Prairie Express Stakes Preview

Likely Winners:

#2 Outta Tune (KY) – Racing Dudes Class Rating: 2.27

Even though he has a low-class rating, don’t let that fool you.  Outta Tune is at the top of his game at the age of seven.  He was claimed by Maggi Moss for $5,000, and has since won four races in a row, including the Grade 3 Count Fleet Handicap at Oaklawn last time out.  Since that race, the third place finisher Hamazing Destiny has come back to win a Grade 3 race on the Preakness under card.  Outta Tune’s story of rags to riches is incredible, but one has to wonder if that bubble could burst at anytime.  How long can a seven-year old former $5,000 claimer keep running like this?  With that being said, you still have to believe he’s the top pick until he shows he might be starting to decline.  Hard to root against a horse and story like this one.

#4 Billy Two Hats (KY) – Racing Dudes Class Rating: 3.64

At 8-1 on the morning line Billy Two Hats looks to be an excellent bet.  He’ll be trying to win his first stakes race, but he’s ran two solid races this year.  He was a solid second to multiple stakes winner Riley Tucker in his first start in six months, and then won an allowance race at Arlington in his last start.  He showed a lot of heart in his last, as he had to long fight down the stretch to prevail be a nose.  He’ll have to be at the top of his game to beat this bunch, but signs are pointing to him running a big one.

Exotic Plays:

#6 River Bear (IL) – Racing Dudes Class Rating: 2.20

This horse has been a hard knocker throughout his career, and is one you simply can’t throw out.  Whether or not he’s good enough to actually win is definitely in question, but leaving him off your exotics would be a mistake.  His class rating is low, but you have to remember he’s ran over forty times over his career so that number is skewed somewhat.  This horse will show up and run his race for you.

#1 Safe Trip (KY) – Racing Dudes Class Rating: 3.31

Bret Calhoun ships him in for this so you automatically have to take notice.  His past performances don’t match up real well with this group, but he’s been running at bigger tracks than some of the others coming into this race.  In his last race he finished fourth in a Churchill Downs allowance, but was only beaten a little over three lengths.  It’s a tough spot here, but I expect him to run well.

Party Crashers:

#5 City Sage (FL) – Racing Dudes Class Rating: 2.94

I have no idea why this horse is 8-1 on the morning line, but if you can get him at this price it would be a great bet.  He recently finished twelfth in a Grade 3 turf sprint at Churchill Downs, but I wouldn’t let that result sway you.  He didn’t care for the turf so you can toss that race out.  His race before that was a nice win wire to wire win in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn, and personally I think that’s the type of race you’ll see from him in this one.  He looms dangerous in what looks to be a wide open race.

Throw Outs:

#3 Wiredfortwotwenty (KY) – Racing Dudes Class Rating: 3.47

It’s hard to throw out any of the seven in this race, but I decided to throw out Wiredfortwotwenty because of the long layoff.  He won this race last year, but has not raced since.  His task will be tough considering all the rest of these are in pretty solid form.

#7 Signsealndeliver (IL) – Racing Dudes Class Rating: 2.10

Out of the seven, this one looks to be the logical outcast.  He’s certainly not horrible, but compared to the other six he looks out-classed in an evenly matched race.