The Hopeful – Grade I (P1)
SAR Race #2 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Two Year Olds.
1 Eagle Mountain Smokey Stover Castellano J J
Smokey has come up with the sort of draw that you can only dream of ina grade one, two horses and drawn 1 and 2, they will be hoping for them to finish in those two positions. Of the two this one on form is inferior but his works are similar so as usual at HRP there isn’t much between them. He dug deep to dead heat for his maiden win at WO and then ran well enough from a difficult draw in an allowance on the same track to suggest he will go well from this gate.
2 Jinxed Authority Smokey Stover Bejarano R
Looks the better of the two and his impressive win in the SAR Special must make him favorite to win this race from the perfect draw. He has come from a fair way back in his races and that may be a worry if the odds are short but he certainly carries the flag for the trainer of the season.
3 Smokin Luka Night Rider Stables Bravo J
If Jinxed Authority is favorite off his SAR Special win then you could argue that this will be the one to upset him. Drawn in the car park for that race he got shot to the lead by the outside speed push but never dominated however it was only Jinxed Authority that managed to out fight him and that was by only a quarter length. The winner of the KY Juvenile before that today’s draw will give him every chance of revenge.
4 Time It Vb Estero Farms Saez G
Bought at auction for $43 his new owner would’ve been thrilled by his stretch run to win his maiden next up. Drawn wide he went back and powered home for a half length win. This may come a bit early for him as he takes on a some seasoned juveniles but he is a promising sort and could go well.
5 Accountant D J C Racing Stables Stein J
After winning his maiden with authority he went on to win a WO allowance with Eagle Mountain behind before running in the form race for this, the SAR Special. He traveled just behind the leaders but failed to quicken up at the end to be beaten just a length into fifth. There wasn’t much in that race at the end so he should again go close and could easily avenge that defeat.
6 Sneaky One Arindel Gaffalione T
Took his maiden at the fourth attempt last time out and did it nicely on a slightly off track. Those conditions may give him his best chance but on works he is right in this so he must go in the hat with a chance.
7 Into Pieces Mb Stables Franco M
After taking the Hoover Stakes he headed to the SAR Special with most of this field and whilst he only finished seventh was only a length off the winner after a compromised trip. Going back from a rotten draw he flew home so fast that most people had him in their black book for his next run. That run comes today and who would deny that Mb Stables may have the winner here.
8 Locamotive Aer Stables Ryan S
This trainer has had some remarkable success with their two year olds in the last two seasons and this colt by Manhunt looks another top notcher. He ran well to be second in the Best Pal and is working the lights out as evidenced by his 1.10 and 3 work recently. The draw will make it tough for him but on that work he must have a strong chance if things go his way.
9 Spectre Serenity Stables Sanchez M J
Won a decent maiden on debut but then looked a bit flat at allowance level a few months later. He was better in the Sanford last time out and is working in the ball park so must be another with a chance if the draw works for him.
10 Tko Fractious Cancel E
The draw monster hasn’t been kind to this home bred but he has coped with it very well and will have to again today. He ran well in the Bashford Manor when storming home for fifth from the 12 gate and then repeated the run from a wide gate in the Best Pal this time timing it right for a three quarter length win. Those two runs give him a great chance in this but once again he will have to rely on the race engine getting him a run from behind.
11 Grande Geek Mb Stables Franco G
The trainer has drawn the short straw with their draws in this but like a couple of others has done it from wide draws before so if things go his way, and they usually do, he would have a chance of finishing over the top. That is exactly what he did in the Sanford after going back from a deep draw and with works pretty much the same as everything else he must have a pretty decent chance of the win.
12 Dial It Chuck Arindel Jaramillo E
Another that hasn’t had the best of draws in his career he gets another shocker here and will have to do it the hard way. Went on the pace in the SAR Special and kept on really well to be third just a half length off the winner so is right in this if the race engine gives him a run.
SUMMARY
Well you just have to look at the form and works for this race to see how things will go. On paper there is about a length between the field and it will be the usual charge to the line at the end. The question is what will the pace be and will the closer’s get a clear run, whichever one gets the luck here will probably win. I am not going to even suggest i have any idea who that will be but its likely that it will be Mb Stables or Smokey Stover’s best that will win.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
