At first blush, Pacific Classic early line favorite Seeking the Soul looks like the right horse. But can he give two big efforts back to back?
Then we thought about Pavel’s consistency and the tough challenges he has always met; those consistently tougher company lines. But despite his $2 million bankroll, he seldom finishes first.
When in the mood, gelded 7-year-old War Story hits hard but he, too, is coming off a huge effort and is another that doesn’t consistently run two alike.
John Sadler decided to keep Catalina Cruiser around one turn, a prudent move, especially considering today’s 10-furlong trip.
But does he have something up his sleeve with an uncoupled pair with one, Higher Power, going turf to dirt, a profitable Sadler pattern, attracting Prat and with no experience at Del Mar? He does own a stout pedigree.
And there’s the maturing, speedy Quip, who had the tougher trip when recently defeated by Seeking the Soul.
Again, I have many questions but I’ve got a small hunch, and I’m going to bet a small bunch.
The Pacific Classic horses have been paddock-schooling all week but when the too-slow (figure-wise), often in-and-out, Tenfold appeared on screen, he had me reaching for my clip-on shades. I never have seen his coat glisten like that. Ever.
Then I started thinking,where I often go wrong. Steve Asmussen races all over the country; the East, Midwest and Mid-South. But seldom does he venture into Del Mar, a Breeders’ Cup notwithstanding.
With the country’s leading handicapper, McKinzie, long considered a Whitney probable, then indeed going out and winning it, could it be Asmussen has targeted this race all along?
Asmussen and Mike Smith have partnered nicely with Midnight Bisou. Can their 2019 roll together continue? Tenfold’s Stephen Foster was too bad to be true but that was coming off a hard fought win in the Pimlico Special–at today’s trip.
He’s four now so maybe he’s about to get good. I know he couldn’t look any better so, at about early line odds of 8-1, we’ll take a small flyer. And as long as we’re hunching it up, will key-box exactas and trifectas with Pavel, Seeking the Soul and Higher Power.
Hope I don’t fall asleep before post time, set for 9:43 pm EDT.
