2013 Frontrunner Stakes; The Boys Are Back In Town

2013 (GI) Frontrunner Stakes; The Boys Are Back In Town

The 2013 Frontrunner Stakes is set for this Saturday, September 28, 2013 at Santa Anita Park in sunny Arcadia, California. This race is currently part of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series with the winner automatically qualifying for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. This race is also a qualifying race for the Kentucky Derby Prep Season with the winner receiving 10 points towards the Kentucky Derby. The Frontrunner Stakes is run at 1 1/16 miles (8.5F) on the dirt for 2 year-olds with a purse of $250,000.

The 2013 Frontrunner is part of the fall opening of the beautiful Santa Anita racetrack that kicks off the 24 day fall meet which culminates with the 2013 Breeders’ Cup World Championship Series on November 1-2. This weekend there are a whopping five “Win and You’re In” races. As of 2012, this race was renamed the FrontRunner Stakes having formerly being referred to as the Norfolk Stakes. The most wins for a jockey are by Alex Solis with seven and most wins by a trainer are for Bob Baffert with five.

The 2013 Frontrunner Stakes is the 7th race of the day on a card of 11 with an approximate post time of 4:00 PM PDT.

One colt I really like in here is the Jerry Hollendorfer trained son of Bertrando , Tamarando. He broke his maiden in his 3rd try at Del Mar on August 18, 2013 and followed that up with a (G1) Stakes win going seven furlongs in the Del Mar Futurity on September 4 where he came from far back over a speed favoring track, which is no easy task, and went 4 wide around the final turn before cruising to win by a ½ length. He has been training at Befair Hollywood Park on the polytrack so we’ll see how he transitions to the dirt and the longer distance. Tamarando will bolt from the #6 hole with Julien Leparoux to ride.

I also dig the two Bob Baffert trained colts in here Midnight Lute’s young son Roundupthelute and the progeny of Into Mishief, Can the Man.

I like Roundupthelute’s pedigree as his dam In Secure is out of AP Indy so he could relish the distance here if he takes after her side. He has run twice, winning the C.B.Afflerbaugh on September 11 at Betfair Hollywood park by a half length to break his maiden. I think he’ll dig the distance and hit the board here from the #5 spot with “Go-Go” Garret Gomez in the saddle, one of my fav California journeyman.

Can The Man broke his maiden at Del Mar first time out on August 17, 2013 and followed that up with a third in the Del Mar Futurity. It will be interesting to see how he takes to the dirt and the distance so I hope he can get a piece here. Can The Man get’s the #4 spot with Martin Garcia in the irons.

It’s always a gamble trying to pick one of these babies to make it across the finish line at a distance they’ve never run and any one of these fabulous guys can win this. It’s like pulling a number out of a hat practically. I like the post positions for my top three as they are right in the middle so we’ll see how they break and run. My long shot play would be the #8 Better Bet adding blinkers for the first time, I love equipment changes in most cases, so he’s a pick. The boys are back in town on Santa Anita’s opening weekend and good luck to Tamarando, Roudupthelute, Can The Man & Better Bet in the 2013 Frontrunner Stakes, bring your best running shoes to the track and may the best colt of the day win. Safe run!

Related Links:
Rodeo Drive Stakes
Super Saturday Odds

2013 Frontrunner Stakes Post Positions & Odds
1. Ontology 10/1 C.Nakatani/S.Callaghan
2. Schoolofhardrocks 4/1 V.Espinoza/D.Hofmans SCRATCHED
3. Even Echo 50/1 F.Martinez/M.Cho
4. Can The Man 4/1 M.Garcia/B.Baffert
5. Roundupthelute 9/2 G.Gomez/B.Baffert
6. Tamarando 4/1 J.Leparoux/J.Hollendorfer
7. Dance With Fate 7/2 R.Bejarano/P.Eurton
8. Better Bet 30/1 L.A.Delgado/M.Harrington *Blinkers Added
9. Bond Holder 12/1 M.Gutierrez/D.O’Neill
10. Test Ride 15/1 A.Maldonado/M.Pender
11. Flat Gone 30/1 B.Blanc/K.Desormeaux
UPDATED RESULTS: 9, 7, 6, 4, 11, 10, 8, 1 3, 5