American Turf – Grade II
CD Race #10 1 1/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.

Another one of ‘those’ races where we see true turf horses taking on failed KYD types and a few that are good looking prospects looking to break through.
Here is how they line up:

1 Magical Sunset Riggins Racing Ortiz I Jr

Well the first one we look at is the failed KYD type having his first run on the turf in the hope to claw back some of the $550.000 he cost at the beginning of the year. To be fair to him he didn’t fail by far to make the KYD running fifth in the Holy Bull from a bad draw and after a go at the LA Derby running a close fourth in the Lexington. I am not worried about the grass today as a good horse at HRP can win on any surface unlike real life, and I do think that he may be a very good bet from this inside draw. My only fear is that he will leave his challenge too late after getting buried on the rail but we don’t control the race engine so we just have to hope he can get off the rail and get his challenge through on time.

2 Nevada Lee Nakamura Stables Velazquez J R

This one also went to try for the KYD, but he was coming off of two impressive turf wins so may be a better prospect than some of the other KYD types in this race. Looking at his works, he certainly loves the green stuff and with a perfect draw today could be a very lively winning chance.

3 Grayte Agent South Beach Racing Centeno D E

There was a step up in class and performance last time when this colt made all to win the needed, but he will have to step up again to beat some of the best in this race. A turf specialist from a good draw he certainly ticks some boxes and if he has the sort of class gene needed, he could run very well.

4 Lets Race Alydar Stables Alvarado F T

Ran pretty well when third in the Palm Beach on the turf and then went to have a go at the KYD with a run in the SUN Derby. He got back from a rotten draw and ran home well that day and although only ninth was a bit of a black booker from the draw. His works are strong, and I would say he could be a rewarding each way prospect.

5 On Fire Mb Stables Ferrer J C

This one was improving very well, winning three on the trot before facing an off track in the Transylvania last time. He still managed second, but wet track form is notoriously unreliable so I think I will write that off. So going back to his last win in the Colombia Stakes where he got home in a sub 1.33 time which is amazing for a three-year-old at this time of year, you have to say Mb has, as always, a big winning chance.

6 Solar Coast Smokey Stover Dettori L

Beat Lets Race in the Palm Beach before finishing behind On Fire in the Transylvania last time he too has won in a sub 1.33 time in between two off track runs so I expect a good effort today. I guess wherever you think On Fire will finish this one will be close up which makes him at least a top three chance.

7 Star Trek Smokey Stover Bocachica A

Will he boldly go where no-one has gone before, well he very well could if he can find impulse power down the stretch. He won his maiden nicely on the turf in his only grass start so maybe he will live long and prosper on this surface. Needs to prove he has the class gene but if he does could run well.

8 Kentucky Pharoah Arindel Corbett G W

Another three-year-old that has broken 1.33 for the mile, i do wonder how the older horses will cope when they all start racing together with the weight breaks the threes will get. This one won the With Anticipation over this trip as a juvenile and competed in the BC Juvenile Turf but his form has been a bit all over the place from day one and it is hard to pin down his chances. He has the works, and the best of his form would do it so if it is his day then he could be a good chance.

9 August Storm Fractious Franco M

Took a while to finally break his maiden but has won three in a row now and certainly looks like he has found his racing brain. The works are on the money, but the form is still to come but he is certainly traveling up that improvement curve and could be a good outside bet.

10 Indian Summer Diablo Diablo Gutierrez Mario

Second in the BC Turf Juvenile Sprint he won the Kittens Joy before trying to get into the KYD with a go in the Rebel. He ran brilliantly to be second and it looked like he may squeeze into the KYD but he then got a horrible wide draw in the AR Derby and went back so it didn’t look likely until a huge late finish saw him beaten just over a length. I like horses that can do both surfaces because it proves they have the class gene and the latent ability so this could be a big winning chance if he can overcome another bad draw.

11 Hurricane Fly Fractious Saez L

Another having his first ever start on turf he ran well enough on dirt to gain KYD points and if he can be equally good on turf he would have to be put into the ‘chance’ category. He was good in the Swale and The Bataglia Memorial but a little one paced from a good draw in the BG Stakes so the jury is out as to whether he has the pace at the end to win this, but he should be in this race, and you have to be in it to win it.

12 Drinkin Creepin Mb Stables Lopez P

In the car park we find the winner of six of his last six including a very easy win in the Transylvania last time. It was clear he loves a wet track that day and if it rains today, he WILL win but if it is dry the draw makes things a little harder for him. The winner of the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint he will be suited by the wide gate speed push, and I can see him sitting in the lead and being very hard to pull back.

SUMMARY

As usual the best prospects seem to be in the same stable and I hate to sound repetitive when I say an MB horse should win this. I think if it rains Drinking Creepin wins and if it is dry maybe On Fire does, I know it’s boring but come on, the records speak for themselves. If there are dangers from other stables, then they may come from Magical Sunset and Nevada Lee.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES