2/2 The Withers – Grade III [KYD]
AQU Race #2 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Chrystal Believer Maxmillion Farm Bocachica A
There are some horses from last year that have been just waiting to explode on the KYD scene and this is certainly one of them. The winner of the grade one LA Futurity in his last start he had been placed in both the Pharaoh and the DMR Futurity and close up in the BC Juvenile prior to that. Drawn one should suit him as he can adjust his running style effectively and with a 1.36 and 1 work just a few days ago he is clearly in tip top condition.
2 Viper Command Aer Stables Franco M
Behind Chrystal Believer in the Pharaoh he did pretty well after winning his maiden but hasnt quite looked up to this grade so far. He ran pretty well in the Jerome to be third on the 1st January and he looks to have improved a tick from his two year old days so with a nice draw he must come into the reckoning as a lively outsider but i am a little worried about him seeing the trip out.
3 Admiration Mb Stables Hernandez R
Like so many of the stable he went quickly from just a fair looking sort to a stakes runner when he ran a cracker to be second in the Ky Jockey Club last November. His seasonal debut was in the Jerome where he looked the winner as they entered the stretch but was just run down and beaten a head. That run makes him a leading contender here running from a good gate with a swift 1.10 and 2 work just a few days ago. Just being from Mb Stables makes him a threat but he has enough form on the board to put him among the favorites in a tough KYD points race.
4 War Command Fractious Roman E A
Consistent in maidens he raced 4 times as a juvenile but couldnt break through despite some strong work times. Things changed however in his first start as a three year old as he cruised home in an SA Maiden and probably for the first time became a TC consideration. He gets his chance here off a strong mile work of 1.36 and 2, a good draw and E A Roman back in the saddle.
5 Devil Snake Joshua Stables Cancel E
Another who has shown enough to be in with a chance he looked very good when easily winning a maiden on his fourth and last attempt as a juvenile. He ran pretty well from a horrible draw in the Sham Stakes when a close fifth and should be better with this good midpack draw today. Can he win? Well a 1.11 work last week was a good warm up but i feel he still has something to prove at this level.
6 Chai Bay Serenity Stables Beschizza A
I feel a bit of deja vou here with another that remained a maiden as a two year old but broke through on seasonal debut. Not only was he beaten in maidens he was also only beaten a length when fourth in the Pharaoh something thats says more about the strength of high track maidens than the weakness of the Pharaoh. He just got home in his first start this season winning by a neck and he really is one of those horses that always runs well but find it tough to win. I think he should be in the first 4 but i worry that if there are four in a row with a furlong to run he may not ave the heart to follow through.
7 Blowberg Estero Farms Chirinos R
He won a strong maiden last October and was then bought for $120 by Estero Farms before taking the ungraded The Notebook. Seeing a contender the trainer put him into The Jerome on seasonal debut but a wide draw saw him taken right back and he was never really involved in the race. He gets another chance today and with a 1.10 and 3 work a few days ago looks to have improved enough to get into the finish here.
8 Charlemagnes Command John Henry Landeros C
Very lightly raced with just two starts he broke his maiden in the Smooth Air which impressed John Henry so much they paid $238.000 to buy him from Serenity Stables. Since then it has to be said his works havent lived up to his purchase price but he gets a chance here to prove that works arent everything.
9 Soviet Warrior EasyMoney Stables Desormeaux K J
Ran well enough in the grade three Bourbon to be kept on the turf for his next start which he won at DMR. His works suggest he can act on the dirt and he looks the type who will love this trip so he is no outsider in my books. He will need to do some work from this draw but will be running on at the end.
10 Back Up Mb Stables Centeno D E
There arent too many Mb Stables purchases which make you wince a little but the $300 he paid for this one has looked a shade expensive since. Running on from a wide draw in the Grey Stakes he did better than his final position of eighth suggests but then he failed to beat the maiden Charlemagnes Command in the Smooth Air next out throwing some questions over the big price tag. His works arent bad but a wide draw may give the trainer the option of using him as a pace maker and if that happens i doubt he will be a contender.
11 Hard News D J C Racing Stables Sanchez Jef
Finds himself in the cheap seats and though he may not be a number one contender for the stable he isnt a bad sort who deserves to run well. Behind Back up and Charlemagnes Daughter in the Smooth Air his chances are probably summed up with that effort although again his works suggest improvement.
12 World Turning Alydar Stables Smith M E
A horrible draw and his best form on wet this horse has upset written all over it if the track comes up muddy. Failing the rain which saw him run third in the Remsen he hasnt done enough on fast ground to give him much of a hope.
SUMMARY
A typically trappy TC points race this race does look on paper as though Chrytsal Believer only has to show up to win but there are enough around him that a bad trip could see him beaten by an outsider. Of the rest I think Blowberg, Chai Bay, War Command and Admiration will turn out to be the main threats.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
