This year’s sprint has a wide variety of running styles, form cycles. It’s probably best known for a bunch of former claimers. Palace, Seeking the Sheriff, and Big Macher have hit the pay dirt this year and now run for the money.
The Skinny:
Big Macher brings serious speed to the table and has had some big works in the last couple of weeks. Not much to say here, he will be on a send job and come in fit and fresh, a clean break and he will be a hand full to the top of the stretch.
Private Zone impressed in New York and comes in with better form this year than last year. Has some back class and has run well at a mile distance. He may be more gritty than some of the pure sprinters.
Work All Week has been outstanding on dirt and rides an impressive lifetime record of 11 for 14 into this race. Keeneland race was impressive, but he faced a lot less speed pressure. Horses like Big Macher and Seeking the Sherrif will not show this guy any mercy. Have a feeling he is going to be outclassed a little in this spot.
Rich Tapestry gutted out a hard-fought win in the Santa Anita Sprint Championship. That race had a different pace dynamic. It was really a 3 horse race, this race may bring a hotter pace and a full field of 10 horses sets up differently. Should run well and may race into a good trip.
Secret Circle one this race last year with one prep. His last race he was at the rail off the layoff against Rich Tapestry and Goldencents. Probably prefers to be outside horses, always runs his race, but not in the same form as he was last year.
Palace has the ability to come off the pace and should get some serious speed to run at. Last race was interesting and think he is capable of improving off that effort.
Bakken is lightly raced and fits with this group of horses at this distance. Big win in last race and must handle the ship. Capable of coming off the pace if needed and could be 12/1 on the board.
Seeking the Sherif brings serious heat to the table. Last race outclassed the field. Has faced small fields all summer and now faces 10 horses. Gritty warrior hits hard for a half and softens up some of the other speed.
The Choice:
Lots of gas in this race. Palace is capable of coming off the pace and may drift up to a price worth betting. Secret Circle is capable and Big Macher has been working lights out.
Tosses:
Work all Week will face a lot more heat than he has been facing. Fast Anna is not ready for Older Grade 1 horses who come knocking every race.