The 3rd Running of The Audubon
Saturday, June 4, 2022
CD Race #8 Post Time 15:05
$200.000 11/8 Turf
4+ 122 Lbs (Plus Penalties)
Track Record-1:44.12 (Iron Kaki-2012)
Stakes Record-1:45.88 (Financial Peace-2020)
The last of four ungraded stakes races on Saturday at CD is The Audobon. Sophomores will go 9-furlongs on the lawn, carrying 122-pounds, as they compete for the $200.000 purse. This is the 3rd running of The Audubon and we only have a field of five in the gate. The field may be small in number, but there looks to be some serious talent here, so let’s meet the field for The Audubon:
#1 Keeper Of Time (Smokey Stover/A. Beschizza): Two for three in his career and enters here after just coming-up a neck short in a G3 at the end of April. The first two starts of his career, he displayed early foot and then maintained/increased his advantage through the lane. In the G3, he rallied from some 5-lengths off of the pace. Probably will get on the gas a little in the early stages to hold this rail position and he looks like he could just be getting started on a very good campaign. The one to beat.
#2 Tsaraki Moon (Nakamura Stables/F. Geroux): Colt has brought home a check in six of his seven starts and owns a pair of wins from his juvenile campaign. We haven’t seen him in a race since February, so, while he may be talented, it may be another race or two before we see his very best effort. Looks to be a part of the pace and he could lead them for a large portion of this one. He can grab a slice for sure.
#3 Gendarmerie du Comte (Mb Stables/M. Murrill): Bounced around the bottom-level and free track to start his career. Was purchased for $40.000 after breaking his maiden at LRL in his first start of the season. He’s gone three for four since the purchase as he has gone through a couple of conditioned allowances. The one try versus stakes company is concerning; however, going to say the trainer has a better handle on what he’s got this time around. Looks to sit a good trip just off of the inside two and he’s a winner at this distance. Another that is in with a chance.
#4 Wiggling Road (Alydar Stables/C.J. Hernandez): Made a winning debut as a juvenile and ended his five-start campaign with four ITM finishes, including two stakes. Sophomore season started with an allowance win and a 3rd in a $100.000 stake before being purchased out of a dispersal for $175.000. The two starts at the graded level for the new barn have been disappointing, but he should appreciate the drop in class here. That being said, he didn’t catch a very soft group.
#5 Full Speed (Mb Stables/J.S. Rocco Jr): A winner on debut last season, he’s been the bridesmaid in five starts since. The only poor race of his career, he was drawn 12th of 12 in a G2, so we can forgive that effort. He looks to run his race regardless of track condition and instructions. He can be up on the pace, he can track the leaders, and he can sit further back before launching a bid. That versatility should suit him well and he looks to be fully ready to take one of these sooner rather than later. Win contender.
Final Analysis: Smokey Stover from the Rail or Mb Stables with the two-pronged attack? Tough decision (and those are not the only three that could win), but the rail draw could prove too much of an advantage and we see it 1-5 in the 3rd running of The Audubon. Good luck to all involved!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
