The most intriguing end to Pegasus weekend in a wide open turf route for three-year-old maiden allowances and a likely spread race for those chasing the mandatory payoff in the Rainbow 6.
With New York snowed out, figure that an additional $3-4 million will join the nearly $800,000 in hangover money.
On first pass we left five open which will mean of course that the Chad Brown first-time starter for Winstar et al with Irad in the boot will probably take it. But we always air on the side of experience in these situations.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t make things easier.
Ultimately, we settled on Curbstone (9-2). After a practice run at Saratoga, blinkers were added for start two and Curbstone, from a mare that has produced four winning siblings, showed immediate improvement, making all but beaten in the final strides.
It was a meaningful debut with the blinkers–see Belmont Park replay, SEP 23, Race 2–before getting rained off the grass in his next start in Lexington.
Curbstone has had nine works for Brendan Walsh at Palm Meadows prior to this since early December. Further he goes first-Lasix, a profitable 19% angle for this outfit, also on the plus side with its 90-days + returns.
Javier Castellano from an inside slip certainly doesn’t hurt and nothing says that with maturity, he need not be a need-the-lead type.
We’re taking him to win at 3-1 or greater, a possible saver with Mr Cellular (10-1) a strong finish second in debut on Tapeta when claim by Larry Rivelli, 38% successful off the claim, who names Paco.
From four siblings, he has one that’s a stakes winner on turf. In addition, a three-horse exacta box, these two with the Chad runner.
