Happy Birthday, Elvis
Tomorrow would have been Elvis Presley’s 74th birthday. What does this have to do with thoroughbreds, you ask? Not much, really, except that I wouldn’t have the financial resources to play my favorite game or attend my favorite races without him. Plus, Elvis liked horses.
In honor of EAP’s birthday celebration (free cake & coffee if you’re in Memphis that day) here are the PICKS!!
There are 2 really great 3yo allowance races at Gulfstream tomorrow, featuring some promising maiden winners who could show up later on the Derby trail.
GULFSTREAM #6: $42,000 Allowance 3yos, 1 1/8 miles, dirt
PP:
1. FREE COUNTRY
2. BOUNISSIMO
3. SINCERO
4. ATOMIC RAIN
5. DA GULLAH
6. STATELY CHARACTER
7. PRESSURE POINT
8. STORMALORY
I like ATOMIC RAIN in this race. His last out was a second to Old Fashioned in the Remsen, a big deal 2yo race in which Atomic Rain gave a good run in his 2nd place finish. Next, I see STATELY CHARACTER finishing well, having won a minor stakes already in his career. For the show spot, STORMALORY looks good to complete my ticket. PRESSURE POINT will gain some experience in his 2nd start, as will FREE COUNTRY. Either one will be in my EX/TRI boxes, too. It is amazing to see Repent and Big Country listed as the sires of these colts, because it seems like just a year ago, I was handicapping *them* in these same Derby trail races!! Gaahh I’m getting old!
4|6|7/8/1
GULFSTREAM #8, $42,000 Allowance 1 1/8 miles, 3yos, dirt
1. IDOL MAKER
2. DANGER TO SOCIETY
3. D.C.’S LEGACY
4. AWESOME MITCH
5. AP CARDINAL
6. BRUCE N AUTUMN
7. THEREGOESJOJO
8. THEY’RE LATE
9. ABE IS HONEST
Another great group of sophomores! IDOL MAKER and AP CARDINAL are tough to beat in here, coming into the race off good workouts and losing efforts against Old Fashioned. IDOL MAKER was 4th in the Remsen, AP Cardinal was 4th to him in an allowance race. AWESOME MITCH is also coming out of the Remsen, a dull 7th but he has been working well for this race. BRUCE N AUTUMN is an interesting son of Lemon Drop Kid, in my picks, too.
5|1|4/6
Tomorrow’s races will do a lot to confirm the quality of the Remsen. If none of the horses coming out of that race run like I think they will, then Old Fashioned may have to drop in my Derby list. But we’ll see.
Happy Birthday, Elvis!
skipaway2000 