January, 2013 - Slew's Fast Horses

Sunday, 20 January 2013

GULFSTREAM PARK: Looking Ahead in the Rear View Mirror

Sitting here on January 20th 2013 finds us not quite half-way through the Gulfstream Park meet. I won’t get down there this winter and that is a shame. While I preferred the old track with its spacious grandstand and racetrack feel, I do like a few private corners of the new one. Especially when the ocean breeze is right and the sun is out. But the racetrack feels like an afterthought, although Mr. Stronach doesn’t agree. And since it is his money…well, maybe not really his but close enough, I’ll just have to suck it up.

One thing that has not changed however, is that you will find very good horses in and amongst the shops, gaming, and restaurants. We will try to find a few of them in this space.

Slew finds 26 fast races since December 6th of last year. We will look at a few of these races to try and find our next group of horses for the coming months remaining at the Gulfstream meet, and maybe a little bit beyond. We’ll begin with a race that did not make the list.

Starsilhouette ran on December 1st for Michael Maker in a STARTER STAKES for 3 & upward Fillies and Mares on the turf listed that day as firm. The race was not filled with pace as the first 3 splits were run in +24 second times. But she came home in a rush with the last 16th clocked in 5.86 seconds. It must be said that the only other pilot moving with the same degree of purpose was Kendrick Carmouche on the runner up Malibu Yankee. If either one of these horses get some pace and a tiring field next time, they could run over their opponents so be prepared to avert your eyes. But Starsilhouette showed chops when she took off through a seam that opened up when the final turn straightened away and enjoyed a clear path to the winners circle. Watch for these two.

The very next race on that days card produced two next out winners, and on December 22, 2013 in the El Prado Stakes, Nikki’s Sandcastle was one of them. Subsequent to the El Prado, she finished a deceptive 4th in the Ft. Lauderdale. In fact, the El Prado Stakes race produced a next out winner yesterday (01/19/2013) when Teaks North, piloted by John Velasquez paid $19.80 in the Sunshine Millions Turf. I’m still smarting from missing that one, but that is my fault. I procrastinated in writing this summary and that’s what I get. Had I done this last week as I had planned, yesterday would have been a very good day! But I digress.

Teaks North could very well have benefited from a soft turf, but for sure needed his last one having not raced in 11 months. Also worth mentioning is the runner up from the El Prado Stakes, Kharafa. Piloted by Edgar Prado, his inside run was second best but notable none-the-less. Be advised that there were three runners-up that came out of the 12/01 Starter Stakes race won by Nikki’s Sandcastle, all in starter or allowance company. As for Nikki, here is another horse on my list whose daddy is Castledale. Those of you familiar with this space know of my love for Madame Giry, a daughter of Castledale. There is high quality in the Peintre Celebre / Silver Hawk blood to be sure. And Nikki has a history of putting together several good runs, while Teaks North is just beginning his new form cycle. Stay tuned.

Race number 5 on 12/14/2012 was a MSW for two year old fillies at a mile on the firm turf. And while the first two finishers, Dancing For Glory and Manuka Honey duked it out in deep stretch, first time starter Tanzspiel ridden by John Valesquez and trained by Roger Attfield ran a professional debut. More to the point, she did her best running in the two fastest splits of the race which were run in 11.86 and 11.57 as the two final timings. This is pretty fast, folks. Now, you can’t have one of these write-ups without looking at at least one maiden special. That is where the future gold is hiding. And both the winner and runner up ran very well and showed heart down the stretch. But Tanzspiel will look a bit distant in the charts next time out while still running as a maiden. If the common wisdom gives you 3-1 or better, a long look is in order.

We will finish up on December 29th, 2012 in race # 9 with Bill Mott, Pam and Martin Wygod and Floral Romance. I see why, after breeding her...they kept her! After breaking her maiden at Belmont in her first try, she really looked special handling first level allowance company at Gulfstream Park. With Joel Rosario up, she broke awkwardly and sort of idled through the first half mile. But moving 5 wide, and around the far turn no less, ate up the competition running away in a final furlong of 11.83 for the 1 1/8 mile race. I’m putting a check mark next to her name in Slew’s database, and I am sure you will see her on Slew’s lists sometime in the near future.

There were certainly other races to look at, but we will stop here. Maybe another Sunday afternoon will afford me the time to review a few more, but I think we may have a good foundation using the four listed above.

Finally, congratulations to Wise Dan and his connections. A worthy winner of the Horse of the Year award presented last night at Gulfstream Park.

That’s how I see it. However you see it, good luck and good ‘capping!

- Slew http://SlewsFastHorses.com

Horses To Watch

posted on Sunday, 20 January 2013 18:38:28 UTC