Bourbon (Grade 2) (BC)- $350.000 Purse
KEE- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Turf
October 9, 2022

The great racing at KEE continues on Sunday, as trainers hope to earn BC points to bring their horses back here in a month for virtual racing’s biggest weekend. One race you can always count on to be very competitive is the Grade 2 Bourbon for the valuable BC Juvenile Turf points that it offers. The $350.000 purse that is offered is the highest that we have ever seen for the race, providing additional incentive for trainers to run here, and the starting gate has filled to capacity. Last year in this race, El Primero Rodeo picked up the big win with his two year old, Keenness, and that one would go on to finish sixth in the BC Juvenile Turf. The BC was his last race with El Primero Rodeo, who ended up selling him to Our Athletes less than a week later. Keenness is still active, but is not racing at the graded level for now. Other past winners include Dark Crown, Ashkalani, and Mahogany Storm. Here’s a look at those running in this year’s event!

#1- What Plan (Nakamura Stables, ridden by E J Zayas)- Did not earn anything when breaking his maiden, because that came at MNR, but following that, he went to MTH and went two-for-two in his career with an allowance win there. Each were at or close to this distance, and on the grass, but we don’t know how he is going to fare against top foes quite yet.

#2- Spirit Believer (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This one has a lot more experience on the track than his stablemate, with five starts and three coming at the stake level. He has not raced on the grass yet, but plenty of promise has been shown on the dirt. Three weeks ago, he finished second in the Grade 3 Iroquois at CD, so for him to be shifted to the turf now tells me that the trainer really likes his chances here.

#3- Sweet And Innocent (Mb Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Like Spirit Believer, he also ran three weeks ago, but he did it in the $500.000 Nownownow Stakes. He finished second there, coming just three weeks after he was third (though five lengths back), in the Grade 3 With Anticipation. So, he has not had a ton of rest as of late, but I don’t think it is quite at an unreasonable level to be that concerned about. Something to keep in the back of your mind, though.

#4- The Terminator (Mb Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Yet another horse that failed to earn a penny when he broke his maiden, accomplishing that at MNR. That victory would attract Mb Stables to him ten days later, and he would be sold for $75.000. Made his debut with Mb in a DMR optional claimer, and won that as well. So, he is a lot like What Plan in that everything has looked good so far, but he has not been at this level yet.

#5- Duke Of Satire (Nakamura Stables, ridden by S Elliott)- Was not tested much in his first two races, in regards to the tracks he was at, but he did win at FP in August to break his maiden. That would give the trainer the confidence to run him against much better, as he took part in the Grade 1 Summer Stakes at WO. That was definitely the right decision, as he placed second there just three weeks ago. Look for him to ride that momentum well into the Bourbon.

#6- Munich (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by E Maldonado)- Moving away from the Nakamura and Mb portion of the gate now, we get this gelding who also took part in the Grade 3 Iroquois three weeks ago. Munich finished third, thanks to a strong push in the stretch. He will be making his turf debut here, and his recent mile work shows that he is ready to go and should be able to transition well.

#7- Super Proud (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by G Corrales)- This one might think it is weird to be out there if it is not raining, as his last two starts (of three total) have come on soft turf. Rain is not expected on Sunday here, so for that reason alone, it is exciting to see what Super Proud is capable of doing. He’s had six or so weeks off after running twice in close succession, and that may benefit him more than usual here, since many are racing on three weeks rest.

#8- Shaman (Threshold, ridden by F Pennington)- Raced three weeks ago in the Nownownow Stables, and based on his race line, he was fourth from start to finish. It was his first time running long, and with going on the grass, making it something that can be built on here. Just a little improvement off of that could be all that is necessary to get a win here. Gets the former virtual legend F Pennington to ride him, just like he did in the Nownownow.

#9- Cheyenne Lame Foot (Kopites, ridden by F T Alvarado)- El Primero Rodeo does not have a horse in the race to defend his title, but could have one that he bred win if Cheyenne Lame Foot pulls it off. Kopites picked him up in late July for $100.000 in private sales after running second in a maiden. Maiden races were not his thing, so the trainer ran him in the $500.000 KD Juvenile last month, and he decided that was a better place to win for the first time. It’s surprising that he is the only horse here that ran in that race.

#10- Eastern Alliance (Barcelona Farms, ridden by D Van Dyke)- After one win in four starts on the dirt, Barcelona Farms has high hopes for Eastern Alliance’s ability to transition to the turf. One of his starts has been at the stake level, a fourth place finish at WO in the Victoria Stakes back in July. His dirt record is not as stellar as I would need to see for me to have confidence in him beating this field. That doesn’t mean it can’t happen, though.

#11- Market Cap (Sccj Stables, ridden by M Franco)- Last month, Market Cap broke his maiden in his fourth career start, coming at DMR. It was his second turf start, and first time running long, so maybe he was just waiting for the right condition. As of press time, it appears as though he will not be on bute for the race, something that he did have for the first time in his last race.

#12- Kentucky Pharoah (Arindel, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- After a race to be forgotten in the Bashford Manor at CD, Kentucky Pharoah was gelded. Later in August, he would be sent to SAR for the With Anticipation, and he turned in a very impressive effort, not only winning the race, but taking it by four lengths. His SRF of 88 for the win is not as high as I would have thought from the looks of the race, but I still feel if he repeats that effort here, that he can return to the winner’s circle. Tough post to have to deal with, however.

Prediction: 5-12-3-9

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES