on the name of this one I think trainer Steller3 and I have something common other than the sim. Many a good name has come from MTG. Anyways, like most professional runners this one has it’s ups and downs, but more ups. He is coming off a huge second place run in the Mr. Prospector Challenge suggesting that he didn’t mind turning five one bit.

ANTIQUE GOLD

SEEKING THE GOLD x WILD AGAIN x DANZIG

Career: 18 5 6 0 $342,065

Coming off a string of disappointing graded finishes, but may be able to rekindle the magic here. It won’t be easy though, and he is going to have to do better than his seventh place finish in the Deep South Sprint. Antique Gold should get the early lead in this one, and with this race being just six furlongs he may very well keep it all the way to the wire.

SALTY TIGER

AWESOME AGAIN x STORM CAT x ALYDAR

Career: 33 10 5 3 $377,585

Won the JFK Street last year and finished second last time out in the Backstreet Driver Stakes. This six year old runner shows no signs of slowing, and could very well step up big again this week. He will stalk and look to pounce down the stretch.

VALENDAR

GRAND SLAM x PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) x MISWAKI

Career: 13 5 3 1 $120,270

This lightly raced four year old could take off at any time and step up big. He has been a solid stakes runner and needs to prove he is ready for graded racing. At some point he more than likely will make noise, I am just not sure it is this week.

CHRONIC ADDICTION

GONE WEST x ELA-MANA-MOU(IRE) x VALID APPEAL

Career: 36 13 5 5 $1,257,985

Finished fourth in the Grade three JFK Street, and won the grade one Bernie Mac Special. The six year old has big time credentials, and plenty of gas left in the tank. He can prove that again by stepping up big in this one. He won’t be near the lead early, but once he starts to close he may have it.

SUPER EMPIRE

EMPIRE MAKER x FAIRY KING x A.P. INDY

Career: 49 7 7 4 $183,923

I like this horse a lot, but not at six furlongs. He seems like he would want longer, but then again his last win was at six furlongs in allowances when he ran a 98 speed figure. He is has an outside shot at surprising this field, but I don’t think it happens here in this one

GARYS PRIDE

AWESOME AGAIN x STORM CAT x FLYING PASTER

Career: 39 8 2 8 $95,863

Another solid allowance runner trying to steal a moment of glory in the spotlight. I don’t think he can do it against this field. He can’t steal the lead and I don’t think he can out kick this field either down the stretch. Just move along to Superman and you realize high hopes here are just silly.

SUPERMAN

STORM CAT x MR. PROSPECTOR x SHARPEN UP(GB)

Career: 26 9 3 4 $438,547

Finished third in last years Deep South Sprint, and won last years Mine Book Special. Superman lives up to the name with very solid speed out of the gate, and a great finishing move. This classic Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector is always in contention for the win.

CRAZY EIGHTS

A P VALENTINE x LEAR FAN x PHONE TRICK

Career: 38 9 3 4 $209,775

Finished 2008 season with a dismal performance in the Deep South Sprint, but before that he was cruising along having finished second in the grade three JFK Street with a masterful 111 speed figure. If Crazy Eights regains form, he can bring back the magic and do well here.  

Lebowski’s Selections: 10, 7,3, 4, 11