4/22/23
12 SA Kona Stakes (GIII) 
$100.000 4yo&Up 6 1/2f Dirt 123lbs +penalties
We head out to SoCal and SA for a nice group of sprinters that will be going six and a half furlongs in the Kona Stakes (GIII). I’m headed outside for an outsider, in my opinion, and will take Battle City as my top choice today. I know, I know, he only beat one horse last out, but it was muddy and we are hoping for clear skies today. He just missed in the Malibu (GI) and I think that field was superior to this one, so let’s put him on top. I’ll put Electric in the second spot, off of that near miss in the San Carlos (GIII). He doesn’t care, wet… dry… parking lot… he just runs his butt off and he should be part of the goings-on here today, as well. It’s a nice bunch and a fairly open race… let’s see how it goes.
Here’s The Field –
Two stakes wins in a row on the minor circuit and had three seconds prior to that. He was ninth on BC Day (GI), so he has some back class and could be tough if he brings his best to this dance. He certainly has speed and love the sprint, so give him a puncher’s chance.
Another with back-to-back wins coming into this one, taking a stakes at TUP and an Alw race at FG, so he’s obviously on his toes right now. His only graded effort was in the ’22 rendition of this race, where he was seventh, so he has to improve to be part of this one.
He seems to be there with his hand out to get a check, each and every race. Won the Bold Ruler (GIII) last year and has a 1-1-1 from three races this year. Super game run in the General George (GIII) at LRL, then just missed in the San Carlos (GIII) over a wet strip here… watch him.
You don’t put $1,000.000 in the bank without being a nice horse, but it’s been a tough road of late. Last in the Essex (GIII) last out, and he hasn’t won since the Withers (GIII) last spring, so he has to rekindle the want, or it may be time to head off to the breeding shed.
He’s been third in both of his ’23 starts, last out in the Fool Hcp (GIII) where he was certainly a factor in the results of that one. He had three wins last season, so he certainly knows how to win, but can he get it done with this group?
The ol’ boy has been on the board in 29 of 55 starts, so you don’t have to be a top-notch handicapper to know that he’s been a tough horse. Still looking for his first on the board performance of the season, but his best would make him a factor… does he have anything close to that?
Does this 7yo ever miss a check? It certainly doesn’t seem like it… Third in the Toboggan (GIII) then a third and a second vs. high end Alw types at GP, so he looks ready to deliver a big run and could do it at decent odds. I think he’s a horse that you have to use on your tickets, especially those tri wagers.
Another that is always in the picture when they hand out checks, and he’s a tough nut to crack. Won over this surface taking down Alw types, then was third in the Whitmore (GIII) at OP so he keeps his hot hand going and should be a horse to watch today.
Two wins last season, only a third from three starts this year, so he needs to get his old form back to give this bunch a tussle. he was sixth in the San Carlos (GIII) over this surface in his most recent, but that was a damp track, and I think he wants it fast.
He was cruisin’ along gathering up big checks at every start but threw a bad one over this track when he beat one in that wet San Carlos (GIII). Again, let’s throw that out and look for a fast track and a return to form, which could spell win.
He was fourth over this track in his ’23 debut, the Palos Verdes (GIII) then was the runner up as the post time favorite at GP vs. Alw company. He has seven wins from twenty starts and I think his best races are in front of him, and that could be dangerous.
He’s the high weight today off of that win in the Whitmore (GIII) at OP, beating a few of these in that race. He was on the board in six of eleven starts last year and has kept that form going. He should be part of this one, as well. Give him a serious chance.
COZMAN 10 / 3 Willie’s Green Card 3 / 7 / 5
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
