The Gotham – Grade III [KYD]
AQU Race #5 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Love Maker Mb Stables Gallardo A A 122 —

As always Mb has a three-pronged attack on the KYD qualifier, but I am not sure this one is the best of them. His form may not look as good as some because he is a closer by nature and that running style seems to breed inconsistency here at HRP as so much comes down to the type of trip they get when coming from off the pace. He was looking good last year when he got the timing right in the Bowman Mill but then failed when upped in grade in the Hopeful when a never dangerous seventh. His last start as a two-year-old saw an easy win at GP so he looked back on track but then in his first start as a three-year-old he was well beaten in the Southwest. His works aren’t bad and there are some positives to be drawn from his poor finish in the Southwest, but I think this is going to take a winning gamble on the gaming button by the trainer or a miracle late run from the race engine to see him having any chance.

2 Cobra Jet Barcelona Farms Rodriguez Jam 122 —

Barcelona isn’t one to spend money on rubbish so the fact that they bought this one for $160.000 should be a good pointer to his ability. He was a good enough second in the Pascoe on seasonal debut and then a decent winner at SA so is as fit as a flea for this and his works between those runs were very promising. He gets a great draw and whilst on paper has something to find I wouldn’t be surprised to see a big effort here.

3 Test The Waters Mb Stables Ortiz I Jr 122 —

You would probably have to say this was the best of the three Mb entries and the trainer will be thrilled that this one got the perfect draw. An on-pace runner so well suited to the race engine he was beaten just a quarter length when second in the BC Juvenile Turf last year but had proven himself on dirt before and did so again when third in the Remsen on his last appearance as a two-year-old. The Seasonal debut saw him gain KYD points with a dead heat win in the Withers and he looks to make sure of qualification today. His prep work for this was as sharp as a tack and he will be many people’s favorite to win.

4 Rock With You Smokey Stover Castillo I 122 —

Looking at this one’s works and the fact that he is unbeaten on turf suggests to me that his future may lay on the grass, but this is the time of year to roll the dice and that is what the trainer is doing here. He ran pretty well in the Lecompt on seasonal debut but just seemed to lack the same sparkle he had when winning the Pulpit before so whilst anything from this stable will be competitive I am happy to think this one may be a top four chance rather than a winning one.

5 Kamara Royalty Stables Zayas E J 122 —

The trainer goes for a throw at the stumps with this one and why not, but it is hard to get over enthusiastic after his seasonal debut run. He was a decent two-year-old finishing the season in a competitive running of the FL Sire Stakes – Affirmed where he made all and clung on gamely for the win. His recent works have been a bit sedate compared to some but that doesn’t have to mean he can’t win but for me at least, his form does.

6 Bold Zionist La Canada Racehorses Worrie A S 122 —

His form has been a bit hit and miss in his nine-race career but he looked genuine enough last time out when winning at SA so the trainer may have found one of the hidden keys to his vault. He was brilliant in the grade one DMR Futurity last year when a close third but was then ordinary in the Champagne next out and that seems to sum him up perfectly. There is no doubt he has ability if he is in the right mood, and he could end up being one of the dark horses in the race.

7 Hurricane Ridge Fractious Cedillo A 122 —

The trainer bought this one after a thirteen length seventh in a maiden for no less than $175.000. That may turn out to be a brilliant move and it certainly looked like it in his next two where he won his maiden and The Pascoe Stakes at long odds. He got a wide draw and ran poorly in the Lewis last time out, but we may have to forgive that considering his works and the draw and he could be worth another chance here. He is difficult to weigh up, but he works like a TC contender and before the Lewis was looking like a rising star so he could be worth the gamble.

8 Awad D J C Racing Stables Lezcano J 122 —

His form looks consistent on the face of it, but he has been a little frustrating after his last win in the Bashford Manor ten months ago. Close up in the Hopeful, the Champagne and the BC Juvenile hall at grade one he was looking good but was then pretty lack luster on his last juvenile start in the LA Futurity and has been struggling to recapture his earlier sparkle this year. He started with a distant third in the Pascoe but then faded away in the Lewis last time leaving many of us and I am sure his trainer scratching their heads. His recent work was OK so it may be just a matter of his improvement curve flattening out since the BC and we may have to wait for it to start an upward trend before we consider him again.

9 Knorth Kinght Our Athletes Spencer J P 122 —

He has been transformed since being gelded winning three from three including the Swale Stakes last time out. His works since that great win have been a little flat so that is a worry, but you have to like him as a contender here. He hasn’t raced beyond seven furlongs yet but looked strong at the end of the Swale so it shouldn’t be a problem. Even though he has already taken steps towards the KYD, unlike many in this field, he does still have something to prove here, and his draw will certainly test him.

10 Smack Fractious Elliott S 122 —

At this time of year we see fast working maidens win TC qualifiers, we see BC champions failing, so why not this one out in the cheap seats. His form of course tells us very little, two sprint maidens, one of which he won by a quarter length are not key form guides for a mile graded stake race, but it is not his form which interests me. His works are phenomenal, the 1.10 and 2 he worked recently at AQU is the fastest in this field and this trainer can seemingly do no wrong at the moment, so why not? So, what if the trainer that can spend hundreds on horses picked him up for just $5.000 at auction, so what if he has no form beyond maidens, so what that he finds himself wide out and having to give ground to a BC runner up. Just maybe, we have one of those Seabiscuit types that comes from nowhere to become a KYD winner!

11 Exemplary Mb Stables Pennington F 122 —

Another whose form seems to be dictated by his running style. A closer in his last five he has won The Futurity and nearly won the Demille Stakes using those tactics but has also failed to reach the top three in his other three attempts. Unless the gaming button is clicked it is likely that he will go back from this wide draw which once again leaves his final finishing place up to the Gods. He was beaten less than a length in the Smarty Jones coming from a mile back, so we know if things go right, he has the ability but once again we are left pinning our hopes on the race engine rather than his ability.

12 Glacial Till Jive Inc. Luzzi L J 122 —

It is a shame he finds the car park because he is not without a chance but having said that he could get the wide gate speed push to assist his on-pace running style and may end up being a danger if he is left alone. He faded at the end of the Holy Bull leaving some question marks but as a first run of the year it wasn’t a bad effort and his work since suggests he has come on for that race. he is a long shot but not one without a chance.

SUMMARY

There are some of these TC qualifiers that are loaded with BC runners, Graded stakes runners and all sorts of strong form but on the face of it this field looks a little lighter than some. Mb looks to have two runners with the best form and with Test The Waters so well drawn he looks the obvious choice. I am, however, a sucker for looking outside the box and whilst it may not be way out in left field, I do think Smack looks a really nice prospect that may spring a surprise here.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES