Barretts Entries Have Potential, Not Wins

You can make a pretty good case for each of the five 2-year-olds in today’s featured Barretts Juvenile. While there is plenty of potential here, it’s interesting that there’s only one winner in the cast as they battle it out for a $100,000 purse.

Even though he had to settle for second in his debut last month at Del Mar, Elan appears the one to beat from the cozy rail slot with G.F. Almeida giving directions. The Wolf Power colt fetched $100,000 this spring when he passed through the local sales ring, which makes him eligible for this rich affair.

He was all the rage at the windows in that Del Mar unveiling, going off the 4-5 choice, but he was unable to hold off a Bob Baffert trainee in deep stretch that afternoon and had to be happy with an exacta completion. He continues to work sharply for Chris Paasch and gets the nod.

Cheverly Gold was a solid third in his only trip to the post at Del Mar for Jeff Mullins and figures to attract his share of attention off that outing with Martin Pedroza taking over the riding duties. Despite a slow start, he was making some good late headway and figures to benefit by the outing.

The only one in here with a winning snapshot is Charmer Baron, who romped home in his second outing at Hollywood Park in June and has come back to try stakes company and finish second with starter-allowance types.

Experience can be very helpful on this tricky course, and he has four starts under his belt, while his rivals are each making only their second attempts.

The picks: 1. The Grind 2. Miss Wildgoose 3. Candita 4. Omega Code 5. Miner’s Music 6. Breathless 7. Sheza Gladiator 8. Our Blazing Belle 9. Dixie Law 10. Elan 11. Mikemagillicutty

Post time: 12:30 p.m.