Ali – Grade III
KEE Race #5 1 3/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $350.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

A quite brilliant field line up for the Ali today and what a race we have in front of us, here is how they line up:

1 Walk Em Down Mb Stables Prat F 123 —

This horse has a devastating turn of foot but as we have seen at HRP coming from behind can be a bit hit and miss, and it’s been a while now since this one has got the timing just right. Who could forget his scintillating last gasp win in the Preakness or his brilliant wins in the Dandy and The Travers, and at that point in the year, it looked like he would go all the way to the BC with his barnstorming finish. He tasted defeat in the PA Derby but still went to the Classic a huge chance but in that big field it can be hard to launch through a big field, and he could only manage a closing sixth. In his reappearance this year, he was terrible in the Pegasus but then we saw a blip like that in the KYD last year and he came back from that, so it wasn’t too much to worry about. Back to nearly his best in the KY Cup Classic last time, I feel he is ready to run a big race after those two tune ups and as long as he doesn’t get buried on the rail, I think we may see the old Walk Em Down today.

2 Wicked Awesome Night Rider Stables Bejarano R 123 —

He is working well enough and gets a great gate, but you have to say his body of work does not line up with the talent on show here. As an eight-year-old he will be looking to run his best race ever after 34 attempts and there is nothing to say that is going to happen.

3 Berlin The Sidley Stud Curtis B 123 —

This tough as nails seven-year-old is an on-speed runner, so may be the one to dictate the pace today and if he gets it right, he is certainly good enough to be top three. He showed that in the Pegasus when only nailed close home to be a half-length second to Blazing that he is as good of not better when things go right than anything he faces today. The easy winner of this race last year, he will have to forget about his disappointing effort in the Challenger last time but must be considered a good chance to make it a double.

4 Derby Dreams TwinTowersRacing Gutierrez Mario 123 —

A decent enough sort at this level, he wasn’t too far back in the PA Derby and won the TX Derby last year so was only a few lengths off some of the best of the age group. He couldn’t cope with a bad draw in the Challenger last time but still finished in front of Berlin and he will once again be up there early with that horse as a likely pace influence. Not far off the best but will have to run a lifetime best to win today.

5 Spankersville The Sidley Stud Alvarado F T 123 —

This horse was un-beatable at the end of last year bringing an end to a superb season with a convincing win in the BC Classic. His seasonal debut from a car park draw in the Pegasus was great as he stayed on nicely into fourth and would’ve needed the run, but his last start was just a shade disappointing. That start was in the New Orleans Classic which was an equally good field as this, but he was just a little flat after stalking the speed and could only manage third. His last two races have made him look just a bit vulnerable but you cannot ignore his 1.35 and 2 work on the 7 th April, a stupendous work, which seems to suggest he will start another run to defend his BC crown from today.

6 Personal Ruler Mo Mentum Farm Conner T 123 —

If it wasn’t for the likes of Spankersville and company, you would say this is a solid type running in a grade that should suit. However, when you weigh up his form against some of the others you will find it tough to come up with a reason he can win. Honest enough and working as well as most he won’t be wanting for courage but may be found wanting for class.

7 King Z Mb Stables Corrales G 123 —

He hasn’t run on the dirt since being beaten in a $16.000 claimer 13 races ago and you would take a look at his form which includes three graded stakes wins on turf and a grade one placing and wonder why on earth he is here to race on the dirt against a BC Classic champion. Well, I have said it a million times and once again as this brilliant turfer ran a 1.36 dirt mile in a work, it seems that surface means very little to a good horse, would it be too “gamey” to think this horse could beat the best on dirt? Well, no, if the work means anything then he can get right amongst them.

8 Bad Debt D J C Racing Stables Elliott S 123 —

Last year’s KYD winner came back to his best in the OK Derby last year but has been a little frustrating since. He seems the type that needs a certain race shape to run his best and he found that in the KYD and OK Derby’s but has failed to find it since. Fading a long way back in the Pegasus he was a little better in the KY Cup Classic last time, but it is pointless reading his form, it has more to do with certain things happening than what he has done in the past. If he makes the front and steals some sectionals then he could win, if he is challenged early, he may just fade away to last, we will just have to wait and see.

9 Fried Chicken Angelos Stable Doyle S 123 —

Well, you can’t beat Fried Chicken but in this race, I feel he may be overcooked. A deep closing type, he may be suited if the pace is hot, and he has shown that he can mount a very strong finish in the right situation, so I wouldn’t be saying he can’t win. This would certainly be a career best performance should he make top three, but you just never know here at HRP.

10 Hiei Pan Farms Gallardo A A 123 —

There is no doubt that on his day he could win this. The winner of the BEL in 2023 and the Pacific Classic in 2024, he is a grade one winner that has been a close third in a BC Classic and has all the right form. The trouble is we just never quite know what we are going to get. His works are as good as ever so he still has the ability and with two races under his belt this year he may be ready for another win, but who knows.

11 No More Rattle Bigchief Stables Smith M E 123 —

This six-year-old seems to have turned a corner this year and his win in the SA Handicap last time was top notch. Prior to that he had been running around the lesser stakes races and doing OK but without major success but after a seasonal debut where he looked 10 Lbs better than he had he started favorite for the SA Handicap and came with a strong late run to grab it on the line. I am not a big fan of handicap form but on his third in the Hooper he wouldn’t be without a chance if the pace is hot, and he can pick a path round the outside down the stretch.

SUMMARY

We have a couple here in Hiei and Bad Debt that could win if they wanted to, a couple like No More Rattle and Fried Chicken that could upset if they wanted and then we have the likes of Spankersville, Walk Em Down and Berlin who seem at least to be a class above the rest. Add in the turf form of King Z and we have a fascinating race. I feel obliged to go for Spankersille to win from a fast finishing Walk Em Down with maybe Berlin holding out for third.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES