LA Stakes – Grade III
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $175.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.
1st Cheap Ways Riggins Racing Lopez P 2 1:40.65
It has been demonstrated in real life and HRP so many times how a closer has a much better chance of winning if the pace is fast. The question at HRP is which closer it will be and it very often the one who gets the clearest passage to the front when the leaders weaken. After three thirds in a row at this level today it all fell into place for this seven-year-old whose run was timed perfectly, and he ran away for an easy win. It was the first quarter that set the tone for the race and with this one in last a mile off the speed all he had to do was find a path. The 12-race winner probably isn’t ever going to make it into a BC race but as he has matured, he is making up into a decent type who has proved that when things go right, he can beat most anything.
2nd= Burger King Team 7 Illusions Hernandez R M no 1:41.11
The on-pacer did what he does best and stalked the speed, but that first quarter would set it up for a closer and, he would find one too strong at the end. He had been beaten by the winner in the Fayette, so I am not sure why the odds monkeys had them five points apart in his favor, but he once again found Cheap Ways too good. As a four-year-old he has more scope than the winner though and as the season wears on, he will probably find his revenge.
2nd= Disciplinary Nakamura Stables Castillo I no 1:41.11
Well, the race was pretty much the same for this one as the runner up. Going too fast too soon he was vulnerable down the stretch and as usual the race engine didn’t let us down. In fairness the seven-year-old ran a strong race keeping on off the front to share second, he never stopped trying until the winner swept by. Still an entire and a son of Commanding, I am wondering if a stallion career is on the horizon, but I guess until his form slips, we will be seeing him again.
4th Schopenhauer Maxmillion Farm McMahon C J 1/2 1:41.13
Starting at crazy odds monkey odds he went off at 100/1 but that really didn’t represent his chances. A little one paced he had a good trip in transit but couldn’t quicken up to the leaders at the right time. The wide gate wouldn’t have helped but he stuck at it well enough to suggest there are still some good races in the seven-year-old.
5th Architect Nakamura Stables Husbands P no 1:41.27
6th The Mercy Waldo Bejarano R nk 1:41.29
7th Everythings Fine TwinTowersRacing Velazquez J R no 1:41.35
8th The Stranger Jerry Garcia Racing Ortiz J L nk 1:41.36
9th Guitars And Cadillac Night Rider Stables Graham J no 1:41.42
10th Speter Sheffler Stables Reyes A A nk 1:41.43
11th Tuff Gong Winning Link Stables Curtis B no 1:41.49
12th Shake It Up And Go John Henry Geroux F 1:41.51
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES