This past weekend was not as start studded as the previous, but we did have some good races with talent. New York was the headliner, so we’ll look at those races first.

To kick things off at New York was the Grade-3 The Beaugay 1-1/16mi (t) for fillies and mares. On paper figure wise it looked between the favorite Yankee Stadium (Smoky Stover) and Mb Stables Rose Petals. It would be Rose Petals to take the win. She ran a career high 98 SRF and earned her first graded stakes win.

Next was the GR-3 6f Runhappy, the favorite in the race was Freddo Cappuccino (Mo Mentum Farm)who was sent off at $1.90-1, Figure wise it looked between the #2 Freddo Cappuccino and #4 Rock N Rattle, however it would be #5 Rocky Mountain High to capture The Runhappy in a big upset over the favorite. Always in a stalking position Rocky Mountain High captured the race by a head in a gutsy performance. This was also a switch from the turf to dirt in which he had not run on since Dec2020. The win earned the 5yo a very respectable 98 SRF.

Next on the card was the GR-3 The Vagrancy Hcp at 6-1/2f for fillies and mares on the main track. The favorite was #7 Great Mojo who did not disappoint her backers winning by ½ length over #3 Christine G (Mb Stables) and #5 Torrents Of Spring (Wood Duck Stables) who dead heated for the place spot. The win was her fourth win in a row and five of her last six races. She earned a 97 SRF speed figure in capturing her first graded stakes win.

The GR-3 Peter Pan is always an interesting race each year. This is the chance for the slower developing 3yo’s to make a move forward for races later in the summer though some use it as a steppingstone to the GR-1 BEL St. No real standouts in the race though SRF figure wise it looked between three horses. Rudy Is With Me (94), Killer Instinct(93) (Mb Stables)and Spiced(93) (Smokey Stover)who were all pretty even with speed figures. If one wanted to throw another into the mix it would have been Good Guy(92). So it was a very competitive field. In the end it would be Spiced from Smokey Stover’s barn to take the Peter Pan by a head over Killer Instinct. The win earned Spiced a 95 SRF so a move forward. We’ll see where Smokey decides to send him next.

The final stakes race on the card at New York on Saturday was the GR-1 The Man o War at 1-3/8[I] inner turf. The turf was listed as firm. A group of fine older horses accustomed to going a long distance made up the field. A very solid field as quite a few had credentials to take the win. In the end it would be D J C Racing Stables King Que Niagra who would capture the Man o War over Mb Stables Rotarian followed by Two In The Chamber for the show spot. The win earned King Que Niagra a 102 SRF speed figure and it was his third triple digit figure in his last four starts. He also captured his second graded stake win of his last four starts and the first GR-1 stakes win of his career.

Over at SA on Saturday they ran the GR-3 Santa Barbara Stakes for fillies and mares 3yo&up at 1-1/2mi on the turf. Flying Kaki (The Sidley Stud) was sent off as the favorite but in the end, it would be Maya Caribe (First Flight Stable) who would capture the GR-3 event. Maya Caribe was claimed in her prior race for $25.000 by First Flight Stables and the claim proved highly successful. The win earned Maya Caribe a 95 SRF speed figure and her best figure since running in the GR-2 Canadian back in September 2021. The win also gave Maya Caribe her first graded stakes win of her career.

A quick look back at the KYD. The winner Gigabyte earned a 97 SRF speed figure for the 10f event. The 97 was slightly higher than the long-term derby average which is 96 through 16 years of record keeping. The highest derby speed figure was set by Half Spirit (101) in 2008, the lowest was Willow Grove (91) in 2011

This wraps up a rather quiet day for stakes races. Next week is the GR-1 PRK and we’ll have a solid day of stakes races.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES