Thoroughbred Sunday: McMudder handicaps races at Belmont, Monmouth and Parx
A quiet Sunday follows the party that was the Preakness. War of Will showed that he was worthy and let’s hope we see a lot more of this very professional horse in the future. With his pedigree, we may even see him bounce back and forth between turf and dirt as Catholic Boy has shown is possible. Many good horses have shown that they can run over both turf and dirt but seldom have we seen one win G1 races on both surfaces in their 3-year-old year. Maybe with the greater recognition of turf racing in the US, there will be more opportunities going forward. Now regarding Catholic Boy, he is a ridgling, which indicates that he does not have 2 fully descended testicles. Obviously, this does not affect his racing but it could negatively impact his career as a stallion if he is sub/infertile. On the other hand, one of the great stallions of the last 50 years, A.P. Indy, was a ridgling and the breeding thing worked out fine for him while colts like John Henry (another horse equally successful on turf and dirt) and War Emblem did not work out as stallions. Let’s hope we see a lot more of Catholic Boy before anyone worries about his reproductive value.
Picks for May 19, 2019:
There is a front that should pass through today bringing thunderstorms so keep an eye out on rapidly changing conditions.
Belmont Race 7
Will the real 9-Slim Shadey please stand up, please stand up? From the back class standpoint, no one beats this 11-year-old with $1.2M+ in the bank. He hasn’t been himself so far this year but gets back to the turf at Belmont where he has excelled previously including two wins a year ago in May and June. 3-Golden Spear comes into town first off the claim at Gulfstream in March. Trainer Steve Klesaris loads this one on the van (along with several others from Parx on the card). Wonder if a good showing gets this one a return to his native Canada for some big money opportunities in the near future. 7-Harv Won’t Tap gets yet another jockey after winning last out at Tampa. Trainer Mike Stidham is having a great year but Mick can’t figure out why he can’t get a regular pilot for this one.
$10 W/P/S 3-Golden Spear
$2 Exacta Box 3,7
$1 Trifecta Box 3,7,9
Monmouth Race 9 Get Serious Stakes
Mick loves watching turf sprints but hates handicapping them. Too much can happen that completely takes the best horse out of the race and there is no recovery time. 7-Vision Perfect is an expert at negotiating just these conditions. His only bad race in the last two years was in the Breeder’s Cup last year where he ran into traffic problems. Assuming a clear shot, he is the clear choice. 2-Tricks to Doo is the youngster in this field but he has run well on turf and it appears his connections may be focused on the weeds this season. He comes form an excellent turf trainer in Arnaud Delacour. 9-Eastern Bay is a live longshot if he breaks well. He has drawn some very good fields in dirt races but the move to turf with these connections may pay off.
$10 W/P/S 9-Eastern Bay
$2 Exacta 9/2,7
$0.50 Trifecta box 2,7,9
Parx Race 7
The race of young versus old. Renewal that happens every spring as 3-year-olds arrive in races with their elders to prove their worth. And that is exactly what this race possesses. Three older horses, led by 1-Cape May Ferry, that have all had their ups and downs (each has appeared for a $5K claiming tag) but are coming in here on improving form cycles. In the other corner are the 3-year-olds, none of whom have been in for a tag. Here the best appears to be 4-Kelli’s Smile. 5-Splicethemainbrace is the other one in here with a chance but his last two have not been up to his Stakes placed performances from last year.
$10 W/P/S 4-Kelli’s Smile
$2 Exacta 4/1,5
$1 Trifecta box 1,4,5
Mick’s Quickies
Belmont Race 8 is a first level allowance affair with some real quality. Look for 7-Sinwaan, a regally bred daughter of Into Mischief, to continue that sire’s excellence in dirt sprints this weekend.
Monmouth Race 6 is Jorge Navarro’s opportunity to prove that he is 5-Still the One on the Jersey Shore. He has started the meet red hot and is winning on the road, too. This one is dropping off the claim, an excellent angle for Navarro as well.
Parx Race 8 has a whole field of fast horses but the two fastest are 4-Winning Medal and 5-The Man. If the 5 is ready, he wins, but Mick thinks this is an afternoon work for bigger things down the road.