Who would you say is the better turf trainer, Brad Cox or Jason Servis? We wouldn’t blame you if you asked us in return: “what’s the difference?” And when it comes to winning with turf-debut types, you’d be spot on.
Both men are in the 30% + range when it comes to horses they move to the grass for the first time; so that much a wash.
A Bit of Both demonstrated his new and improved form after being acquired by Team Servis with a second and four straight wins since the filly broke maiden on debut for Kathleen O’Connell last fall at Gulfstream Park.
Of greater significance is that his last, a 5 1-/2 furlong turf debut, was an open lengths score in good time, a clocking good enough to earn an incremental lifetime best performance rating from Thoro-Graph, meaning there’s likely is more where that came from.
But if Break Even takes to the turf as expected–she has a two-sided grass pedigree to match her slick turf handlers–she’s simply too fast for this group and is a three-time stakes winner, one at the Grade 2 level.
Class on the grass.
We don’t normally take fast dirt horses making turf debuts against proven grass runners but we’ll make an exception here, given today’s dynamics. And notice that Shaun Bridgmohan is not letting this filly out of his sights.
Should she deliver as anticipated, A Bit of Both is a strong choice to complete a tiny exacta. Exotically speaking, well positioned I’llhandlethecash (15-1) looks interesting.
YESTERDAY: Homerique was left with too much to do then lugged in the midst of her rally, finishing a clearly beaten third. She likely would have been closer without the greenness but it’s unlikely to have made any difference…Short odds saved us money Friday; Saturday the odds on Cucina were fair. She lost in a disappointing performance. Turf will be his last best hope.
