KY Jockey Club – Grade II [KYD]
CD Race #5 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Two Year Olds.
No sooner has the dust settled on the BC we find ourselves facing the TC as the points races start for the two-year-olds looking for an early edge on three-year-old glory.
A full field, the usual suspects and a great race in prospect, let’s take a look at the runners:
1 Big Bang Orbitor Rock Creek Husbands P 120
Gets a good gate but the gelding will have to step up here even after an impressive win at FL last time. A good enough debut was followed up with a disappointing effort on the same track which may have been down to a big break between runs. Five weeks after that average effort he stepped out in an FL maiden and was pretty impressive in beating a small field. This is a different race entirely and whilst you can’t write anything off here at HRP it is hard to see him mixing it with the best of these.
2 Renowned Maxmillion Farm Jaramillo E 120
Bought for $230.000 from Harrell Racing, this winner of one from five certainly has some high expectations coming int this race, He landed a big ticket maiden at DMR on his fourth attempt but the race that was probably responsible for the big purchase was his close up fifth in the grade one DMR Futurity last time. His works are very solid and though a little on the small side he has a strong conformation and drawing the perfect gate here he must be a chance of repaying that purchase price.
3 Get To The Finals Team 7 Illusions Corrales G 120
Just got home in a fair track maiden on debut but as is the case he then had to wait a while for a second start. That start came at SAR where he ran a solid fourth in a competitive field beaten around a length and then stepped up on that to be beaten just a half length on a wet track at CD. With those allowance races being pretty much the same as a stakes race they were good efforts and he certainly seems a cut above average. I like him as the dark horse in this even field.
4 Van Royalty Stables Fresu A 120
A winner at AQU on debut he has failed to capitalize on that since with three unplaced efforts. Back to the dirt today after two turf runs he may be better on this surface so will be looking for a better run today.
5 Immunity System Williams9 Torres Jo 120
This home bred gelding has been fair enough in his 5 efforts to date, winning one and not being far off in the others. Likely to be a speed influence the trainer has had a lot of success with their juveniles in recent seasons, but this one has a bit to prove to live up to the stables best.
6 Reciprocal Rubber Maxmillion Farm Geroux F 120
As a grade one winner and third in the BC Juvenile this gelding looks to be favorite for this race, certainly on form. He gets a much better draw today and has beaten pretty much all of his main rivals in this race, so it really does seem and open and shut case. Is there anything that can beat him, well he is proven at the trip, his win in the Champagne from a wide draw was brilliant and he has backed that up in a BC, nothing should beat him.
7 Painted Ice Alydar Stables Curtis B 120
A game maiden winner in a big-ticket SAR Maiden he was a long way behind Reciprocal Rubber in the Champagne, so it is hard to see him beating that one today. Only three starts suggest there is still improvement, though and he gets a career best draw today, albeit not exactly flashy.
8 Cherokee Monster TwinTowersRacing Franco M 120
If there is a danger to the favorite here it may be this one who has worked very strongly after a good win in the Bowman Mill last time. Proven to stay the mile in his maiden win in the race before he looks the most progressive in this field and if he doesn’t win looks a shoe in for exotic bets.
9 Control The Center Mb Stables Velazquez J R 120
Well, if you took his very close second in the grade one DMR Futurity and then his all the way win in the grade one Pharaoh, you would have to make him a very strong chance to beat Reciprocal Rubber but when they met in the BC in their last race, this one was a very disappointing 12th, 6 lengths behind that horse. It remains a bit of a mystery as to why he ran so poorly in the BC because his works are as strong as ever since, but mysteries are what HRP thrives on so it may be best to ignore that effort. Taking that run out then he can beat Maxmillions’ horse.
10 Wally Gator Bigking Lopez P 120
It has become the most popular past time at HRP recently, to buy a fast worker from the Free track and win a pay stakes race with it. This was yet another example when he took the FL Sires Stakes – Affirmed after winning a free track allowance for his previous owner. Bought for $75.000 prior to the stakes win, his trainer will be hoping for an even bigger prize today.
11 Liams Map D J C Racing Stables Santana R Jr 120
Won the Tremont in the early part of the season and then ran a solid fourth in the SAR Special but he has been a bit lost in his last two and gets a horrible draw today to try and make amends. He was fairly eye catching in the Champagne when running on late for sixth and if he goes back from the wide draw today and the pace is hot there may be a late charge and he could be part of it.
12 Bramble Sioux Greyfriars Stable Dettori L 120
A good maiden win at DMR after being gelded he has been highly tried since and hasn’t really shown much. He gets another rotten draw today so he may have to wait a bit longer for win number two.
SUMMARY
Though this is a big field I can’t help landing on what looks like an easy boxed trifecta for this race. 6,8 and 9 are my numbers with Control The Center and Reciprocal Rubber fighting out the finish.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES