1/4: (GP) Gr. III Canadian Turf
 

7th (4:00) Canadian Turf H. (G3)

1 1/16 Miles (Turf) | Open | 4 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $100,000

1 1 Imawildandcrazyguy Cruz M R Kaplan William A 113 L 12-1
2 2 Kiss the Kid Castro E Tarrant Amy 116 L 8-1
3 3 True to Tradition Douglas R R Lake Scott A 113 L 20-1
4 4 Yate's Black Cat Prado E S Romans Dale 113 L 12-1
5 5 Host (CHI) Velazquez J R Albertrani Thomas 116 L 3-1
6 6 Thorn Song Desormeaux K J Romans Dale 116 L 4-1
7 7 Jet Propulsion Nunez E O Hurtak Daniel C 114 L 6-1
8 8 Big Prairie Castellano J J Arnold George R II 111 L 12-1
9 9 Baron Von Tap Trujillo E Tesher Howard M 114 L 20-1
10 10 French Vintage Bravo J Pierce Joseph H Jr 110 L 30-1
11 11 National Captain (SAF) Lezcano J McLaughlin Kiaran P 114 L 5-1
12 12 Dreadnaught Coa E M Voss Thomas H 112 Blk-On L 10-1
13 AE Delosvientos Boraco D Iadisernia G 110 L 12-1
14 MTO Merchant Marine Velasquez C Jerkens H Allen 111 L 6-1

Exacta / Trifecta / Superfecta / Daily Double (Races 7&8) / Bet 3 (Races 7-8-9)

My thoughts on the 1st day are that the track seems to be playing to early speed on dirt, but late and from both rail and outside on grass

Trainer Terri Pompay and Jonathan Shepherd shined

Horses whose last race was at Calder fared excellent

For tomorrow:
Speed and Heart seems a very viable longshot in race 1 on grass
Sandy Bay in the 4th on grass
1st time starter Saumon Fume has been posting bulletts for Mott at Payson Park in the 8th
Smoke N Cherokee for Dutrow on grass in the 9th

night cap-ping
 

Calder's website seems to have stopped updating the Video Archives after December 13th

alternative video

hooper http://ntra.com/video.aspx?id=29903

mcknight http://ntra.com/video.aspx?id=29904

National Captain and Thorn Song look pretty strong here. Kiss the Kidd and Jet Propulsion add some interest underneath with good early + that 84ft. rail placement. True to Tradition actually has some turf tradition in his bloodline, is in shape and has wins at 5.5 and 9 furlongs on the turf. TtT could be worth including in some exotics. What's the deal with all the morning line respect to Host? If there is a such thing as a "follower" pack-mentality horse, Host would be a poster boy candidate. I hope he does go off at less than 5-1.

I have National Captain in the Race-of-the-Day contest at BRIS. Hoping for a brisk pace up front.

Oh boy.

Eddie Castro's ride on Kiss the Kid belongs in a time capsule of idiocy. That horse was so much the best it's almost ridiculous.

Pathetic.

He needlessly gunned into an insane speed duel with Jet Propulsion who had no shot. They went 45 3/5 to the half and had ten lengths on the field. It was unbelievable. He finished fourth and lost by around two lengths. He was a ton the best.

I say this not having bet him. I bet Big Prairie.

It was Homer Simpson-esque.

that duel was tough on them.
Host and company finished very fast as well. Very fast race overall.