The Rebel – Grade II [KYD]
OP Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $1,000.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Brittle Aer Stables Bridgmohan S X

This horse may be one of the gutsiest horses in training winning five of his last six races by less than a length. It makes you wonder what on earth happened in the Springboard Mile but those that have been around HRP long enough know all about the wide gate speed push which has beaten some of the greatest horses in the game. So taking that run out of the equation here we have a horse that refuses to get beat (by other horses anyway) and if he can hold a position from this draw you would expect nothing to get by him if he is there at the furlong pole.

2 Graveyard Mb Stables Gaffalione T

Went to the turf at the end of his juvenile campaign but i dont think thats was because he was a turfer more that he was in a stable full of BC qualifiers and he just went that route. He ended up running sixth in the BC Juvenile Turf but has since come back to the dirt to join the many many from this stable that every year take up a lot of KYD spots. He gets the perfect draw but thats why you fill these races with maximum entries in order to find a good spot for one of them and that has certainly worked in his favor. Is he good enough to beat Brittle? Well on his fourth in the Davis Stakes maybe not but work times are right up there and he has the Mb factor going for him so you cant say no.

3 Class Edge Chili King Stables Saez L

Another that went to the turf he has come back to the dirt after failing in the BC and has racked up two good efforts this year. Interestingly he has raced from gates 11 and 12 to get two very good thirds in the Lecomt and the Risen Star so with this great draw today he has every chance of bettering that position. A win today puts him firmly in the KYD but a change of jockey may not be to his advantage.

4 City Sniper John Henry Leparoux J R

When he won the Bashford Manor last year he was sold for $500.000 and then before he raced again was sold for $10.000 so clearly there was wheeling and dealing going on but whatever the reason for that odd looking scenario the trainer certainly has an interesting prospect for the KYD. A good fifth in the BC Juvenile he finished the season with a won in the KY Jockey Club putting him firmly in the KYD picture going into the New Year. In his first effort this year he ran pretty poorly to be eighth and comes here today with a little bit to prove. I worry he may be better on an off track and that may be enough to put me off if its stays dry today.

5 Lucky But Night Rider Stables Cancel E

Just 4 starts but this stable likes to have a go and to be honest why not because in these races anything can win. He was impressive on debut but has since struggled and may just be playing catch up against this grade, he will get there one day but i am not sure it will be today.

6 Angelsinheaven Angelos Stable Franco M

He has been trying hard this year with a fourth in the Sham Stakes and a fifth in the Lewis but has yet to live up to the promise he showed in the LA Futurity at the end of last year. He may turn out to be a sprinter but has one last go today and deserves a bite of the cake.

7 Rhossili Asgar Velazquez J R

Another that is lightly raced he has only raced 5 times but has won his last three in the style of an improving horse. He raced from a horrible draw in the El Camino last time but still held on for a head win and that sort of effort tells me that he is up to this sort of level. Bought at auction for just five bucks he could turn out to be the best buy of the year.

9 Have Phun Gdp Inc Davis D

Another that looks to be on the upgrade winning his last two very well. I fear this may come a bit early in that improvement curve but it is certainly worth a shot for his trainer.

10 Sweet Sweat Mb Stables Bejarano R

The second runner from the stable he won the Breeders Futurity before a great third in the BC Juvenile where he was beaten by Brittle but then took advantage of the huge draw bias by beating that rival easily in the Springboard Mile. That race is a great pointer for the KYD but after running a little lack luster in the Risen Star and getting a tough draw today the odds look back in Brittles favor.

11 All Day Rampage Stable Rosario J

Just four starts for two wins he ran well enough in the Withers from a rotten draw to be given another chance today. Another rotten draw may have him racing for minor placings though.

12 Strong Kommand Tiratzo Gryder A T

Sold recently for $687.000 that price may have been inflated by TC fever but he isnt far from the best of his age group. Fourth in the Springboard Mile at the end of last year he has a bit to find with the favorites and i was a little disappointed with him in the Southwest last time and fear he may be a little short at the end of these top route races.

14 Workload Mb Stables Beschizza A

A length ahead of Strong Kommand in the Southwest when a strong second the draw may be against him here but he makes up another string set of entries for Sheik Mb. If the race engine works for him or the outside draws then this could turn out to be the winner if its business as usual he mat have to settle for place money.

15 Appreciate Mo Mentum Farm Ryan S

Has yet to impress beyond sprints and he may find himself being used by the race engine as a front running sacrificial lamb unless the trainer can negate its influence. A decent effort in the San Vicente says he has some class and ability but he will need luck from out here.

16 Telladifferentstory Nakamura Stables Eramia R E

Well if any stable can conjure up a winner from the coffin draw its this one as they nearly did in the Holy Bull when running from a similar gate. I have stopped trying to work out what will happen in these races but with the Nak Factor on his side its impossible to write him off.

SUMMARY

This looks like another Aer v Mb sort of race with Brittle looking the obvious choice from Sweet Sweat. Graveyard and Class Edge are good enough to take advantage of their draws to be a factor and there is of course the very good chance that anything else could win.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES