Read Stakes – Grade II
DMR Race #8 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 Andes Arindel Boulanger G
Three year olds don’t seem as prolific in beating their older rivals this year but this one is drawn well and working well enough to give a good sight with its 5Lb advantage. A nice winner of the Cutler Bay he has struggled a bit since in better grade but got back to winning ways in an optional claimer last time over this trip. The winning time was very strong in that race and some of that will have to do with the 116Lbs he was carrying but nevertheless if he can find that sort of effort against this sort of class he will be a chance.
2 Hollywood Command Scarletandgraystable Baird E T
We haven’t seen this four year old since the Forrester Turf Classic where he ran a highly respectable sixth in that land mark race. Claimed for just $7.50 at the end of last year the trainer showed what you can do with a bit of experience and expertise by easily winning an allowance before a very close second in the Appleton and then that good run in the Forrester. He is clearly much better than a claimer and comes here fresh and ready for a restart to his season from the perfect draw.
3 Farquaad Night Rider Stables Gaffalione T
This one was also claimed and considering the source of the claim the new trainer has done remarkably well in capturing two stakes races since that claim. He has won both of his races over nine furlongs and they have both been stakes races so clearly this is his pet trip after sprinting on the dirt for his previous owner. He was very game in taking the MTH Stakes last time by a head and looks to be very well placed for another big effort today.
4 Atomic Eclipse La Canada Racehorses Saez L
This is another in form four year old and another that put in a career best performance last time. That run was in the Poker Stakes where he was impressive from a nasty draw and although the two grade three wins this year have been good they are even better when you note he was second in the DMR Mile and fourth in the WO Mile last year. So this is a class horse working mid 1.09’s and low 1.34’s, drawn well and in good form, a big winning chance.
5 Workload Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario
Three lengths behind Atomic Eclipse in the Poker Stakes from a similar bad draw it would be hard to see him reversing that in real life but at HRP i am not so sure. He won this race last year as a three year old and was then second in a Pacific Classic before running a fair race in the BC Turf so there is class and ability there but we have yet to see him really step up as a four year old. A lot will depend on whether his trainer can get him to run from a winning instruction but i guess if anyone can they can.
6 Jeep Grand Cherokee Williams9 Saez G
Even though he looks to have no chance on paper in previous years we would have to take a 1.35 turf worker running with the weight allowance seriously but this year i am not so sure. Beaten over this trip in an optional claimer in March he will need some of Williams9’s special magic dust to find the win here.
7 Homme de Guerre Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
Though his recent form is a bit left field for a race like this you have to take anything from this stable very seriously and i have noted that whilst the quality of competition he has been facing may have dropped off his speed figures haven’t so i am taking a serious look here.The winner of the DMR Derby at three he was also third in the HOL Derby so there is some serious stakes history there. His works are still very good and he has been enjoying some easier competition so this may be the race to come back to the big time.
8 Love Insist Gdp Inc Hernandez R M
Another three year old looking for the hack that in previous years would’ve given him a big chance but this is a different year so it is not a given like it used to be. Having said that when an experienced and successful trainer claims a horse from a new trainer and then puts them on the right track for a win and a 95 speed rating you have to sit up and take notice. This may be a shot in the dark, a hopeful punchers chance but he has the look of a big priced winner to me.
9 Kings Poker Wood Duck Stables Garcia Mar
The winner of three in a row this one looked pretty special last time out in making all for a comfortable win in the Sir Barton but he is thrown in the deep end here and is racing unpenalized graded stakes winners so will have to keep on improving to take this from a wide gate. A great horse to have for this second year trainer who is showing the sort of results that suggest he is going to have a great future at HRP. A big ask but he may be ready to answer.
10 Regret Nothing Threshold Bravo J
This one has been sprinting for a while now and gets handed the worst draw to try and revive his career in this nine furlong race. There is ability there but this will be a test not only of his stamina but of his enthusiasm for the game.
SUMMARY
The three year olds here are a nice bunch and i like the work times that Kings Poker has been putting down especially as he gets the weight break here. He could well be the best of them but i am going for Homme de Guerre to keep up the good year for the older horses. Atomic Eclipse could chase him home and then i would throw the three year olds on the end to fight out third.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
