Tread carefully in Reggae 6 opener
SATURDAY'S Reggae 6 opener, one of those $350,000 claiming events fielding horses who can turn around their form at the drop of a hat, should be approached with extreme caution, especially with a $5.4m carryover and $2.2m single-winner bonus dangling.
Amid the stable and equipment changes of other runners, note FAULT LINE reporting from a new barn, dropping from $500,000 to $350,000 after trailing in his last three races.
Take heed that Phillip Parchment was aboard FAULT LINE when the seven-year-old rallied to beat HEROINE at odds of 8-1, at seven and a half furlongs, on April 19, reporting with a similar run of down-the-track performances.
FAULT LINE should be among at least four runners to start the Reggae 6 along with ROHAN KABIR, NALA'S BUSHMAN and SIX AVENUE.
Take a shot at banking imported ROCKET FIRE SEB in the second event at six furlongs. The importee ran flat when fancied to make a winning debut at five furlongs straight on June 29. Though galloping 1:00.2 from the gate in preparation, ROCKET FIRE SEB was outsped by fellow American MISS MARBELLA, relegated to third close home by local-bred BROMPTON BOY.
ROCKET FIRE SEB's sire, Will Take Charge, was a late-charging 2013 Travers Stakes winner and Breeders Cup Classic runner-up trained by the late D Wayne Lukas. Returning on the round course, going a furlong longer, should better suit ROCKET FIRE SEB.
The third event at seven furlongs should be similarly treated as the opener. Though teeming with top-level claimers, running on a $1.5 million tags doesn't change the fact that sellers' form is always on a see-saw especially when changing stables.
Therefore, never depend on what meets the eyes in the form lines with horses who routinely turn tables on each other. Use BERN NOTICE, AWESOME ANTHONY, MILOS, I REALISE and MONEY MONSTER without shame, knowing the reward will be no regrets.
The fourth is another potential minefield, runners whose form isn't even worth discussing, hence spread bets and go along with MO AVIATOR, TAPPININ, SPITZEN KHAN and LEADING LAD.
Wrap the Reggae 6 with consecutive bankers, LAST HOORAH and SIR JOHN, who was a strong winner on a $1 million tag a week ago. Whatever SIR JOHN's new connections are up to, the worst that can happen is that he is declared a late non-runner, which would open the event to untold possibilities.
REGGAE 6
Race 1: 3, 4, 6, 8
Race 2: 3
Race 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Race 4: 2, 4, 5, 9
Race 5: 6
Race 6: 1
TOTAL: $800
TWILIGHT 6
Race 5: 6
Race 6: 1
Race 7: 6
Race 8: 7
Race 9: 1
Race 10: 4, 10, 12, 13
TOTAL: $40
BONUS BETS
KWIK 4
Race 3: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Race 4: 2, 4, 5, 9
Race 5: 6
Race 6: 1
TOTAL: $800
STRIKE 4
Race 7: 6
Race 8: 7
Race 9: 1
Race 10: 4, 10, 12, 13
TOTAL: $160
BEST THREE
Race 7: Florindia
Race 8: Legacy Isle
Race 9: Oil Machine
OUTSIDER:
Race 4: Leading Lad