Fair Grounds: Seasoned turf veterans set to do battle in GIII Col. Bradley

TSV Staff Selections —-

Special Ops looks for Graded glory in Grade 3 Col. E.R. Bradley; All photos by Coady Photography

Race 8), 1&1/16th Mile. Colonel E. R. Bradley H. R. BRADLEY H. Purse $125,000 FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD
Post Time: 5:35/( 4:35)/ 3:35/ 2:35

Dimension (1), Murphy/Graham; multiple Graded Stakes winner broke a 7-race out of the money streak by winning the Diliberto here last month at odds of 40-1; it’s hard to endorse a 10-year-old, but he showed he liked it here.

Avanzare (2), Broberg/Beschizza; Graded Stakes winner was dropped to the minor claiming ranks last out, where he won and was claimed. 8-year-old has had health issues, racing only twice in nearly two years since that win; however trainer Broberg, a claiming master, 30 percent with first after the claim, may have made the steal of the year.

Galton (3), Maker/Castellano; 7-year-old has finished in the money with 5 of his 7 Stall-Wilson turf starts but has yet to find the winner’s circle; he likes this distance and he’s really going to like Hall of Fame rider Castellano on his back.

Monster Bea (4), Casse/Velazquez; 5-year-old is winless in his last ten starts; did show some sign of life in placing in the Artie Schiller at Aqueduct; Johnny V gets the call today.

Tower of Texas (5), Attfield/Geroux; Canadian-breds last two were strong efforts as he held against three rivals over a yielding Woodbine turf then followed up with a show finish in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf at Gulfstream; tough turf jock Geroux takes the reins.

Granny’s Kitten (6), Maker/Lanerie; 2017’s Bradley winner returns to his favorite distance, a route he’s won at three times along with a pair of thirds; never discount.

Applicator (7), Yanakov/Gilligan; ran third here last week facing OC 80’s; not sure of the quick turnaround angle.

Saham (8), Walsh/Valdivia; missed third by a willing neck here in the Diliberto; that late kick bodes well here, making him dangerous with a price.

Special Ops (9), Maker/Leparoux; has won 3 of his last 4, and is a 5-time winner at the distance. Leparoux, aboard for two of those three wins, stays.

Thatcher Street (10), Wilkes/Hernandez, B; winless in his eight 2017 starts; looking elsewhere.

Selections: 9, 2, 6, 8