Mike's Race Analysis August 4, 2008

Race #1

1st   -  #5 Harvard Grad | 2nd  -  #6 Brother Jake | 3rd  -  #1  Copenhagen 

COMMENTARY : The #5 HARVARD GRAD chased the pace out on the four path and did well to stay for second and if he can get a little better trip today he’ll win the big prize. The #6 BROTHER JAKE didn’t have the best of trips either last time and only needs a little luck to win ;as well. The #1  COPENHAGEN is a well bred colt that is making his first start of the year with some solid works behind him; could coming running late for the TRIACTOR.


Race #2

1st   -  #5 El Sinaloense | 2nd  -  #2 Almost Time | 3rd  -  #4 Flying Katana 

COMMENTARY : The #5 EL SINALOENSE is an impressive colt that has ‘wowed’ everyone with his eye-catching performances in his last two races; probable wire-to-wire winner at a short price. The only one with a shot to knock off the favourite is the #2 ALMOST TIME who was very good in his debut and if he can move forward off of his first race then he could put a scare into the #5 EL SINALOENSE. The #4 FLYING KATANA defeated bottom end maidens going short in his career debut and looks to be the best of the rest.

Race #3

1st   -  #3 P.S. Good N Ready | 2nd  -  #4 Quillo’s Intention | 3rd  -  #6 Shel B Quick 

COMMENTARY: The #3 P.S. GOOD N READY looked very sharp in breaking her maiden coming from off the pace to win going three and a half furlongs which is not easy to do. She gave a good account of herself in her first stakes try and with the competition considerably easier she is the one to beat. The #4 QUILLO'S INTENTION appears to be the main danger to my top pick as she comes into this race off of a game win in her first start around two turns. The #6 SHEL B QUICK was making goog ground at the end of her debut and has since come back with a solid work so she deserves a look as well.  

Race #4

1st    -  #4 Starlite Strike | 2nd   -  #1 Lady Raj | 3rd   -  #3 Yoorock Gal 

COMMENTARY : The #4 STARLITE STRIKE was disgraced in her last run which was her first try going long this year; if she hadn't ran into a superstar like Monashee twice last year she would've had a perfect season. This is her third race after a big layoff and it should be her best so with her having better positional speed than the #1 LADY RAJ she could pull off the minor upset. The #1 LADY RAJ easily won her last two distance tests and is in top form right now so it may be dumb to go against her but this dummy is going to give it a try. The #3 YOOROCK GAL is the speed of the race and is going to get things pretty kind up front and she too is in good form but we'll see if she can handle nine furlongs.

Race #5

1st   -  #2 Mr. Nutcracker | 2nd  -  #8 Rainbow Dash | 3rd  -  #3 Tuum Est 

COMMENTARY : The #2 MR. NUTCRACKER took a trip up to the $8,000 maiden level after a big run for $5,000 and he ended up a distant third but with him returning to the level where he was more effective he's going to be tough to hold off. The #8 RAINBOW DASH is another off-the-pace type that should get a contested pace to run at. The #3 TUUM EST is the inside speed and if he can avoid a pace duel he has a shot.


Race #6

1st   -  #4 Remarkable Miss | 2nd  -  #6 Wanna Be Silver | 3rd  -  #7 Infinite Wealth 

COMMENTARY : The #4 REMARKABLE MISS had to work very hard to defeat open company stakes fillies four weeks back but with this restricted race coming up pretty soft she will just need to stay clear of trouble to get the money. The #6 WANNA BE SILVER has defeated the favourite before and is the most likely one to do it again as she's razor sharp. The #7 INFINITE WEALTH finished just in behind the top pick in the $109,000 Fantasy last fall and this will be her first start at this trip since then so I think she's worth a long look.

Race #7

1st   -  #3 Against The Sky | 2nd  -  #6 Lord Vic | 3rd  -  #4 Lil Victor G 

COMMENTARY : The mare #3 AGAINST THE SKY domintaed her male counterparts a couple weeks back and with the race coming up very similar to that one she 's going to be tough catch again today; the extra distance shouldn't be a problem for her. The #6 LORD VIC is just an average horse at nine furlongs he should give a better account of himself at this longer trip; sharp work (34.80) for this race. The #4 LIL VICTOR G was very game to hold second last time and if the #6 LORD VIC doesnt get better then this guy will round out the EXACTOR again.

Race #8

1st  -  #2 Bank Emblem | 2nd  -  #1 Holy Nova | 3rd  -  #3 B R Remark 

COMMENTARY : This is the best race on the card for me as all six starters are solid contenders. I'm leaning to the #2 BANK EMBLEM because of his versatility in running styles, he doesn't need a certain type of set-up to make him a winner he can dictate the pace or he can sit the trip in behind a fast pace and either way he'll run his A-race which is a huge edge in this dash which could set-up a number of ways once the gate springs. The #1 HOLY NOVA is solid mare that is taking a tough assignment running with the boys but I'm more concerned about her post draw than her ability to keep up with this group; she's good enough to beat them it's a matter of getting off the fence without giving up position. The #3 B R REMARK is the returning champ of the BC Cup Sprint and his form almost mirrrors last season's as he's coming into the race off of a defeat going long; he's a versatile type as well and is the one to beat. 

Race #9

1st   -  #8 Krazy Koffee | 2nd  -  #7 Star Prospector | 3rd  -  #3 Spice Trader 

COMMENTARY : The #8 KRAZY KOFFEE just finished beating most of these last time out and with the threat of a solid early pace (between most of his main competition) he's going to be double tough again today. The #7 STAR PROSPECTOR was a caught up on a fast mid-race battle and it cost him in the stretch as he had to settle for second behind my top pick; if he can avoid a similar scenario today then he has abig chance of getting back to the winner's circle. The #3 SPICE TRADER was very impressive in his allowance win early last month, he raced on a fast pace and drew off for the win despite being off for nearly two months. Could be the new kid on the block !!

Race #10

1st   -  #7 Winter Warning | 2nd  -  #4 Zounds | 3rd  -  #6 Spaghetti Mouse 

COMMENTARY : The #7 WINTER WARNING appears to be the speed of the race and is definitely one capable of pulling off an upset; when he's on his game (as he showed last year running with TRUE METROPOLITAN) he can compete with the top older horse. He gets 10 pounds from the 'Mouse' this time and has a proper prep race under him so I think we'll see a big performance from him. The #4 ZOUNDS is an interesting newcomer (trained here this spring) that I really have no idea what to do with but common sense tells me that Jordan/Cheema didn't opt to take him off the turf and send him back to Vancouver just to be a part of an extremely exciting day. He's here because they are confident he can win. The #6 SPAGHETTI MOUSE is getting up pretty high in the weights and this may be the first time he doesn't get a perfect trip; he's been fortunate enough to get ideal trips in his last wins and not taking anything away from this superstar but the post and the weights are making me steer away from him.

Race #11

1st   -  #1 Californiatruegrit | 2nd  -  #5 French Roast | 3rd  -  #2 No Sox Fox 

COMMENTARY : The #1 CALIFORNIATRUEGRIT is back up $15,000 after bullying a helpless field of $5,000 claimers and with no real speed in the lineup I think he has great shot again today. The #5 FRENCH ROAST scored a nice win in his return and is the logical one to play to defeat my top selection. The #2 NO SOX FOX had some traffic problems on the rail last time out or he would've won the money; the lack of pace in here hurts him but I still think he'll be part of the TRIACTOR.  
GOOD LUCK TO ALL AND ENJOY BC CUP XIV