Chicago's Gray could have company early in Golden Boy Stakes
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Questions abound regarding Monday’s $50,000 Golden Boy Stakes at Assiniboia, a six-furlong sprint with a good seven-horse field of 3-year-olds.
Will somebody press Chicago’s Gray, or will the speedy gray secure another clear lead and keep on going? Is Saxon Saga poised for another peak performance? How good are the Alberta shippers Cuban Cobra and Rough Customer?
Chicago’s Gray was claimed for a bargain $12,500 on May 6 at Oaklawn by trainer Murray Duncan from trainer Steve Asmussen. Duncan sent out the son of Belmont Stakes winner Tapwrit to win a five-furlong maiden special by eight lengths in a time of 59.20 seconds here May 23, when he earned a much-improved 72 Beyer Speed Figure.
Chicago’s Gray was odds-on again here most recently in the $24,000 Prime Time TV Overnight Stakes, another five-furlong dash. He set a quick pace and never looked back to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths in a quick clocking of 58 seconds, good for a career-best 75 Beyer.
Jorge Carreno retains the mount on Chicago’s Gray, the 2-1 second choice on the morning line, from post 7. The two Alberta invaders both have speed, and perhaps one of them will hound Chicago’s Gray early to take him out of his game.
Saxon Saga, a $12,500 claim at Golden Gate in March, won his local debut easily from a forward position in a May 23 optional claimer. After racing in third early in the Prime Time TV, he made a bid to finish a clear second with a career-high 68 Beyer.
Renaldo Cumberbatch will ride Saxon Saga again for trainer Wendy Anderson, and they’re a combined 4 for 17 at the meet. Expect him to make his presence felt after another stalking trip, from post 6.
Cuban Cobra is the 8-5 morning-line favorite under Dane Nelson. The son of Flat Out won three of his five 2-year-old outings, which included victories in the $50,000 Canadian Juvenile Stakes at Century Mile and the $50,000 Winnipeg Futurity in the slop at Assiniboia.
In his June 3 season opener in the six-furlong Western Canada Handicap at Century, Cuban Cobra darted out to an uncontested lead and prevailed comfortably in a time of 1:09.80 while earning a 68 Beyer. Trainer Gonzalo Anderson sent him out to work five furlongs in a sizzling 58.80 seconds at his Century base on June 17, and the Florida-bred could be sent hard from post 2.
Rough Customer is adding Lasix off a chalky second in a June 10 maiden special for Alberta-breds. The son of Cape Canaveral has never cracked 60 on the Beyer scale and looks to be in too deep.
Rounding out the field are Blazing Bo, Adjournment, and Properly Connected.
Post time for the Golden Boy, the third race on an excellent seven-race card, is 8:25 p.m. Central.
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