Vanderboom Ridge goes postward Saturday in an $8000 claiming race going a mile over the turf at Hawthorne.  We drew post 8 in the 9 horse field with Carlos Montalvo aboard.

Here is a look at the field.

Pilatus (Berndt/Velazquez) – Was running in sprints (mostly) at Canterbury and notched a couple of wins, including one in allowance company.  A sprinter who comes off the pace, he was 4th in a route allowance over the turf in June.

Frontier Force (Perez/Perez) – Had some issues two back in $16K at Arlington where he was declared the winner by DQ after finishing 2nd. Ratcheted pretty high (100k) in his last, he drops now to $8K with the red hot (5 for 20) Perez aboard.

Fort Dixie (Slager/Santiago) – Won tow back in an Arlington $10K mile.  Has shown some speed and appears as if this distance suits him best.

Cruachan (Mason/Felix) – Heavy morning line favorite was claimed at $12,500 three back.  Was pushed up to $25K last two with a 2nd and a 7th to his credit.  Now comes back down all the way to $8K.

Ol Army (Rodriguez/Hernandez) – One of the few actually moving UP in class for this one.  Showed decent speed 2 back when finishing 2nd at $7500.  Faltered on the main track next out over the main track but returns to the turf here.

Ghost to Ghost (Rodriguez/Sanjur) – Last out winner at $10K is yet another – though typical in turf races – that wants to come off the pace.

Thundergram (Slager/Castro) – A low level claim that was able to score an allowance win next out but has had some issues in the optional claimer/starters that followed.  Back in with straight claimers should make him more effective.

VANDERBOOM RIDGE (BRINSON/MONTALVO)

Devine Delivery (Miller/Roman) -A router with some speed, he’s been unable to hold it.  He cuts back to a mile here.  Last time he tried the distance he was unsuccessful but that was against higher.

Definitely a diverse field with mostly droppers but a few moving up and a great deal of closers.

Boomer has the ability to get out in front or come from off the pace.  If he can break well and settle in up front before the turn, that could bode very well for us – especially if Montalvo can slow down the pace.

Now if he doesn’t break well enough to get the lead there may be some room behind perhaps Divine Delivery or Fort Dixie to slid in and track the leaders.  My guess is that Clay will leave it in Carlos’ hands depending on how the break goes and the race develops.

The weather looks to be decent with only a slight chance of thunderstorms in the morning.  That is upgraded a bit since Wednesday’s forecast so that is moving in the right direction.

Good luck everybody!