San Luis Rey Stakes – Grade III
SA Race #2 1 1/2m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $100.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Simply Magic Winning Link Stables Espinoza V 123 —

He ran some nice races last year including a nose loss in the Hill prince and a good third in the Henry Championship . Those efforts led to a crack at the BC turf, but he was drawn wide and ran a complete non race there. He was better in the HOL Derby when sixth just beaten a couple so that aberration can be forgiven and his two efforts this year whilst not troubling the judge have been pretty good. Working well enough he has a solid chance from the inside gate.

2 Master Of Disguise Mb Stables Rispoli U 123 —

Only broke his maiden in October last year but like most of the stable he seems to be able to improve into stakes class without much encouragement. He was a length in front of Simply Magic in the Whittingham and whilst he may be the 100th best turf router in the Mb empire he is working like a winner and the odds are he probably will.

3 Derby G High Voltage Cedillo A 123 —

He hasn’t had the black type success he perhaps deserves and has only won 2 from 22 so that doesn’t fill me with confidence. He certainly can hold his own at this level though so you just never know here at HRP today could be his day.

4 Regret Nothing Threshold Bravo J 123 —

This eight-year-old has always been a bit of an enigma and is one of those that could win by two or lose by ten. As the trainer lost the jockey lottery pretty badly it may be that this isn’t destined to be the day he turns it on.

5 Starship Moonshot Night Rider Stables Franco G 123 —

From a $10.000 claimer to a grade three win, why not this is HRP after all!! Despite his romp at TAM last time, he is working just as well as the stakes winners in the race, as i said this is HRP after all!!

6 Afterburner Arindel Maldonado E 123 —

On balance i would say that this one just has the edge on form. He has won graded stakes at this trip and was a very good second in the Pan American last time suggesting he is ready to get back to winning ways.

SUMMARY

Well six horses with a chance here, but I am just favoring Afterburner although of course the almost mystical ability of Mb Stables to win stakes races must bring Master Of Disguise into the picture, and I am probably a fool for not tipping him.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES