Animal Kingdom Stakes

TP          Race #2             6f           Dirt       Stake

Purse $250.000  For Three Year Olds.

1 Son Of Mufasa                Maxmillion Farm                    Rodriguez A R               122

Looks improved by a gelding operation this year winning a decent state bred allowance last time out over this trip. He ran in the DMR Futurity last year but struggled so gets another chance at black type today in a more suitable grade. Likely to track the speed rather than pressure it he will need the rail to open up for him as it did in his last race.

2 Control The Center                 Mb Stables                  Zayas E J                         122

As you would expect the champion trainer holds a strong hand here with this grade one winning gelding running from the perfect draw. The winner of the Pharoah as a two-year-old he was sent to the BC Juvenile but seemed to struggle to stay the trip, fading into twelfth. In his first start as a three-year-old he made all to win the San Vincente over seven furlongs but was then stretched out again in the Gotham only to seemingly once more fade over the longer trip. Back to six furlongs today you would expect him to get on speed today and he will be hard to beat.

3 Estimated Profit        Jerry Garcia Racing                   Ortiz I Jr                           122

Unbeaten at this track he is lightly raced and gets his first chance at black type today. Although he has only won by short margins, I have liked the way he showed heart in both victories, heart that he will need to make it three wins from four.

4 Majestic Heights       Threshold                        Bocachica Ar                               122

Won a state bred stake after being claimed from Martyparty but then weakened after showing speed over this trip in his follow up start. Working strongly the trainer decided to go to the Gotham for a crack at the KYD qualification and although he ran pretty well to be fifth, they seemed unconvinced that he was better over a longer trip and bring him back to sprints today. Likely to push the speed like a couple of others this race may be set up for a closer.

5 Raining Prince           Nakamura Stables                    Gallardo A A                  122

Another that went to the Gotham after a weak show in the Lecomte he comes back to a sprint trip and that is probably his forte. He has won black type twice over seven furlongs and may be slotting in behind those going on speed and will have more left at the end than some. He maps well and is a dual stakes winner so looks a strong chance.

6 Dave Cant Breed     Williams9                        Rodriguez Jam                            122

A solid sprinter in overnight company, he comes here after winning his last two and in his first start for the new trainer that claimed him last time out. This is a big step up from a claimer but at HRP that difference in class is less important I guess the more important issue here is where he will race in transit as he has shown speed as well as a turn of foot when coming off the speed. I suspect it will take a gaming button deployment for him to push for the front, and he may be better off running his horse lead pace which has been successful in his last two starts.

7 Potsdamer Platz       Mo Mentum Farm                      Smith M E                       122

The winner of the Simcoe last year he had disappointed a little in his attempts to follow that win up but looked good on seasonal debut in overnight level and may be a bit more consistent this year. Another likely to try and slot in behind the speed, his draw may make that tough and he will need some luck to find a good position to travel through this race.

8 Storm Sequence       Team 7 Illusions                          Corrales G                     122

Managed to win The Brown in his third start with a game effort and showed plenty of improvement to run third in the Swale on seasonal debut. This draw may see him go back and with a likely speed dual up front that may be the perfect map for him to swoop late. His works since that seasonal debut have been very strong and he certainly look the one to beat if he can time his challenge over these six furlongs.

SUMMARY

Storm Sequence will need some luck in running but may be progressive enough to take this race. He will likely come late so will need the speed to come back down the stretch and of those likely to go on the pace Control The Center and Raining Prince look most likely to get first run and may be the biggest dangers.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded