Battaglia Memorial Stakes [KYD]
TP Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Stake
Purse $100.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 The Captain Mb Stables Davis D
This race is the sort of race where you can throw the dice at the KYD without a huge outlay and as such we see a big field going for some megre TC points. Mb Stables only has the two runners and both are drawn well with this one in the ace. With only the two starts it is hard to weigh him up but his second run and maiden win was pretty impressive over the mile and a 1.37 and 1 work for the same distance ticks the KYD box at this time of year. Bred by Gustafason the current owner bought this one pre-race and he looks like he is fulfilling Mb’s needs as a Derby prospect, now all he has to do is win this.
2 Last City Lemax Farms Jaramillo E
We often see this in these qualifying races, maiden winners taking on established stakes runners and whilst this one falls into the latter catagorey that by no means gives him the edge. Third in the grade one Pharoah and the Champagne he got a bit lost in the BC but came back to run well in the Springboard Mile. His seasonal debut in the Holy Bull was pretty flat so he will need to pick it up for today but with a great draw a recent 1.37 flat work and plenty of form to back that up he could be a winning chance.
3 Rullah Party Crystal Martyparty Van Dyke D
This homebred recorded two game victories in lesser grade before taking on the Smarty Jones last time. Considering his 1.36 and 3 work it must be said his run in that race was fairly disappointing and it did call into question that old class gene. If you forgive him that effort from a widish draw you could give him a shot at this nice one but for me he still has something to prove.
4 Resident Fox Fractious Velazquez J R
Ran a solid debut before making all for an easy maiden win so the ability is there but there are still a few questions that need to be answered. Firstly he hasn’t been beyond seven furlongs and secondly that maiden win came against just three rivals. The best i can give him is a punchers chance but sometimes that’s all you need at HRP.
5 [Rename1605] Aer Stables Bridgmohan S X
He went to the turf last year to run third in the Pilgrim before running in the BC Juvenile Turf and doing pretty well to be fifth. The surface doesn’t mean much at HRP and that was shown when he ran a close up sixth in the CACup Derby last time. The stable has been on fire in the last couple of seasons with these types but i am not sure this is one of the stables best.
6 Crack Stone Mb Stables Cedillo A
There was a few eyebrows raised when Mb Stables paid $300 for this one and then saw him only manage third in an allowance. We all know that just having Mb’s name next to a horse can improve it though so i suspect he will do much better today, a 1.37 work and a win over this trip suggests he will be a danger.
7 Evil Intent Langley Farms Centeno D E
He has won his last two and gets a crack at the big time today. Though he was strong over long trips in his last two the elusive class gene will have to be present to see him step up.
8 Swale D J C Racing Stables Beschizza A
Another good two year old that has struggled since turning three he was beaten just a head in the Nashua last year but hasn’t managed to build on that. His works are sharp but his form isn’t so we will have to rely on DJC hitting the magic formula today. It is worth nothing that this one has had some rotten draws recently so he may just have some excuses and those works look pretty good, he may be worth a little bet if he goes off at longer odds.
9 Absolute Soul Grimley Zayas E J
Made all to win a turf maiden at the end of last year and didn’t run too badly in the Winkfield so he should be considered especially considering a decent work on the 18th. He gets no favors from the draw monster though and he may just find himself in front and a sitting duck down the stretch.
10 Turfway Patterson Stables – Scratch –
Taken out when the vet found some swelling.
11 Spankersville The Sidley Stud Gallardo A A
This ones a real trier and has run some good races but still only has the one win. He ran pretty well from a similar draw in the Central Park last time and it is worth noting that after six straight races on the turf he recently worked a 1.36 and 3 on the dirt so he may be better than his recent form suggests. The trainer sneaks a few good ones into races like this and i have a sneaking suspicion that this one will go a good race.
12 Gabilondo Fractious Gaffalione T
He was claimed after a maiden win and went on to win the Tyro Stakes as a two year old before a crack at the BC Juvenile turf sprint. He ran very well to be fifth but as that was a turf sprint you could be forgiven for wondering how he turned up in a dirt route. Well here at HRP trip and surface don’t seem to mean as much to our digital thoroughbreds and this one has run two fair races in the Remsen and most recently the Lewis Stakes. From a better draw i would be taking a second look but he will need luck from out here.
13 Tequila Rise Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
He has been plagued with bad draws almost all of his short career and it often seems strange that certain horses seem to end up with extreme draws more than others. He has done remarkably well in his last two considering his handicap, firstly with a close fourth in the Springboard Mile and then with the same placing in the Lewis Stakes. The trainer seems to be able to do more than most with their horses so i wouldn’t be at all surprised if he didn’t turn out to be a huge chance.
SUMMARY
I guess we have to choose who is going to start slowly before we talk about who can win in this big field but only the race engine knows that so we will have to work a bit blind. I think Last City has the draw to win but as usual you have to consider the Mb runners because form doesn’t tend to come in to it when they have a runner or two in these sorts of races. Both The Captain and Crack Stone must be considered but i would also be looking outside the box with Tequila Rise, Spankersville and Swale.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
