After winning the inaugural race of the Runhappy last season with a horse by the name of Creepy Palace, Trainer Dom is hoping that his two entries for this years event will return another trophy to his showcase.
- Runhappy Stakes – Purse $150.000
- Belmont Park- For Four year olds and Upward
- Six Furlongs Main track
- May 11th, 2019
Seven runners will take to the gate in this opening stakes event on Saturdays card here at Belmont, with the feature event being the Grade I Man o War.
As mentioned previously, D J C Racing Stables will be sending out stablemates Psychotic Ruler ( B c. 4 ) and Italian Syndicate ( B c. 4 ) to do battle this year. Psychotic Ruler has the better career record with three wins in eighteen starts, but has struggled to get to the winners enclosure this season. Readded Lasix at the start of the year, and while his past two starts came at the Grade III level, he still is winless since 2017 when he won the Gr. III Sandford as a Juvenile. Hopefully he will find his way to gain a share today. As for Italian Syndicate, this one time winner has been on the edges of late, and two starts ago in the $75 Shackleton he would miss by a length to finish fourth. My concern here is the distance. I think he is more suited for the mile, and though he should be in a stalking position off the turn, may be too short to do any damage. The two will fire from posts three and four.
Breaking from the rail will be Night Rider Stables Shanghai Days ( B g. 4 ), who has been competing in some topnotch affairs on the westcoast over late last season and his opener this year. His most recent was the Gr. III Fools Handicap at Aqueduct, where he placed second at some hefty 23-1 odds. Speed for that event was quick, so watch for him to try and steal this affair on the front end.
Out of the two hole will be RNP Stables seven years young grey gelding Moving Cloud. Switched to the turf in his most recent Gr. II Shaker race going five and a half, and managed to get to within two lengths of the eventual winner. Has not earned the respect at the betting windows, but todays rider did take him to victory last season in the $100 Gravesend Handicap at todays distance, and a runner up in the Gr. III Toboggan. These two have chemistry and they just might light up the tote in this one.
Maxmillion Farms will be sending out their six year old Kremlin here for this event. Opened the season winning a Clm35 race by three quarters, then found the winner circle once again last month at SA, taking home an Alw28s event. Has the services of veteran Velazquez in the irons and that is always dangerous. Is unraced over this oval in twenty career starts, so it could be interesting.
Wearing the black and gold number six will be Wolfs Den Rebel Force ( Ch g. 5 ), who already has five starts this season, but no wins. Did finish runner-up in the Gr. III GP Sprint Championship three starts ago, but struggled in his most recent two events going a mile and an eighth. Cut back in distance should get him back in the game once again.
What stakes event would not be complete without a Mb Stables entry in the mix. The trainer is sending out Swansbrook ( B g. 4 ) for this event. His most recent race came down at Tampa where he captured an OpClm62.5 affair by a length going six furlongs. Had been tackling longer races leading up to that event, and it seems his trainer wants to attack this distance once again here. Oh did I happen to mention that Gaffalione is in the irons? Silly me. Looks to repeat.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
