The MTH Stakes (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
May 25, 2019

This Saturday, a field of six will be going to post for the ninth running of the MTH Stakes. It’s a grade 2 event held on the grass of its flagship racetrack. Last year was the first time that it was won by a three year old, but Nitemare is no longer with us a year later. After September, the gelding’s form really fell off. This year, the race is nearly made up entirely of three year olds, as there is just one older horse in the field. We have a runner from the last KYD in the field! Let’s meet our participants.

#1- Face Your Fears (Mb Stables, ridden by C P DeCarlo)- The Proud Chai colt was part of the BC Juvenile Turf field last year and ran 7th, but we have not seen much of him this season. He’s only raced twice, which were a couple of Grade 3’s, highlighted by a runner up in the Palm Beach in March. The speed figures in each of those races were quite good, and I think he’ll like going this distance and may be the one to beat.

#2- Devils Tower (Smokey Stover, ridden by A A Gallardo)- This was the winner of the BC Juvenile Turf last fall, just in case you forgot. With just two races this year, much like Face Your Fears, his name has dropped to the backburner. In his races of 2019, he has failed to hit the board in each of the Grade 3’s he tried. He’s a Jersey-bred, though, so maybe racing in front of his home track fans will get him back in gear.

#3- Zero Annuity (Nakamura Stables, ridden by N Juarez)- He was in the KYD at the beginning of the month, but he did not beat any of his opponents that day. That finish was a downer, especially after a solid second in the FL Derby a month before. When you run last in the derby, and are beaten by 16 lengths, it could be a time to try something new, and here Zero Annuity makes his turf debut.

#4- Ghost From The North (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Jo Torres)- Acquired last month from Lemax Farms via a $100.000 private sale, Ghost From The North made his debut with Maxmillion Farm in an allowance a week later, and won. Now, the master of the turf is hoping that Laffin Ghost gelding becomes his latest turf star. He has one stake attempt to his credit thus far. Work times are very impressive, watch out!

#5- The Spaniard (Big Jd Racing, ridden by J C Ferrer)- If we could make the weights be equal, or even close to equal, I would like his chances. But it is otherwise pretty tough to overlook the fact that he is carrying seven more pounds then everyone else in this field. His form is great, but this is a tough assignment due to the weight disadvantage. I can’t get around that, but expect him to put forth a valiant run.

#6- Clutch (Aer Stables, ridden by I Castillo)- A day after running ninth in the BC Juvenile Turf, Clutch would be gelded. So far this year, the trainer has been rewarded, with two wins in three starts. Neither were against this type of crowd, and in the one race where he did face a couple of these, the Grade 3 Palm Beach, he was a distant eighth. He’s better then that, and the work times seem good heading in, though I wish I could have seen a more recent public work.

Prediction: 1-2-4-5

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES