Hobo Ridge faces tougher in allowance than he did winning stakes
Hobo Ridge collected a big payday when he galloped home 24 lengths in front of his lone opponent in a $60,000 stakes last month. The competition figures to be much stiffer when Hobo Ridge returns to turf for Tuesday’s $46,000 feature at Parx Racing.
The eighth race, at a mile and 70 yards, is a second-level optional $25,000 claimer. It drew nine horses, plus one also-eligible and one entered for the main track only.
The 7-year-old Hobo Ridge was among eight horses scheduled to start in the Turning for Home Stakes on Aug. 23. But when heavy rain forced the race onto a sloppy, sealed track, Hobo Ridge wound up in a match race with Change of Command. There was really no competition, however, when Change of Command stumbled badly coming out of the gate, spotting his opponent five lengths, and Hobo Ridge cruised to his 10th lifetime victory, earning $45,000.
On Tuesday, Hobo Ridge is among four of the turf entrants running for the $25,000 tag. He is 0 for 6 lifetime on Parx’s turf course, but has run several Beyer Speed Figures close to the par of 84 for Tuesday’s class level while competing in $16,000 starter allowances.
His rivals include former Northern California-based Marshal Marini, who cleared his first allowance condition in May at Golden Gate Fields; the 3-year-old Camden Street, who returns to going long on turf following a non-effort sprinting on dirt for the first time in the Grade 3 Gallant Bob; and Curve of Stones, who makes his turf debut for trainer Jonathan Sheppard after winning a first-level allowance on the Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs.
Race 8
KEY CONTENDERS
Hobo Ridge (Last 3 Beyers: 70-65-82)
Finished last of nine two starts ago at this same level at Delaware Park, a couple good efforts at Parx that would stamp him a serious contender in this spot if can run back to those performances.
Camden Street (Last 3 Beyers: 36-66-77)
After beginning his career with five route races on turf, including a win in a first-level optional $75,000 claimer at Aqueduct, this 3-year-old was tried in a dirt sprint and didn’t like it. Trainer Mike Aro’s lone win going dirt-to-turf, sprint-to-route came in 2011 at Atlantic City. Can contend if he improves with return to what he does best, going two turns on grass.
Mashal Marini (Last 3 Beyers: 0-89-84)
After running three consecutive good races going long in allowance race on turf, this 5-year-old was strangely put in a dirt sprint and entered for a $25,000 claiming in his Parx debut. Trainer Kathleen DeMasi claimed him out of that poor performance and puts him back on his best surface. Could be a wake-up candidate, but stats show DeMasi is 0 for 25 going dirt-to-turf and sprint-to-route.
Curve of Stones (Last 3 Beyers: 82-74-64)
Adds Lasix and tries turf for the first time following fast win in a first-level allowance at Presque Isle Downs. Looks very dangerous in this spot for combination of Jonathan Sheppard and jockey Victor Carrasco, who are hitting at a 27 percent clip with a $2.05 return on investment over the past two seasons.
Slim Pickins (Last 3 Beyers: 27-78-81)
Clearly a better horse on turf, where he is 3 for 8, than on dirt, where he struggled in his two most recent starts. From a small sampling, trainer Keith Nations is 3 for 7 (43 percent) with route runners back in less than 30 days going dirt to turf.
Punster (Last 3 Beyers: 81-82-80)
He won at this same level going the same distance as Tuesday’s race. But that came 13 months ago and trainer Patricia Farro isn’t noted for winning with route runners coming off extended layoffs.