Who Will Be King of the Jungle in Animal Kingdom Stakes?

Animal Kingdom Stakes
TP Race #5 6f Dirt Stake
Purse $250.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Creme D Mint Riggins Racing Husbands P 122 —

While the three-year-olds are all chasing the KYD today at TP the sprinters get their chance in this race which carries a very nice purse. This one race winner grabs the ace draw and that may allow him to hold a good position behind the speed. Of course, he will need the gaps at the right time which is more important than ability or form sometimes but he has proven himself honest and strong at the end of his races at overnight level so it wouldn’t be a leap in reality to see him sneaking through.

2 Crypto Winter Rock Creek Alvarado F T 122 —

Has won both his races and run his best races on an off track so they may be the conditions he needs to win at this level. Having said that he is a stakes winner over this trip, and he is drawn nicely so he has a few things going for him. I think this may be too hot for him, but I wouldn’t write him off completely.

3 Heat Advisory Lazy Eye Gutierrez Mario 122 —

Finally broke his maiden at the fourth attempt and looks to build on that today. He has been improving nicely and his works are pretty strong so those facts couple with a competitive draw may be a key factor.

4 Hurricane Ridge Fractious Silvera Ru 122 —

Looked pretty good when making all in the Pascoe but looked built for speed rather than stamina and confirmed that with a no show when trying up in trip in the Lewis. His works are sharp, and this jockey loves this sort of trip so I would give him a winning chance.

5 On Tap Winning Link Stables Jimenez A 122 —

Another that was sprinting well before trying the KYD route and another whose stamina failed him. Back to sprints today he looked plenty fast enough when a close third in the TP Prevue so will be a factor in the race today.

6 Just A Misfit Team 7 Illusions Corbett G W 122 —

Everyone loves an unbeaten horse, and this one is three from three for a stable who has really found their old groove this year. With plenty of TC hopes T7 wasn’t tempted to try that route with this one and keeps him to sprints where he has proven himself with three good wins at lower level. His works say he is improving and much better than an overnighter and I expect him to be close to winning this.

7 Coronado Beach Alydar Stables Lezcano J 122 —

It is difficult to say this one is better over sprint trips than longer ones as he has run pretty well in every start regardless of trip. His works are a bit up and down but that seems to be common these days and whilst he may not be a winning chance I do think he will appear in the top four.

8 Luna Radio TwinTowersRacing Cedillo A 122 —

Another that has struggled up in trip he drops back to sprinting which may prove to be his forte. His works are inconsistent but as I have said before that seems to be a recent trait at HRP, and his best would be in the right ballpark to make his presence felt today.

9 Soho Story Allinthegate Hernandez R M 122 —

Won two nice races over sprint trips but has since struggled when upped in trip. He hasn’t run badly over longer trips which either means he ran well as a sprinter or is a router that just wasn’t good enough. Today we will find out which of those it is.

10 Continuously Mb Stables Bridgmohan S X 122 —

The winner of two from three gets a tough draw here. He has shown speed in his works but made all to win over a mile last time so may struggle in this six furlong sprint. I would expect him to lead or be very close to the pace and he may be found breathing hard down the stretch. The name on the stable door gives him a better chance than his form.

11 Cheetah Special Williams9 Pennington F 122 —

Out in the cheap seats we find this experienced and well-tried gelding who attempted to win the Rebel last time but found the trip beyond him. His sprint form prior to that was pretty good but he will need plenty of race engine favors to overcome the car park in this race.

SUMMARY

A tough little sprint to work out but for me it looks like a match between Hurricane Ridge and Just A Misfit.



Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded