Coming off an amazing rushing up late effort in this seasons BC Juvenile Turf Sprint affair, Oquinn Farm’s Dawning Drei and his record of 7 ( 3-4-0 ) looks to have all the right pieces falling into place here on Sunday. Bejarano returns as well, and the added three furlongs in distance should play right into his hands.

• DeMille Stakes ( Gr. III ) Purse $100.000
• Del Mar Racetrack – For Two year olds.
• One Mile- Turf Course
• December 1st, 2019

Is Dawning Drei the next Midwestern Slang for trainer Oquinn Farms? Both have finished runner-up in their individual efforts to capture a BC title, but Dawning Drei is making a name for himself as a juvenile, and that will give him an addition year to outshine his former stablemate. He already has two stakes titles to his credit, and with the exception of Crescent All Age ( Night Rider Stables ) who finished a half length back of his efforts in this years BC event. I really find it hard for him to not capture his first Graded title with this race.

Crescent All Age was a fifth place finisher in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint race where he also was trying to stay in step with Dawning Drei, and the advantage he brings to this race is the fact that he has already competed at this distance on the sod in the Gr. I Summer Stakes back in mid September. With the scratch of Dragster ( D J C Racing Stables ), that leaves an unused jockey in the wings, and I would definitely like to see this bay gelding with a little more talent in the irons to get him up late at the wire. He should be the main threat.

Minor share purses should be snatched up by Trouble Brewing ( Mb Stables ) for show, and then a battle between Captain Cajones ( Mo Mentum Farm ) from the seventh post, and Heavily Redacted ( Aer Stables ). Trouble Brewing actually got faster in his second mile on the grass at SA, and that was with Maldonado in the irons. The rider is returning for this event and he will be looking to drop a few more fifths off this race. Captain Cajones has been getting the respect at the mutual windows with the betting public, and a sharp work here on the 21st should prove his actual worth. Heavily Redacted has won both of his two starts this season, and his time for his mile and a sixteenth Alw42 affair was exceptional as the 2-5 favorite, and he is still maturing nicely.

Rounding out the race will be Bombay Diplomat ( High Voltage ) at the rail out of the gate, and Rock Creek’s Highland Ruckus who will bolt out of gate number three. Bombay Diplomat has some nice sharp works going into this event, and after three runner-up efforts, his last was his maiden winner at a higher level. Would be the surprise of the pack if all goes well. With Highland Ruckus, this is his trainers second season here at HRP, and he is still trying to strike for a Graded title and I think Ruckus could very well add his fine style to hopefully find a share in this race.

Picks- 5-6-7

Duffer

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES