Gulfstream 12 March 2005
Instructions
Please click on the “View Full Racecard & Odds” button to get the full racecard information.
Doc's Treasure is a model of consistency but has speed in abundance and the suspicion remains that she is better over sprint distances. Parisian Trip is another who excelled over shorter last time so the vote goes to GROOMEROMA. The daughter of Groomstick was a solid third over C&D on her first start for the White barn and will be difficult to hold out down the home stretch.
Maid Guinevere filled the runner-up spot at Fair Grounds in January and has the benefit of a recent sharp 4f workout under her belt. She will be winning sooner rather than later but may find one too good again in the shape of RILED AGAIN who was only caught in the final strides here last time. She should be able to get to the front from her favourable post position and will be hard to run down.
PONCHE'S SOLO's only career victory came over 7f but he drops notably in class today and the addition of first-time blinkers could spark the necessary improvement. Box Office Hero has joined the Daniel Hurtak barn after running away with a maiden here last month. Pamjet is capable of better now that he steps up to a route distance, while a similar comment applies to the frustrating Gone Bad.
Lotta Light has enough early pace to overcome her outside draw but, with Flan For You and Easy Lassie also preferring to race on the speed, this could be set up for HOLY SECRET. The Holy Bull filly was doing her best work at the finish of an inadequate 5 1/2f last time and has since joined the Michael Collins barn. She is much more suited to this route trip and may be too strong for her rivals at the business end of proceedings.
GREG'S SYRAH and Highest Value had to settle for minor honours over C&D last month but the former had over three lengths to spare on his rival and, with the Stephen Dimauro team in such good form, is taken to confirm his superiority. It's Brite's Turn was further back on that occasion and there is no apparent reason why he should finish any closer, while Burley A won well over 6f last time but is yet to prove his worth over this shorter trip.
BELLAMY ROAD hasn't been seen since flopping in the Grade 1 Lane's End Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland but was an impressive Grade 3 winner prior to that and, following a recent sharp 5f workout, he should be primed for a big first-up run. Dearest Mon is another who will relish a drop in class after finding Grade 3 opposition too hot to handle but Cherokee Chase has to atone for letting down favourite backers over 7f here.
ROMOLO'S FRITZI just failed to overhaul the leader over a mile here last month, but with a sharp workout under his belt and an extra sixteenth to travel today, he may be the one to beat. Strive is an interesting recruit to turf racing and should figure, along with Class Of Seventy, though his barn has been out of sorts this meet.
Todd Pletcher is enjoying a fine meet, with over a quarter of his runners hitting the mark, and CONFEDERATION can be fancied to continue the good work. Well supported on his debut, his lack of experience showed in the closing stages but he will know more today. Groundshakers had nowhere to go on the final turn here latest and can finish more prominently with a clear run, while Tinseltown is going the right way but his barn are not exactly on fire at present.
I'VE GOT SPEED comes back to the main track after a weak effort on turf and he's expected to produce a big run as he also drops in class for a barn that is in grand form at the moment. Rocketeightyeight is interesting as he moves up in class despite a moderate effort latest and there could be some improvement to come, while Ace High Straight found trouble at the gate on his latest foray and remains open to improvement.
