Vigil Stakes (Grade 3)- $175.00 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
September 12, 2026

The biggest races of this weekend will be held north of the border at WO, and while the Vigil Stakes might take a backseat to the ones with larger MC implications, it’s still a nice long sprint being held on the main track and offering a $175.00 purse, which is a new high for the race. Last year, the Vigil Stakes returned to its traditional seven furlong distance after running at six furlongs for a period of seven years. That race was on by Louisiana Asset, a six year old gelding at the time that continues to be successful today. He’s now won 14 of 50, and was last seen in the Grade 3 MTH Cup. Trainer Big Jd Racing could have brought him back here, but that was not in the cards for the gelding. So, now let’s take a look at our field of ten hoping to be the next winner of the race.

1- Smooth River (Serenity Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- After a successful juvenile season, Smooth River found himself in the March auction, and was picked up for a bargain price, $16.06. Less than two weeks later, he won his second ungraded stake, the $24.00 AZ Stallion Stakes. It’s something, and he continued to run well up to his last start, the Grade 3 Bango where he was fourth. To date Smooth River still has never finished outside of the top four, and after getting a fair amount of time to rest he should be a contender here.

2- A Boy Named Kate (Winning Link Stables, ridden by E J Zayas)- This horse has also been able to get consistent results, having impressive stretch of 13 races where he never finished out of the top four. There are several NY-bred races among them, but none bigger than his win in the $135.00 Say Florida Sandy. Despite that, he’s bouncing around in claimers recently, with Night Rider Stables getting him from his start that immediately followed the Say Florida Sandy, then two starts later, Winning Link Stables making the claim. This will be his first race in his latest silks.

3- Kalashnikov (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by B Curtis)- The Slither gelding will be making his stake debut here after a couple of strong results in overnights. When he was last here in May, Kalashnikov did not show much in a $19.00 claimer, but would end up bouncing back nicely with an optional claiming win at AQU, followed by running second at SAR in a starter allowance. You could see this going either way, but if he’s beginning to find a level of consistency against increased competition, it make work out perfectly.

4- Crypto King (Ire Iron Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- First year trainer Ire Iron Stables seeks their first graded win and that’s something that Crypto King has had a couple of close calls in doing already. He would run here in May at the Grade 3 Cartier Stakes, and was involved in a second place dead heat, behind Only Way Is Up. That’s been the case for Crypto King, moving up, and he’d again run second in the Grade 2 Bango at CD. Though he struggled in the Bold Venture last month, there’s no reason that can’t be a throw out. Maybe you’d like to see those last two works be a little quicker, but Crypto King has never really had those eye opening works and he has been fine.

5- Normandy (Spankys Barn, ridden by E J Wilson)- Normandy has spent most of us his career on the grass, and he’s been successful with it, even winning the $150.000 Regent Stakes, for ON-breds, here last year. Spankys Barn purchased him in private sales for $80.00 in May and the hopes were high, as evidenced to his entry into the Grade 3 Dayton a month later, but that did not go well. Perhaps, it was better than the line looks since he did only lose by two, but that would lead to his new trainer moving him to the main track. He’s been good in his two starts, which includes a win in the a $50.00 claimer at SAR a few weeks ago.

6- Imposing Scenario (The Sidley Stud, ridden by R Santana Jr)- This Worst Case Scenario six year-old gelding has had a solid career, but has not hit the board in any of his six starts after winning $150.00 AQU Turf Sprint Championship last November. Despite that, he’s picked up a little bit for the trainer in the form of three straight fourth place checks, including here in the Grade 3 Bold Venture last month. While he’s not getting better results, he’s continuing to get these chances because his speed figures show that he should be. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he does come through and hit the board here.

7- Laffin Wolf (Mojica Racing, ridden by P Lopez)- Last year at this time, you would have never expected him to be running at the graded level. After all, Laffin Wolf has spent much of his career in cheap claimers. That’s how Mojica Racing got him, for just $5.00 in May, and his new trainer saw something a little more in him. Since then, this gelding has delivered by going 3-for-3, first taking a starter allowance at EMD, then an allowance at FL all before his biggest win to date, the $200.00 Morrissey at SAR last month which is also at seven furlongs. Now, how much higher can he go?

8- Tony T (Rock Creek, ridden by L Contreras)- Makes his debut for Rock Creek after having spent the majority of his career with Riggins Racing. Tony T has been able to find the winner’s circle, doing so in half of his 22 career starts. While there are some stake appearances mixed in, such as the 2024 Bold Venture Stakes, most of his races have been in overnights. He’s won five out of his last seven, including his last race, the $30.00 Rollins Stakes at TUP in April. It’s good to see him back at the graded level, as it does seem like he’s capable of running higher than he has been. Bear in mind though, it’s been over four months since his last race.

9- Hard Worker (The Sidley Stud, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Last month, Hard Worker put together a strong effort to finish second in the Vanderbilt Handicap at SAR, and that was following up his win in the $100.00 Thors Echo, for CA-breds, right before that. Not too bad for a horse that was running in $10.00 allowances at BTP at the start of the year as well as last year. Not sure where the turning point was with the horse, and maybe it was just a matter of the trainer having confidence in him. It also shows that those BTP allowances are more competitive than some could think. If Hard Worker can duplicate his Vanderbilt run, he’ll likely be the one to beat.

10- Fire Chase (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Fire Chase enters this race looking to extend his winning streak to four. The run began in open allowances, firsr in the mud at CT, then moving to ALB, before his entry into the $175.00 Hall Memorial Stakes. He was clearly the best in the Hall, going wire to wire and winning by a length. If you want, there are some big races in his history to look at, having once won the SA Derby, running third in the KYD, and participating in the BC Classic, but even if those days are behind him, it’s good to see him still be productive where he does end up running.

Prediction: 4-9-10-1

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES