Yielding goings completely change the complexion of the Triple Crown Sprints!

TRIPLE CROWN SPRINT-COLTS

Distance 1400 Track- England Yielding

TOC GENGHIS KHAN(REDDAVE) - In last season's Juvenile Sprint Championship with Baton Aoki aboard, he was utterly dominant. Despite breaking slowly, getting blocked twice, clipping heels with another horse, and stopping in mid-stretch to sign autographs(the horse not the jockey), he won going away. This season he has been dominant on off-tracks and at 1000 and 1200, but has not shown the same level of dominance at today's distance. Very capable of plundering the field.

NINJA ON FIRE(PORTS82) -Came along too late in his 2 year old season to contend in the "Champs", but has stamped himself as a contender as a 3 year old. Had a 2nd at today's distance to Mystery Comet on August 19th on a fast track, and showed his versatility with a 3rd to Khan in the mud on September 16th. His best race may have been a 3rd to Navel hero on September 30th with Massimo Conti aboard. He may have been the best horse in that race. He is his stable's first Championship starter and they hope he catches fire in the stretch. 

NAVEL HERO(ROBSLOBS) -He was a Juvenile Sprint Finalist after an excellent season, and has had a solid 3 year old campaign. His qualifying wins on September 30th and November 11th at today's distance on good tracks stamp him as a legitimate contender. He also had a very impressive win on a fast track at 1200 on October 28th. The stable's only Champion was named Naval hero, and they are hoping this colt will be another hero for them today. One of the pre-race favorites.

KHAL DROGO(CHRISMAN) -He ran a very nice 3rd to Khan in last season's Juvenile Sprint on a good track. This season he started off well in August and ran into an extended stretch of poor racing luck until a nice 2nd to Navel Hero in the October 28th Qualifier. That race was at 1200. He does not show the same level of success at 1400, but if he gets another good track, we all know that this barn is always dangerous in the finals. 

QUICK STEP DANCER(DOCTOR TURF) After getting a late start last season, he won the Consolation Sprint. This season, his best effort was a big 2nd to Navel Hero on November 11th. That was at 1400 on a good track. He also had a good 3rd to Mystery Comet at today's distance on a fast track. He needed a firm or good surface to have his best chance.

BRAZEN BOY(WHYMEA FARMS) -Ran a very nice 2nd to Khan in last season's Juvenile Sprint and has come back with a good 3 year old season. Although he only shows a 3rd and a 4th in qualifiers, he has done well in some specialty races thanks to some savvy race placement by this Hall-Of-Fame Stable. 

HUGENUDENOADDS(BIGBOB) -He had 2 nice efforts with a surprising 2nd at 1200 to Khan, and nice 3rd to Khan at 1000. 1400 is not this horse's best distance, so he will need a lot of racing luck to hit the board and convince his owner that a name change is in order. 

MYSTERY COMET(LEE'S BARN) -He was a Juvenile Finalist last season after a good 2 year old season. Came back with two big wins in qualifiers on fast tracks, one of them at today's distance. But, he needed a firm track for his best chance at an in-the-money finish.

AP PITBULL(BLACK LOTUS) After failing to make the Sprint Finals last season, he has bounced back with a nice 3 year old season. He won the 2nd Division (or instance) of 2 qualifiers at 1400 on a good track. But, he does not show a championship effort on a yielding track.

SAKURA EMPATHY(CHRISMAN) -Came 4th in last season's Juvenile Sprint Championship on a good track and made the finals mainly due to a nice 4th at 1200 on September 16th. That race was in the mud, but his best turf races are on a good track. He does not show any championship efforts at today's distance or on a yielding surface.

POUND FOR A PENCE(WHYMEA FARMS) -After finishing a disappointing 7th in last season's Sprint Finals, he bounced back with a good 3 year old season. He ran a nice 3rd at 1400 on a fast track, and a good 4th on a good track, both at today's distance. Part of a solid Whymea Entry, but does not show that he can handle the surface. 

HOLLYWOOD SLAYER(DOC MDTERPS) -He failed to make last season's Sprint Finals, but made it this season on the strength of 2 big races. He ran 2nd to Casual Decision at 1400 on a fast track, and beat AP Pitbull at 1200 in the mud. He shows some versatility but appears to prefer the dirt. 

RORY McILROY(HATMAN'S HEADQUARTERS) -He got a late start last year and missed the finals, but came back with an outstanding 3 year old season. Although he only had one 2nd place finish in qualifiers, thanks to outstanding race placement by the stable, he won several big specialty races. 1400 may not be his best distance, and a yielding turf course hurt the stable's chances for their first championship. 

CASUAL DECISION(REDDAVE) -Fast track specialist made the finals thanks to a huge win in the August 19th Qualifier. He also had a 4th at 1600 on a fast track. His best races are all on the dirt and he does not show the same level of performance on the turf. 

RACE ANALYSIS

The fact that the turf course will be yielding completely changed the complexion of this race. Most of these horses do not show being able to handle the surface. 

Toc's Ghengis Khan looks very tough to beat in this race. He can handle the surface and no other horse in this race appears able to run their best on a yielding turf course. He looks like he will repeat his Juvenile win. 

Although Navel Hero has some decent efforts on a yielding turf course, it is clearly not his favorite surface. But with so many other horses not liking the surface, he looks like he should run a good race. 

Ninja On Fire, Quick Step Dancer, Brazen Boy, Hugenudenoadds, Mystery Comet, AP Pitbull, Rory McIlroy, Casual Decision, and Pound For A Pence, all appear not to like the yielding turf course. 

For Sakura Empathy and Khal Drago, 1400 does not looks like their best distance, and a yielding turf course is not their favorite surface. 

Hollywood Slayer shows some ability to handle the surface, and for that reason could grab a share, since so many horses do not like the surface. 

This race appears to be all "Khan".

Good luck to all. Bob

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