DED Jackpot (Grade 3) (KYD)- $1,000.000 Purse
DED- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the dirt
November 19, 2016
Every year, the DED Jackpot is a fascinating race for our virtual world, since two year old racing takes a high priority. What makes it intriguing is its close proximity on the calender to the BC Juvenile and its high purse. More then likely, BC runners are not going to come to this race, or if they do, they are coming here on short rest. It becomes, then, a chance for those who may have barely missed out on getting to the BC to strut their stuff or an opportunity to put a promising two year old on the path for potential bigger successes as a three year old. With $1,000.000 on the line, there is no shortage of excitement for the race. Our field was full when the posts were drawn, but Mb Stables was not thrilled to see Snow Peak draw post #13, and scratched the Juvenile Fillies champion out of the race and eliminating a very interesting subplot. History shows that this is not a race where you want to be starting on the outside, so that scratch is certainly understandable. We still have one filly left taking on the boys, with Australia Wide’s Komodo Freestyle. It is an exciting field, but I do want to mention that this preview might seem a little flat to some as I am going to put myself on restrain from providing analysis on how I think the race may run as I do have an entry in this field myself and unlike other times where this has happened, I feel like I have a good chance to win this race, and don’t want to say something here that could compromise that chance. Now, on to the field!
#1- Bioluminescent (Eastern Equine, ridden by D Moran)- Should this gelding win, it will be the second straight win in the stake for the trainer, who led Champagne Supernova to victory last year. Bioluminescent does not have the resume that one had last year coming into the race, but has been running competitively in stakes when the track is not wet. The last race is clearly a throw out, though it did cost him his ability to breed after the race. It’s been two and a half months, and works are showing promise. This is a great track to have the rail at, and Bioluminescent will surprise anyone who thinks he doesn’t have a shot.
#2- Perspective (Mb Stables, ridden by R J Albarado)- This Islander Champion colt is doing a good job keeping his sire relevant, and that’s good for this writer to see. I was able to cover his last race, which was a strong second place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity at KEE last month, one of a handful from that field coming here. That race was won by his stablemate Coin Flip, who went on to finish fifth in the BC Juvenile two weeks ago. He is really showing promise in his works even after that race, and this should make him the favorite in this field. Starting this close to the inside as a horse that likes to get out front will benefit him.
#3- King Death Row (Aer Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- Like Perspective, King Death Row is also coming out of the Breeder’s Futurity, though his finish was not as strong. He would run eighth, and seemed to just linger in the back and not make his presence felt, though got closer late. It would not take much improvement for him off of that to be able to turn the tables in this field. Prior to that, he ran second in the always competitive Colin Stakes at WO, so the main thing he needs to show is that he can carry his speed while going over a mile.
#4- Withdrawn (John Henry, ridden by R Alvarado Jr)- The trainer kept Withdrawn very busy with four races in seven weeks after acquiring him in private sales for $150.000. The last of that stretch was that same Breeder’s Futurity we’ve been talking about with the last two horses, and he would be sixth in the field. It was a solid performance, and his inability to hang on could be attributed to his heavy racing schedule. Well, now, Withdrawn has been able to rest. This will be a chance to see him at his best again, and it will be interesting to see how he responds.
#5- Sleet (Harrell Racing, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Broke his maiden in impressive fashion at LAD on the first day of September, and off of that he was placed in the Grade 1 Frontrunner Stakes where his performance was simply awful. For him to be placed in the DED Jackpot after that race clearly tells me that the trainer knows why that performance happened, perhaps blown meters or something similar, and is completely confident that Sleet will be better here. Looking at his work times, they still look a tick or two slower then rivals here, but works aren’t everything, and if Sleet has the heart, he can contend.
#6- Night Terra (Nynl Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- After his stunning performance breaking his maiden at SA with what seems to be a low SRF number associated with it, I had been struggling to decide whether to swing for the fences here, or the more conservative route to the $75.000 McNeill Stakes at RP. Then came his work on the 10th, and from there the decision was made that I would take the shot here and run another one in the McNeill. His maiden win was the second quickest mile run by a two year old this year, and he was showing no signs on tiring. The only thing Night Terra really lacks here is the resume, and on Saturday, I’m looking to start to build that. I’m thankful he’s drawn a solid post, and am positive about his chances.
#7- General Geek (Serenity Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- The Knowledge Geek colt is one of three in this field that are coming out of the Grade 3 Grey Stakes, a race that was won by Bold Lion and saw General Geek close to be three lengths off, and sixth overall. He’s experienced running at this level, having also run in the Sanford and the Hopeful at beautiful Saratoga Race Course, though he has not hit the board in any of them. Almost a month ago, he had a strong work at SA going a mile, and even looked good on the grass at DMR early in the month. He is going to be ready to go and I feel he is going to run the best race of his career so far right here.
#8- Darth Andedudu (Diablo Diablo, ridden by N Arroyo Jr)- It’s been about two months since he’s raced, with that coming in the Grade 3 Iroquois in September. In that race, he would not be a factor, and was beaten by Withdrawn and They All Laughed, of whom he sees again here. He’s been getting a steady diet of mile works since then, and they seem to be consistent with where he has been in the lead up to the other races, such as the Iroquois. One thing he does have going for him is the pedigree, and he’ll need to be ready to roll here.
#9- Bold Lion (Mains Boys, ridden by M E Smith)- While a couple others have won some very impressive ungraded state-bred stakes, it is a little hard to believe that there is only one in this field who has won a Graded stake coming into this race. That would be Bold Lion, who took him the Grey Stakes in his last start, at WO. It was the second win of his career, and he was able to defeat a couple that he sees again here such as General Geek and Forestry. His breezes look sharp, and if he were to win this race, you have to believe that Main Boys is going to be thinking real big. A win here would be the biggest score for the trainer in his career, something in which we seem to have in common!
#10- Komodo Freestyle (Australia Wide, ridden by J R Velazquez)- As we start to move into the double digits now, we’re going to have to really factor in the issue of outside posts. DED is a bullring, so it can play a bigger role here then it other spots. Australia Wide will be glad that his super filly isn’t all the way to the outside, but it could be better. Taking on the boys for the first time, this filly has quite the resume, including a near stranglehold of the FL Sire Series stakes. Smaller fields are associated with those, so she will be in for her toughest race even if she was up against her own gender. Can Komodo Freestyle win? Of course, and she should be one of the favorites. She must overcome a lot, though.
#11- They All Laughed (Mb Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- In his last two races, They All Laughed has come from almost out of no where to finish second in close photos. Those races were the Grade 3 Iroquois, and the Grade 3 Futurity, so with just more luck with the headbob, They All Laughed could be a two time graded winner. It’s important to mention though that he has been a deep closer, and whether or not he will be able to get it done starting from out here on a track like DED is a fair question. If anyone knows the solution for success, it is Mb Stables, and he will do what it takes to give this colt a chance.
#12- Forestry (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J L Ortiz)- This son of Charley Farley has one win in four career starts thus far. Pedigree is a strong suit, as the mare has Risen Ruler and Mai Mia Bambina for parents. He would make his graded debut last month in the Grey Stakes and would finish third in the event, trying to catch Bold Lion from behind, but coming up short by two lengths. His work times seem consistent, and if it was not for this starting post, he could be one of the favorites as well. Regardless of how this race goes, it’s nice to see a horse with these champion bloodlines having this type of success.
#13- Snow Peak- Scratched.
#14- Lord High Admiral (Downwind Stables, ridden by J Rosario)- Starting out in centerfield, this Iron Throne colt has put together some dominant wins, including a nine length triumph to break his maiden at ELP a week after the trainer purchased him in private sales for $200.000. His last start was a similar performance, and while the margin was not as great, only four lengths this time, the competition was far superior in the $250.000 Sleepy Hollow for NY-breds. Perhaps it should mentioned that both of those races were on off tracks, as he won on a fast track in the World Trade Center Memorial as well. This is a favorite if he wasn’t starting way out here. How much of a factor will this post be?
Prediction: 2-6-9-10
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
