MTH Cup – Grade III
MTH Race #8 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Twin Rackets Alydar Stables Conner T 124 —

Looked set for a good year when a closing fourth in the Pegasus World Cup in January but has been suffering from timing issues for some time and he has got far too far back in his recent races. A wet tracker, he ran a great second in the Alysheba, but he seems to need that wet going to bring the others back to him these days. I wonder whether an effort to have him nearer today with this inside draw will pay dividends but let’s not forget his brilliant effort in the BC Dirt Mile last year when flying home from the clouds to be beaten just a half-length. If he can get the timing right, he can win this, but this engine is incredibly hard to win it from the back. That’s not saying he can’t do it; you don’t work a 1.36 flat mile work without being able to compete at this level.

2 Domiano Fractious Moore R L 124 —

Missed out on a KYD berth last year but ran some nice races against the best of his age group finishing third in the Dandy and second in the Lewis Stakes. Given time to find himself as a four-year-old, he struck last time when taking the grade one Metropolitan Handicap and looks to follow that big win up here. There is a lot to like about him, his running style suits this draw perfectly, the trainer is in great form, and he is working like lightening, add to that the jockey everyone wants on his back, and he is a big winning chance.

3 Kylo Ren Luz International Luzzi L J 124 —

I often say this one promises just a bit more than he delivers but that all changed last time when winning his first ever dirt race in the Essex Handicap over this trip. I am not 100% convinced he is a main track runner but today may convince me as he takes on a good field on level weights. The racing ability is certainly there if he is as sharp as he was last time.

4 Uranus Threshold Smith M E 124 —

This trip is on the lower end of his best distance, so he may find it hard to live with some of these, but he is a consistent sort. He will be running on at the end but without the wet track to slow them down he may want a bit further these days.

5 Angel Dust Fractious Prat F 124 —

Another that can get a little too far back on occasions, he certainly has the ability to run well but may find one or two too good. He is having a good season with a grade three win and a great effort in the grade one CD over seven furlongs when second so the form is there if he can find an early spot in midfield.

6 Lets Celebrate Riggins Racing Husbands P 124 —

Hit a bit of a flat spot at the start of the year but the trainer stuck with him, and he looks to have found his form again in his last two runs. A brave win in the Eclipse sparked the come back and then he was enormous in the Foster last time when flying home to grab third where he had Spankersville well beaten behind. On his last two efforts he has a great chance on his previous three or four not so much so a lot will depend on whether the trainer has him in the right mood.

7 Spankersville The Sidley Stud Velazquez J R 124 —

A multiple grade one winner of nearly $4,000.000 he looked set for another huge year when taking the Pegasus World Cup in January but has been a bit in and out since then. Just an OK effort by his standards to be third in the New Orleans Classic was followed by a brilliant win in the Gold Cup but he then was just OK again last time in the Foster. Look, there’s no doubt he is the class horse here and he has some fantastic victories to his name so a win may indeed be on the cards, but I do worry that he is becoming a bit hit and miss so he is no obvious choice.

8 Lion Lake Mb Stables Franco M 124 —

With the wide gate we find the probable front runner in Lion Lake from the great Mb Stables. Claimed from Night Rider for just $32.000 he has since amassed $901.000 in prize money in four starts making him a great claim indeed. Second in the Essex Handicap he then went into the grade two OP Handicap with just 115Lbs and duly obliged with a game half-length win. He just faded a little at the end of the Gold Cup last time when third and may have found the tenth furlong a bit far but coming back to his winning trip today that shouldn’t be a problem. It’s a tough field but he has every chance.

SUMMARY

A tough field and one that seems to have a natural shape of leaders, mid pack types and deep closers that should set up the usual rush to the line. I think the on pacers may have an advantage here so that brings Lion Lake and Domiano to the fore and if they steal a break coming into the stretch, it may be too hard to close the gap. Lets Celebrate and Spankersville will be in the second group so may fight out third, but that last furlong will be a mess of horse flesh trying to get home late so anything could happen.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES