The Inaugural Running of The Niagara Stakes
July 25, 2021 13:20
WO Race #2 $100.000 11/8 Turf
4YO+ 122 Lbs (plus penalties)
Track Record-1:43.91 (Bronze Sabre-2010)
Stakes Record-N/A
The first edition of the $100.000 Niagara Stakes for 4yo+ takes place on Sunday at WO. The race will be run over 11/8 on the turf course and the field in this initial running is a bit of a mixed bag so it will be interesting to see who can garb this purse and move on to bigger, better opportunities. Here’s the field for the inaugural running of The Niagara Stakes at WO:
#1 Grinderswitch (YME Stable/R.M. Hernandez 122): Have to imagine that (non)effort in the Douglas Park on May 29 is a throwout as this horse had been in sharp form after the visit to the vet on September 2 of last year. Looks to be involved from early on and should have every chance from this rail draw.
#2 Mucho Baked (Spankys Barn/D. Fukumoto 122): Tough-luck loser of the June 26 G2 Wise Dan where he made all of the running before getting nipped late and having to settle for 3rd. One of the classiest horses in the race, they will have to catch him to beat him and should relish this inside post. Multiple scenarios that could see him winning this.
#3 Hindenberg Tour (Nakamura Stables/S. Ryan 122): Multiple time graded winner looks to continue his modest two-race winning streak after consecutive scores in a GG ALW and a $23.500 claimer at WO. Has been nothing but consistent in his last five turf starts and should be able to get a piece of this at the very least.
#4 Maniaco del Controll (Threshold/K. Kimura 122): Finished 3rd in the G2 Fort Marcy going 9-furlongs the last time he was on the lawn. Attempted the G1 Met Mile on dirt in his last, but this race is more in his wheelhouse than that was. 6yo appears to have options from a tactical perspective so could see him pressing the pace or a tad further back today. Needs to work out a trip, but not without a chance.
#5 Lord City (Our Athletes/D. Moran 122): Has three graded placings this year despite not having a win in 2021. Has been going 12-furlongs in his last three so this distance should not be cause for concern. Can’t fault the company this one has been keeping and he has been bringing home checks, but he’ll need a lot to go his way if he is to get his first win since October.
#6 Divos Moon Shot (M.b.o. Racing Stable/L. Contrares 126): Returned from a four-month freshening to finish 4th in a GG ALW, but that break was preceeded by two graded stakes wins and a 4th in a G1 all at this distance. Has been off over three months, carries high weight, and has changed hands via the auction, so may need one before we see his best, but his best can handle this group.
#7 One Quarter (Gdp Inc/J. Lermyte 122): Took a $45.000 starter allowance at CD in his last for his first win since 2019. Taking a big jump up in class here and has never won going past 1-mile, so has to answer a couple of tough questions before he can be recommended.
#8 Financial Peace (First Class Stable/G. Boulanger 122): Finished 3rd on the dirt here back on June 12 in the Great Lakes. 4yo colt has not won in over a year, but that win was in the $150.000 Audubon going this distance, so he has it in him. Still, form is a bit spotty and has to get a favorable pace/trip scenario to make an impact in this one.
#9 Cause Most (Mis Hijos Stable/S.R. Bahen 124): Took down the $35.000 Hasta La Vista at TUP in May before taking a $25.000 claimer at CD in June so he comes here toting consecutive wins. That being said, he’s never seen the likes of these let alone defeat them. That $35.000 stakes win costs him two pounds here which only complicates his mission.
#10 Chayse (Crocker Ggs/J. Stein 122): Previous 15 tries were all against graded company with 14 of those vs G1 or G2 foes. Has found that company a tad too tough so he should appreciate the class relief he gets here. That last race at 6.5-furlongs is a tossout as sprinting down the hill at SA is not his game. All of that aside, he hasn’t visited the Winner’s Circle since March of 2020, so while he should be dangerous in here on class, he still needs to show the determination to get the job done.
#11 By The Night O Bay (Oval Express Farms/E.J. Wilson 122): Exits the $75.000 Soldiers Dancer for FL-breds where he set the pace before settling for 5th. That was the toughest field he’s seen so he has something to prove here. Has worked sharply since that race and could find himself in front when they leave the gate; however, he’ll have to improve to hold off this group.
#12 Batman G (High Voltage/P. Husbands 122): Was alone on the lead for a long time in the $100.000 Douglas Park before fading to 5th in his last race. Gets no favors with this draw as his best chance may be to try to clear this field or at least clear enough of them to be stalking from the two or three path. Is in a pretty good run of form so more improvement could still be in the cards, but feel a minor prize may be his ceiling.
Final Analysis: 2-3-6-1 Good luck to all in the inauguaral $100.000 Niagara Stakes at WO!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
