3/4/23

  8   GP     The Palm Beach Stakes

       $200.000             3YO              1 m  Turf             122lbs    +penalties

We go to the sod in SoFla and look at the field for The Palm Beach Stakes, going a flat mile on the non-existent inner-turf, here at GP.  I landed on Lets Race as the top selection off of his back to back on the board stakes, coming into today.  They move him back to the lawn, where he did secure his only win, but his form says let me at ’em.  Let’s go right next door and give Solar Coast a big look.  He is very lightly raced and just missed when he flew home in that ninth-to-second finish in the Kittens Joy.  Another like that and he could be getting his picture taken.  Island Boy has been close in a number of stakes, and I draw a line in that last race and give him a chance to take the cash today.  It’s a nice field and I won’t be surprised by any outcome.

Here’s The Field –

He’s stepped up his game since the vet paid a visit, winning an Alw race on the SA sod, then closing to run third in the Kittens Joy (GIII) here at GP.  He looks like a horse that is improving every single day and I think you have to watch him today.   

Lightly raced with only three starts, but he broke maiden here, sprinting 5f and then flew home to be the runner-up in the Kittens Joy (GIII) so he’s proven on the grass no matter wet or dry.  This may be his race to win. 

Back-to-back on the board stakes efforts just missing over the main track here, then closing fast to be third in the Winkfield at AQU in his most recent.  Now don’t be fooled by those dirt races, he broke maiden at TAM on the grass, so he knows his way on the lawn, as well. 

Both of his grass races have been nice, a third vs. MSW at TAM where he closed to be third, then got the win on the same sod going a mile, and again closed fast to win going away.  Steps up, but he could be any type and he may come with some odds. 
 

Broke maiden by six whippin’ up on MSW at MNR, then was second at AQU in the Awad, won an Alw race at CD then was third in HOU on the grass.  He’s a nice horse and certainly deserves some attention today.  Don’t be surprised if he’s right there down the lane. 

Four turf tries and he’s always in the middle of things, breaking maiden vs Cal-bred types at SA in his most recent.  That was at a mile and an eighth, so I don’t think surface or distance will detract from him today.  Even his up-the-track race at DMR, he pushed the pace… he can run. 

Broke maiden at first asking and has been close in all races since… Just missed in stakes at SA and a pair of races over this track, but was sixth of eight here last out vs. Alw types and that has to give you so question.  Perhaps just a bounce, and this is a sharp outfit, so dismiss that race and give him a big look today. 

Got the job done at GG breaking maiden at a distance and on the grass in his second start, and his first since the purchase.  The only gave $3.000 for him, so they are already ahead of the curve and look to add to that here.  Solid works getting ready for this one. 

Broke maiden at PRX on the sod, then ran sixth of eight in that stakes at HOU, but that was a wet track and I don’t think he’s particularly fond of the wet stuff.  He could bounce back big today, and will probably carry some odds, so if you like him, get to the window. 

Mixed bag of finishes for the big barn with this one… broke maiden at DMR on the main track, cruising home by three, but three of his last four have been iffy, a fifth at SA facing top end TC types, a tenth in the CAC Derby and a seventh here last out in the fore-mentioned Kitten’s Joy.  He did run second on the CD grass vs. top-end Alw types… who do we get today? 
 

He’s changed hands a couple of times, and has done his best racing on the main track, but this one has some real intrigue… Broke maiden at MNR, then was claimed by this barn for $20.000 when seventh at TAM, but they liked him and went right after stakes company where he was fifth at GP, then ran big to be third at SA in the San Vincent (GII), and he had the lead in both, turning for home… back to the grass, and… I just don’t know. 

He’s made most of his starts here at GP and on the weeds, breaking maiden in Sep, then was third sprinting vs. stakes company.  Was last of ten in the Dania Beach, but did bounce back a bit to be second vs. Alw horses on the sod here.  I really don’t think he’s this kind of horse.  

COZMAN    3 / 2 / 7                          Willie’s Green Card       2 / 1 / 7

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded