Secretariat Stakes – Grade II
CNL Race #2 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Indian Summer Diablo Diablo Castellano J J 122 —
There is no doubting the ability this one has or had if you look at his form, but I feel that things may just change today, and we may see the horse this one was as a juvenile. It would be unfair to say all his best form was at two because he did win the Kittens Joy and was a great third in the American Stakes from a terrible draw, significantly on his only two runs on the turf this year. I can see why his trainer went for the TC after he tried his grass star on the dirt in the Rebel and he ran a great race to be second but then a string of terrible draw monster luck saw him run well without winning. His last start could well be one of those throw out races we see so often in a HRP horses form line, so I am willing to bet we see the real Indian Summer today.
2 Luna Snip Asgar Vazquez R A 122 —
A consistent sort who has placed twice at ungraded level he may not look like the obvious choice, but he does have a couple of pluses to his name. His works are certainly in the right ballpark and whilst it seems just about anything that breathes can run lightening works these days, he has been consistently outperforming his track performances in his homework. The other plus is his last race which was won in a sub 1.33 time, and he was less than a length behind so that’s pretty good when you couple it with an ideal draw today. A win wouldn’t surprise but he probably wouldn’t be my first choice.
3 Winter Book Fractious Maldonado E 122 —
The stable is on fire at the moment and throws this one in for the old HRP hack of first time ever on grass. They often run well under those conditions and this one proved on occasions that he had the ability to win this when racing on the dirt. Close up in both the LA and SA Derby’s he went on to win the Affirmed in June in a gutsy performance. He got the draw monsters wrath in the Haskell last time and never had a chance so we can throw out that run and concentrate on the rest of his body of work. I am not worried about the switch to turf today though I am more worried about the mile as they could go a little too fast for him. Certainly, a winning chance, especially if the pace is fast early on.
4 Energizer Party Mb Stables Silvera Ru 122 —
After eight races on the dirt the trainer decided to have a go on turf last time and he duly won with a bit in hand. Previously he had been considered a big TC chance after his win in the Rebel but got a bad draw in the SUN Derby and though he was only beaten a length he was eighth and did not get the required KYD points. He acts on rain affected ground so that would be a plus if the rains come and naturally, he is working as good as everything else, so it is hard to find too many negatives about his chances. The big plus of course is having Mb at the helm.
5 Troubles Coming TwinTowersRacing Hernandez R M 122 —
I would never write off a horse from this stable, but he does seem up against it on the balance of his form. Just the one maiden win to his name he does have consistency on his side but has not competed at this level before and there is nothing so far to suggest he can. However, when I say a horse from this yard can’t win it usually does so if history has anything to do with this result, then throw your money on him.
6 Toc Black Magic Maxmillion Farm Jaramillo E 122 —
The turf king bought this one after three average efforts at maiden level and has turned him into a about, contender. Clearly suited by running off the front he has won both starts for the new owner and who would say the Turf King couldn’t pull this one off. Things will have to go his way and with only 5 starts he is hard to be confident about but he has the right trainer to do it.
7 Solar Coast Smokey Stover Corbett G W 122 —
Undoubtedly the class horse and the most accomplished on the turf but then he is working the same as everything else as usual so the result won’t be as cut and dried as it looks on paper. He led the BEL Derby at the mile and ended up a close third after winning the Pennine Ridge and that recent form is far and away the best in the race. It will be interesting to see if he tries for the lead again today and I certainly think over this trip he should at least be in first or second early on to have his best chance. The clear form choice if you are a form pundit.
8 Calling All Angels D J C Racing Stables Ferrer J C 122 —
Another that spent his time playing on the dirt, his form was a bit up and down, so it was no surprise to see his trainer try the turf for the first-time last time out. He actually ran a cracker coming from the clouds for a close second in the Oceanside Stakes so he clearly is just as good on this surface, but the wide draw means he may need to repeat that effort to have a chance.
SUMMARY
Solar Coast looks the top choice on from and I would expect him to be in the front early and hard to pull back. I would like however, to give Indian Summer one more chance now he is back on the grass and gets a decent draw, He will have certainly earned this win if he can do it.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
