Kaigun Faces Full Field In Connally Turf Cup

Kaigun, who has started in California, Canada, New York, and Florida in the past year, is a consistent sort who hasn't been worse than fourth in his past eight starts. However, he also hasn't visited the winner's circle since winning the Seabiscuit Handicap (gr. IIT) at Del Mar 14 months ago. Most recently Kaigun finished a neck back of Charming Kitten in the W.L. McKnight Handicap (gr. IIIT) in December, and was flattered when Charming Kitten came back to win another stakes this month. Kaigun has been competitive in grade I company and should be sitting mid-pack here.

 

Da Big Hoss finished 3 1/4 lengths behind Kaigun in the McKnight and will also be giving that one nine pounds here. He raced much closer to the pace in the McKnight than in several previous tries. Da Big Hoss got good late last summer, winning the John's Call Stakes at Saratoga and then the Kentucky Turf Cup Stakes (gr. IIIT) at Kentucky Downs. He came from another zip code to finish sixth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT).

 

California shipper Big John B could be dangerous here. He's going to have to be forgiven his eighth-place effort in the San Gabriel Stakes (gr. IIT) earlier this month. Last summer he won the Cougar II Handicap (gr. III) on dirt and then the Del Mar Handicap (gr. IIT) on the lawn. He finished far back in the Breeders' Cup Turf but charged home a good second to The Pizza Man in the Hollywood Turf Cup (gr. IIT).

 

Knights Nation has tailed off since a runner-up effort in the Firecracker (gr. IIT) last June. He will need to take a big step forward to be competitive with these. Witt Six finished a decent third against Texas-breds at a mile in the Star of Texas Stakes just seven days before the Connelly and will be making just his fourth start on turf. Going Somewhere is a Brazilian-bred who has done most of his racing in France. This will be his third start in the U.S. following a strong third in the Charlie Whittingham Stakes (gr. IIT) and a second just a neck off the winner in the San Juan Capistrano (gr. IIIT). He was on or close to the tempo in both U.S. starts.

 

Mobile Bay scored a nose victory in the Zia Park Derby last November and was second in the Louisiana Classic against state-breds in December. He makes just his second lifetime start on the grass, but won an allowance last May in his other turf start. Wireless Future wired an allowance optional claiming field at Fair Grounds two weeks ago but his tries in graded stakes have come up empty. Bullards Alley is winless in three turf attempts but got his first stakes victory last out in the mud in the Woodchopper. Dac is another last-out winner, having won the Prairie Bayou. However, he will need to put together his best lifetime effort to run with these.

 

Pumpkin Rumble has run some nice races and has a puncher's chance here at long odds. Birdsone has never run in this sort of company and has the outside post to overcome to boot.