The 19th Running of the G1 Pharoah Stakes
October 1, 2021 18:20
SA Race #8 $300.000 11/16 Dirt
2YOs 120 Lbs
Track Record-1:38.57 (Icicle-2005)
Stakes Record-1:41.74 (Symboli Rudolf-2015)
For the 19th time some of the best juveniles in the HRP community have decended on SA for the $300.000 G1 Pharoah Stakes. Run at the same 8.5 furlong distance as the G1 BC Juvenile, this should give the first glimpse of who may go favored in November. Diablo Diablo (2008, 2016) and Mb Stables (2018, 2019) have each trained two winners of this event and C.S. Nakatani (2005, 2007) is the only jockey with two of these on his ledger.
Half of this year’s contestants have only a maiden win while five others have notched stakes victories; Liberia owns the only graded win in the field. The winner of this gains a guaranteed spot in the starting gate in November and would have to be considered among the favorites in that race. Here is the field for the 2021 $300.000 G1 Pharoah Stakes at SA:
#1 Custom Continental (Jive Inc./D. Moran): Stretched-out nicely when winning the $200.000 Sapling and draws the rail for this assignment. Appears to be a one run closer, so will need a little cooperation up top, but everything available says that he will be running late here.
#2 Warrior Of Chiefs (Wood Duck Stables/F. Prat): Two for three in his career with wins at CD and DMR and is drawn well here. Appears to have enough early foot to be involved from the start and he’s already defeated winners which is something half of the field haven’t even tried yet. Logical contender.
#3 All Take (Team 7 Illusions/P. Husbands): Debut winner came back to run a good 3rd over the off-going in $200.000 Simcoe for Canada-breds. Another who has good early pace and worked a strong mile on September 21. Have to expect this trip to be right in his wheelhouse and is well-drawn to take his best shot.
#4 Liberia (Waldo/J.K. Court): G2 Best Pal winner draws well for his first G1 assignment. That win came from the 12-hole, so he may be even better from the inner third of the gate. He owns wins at WO and DMR and would have to be considered the horse to beat off of that most recent effort.
#5 Cherokee Vacation (Alydar Stables/J. Alvarado): Took a trip around the track in his debut at EMD before returning to score from well off of the pace at ELP in late August. Spent all of September prepping for this stretch-out and step up the class ladder, but may be asking a bit too much too soon.
#6 Fionas Miracle (La Canada Racehorses/D. Cohen): Back-to-back wins at SAR against NY-bred company with the latest in the $200.000 Funny Cide. Has shown that he wants to be involved early and should get a great trip from the middle of this full gate. Figs are improving as distances are increasing; beware.
#7 Orange Chicken (Arindel/V. Espinoza): Second-out winner has taken three straight graded swings with only a close 2nd in G3 Bashford Manor to show for them. Last two tries were over the off-going and can be excused. Weather shouldn’t be a factor on Friday so we should see his best.
#8 Twin Jet Engines (Maxmillion Farm/E. Jaramillo): Settled for DH win in first start for new connections after being purchased for $225.000 in August. Maiden-breaker came at a mile after three close sprint finishes to begin his career. Obvious pace presence gets class test in this one.
#9 Number Theory (Mb Stables): SCRATCHED
#10 Killer Instinct (Mb Stables/A. Cedillo): Broke his maiden in his third start before taking $100.000 Graduation Stakes. Last effort was a 2nd in the G1 DMR Futurity and gets more ground to work with here. Trainer is looking for his third victory in this race and scratched the runner to his inside…interesting.
#11 Uranus (Smokey Stover/J.R. Velazquez): Won on debut back in early April at SA before resurfacing in August to take $125.000 ELP Juvenile. Tried graded foes in his latest at SAR where he ran 3rd in G1 Hopeful on a track listed as good. This is a logical spot for his return and rates a very good chance.
#12 Croton Road (Fractious/S.X. Bridgmohan): Debut winner at CD has taken two cracks at the graded level since and came home three-lengths behind the winner both times. No obvious excuse when disappointing as the fave in G2 Best Pal, but may not have cared for the off-track in latest. Tough call.
#13 Mr Fabulous (Keikowin Racing/D. Van Dyke): Winner at second-asking when he romped in the slop draws in with the scratch of Number Theory. Can’t think he’ll get the slop that he relished, but there’s nothing wrong with how he’s worked on dry ground. Tough ask from out here in a G1, but could see him passing horses to grab a slice.
ALSO ELIGIBLE:
#14 Imtellingtime (Nakamura Stables/TBD)
Final Analysis: 11-10-6 but really could see almost any horse in the field getting their picture taken. Good luck to everyone involved in the $300.000 G1 Pharoah Stakes!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
