The 16th Running of the G2 DMR Mile
August 21, 2021 19:40
DMR Race #9 $300.000 1–Mile Turf
3YO+ 120/124 Lbs F&M 115/119 Lbs
Track Record-1:32.22 (Bound For Victory/Crazy Gnarls-2012)
Track/Stakes Record-1:32.22 (Crazy Gnarls-2012)
The third graded stakes on a loaded Saturday card from DMR may just be the best of the bunch. Seven horses, six graded stakes winners among them, will do battle in the $300.000 G2 DMR Mile that is a G2 in name only. Saturday will bring the 16th running of this prestigous event that has only the legendary Dynark Stables (2009, 2012) as a two-time winning trainer. It’s been a bit different on the jockey side of things as V. Espinoza (2007, 2008, 2013, 2018) has dominated this event winning four of the previous fifteen editions. Here are the seven horses who will take their place in the gate for the $300.000 G2 DMR Mile:
#1 Hollywood Command (Scarletandgraystable/G. Saez 124): 4yo gelded son of Perfect Command enters fresh off of a score in the G2 Read Stakes and draws the rail in this stacked event. Claimed for $6.250 in December, he has hit the ground running for the new barn in 2021 sporting a 4-2-1-0 $182.750 ledger. The one negative on his record is his lack of success at this flat mile distance as he is winless in four career tries; however, he was an extremely close 2nd in the G3 Appleton back in March. If he can utilize this rail draw to stay a bit closer to the front early on, he may be able to wear them down in the lane.
#2 Ohtani (Sccj Stables/F. Prat 124): Conqueror of the “win and you’re in” G1 Shoemaker Mile came back to run 5th in G2 Wise Dan at CD in his latest try. Draws the two post for the third consecutive race and will look to protect his position going into the first turn. That being said, he appears to fire from just about everywhere, so if he just gets his normal break then he should be fine. Runner-up in the G1 BC Mile as a sophomore, this trip is his specialty and would expect nothing less than a superb effort from this gelded son of house sire Asset Class.
#3 Roman Rage (Gdp Inc/A. Beschizza 124): 7yo gelding is a nose (G1 Shoemaker Mile) and a neck (G3 Forbidden Apple) short of riding a three-stake winning streak into this. Makes the 51st start of his career on Saturday and he has wins from just about every manner throughout his past performances; however, is 4-1-3-0 when going this far. Last two misses came from right up on the pace, but has several sprint victories where he came from midpack or further. Hard to ask him to change tactics when he’s come so close against this company, but it will be interesting to see where the son of Viking Zippy sits going into that first turn.
#4 La Terrifiant (Smokey Stover/E. Jaramillo 119): Nine-time G1 winner against her own sex, 6yo Pinkman mare gets in here with a four-pound weight break. Has competed in three different BC categories (Juvenile Fillies Turf, Distaff, Filly and Mare Turf) while winning the 2017 G1 Juv Fillies Turf and 2019 G1 Filly & Mare Turf. 40th start of her career will be her first vs males, but this classy mare sports a resume that takes a backseat to no one. Normally a play against angle, but there is absolutely nothing in her form that says she is out of her depth against this field.
#5 Atomic Eclipse (La Canada Racehorses/Mario Gutierrez 124): Multiple G3 winner comes in here off of a 4th place effort last month in the G2 Read Stakes. Will throw the occasional clunker, but when the gelded 4yo son of Orange Eclipse fires his best, he can compete with the best in the division. Rallied from well back to be runner-up in this same race last year, but seems to be able to fire from anywhere. A little cynical to say he has to prove he can beat these types given his resume, but that is more a statement about the quality of this field than it is a knock on him.
#6 Boston Harbor (Jive Inc/T. Gaffalione 120): Lone 3yo in the field gets four pounds from his elder brethren, but has to give a pound to the Smokey Stover mare breaking from stall four. Only has six races on his record and has room to improve, but wil have to improve greatly on that effort in last month’s Oceanside Stakes to get a piece of this. Best chance may be Gaffalione asking him for speed early and hoping to steal it on the front end, but any kind of check in here would mean he has a chance to be really good later.
#7 Homme de Guerre (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco 124): Third horse in the field that is exiting the G2 Read Stakes, 5yo gelded son of Doctor Nemesis could only manage a DH for 6th that day. Took the 2019 G2 DMR Derby over this course and trip, but that remains his only graded tally. From this outside draw, he will need to intelligently use his speed to work out a trip against this group. Has to turn the table on two that were in front of him last month and while that isn’t all that implausible, doing that and getting the best of Ohtani and La Terrifiant may be a bit too daunting of a task.
Final Analysis: 4-2-1 or any combination of the three appears the most likely result, but six of the seven have a reasonable shot if everything goes their way. Good luck to all in the $300.000 G2 DMR Mile!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
