TS Turf Sprint – Grade II
CD Race #3 5 1/2f Turf Graded Stake
Purse $600.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Apache Tomcat Ajm Stables Kimura K 124 —

42 races, 14 wins and 30 ITM, this seven-year-old has been a faithful servant to his seven owners and gets another chance at a big prize after spending 41 races in overnights. His first ever stakes race came in the Shakertown last time and he ran a great race to be third showing us once more how little the difference is between overnights and stakes racing. It would be great to see his brilliant father get a stakes winner on his record and with age, experience and draw on his side this could be the fairy tale ending the trainer is hoping for.

2 Thug TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 118 —

It would make sense that a horse getting 6Lbs and working just a tick slower than his older rivals would be able to use that weight to his advantage, but we have seen the threes be less dominant in recent years, certainly through the first half of the year so this isn’t the easy choice it used to be. A nice enough sort, but this is a big step up after just four races, but if anyone can make it work then this trainer can. Gets the perfect draw and is a lot better than his form suggests.

3 Mulch Chili King Stables Husbands P 124 —

Fully able to run 56 flat he is a very consistent sort at lower level and now having reached the five-year-old stage may be ready to step up. The class factor still needs proving but this race isn’t the strongest $600.000 race ever run, so with a great draw he could be in with a serious chance.

4 Bayldonite Smokey Stover Gutierrez Mario 118 —

Another lightly raced three-year-old hoping to turn the clock back to the three-year-old dominant years he ran very nicely in the Palisades last time out and is given the chance to go one better today. My main worry for him will be his early pace as he may get squeezed back from this gate so he will have to rely on some AI luck but these top trainers have a way of making that happen, so I would give him a decent chance.

5 Bluesman Spankys Barn Gaffalione T 124 —

Interestingly the two likely favorites and likely winners are drawn mid-field and wide so it won’t be so easy to pick them as the Exacta as it would be from first glance. This consistent seven-year-old gets the better draw and is likely to go close to the pace which should suit this race, so I am leaning towards him at this point. Beaten a neck in the BC Turf sprint he is two from two this year both at Stakes level so it will be incredibly close again with Drinkin Creepin although of course that horse won’t have the weight allowance this time.

6 Lantern Yard Avenue Z Conner T 124 —

Flew home in the Shakertown to be a close fourth but will face the same problems with traffic today and like a few here will have to rely on a favorable race engine to have a winning chance. A versatile customer he is working five furlongs like a greyhound so if things go right, he could be the one to spoil the party for the big two.

7 Work To Rule Williams9 Centeno D E 118 —

Still a maiden and should need a lot more than the three-year-old weight allowance. But this is HRP and he wouldn’t be the first 1000/1 winner.

8 First Fleet High Voltage Lopez P 124 —

A solid sprinter and router he has come up a bit short in the top races before but may have found his niche over this turf trip. He would be a long shot for sure but won the Costa Rising Stakes nicely enough last time so deserves his shot.

9 Free Beer Night Rider Stables Carmouche K 124 —

Who doesn’t love free beer!! The winner of nine from fifteen he is certainly a talent and is unbeaten this year, so this is another who may be ready to break through. The wide gate won’t help his chances, but he is working well and, on a roll, and that can count for a lot these days.

10 Drinkin Creepin Mb Stables Velazquez J R 124 —

The other one that looks outstanding in this race, the reigning BC Sprint Champion dug deep to win the Shakertown last time proving he has lost nothing in going from three to four. He will be many people’s pick and there won’t be much between him and Bluesman as usual. Three from three this year the trainer has let him find his legs after a failed attempt in the HOL Derby but considering he went from the BC sprint to a nine-furlong grade one you can’t fault his fourth placed finish.

SUMMARY

On paper the exacta is an easy read with Bluesman and Drinkin Creepin clearly on top. Third place, well I think Lantern Yard may be turning a corner so he would be my pick for the trifecta.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES