The GR III Spiral Stakes

[TJ]

The Spiral Stakes, to be run over the all weather surface, is a Derby points race worth 50-20-10-5 across the board. Here's the entries and pp's. TJ

10th RACE. Post 5:55PM
The 46th Running of Stakes SPIRAL STAKES (Grade III)
PURSE $500,000 Guaranteed 1 1/8 Miles FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS.

1 BLUERIDGE TRAVELER (L) '14 C 123 Hill, C Horizon Stables McPeek, K
2 SOGLIO (L) '14 C 123 McCarthy, T Flaxman Holdings, Ltd. Motion, H
3 FAST AND ACCURATE (L) '14 C E64 123 Gaffalione, T Hansen, K Maker, M
4 CONVICT PIKE (L) '14 C 123 Cruz, A Ashbrook Farm Arnold, II, G
5 COLONEL SAMSEN (L) '14 G 123 Lezcano, J Casner Racing, LP, Wachtel Stable, G. Barber et el Harty, E
6 GIANT PAYDAY (L) '14 C 123 Landeros, C Lothenbach Stables, Inc. Wilkes, I
7 SHIRAZ (L) '14 C E64 123 Hernandez, R Three Diamonds Farm Maker, M
8 KITTEN'S CAT (L) '14 C 123 Saez, L Ramsey, Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Sharp, J
9 PARLOR (L) '14 C 123 Castanon, J L Anderson Thoroughbreds LLC Kenneally, E
10 BRONSON (L) '14 C 123 Franco, M Mathis Stable LLC Pletcher, T
11 KING AND HIS COURT (L) '14 G 123 Boulanger, G Wachtel Stable and Barber, Gary Casse, M
12 EN HANSE (L) '14 C E39 123 Albarado, R Hansen, Kendall E. and Miller, Bode Maker, M
Blinkers Off: Colonel Samsen

Click on Soglio: http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/briswatc ... mmary.html

[Cree]

Fast and Accurate
Bronson
King and His Court
Kitten's Cat


Having a hard time seeing any of these being KY Derby winners. My top 4 choices are 2 synthetic specialists and 2 grass horses. So, anyway, hopefully Kitten's Cat doesn't encourage Ramsey to go on...
I do like Cambiocorsa's offspring, and so I have a soft spot for Bronson.

[TJ]

Parlor
King And His Court
Kittens Cat
Convict Pike

[Toccet02]

Parlor
King And His Court
Kittens Cat
Convict Pike

TJ, you're just the best. Coz you think like me. Parlor is one of "mine".
I wouldn't have thought he was quite classy enough though, or at least ready. Why is he your pick?

[TJ]

Parlor
King And His Court
Kittens Cat
Convict Pike

TJ, you're just the best. Coz you think like me. Parlor is one of "mine".
I wouldn't have thought he was quite classy enough though, or at least ready. Why is he your pick?

Hi Toccet,
It's basically guesswork....since I'm guessing he will handle the synthetic because he handles the turf? Kittens Cat is another who is looking to make the transition...if he does, I thought his 2nd to Ticonderoga (a fast closing 4th in the BC Juvenile Turf) in the GR III Palm Beach at GP on the turf could make him a logical choice here. So using Kittens Cat as a barometer, he was beaten by Parlor when they both raced together in their first lifetime starts. Though Parlor has been making life hard for himself as he breaks poorly, he still managed to get the job done 2 out of 3 times overcoming these bad starts. He runs well off long layoffs and he gives me the impression that the extra distance will help him. In his last start, he again broke a bit slow and came flying home, going his last 1/4 at the end of the mile race in 22.4....that's rolling and he won in hand. If he handles the switch in surfaces he could be tough? TJ

[TJ]

Here's the results of the Spiral, gonna be some big payoffs:
Fast and Accurate
Blue Ridge Traveler
Convict Pike
Kittens Cat

[TJ]

Toccet,
Parlor broke running today and he didn't have anything through the lane. Possibly he didn't get hold of the poly or he got lost that close up early:>) TJ

Cree,
Nice pick!! He paid $51.

[Cree]

I thought this horse looked like a good one to take this race, and I am pleasantly surprised to see I was right. Sounds like they will supplement $200,000 to get him in the starting gate on the 1st Saturday in May.