Day Mile Stakes – Grade II
3:00 CD Race #1 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.
A race that is traditionally a race for horses that didn’t make the big dance its a very nice prize to be racing for and is as usual highly competitive, here’s how they line up:
1 Ghost Sword Estero Farms Hernandez R
Bought for $300 from Gdp Inc he hasn’t been anywhere near the hardships of TC qualification and that could well end up being an advantage. Three seconds from four starts as a two year old he was a little frustrating but he has upped his game this year winning both his starts the last of those being the Rushway Stakes where he showed a great turn of foot to come from deep and win by a quarter length. His work times suggest he could be a good investment but you have to take the class gene on trust here.
2 Lord Of Peace Fractious Van Dyke D
Beaten just a head when third in the KY Jockey Club as a juvenile he looked a good Derby shot especially after he was narrowly beaten in the TAM Derby putting him on the cusp of qualification. He got a horror draw in the SA Derby and came from a long way back to be beaten just two lengths at the end but couldn’t get the points needed and comes here for compensation. He gets the perfect draw today and as long as three tough races haven’t taken their toll he should be among the favorites to win.
3 Russian Capo Aer Stables Bridgmohan
With so many other top three year olds in the stable he only had the one chance to make the KYD and failed in that attempt in the San Felipe. Not the best in the yard but he has to be respected.
4 Socrates Mb Stables Gryder A T
A decent juvenile he started to look like a KYD hopeful after he took his third win in a row in the Gotham over this trip. He went for the points he needed to make the big race in the Wood Memorial but despite a decent draw was very disappointing in finishing a well beaten tenth. He gets a good enough gate to be competitive here but i think he may lack the zip of a couple of these.
5 Grandstand Jockey Night Rider Stables Zayas E J
Third in the BC Juvenile Sprint last year he stepped up early this year to win the Swale by a handy length and started to look like he may develop into a Derby horse. A decent effort in the Gotham where he was just a length off the winner in fifth was encouraging but then he got a horror draw in the BG Stakes and could only finish ninth. I think he is a lot better than his form figures suggest and he may be a good choice at rewarding odds.
6 Mexican Swagger John Henry Bejarano R
This one has had three goes at getting into the KYD and really didn’t fail by very far. Third in the Gotham, fourth in the Lewis Stakes he didn’t do too badly in the Wood Memorial as he tried to stalk a ridiculous pace and weakened to fifth. This is another who is a lot better than his form looks and i think he may end up paying back a large lump of the $175 he cost the trainer today.
7 Local Dude D J C Racing Stables Beschizza A
Another that tried and failed to get into the KYD he was a good fourth in the San Felipe but then failed in the SA Derby from a tough draw. His 1.36 and 2 work puts him right in the picture for this and he has an in form jockey on board.
8 Deeds Not Words Alydar Stables Desormeaux
Third in the Ruby Stakes he had his chance in the BG Stakes to make the big dance but had a sticky draw and didn’t really show much. His works say he is better than that but he gets another difficult draw today.
9 Sweet Sweat Mb Stables Velazquez J
After winning the Breeders Futurity, finishing third in the BC Juvenile and then winning the Springboard Mile he was many peoples choice to be a KYD favorite pretty early on. He has rather typified Mb Stables start to this year however finishing just behind the place getter’s in all of his attempts this year and finds himself in the consolation race rather than the KYD. At his best he would be a strong favorite for this and his works haven’t exactly gone downhill so you have to give him every chance but with a small question mark.
10 Julius Caesar Maxmillion Farm Sanchez M J
The least experienced in the field with only five starts but he has raced the top grade in three of them and has proved himself to be up to this. He just got home in the Bay Shore last time earning a 98 speed rating so he has to be respected even from the coffin draw. He is an on pace type and i worry about the race engine killing his chances but he must go into the hat full of chances.
SUMMARY
Sweet Sweat would be a firm favorite on his two year old form but i worry about the draw and the fact that he has been so out of sorts this year. He may well win but i am going for Mexican Swagger or Lord Of peace as more reliable choices.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
