Stephen Foster June 18th

[stark]

Reports are that Mike Smith is giving up the Foster mount on Effinex to Gary Stevens.

Apparently Smith is committed to ride at Santa Anita that day in the G2 Summertime Oaks.

Welcome back SONGBIRD

[Man o Taz]

Wow. Poor Effinex. I just mean to get second choice. Not that Gary is not an excellent second choice. It is actually a very smart move by Jimmy Jerkens knowing the BC Classic is going to be at Santa Anita this year, he is looking West for a jockey replacement.


Lucky Songbird.

[stark]

I know weight doesn't matter to some, but they continue to report on it.....

Effinex, 122
Maj Harbor, 118
Eagle, 117
Int'l Star, 116
El Kabeir, 115
Mobile Bay, 115

[Man o Taz]

Small, but decent field. We shall see if Effinex can carry weight.

He was top weight in the Oaklawn Handicap at 121, but only carried 3 more than the 2nd place finisher and 8 more than the lowest horse.

This time he only carries 7 more than the lowest weighted horse.

In the Santa Anita Handicap he carried 123, 8 more than the 1st place horse Melatonin and 5 more than the 2nd place finisher.

In the Clark he carried 122 9 more than the 3rd place horse, but only 1 more than the 2nd place horse. 

In the BC Classic he carried 126,  4 more than the winner.

So I do not see the weight being any issue for him here unless it happens to be a particularly hot and humid day.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Be glad the Foster isn't being run at Santa Anita...forecasts are predicting temps over 100 in much of the LA basin this weekend. 

[Man o Taz]

Whoa. Isn't Songbird running this weekend?

[BaroqueAgain1]

Yep.
http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/212514/songbird-back-for-summertime-oaks
I've noticed that TVG's talking heads haven't even mentioned the Foster. Things must be pretty hostile between Betfair and CDI if such an important stakes race isn't being handicapped on TVG. 

[stark]

Be glad the Foster isn't being run at Santa Anita...forecasts are predicting temps over 100 in much of the LA basin this weekend. 

SANTA ANITA ANNOUNCES 12 NOON FIRST POST SUNDAY DUE TO FORECAST OF UNUSUALLY HIGH TEMPS http://www.santaanita.com/press-releases/santa-anita-park-announces-12-noon-first-post-time-on-sunday-due-to-forecast-of-unusually-high-temperatures/#.V2MK0_f05lM.twitter ...

[peeptoad]

Effinex is going to be hard-pressed to lose this one. I'm trying to make a case for a couple of others, but it's tough going. Bradester is interesting, but the distance is beyond his best and with the other pace in here I don't think he'll hang around. Eagle and Majestic Harbor look okay on paper, but would need to step it up here to win. Are You Kidding looks like the only reasonable price, but again, he's got to withstand the pace and he's only had one career dirt race prior to this. Tall order.

[stark]

1   International Star (NY)      4/C   L   F Geroux   116   M J Maker   6/1
2   Bradester (KY)      6/H   L   J Bravo   116   E Kenneally   5/1
3   Effinex (NY)      5/H   L   G L Stevens   122   J A Jerkens   1/1
4   Majestic Harbor (KY)      8/H   L   C J Lanerie   118   P J McGee   5/1
5   El Kabeir (FL)      4/C   L   R Santana, Jr.   115   J P Terranova, II   12/1
6   Are You Kidding Me (KY)      6/H   L   J R Leparoux   118   R L Attfield   10/1
7   Eagle (KY)      4/C   L   B J Hernandez, Jr.   117   N J Howard   6/1

The only real question mark is dirt.  JuLep will have involved from the getgo and he can finish and he's 10-1, areyoukiddingme!?

[peeptoad]

1   International Star (NY)      4/C   L   F Geroux   116   M J Maker   6/1
2   Bradester (KY)      6/H   L   J Bravo   116   E Kenneally   5/1
3   Effinex (NY)      5/H   L   G L Stevens   122   J A Jerkens   1/1
4   Majestic Harbor (KY)      8/H   L   C J Lanerie   118   P J McGee   5/1
5   El Kabeir (FL)      4/C   L   R Santana, Jr.   115   J P Terranova, II   12/1
6   Are You Kidding Me (KY)      6/H   L   J R Leparoux   118   R L Attfield   10/1
7   Eagle (KY)      4/C   L   B J Hernandez, Jr.   117   N J Howard   6/1

The only real question mark is dirt.  JuLep will have involved from the getgo and he can finish and he's 10-1, areyoukiddingme!?

Yep. Likely why he is my pick here, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Effinex roll either.

[Zenyatta]

It's not a star-studded field, but for a short field highly competitive, which makes for a good betting race. What a head scratcher.

If I threw caution to the wind, I'd go with Majestic Harbor or Bradester, but I am picking Eagle. The other two can complete a trifecta or boxed exacta.

[Raven]

I'm going with Majestic Harbor with Eagle for second

[Dusty]

Would not surprise me if El Kabeir gets a piece

[Zenyatta]

It's not a star-studded field, but for a short field highly competitive, which makes for a good betting race. What a head scratcher.

If I threw caution to the wind, I'd go with Majestic Harbor or Bradester, but I am picking Eagle. The other two can complete a trifecta or boxed exacta.

LOL, I got the trifecta. Poor Eagle, he finished well but just didn't get there.