Synchrony Seeks Double in Muniz

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 03/20/2018 - 11:04
Link: 
Synchrony Seeks Double in Muniz
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Hodges Photography / Lou Hodges, Jr.
Synchrony geared down at the wire of the Fair Grounds Handicap.

Pin Oak Stable's Synchrony, a two-length winner over Mr. Misunderstood in the Feb. 17 Fair Grounds Handicap (G3T), is back for more in the nine-furlong Muniz Memorial Handicap (G2T). The Muniz is one of several top-level stakes on TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) day at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

A homebred for Josephine Abercrombie, Synchrony rallied from tenth in the Fair Grounds Handicap in his first start under veteran jockey Joe Bravo. Trainer Michael Stidham has again named Bravo to ride. A 5-year-old horse by Tapit , Synchrony is out of grade 1-placed Brownie Points. He'll carry 118 pounds and seeks to be three-for-three over the turf course.

Synchrony started off his career with trainer Donnie Von Hemel for whom he raced on the main track. He was a two-time winner on dirt and was third in the 2016 Lexington Stakes (G3) behind future grade 1-winner Collected. The following year, he moved to the care of Stidham, who switched him to the turf in his second start for the trainer. Since the surface change, Synchrony has never been worse than second in four starts.

Staton Flurry's Mr. Misunderstood also rallied from the back of the pack in the Fair Grounds Handicap as the 6-5 favorite. Closer to the pace, the 4-year-old Archarcharch gelding was an easy winner of the Dec. 30 Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds. Familiarity is a key here as he's a three-time winner over the turf course in four tries.

Seeking to spoil the local party is Juddmonte Farms' Forge, a Bill Mott-trained son of Dubawi. Off a four-month layoff he was a sharp second to champion World Approval in the Feb. 10 Tampa Bay Stakes (G3T).

Another showing some class off a layoff is Arklow, a grade 2 winner on turf last year at 3. The son of Arch rallied to score a nose win over allowance optional claiming race company Feb. 24 going 1 1/16-miles over the local layout.

Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey ships Phipps Stable's Revved Up for a run in New Orleans. By Candy Ride  out of champion Storm Flag Flying, Revved Up tuned up for a 2018 campaign with a sixth-place finish—beaten 2 3/4 lengths—in the Feb. 10 Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes (G1T) at the Muniz trip.


Entries: Muniz Memorial H. (G2T)

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, March 24, 2018, Race 9

  • Grade IIT
  • About 1 1/8m
  • Turf
  • $300,000
  • 4 yo's & up
  • 4:06 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 Synchrony (KY) Joe Bravo 118 Michael Stidham -
2 Zulu Alpha (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 115 Neil J. Howard -
3 Galton (KY) Joel Rosario 115 Michael J. Maker -
4 Arklow (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Javier Castellano 116 Brad H. Cox -
5 Danish Dynaformer (ON) Rafael Manuel Hernandez 116 Roger L. Attfield -
6 Lucullan (KY) Gary L. Stevens 115 Kiaran P. McLaughlin -
7 One Mean Man (KY) Marcelino Pedroza 115 Bernard S. Flint -
8 Mr. Misunderstood (KY) Florent Geroux 118 Brad H. Cox -
9 Forge (GB) John R. Velazquez 116 William I. Mott -
10 Revved Up (KY) Shaun Bridgmohan 117 Claude R. McGaughey III -
11 Ring Weekend (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 118 H. Graham Motion -