The Mint Million – Grade III
KD Race #2 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $2,000.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward

1 Hawaiian Lord Our Athletes Buick W T 122 —

Capped off some consistent form with a win off bottom weight in the Foustardave Handicap last time. It was a game win, but today there is a ten-pound weight swing with Alberquirky for the one length he beat him, so it would be a stretch to see him confirming that form in this race. He does however have the ace gate, and this is HRP, so form swings are not unusual, but ten pounds is one big swing. Apart from that win he is a consistent turf miler these days so warrants respect in any field.

2 Kegger Threshold Ferrer J C 122 —

Seems to have turned into a deep closer and I mean deep! There is ability there, but things will have to go just right for him to arrive in time.

3 Jakarta Nakamura Stables Elliott S 122 —

Won the Poker Stakes in a fast time over the mile and then stayed on well to be fifth in the United Nations last time proving that whilst he has been around the block a few times, he still retains the ability that has seen him win over $2,000.000 in prize money. He adds to a picture that contains one stand out and lots of maybes and with this nice gate, I am sure we will see him somewhere around the finish.

4 Atomic Eclipse Spankys Barn Gaffalione T 122 —

Won last year’s BC Mile at very long odds, but that was his eleventh win so he shouldn’t be written off as a freak winner. He came from a fair way back that day to win in in the last yards and was given plenty of time to recover before starting his new season in May some 6 months later. He understandably needed that run and has improved in his next two, running second in the Read Stakes last time out so seems to be peaking at the right time for another big race. He may need the same suicide tactics from someone, but it is entirely possible that will happen, so if he is long odds again today, I wouldn’t be afraid to take them.

5 Really Really D J C Racing Stables Alvarado F T 122 —

Have a go DJC, that should be this stable’s new name, and they have been rewarded recently with some good results here at KD. This one would write his own story should he win, a lightly raced four-year-old claimed in April for just $15.000 and beaten in a $6.000 claimer just a couple of months ago. He did win a race, a 4 runner LAD allowance, but that is so far away from the Mint Million it would take a miracle to get him home on form. But of course, HRP can be the place of miracles, and his works really aren’t that far from the best in this field.

6 Albaquirky Santan Stables Geroux F 122 —

The former sprinting superstar has been sent over the longer trips this year and sure enough as we know, the length of a race seems to have very little effect on good horses, and he has had no problem with going way past the mile.
The winner of the grade one Kilroe Mile and a close place getter in both the Makers Mark Mile and the Forester Turf Classic, he was immense when he won the Manhattan the time before last and was even given a chance of carrying 125Lbs to victory in the Fourstardave Last time. Well, trip is one thing at HRP and weight is another and he couldn’t pull of that miracle, but he did get within a length of the winner which was a pretty remarkable run. He is the standout here and it would take a brave man to find one to beat him.

7 Last Way To The Beac Maxmillion Farm Jimenez A 122 —

His form may look inconsistent, but with ten wins from thirty-four starts and over $3,500.000 in prize money we would all like to have one as inconsistent as that!! He could win this or finish tenth we just never quite know with him, but he is working as well as ever, so if he is in a good mood he is one that could just upset Alberquirky.

8 Sleeping Giant TwinTowersRacing Bridgmohan S X 119 —

Another one of those “have a go” stables who always seems to bring out the best in their horses, it would be great to see the stable win this after their generous and poignant sponsorship of The World Trade Center Memorial Race. He is lightly raced and gets the three-year-old weight advantage, so I would never say never, but a win for him does look a little of a long shot.

9 Love Of The Derby Mb Stables Velazquez J R 122 —

The San Francisco Mile winner ran well next out in the Shoemaker to be second but was just a little ordinary in his next two. The trip here will be key as he returns to his beloved mile and as a front runner will not mind at all receiving the outside gate speed boost. To say the runner from Mb Stables may be the dark horse may look like a stretch, but I do think he may be overlooked a little and rather think that today we may see the best of him.

SUMMARY

It is hard to go past Alberquirky here after his huge effort in the Fourstardave last time, so it may be more a case of picking who will finish second to him. Love Of The Derby will love the outside gate speed push and may well lead them for a very long time, maybe for the whole mile but he will certainly give you a sight should you gamble on him beating the favorite. Last Way To The Beac always has to be a chance in any race he runs in and of course Atomic Eclipse is no stranger to shock wins. They should be the four, but do not write off the chances of Jakarta or even Kegger of he can find the timing.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES