Bourbonology's FIrst Start - Take 2

Bourbonology’s first start for GRS was swept away under adverse track conditions so we’re back to give it another go tonight.  Well, she’s back to give it another go tonight, I am in Michigan for work and it doesn’t look like I’ll be back until sometime very late Friday night.  I’ll miss the race in person but I’ll be watching on the PC or on my Horse Races Now app on the iphone.  Either way I’ll be rooting her on.  Here is a look at the field.

Dear Hrishi (Van Winkle/Rivera): 0-37 mare is going to give it another go.  Has finished on the board 21 of those times so she’s been close.  She’ll bounce up from $25,000 Maiden Claiming to take on this group.

BOURBONOLOGY (RHONE/BUTLER)

Daring Ride (Padilla/Eikleberry): Closed quickly but fell short.  The shorter distance may have been better suited to him last week.  Now tries the turf for the first time and gets a bit longer.

Excusemeplease (Bravo/Keith):  Another off-the turf race last time with a rally that might have been better suited to a shorter distance.  Picks up an extra 70 and loses Butler but picks up Keith.  Nice that Dean decided to go with our gal after her second work with her.  Like last time, that may not mean anything at all, but it’s still nice…

Andrea’s Josie (McKinley/P Canchari): Moving up from a maiden claiming race where she finished behind several in here.

The Grans (Lund/Vergara): First of an uncoupled Valerie Lund trained entry.  Had a tough couple of races where she was pulled up in one and then slipped in the stretch in the other.  Came back to run a credible 4^th at Canterbury at this level in an off the turf race.

Ee Da How (Lund/Vegara): Pulled up her last time out but had a very stylish debut.  If she is feeling okay, I know that trainer Valerie Lund will have her ready.  Both her runners are sneaky dangerous.

A Thousand Talents (Kirby/Escobar): Former Biehler trainee had her first trip of 2013 over the Canterbury surface in an off the turf maiden special.  She didn’t break well and never got into the mix.

Bluegrass Lucy (Brinson/Ochoa): Sweet filly in the Brinson barn, Lucy finished a fast closing 2^nd in her first Canterbury turf start.  She really improved from the dirt to the turf and the morning line favorite will be a handful.

Antique Angel (Van Winkle/Franco):First time going a route a ground or over the turf. 

ALSO ELIGIBLES: Chasen A Star, Prairie Lake, Bitter Tears, Rio Bello, Velve Kay

There is not a lot of consistent early speed in the race.  In fact, only Excusemeplease appears to have ever really been on the front end.  That was her last out but it was also off the turf (which could very well be the case with rain in the forecast in the Shakopee area).  If she, or anyone, can sneak away on the field, that could be all she wrote for the rest.

Bobo should be in a relatively good position.  I was a bit concerned heading into her last race with her work being relatively non-descript. And actually, if you look on time alone, her last work was nothing to get excited about either, unless you saw it.  She really did a nice job staying to task and picking it up when Dean asked her to.  It may not mean much, but overall we were very happy with the differences in her works.

There are several in here that can jump up.  Bluegrass Lucy will be tough and I think Valerie Lund will have both of her runners as ready to go as they can be – if they can overcome their issues they will be difficult as well.  The wild card will be the weather again.  There will be rain and thunderstorms in the area and at this point I don’t even care if we stay on the turf, only that we get to race.  To be honest, she should do relatively well over a wet track so hopefully it will not matter.

Best of luck to all her partners and we do have one angle going for us: it’s out partner Matthew’s birthday today and that’s always a powerful handicapping angle!