Game of Silks Feature Race of the Week
Allowance 2yo’s – 1 1/16 Miles – Race 8 – Churchill Downs Thursday Nov 9, 2023
| # | Name | Sale price | Comments |
| 1 | First World War | $285,000 | Ran well in 2 turf starts, tries dirt for Walsh/Gafflione |
| 2 | Lagynos | $200,000 | Broke maiden at 6.5f on turf, pedigree leans sprinting |
| 3 | Khanate | $35,000 | Stretches out after winning restricted MSW. Chance |
| 4 | Barksdale | $235,000 | Won debut in Indiana on the lead. Live longshot here? |
| 5 | Catching Freedom | $575,000 | Well bred colt impressive 1st start. The one to beat |
| 6 | Mozlzil | $160,000 | Switches to dirt. Adds Johnny V. Should be closing late |
| 7 | Woodcourt | $95,000 | Back to dirt. In for $100k claiming price in start six |
| 8 | Footprint | Homebred | Has won on dirt at this distance in only start. Possible |
| 9 | Market Street | $275,000 | Drops from stakes off of two poor efforts. Pace factor? |
| 10 | Parchment Party | $450,000 | Rallied from far back in winning debut. Tough call here |
Thursday’s 8th from Churchill Downs is the Game of Silks Race of the Week! It’s an allowance race/optional claimer with a purse of $127,000 for 2-year old’s going 1 1/16th on the dirt with a 10-horse field and a post time of 4:33 eastern. Check out our Spaces discussing this race starting at noon Thursday on X and reminder that a replay of that show will be available if you can’t make it live.
First World War has run well in both of his grass starts, including a good 4th beaten only 1 ½ lengths in the Bourbon at Keeneland in his latest. Could be right there if he handles the dirt as well as he has taken to the turf. He is owned in Silks by Francos
Lagynos broke his maiden at 1st asking at Kentucky Downs going 6 ½ furlongs in the turf. By Kantharos, the switch to dirt should be fine but he is bred to sprint on both sides of his pedigree and the stretch out to the route distance is a serious question mark. Lagynos is still available to be delivered in Game of Silks.
Khanate ran in a pretty nondescript fashion him his first two starts but really put it together last out at Keeneland, whipping restricted maidens by 10 lengths for Team Pletcher. Tries two turns here and the pedigree and running style both suggest that it’s within his scope but the big question is the jump in class, even with Luis Saez in the irons. Khanate is still available to be delivered in Game of Silks.
Barksdale made his debut a winning one at Horsehoe Indianapolis, heading directly to the lead and holding on going the mile distance. His speed figure from that race is a little light against this caliber of company but he also has license to improve in his second start as well. He is owned in the Game of Silks by LongDawg Acres.
Catching Freedom is a half-brother to Bishops Bay who earlier in the year finished a close 2nd to expected 3 year old champ Archangelo in the grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes. His debut was very impressive as he dusted a nice field of maidens over this same track surface albeit going the one turn mile not the two turn of today's distance. Clearly the one to beat. Catching Freedom is owned in Silks by Gazza28 Stables.
Mozlzil is an Uncle Mo colt who won going this distance in his 1st start back in August at Ellis Park before being a fast closing 3rd in the Juvenile Stakes at Kentucky Downs in his last. Both those were on turf so he has to show he can handle the dirt as well, but if he can, he may be an on the board contender. He is owned in Silks by CLC Stables.
Woodcourt actually won this condition last time out on the grass at Churchill in September but is eligible because he is entered for the $100,000 claiming tag. Has been a bit of an erratic performer in his five race career and switching back to the dirt adds to the intrigue. GodofGods Stables owns Woodcourt in Game of Silks.
Footprint took money on the tote board in his first start at Keeneland in a rare $150,000 maiden claiming race and ran to it, sweeping by the field to win by almost 4 lengths. McPeek doesn’t often have them ready to fire first time so obviously this one has some talent and with a win at the distance already, should have a better than average chance of getting on the board in this spot. Footprint is in the Auction House for this race! Check out the SilksAuctions OpenSea page.
Market Street broke his maiden impressively in the slop at Ellis Park this summer but has mostly struck out in stakes company since and drops in class here off of a drubbing in the Iroquois. Hard to endorse in current form. Market Street is owned by Alpha Racing in Silks.
Parchment Party rallied from far off the lead to win his first and only start at Churchill in September, going this same 1 1/16th distance. Surely has talent and comes into this with a rapid 59.4 workout for hall of fame trainer Bill Mott but has to avoid giving up an unreasonable amount of ground early. Rounding out the pack, Parchment Party is also still available to be delivered in the Silks racehorse collection.
Please see below for important links.
----
Official Auction Catalog: https://join.silks.io/AuctionCatalog
Official Silks Auction Page: https://opensea.io/silksauctions
Guide on OpenSea Auctions: https://support.opensea.io/hc/en-us/articles/1500003246082-How-do-timed-auctions-work-
What is WETH and How do I get it?: https://support.opensea.io/hc/en-us/articles/360063498293-What-s-WETH-How-do-I-get-it-
Comments
0 comments