Our ASK EDDY came out of his last race as well as a 6-year old with 36 races under his belt could. He went back to the track and showed that he was feeling pretty good so we went ahead and entered him for this Saturday. The race is a $5,000 claiming race going a mile and 1/16 (a little further than his last race, but not by much) over the main track. An additional condition of the race is that the horse cannot have won 2 races in 2013.

How does EDDY meet that condition? For this race, races that a horse was in for a claiming tag of $4,000 or less do not count. Therefore, by the conditions of this race, EDDY only has one win in 2013.
He’ll meet a couple of old foes including the 2nd place finisher from his win, MILES HEIR. There are 8 horses in the race and we’ll take a look at them here:

SWIFT PROGRESS (Brinson/Escobar) – Another Clay trained horse, as I mentioned in response to an earlier comment, sometimes barns have horses that have the same conditions so they end up running against each other. If it were up to the trainer, they would finish in a dead heat for first, but a 1-2 finish would be just fine, too. SWIFT PROGRESS won last time out by a head at this distance in a $4,000 claiming race. He stalked the pace in that one and seems to be at his best when he can do that.

MILES HEIR (Diodoro/Franco): 2nd to EDDY last out, MILES HEIR appeared to be all out and could not make a dent in EDDY’s lead. The added few yards are probably to EDDY’s benefit.

VICTORY CHECK (Oliver/Stevens): Was beaten 26 lengths by EDDY last out.

ASK EDDY (BRINSON/CANCHARI)

COWBOY LUKE (Padilla/Eikleberry): Won a $6250 claiming race last out by a length and was 2nd in two others. The distance suits him and Eikleberry was able to get him to finish strongly last race. This is a bit of a class drop for him and could give EDDY all he can handle. The 3-1 morning line favorite.

I’M THE GOLD (Liftin/Shaw): Beaten by 21 last out in a $4,000 claiming race for horses that had not won yet in 2013.

R SKYDIVER (Silva/Martin): A very game 2nd at Evangeline Downs (LA) last out. Likes to be near or on the front and may be able to get out to a solo lead.

VINI VIDI VICI (Burgess/Goodwin): Claimed 2 starts back in a $4,000 conditioned claiming race (non-winner of a race in 2013) which he won, came back in a straight $7500 claiming race (no conditions) and finished 4th, but a well beaten 4th. Will try and come from well off the pace at a class level that is better suited to him.

So how does the race stack up for EDDY? He fits in here, obviously. He is the 2nd choice of the oddsmaker at 4-1 but how will the race shape up for him? If I REALLY knew that, I’d be betting for a living, but let’s give it a shot.

R SKYDIVER is going to want that early lead. If anyone goes with him will go a long way in determining who wins this race. MILES HEIR may want to, but after getting cooked by EDDY in the last, they may be a bit gun shy when it comes to hooking up up front again. I’M THE GOLD may want to go but might not be fast enough to go with him. EDDY hooked up for the lead, but not until after a half mile or so, at which point Eddie Martin may have been able to take a breather for the 2nd quarter giving him plenty in the tank for the stretch run.
COWBOY LUKE and EDDY should be right there together wanting to stalk that pace while VINI VIDI VICI is going to need some hot fractions to cool off the front runners for his late kick. IF R SKYDIVER gets company on the front end, it should be a Paul Allen “spine-tingler” to the finish!

Good luck!