The Shadwell Turf Mile (Grade 1) (BC)- $1,000.000 Purse
KEE- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
October 8, 2022

Once again, we have a fantastic weekend of racing on tap as the last chances to earn BC points are upon us. KEE will be where all that action takes place, but we don’t have to wait a month to see big time racing from the track. The Shadwell Turf Mile is one of several points paying races being held here, and it will feature a full field of fourteen who want both the points and the winner’s share of the $1,000.000 purse. That purse level is back to where it was in 2019, before the virtual pandemic hit. It is the 18th time that the race will be run in our virtual world, and has been won by horses such as Dogma, Bbff, and Spanish Showboat over its history. In 2021, Nakamura Stables picked up the victory with Hollywood Capo. He would end up finishing ninth in the BC Mile, and is winless in 2022 (though has five in the money graded finishes), and will not be here to defend his crown. Let’s look at those looking to be the next addition to the winner’s list.

#1- Tiger Claw (London Racing, ridden by F Prat)- While he did run in the FL Derby as a three year old, this is the first year that he has been a regular in graded competition. After a solid string of finishes with London Racing, he finally earned his first graded victory last month, coming in the Grade 2 DMR Mile. The victory equaled his career high 100 SRF. Whatever it was that the trainer did with this one after claiming him, it is clearly working and I like his consistent nature.

#2- Ags Cherokee (RNP Stables, ridden by S Elliott)- This gelding has been flipped around between several barns, but he spent the majority of his career with Arg Racingfarms. He would arrive at RNP Stables this June, for $100.010 in that auction, and he has made three starts since then. His debut was a victory in the $135.000 Lure in August, but he did not hit the board in his two races that followed. He will now be making his fourth start over a span of eight weeks, and that’s a lot to ask.

#3- Immoral (Mb Stables, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- One of the greats of the game, with over $5,700.000 in career earnings. He has been third in the BC twice, first the BC Turf in 2020, then the BC Mile last year. Immoral’s 2022 has seen win two Grade 1’s: the Pegasus World Cup Turf in January, then the Forester Turf Classic at CD in May. He’s continued to race well since then, and was second in a photo at the KD Turf Cup last month. He cuts back on his distance here, but as shown he is exceptionally versatile in that regard.

#4- Sly Prayers (Dawson Farms, ridden by J Talamo)- One of four three year olds in the race, and that will give him a three pound weight allowance. He’s made twelve starts over his career, with three wins, highlighted by the Grade 2 American Turf at CD in May. That was part of a very strong stretch for him that lasted from January to June, but his last two starts have not been as good. Don’t take that the wrong way, as they were not terrible, but he didn’t earn a penny in either of them. I believe he’s fully capable of bouncing back here, though am looking elsewhere.

#5- On The Turning Away (Gdp Inc., ridden by M Murrill)- This six year old gelding has made 32 starts, and has hit the board in half of them, with six being wins. He’s made many stake starts, but has only won one of them: the 2021 Carter Handicap. Overall, his graded history could be better. He doesn’t have a lot of history running long in the grass, but where he has, he’s been okay. It will take a career best effort for him, I think.

#6- Cinnamon Strike (Smokey Stover, ridden by A Cedillo)- Two starts ago, Cinnamon Strike rolled off an impressive victory in the Grade 1 United Nations, with a career high 102 SRF. It raised hopes that maybe he could run off a streak of wins like he did in late 2021 into this year. Then, the Sword Dancer happened. What the heck happened there? If he is entered here, the trainer is confident that he will bounce back, and he should. The United Nations version of him will need to show up here.

#7- Mickey (South Shore Stables, ridden by M Franco)- This three year old was strong during the KYD preps, winning the Gotham and the AR Derby, and would then participate in all three of the TC races. They are not the highlight of his past performances, but he was there. Following that, he was moved to the grass, and that went perfectly for the trainer, winning the BEL Derby. It seemed like he might be destined for more of the same on the turf, but that did not really happen. Plenty of time for that to change here.

#8- Miami My Amy (Mb Stables, ridden by Ru Silvera)- The last time we saw this gelding, he was coming from behind to finish second in the JC Derby, while in the silks of John Henry. Eight days later, he was sold to Mb Stables for $250.000, giving that trainer another shiny new toy in his barn. The three year old has only made eleven starts, so there is plenty of time for this connection to do great things, and perhaps that can start here.

#9- Distant Volcano (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by D Davis)- Another one of the three year olds, and we last saw him at KD last month, turning in a good effort at the Mint Million. That came on soft turf, and he was second although beaten by three lengths. He had run there on three weeks rest, following another second place run, coming in the Grade 2 Secretariat. Had a sharp looking seven furlong work at CD before coming here.

#10- Raj The Magician (Wood Duck Stables, ridden by Mar Garcia)- It’s been over two years since Wood Duck Stables claimed this for $25.000, and while he didn’t immediately enter stakes company, moving him to the turf was massively successful. His graded debut came this June, when he appeared in the Grade 3 Arlington Stakes, which he would win. He would win his next one as well, capturing the Grade 2 Wise Dan. The last two starts for him have been the AP Million and the WO Mile, and he ran well in each, though was one spot short of cashing a check in each. Should be a contender here as he never seems to have a bad race when on the grass.

#11- Ronaldo Chop (Night Rider Stables, ridden by L Saez)- All but two of his 24 career starts have come on the turf. The first one came in 2019, and he would not see the grass for another three years. For his last start, Night Rider Stables returned him to the grass for the Grade 3 International Turf Cup, and he would go on to win the race. If he wins this, the trainer will be wishing that he moved him back to the green sooner.

#12- Two In The Chamber (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by E Jaramillo)- In April, the five year old raced here in the Grade 2 Elkhorn and picked up a win. It was his fifth in 29 starts, and he did run well in the Manhattan right after it, but since then, Two In The Chamber has not been that effective. With a closer to the front tactic, he was better in his last start, but he’ll to improve on that here.

#13- Kid Commander (Allinthegate, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Ran well during the winter, winning the $100.000 Kenner Stakes, and then second in the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile at SA. All seemed well, but the horse has not been able to carry that momentum as the year went on. His last four starts have been particular struggles, but interestingly, all four of them were sprints after he had success at a mile. Those races see the trainer revisit running him at this distance.

#14- Pxg (Mb Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- No one in this field has made more starts than he has, as this will be his 35th. He’s never been better than he has been since hitting his 30’s, winning four of his last five, including the $1,000.000 Grade 2 KD Turf Sprint last month. He doesn’t have to only sprint, though, and his history shows him being very versatile with both distance and surface for his career. That KD Turf Sprint victory also saw him win from an outside post, so that shouldn’t eliminate him from consideration here, either.

Prediction: 3-9-14-10

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES