Churchill Downs, Race 3 – Thursday, May 9, 2024
By The 2YO EdgeMan
CD3:050924 – 5f on the Dirt. This one is restricted to babies that have sold or RNAed for $50,000 or less – not typically our favorite type of race, but we want to provide our insight on this affair as the frequency of non-restricted Two-Year-Old MSW races has been few and far between lately. 14 colts have passed through the entry box, but only 12 will slug it out in this competitive event. Sires that I’ve got my eye on are Catalina Cruiser, Enticed, West Coast, Maclean’s Music, and Cross Traffic – add Improbable to that list as an exciting First-Crop Sire. On the trainer side of the equation, I spy Asmussen, McEntee, Lynch, John A. Hancock, and Mark Casse. Let’s take a closer look at four of these guys…
#1 – Austin Cruise (4/1) – Asmussen draws the fence with this son of Catalina Cruiser (by Union Rags). This dude is his mama’s first foal and she only won one time in 29 tries ($84,000), but as you probably surmised by her name – Zurlin – she is by the great Curlin. Owner Mike McCarthy plunked down $50,000 to buy this guy as a 2YO in March of this year down at Ocala (3/9). Last October, he had been purchased for $22,000 while still a yearling (16/41). Today’s runner has worked out on five occasions in the morning (17 total furlongs) – his first three in Lexington at KEE and his most recent two here over the dirt at Churchill Downs. He earned a bullet in his second effort at Keeneland on 4/14/24 when he zipped three panels from the gate in 35.8 seconds (1/43). Keith Asmussen will get the leg up from pops.
#7 – Tab Walker (10/1) – Enticed is the sire behind this colt who was thrown by a Cairo Prince broodmare who only won once in 17 races and banked a mere $21,000. She’s responsible for one other foal of racing age, but that 3YO is still looking for his first win in five runs. The hammer fell at $40,000 on this fella last year as a yearling (5/31). Trainer Mary Lightner has worked this colt a half dozen times (22 total furlongs), all down in Ocala at Oakridge Training Center where he earned a ‘small bullet’ on 3/24/24 when he traveled three furlongs in 36.24 seconds (1/10). Derby runner-up, Tyler G, gets the call to manage the reins.
#8 – Sergeant Capps (5/1) – His owner, Rhonda Capps, only had to fork over $6,000 for this aptly named son of West Coast (13 of 127 – 10.2% – in 2YO MSW races with a purse of $30,000+) as a yearling who is out of a Speightstown mare. The cross of West Coast/Speightstown is one for one in the same races as mentioned immediately above. He’s already competed in the afternoon twice, with his most recent race a big improvement on his first. In that most recent run, he didn’t break well but still managed to finish third at Keeneland while going off at odds of 53/1. Steve Capps (Rhonda’s hubby) will sling the saddle on this dude and he’ll trust Rogello Miranda on him for a return engagement.
#12 – Sweet Fantasy (5/1) – Cross Traffic and Sweet Jackie Jo (by Stormy Atlantic) collaborated to produce this colt who demanded $30,000 last year as a yearling (4/13). Mom (now 20 years old) only ran once, but she has thrown 10 other foals of racing age. One of her fillies scored as a juvenile at Belmont Park in June and went on to post a record of five for 14 with earnings of $146K and one won in June of her 2YO season at Louisiana Downs, going one for three lifetime. Trainer Mark Casse started him with three drills at his training facility before sending him to CD for one work over this oval, giving him 15 total furlongs of morning work. Jose Ortiz will get the opportunity to pilot her today.
Pick – #1 Austin Cruise – I’m going back to the well with Asmussen in this affair. I certainly am not enamored with his post position, but if Keith can get him out of the gate quickly, it should be fine. This guy has shown solid potential in the mornings. I also like his sales progression in the three public auctions that he’s been through (first RNAed for $17K as a ‘short yearling’).
This race should be a good battle and I’m looking forward to it – I hope that you are, too. I’m hopeful that CD and BEL will be carding some non-restricted 2YO MSW events soon, but until then, enjoy this one! Thank you for following us here at www.PastTheWire.com.
