Master Mick stands out in Cleveland Kindergarten
Based on his impressive career debut last month, Master Mick will be difficult to defeat when he steps up to face winners Saturday in the $75,000 Cleveland Kindergarten for Ohio-bred 2-year-olds at ThistleDown.
The 62 Beyer Speed Figure that Master Mick earned for his 9 1/2-length romp July 6 is by far the best number in the field of eight for the six-furlong Kindergarten, which goes as race 7. The performance was validated when the distant runner-up, the maiden Blingitonagain, missed by a nose to stablemate Kiosk’s Cause in the Hoover at Belterra Park. Both Tim Hamm-trained runners will challenge Master Mick on Saturday.
The last four runnings of the Kindergarten have been won by fillies, but the lone female in this year’s edition is Sheza Fine Justice, who will be an extreme longshot after getting trounced in the Hoover and the Miss Ohio last month.
Key contenders
Master Mick (Last Beyer: 62)
* He won his lone outing easily and subsequently worked a pair of bullets, so there’s every reason to feel confident that he’s fit and fast. His second dam produced the Ohio-bred mare Pay the Man, a winner of 17 stakes and $1.05 million. The only negative stat is that trainer Miguel Feliciano is 0 for 12 with 2-year-olds in stakes at ThistleDown over the last five years, including four losses in the Kindergarten.
Kiosk’s Cause (Last 2 Beyers: 50-23)
* He’s 2 for 2 after nipping his stablemate in the Hoover but would need another move forward to knock off Master Mick.
Blingitonagain (Last 3 Beyers: 50-33-45)
* He remains a maiden after three starts but keeps running well enough to finish second. Merits respect coming from the barn of Hamm, who won back-to-back runnings of this stakes with fillies in 2012 and 2013.
Weavers Ice Cold (Last 2 Beyers: 42-31)
* Off-the-pace runner still is a maiden but made up five lengths in the final furlong of the Hoover to finish third, beating nine horses. Could improve while making just his second start against statebreds.