The Skip Away – Grade III
GP   Race #6   1 1/8m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $150.000  For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Lil Old Louie, trained by Mb Stables
Claimed back in 2014 from a free track claimer he was competing in the FL Derby just two races later such is the magical ability of his trainer. After failing to join his stable mates in that years KYD he was sidetracked to the Grade Three Marine Stakes in the same month and just got up by a nose in a gutsy victory. Two close up finishes in further three year old graded stakes races saw him taken back to overnights for a confidence boost and he showed the benefit of those two wins with a very easy two lengh win in the Mineshaft Handicap on his seasonal debut. This lightly raced four year old boasts a record of seven wins from just twelve races and looks to make it four wins in a row today. He carries a 2Lb penalty in this race but the ace draw and tip top form may be enough to overcome it.
2 Freak Event, trained by Nakamura Stables
This seven year old was a very good two year old finishing a close up seventh in the BC Juvenile way back in 2011. For some reason despite an impressive record of 13 wins from 34 starts he has not really been tested at that level in the five years since but instead he has been well placed to rack up a modest but successful record. He comes here off three wins in a row and is working as well as ever so it is not impossible that he can finally break through at graded level but you have to be a little sceptical as to whether his old legs can deal with the best of these.
3 Unsuited, trained by Hawaiian Shirt Guy
Last years FL Derby winner and close up seventh in the KYD get in here without a penalty and that should be enough to give him a real chance to get back into winning ways. The winner of the WV Derby and a close second in the PA Derby last year he started his four year old campaign off very well with an Allowance win and then a close fourth in the San Antonio but his last start was just a little dissapointing. That run was in the GP Handicap where he carried top weight but despite a fair trip finished last of the nine runners. He deserves plenty of respect here and is worth another shot in a race where the conditions favour him.
4 Cape Canaveral, trained by Sanny Village
This progressive four year old won and placed four times in graded company before running a career best race in the BC Dirt Mile. Coming from off the pace he closed for second with a  big effort and looked set up for a successful career in the senior ranks. He had a break after that BC run and came out in the grade two San Pasqual Stakes where he ran on nicely for a fairly close fifth. He has had limited works and its been a while since that seasonal debut so i worry that he may still need this race to sharpen him up but on bare form alone he has an outstanding chance.

5 Ring It Up, trained by Eastern Equine
This is a really interesting runner and the only unbeaten horse in the field. With only three starts in two seasons and all of them winning ones this race will surely answer the big question that hangs over his head, is he able to transition to a true graded stakes class horse. His last and only start last year came in the Prairie Bayou Stakes where he cruised home to a one length win in a very respectable time. Without too much to go on both in works and racecourse performance you have to rely on his considerable promise to see him through against a tough field.

6 Mass Debatable, trained by Maverick Racing
He was heading the right way at the end of last year gamely winning the grade two Autumn Stakes after a good second in the OK Derby. His reappearence went to plan too winning a competitive open allowance at FG but it all fell apart in his last start when a hugely dissapointing last in the Mineshaft Handicap. He carried top wieght that day and whilst in real life 5 Lb’s didnt seem a huge imposte in the race at HRP every pound seems to weigh ten so it is just possible that is what stopped him. On the face of it the few pounds he gets from the Lil Old Louie who won that race shouldnt be enough to make up seven lengths but as i said earlier stranger things can happen with weight here and an improved run wouldnt be a shock.

SUMMARY
A very tight race indeed and one i can not confidently select the winner from. I want to give Unsuited one more chance so he will be my selection but any of the others could easily take teh race.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES