The Gotham – Grade III [KYD]
1 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $300.000 Open 3 Year Olds.

1st Awad D J C Racing Stables Lezcano J

Something made this horse turn it’s form around today and rather than believe it is all just random we have to put that turnaround down to the off track, at least for now. The one thing we knew about this horse is that he had the ability to win, you don’t get beaten under a length in a grade one and then finish fourth in a BC without having ability. The question since that fine BC Juvenile effort though was what happened? A distant seventh in the LA Futurity as odds on favorite, a never dangerous and equally distant third in the Pascoe and then another awful effort in the Lewis Stakes were hardly the lead up races that gave you confidence for a win in this race. But he had finished fourth in the BC on a fast surface so maybe it wasn’t the off track that led to this return to form…what then. Well, if there is third option beyond random and going then it is the fact that he raced as a closer today and flew home in impressive style, something that hasn’t really happened in his entire racing career. The question is what caused this change of tactics and why did they work? Well one theory may be that off track instructions can cause some horses to run fast splits on going that means they will fade at the end; this sets it up for closer’s and very often it is the widest closer’s than get up because they avoid traffic (clear in this race as Cobra Jet was trying to do the same but through traffic). The other theory was that DJC had an epiphany and clicked the gaming buttons, but in a game where HL seems to have a mind of its own it is impossible to really tell what instructions were used.
Whatever reason caused Awad to find his old form there was no doubting how impressive he was and whilst he may have been luckier than the runner up he certainly deserved the win.

2nd Cobra Jet Barcelona Farms Alvarado F T

As the winner went wide to pass the tiring runners so Alvarado tried to beat the traffic by slicing and pushing his way through. Outside nearly always prevails in this sort of match and sure enough that was the case here as Cobra Jet matched the winners speed when clear, but all chances of a win were gone. This result however even though it resulted in defeat will have thrilled the owner who paid out $160.000 for this gelding and their decision was more than vindicated.

3rd Glacial Till Jive Inc. Luzzi L J

As expected, he used the wide gate speed push to fight for the early lead but there were plenty who wanted it and he never really looked comfortable. You can never tell with this race engine what may happen, but it ended up with the leaders going far too fast on a wet track and they were always going to be vulnerable to closers. He held on for third which was pretty good considering and probably earned himself one more crack at KYD qualification.

4th= Test The Waters Mb Stables Ortiz I Jr

We all know at least one of Mb’s runners by design, instructions or draw will be on the pace, but this one had to fight for the lead, and he ultimately paid the price. Going too fast for the off track, sometimes they last and sometimes they don’t and today unlike in the Withers he didn’t. It was only a fair effort as a strong favorite, but I am sure he will be back for another go at the KYD qualification.

4th= Bold Zionist La Canada Racehorses Worrie A S

Again, the running style changed and today he raced from the back instead of the front. Running on well at the end I think this share of fourth was a decent result in the end. Like the winner though the trainer will be hoping for a return to his best form before the KYD qualifiers run out.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES