Stark Ravin Mad
Trainer: Larry Rivelli
Jockey: E. T. Baird
It is with a dose of restraint that we tout Stark Ravin Mad’s performance from Sunday, as well as project his ability to stretch out in distance. As far as the race is concerned, it ended up being the final running of the day at Arlington Park when the jockeys refused to ride the remainder of the card due to weather and track condition. Race #2, a maiden special weight, was delayed an hour, but when the gates finally swung open it was no contest. Stark Ravin Mad got the jump and never looked back as he cruised to a 6-length win under jockey E. T. Baird. As DRF’s Inside Post Blog suggests, the Arlington polytrack may have been speed favoring due to heavy rain. Nevertheless, Stark Ravin Mad’s romp and subsequent speed figures make him this week’s lone notable performer. Larry Rivelli, the current leader in trainer standings at Arlington Park, trains and co-owns the colt.
As for his breeding, Stark Ravin Mad is a full brother to Madman Diaries, who won last year’s six furlong Sapling (G3) and ran off the board in the Hutcheson (G2) and Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (G2), all races technically counting towards Derby earnings. Their sire, dam, and even damsire were unheralded on the racetrack (or didn’t race at all in the dam’s case), yet have had surprising success from the breeding shed. The sire, Bring The Heat, has been responsible for a number of precocious young sprinters, including 4 stakes winners. The damsire, Outflanker, suggests a little more stamina as he has sired several mile and up winners, including Bayou’s Lassie who won a stakes at 1 1/8 miles, although her best distance seemed to be at a mile. Stark Ravin Mad’s dosage index is 2.43, which puts him in the sub 4.00 category, a Kentucky Derby distance indicator that seems to lose more support from handicappers and turf writers each passing year.
To emphasize the disparity between Beyer and BRIS speed ratings, Stark Ravin Mad only registered a 73 Beyer, which was 13 points lower than last week’s top performer Majestic City. However, his BRIS number of 108 is 4 points higher.
Notes:
Winning 2yo Beyers last week*: Stark Ravin Mad - 73; Hot Speed - 70; Respuesta Solida - 55; Tio Vic – 42
Top winning 2yo BRIS figs last week*: Stark Ravin Mad - 108; Hot Speed - 95; Respuesta Solida - 88; Tio Vic - 85.
