John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes 2014 Contenders & Odds

Las Vegas, NV – Sam Houston Race Park in Houston, Texas will play host to the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes Saturday, January 25. A purse of $200,000 will be on the line for horses four years old and upward willing to go 1 1/8 miles on Sam Houston’s turf track.

A field of eight has been confirmed for the Connally Turf Cup – race 8 on Sam Houston’s Saturday card. Post time is 10:15 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all eight combatants for this Grade 3 stakes.

Admiral Kitten -Michael Maker trained colt is coming off a good second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby December 1 after another second as favorite in the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap October 5 at Belmont Park. This after his biggest win to date – the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park August 17 and a string of another four second place finishes. Included are the Grade 3 American Derby July 13, the Grade 3 Arlington Classic May 25 and the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes also in May. He has placed in nine of 10 career starts all over the country (only once has he been worse than second) and should be competitive as usual Sunday. He is listed as the 2-1 morning line favorite and rightfully so.

King David – Michael Maker trained colt finished second in this race last year and has only raced twice since – an Allowance Optional Claiming score September 29 at Churchill Downs and a sixth last time out in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial at Fair Grounds December 21. He once had a streak of four Claiming scores and then a win in the Grade 1 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park October 6 – back in 2012. But he hasn’t raced much over the last year and looked inconsistent in those starts. He goes off at 3-1 odds Saturday.

Vertiformer – won an Allowance Optional Claiming June 6 and raced five straight graded stakes races after that posting a fourth in the Grade 3 Arlington Handicap, an eleventh in the Grade 1 Arlington Million, a fifth in the Grade 3 Durham Cup Stakes at Woodbine in October, a decent third in the Grade 2 W.L. McKnight Handicap November 24 at Calder and a disappointing seventh last time out in the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale at Gulfstream January 12. He has been up and down and leaves from the rail at 4-1 odds.

John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes betting at Sam Houston Race Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Marine Patrol – Wayne Catalano trained colt races in graded stakes company for the first time after a good second in his stakes debut – the Woodchopper Stakes at Fair Grounds November 30. Before that was two straight wins – an Allowance at Keeneland in October and a MSW at Churchill Downs in September. He looks ready for his GS debut and is being sent off at 6-1 odds.

Fredericksburg – ran this race last year and came up with a DNF. Since then he has two Allowance Optional Claiming scores including last time out at Gulfstream December 21. He also had a third in an Allowance Optional Claiming and a fourth before that in the Stanton Stakes at Delaware Park September 30. He hasn’t been great in his limited graded stakes action and is listed at 6-1 odds.

Michael’s Gabriel – races in graded stakes company for the first time but is coming off an Allowance score at Retama Park December 20. That was the only time he placed in four starts. He is 10-1 on the morning line and leaves from post 7.

Cajon Don – won a Starter Handicap at Retama Park December 6 and followed that with a third last time out in a Starter Optional Claiming at Fair Grounds December 31. Cajon Don has three starts on this track – a seventh in the Maxxam Gold Cup Handicap in Match 2013 followed a second in an Allowance and a Claiming score in January 2013. He steps way up in competition Saturday at 15-1 odds.

Arthur’s Court – has 11 career starts with just win, two seconds and two third place finishes. He is coming off a second and a third respectively in Allowance races at Retama Park but Saturday is a huge leap up in competition. He goes off at 15-1 odds.

Race 8 on Sam Houston Race Park’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 10:15 PM.