5/29/22
4 SA Triple Bend Stakes (GII)
$200.000 4yo&Up 7f Dirt 123lbs +penalties
Our to sunny California and we look at the field for the Triple Bend Stakes (GII), a seven furlong sprint for the older gents and “older” may be the key word in this one. I took In Captivity as my top choice and as an eight year old with a 10-12-5 record from his fourty-six times to the gate, he knows how to get his picture taken. Won last out vs. softer, but I think he can get another big win today. I think When Your Strange is another that deserves a big look today… he’s six, and looked good taking the St Matthews at CD in his most recent. He’s been on a steady diet of graded foes prior to that win, and he could be the one to get past in this one.
It’s a wide open race and I can see any number of these getting their picture taken.
Here’s the Field –
Turned around a pair of bad starts with a runner-up effort vs. Alw foes at SRP last out. He won five of nine last season, putting some serious cash in the bank, but a tenth in the BC Spring (GI) then kicked off ’22 with a last of seven finish in an Alw race, he needed that last out race. Can he get that old form back at this level?
A very consistent type that doesn’t win all the time but is always around when they hand out checks. He did beat stakes company at CD last out taking the St Matthews. He’s already surpassed his ’21 earnings, so the six year old is still running hard and should be given a big look here.
Classy ol’ rascal changed hands after two poor starts in ’22 but bounced back a bit to be fourth in the Kona Stakes (GIII) over this track, in his most recent. His best will make him a big factor today, so let’s see if he can keep this going.
Beat Cal-bred sprinters over this track to kick off ’22, but has struggled a bit in his last two, seventh in the GP Sprint Championship (GIII) then fourth in a sprint stakes at SUN. Obviously, this is tougher than that, so he needs to find his best.
Another classy type that sold after his first start of the ’22 season and has been up the track in the first two starts for the new connections. Tired to be seventh in the San Carlos Stakes (GII) then never fired at all in the Kona (GIII), both over this track. Can he turn it around?
Won the McKinney at PRX last out after being tagged for $20.000 down at HOU. That’s two wins in a row and now they go for the gusto, taking on graded horses here. He’s run at this level before with mixed results, so give him a punchers chance in his current form.
Back to back wins taking down high end sprint claimers over this track then winning the Affirmed Success last out, that being a NY-bred stakes. He rarely misses a check and I think you have to user him on all tickets here as well.
Nice win at SRP last out and that was his second win of the ’22 season, also winning an Alw race at TAM to get the year started. He has some back class and has run with this type before, and looking at hi current form, the old boy may have a couple of big ones left in him. I’d give him a big look today.
Was gelded at a late stage of his career, but he’s been on the board in two of three since the unkindest of cuts. Solic runner-up effort in a TAM stakes and was third last out at CD vs. black type horses, so he fits with this bunch.
Another old timer that still has a big run in him… was third in a stakes at RUP before that runner up effort at SRP last out, facing similar, so he is another that should be given a solid look, especially on those tri tickets.
COZMAN 8 / 2 Willie’s Green Card 8 / 10
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
