Speakeasy Stakes [BC]
SA Race #7 5 1/2f Turf Stake
Purse $100.000 For Two Year Olds.
1 Neo Arindel Fuentes Ru
At this time of year with all the two year olds trying to make the BC field these types of races become hugely competitive. This gelded son of Commanding The Storm is exactly the type that hovers on the fringe and one feels today is his best chance of gaining some BC points. Unsuited by the off track last time he ran very well from a bad draw when fourth in the Tyro Stakes the time before just after taking a competitive maiden at BEL. His turf works are very good and like most two year olds at this time of year not far off the older horses so with today’s ace draw he must be a competitive chance.
2 Commander Laffin Sir Daniel Martin Hernandez B J Jr
It is always nice to see your horse win a maiden and then follow up straight away with an allowance win as it is usually the sign of a good two year old. Though his allowance win was over a mile he showed plenty of pace to win his maiden over this trip so i don’t think trip will be the problem. Drawn in the favored two box he has a chance to get his trainer back to the BC where they recorded both their championship wins in 2017 with two two year olds.
3 Mr Orange Arindel Davis D
The second runner from the stable and they must be thrilled that they both drew so well. This one also took a while to break their maiden but did so at SAR which is always a tough thing to do. Drawn badly in the Skidmore last time he flew home from the back for a close fifth and will be much happier from the three box today. His works are pretty much the same as everything else so he must go in the hopper with as good a chance as any.
4 Live The Life Luz International McCarthy T
Not many win on debut but it can be difficult to assess when they do. This one took a statebred maiden and gets his chance here but on the face of it his works do not look strong enough. The interesting thing is he has been recently gelded and just sometimes that can work like magic fairy dust and turn ordinary horses into superstars we will just have to wait and see.
5 Bearded Aer Stables Franco G
The trainer really turned the corner with their young crop last year and throws this son of Bronx Bomber in here in the hope of more glory. Like the horse inside him he won a statebred maiden on debut and though he is working strongly he may need more time to rise to this level.
6 Rouge Wave Sir Daniel Martin Castellano J J
An interesting entry here as we see a grade three winner over a route trip fall back to a sprint which is pretty unusual this early in a horses career. As we know though going back in trip doesn’t seem to matter much at HRP so i wouldn’t necessarily see that as a negative. His win in the With Anticipation looked such a routers type win though i do worry that he may get taken off his feet early on at this trip.
7 Gabilondo Fractious Cedillo A
This son of Decima may turn out to be one of the claims of the year after he was grabbed out of a $50 maiden claimer and then went on to take the Tyro Stakes. He has since worked a sub 1.36 for the turf mile and was working 1.10 and 2 for six furlongs putting him very much in the category A juveniles. He may have liked an extra furlong after three starts but if he can find a way through down the stretch he may well turn out to be the winner.
8 Ags Cherokee Arq Racingfarms Franco M
Only beaten a length when seventh in the Tyro behind Gabilondo when still a maiden and then broke his maiden next time out winning in a very rapid 1.02 and 3 at SAR. He is another who was claimed and is looking to be a feather in his trainers cap here and very well could be.
9 Whispered Talent Night Rider Stables Mena M
Another claim, he came out of a WO maiden claimer and then found a muddy track at MTH where he came home alone in a maiden winning by six lengths. He could be anything from a wet tracker to a superstar and today will be the day we find out. If it rains i might favor him but on a dry track a place may be best.
10 Cant Disclose Williams9 Bridgmohan S X
Won an FL maiden in his only start and was then bought at auction for just $2 so if he can win today it will be a huge result for the trainer. His work times on dirt don’t look sharp enough but he may be a lot better on turf, a gamble too far for me though.
11 Upload Mb Stables Garcia Mar
The champion trainer drew out in the cheap seats with both their entries and leaves this one in after scratching the other. A winner in a DMR maiden in a sub 57 second time he certainly looks good enough if the trainer can work their magic from the wide gate.
SUMMARY
As always these two year olds races are tough to call but i rather like Gabilondo for this. Commander Laffin gets a nice draw to run well and it will be interesting to see how the only graded stakes winner in the field in Rouge Wave handles this shorter trip.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
