CashCall Futurity (Grade 1) Preview

Racing Dudes Pick: #6 Shared Belief

Racing Dudes Longshot: #4 Candy Boy

Analysis:

1. Electric Eddie (CA) – He’s still a maiden so there is no question that he’s up against it here, but he did finish second in the prep race for this one.  Electric Eddie also finished second in a Stakes during Breeders Cup weekend, beaten by only a half-length.  The speed figures have improved with each race, so maybe with another step up he can hit the board and crash a lot of trifecta and superfecta tickets.

2. Tamarando (CA) – Dominating winner of the Real Quiet Stakes returns in this one looking to take home the big prize.  The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee will be the lesser of the two as far as the betting goes, but arguably he’s proven more than his stable mate Shared Belief against tougher competition.  Definitely worth a look if the price is right as his last race over this surface was an all time best for him.

3. Bond Holder (VA) – This one was a maiden when he shockingly won the Grade 1 Frontrunner Stakes, and he backed that performance up finishing fourth only being defeated by a little over three lengths in the Breeders Cup Juvenile.  We know the talent is there with this one now, but can he handle the synthetic surface?  His best two races by far have come on the dirt track, as he was unable to win on the synthetic at Hollywood and Del Mar.

4. Candy Boy (KY) – Everyone was over the moon about Tap It Rich when he broke his maiden impressively at first asking, but they ignored the second place finisher Candy Boy who also made a nice run in that race.  All Candy Boy did next time out was come back to dominate a maiden special weight field by eight lengths over the same distance and surface that they’ll be running over in this one.  He’s in with a huge chance, and the price should be right considering all the betting options there are in this race.

5. Tap It Rich (KY) – No other two-year old was hyped like Tap It Rich on Breeders Cup day, but the very inexperienced colt could only manage a fifth place finish in the Juvenile.  Some may have been discouraged by the race, but I am not one of them.  He got an education in that one, which was much-needed considering he had only one race under his belt going into the race.  Today might not be the day to bet on him considering he’s never ran on synthetic and his price will be low, but keep this one on your watch list for the future.

6. Shared Belief (KY) – Two races…two wins…by a combined fifteen lengths!  Shared Belief has been brilliant, and there is no doubt that he loves the synthetic surfaces.  However, he has only ran in one turn races, so the mile and one sixteenth distance will be new for him in this one.  Breeding tells us that shouldn’t be too much of a problem though, and considering his form over the surface he’s the top choice in this competitive race.

7. Even Echo (KY) – Finally we get to a horse that is an easy toss.  He’s still a maiden and actually has never even hit the board.

8. Brother Soldier (KY) – Another that looks pretty shaky in this spot.  He did win first time out, but has been well beaten in two stakes tries since.

9. Karma King (KY) – Here’s another that won first time out, but his two races following the win have been a little better than Brother Soldier.  Both resulted in on the board finishes, but he never threatened Tamarando last time out in the Real Quiet Stakes.  Could be just a bit out-classed here as the competition stiffens even more.

10. Poker Player (KY) – The synthetic surface might give this one an outside chance.  He did win the Grade 3 Bourbon Stakes two races back, which was an off the turf race held over the Keeneland poly track.  Possibly a horse to use in deep exotic plays as he still doesn’t look up to par with the top few in this one.

11. Sheikinator (KY) – First of two Kentucky invaders for Kenny McPeek.  He has just two races under his belt, but he did win a maiden last time out around two turns so distance could be in his favor.  However, that race was ran over the dirt as Churchill Downs, so the surface switch might hurt him.  His only start over synthetic was at Keeneland in his debut race where he finished a decent second.

12. Rankhasprivileges (KY) – The second of the two McPeek invaders intrigues me a little bit more than his stable mate.  Rankhasprivileges was able to win on debut going two turns over the Keeneland poly track, and followed that up with a solid third in the Delta Jackpot.  That race may have been better than it looked, as he was wide throughout and probably got a little too far behind on what usually is a speed favoring track.  Long shot worth a look in this one.

13. Kobe’s Back (KY) – He went into the Hollywood Preview as the favorite, but was beaten badly be Shared Belief.  However, he did hold on to finish second, and may have gotten a lot out of that race in preparation for this one. Evidently his last workout going into this one was very sharp, so maybe this horse is ready to run a huge race.  The outside post won’t do him many favors, and he also will be going around two turns for the first time.  If Rosario can somehow give him a nice trip, he’s another that might make some noise at a decent price.