Richly Deserving

Before we get into analyzing the Grade 3 Colonel Bradley Handicap at Fair Grounds Saturday, a word has to go out to the newest Horse of the year.

You don’t know what you have till it’s gone.

This can be true of a former love gone by the wayside, a great friend that is now no longer around or a job or situation that one never took advantage of. In my case it was voting for the Eclipse Awards.

For over 2 plus decades I had that honor but when the Racing Form went to New York, I temporarily lost the privilege. Now back voting for the year-end honors, it has to be said that Zenyatta truly deserved Horse of the Year.

I voted for her last year and this year and the feeling is if she raced against Blame 10 times, she would win more often.

Both horses lost once this year but Blame was beaten when another horse got loose on the lead and he could not rally in time.

That scenario was constant with Zenyatta as she always conceded her field tons of lengths.

We may never see another like her.

Now on to the Bradley.

Nine entered the about mile and a sixteenth grass fixture and pace as usual will prove a key factor to who greets the cameraman.

Last year El Caballo got a perfect 2-hole trip in the Bradley and drew off when it counted posting a 97 Beyer.

Insider Tip rolls from the rail and he will try to do something he never has done and that’s win a stakes. He was on the wrong surface last time but has limited speed and figures to be a price.

Gran Estreno is once again the one to beat. He’s 13 for 34 career, proven on the local grass and he’s won half of his 10 starts at this distance. He appeared to move a bit too soon in his December debut and wilted at crunch time but atoned for the loss at odds on in this 2010 finale.

Red Strike has only raced thrice and just did not handle the mud on New Year’s Eve but he has a right to have a nice career as kin to Grade 3 placed near $250,000 earner Scarlet Butterfly.

If you can’t beat ‘em Joinem and the gelding by that same name goes from post 4. He has never been out of the exacta in 5 outs but he gets the acid test here.

Southern Anthem boasts 3 times as many minor awards in his record than wins and a slate like that is always hard to swallow on the win end.

Dubious Miss has speed, proved he fits in this league with a Grade 3 score last spring but he’s never won on grass.

Strike Again looms the main foe to Gran Estreno. He upset that opponent last time, has won a third of his 15 outs and has trained steadily for this.

Midnight Mischief has only won once on turf and that was in a marathon. He will be a late factor if at all.

Amazing Results is hung outside today and will probably be a big number since he was beaten soundly last time by Gran Estreno and Strike Again.

Expect the race to unfold like this. Dubious Miss will make the lead with Gran Estreno in close pursuit. Red Strike will fall into a nice garden trip with Strike Again, Joinem and Midnight Mischief trying to save ground.

At the top of the lane Anna Napravnik will ask Estreno to roll and he’ll overtake Dubious Miss for the lead. Joinem will take up the chase and at the end he’ll be able to hold off Strike Again for the place money with Midnight Mischief completing the superfecta.

Good luck and here’s hoping you cash.