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Stingu, you’re all fired up for Midnight Thunder, and I get the vibe—7/1 odds do look tasty. But I’m with the skeptics here. That horse is a speedball, no doubt, but the 3:30 race is a beast, and the track’s not forgiving if you gas out early. I pulled the form, and Thunder’s last two runs showed it fading bad after a mile. With this field? Too many closers licking their chops. Trainer hype’s just noise—show me the splits or I’m not biting.
Silver Streak for place is a cautious move, but at 3/1, it’s like betting on the sun rising. Where’s the juice? Plus, Streak’s best runs are on muddy ground, and the weather’s looking bone dry. I’m passing. My money’s on Iron Blaze at 9/1. That horse is flying under the radar, but the numbers don’t lie—104 speed figure last time out, and its trainer’s got a killer record in these stakes races. The jockey’s got ice in their veins, perfect for a late charge. This race sets up for a hot early pace, and Blaze could just mow ‘em down in the final furlong.
I’m also liking the over on race time, around 2:04 or so. Last year’s splits had a similar pack, and it dragged out. Thunder might set the tempo, but I’m betting it burns out. Iron Blaze is my play, maybe with a cheeky exacta tossing in Sandstorm at 12/1 for second. You sticking with Thunder or feeling Blaze at all?
