TENS WILD is in the 4th race at Hawthorne Race Course tomorrow (Saturday) with an anticipated post time of 3:40 CT. He drew the rail and a new rider, leading Hawthorne rider Chris Emigh. He’s the second choice in the morning line (7/2) behind stable mate Indy Awesome. The race is a $12,500 claiming race over the main track going a mile and 16th.

Here is a look at the field:

TENS WILD (BRINSON/EMIGH)

Revelation Bowl (Cristel/Sanjur) – Taking a big step up off the claim. He’s had two shots above the $5000 level and was smoked in both. Doesn’t look like he’ll contribute to any pace up front.

Indy Awesome (Brinson/Felix) – Class of the field, the 5-year old son of AP Indy out of an Awesome Again mare was 2nd in the Manitoba Mile two back and looks the part of a stakes placed horse as evidenced by $350,000 price tag. After time off, he basically loped around the track in his return at Hawthorne vs much higher. Definitely the one to beat.

My Pal Paul (Jeffery/Roman) – Was very competitive early in TENS last race but faded. Adds blinkers for this race which tends to serve two purposes: 1) get a horse more involved early or 2) keep him from giving up when horses try and pass him late (if he doesn’t see them, maybe he won’t fade?). Given that he tends to break relatively well, it could be the latter and it could keep him closer late.

Chatito (Rodriguez/Baird) – Big jump in claiming price for another in here, also moving up from $5000. This guy is also stretching out from sprints. His turf efforts weren’t great but on the artificial at Arlington he beat a group of $25,000 claimers. Solo dirt effort was solid but against a lot lower.

Four Left Feet (Young/Perez) – This guys is sliding down the class ladder but has won at this level and distance at Arlington. Last try was unimpressive but also was only 6 1/2 furlongs and was steadily closing. This unfortunately named gelding could be dangerous late.

Common Sense (Spagnola/Santiago) – A winner last out in a conditioned $5000 claimer, this guy will have to improve to win.

Ballyjamesduff (Haran/Hennesy) – Vanquisher of TENS last out, there does not appear to be the pace in here that there was in that race. He also shifts to the outside which doesn’t help his chances either. Solid competitor.

Should Indy Awesome run in this spot (the class drop seems too precipitous), he is the one to beat. His last win was at this distance in a $25,000 spot over this racetrack. He had a tough couple of goes at Canterbury before placing in the Manitoba Mile at Assiniboia. After three months off he came back in a $30,000 optional claiming producing a lackadaisical effort. Blowing past $25,000 and $15,000 to settle here at $12,500, if he’s okay and goes, he’ll be tough stalking the pace.

The speed up front is limited with Chatito looking to be the only speed. It’s easy to see TENS settling in behind him and prompting the pace if Baird tries to slow it down too much. We should get first run at the leader, but Indy Awesome will have first run at us. Can TENS handle the anticipated pressure through the lane? That may be the determining factor in the result of the race.

Good luck!

TENS WILD was in a position to win late in the race but was overcome late by Ballyjamesduff. The extra distance seemed to suit the winner just fine. Though, to be fair, TENS was well clear of the third place horse so I don’t think we were out of our element at a mile and a sixteenth, but the winner got the trip he needed.

While I didn’t think that the pace was blistering up front, it certainly was solid with the leaders going :24.04 for the quarter and just a shade under :48 for the half. We got first jump on the top flight but Ballyjamesduff had too much rally in him and we had to settle for second.

I did think that he looked a little uncomfortable down the backside – moving up and sliding back, moving up and sliding back – which may have taken something out of him, but kudos to the winner, he beat us fair and square by a solid 2 1/4.

We’ll rest up and come right back at them again – probably at a lower level. I really thought we were gone here so now we’ll have to take less than fair value for him but could be that folks knew that as well and are just waiting for the plunge. Hopefully we can make up for that with another win.

TENS WILD is in on Wednesday at Hawthorne. The race is another $12,500 claiming race on the dirt that was hung as an extra. The race goes with only a field of six – four of the sixth in from TENS last victory with one climbing up from $8,000 while the other dropping in from $16,000. This time we’re going a mile and a sixteenth which was a little more problematic for him at $16,000 but not so much at $10,000 in Texas.

The race is the 3rd on the card with a scheduled post time of 3:10PM.

Look for the preview in the next couple of days.

Good luck!