Well-Bred Colts Kickoff the Day at Gulfstream

#1 NINJA BLADE (Johannesburg – Mekkho Hokte, by Holy Bull) has a miler pedigree. He’s a half-brother to G-3 sprinter My Jen and their dam is a stakes placed sprinter. Nipped by Dialed In in their debut, he was no match for Travlin Man . BRIS Speed Figure improved and he has nice works at Palm Meadows.

California - Photo: Walter Kobbe

#2 CALIFORNIA (A.P. Indy – Madcap Escapade, by Hennessy) is a three-quarter brother to Darley Debutante winner Mi Sueno. Dam is a multiple Grade 1 winning sprinter and a half-sister to Grade 1 winning sprinter Dubai Escapade. Nice pedigree, works are fair.

Stormy the Cat - Photo: Jessica M

#3 STORMY THE CAT (Storm Cat – Unrestrained, by Unbridled) This immediate distaff family is filled with winners, including Arlington Classic winner Pleasant Strike, Jim Dandy winner A Little Warm, etc. Dam is a stakes winner at 1 1/8 miles. Second dam Mistrella was a Champion Two Year Old in Ireland and is a half-sister to the dam of Saint Liam. The pretty gray colt cuts back in distance and gets off the lawn. Last two works were good.


#4 RUNYON HUMOR (Distorted Humor – Zonk, by Farma Way) Dam is a multiple graded stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles. Damsire won graded stakes from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 3/16 miles. Runyon Humor has been in the money the last three starts and owns a brisk breeze, but he seems a cut below. The barn is 5% with turf to dirt angle.

#5 ARCH TRAVELER (Sky Mesa - Mettle, by Silver Deputy) has a sprinter/miler pedigree and his dam is a half-sister to a couple of Japanese stakes winning sprinters. Arch Traveler has a live work pattern and he just missed a few weeks ago.

#6 BORREGO'S BOY (Borrego – Gold Premieress, by Premiership) is a half-brother to stakes winners to American Century and Energized. Dam is a half-sister to three stakes winners. Borrego’s offspring generally need a race or two to get going. Works are stamina oriented and he might need a race. The barn is 0 for 18 with first time starters.
#7 B F BIRD (Birdstone – Zamgo, by Zamindar) Dam is a half-sister to the dam of Grade 1 winner Hooh Why. Damsire is a full brother to Champion Zaphonic and his offspring include Champion filly Zarkava and Group 1 winners Zenda, Darjina and Coquerelle. This colt will probably want to go longer, but he has to start somewhere. His works are the best of the first time starters.
Selections:
How the track is playing: Speed bias, 56% of pace setters win.
Arch Traveler was in contention the whole way last time out and was nipped at the wire. He’s been working best of all. Ninja Blade was outclassed last time out, but he’s also working well. This distance should suit him. Stormy the Cat has a very good pedigree, but hasn’t put it together. Think the barn is experimenting here to see what he wants to do. California has an excellent pedigree but his works are pretty slow for the Pletcher barn. His half-sister was precocious, but he may be a short price. B F Bird is working well but he’ll want to go longer. Torn between BF Bird and California for getting a piece of the pie. We’ll go with the more precocious pedigree here.
Arch Traveler
Ninja Blade
California
Stormy the Cat – longshot selection