CT Juvenile

99/18/2010 CT   Race #3   7f   Dirt   Stake Purse $107.500 (includes $7.500 added stakes) For Two Year Olds

The second running of the CT Juvenile looks to be showcase for recent auction purchases, as four newly purchased colts get ready to make their first starts for new owners on Saturday. This group includes the third highest selling juvenile, Eight Alarm Fire. Sold just four days ago by Blushing Meadows for $230.010, new owner Maverick Racing is wasting no time putting the pedal to the metal to see what is under the hood. Emporio Armani is another Blushing Meadows auction juvenile making his first start under new silks following his sale to Quintis Racing for $67.550. The two other recently purchased entries are Montalcino, sold by Jerry Garcia Racing for $42.560 to new owner Wild Aces Stable and Kipper, sold by Allstars Disco for $40.990 to new owner Mb Stables.

These four look hot to trot but they will come up against some likely looking competition including Paisano Phil, who ships in off back-to-back wins. Indian Lou and So Pretty are the leaders in the speed figures brigade with both earning 89 in their last. The others are no slouches either and one can argue a case for just about any entry, making this one a handicapping challenge.

Here is the field in order of entry:

1    Eight Alarm Fire   Maverick Racing   Talamo J   119 This nicely bred and very handsome son of Bungalow Eight was picked up for $230.010 at the recent auction. He placed in his first trip at HOL and just broke his maiden at DMR in his second effort. Build, breeding and works all look tops and based on his last two he looks competitive here.

2    Gaucho   Joboo Stables   Acosta J D   119 This son of Gift Holiday was bred by the owner in Pennsylvania. He broke his maiden a little over two weeks ago in his fifth race, after placing in his first three. He is a nice looking colt, but his record and works are no match for some here and he will need to step up against some top company with not much rest compared to others.  

3    Indian Lou   Riggins Racing   Reynolds L C   119   This little chestnut autogen gelding broke his maiden in May then hit the board in two following allowances. Unraced since July, his owner has concentrated on seven-furlong works prepping him for today. He shares the field high speed figure of 89 and hails from a top winning barn so do not overlook.      

4    Emporio Armani   Quintis Racing   Prado E S   119   This son of Eviction Notice is the second Blushing Meadows auction colt in this race. Sold for $67.550, the bay colt broke his maiden in his second try back in June. Unraced since then, his works have sharpened recently and he could figure here.

5    Paisano Phil   Nakamura Stables   Desormeaux K J   119   This son of Kapai Kiwi was bred in New York by the owner. Off the board just once in his brief career, he ships in off back-to-back wins, both with 86 speed figures.  His works are on target and he shows he knows how to win. Hard not to like him here.     

6    Z Cars   Diablo Diablo   Carmouche K   119 This well-bred son of Laffin Policeman is a half brother to graded stakes winner Mordred. He was bred in California by the owner.  He broke his maiden first time out then won and placed in a pair of allowances. He made his black type debut last month, but was off the board after a slow break and an early trailing trip. His works are on target and with a sharper break than his last, he should be in contention.

7    Montalcino   Wild Aces Stables   Dunkelberger T L   119 Bought at auction for $42.560, this son of Grand Cru wired his maiden race to win by two following a place finish in his first start. He looked good winning his last in comparable times to the best here, so he looks a good fit with these.  

8    So Pretty   Running Farms   Albarado R J   119 This son of Word Smith was bred in New Jersey by the owner. As his name implies, he is a good-looking colt with a classic sprinter build. He placed in his debut and broke his maiden in his second outing.   He was third on the sod in his black type debut in the FT Turf Dash. Hard to tell how ranks with these on the dirt but a recent breeze show decent fractions for the six-furlong mark. He earned a field co-high speed figure of 89 in his last.

9    Kipper   Mb Stables   Espinoza V   119This double VG autogen colt was sold at auction for $40.990 by Allstars Disco after winning his first three in a row at MNR.  He was third in his black type debut in the MNR Juvenile Stakes. He was forced five wide turning for home but closed well to finish just a half-length back from the winner. He looks a lively one though he draws the outside here.

PICKS:

#5    Paisano Phil  

#6    Z Cars  

#1    Eight Alarm Fire