,LA Stakes – Grade III
 FG Race #10 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $175.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Brother Bear Spb Racing Husbands P 123 —

Considering this one ran such a good race in the Peter Pan I am surprised it has changed hands twice since for relatively little money. Since that effort when a close fourth, he has run second in the GG Handicap and third in the Native Diver Stakes, so clearly has the ability to win at this level. He has been lightly raced enough to suggest his short femur won’t be a problem as he turns four and his recent work suggests he is progressing nicely. Whilst he isn’t the superstar, he may be good enough to get close to winning this.

2 Ubiquitous Angelos Stable Del-Cid V 123 —

Another consistent sort, I do like five-year-olds at this time of year and this one’s recent work suggest he may be one of those types that runs his best races later in life. He ran probably a career best race when third in the Santa Anita last time and a great draw today may make him a dark horse in this race that may reward his supporters with longer odds.

3 Galapagos Night Rider Stables Beschizza A 123 —

Another of those late developers, he won the very competitive Empire Classic last time after a string of good efforts gaining a triple digit speed figure. The good draw and the likelihood that he is ageing well may give the stable yet another contender in the top ranks of the dirt routes this year.

4 Hard To Forgive D J C Racing Stables Silvera Ru 123 —

Just beaten by Galapagos in the Empire Classic last year, he ran in the top grade and was pretty competitive without really gaining much traction over the season. He won the Ghostzapper and then ran very well in the Alysheba early last year but then seemed to lose his way a bit over the remainder of the season. This is a horse with ability, but he has been a little hit and miss so it is hard to be confident about his chances.

5 Hurricane Fly Fractious Moore R L 123 —

This is another who was doing nicely through the first part of last year but then found things a bit tough through the second part. He won the Winn after a decent attempt at the KYD field but then found some tough races and ran pretty poorly in them. He performed well enough at the lower end of stakes grade to suggest there is ability there, but this is a gnarly field for a grade three ad he may find it a bit too much.

6 Royal Valor Nakamura Stables Parker D L 123 —

I thought this one was going to be a KYD contender, but he struggled in the qualifying races eventually stepping down to the TX Mile which he won rather nicely. From there he went to the BEL and ran really well from a wide draw to end up fifth, He strung up a few more good efforts against his own age group winning the Jones Stakes but was then found wanting again in the Clark when a never dangerous eighth. I think when he clicks, he will be really good, and I thought he had after that TX Mile win, but he still needs to prove himself against the best.

7 What Way Night Rider Stables Murrill M 123 —

Stepped up after some average efforts to win the NM Classic Gulch Champ but he will have to step up again against a much stronger field today. He has ability but may need to improve too much to win today.

8 Crack Dab Gdp Inc Velazquez J R 123 —

This has been one of the best routers in the game for a long time but now as an eight-year-old you do worry that his decline can only be round the corner. Having said that his works are as good as ever and he is by far the best horse in the race so it may be worth the gamble that he still has some miles on the clock.

9 Silent Sunset Riggins Racing Lopez P 123 —

A decent enough sort, but there are some very good horses in this who escape penalties for wins in better grade races so he may be up against it. He was very tough when dead heating to win the Tenacious Stakes last time and his works suggest continued improvement, so he has to be given a chance especially with a trainer that is slowly recovering their former glory days.

10 Angel Dust Fractious Spencer J P 123 —

The trainer has the Midas touch so far this year, but they will have to work hard to get this one to win here. This may be a five-year-old making a move after a solid run in the Native Diver Stakes last time saw him come from the clouds to run fourth and he has shown enough promise to be a contender in a very competitive race.

11 Cioppino TwinTowersRacing Davis D 123 —

Never write anything off from this stable even of it is drawn wide and the winner of only two races. That’s what happened last time when at 40/1 he wasn’t given much chance to win the Steady Growth but still did with a fair amount of ease. I have always liked this one but so far, he hasn’t been able to break through at this level, but just maybe today is the day.

12 Demon Wood Duck Stables Geroux F 123 —

This one hasn’t had much luck with the draw monster recently and once again gets a rotten draw and that may be one of the main reasons that he hasn’t won more races than he has. I would go out on a limb and say he is the best horse in this race, but he has been before and still found a way to lose so it is hard to be too confident in picking him as the winner. He is however at the right age to start making an even bigger name for himself and add to the three stakes wins on his record despite the draw monster’s best efforts.

SUMMARY

If he can overcome the draw, then I think Demon can win this although there are plenty of other chances and possibly easier picks. I have a feeling that there may be a longer priced winner here and it could come from anywhere, but I have to settle on Demon as my form choice.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded