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Full Field of Sprinters for Sunday Kona Stakes at SA

By on

4/18/21

  2   SA   Kona Stakes (GIII)

         $100.000     4YO&Up      6 1/2 Dirt      123lbs +penalties

Senior sprinters will be the cup-of-tea in Sundays Kona Stakes (GIII) and this is going to be a fun race to watch -or- I have no clue how this one may go.  I’m going with the sentimental choice today and take the old boy, Glorious, as my top choice.  He is a 7yo but still runs his eye-balls out for Spankys Barn, and you have to show some appreciation for that.  He’s won his last two, over this track, and did it in very fast time, so let’s give the feller’ top billing in this one.  Wrigleyville is another that seems to be very consistent and that should help here.  He’s missed the board once in his career and that was a fourth, so there’s no reason to get off of him now.   I’ll take Prince Tudor in the third spot and when he runs his best, he’s tough against any group.  He will run a bad race, but his best is something you have to watch for today.

You can make a case for a few others, but let’s roll with these and see how we do. 

Here’s The Field –

1
   Gothic Heart    SamIam    Gutierrez Mario   123   10/1

Won the SA Sprint Championship (GII) last Sep and it’s been hard times since.  He’s won five of sixteen starts and has six other on the board finishes but a 11/10/6 trio of races makes it hard to get behind him here.  Can he find the old magic?

2
   A Beagle Named Boo    John Henry    Fuentes Ru   123   6/1

Has won three of his last four with the only non-winning effort being the only graded attempt.  He was fourth in the GP Sprint Championship (GIII) and was only beaten a length in that one.  He’s won some big races so give him a chance if he runs his best.

3
   First Man    Allinthegate    Hernandez J J   123   8/1

He won back in Oct at KEE while facing Alw company.  Just missed last out facing stakes company at TUP but this is obviously a step up from those.  He was sixth over this surface in the Palos Verdes (GII) so he needs to give a bit more to be a factor here.

4
   Catch The Day    Gdp Inc    Velazquez J R   123   9/2

Has been solid against Alw and open stakes company but graded foes have been a challenge.  Sixth in the Vosburgh (GII) and fifth in the Mr. Prospector (GIII) with those starts being surrounded by wins.  Can he improve and get into the fray in one of these?

5
   Mystery    Fractious    Cedillo A   123   4/1

Just missed when second (DH) in the SA Sprint Championship (GII) then missed in the Malibu, so they dropped him back to Alw foes and he scored last out.  He has some ability and may be coming back into form.  You may want to watch this one. 

6
   Kiss The Snake    Nakamura Stables    Pereira T J   123   9/2

Took the Fall Highweight Hcp (GIII) to close out his ’20 season and started off ’21 wiht a nice third in the Palos Verdes (GII).  Disappointed on the turf course here vs. Cal-bred but let’s write that off to the grass which he doesn’t seem to like.  If you are one of those turf-to-dirt guys, here’s your play.

7
   Wrecking Havoc    John Henry    Espinoza V   123   6/1

The good news is he’s won two of his last three, but his graded efforts of late have been less than thrilling.  He was ninth in the GP Sprint Championship (GIII) but did show some life in graded races to close out ’20.  That last out effort was rapid, can he repeat?

8
   Glorious    Spankys Barn    Prat F   123   7/1

The old boy is still rockin’-and-rollin’ winning both of this ’21 starts and when you’ve been on the board in twenty-six of forty-seven starts, with ten wins, you know the horse can haul the mail.  Even as a 7yo, I think he has to be watched here today and I like the old guy.

9
   Prince Tudor    Angelos Stable    Smith M E   123   6/1

Another veteran sprinter that just missed when second (DH) in the GP Sprint Championship (GIII) but came back to be a tiring eighth in the Fool Hcp (GIII) in his most recent.  Can he bounce back from that one and be a factor today?  His best would put him in the hunt.

10
   Shirakawago    Night Rider Stables    Baze T C   123   6/1

He’s proven to be an outstanding claim for $16.000 as he’s been first or second in the five starts since the hostile takeover.  Four of those vs. LA-bred and also won over this track at six and a half furlongs vs. high end claiming types.  He’s fast and could cause a mess here. 

11
   Wrigleyville    Angelos Stable    Gonzalez Ru   123   7/1

He’s having a solid season with a pair of wins and a pair of thids from his four starts, and when you add-in that he was on the board in all nine starts last season, you get the idea that he knows how to get the job done.  This is a step-up in class for him, but… he’s quick.

12
   Harleys Hope    TwinTowersRacing    Rispoli U   123   9/1

He was third in the Fall Highweight (GIII) at AQU but most of the other recent starts have been tough to watch including a last and a next to last in his most recent pair of starts.  He’s going to need to find some old magic or it could be another long day at the race track. 

13
   Beast Mode    Bears Stable    No Rider   123   AE

Needs some luck to draw into the field but he sure is an interesting idea with thirteen wins from twenty-six starts and has won eight of his last ten.  Now this is a step up in class, but what the heck… I’d love to see this one in the field.

COZMAN 8 / 11 / 9      Willie’s Green Card   8 / 10

 

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Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES