First stakes event on the card for Saturday, the Day Mile has attracted twelve three year old hopefuls who were unable to make the Derby field, but will be in strong competition for this raised purse value.

• Day Mile Stakes- Grade III Purse $400.000
• Churchill Downs- For Three Year Olds.
• One Mile – Main track Dirt
• May 4th, 2019

Over the past three seasons of this event, we have seen the purse money go from $250.000, up to this years Four Hundred dollar level, keeping interested parties putting in some talented runners. Eleven of the twelve entries were all TC nominated with the exception being Man Childe ( Our Athletes ). His older half brother just took home the Elusive Quality last weekend up in New York. Many have competed at this level and distance in the past, but the surface may be something new. With showers in the forecast for the next couple of days, we will try to handicap this affair for what looks to be a sloppy going. So we may find a few drop out under those conditions.

Here’s a quick glance at this years field;

1.Burning Approval ( Mb Stables ) Jockey Wilson E J – Lightly raced chestnut with only four career starts. His only career victory was in his maiden 50 try over at GP for five and a half furlongs. Must note that was over a sloppy surface. Placed third in the Gr. II LA Derby two starts ago, then hit a good surface in the Gr. I AR Derby, placing ninth. Can he repeat his effort over the slop once again? Rail does hold the water, so its questionable.

2. Cherokee Reward ( Estero Farms ) Jockey Gaffalione T – Has been searching for a victory since he won the NY Breeder Futurity. Since that event he has been competing in Graded company and worth noting is he hit a good surface in the Gr. III Lecomte at FG. He would place second by a half a length after going on top at the three quarter mark, and he would also earn his best SRF number of 94 as well. Has a jockey with a 22% win ratio on off track so could be interesting.

3.Man Childe ( Our Athletes ) Jockey Geroux F – Is coming off a runner-up finish in the Gr. III Bay Shore with a closing effort to miss by a quarter of a length going seven eights of a mile. B J Hernandez was aboard for that trip and its surprising he didn’t get the call for this event after that performance. HE earned a 97 SRF number for that race, and in his past three starts, those numbers have been continuously on the rise. Has only gone over a mile once in his career, and that was a very heavy sloppy affair.

4. Scarlet Ninja ( Joshua Stables ) Jockey Castellano J J – Finished in a dead heat for third in the Gr. III Lecomte event just behind another entered here. His two most recent Graded company affair left him back of the pack and out of the money. Looking back to last season, he faced a muddy surface in the Gr. I Breeders Futurity, and was racing at the back of the field, mud tossed in his face, and with all that, closed to place second alongside another closer. Stronger legs and stamina may make the difference here.

5.For The Boys ( D J C Racing Stables ) Jockey Hernandez R M – Was claimed at the end of last season for a minor 25 price tag. Did accumulate a nice record with his previous owner going 7 ( 3-1-2 ). Since the claim has only managed two third place finishes off the shelf. His most recent races, saw him with a fourth and thirteenth place finish against Grade II level company. With the off track conditions which seems to be in the card, his rider has a weakness for this condition. Out of the Money.

6. Di Bug ( John Henry ) Jockey Velazquez J R. – Went for a nice price in a private back in mid April. This will be his first start off the shelf for new interests, and it is taking a big gamble here. Finished second two starts ago in the Gr. III Gotham. Was the post time favorite in the Gr. II San Vincente stakes over a muddy track, and showed some late run to get up to sixth, just three shy. Only shows one work since the purchase, so trainer may be holding his cards close to his chest. Could he surprise?

7. Genuine Pleasure ( Nakamura Stables ) Jockey Desormeaux K J – A very lightly raced bay gelding with only two maiden events, and his most recent OpClm40 race in which he finished second. His last race was back on Jan 20th, and since then he went under the knife in late March. Major move up to this level in my opinion, but with Maidens winning other stakes events this season, who knows. Needs more time in amongst the protected ranks to see how he fits. Not to my liking here.

8.Brief And Wonderous ( Fractious ) Jockey Van Dyke D – Trainer passed out a few C Notes to purchased this chestnut colt, one of two colts in todays field. Since joining the barn, has been out of the money, as well as being out of the top five. His most recent attempt in the Gr. II LA Derby, he would finish some two back of our inside runner for this affair. May need some time to repay the wallet, but I don’t think today is the day. Mid pack finish.

9. Gun Down ( South Beach Racing ) Jockey Jaramillo E – Has competed in two events with the likes of Di Bug who is in todays field. Was purchased for a minor sawbuck, then took to racing in the Gr. I AR Derby for his new interests with poor results, then was resold for a considerable mark up in value. His effort in the San Vincente had him placing third by a neck, and posting a 96 SRF figure as well over a muddy surface. If his last GP work was a bit tighter, it might have peeked my interest.

10.Salar de Uyuni ( Mb Stables ) Jockey Bejarano R – Took home the Gr. III Gotham in his second start of the season up at Aqueduct. Attempted to comeback in the Gr. II Wood Memorial in hopes of heading to the Derby, but came home four shy of the winner in tenth position. Has never seen a wet track in his career, and gives wonder as to whether he will be scratched come Saturday. Has the talent having won four of his eight career starts, and if he goes, he should be considered.

11. Unfold ( Mb Stables ) Jockey Beschizza A – the third entry for this barn on the card. This will be his fifth start of the season after breaking his maiden three starts ago. Another entry who has not seen any off track races to date, While he did finish third two starts ago in the TAM Derby, His last effort in the Gr. II BG Stakes left a bad taste in many backers at the windows. Works at Belmont are sharp, but how will he take to the conditions. If he goes, could go either way.

12. Di Atoni ( Gdp Inc ) Jockey Talamo J – Out of the same sire as Di Bug, who is competing in this event. Has been a consistent runner at the mile distance and that should be taken into consideration. Hit a sloppy surface at Gulfstream back in February, but the results were not up to par for this grouping. Ran his first ever Graded company try last time out, but was not note worthy of an event. Slightly stronger entries will definitely be putting on a show, leaving him out of the money.

Duffers Picks- Off track ( 3-2-6 )

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES