Cougar Stakes – Grade 3 – Purse $125.000
1 1/2 Mile on Dirt at DMR
For Three Year Olds and Upward
July 24, 2022
While there is no clear favorite in this race, Smoking Makes You II deserves a close look. Night Rider’s 7-year-old gelding has not finished out of the money in four stakes starts this year. He should be in the mix and could get a win here. Then there’s Fistfight At Dawn, only off the board in one of eight career starts. Here’s the field:
#1 Insist On Beauty
Owner: Chili King Stables
Allowance win in last start. Won the $75.000 Stud Muffin in March. Looking for first graded win.
#2 Flashy Chai
Owner: Nakamura Stables
Won the $75.000 Curribot in March. Only graded start came last out in the San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3) where he finished fifth of eight.
#3 Smoking Makes You II
Owner: Night Rider Stables
Has not finished out of the money in four stakes starts this year, including a third place finish in the BEL Gold Cup (G2). Has been knocking at the door. Could get a win here.
#4 Fistfight At Dawn
Owner: Threshold
In the money all but one career start. Stakes winner making his graded debut here. Expect a big effort from this three-year-old. Not sure if it will be enough in this field.
#5 Root Cause
The Sidley Stud
Hasn’t shown much this year. Best performance came in allowance company in March when he finished second. Will need a big effort to win here.
#6 Eagle Mountain
Owner: Mb Stables
Another one looking for his first win this year and his first graded win. Finished 3rd in the Brooklyn (G2) at 1 1/2 mile last start.
#7 Mr Nix Nooks
Owner: Martyparty
Has not had a win this year, but he did score a win in the Grey Stakes (G3) in November. Hasn’t shown much since.
#8 Kick Rocks
Owner: Nakamura Stables
Won the Valedictory Stakes (G3) at WO in December. Another one looking for his first win this year. Needs a big effort and some racing luck.
#9 Spankersville
Owner: The Sidley Stakes
Won the $100.000 Flat Out against Insist On Beauty, then finished fourth in the Brooklyn (G2) behind Eagle Mountain last out. Should be in the mix and a win wouldn’t be a surprise.
Picks: 3-4-9
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
