City of Hope Mile – Grade II [BC]
SA Race #11 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Zion Birdie La Canada Racehorses Jaramillo E 121 —

The rails draw goes to a three-year-old, working well and beaten a nose in the BC Juvenile Turf, so what’s not to like, Well firstly his effort in the PEN Mile on an off track last time would certainly rule him out if the rains come but apart from that there is some form worth taking a good look at. I like the fact that he has been brought on slowly after his BC Efforts. Ignoring his run last time, he won the Columbia rather cozily in a sub 1.33 time before that and once again has been given months to recover and comes here very fresh. That makes him a bit of an unknown, so I will be looking at him very carefully if he comes out at long odds.

2 Wicked Good Lanfranco Stable Espinoza V 124 —

This trainer has never been backward in tooting their own trumpet but looks to have one here that certainly has a winning chance. The six-year-old was a nice third in the DMR Mile last time and has worked very strongly since making him a great chance from the perfect draw.

3 Green Flag Spankys Barn Gaffalione T 124 —

This one may be a little under rated here especially when he carried 123Lbs to win in 1.32 and 1 when taking the Poker Stakes the time before last. I think a mile may be his trip and this is just the sort who can sneak into a BC on the back of consistent form.

4 King Luka Night Rider Stables Lanerie C J 124 —

Seven races with no wins and just one place finish doesn’t really tell the whole story as this seven-year-old who has shown bits of form that would be good enough for a top three here. Fourth in the Forrester Turf Classic and third in the Manhattan, both a grade one level, they were both also in the wet and they may be the conditions he needs to have any chance.

5 Great Changes Luz International Juarez N 124 —

A lightly raced four-year-old, he has won half of his ten races and gets the chance today to go to another level. His works say he can and a 1.32 flat win in an overnight last time says he will, so I would be taking his chances very seriously.

6 Moonligtonthewabash High Voltage Centeno D E 121 —

A consistent three-year-old, he was a good third in the DMR Derby last time but has been a little one paced in his career so far unable to win this year in eight attempts. His place form is good enough to put him in the finish, but I can’t see him finding the turn of foot to win.

7 Darrow Mb Stables Velazquez J R 121 —

He has been a little frustrating this year but has undoubted ability. Third in the SAR Derby and only beaten a length in the Nashville Derby he had won the Manilla over this trip prior to that so the mile may end up being his trip. Likely to try and stalk, it ca be tough from these middle draws, but the trainer has a way of finding a good trip for their runners and he will probably start favorite to win here.

8 Lantern Yard Avenue Z Husbands P 124 —

There are a few like this one in the field with good stakes form but zero wins so far this season but the six-year-old gets his chance in an even field today and has as good a chance as most.

9 Prestigious Freak Saratoga Stud Lopez P 124 —

The form doesn’t look sharp enough, but the works do which is something I say about just about every runner like him in these stakes races. A solid enough type who will be part of the speed influence here, the question is whether he is drawn wide enough to get any advantage in his quest for the front.

10 Sly Asgar Curtis B 124 —

A poor effort last time can be excused by the wet track so looking at his dry track form brings him into things in a much more favorable light. The winner of the Muniz Memorial Handicap, he is another that has a bit of form and decent works who could get into things as a late closer.

11 Test The Waters Mb Stables Franco M 124 —

I would imagine that the stable will use the wide gate speed push to get this one in front early and either give his stable mate Darrow a good lead or give himself a chance to dictate the pace and go for glory. Not a lot of turf form to go on as his best form has been on the dirt but going on that form, he wouldn’t be a lost cause especially when you look at some lightening works recently.

12 Manticore High Voltage Van Dyke D 124 —

He went to the lead from a wide gate to finish second in the Read Stakes so we may see these two outside draws go head-to-head for the front. A little disappointing in the DMR Mile last time he had been pretty consistent before that and gets his stakes winning jockey back in the plate today.

SUMMARY

If you look at this in terms of the BC, you would think Darrow would be the only one that could seriously be considered, so he must be a top choice. It is an open race however, and I rather like Wicked Good or Green Flag to run a race from their good draws.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES