The LA Stakes
1 The Mercy Waldo Bejarano R 123
A lightly raced four-year-old, he improved gradually until breaking his maiden in the summer last year. As the winning penny dropped, he quickly backed that up with an ungraded stakes win and tried to follow that winning trait into the OK Derby. He was pretty disappointing in that grade three finishing a never dangerous seventh, but the trainer gave him another try at that level where he finished a much better third, beaten a length, in the Forty Niner Handicap. A change of tactics that day saw him try and make all at a fast pace, but he didn’t have enough left at the end of the mile. It is clear he has ability and the ace draw today will see him at his best. A bit of a dark horse but nonetheless a chance to take home some of this purse.
2 Architect Nakamura Stables Husbands P 123
He has some stakes victories to his name but has not really made his mark at graded level. A consistent sort he has maintained some good speed figures, and one feels that he certainly has the ability to become a regular in black type should the improvement curve take him up another notch as a four-year-old. Likely to be just behind the speed he has the perfect stalking draw and will certainly be involved in the finish.
3 Guitars And Cadillac Night Rider Stables Graham J 123
A seven-year-old has a slight advantage over the four-year-olds at this time of year but in his case, he also has the advantage of proven stakes form. The winner of the Lukas at grade two last year he ran only fairly in the BC Dirt Mile to finish seventh, but that sort of form is a standout here in a race without penalties. He hasn’t raced since the 1st of November so there may be some rust but if he is anywhere near his best he can maintain the trainers good start to the year,
4 Shake It Up And Go John Henry Geroux F 123
It is always difficult at HRP for a trainer to place their horses and this one is a good example. Fourth beaten under a length in a grade two he has shown up with similar finishes in ungraded stakes and in a 14-race career has only managed to win twice and out of nine races as a three-year-old couldn’t manage a single win. His works are strong and it is clear the ability is there and whilst I would expect a strong race from him, he will need to have found a little extra in the move from three to four.
5 Burger King Team 7 Illusions Hernandez R M 123
We are seeing more and more of these fairly lightly raced older horses and with just nine starts this one falls into the category of that late blooming type. Third in the Wood Memorial as a three-year-old and second in the grade one Goodwood in the Autumn I would expect the gelding to be strong today although he is coming off a break since last October.
6 Disciplinary Nakamura Stables Castillo I 123
Now a seven-year-old he has been a great servant to the stable since they acquired him pulling in five wins last year for a nice purse total. A runner in the BC Dirt Mile he ran a decent race to stay on into fifth and then finished the season with a game win in the Cherokee Mile. His recent works have been a bit more sedate that his best which can be a red flag for the older type of horses but if the trainer has brought him to the boil, he would be a favourite to win this.
7 Speter Sheffler Stables Reyes A A 123
There comes a point when the older horses just fall of the ledge and as an eight-year-old this great old racehorse is certainly approaching that stage. The trouble is at HRP sometimes there can be very few clues as to when it will happen and it can literally happen in the space of a week or a race. Going on this one’s 9th January work he is not there yet, and he ran a fine second in the Fayette just three months ago so if we took that evidence then he would be a fine winning chance. I struggle a little though that he went through last year without winning at any level and whilst I expect him to be competitive, I am not sure I can be confident of a win.
8 The Stranger Jerry Garcia Racing Ortiz J L 123
This five-year-old has some fair form but had the sort of season last year that some four-year-olds can have, almost like their improvement curve takes a 12-month break. He ran well in some competitive races but after nine attempts could only finish first in his last start of the year in late November. I do like to watch these five-year-olds for a bit of improvement as they leave their four-year-old season behind and I think this one may be falling into the category that sees him winning more races this year. He would be my value bet.
9 Everythings Fine TwinTowersRacing Velazquez J R 123
I always find it hard to line up horses from this stable because their horses rarely stick to one surface or trip through a season. This one ran everywhere from six furlongs to ten furlongs last year and in typical HRP fashion managed the same placing at graded level over both extremes. Probably his best race was in the Pacific Classic, so the trip isn’t a problem and with a grade one placing on his record he does have some of the best exposed form. I am not sure what he will do with this wide gate, he has been a front runner and a closer but his closing efforts in the past have come from this sort of draw so we may see him going back today unless the trainer clicks the gaming buttons. Certainly, a winning chance at his best.
10 Cheap Ways Riggins Racing Pinto M 123
Triple digit speed figures in his last three starts of 2025 suggests this seven-year-old is a late bloomer and with those speed figures resulting in three placing at graded level he certainly has claims on this prize. I get the feeling he is at his best over the extreme trips and with this draw will go way back so a fast pace will be essential for him to get involved at the end. If we do see a first quarter in 22 and something or very early 23’s we may see him find a way home late.
11 Tuff Gong Winning Link Stables Curtis B 123
The trainer’s “have a go” entry has been rewarded by an almost impossible draw, but he deserves a shot even if a win looks unlikely. Two good wins after being gelded and stepped up in trip tell us the story of an improver but this is a big step up this early in that improvement.
12 Schopenhauer Maxmillion Farm McMahon C J 123
Drawn the car park we find this seven-year-old who may be the likely leader with the wide gate speed push. A good sort and multiple Graded stakes winner he certainly has ability and if he can find the rail and either find the lead or stalk at a reasonable pace, he would be a decent chance. His form tailed off a little in his last two starts when a disappointing fourth in the Ack Ack and then only 12th in the BC Dirt Mile but a recent 1.10 flat work says he has appreciated the break and may be ready to run a big race.
SUMMARY
Well, this one is a tough race to call. The best form looks to be with the seven-and eight-year-olds but picking horses of that age can be a gamble as they enter a new season because they can drop off the edge with very little warning. I think I will go with some value here and have a Disney Dollar each way on The Stranger, of the rest, well, most have a winning chance so stick your pin in and hope.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES