The Stephens – Grade I
SAR Race #7 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.
1 Molten Mb Stables Gallardo A A 122 —
This will be a hard race to win but it’s made a bit easier for the two stables of the moment who both have three runners in this. Beaten by the draw in his last start he was very good over this trip in the Bay Shore before that and with just five races under his belt has every right to be on the improve. His works have been sharp, and this could be his best trip so with the same draw that saw him win the Bay Shore he must have a live chance.
2 Quick Knight Mb Stables Moore R L 122 —
The champion trainer must be pretty happy with the draw monster here with the first two gates. Like the stable mate inside him he took a stakes race over this trip in the shape of the Barrera Stakes and did so in a quicker time than Molten. Previous to that he had run very well in the SA Derby to be a close fifth following a good third in the San Felipe. Proven at the trip you could almost think the first two here could finish at the same time as similar as they are, but I just favor this one.
3 Glacial Till D J C Racing Stables Centeno D E 122 —
Bought for $250.000 for a crack at the KYD, he has run terribly for the new owner since and is looking for redemption here. This trip may better suit him as will the draw, but he will have to work hard to win back some of that purchase price today.
4 Good Knights Our Athletes Geroux F 122 —
A solid enough type he was a little disappointing in the KYD after some good qualification efforts and if he can run like he did in the Rebel when a very close second, he would have to be competitive here. I am not entirely sure this trip will suit but if it does and from this decent draw with his regular rider there is no reason he can’t run well.
5 On Tap Winning Link Stables Hernandez R M 122 —
There aren’t many horses that you can categorize as a sprinter or a router here at HRP, but this is certainly an example of one that seems an out and out sprinter. He gets a decent draw to run his race and is certain to give you a run for your money and whilst he may not have the form of some of these, he is no doubt a hope for top four.
6 Chisel Fractious Franco M 122 —
Whilst the master gets the best draws the apprentice is drawn out but that may not bother this very promising son of Neon Wolf. He didn’t seem to stay the trip in the Wood Memorial but has been dominant either side of that race and has some of the fastest three-year-old dirt works in the field and of his generation. I think this one could well be a superstar and today is the test that he may just pass with flying colors.
7 Southern Oak South Shore Stables Cabrera D 122 —
Another sprinting type that went for the KYD qualification and failed but he showed his preference for a sprint trip last time with a sizzling performance in a big-ticket Allowance at CD. He carries 8Lbs more today so may find it a bit harder to run that fast but his form before that was certainly good enough to give him a chance.
8 Edward The Good Fractious Velazquez J R 122 —
Won his maiden over this trip and in only his fourth start won the Day Mile at grade two so is another who you have to say looks a bit special. Fractious and Mb Stables are dominating all the big races, and it looks like they will have this race between them today but picking which one is not an easy job. I rather like the Fractious runners over the Mb runners but the best two may still be learning the racing game so this big field may test them.
9 Rare Truth TwinTowersRacing Bridgmohan S X 122 —
His form lines look like a what’s what of big races, but he has yet to make much impression in them and it is a bit of stretch to see this one troubling the judge. That however, as we all know, is when this stable is at its most dangerous and to see this one winning at 500/1, well, I have seen it before.
10 Rearranger Mb Stables Saez L 122 —
Looked a big Derby prospect early on with his win in the Davis Stakes but has looked since like a bit of a non-stayer in his last three and maybe this drop back to seven furlongs will bring him back to his best The wide draw may help him get out of the gates and I have a feeling he may be set to get to the front, which may work for him but will certainly help his stable mates. Could easily bounce back to form and win but I would say he may be the third of three from the stable.
11 Hurricane Ridge Fractious Prat F 122 —
Much of what I just said about Rearranger could be applied to this one and we could see both the big trainers use the same tactics which could set up for an intriguing race. This one made all to win the Pascoe over this trip so I am thinking that with the wide gate speed push we could see a battle royal for the lead early on. That may set it up for a closer and I am guessing that both Fractious and Mb will be fully aware of that.
12 Sincere Connection Asgar Lopez P 122 —
Went from on-pace runner to closer last time out on an off track which was one of those things which just muddies the form a little. He was closing hard in the Day Mile and only two lengths back at the end so he cannot be rules out even if he looks a little behind the principles here. I like his works and if he can get away with them today could be the fly in the ointment for some tactical plans.
SUMMARY
You just can’t get away from Fractious and Mb Stables in these three-year-old races and with their 6 runners today you can see why they have dominated this division. They have everything in their favor so you may as well just pick one and hope the race engine sees it winning. For me I feel the Fractious runners have a slight edge despite the draw, and I will go for Chisel to come out on top.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
