The fun thing about races such as the Miracle Wood for 3-year-olds at a flat mile on Saturday’s Winter Carnival undercard is watching trainers watch their young horses to determine just what kind of animal they have.
There’s a proven nominee in Albert Park, a Godophin runner that won a minor stakes on the Presque Isle synthetic surface then was a good second to a fast, talented Ralph Nicks shipper in Tampa’s Pasco in his 3YO debut.
Then there’s Informative, last seen finishing fourth in the G2 Remsen after being beaten by a nose following a rough trip in Laurel’s J.F. Lewis, his Free State debut. This would be, then, a good place to get started in 2020.
But John Servis is curious, and confident. He already knows he has a good horse in Dreams Untold, who broke his maiden by double digits in the slop at Parx. The question is how good.
But even if he is a mudlark, his effort that was eye-opening to say the least. It certainly seemed like Kyle Frey had as much confidence as any jock who ever road the best horse because it wasn’t even close.
Breaking from the outside #8 slip, Frye looked around once on the backstretch, once leaving the backstretch and perhaps a third time turning for home. Clearly, he had the leader any time he wanted, so it was just a matter of how many lengths he would win by; many, many lengths.
It appears as if today’s added five-sixteenths of a mile will not stop him but better competition could, of course. That’s why Servis is here; to find out. What do you think?
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at Informative from the Laurel Park Video on the HRI homepage. and watch Laurel RACE 6 on NOV 16.