The 15th Running of the Lightning City Stakes

February 19, 2022

TAM Race #11 15:35 $100.000

5 Furlongs Turf 4+ F&M 122 Lbs

Track Record-:55.94 (Phooeys Quest-2021)

Stakes Record-:56.30 (Silver Dearest-2021)

The 15th running of the $100.000 Lightning City Stakes only drew a field of four to TAM on Saturday.  The 5-furlong turf sprint is for 4yo and up fillies and mares and all four entrants will carry 122 pounds.  Of the four we have entered, three runners hail from the barn of Asgar.  Those three will have the numbers advantage over the runner from Rampage Stable, but the latter won this race last year with Phooeys Quest and sends out another talented lady to try to keep the trophy in the barn.  Here’s the field for Saturday’s Lightning City Stakes at TAM:

#1 Makitas Halo (Asgar/A.A. Gallardo): 5yo mare will get the rail slot in her first attempt on the grass.  Not a lot of positives with the race record as she only has a maiden win and has lost her last five while racing in the claiming ranks.  Does sport a sharp turf work on 02/13, so maybe, just maybe, the turf is an answer to what ails her.

#2 No Drama (Asgar/R. Feliciano): Barn’s second entrant is a bit more of a known quantity in this type of spot.  She’s a turf sprinter for sure, but this should be a definite class-hike for this lass.  Seems like the most likely runner from the barn to be in the exacta, but she’ll need a career-best to win here.  

#3 Art Of Laughter (Rampage Stable/J. Bravo): Hands-down the class of the race as she’s earned more money in her career than the other three runners combined.  That being said, her style lends itself to being at the mercy of what unfolds in front of her.  She may just be too good for this group but don’t think this is a walk-over.  Still think she runs them down late to take the top prize.

#4 Profound Command (Asgar/I.C. Wenc): First turf start saw her finish 4th vs N1X foes at HOU.  She does own the quickest most recent turf drill at the distance, so she deserves some respect.  The other side of the coin says that work came before her most recent race and she still finished off-the-board.  Figures to battle the inside two for barn supremacy, but that feels like her ceiling.

Final Analysis: 3-Asgar in the $100.000 Lightning City Stakes at TAM.  Good luck to both trainers!

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES