#1 World In Change (Twin Towers/G. Saez)
-4yo Brusilov colt comes here off of a 12th place finish in the G2 Connaught Cup at WO on May 23. 0-3 on the year with two graded attempts and an open allowance try in between. He was the winner of the one mile Let It Ride Stakes at DMR last November, but this would be his first Graded win. Has won at today’s trip in the past, but appears like he will need a lot to go his way to make an impact here; a G2 win could justify the decision to keep him in tact. Trainer’s Thoughts: “I entered him in this race because I feel he is better than he has shown, though right now his form is terrible. That type of thing has never made me back off though. I always think in a situation like this either he runs well or he doesn’t, no big deal. Win or lose I never dwell on it. Ya gotta move on.”
#2 Ohtani (Sccj Stables/F. Prat)
-4yo Asset Class gelding has already secured his entry into the BC Mile after storming home to take the Shoemaker Mile (G1) in his latest. That was his 1st Grade 1 after taking a pair of G2’s as a sophomore. He will break from a prime post and retains the services of Prat, so there’s obviously a lot to like, but he’s never won back-to-back races so it remains to be seen if he can string together two prime efforts. All signs point to him having a say in the end if he’s on his game. Trainer’s Thoughts: “After the Shoemaker race, I had two paths. One was to wait until August and run in the Fourstar Dave and the other was to run here in the Wise Dan and then the Saratoga race in August. I chose the latter because I didn’t want a two and a half month layoff. He’s in good form right now and running really well. He responds quickly off his works which tells me he’s eager to run. Depending on how he responds to these next two races will help me decide if I give him a race at the end of September or wait until the BC Mile at the beginning of November.”
#3 Mucho Baked (Spankys Barn/D. Van Dyke)
-Our first 5yo, this Mucho Hype gelding was last seen setting the pace in the G2 Whittingham on May 29. He led them a long way before settling for 3rd in that 10f affair and has shown an affinity for being forwardly placed. His only Graded win came at FG back in March of last year, but he seems to always run his race. He’s beaten these types before and he will be in front; could be dangerous if he has things his own way. Trainer’s Thoughts: “Mucho Baked may be a cut below the top runners but he’s a pretty honest type, his works on the training track have been very sharp, the race is for 4 and up which I like because he wouldn’t have to give weight yet.”
#4 King Que Niagra (D J C Racing Stables/M. Gutierrez)
-This will be the 10th consecutive try at the Graded level for this 4yo Que Niagra gelding. Going through his PP’s, you’ll have to search to find a “poor” effort from this guy. Last out he was 6th when beaten 2-lengths by Ohtani in the Shoemaker Mile on May 31 at SA. Looks to be a quality individual who always tries and that May 1 G2 Fort Marcy score shows he can compete with these types. There’s a lot to like here and, if you back him, you have to hope he can work out a trip and get the jump on the competition because it appears he doesn’t mind getting on his belly when the money is on the line; however, this will be his 3rd race in less than 60 days. Trainer’s Thoughts: “I’m trying to grab some points towards making the BC turf field, when I entered the race the entry box was a little light and I figured some of the heavy hitters were going elsewhere. I was disappointed with his last race and hope he runs to his latest works that have been very good. I drew well and retained a top turf jock so if he has enough in the tank I believe he will do well for himself in this field.”
#5 Going Gone (John Henry/E. Jaramillo)
-Our first of two 7yo Cherokee Sunset geldings, this guy has seen Graded competition for his last 17 starts so it’s safe to say he will not be intimidated here. That being said, he appears to need a reversal of form to get the job done here. He was victorious in consecutive races last summer/fall at the G2 (Del Mar Mile) and G1 (Shadwell Turf Mile) level so the talent is there. On his best day, he can definitely win this, but, the question is, does he still have the fastball? Trainer’s Thoughts: “Going Gone is going thru a dry spell right now; has a lot to do with instructions since Engine change. Hopefully I figure it out, or he will be dropping into allowance competition. He has the heart, the ability, and hopefully he will show up for this race.”
#6 Lets Do It Big Boy (RNP Stables/T. McCarthy)
-Can a 7yo learn new tricks? If that May 15 effort in the G2 Dixie is any indication, then, yes, this Cherokee Sunset gelding is still working on his game. Previously a stone closer, this guy changed up his tactics for the 1st time since November of last year as he was always involved and just missed out to Nakamura Stables’ sharp Hollywood Hero. That race was at 9-panels so he’ll have to show he can shorten up and still kick on. Lots of mixed signals, but he is another whose best puts him squarely in the mix. Trainer’s Thoughts: “I do like to stay behind the scenes. Ever since I bought this horse he has brought me great joy and kept me afloat. I chose this race as it seems the grade ones are just too tough for him anymore. He’s still a stud in the 2’s and 3’s. Never paid that much for a horse before, but he has really returned a lot more than money. A lot of joy in this corner. I expect him to run big in this race. I also appreciate the interest in him and get a lot of joy reading about my horses when they are in stakes races and run well.”
#7 Hollywood Capo (Nakamura Stables/V. Carrasco)
-This one was purchased for $201.000 from Nj Vets just after the new year. It took him around three months to make his debut for this barn, but the 4yo Capo Di Tutti Capi gelding rewarded Nakamura Stables’ faith in him with a close 2nd, to the highly regarded Smokey Stover 3yo High Planker, in the G3 San Francisco Mile at GG. He followed the 2021 bow with a perplexing 6th in the G2 Whittingham over 10f on the SA lawn. His best runs have come from off of the pace, so expect to hear from him late if that last race proves to be an anomaly. Trainer’s Thoughts: “Difficult to nail down how the horse likes to run. The last two were not his best in my opinion. Although well back in the last race, 1 1/4 may have been a bit much. Little shorter distance with a better trip should make him competitive. I expect a more forward placement this time around.”
#8 Invercargill (Gdp Inc/R. Gonzales)
-Comes here off of a strong 2nd, at a whopping 101-1 odds, in the G2 Connaught Cup over 7f on the WO turf where he was beaten 1/2 length by Bajan Mask (Spankys Barn). That effort not withstanding, this 5yo Hardline gelding still has yet to win from three starts on the green stuff; however, he is a stakes winner on dirt so the class is there. Appears to tip his hand when he is ready to produce a big effort as he gets involved early and stays in contact with the front-runners. His best hope may be if the jock can get him in a stalking position while not giving up too much ground, but, even then, it appears he will need to take a step forward to factor in this one; however, his trainer believes he is sitting on a big effort. Trainer’s Thoughts: “Invercargill has always been a strong worker and had some success on dirt, but I always have expected more out of him. I switched him back to the lawn last time, but it was a race I believed to be too short for him. I was quite pleased with the result, and hope he can improve with a little more ground! It’s a great field, but I believe The Gill has a shot at finding the winner’s circle!”
#9 Teddy Tap (Wood Duck Stables/D. Davis)
-Making his stakes debut in this G2 affair, this 6yo Snow Tap gelding was claimed for $10.500 from Nakamura Stables in February. He immediately won a $17 SALW at GG in his 1st start for the new outfit before finishing a close 2nd in a state bred PRX ALW on May 10. So, sink or swim, he’s getting tossed in the deep end of the pool today. He is one of the few in here that looks like he prefers to get in a good rhythm with cover somewhere in mid-pack. Definitely getting a class test today and this trainer is not one to take blind leaps of faith, but he’ll need to step-up his game to get a piece here. Trainer’s Thoughts: “Teddy is a complete shot in the dark; back in April he had one of the best 1 Mile work on turf so I claimed him. After working with him a little, a Handicap Race seemed the correct move if rolling the dice was the course of action to be taken. The schedule didn’t quite fit so he is in with the big boys now. He will run on HL which means no one including his trainer has a clue. The draw was not favorable and if the turf course is wet, he will be scratched. There are zero expectations from post 9 against the best horses in the game but we will give him a shot and test his resolve.”
#10 Ghost From The North (Maxmillion Farm/J. Court)
-Last seen finishing 5th in the G2 Triple Bend (7f Dirt) at SA on May 29, this 5yo Laffin Ghost gelding will visit the turf for the first time since October. This fella does have some stakes placings on the grass, but he’s always come up short against this type of competition. That being said, be careful underestimating this barn regardless of what he thinks about his horse; he is not in here for a participation medal. His best hope may be to lay just off of the pace and hope to wear down the leader(s) and hold off the closers. Trainer’s Thoughts: “Money burner. Always works fast never delivers. Outside draw, will stalk Mucho Baked and I’ll lose another entry fee. 🙂 Put that in your article”
Final Analysis: This appears to be Ohtani’s to lose on paper, but that’s why we run the race. Hope that everyone has a great trip and their horses fire big. Huge shoutout to all of the trainers for being so gracious with their thoughts. Let’s Race!
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Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
