Longacres Mile – Grade III
EMD   Race #1   1m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $200.000  For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1  Cyclonic Master    Team 7 Illusions    – Scratch –
2  Decisive Moon    John Henry    Gutierrez J M
This is generally a race that doesnt attract the top routers and so by default gives a chance to some lesser lights. This consistent gelding comes under that banner but some vastly improved works suggest the trainer has found a formula that could make this one a late breakthrough into BC possibilities. To date he has been pretty good as a three year old winning two from five including a little stakes race but something happened between his last start and his two most recent works that suggests he could be the winner here at what will probably be pretty long odds.

3  Allod                  Team 7 Illusions    Couton J
Won a maiden claimer last time but has yet to race beyond six and a half furlongs. The trip will have to bring about some miracle improvement for him to get into this race.

4  Kiss The Snake    Nakamura Stables   Bowen R
A winner of two graded stakes at the sprint trip he was bought for $200.000 by the trainer and was immediately sent over longer trips. After a fair effort in the SA Handicap he then won the grade three Ali proving his trainer wasnt wrong in their decision. Two further placings at graded level confirm his ability to see out the trip but i must admit he doesnt seem any better as a router than he was as a sprinter so it could be just the way HRP works that he can operate over a variety of trips. The three year old weight allowance makes it very tough for him but he is a proven stakes performer in a race without too much depth.

5  Motor City    Joshua Stables    Hernandez J J
After winning the Rebel this colt ran two good races in both the KYD and BEL just outside the money getters but fairly close up. He was then bought for $700.000 and in his only start for the new trainer he ran second in the LA Derby which was a fair effort. I liked this horse for the Derby but i am not sure he has improved since then and whilst on paper he may be the best in the race he will have to rely on his class to win today.

6  Charentes    Angelos Stable    Solis A B
This four year old is a tale of two cities because whilst he is working like a champion his form has been mostly pretty average. He shows plenty of pace as a sprinter so may well go to the front from his widish draw but i suspect his owner will be trying to restrain him in order to see out the trip. If there is a fast early pace and this one goes to the trail we may see him bidding late for glory.

7  Its All Over    Mb Stables    – Scratch –

8  Norwegian Moon   Allinthegate    Sanguinetti A
A solid and consistent four year old but his works suggest he has something to find and with a wide draw and the weight situation it will be very tough for him to trouble the judge.

SUMMARY
I can’t get past the 1.36 flat work that Decisive Moon put in so i am going for him as the winner with the other three year old Motor City in second. Third place may be fought out by Kiss The Snake and Charentes.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES