The Bayou Stakes at FG has thrown up an interesting field for its five and a half furlong turf trip.
The horse drawn on the rail is T S Brown from Maverick Racing, a five year old entire with eight wins to his name. With 30 races his form is pretty exposed but he drops back from route distances today and that can sometimes prove to be a magic formula with these older types. There is no doubt he has a touch of class and he has done enough on the gallops to suggest he may have the speed to be competitive today.
Postell man from Alberta Rose stable goes in stall two and he is another older horse with plenty of races to pick up his true ability. A course and distance win in a nippy time last time will put him right in this but I worry that he may struggle in this grade.
Ready Spirit is next trained by Magaha Stable and although a six year old he only has eleven races under his belt. He looked good winning on this course and distance on New Years Day but has failed in three races since and his best chance may only come if we see lots of rain.
Finish The Game goes in box four and represents the first of the big chances in the race. Trained by Pan Farms who picked this one up for three hundred and fifty dollars in last years auction he has not been firing on all cylinders since but looked as if he was returning to form with a close fourth in the GP Sprint Championship last time. The five year old son of Time Clock won the Grade One Nearctic Stakes last season over a sprint turf trip but he seems to need at least six furlongs and may find this track and distance a little sharp for him today.
Instant Combustion is sent down from Lanfrancos Stable and whilst he looks an honest type may find this field too hot for him. Claimed for only ten dollars last season he won well over a mile last time and has been sprinting well on the gallops so it is not beyond reality to see him sneak a place.
Trench Bismo is one off the outside and comes here with a live chance. Trained by Ken Allen he has some tremendous form over longer distances and that and the average run last time may be the only things against him. A winner of the HOL Derby and fifth in the BC Turf he has always shown plenty of early pace in the route races he has run in and won so this may turn out to be a master stroke by the trainer or a dismal failure. Despite my worries about the trip I still can see him going hell for leather out of the gate and holding on to the win.
Misprinted Lies whips in the field from the seven gate and hails from the stable of the moment Dynark Stables. A winner of his only race on the turf he has campaigned on the dirt for his other thirteen races picking up five races from those efforts. Bought at auction for seventy dollars at the end of last year he won here and over this trip in his first effort for his new trainer in a similar grade race before taking the Premier Night Sprint at DED in a fast dirt time. A flying time on the turf in a three furlong gallop made a few sit up and look and he may be the dark horse here.
Stews selections – 6 – 7 - 4
