Pharoah Stakes – Grade I [BC] [KYD]
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Open 2 Year Olds.

With just four lengths from first to last it is hard to say any horse in this race wont go on to become a KYD contender but i guess that is the point being made and the purpose of these close finishes. At the end of the day it is not about anything other than the winner and maybe the runner up because it is those horses that will be the ones that get to the big dance in November and those that will carry the early hopes of KYD success.
This is how they finished:

1st Crack Danz Gdp Inc Lermyte J

Trips win races and this one got the ideal trip from the one gate today. Whilst everything else was wide and jostling for position this one just sat on the rail and waited for the leader to start to toil. When that happened he pushed a few horses aside forcing the wide horses wider and began to slowly inch his was home. There were some hard luck stories behind as there always are and we will never know whether the jockey was just hands and heels or a full on drive but the further they went the stronger this one looked and that will be a huge plus in the BC.
Home bred by the owner this one is clearly suited to dirt at the moment and given some luck in the big dance he will certainly be a big chance.

2nd Afterburner Fractious Beschizza A

This one will get his chance against the winner again in November as he has more than enough points now to make the field. Stalking the lead just like he did in the Iroquois last time he had the advantage of draw and trip that day whereas today he was made to work a little harder to hold position. When the whips came out he didn’t have anything left but kept on well enough to hold second. The owner shouldn’t be too worried about this loss as the BC will be a very different race and i see this one right in it.

3rd Last City Lemax Farms Russell S

This one has a real consistency about his form and that is a huge plus when you consider the tough draws he has had to deal with. Beaten a half length by Crack Danz when drawn ten in the Victoria Stakes he again got the blunt stick today being drawn eleven to the winners one gate. He did super well to be right in it and considering just how much further he had to run i wouldn’t write off his chance of avenging this defeat. I hope he gets some breaks in the future, maybe the trainer needs to send a nice bottle of scotch to the person who does the random draw.

4th Turbocharged Aer Stables Stein J

Ran well from a difficult gate with a difficult trip but remains in the bleachers with the slow kids after being beaten a length in his second graded stakes and gaining zero BC points. This one has a future where and when that will be remains in the hands of the gods.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES