Shadwell Turf Mile (Grade 1)- $1,000.000 Purse
KEE- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
October 7, 2017
Many of the top turf horses in the virtual world are set to take on one another in the 13th running of the Shadwell Turf Mile. At stake is not only a nice looking $1,000.000 purse, but a berth in the BC Mile at DMR next month. That is why the starting gate will be full with fourteen runners for this race. However, winning the Shadwell does not necessarily lead to success in the BC Mile, as the winner of this race has never won the BC Mile a month later. There have been three that have been second in the big race: Wind Walker (2007), Grand Duke (2008) and Hollywood Freak (2014). The winner in 2010, Rockefella, did win a big race in his next start in November, but he passed on the BC altogether and would win the HOL Turf Cup instead. In 2012, the race was won by a filly, A Little Oblivion. Sadly, this great racehorse has not produced a quality foal, and has only one breeding left. Last year’s winner, Eastern Townships, did not fare well in the BC Mile, and has not been seen on the race track since that race, and while he is still considered active, he has likely been unofficially retired. Our field this year is star-studded, and several of these will be seen at DMR next month. For now, let’s see who will have the glory at KEE. Let’s meet the field!
#1- Desolation Island (Mb Stables, ridden by E Maldonado)- Such a fantastic career this five year old gelding has had, and you can probably fairly say that a BC win is the only thing that he has not achieved. He came close back in 2015 in the BC Turf, but did not return last year. This year, we have seen his distance get cut to a mile, and he ran off a three race winning streak with wins in the Grade 1 Makers Mark and Shoemaker amongst them. Last month, he waited too long to make his move in the stretch, and the finishing line shows it. That does not detract from him being one of the greats, and in being a big contender here.
#2- Ingrained (Mb Stables, ridden by I Oritz Jr)- Gets a spot right next to his stablemate in the gate, but he does not yet have the accomplishments of him. He’s been good though, hitting the board in nine of ten career starts, with four of them wins. This year, he has been very consistent, and a win in the Grade 3 Kent Stakes is the highlight of his season. This is the toughest field he has run against so far, but he has earned the opportunity.
#3- Far Too Cool (Night Rider Stables, ridden by R Maragh)- At the beginning of the year, Far Too Cool ran in a $12.500 claimer, and no one even noticed. He was a slow developer, and as the year went on, he started to show more and more ability, which led to him being placed in better races. The coolest part of that, is that he kept on winning them. He has since won two graded races this year, including the Grade 3 AP Classic in May, then the National Museum of Racing (Grade 2) at SAR. Going longer for the Sword Dancer didn’t pan out, so he cuts back to the distance that was working for him before, and that gives him a good shot here.
#4- Great Destiny (Mwn Racing, ridden by M E Smith)- After being on the shelf for about nine months, Great Destiny returned to the track in July doing his new favorite thing, running a mile on the grass. A good allowance run led to confidence to enter him in the DMR Mile, a Grade 2, and he picked up the big win. Last month, he increased the stakes even further by trying the Grade 1 WO Mile, but struggled. Because of that race, I cannot have too much confidence in him here, but that does not mean he is not capable.
#5- Kenny Wisconsin (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- His brief time in the Aer Stables barn came to an end last week as he was sold to his new trainer, D J C Racing Stables, in private sales for $100.000. Kenny Wisconsin has had some great moments, but ever since he won the San Gabriel in January, he hasn’t been that effective. Perhaps the new trainer will be the answer, and if you are going to pick him to beat the type of field he faces here, that’s the logic behind it.
#6- Lunar Blaze (John Henry, ridden by J R Velazquez)- What more can be said about this horse that I haven’t said in the last half dozen previews that I have had him in? His last race, the WO Mile was really more of the same for him. Lunar Blaze runs well, but just does not win. Again. It’s now been about 14 and a half months since his last win, but he has been so close so often that you have to keep putting him against the best. I don’t think I could handle him in my barn, he’d be too frustrating, so kudos to John Henry on sticking with him and maybe there will be a big reward for it down road.
#7- Comes The Dream (M.b.o. Racing Stable, ridden by J Lezcano)- We have mainly seen Comes The Dream having success down in Florida, but like many Floridians, he went to New York for the summer, and tried a pair of graded stakes, including the Fourstardave at SAR. Those did not go well, but in the middle of those race was a victory in the $150.000 Forbidden Apple. He looks like a typical second tier horse to me, one that can’t quite beat the big guns of the division, but can be the best of the next level down. He can prove me wrong here.
#8- Swamp Fox (Blushing Meadows, ridden by D Moran)- The six year old gelding will make the 46th start of his career, and it will be his third Shadwell Turf in four years. In his previous two tries, he was 10th in 2014, and 8th in 2016. So, how will today be any different for the gelding is the question that will be on the bettors minds. He’s put together a good season, with six in the money finishes in eight starts, and does not come here off the WO Mile like he did last time. Lately, he’s been sprinting, and with a little more luck probably could have won three more races this season. He’s on good form, but the jury is out on him due to the previous results.
#9- Discover Decima (Threshold, ridden by F Pennington)- It’s going to be a big leap forward for Discover Decima, but he has earned the opportunity, finishing in the money in all seven of his races in his young career. His last race saw him win the $60.000 Super Derby Prelude at LAD. Since then, he has been working pretty well and certainly deserves a chance at graded competition. The Shadwell is a reach, but the time is now if you have BC dreams.
#10- Genetics (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Took him a little longer then desired to break his maiden despite always running competitively, it may have turned out that a geld in late June was the secret in his genetics. A month later, he looked a lot better in an optional claimer, then he got some more rest. Early last month, the trainer took the leap of faith and entered him in the Grade 3 Saranac at SAR, and he pulled off the victory. Since then, he’s turned in some good works, and should have a good shot here.
#11- Hold The Mach (Night Rider Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Career start #40 for this seven year old gelding. In that time, he has won eleven races, including two of seven this year. This is his third straight try at the Shadwell Turf, and in 2015 he would come in second, missing by half a length. He would be fifth last year, but in both seasons, he would be able to qualify for the BC Mile. To get back, he is going to need a big run here, but perhaps the BC Mile has not been his thing given his performance in the prior two tries.
#12- Compress (Cherrytree Hill Farm, ridden by R J Albarado)- After the start of the season was not as good as the trainer envisioned, Compress has made up for lost time in his last three starts, and the best still could be yet to come. Running in an allowance on soft turf in July helped Compress rediscover the dominant form that he displayed as a three year old, and he is now one of the favorites for the BC Mile, as well as this race. A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of covering his win in the Grade 1 Mile, and I was very impressed with the stretch desire that he showed in holding off and defeating Antelope Storm, who is also one of the best in the business. Lunar Blaze, Hold The Mach, and Desolation Island were a few more that he beat that day. The only question here is his starting position. It’s a fair concern.
#13- Thats The Truth (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by L M Ocasio)- The trainer is to be commended for continuing to keep at it with Thats The Truth even when the results were not going his way. In the middle of August, which is his last start, he did a brilliant job coming from behind to get up for second in the DMR Handicap, making up nine lengths in the final three furlongs. The thing is, that was an eleven furlong race, so I am not sure how much stock I want to put into that effort. Further hindering him is the starting position.
#15 (PP14)- Going Gone (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by D R Flores)- The three year old gelding drew into the race from the also eligible list, so he won’t fret too much over the starting position. Going Gone has four wins in eleven starts, and has been consistent throughout his career with eight finishes in the money. He struggled in his only graded attempt, which was that same DMR Handicap Thats The Truth ran in, but followed it up well with a runner up spot in the ungraded $200.000 Super Derby at LAD. There’s a lot that he needs to overcome here, so I cannot get too excited about him.
Prediction: 12-6-1-10
— NS
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
