Cartier Stakes – Grade 3 – $150.000
WO – 6 Furlongs – Dirt
For Four Year Olds and Upward
May 14, 2023
1 Championship Rounds (Mb Stable)
Won the Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap two starts back, then tried graded level in the Carter Handicap (Grade 1) at AQU. Finished fourth, three lengths back that day. That wasn’t his first try at graded level, but he is yet to win at that level. You just know he’s going to break through, but this is a tough spot for a first graded win.
2 Sinissipi Laughter (TwinTowersRacing)
Two wins in 26 starts for this five-year-old making his graded stakes debut here. Working well, but just seems a little outclassed in this field.
3 Lions Reward (Spankys Barn)
This four-year-old gelding has five wins to his credit, including the Grade 3 Iselin Stakes last August. All if those wins came at a mile or beyond. He shortens up here. Remains to be seen if that will work to his advantage.
4 Stormy Liberal (Big Guns Stables)
Finished a head behind a track record setting performance last out in the Fleet Sprint Handicap (Grade 3). Has been knocking at the door of a graded win in all four of his 2023 starts. Could finally get that win in this one. He likes to come from off the pace, so he’ll need some racing luck.
5 Buy Low Sell High (Asgar)
With the exception of a second-place finish in the Razorback Handicap in February, this gelding has been struggling in graded company. His best performance came beyond a mile. Works say he can sprint, but he’s going to need a big effort to beat these.
6 Golden Charm (D J C Racing Stables)
This gelding has put together a string of three really good performances, including back-to-back wins. But these came in allowance company. He makes his stakes debut here, and it won’t be easy to get past these.
7 West Coast Party (Martyparty)
Won the Palo Verdes (Grade 3) in February, then followed that up with a second in the in the Fool Handicap (Grade 3). Didn’t fare well in his last start, but if you draw a line through that one, he has been in the money every time going all the way back to September. Like his chances here.
8 Eagle Mountain (Spankys Barn)
Coming in off a win in allowance company, but this is another gelding without a graded win in his career. Another one that will have his work cut out for him here.
9 Di Canzone (Invicta Group Llc)
This seven-year-old has finished in the money 36 times in his long career, including an optional claimer win two starts back at SA and a second in the CC Jewel two before that. Finished 10th last out in graded company. Remains to be seen if he can step up here and win his first graded stake in his 50th start.
10 Ginger Clean (The Sidley Stud)
Competing in minor stakes and allowances, this gelding hasn’t finished off the board since November when he finished ninth in the BC Sprint. He is a graded winner with a victory in last year’s Palo Verdes (Grade 3), so he deserves some respect for that. Still, not sure he’s up to competing with these.
Picks: 7-4-10
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
