Crystal Water Stakes
1 Mile Turf Stake Purse $100.00 Three-Year-Olds And Upward Foaled in CA. At SA

1st      Soho Cat                           Ashwood Farms                40-1 (HRP) 8-1 (SRF)

In spite of coming into this race in just about the best form of any horse in this race, Soho Cat came in at 40-1, the longest price on the board. He dueled Train Station Day into defeat by the top of the stretch, picked up the challenge of Virtual Handyman and the two dueled to the wire with the Cat maintaining a half-length margin at the end. This win makes it three wins in his last four starts for the five-year-old which seems to be finally coming into his own. Sometimes you see a developing horse ending his four-year-old season able to jump up and win the odd State Bred stakes but then fade down, but this lad has the look of continued development with graded stakes in his future.

2nd      Virtual Handyman             Onlineracingclub.com       4-1 (HRP) 5-2 (SRF)

Virtual Handyman looks to be a very clever claim for Onlineracingclub.com with a win and now a second second place finish all in stakes races since being picked up for $25.00 from Riggins Racing. He burst out of the start gate in full race and forced the issue all the way to the wire where he was out finished by the determined close of Soho Cat.

3rd      Clandestine Healer        Night Rider Stables              8-1 (HRP) *2-1 (SRF)

Night Rider Stables claimed Clandestine Healer from Barcelona Farms for $15.00, and then a mile turf work on April Fool’s Day in 1:34 2/5H made his connections decide to place him all the way up to the Grade III American Stakes where he placed second with a nice closing kick last out. Well, he did it again… nice, smooth deep close that got him up to third beaten two lengths. Looks to be a bright-eyed claim.

4th     Train Station Day               Invicta Group Llc             *8-5 (HRP) 4-1 (SRF)

Train Station Day has been lately enjoying burning up the track in the early stages and winning a lot, like three of his last five. Today, as the 8-5 favourite, he went for it again but faded a bit when the closers got going and he lost by a length, which, by the way, is the most he’s lost by in his last nine races. He seems to be holding together as he climbs the ladder.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded