Gierkink's preview: Cheap races abound

Wednesday, Oct. 1, preview

All eight races on the card are claimers if you include the nominal feature, which is a combo race for $20,000 non-winners-of-three claimers and Ontario-sired non-winners-of-three allowance types.

The Stu Simon-trained entry (5-2) of Stormin Clooney and Glenstal Abbey should be prominent in the six-furlong headliner. Stormin Clooney is the clear speed on paper, and Glenstal Abbey is shortening up off a stalking score going seven-eighths vs. $20,000 sophomores.

Orbit Express (3-1) seems vulnerable even though he owns the highest last-out Beyer Speed Figure in the field, a 71. After landing his debut at 2, the 5-year-old lost his next 27 starts before posting an off-the-pace tally in a $20,000 conditioned claimer Sept. 5. It’s hard to imagine him doubling up in this tougher assignment, even with the crafty journeyman Gary Boulanger taking over from Patrick Husbands, who’s riding the dropping Wisdom Listens.

Wisdom Listens is coupled with Endeavor’s Dream in the favored Steve Chircop-trained entry (2-1).

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Endeavor’s Dream is adding blinkers off the claim. Chircop has a 15 percent strike rate the first time off the claim, with a return on investment of $2.80, during the past five years.

Jackpot Hi 5 carryover building

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover heading into the nightcap is $36,952. Figy’s Mobil Pride (5-1) is shortening up in the $8,000 sprint off a fading fourth in a two-turn experiment and could end a drought in his second start for the live Bill Tharrenos barn.

DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Tharrenos has won at an impressive 31 percent clip with route/sprint runners over the last two years, with an ROI of $4.25.

Other contenders in the eighth include Well Played (4-1) and Fiery Executive (12-1). Justin’s Tapit (3-1) is a wild card in his first outing in about a year.

Mighty Bear (8-1) and Sunny Weather (6-1) are candidates for the lower rungs of vertical wagers.

Horses to watch

THREE RING CIRCUS
Trainer: Bob Tiller
Last race: Sept. 28, 6th
Finish: 2nd by a head
Beyer: 76
He battled wide for the lead with the more-experienced favorite before coming up just short of that rival in a five-furlong Ontario-sired maiden special. The quick final time of 57.41 seconds earned him a big Beyer for a debuting 2-year-old, and his trainer has solid numbers with maiden second-timers.

ANOTHER GIRL
Trainer: Nick Gonzalez
Last race: Sept. 27, 6th
Finish: 4th by 4 1/4
Beyer: 46
She got away a tad slowly before closing belatedly and then galloped out in front at first asking in a five-furlong dash for Ontario-sired juvenile fillies. The daughter of hot 2-year-old sire Old Forester should be more prominent if she resurfaces in a longer sprint.