Durham Cup Stakes Grade 3

1 1/16th on Dirt – Purse $175.00 For Three Year Olds And Upward
Woodbine Racetrack Toronto, Ontario, Canada

–Burger King from Serenity Stables draws the rail, has enough gas to make good use of it and comes off three usable races since being purchased for $85. The four year old is also four for fifteen in the win column with $465 banked so far. At first glance, his last race, a four horse event, looks like a toss out or negative since he didn’t win, until you look at who beat him. That being Brooklyn Bash, who returned to win the Grade 3 {BC} O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar in his next start. Win-loose-or draw, “King” is the now horse and the one to beat. Never Hold Back from The Sidley Stud ran a big one in The Salvator Mile and then didn’t fire in The MTH Cup. Hard to know what went wrong, but if you can forgive the effort he probably fits here as the second choice. Knight Forgotten, also from The Sidley Stud couldn’t handle his stablemate in the aforementioned Salvator Mile, but has been close enough in his last two to have some sort of shot. This race did not come up as the strongest renewal ever and must be scrutinized as such. Black Swan Event from John Henry was purchased for $125 in June and paid dividends right away when besting a six-pack of allowance horses over this surface. He then failed to menace in the MTH Cup. Playing the angle that the barn can find the magic again here and possibly outrun his perceived odds.

Of The Rest;

Goodness from Jerry Garcia Racing is interesting as he was claimed for $40 at the Spa and put right back in for the same tag and conditions in his next start where he came to life in a much improved effort. Now he shows up here, taking a shot for a barn that certainly knows the game. Food for thought.

Kentucky Fox from Night Rider Stables was no threat in the Salvator Mile, but draws the outside of a smaller field with several question marks here. He has good gate speed when he is instructed to use it and I can see that tactic being utilized Saturday. A repeat of his NY state-bred stakes efforts puts him in the hunt.

Griggs from Bears Stable has run two sharp numbers fitting efforts in allowance races, sandwiching a sub-par effort in a graded stakes. That makes him look like a class outsider. Expect a decent price if you like him.

-Trackman

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES