While Hambletonian Stables and Mb Stables have captured this event three times each in its past 15 years of racing, Night Rider Stables will be sending out two entries to try and recapture the glory he obtained last year with sophomore Trumpomatic.
- CC Jewel- Purse $200.000
- Gulfstream Park- For Three Years old and up.
- One Mile and One eighth in distance- Main track
- December 7th, 2019
In memory of one of the most competitive trainers that use to grace or presence here at HRP, the event record for this race since it was stretched to the mile and an eighth was set by Sanny Village’s Expressly in 2012 in a time of 1:47.31. He is one who is truly missed by many who have just as much passionate and love for the game as he did.
So looking first at Night Rider Stables and who Raj is placing his hopes on for the repeat. First is Unreleased (#3 , a six year old chestnut gelding who in his most recent captured a two length victory in an OpClm40 affair in New York. He has just four starts this season in limited use and that was his first win. Its been two years since his return to this venue, where he went runner-up in an OpClm35 race at a mile and a sixteenth. Is making a quicker turn around off last, so hopefully that wont hinder him. His stablemate Undefeated Season will break out of the gate right beside him from post four. After he was claimed in April, he would eventually find the winners circle in first asking in August when he captured an Alw52s event at the Spa. Attempted a major move up in his most recent Gr. II Fayette Stakes try, but was unsuccessful placing fifth, just two shy. If there is to be a repeat, I think his hopes should be placed on this runner. Hopefully everything doesn’t come ” UN” done today.
Maxmillion Farm has also graced the field with a couple of runners to try and capture his second Jewel title. First will be Catch A Buzz from post seven. A recent purchase on the 23 of October, this will be his first start for this talented trainer, and hopefully his most recent works down here in Florida can pay off some dividends today. This will be the first time this four year old has visited this oval, and the first time racing at this further distance. He may need one? The other hopeful to his outside from the gate will be Justin Credible. This elder six year old found the mud last time out going six furlongs at PRX, but he still managed to pull off a victory in a Clm12.5 affair. Takes a bite at the big apple with this race, and as a three year old he managed to capture the CC Rapid Transit on this weekend, so trainer is hoping the return will spark a fire once again.
One other trainer in this group is sending out a pair of runners as well. RNP Stables will be placing his dreams for his first Jewel win on both Cannes Farley ( #2) and Magne Account (#5). Cannes Farley has been competing in stakes event for the past four races, with a most recent fourth place finish in the Gr. II Fayette. He had two close winning effort missing by a nose in the Alphabet Soup, and a runner-up placing in The Alydar. Has the stakes experience to his credit, so he deserves a closer look. As for Magne Account, his specialty has been racing at twelve panels. Earned back to back wins in the Birdstone and then the Grand Prix American JC race, and most recent closed to with three quarters of a length in the Gr. II Marathon. The distance is my concern for this four year old, and he may get himself up for a share, but not the win.
Five other trainers will be sending out solo runners to hopefully come out on top. From the rail will be Savage Racing Stable’s Double C. This would be a momentus victory for this trainer who has only 27 starts this year and a single victory. Hats off to him for having the guts to place a runner here, but this six year did pick up a stakes win last season in the Flat Out going a mile and three eighths, the trainers only stakes title. Horse has been away from racing since the end of March, so this could be a major task.
From gate six will break Quench My Soul ( Wolfs Den ). Picked up out of a claiming affair in late October, has already raced on the grass in mid November going a mile and a sixteenth, and he managed to squeak out a head win against Alw35 company. Now switched to the dirt here, and that may be a good thing or a bad thing. Does have an OpClm15 win at this distance over at Finger Lakes, so the turf race may have helped him recover for this affair.
T Boy Racing sends out Socraties (#9) to try to win here. The five year old has been a regular against claiming and allowance company runners in his past six, and his most recent he stretched it out to a mile and a sixteenth over at Calder where he stayed pretty much five length shy throughout. Seems to do his best running of late in the sprint events, and this longer distance may have him coming up short unless the instructions are perfect.
From post ten will be Marquee ( Fractious ) who is coming off a fourth place finish at SA in the Comma To The Top Stakes going a mile in length. In his first race for this trainer two starts ago, he did manage to tie for second in the Gr. I PA Derby with the likes of Kentucky Derby winner Beach Dandy. Given the likes of competing with that type of competition, if he goes for a price, put some cash on this one. Factor.
From the outside post today will break sophomore Mucho Baked ( Spankys Barn). This bay gelding was claimed in mid March, and has three starts for this trainer with a third in his most recent OpClm40 race going a mile and an eighth. While he has raced at today’s distance in his past two starts, both of those events took place on the turf, so it will be interesting to see if he can adjust to the dirt once again. Does get the outside post as well, so has a couple of things to overcome.
Duffer
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
