Read Stakes – Grade II
1 1/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $250.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st       Hollywood Command          Scarletandgraystable       Baird E T

It is great to see these older horses taking these all aged races and this was a great win for a trainer that put their experience to great use with a fantastic claim. Claimed from a newer player at the end of last year they spotted the talent and has quickly turned this one into a real force in the turf routing ranks. A close second in the Appleton just 3 months after being claimed for just $7.50 he ran very well in the Forrester and then today after a fairly long break ran the perfect race from the gate to score by a game three quarters of a length. As he build towards a spot in the BC field the trainer will be hoping he becomes their first BC winner.

2nd        Andes           Arindel         Boulanger G

The best of the three year olds he closed well but never looked like overhauling the winner, Considering his past performances you would have to say this was a big improvement and seemed to pick up on the recent success of this up and coming stable. There will be plenty of time left for this one and this was a big step in the right direction.

3rd         Kings Poker      Wood Duck Stables         Espinoza V

Went up onto the pace from his wide draw he may have been better off pushing on for the lead like he did in the Sir Barton last time but he seemed to be restrained into the stalk and in the end his lack of a turn of foot found him out. He battled on very gamely and is clearly an up and comer and it is great to see a newer stable have a decent horse like this to take through the rest of the season.

4th        Atomic Eclipse       La Canada Racehorses      Saez L

Took up a decent enough spot in transit but i just wonder whether his limit is 8 furlongs rather than this nine. There will be plenty more wins in this ones future and he looked pretty dangerous until just flattening out in the last furlong.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES