Souper Colossal, Secured Position top Tyro contenders
OCEANPORT, N.J. – Souper Colossal and Secured Position are two of the leading contenders Sunday in the $60,000 Tyro, the first stakes of the season for 2-year-olds at Monmouth Park. Both are stepping up following sharp wins in their debuts.
Souper Colossal has the rail in the five-furlong dash on turf that attracted nine runners. He was all business in the maiden win here in early June, vying outside before taking charge and rolling to a 1 3/4-length win for trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. and Live Oak Plantation.
Secured Position had the rail against statebreds at Belmont Park last month. He fired right out of the gate, fending off pressure from two and sometimes three rivals as the Ocean View Stables homebred pulled a 32-1 upset for trainer Russell Cash.
“I think it was an awesome race first time out, shipping out of town,” Cash said. “He ran like a professional. They didn’t give him a breather, and then he pulled away from them. He did all right. He’s a pretty nice, little horse.”
Now, Secured Position steps up to a stakes, back at his home track.
“We couldn’t find any a-other-thans coming up anywhere, so we decided to give him a try in here,” Cash said. “There was nothing happening in New York, but he’ll have to go back there sooner or later.”
Tyro Stakes, Race 10
KEY CONTENDERS
Souper Colossal (Last Beyer: 67)
◗ Owns the best last-race Beyer Speed Figure in the field. This $350,000 yearling purchase has been well rested, with four works since then, including a 47-second bullet drill last week.
◗ He gets his speed from the sire, top-class sprinter War Front, and has solid turf influences from the dam, Soaring Emotions, by Kingmambo.
Secured Position (Last Beyer: 57)
◗ Came running from the rail in debut and now lands post 8, giving jockey Jose C. Ferrer the option to gun or stalk. Adds Lasix.
◗ The victory was flattered when runner-up Good Luck Gus returned to win in the slop at Saratoga.
Governmentshutdown (Last 3 Beyers: 12-73-83)
◗ The most experienced runner in the race with four starts, Governmentshutdown had a bumpy trip last time out before fading in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs.
◗ Formulator Fact: Trainer John Robb is 17 for 54 (31 percent) with 2-year-old males over the last two seasons.