Crosby Stakes – Grade I [BC]
DMR Race #8 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 Palestinian, trained by Nakamura Stables
Having built a career in route races finishes 6th in the KYD, winning the Sham Stakes and the MTH Cup he was switched back to sprinting last time and in true HRP style ran a cracker to be second in the True North. Given a wide gate forced him into getting the wide gate speed push and after running neck and neck with the leader he just got outbattled to end up second. His sprint works are good and the draw is much kinder this time but it may be that he will get out paced without the wide gate speed push and he will need a bit of luck in running not to get buried.
2 Moriches Bay, trained by TwinTowersRacing
A winner of just two races but there has been sharp improvement this season and he is no forlorn hope. Close up in a couple of grade three handicaps his last start saw him take the Aristides which was a super performance and one which came from an inside draw, significant because his previous four starts had all been when drawn wider. His works have been improving at the same rate as his form and he may turn out to be a lively outsider.
3 Prince Of Wales, trained by Chili King Stables
Dead heated with Palestinian when runner up in the True North he came from a long way back that day due to taking the ‘other’ option from the wide draw. There wont be much between them again although he was a little disappointing last time so you have to take on trust he can run his best today.
4 All Out Blitz, trained by Mb Stables
No all aged stakes would be complete without a three year old entry from Mb Stables. Nothing points to this horse sprinting today so it stands to reason he has a great chance especially when you consider his last work was as quick as any of the older horses and he gets the all important weight allowance. A good winner of the All American against older horses he has failed a few times against his own age group but thats not whats important here.
5 Scott The Great, trained by Team 7 Illusions
Third in the Queens Plate last year and second in the Prince Of Wales he has been running very well in extreme route races for a couple of years now so it stands to reason he should line up in this sprint…..
Yes you have it, again there is no rhyme or reason to him running well today but trip seems to mean little at HRP and his trainer knows more than most so he must be given a chance. He showed plenty of speed in the San Carlos last time but i just dont see him having the pace to win today.
6 Dang, trained by John Henry
A consistent sort and a decent winner of the MD Sprint he would have some chance here. His works aren’t really living up to his form and for that reason i may have to put a line through him.
7 Glorious, trained by Spankys Barn
Has been knocking around in overnights but has hit fine form this year winning his last three in competitive races. His works are pretty much the same as everything else and he has the three year old weight allowance so there is no reason beyond the fact he has no black type form that he cant run well today.
8 Mae Mae, trained by Jkk Racing Stables
Another three year old without the form to win but he comes right into it thanks to the five pounds he gets for being a three year old. He sprinted pretty well as a two year old getting very close in the Futurity but has only managed the one win at Allowance level this year so it is hard to make a case for him.
9 Norwegion Moon, trained by Allinthegate
He has won three from four this year and in the only race he lost he managed a very close second in the BEL Sprint Championship. That form plus the weight allowance put him close to the top of the pile but he has a wide gate to contend with. This trip is just about as short as he likes to go so he may be tested especially if he takes choice B and goes back to the tail from the draw.
10 Rock Boat, trained by Night Rider Stables
This grand old campaigner has kept his form remarkably well and is having another great season. Forced to lead by the wide gate speed push last time he faded into sixth in the True North and may face the same fate again today unless his trainer has any tricks up their sleeve. I wouldnt be writing him off but he has a stiff task.
11 Jesse The Bandit, trained by Scarletandgray Stable
Came out on top in the True North which is a good form race for this but has been racing from favourable draws this year and may find it tough from the car park today. Certainly one of the best horses in the race on recent form but he hasnt met the three year olds this year and that may be a significant blight on his chances.
SUMMARY
Generally the age allowance doesnt affect sprinters quite as much as routers so the older horses do have a sneaky chance here but you cat get away from the fact that they are all working the same and the youngsters get a weight break.
Of the three year olds i think it may be between All Out Blitz, Glorious and Norwegian Moon, if the older horses can pull off the seemingly impossible then Jesse The Bandit or Scott The Great could go close.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
