Bashford Manor Stakes - Odds and Selections
The 2017 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) is the first opportunity for two-year-old colts to pick up graded blacktype earnings. Typical of early season juvenile stakes races, distance challenged sprinters are prevalent in the six-furlong event.
This year, a short field of six colts and geldings will contest the Bashford Manor. The majority have sprinter/miler pedigrees, and may not be around for a shot at the 2018 Kentucky Derby, but you never know, last year’s hero, Classic Empire finished second in this year’s Preakness.
Last year, Mark Casse conditioned Classic Empire to victory in the Bashford Manor. The colt earned an Eclipse Award as Champion 2YO and was a major player on this year’s Triple Crown Trail.
This year, Casse sends out the flashy Mo Diddley (Uncle Mo - Miss Bodine, by Vindication). The flashy colt attracted $450K at the Fasig-Tipton August Yearling Sale. Mo Diddley was green but very determined in his debut. He made a right turn coming out of the far outside gate, but Florent Geroux got him back into contention while going five wide around the turn. Mo Didley fought neck and neck down the stretch and won by a determined head. The son of Uncle Mo has been training sharply and besting workmates in the mornings. The Casse barn has an eye-catching 21% win rate with two-year-olds. Geroux sticks with Copper Bullet while Corey Lanerie picks up the mount on Mo Diddley.
Pedigree: Mo Diddley has the pedigree of a miler. There’s plenty of blacktype in his distaff line. His stakes placed dam Miss Bodine is a half-sister to the dam of the hardy stakes veteran Bear Now. Miss Bodine is also a half-sister to the ill-fated California Champion Colt, Icecoldbeeratreds.
Steve Asmussen is seeking his fifth Bashford Manor Stakes trophy. He picked up his last one in 2014 with Cinco Charlie. This year, Asmussen sends out the aptly named Copper Bullet (More Than Ready - Allegory, by Unbridled's Song). The striking bay fired out of the gate and never looked back. He was a little green coming around the far turn but reextended his lead with every stride under an easy hand ride by Florent Geroux. He traveled five furlongs in 57.60, getting his last furlong in 11.78. The Asmussen barn has a 19% win rate with two-year-olds and 14% with graded stakes.
Pedigree: Copper Bullet has the pedigree to handle middle distances. His dam began her career in France but found American racing more to her liking. She won her first start in the US on the Turfway Polytrack and placed twice in eight starts. Allegory is a half-sister to French Group 3 stakes-placed turf router Stay the Night. Copper Bullet’s second dam Louve Royale is a multiple group stakes placed turf router (12F). His distaff line is filled with European blacktype turf routers.
Ten City (Run Away and Hide - Maiden America, by Rock Hard Ten) dragged raced through 4 1/2 furlongs in :51.34 in his mid-April debut. The dark bay colt was green and survived and inquiry. Ten City posted two quick pre-race breezes and gets first time Lasix for the Bashford Manor. Trainer Ken McPeek is 15% with this angle and is searching for his first Bashford Manor victory.
Pedigree: Ten City has a speed over stamina pedigree. Physically, he resembles his damsire Rock Hard Ten. Ten City is the second foal to race out of an unraced mare. His half-sister won one of two starts over the lawn. Their dam Maiden America is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 Stakes winning turf router Wonder Again, and to Grass Wonder, a Group 1 winner in Japan.
Hardworkcleanlivin (Colonel John - Bible Belt, by Pulpit) outclassed maidens at Lone Star in his debut early last month. Trainer Danny Pish is 18% with shippers, but 0-13 in graded stakes.
Pedigree: Hardworkcleanlivin has a miler’s pedigree. His full brother compiled a 9-2-1-0 ($156,029) record in Japan, and a half-brother is 0-2. Their dam needed several starts to find the right level as a dirt claimer; however, her full sister Angel on Watch is multiple stakes-placed at Woodbine. A half-sister bore Gulfstream Park Derby champ General A Rod.
I'm Corfu (Corfu - I'm Blooming, by Hennessy) showed considerable improvement when switching from dirt to the Presque Isle Downs Tapeta for his last two starts. Trainer Wayne Rice has a 3% win rate with charges shifting from Tapetea to dirt.
Pedigree: I’m Corfu has a sprinter/miler pedigree. There’s little blacktype in distaff line. I'm Corfu’s only half-sibling to win showed minor ability on dirt but had a better record on turf.
Figjam (Forestry - Cozy Cottage, by Pine Bluff) followed the same training path as his stablemate, I’m Corfu. After a troublesome start at Keeneland, Figjam outclassed a field of maidens at Presque Isle Downs. Figjam gets his third rider in as many starts.
Pedigree: Figjam has a sprinter/miler pedigree. His half sister won on dirt and placed over the lawn. Their dam placed found her calling on turf. She’s a half-sister to the stakes-winning turf router Arcata.
SELECTIONS
Three of the last five Bashford Manor Stakes heroes drag-raced out of the gate and either pressed the pace or wired the field. Four of the last five winners were local boys, er, colts and last raced at Churchill. All five won their previous start. Churchill’s course has been speed favoring, so unless they go freaky fast on the front end, closers will be at a disadvantage.
Copper Bullet and Mo Didley fit the winning profile. Both won their last start at Churchill Downs. Copper Bullet has the benefit of two starts under his girth and has run faster than Mo Didley, so we’ll put him on top. Ten City signaled his readiness with a bullet five-furlong work at Keeneland.
#5 COPPER BULLET (2-1)
#3 MO DIDLEY (5-2)
#6 TEN CITY (5-2)
#2 HARDWORKCLEANLIVIN (6-1)