Roy Rogers set to outclass rivals
Published:Saturday | March 6, 2021 | 12:20 AMAinsley Walters/Gleaner Writer
DOWN in class after his battling third behind CRIMSON and SUPERLUMINAL at a mile two Saturdays ago, ROY ROGERS gets an ideal draw and weight allowance to run rivals off their legs in tomorrow’s ‘Lindy’ Delapenha Memorial.
Sitting plumb at post-position two with 117lb, ROY ROGER’s only speed threat is HARRY’S TRAIN, who served as a rabbit last time out for stablemate SUPERLUMINAL, who pounced off the turn and was making his way home before CRIMSON changed leads and mowed him down.
Running light at 109lb, HARRY’S TRAIN will try unsettling ROY ROGERS on the lead for stablemate COCO CHANEL. However, ROY ROGERS is a relentless frontrunner, who has mixed it up with the best of the best.
An eight-length winner when last among overnight company in November, ROY ROGERS dismissed BIGBANG and COCO CHANEL at nine furlongs and 25 yards. Trainer Dennis Lee sticks to the script, hardly departing from a claiming rider, always giving his fearless frontrunner every chance on the lead, retaining Nicholas Hibbert, who was aboard when the grey tackled open allowance company last time out.
With Hibbert astride, ROY ROGERS chased none other than ENGLAND’S ROSE and SUPERLUMINAL into the lane, relegated to fifth a furlong out but rallied to finish third in the event won by CRIMSON MAGIC in a driving finish.
It should be noted that ROY ROGERS finished ahead of ENGLAND’S ROSE, who was being touted as a likely winner until the pace and distance took toll on her inside the last furlong.
The closer with the best class is 2019 Triple Crown winner, SUPREME SOUL, who has been lounging around at exercise since last raced two months ago, finishing three lengths behind ROY ROGERS at eight and a half furlongs, down the track, both outclassed in grade one by NIPSTER.
However, SUPREME SOUL is a grade-one horse again being allowed to run against overnight company, who he beat last July. A horse’s rating doesn’t change by date but instead performance, hence he’s always dangerous at this level despite his fitness being suspect.
BIGBANG proved better than COCO CHANEL and HOVER CRAFT in a top-level claiming race at a mile, clocking a decent 1:39.4. He reports from a new barn, back up in class, but lacks the pace to chase as early as he did among claimers.
UNCLE VINNIE has seemingly improved since claimed. He ran a great race behind SUPERLUMINAL at a mile in December, which, if he repeats, would put him in with a chance, but he reports rather heavy at 121lb.
Late-kicking PURPLE WAYNE won on a $650,000 claiming tag two months ago. However, his connections mean business, replacing one co-champion with the other from overnight to final programme, making him one to watch at the weight as an exacta outsider.