Results: Friday Juvenile Races

All I have to say about The Roundhouse’s victory today at Monmouth is WOW! Reading the footnotes on Equibase doesn’t do this performance justice, but it looked like this half-brother of Circular Quay (both out of Circle of Life) was completely out of this race, never engaged, far back from the leaders (at least 12 lengths back at one point), and even as they were coming down the stretch, he was nowhere near the leaders…and then, bam! He hit a gear I hardly thought a two-year-old could possess, and easily whooped this field, paying $4.00. I am impressed. Unbridled Wish ($8.40 place) gamely finished second, and the rest of the field was well back, with Vanbird finishing third ($3.40 show). Clemens did not break well, and finished fourth, and Mystic Maze ended up sixth of seven.

At muddy Louisiana Downs, Make Money Quick scratched, leaving Smith B Quick ($5.80 win) and Mr. Hunter ($3.00 place) to pass La Trust ($7.00 show) who fell apart late in the race. At Arlington, favorite Barely a Memory ($2.80 show) could not hold off longshots Starry Pursuit ($14.80 win) and one of my picks Palanka City ($21.00 place). The Mizzus finished fourth, while Sting In The Tail, Seriously Gorgeous, and Our Lucky Gray were never engaged, finishing well back. The $2 Superfecta paid $12,286, so plenty of money to be made in this two-year-old race, with 12 starters and betting money spreading all over the place. Love these juvenile races!