Thistledown Race 4

Starter Optional Claiming

Prize Money: $31,495

DARK BARON (2) was flying with three wins in a row before being sent out favourite last time and finishing third over 1609m at this track. Key runner who can make amends. HOT GUNNER (1) improved sharply on his fifth two starts back at this track (Dirt) with a win over 1609m at this track (Dirt) three-and-a-half weeks ago, getting home by half a length after he came with a powerful finish. Looks well placed so expect another big run. GUCCI MAN (4) was in the firing line all the way and fought on for third last start over 1609m at Belterra Park Turf (Turf), making it two minor placings in a row. Must raise the bar but he has the talent to test this line-up. REINVEST (6) missed the frame last time when fifth at this track. Prior to that had been in the money on two consecutive occasions. Anthony Rodriguez who has scored on him three times retains the mount. Deserves respect.

Distance: 1609m
Track: Fast
Weather: FINE
Surface: Dirt
Class: OCLM

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Hot Gunner (1) 14x1672651
Trainer: Kim Puhl()
Jockey: Luis Antonio Gonzalez
Weight: 56kg
Prize Money: $300,250
Win / Place: 20% / 40%

4 yo Dark Bay/Brown Gelding

Sire: EXAGGERATOR (USA)

Dam: YOU FLATTER ME (USA)

Dam's Sire: Flatter

Rating

Stats

Career

25: 5-2-3

Distance

10: 3-0-1

Trk/Dst

3: 1-0-0

Track

3: 1-0-0

Season

7: 2-1-0

1st Up

3: 2-0-0

2nd Up

3: 0-0-1

3rd Up

3: 1-0-0

4th Up

3: 0-1-0

Metro

17: 2-1-2

Non-Metro

8: 3-1-1

Dirt

25: 5-2-3

Firm

21: 3-2-3

Anti-Clockwise

25: 5-2-3

Jockey Stats

Horse

3: 1-0-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1609m - 1710m

Gear Changes

Comments

Last start was well back until straightening; raced back then made ground from the turn; won by 0.5 len at this track June 24 over 1609m defeating Tricky Tiger with 54kg at $5.10. The race before that ran second last in a small field at this track on June 6 over 1609m, 7 len behind Dark Baron with 54kg at $4.80. Big chance to go back-to-back.

Expected Settling Position: Off Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 6	24/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	1	Luis A Gonzalez	54kg	Fast	1:40.08	57.9 km/h	0.5L	5-5	$5.10	18	$31,495	$18,897	1. Hot Gunner 2. Tricky Tiger 3. Dark Baron
5th of 6	6/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	6	Luis A Gonzalez	54kg	Fast	1:39.42	58.3 km/h	7.3L	5-6	$4.80	26	$30,265	$908	1. Dark Baron 2. Reinvest 3. Atkins
6th of 9	11/5/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	8	Luis A Gonzalez	54kg	Fast	1:38.92	58.6 km/h	5.0L	8-7	$2.60f	22	$30,307	$303	1. John's Rock 2. Puff'smagicdragon 3. Reinvest
2nd of 11	19/4/26	Oaklawn Park	1710m	ALLOW 4U	3	Walter De La Cruz	56kg	Fast	1:44.21	59.1 km/h	0.3L	3-2	$56	17	$49,491	$11,063	1. Unload 2. Hot Gunner 3. Excel Calculator
7th of 10	2/4/26	Oaklawn Park	1710m	CLM 4U	4	David Cabrera	56kg	Fast	1:47.46	57.3 km/h	15.4L	9-7	$5.50	20	$43,668	$389	1. Winter's Ghost 2. Frost Alert 3. Little Steven
6th of 9	13/3/26	Oaklawn Park	1609m	ALLOW 4U	5	David Cabrera	56kg	Fast	1:37.02	59.7 km/h	11.5L	8-7	$15	27	$44,944	$449	1. Unload 2. Italian Symphony 3. Beyond Best

Dark Baron (2) 233151x113
Trainer: Kristina M Tumblin()
Jockey: Noel Vigil
Weight: 55kg
Prize Money: $173,037
Win / Place: 22% / 48%

6 yo Dark Bay/Brown Gelding

Sire: OUTWORK (USA)

Dam: BARONESS JULIETTE (USA)

Dam's Sire: Speightstown

Rating

Stats

Career

31: 7-4-4

Distance

20: 7-2-4

Trk/Dst

11: 2-2-2

Track

11: 2-2-2

Season

5: 3-0-1

1st Up

5: 1-0-0

2nd Up

5: 1-1-0

3rd Up

5: 1-0-1

4th Up

2: 0-0-1

Metro

5: 0-1-0

Non-Metro

26: 7-3-4

Dirt

31: 7-4-4

Firm

21: 4-3-4

Anti-Clockwise

31: 7-4-4

Jockey Stats

Horse

11: 4-2-3

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1609m

Gear Changes

Comments

Form hard to fault. At the latest run 3rd in a small field at this track on June 24 over 1609m, 2.25 len behind Hot Gunner carrying 56kg at $2. The start before that favourite; won by 1.75 len at this track June 6 over 1609m defeating Reinvest carrying 55kg at $4.40. Sure to be right there at the business end.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
3rd of 6	24/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	3	N Vigil	56kg	Fast	1:40.08	57.9 km/h	2.3L	2-1	$2.00f	18	$31,495	$3,149	1. Hot Gunner 2. Tricky Tiger 3. Dark Baron
1st of 6	6/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	4	N Vigil	55kg	Fast	1:39.42	58.3 km/h	1.8L	2-1	$4.40	32	$30,265	$18,159	1. Dark Baron 2. Reinvest 3. Atkins
32 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 5	5/5/26	Thistledown	1609m	CLM 3U	2	N Vigil	56kg	Fast	1:38.40	58.9 km/h	9.5L	3-1	$4.80	75	$23,184	$14,374	1. Dark Baron 2. Coastertothemoon 3. Ice Blast
75 Day Spell
1st of 7	19/2/26	Mahoning Valley	1609m	CLM 3U	3	Laureano Sosa	56kg	M	1:41.58	57.0 km/h	0.1L	1-1	$4.70	44	$29,101	$17,461	1. Dark Baron 2. Coastertothemoon 3. More Than Five
44 Day Freshen-Up
5th of 7	6/1/26	Mahoning Valley	1609m	CLM 3U	7	Laureano Sosa	56kg	SP	1:40.07	57.9 km/h	5.1L	2-2	$2.00f	29	$26,308	$789	1. Only Get'n Better 2. Colonel Poppy 3. Sudden Shift
1st of 10	8/12/25	Mahoning Valley	1609m	CLM 3U	6	N Vigil	56kg	Fast	1:39.72	58.1 km/h	12.0L	1-1	$3.80f	20	$22,818	$13,691	1. Dark Baron 2. Kykeon 3. Pace

Colonel Vargo (3) 2441541642
Trainer: Ricardo Bailey(USA)
Jockey: Jason Simpson
Weight: 54kg
Prize Money: $567,568
Win / Place: 42% / 67%

6 yo Chestnut Gelding

Sire: DISTORTED HUMOR (USA)

Dam: AMI'S MESA (CAN)

Dam's Sire: Sky Mesa

Rating

Stats

Career

40: 17-4-6

Distance

5: 0-0-0

Trk/Dst

3: 0-0-0

Track

6: 1-1-0

Season

12: 2-2-0

1st Up

3: 0-0-2

2nd Up

2: 0-0-1

3rd Up

2: 2-0-0

4th Up

2: 1-1-0

Metro

16: 10-0-3

Non-Metro

24: 7-4-3

Turf

1: 0-0-0

Synthetic

6: 1-1-2

Dirt

33: 16-3-4

Fast

1: 0-0-0

Firm

31: 14-3-5

Anti-Clockwise

40: 17-4-6

Jockey Stats

Horse

11: 2-1-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1207m - 1609m

Gear Changes

Comments

Form hard to fault. Last start 2nd in a small field at this track on July 7 over 1207m, 2.5 len behind Zippin Gigi with 55kg at $5.50. The run before that 4th in a small field at this track on June 24 over 1609m, 3 len behind Hot Gunner carrying 54kg at $17.50. Should go well.

Expected Settling Position: Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 6	7/7/26	Thistledown	1207m	HCP 3U	1	Jason Simpson	55kg	Fast	1:10.92	61.3 km/h	2.5L	4-5	$5.50	13	$31,495	$6,299	1. Zippin Gigi 2. Colonel Vargo 3. Tricky Tiger
4th of 6	24/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	6	Jason Simpson	54kg	Fast	1:40.08	57.9 km/h	3.0L	1-3	$18	18	$31,495	$1,575	1. Hot Gunner 2. Tricky Tiger 3. Dark Baron
6th of 6	6/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	2	Jason Simpson	54kg	Fast	1:39.42	58.3 km/h	7.4L	3-5	$6.00	18	$30,265	$605	1. Dark Baron 2. Reinvest 3. Atkins
1st of 6	19/5/26	Thistledown	1207m	HCP 3U	1	Jason Simpson	55kg	Fast	1:11.58	60.7 km/h	0.1L	6-2	$3.40	8	$30,307	$18,184	1. Colonel Vargo 2. Atkins 3. El Muchacho Alegre
4th of 9	11/5/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	6	Jason Simpson	54kg	Fast	1:38.92	58.6 km/h	2.5L	4-1	$32	20	$30,307	$1,515	1. John's Rock 2. Puff'smagicdragon 3. Reinvest
5th of 7	21/4/26	Thistledown	1207m	HCP 3U	7	Jason Simpson	56kg	Fast	1:11.00	61.2 km/h	4.2L	1-5	$5.90	11	$31,587	$948	1. Tricky Tiger 2. El Muchacho Alegre 3. Zippin Gigi

St. Louie Louie (4) x125343421
Trainer: Benny R Feliciano()
Jockey: Ricardo Feliciano
Weight: 56kg
Prize Money: $193,177
Win / Place: 20% / 68%

6 yo Dark Bay/Brown Gelding

Sire: GHAALEB (USA)

Dam: ST LOUIS CITY (USA)

Dam's Sire: City Place

Rating

Stats

Career

29: 6-8-6

Distance

8: 2-2-2

Trk/Dst

3: 1-1-0

Track

3: 1-1-0

Season

8: 1-2-2

1st Up

5: 1-0-1

2nd Up

5: 1-1-1

3rd Up

4: 0-1-1

4th Up

3: 0-2-1

Non-Metro

29: 6-8-6

Turf

1: 0-0-0

Good

1: 0-0-0

Dirt

28: 6-8-6

Firm

24: 5-7-5

Anti-Clockwise

11: 2-2-3

Jockey Stats

Horse

3: 1-1-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1609m - 1646m

Gear Changes

Comments

Last start came from midfield and won by 3 len at this track June 22 over 1609m defeating Strike Appeal carrying 56kg at $3.30. Before that sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 2nd of 8 at this track on May 26 over 1609m, 1.3 len behind Runwithheart with 56kg at $5.80. In winning form but this a tough assignment.

Expected Settling Position: Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
1st of 6	22/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	CLM 3U	1	R Feliciano	56kg	SP	1:41.04	57.3 km/h	3.3L	3-1	$3.30f	27	$23,152	$13,891	1. St Louie Louie 2. Strike Appeal 3. Star Entertainer
2nd of 8	26/5/26	Thistledown	1609m	CLM 3U	1	R Feliciano	56kg	Fast	1:39.12	58.4 km/h	1.3L	3-3	$5.80	21	$23,184	$4,637	1. Runwithheart 2. St Louie Louie 3. Star Entertainer
4th of 5	5/5/26	Thistledown	1609m	CLM 3U	5	R Feliciano	56kg	Fast	1:38.40	58.9 km/h	15.0L	2-3	$3.40	41	$23,184	$1,159	1. Dark Baron 2. Coastertothemoon 3. Ice Blast
41 Day Freshen-Up
3rd of 9	25/3/26	Tampa Bay Downs	1646m	CLM 4U	6	Alonso Quinonez	54kg	Fast	1:40.46	59.0 km/h	3.3L	3-3	$14	17	$33,708	$3,020	1. Pando 2. Jades Jay 3. St Louie Louie
4th of 6	8/3/26	Tampa Bay Downs	1646m	CLM 4U	3	Samuel Marin	54kg	Good	1:41.41	58.4 km/h	2.0L	1-3	$3.80f	32	$32,303	$1,728	1. King Freud 2. Whiting Field 3. Crypto Man
32 Day Freshen-Up
3rd of 7	4/2/26	Tampa Bay Downs	1646m	CLM 4U	4	Alonso Quinonez	54kg	Fast	1:40.48	59.0 km/h	4.5L	5-3	$5.80	12	$32,097	$2,853	1. Speedy Hans 2. Pando 3. St Louie Louie

Reinvest (5) 2164534325
Trainer: Gary L Johnson()
Jockey: Anthony Rodriguez
Weight: 54kg
Prize Money: $229,156
Win / Place: 22% / 52%

6 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: QUALITY ROAD (USA)

Dam: RULE ONE (USA)

Dam's Sire: Street Cry

Rating

Stats

Career

36: 8-4-7

Distance

17: 2-2-4

Trk/Dst

9: 1-1-3

Track

13: 4-1-3

Season

9: 1-1-2

1st Up

4: 2-1-0

2nd Up

3: 1-0-1

3rd Up

3: 0-0-1

4th Up

3: 0-0-0

Metro

6: 0-0-1

Non-Metro

30: 8-4-6

Turf

1: 0-0-0

Synthetic

4: 0-0-1

Dirt

31: 8-4-6

Fast

1: 0-0-0

Firm

23: 5-1-5

Anti-Clockwise

36: 8-4-7

Jockey Stats

Horse

11: 3-2-3

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1207m - 1609m

Gear Changes

Comments

Most recently ran second last in a small field at this track on June 24 over 1609m, 4.5 len behind Hot Gunner carrying 54kg at $4.80. The run before that 2nd in a small field at this track on June 6 over 1609m, 1.75 len behind Dark Baron carrying 54kg at $6.40. Going well. Leading chance.

Expected Settling Position: Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
5th of 6	24/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	5	Anthony Rodriguez	54kg	Fast	1:40.08	57.9 km/h	4.5L	6-6	$4.80	18	$31,495	$945	1. Hot Gunner 2. Tricky Tiger 3. Dark Baron
2nd of 6	6/6/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	5	Anthony Rodriguez	54kg	Fast	1:39.42	58.3 km/h	1.8L	6-3	$6.40	26	$30,265	$6,053	1. Dark Baron 2. Reinvest 3. Atkins
3rd of 9	11/5/26	Thistledown	1609m	HCP 3U	3	Anthony Rodriguez	54kg	Fast	1:38.92	58.6 km/h	1.5L	9-5	$13	20	$30,307	$3,031	1. John's Rock 2. Puff'smagicdragon 3. Reinvest
4th of 7	21/4/26	Thistledown	1207m	HCP 3U	2	Anthony Rodriguez	54kg	Fast	1:11.00	61.2 km/h	4.1L	7-6	$5.70	12	$31,587	$1,579	1. Tricky Tiger 2. El Muchacho Alegre 3. Zippin Gigi
3rd of 6	9/4/26	Mahoning Valley	1207m	ALLOW OCLM 3	6	Anthony Rodriguez	56kg	Fast	1:12.29	60.1 km/h	0.5L	2-1	$15	17	$40,029	$4,003	1. Trigger Point 2. Thru The Vine 3. Reinvest
5th of 7	23/3/26	Mahoning Valley	1207m	ALLOW 3U	3	Mauro Cedillo	56kg	M	1:12.82	59.7 km/h	5.3L	7-5	$15	19	$27,809	$834	1. Stomping Moon 2. El Muchacho Alegre 3. Doctor Wu

Race Review Abbreviations

3WNC: Three wide no cover, Awk: Awkwardly away, Bk: Back, Blkd: Blocked, Btld: Battled, Chal: Challenged, Chkd: Checked, Cvr: Cover, Fdd: Faded, Fght: Fought, Fin: Finish, Hdd: Headed, Hld up: Held up, Hmprd: Hampered, Hndy: Handy, Kikd: Kicked, Kn: Keen, Ld: Led/Lead, Midf: Midfield, Mod pc: Moderate pace, Otf: On the Fence, ROS: Ran on strongly, Slow: Slow away, Snagd: Snagged, Stld: Settled, Tn: Turn, Trld: Trailed, Under pres: Under pressure, Under rd: Under riding, Urgd: Urged, Wd: Wide, Wdr: Wider, Weavd: Weaved, Wknd: Weakened, Wrkd: Worked

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