Hope Stakes (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
DMR- For Two Year Olds
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
November 17, 2018

Night Rider Stables claimed a two year old gelding named Di Bug for $25.000 on a rainy Saratoga day to little fanfare, and since then has taken this horse to new levels. Two great performances in NY-bred stakes made him our pick for this race, to take the next step forward in his career. He would not be the top choice for this race, as we would get generous 5/1 odds on this one. Also had the correct top four in the preview, just with second and third reversed. Di Bug would go right to the front, and run with the pacesetter before taking over the lead in the stretch. It was a smooth, good looking victory. One that should show him capable of taking on even stronger company as his career progresses. Night Rider Stables, the winning trainer, and K J Desormeaux, the winning jockey, are each time winners of this race, which was held for the 16th time. The time of the race was 1:22.01, not one of the quickest of the DMR editions, but all that was needed. Here’s a look at the race!

(1/4 Mile- :23.53)- The quickest runners early emerge from the middle of the starting gate, and Axeman’s Maestro Authority is credited with the early advantage. He runs the opening quarter in a manageable time, and leads by nearly a length. The eventual winner, Di Big, from Night Rider Stables, will keep him close and run just to his outside. Red Blunt, from Di Bug’s former trainer, Gdp Inc, is also starting well on the rail and runs third in a stalking position. This Aint No Disco (YME Stable) and Pigs R Us (Aer Stables) run side by side in the middle of the field while Final Verse (Mb Stables) and overwhelming longshot Magical Madness (Fractious), race at the back.

(½ Mile- :46.70)- The run down the backstretch does not see much, of any, change, in the action. The primary excitement for this portion of the race was when This Aint No Disco came off the rail and looked to get around Red Blunt. He would not make much headway, yet, on that move. It’s still Maestro Authority up front, with Di Bug continuing to be his shadow. Red Blunt remained third, though about to be overtaken for the position. Pigs R Us was following This Aint No Disco with that move. Final Verse and Magical Madness remained the trailers.

(Top Of The Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- As we moved around the turn, Maestro Authority was no longer able to maintain the pace that he was setting and dropped back. Meanwhile, Di Bug continued to get closer to taking over the lead, and picked up his own pace. This led to what was really an easy looking pass on the track, and he would emerge at the top of the stretch with a quick lead of about a length and a half. At this point, it looked as though the race was his. This Aint No Disco had gotten around Red Blunt, but was still third, and had two tough lengths to still have to make up. Red Blunt was retreating, and as Final Verse attempted to make his advance, he had to make way for the backing up rival and alter his path a bit, costing him valuable time. Pigs R Us, who had been running with This Aint No Disco, was coming up empty here. Our longshot, Magical Madness prepared for a six wide move in the stretch.

(Finish- 1:22.01)- With about a furlong to go, Di Bug was now in hang on mode, but he had built a nice lead for himself, and was running adequately enough. This Aint No Disco put the charge on and made a nice bid, but could only get within half a length. Final Verse, once free, put a good run together, but the distance that was lost to the top two meant that it would just be a third place effort on this day. Maestro Authority held on for fourth, narrowly keeping the crazy longshot, Magical Madness from lighting up the superfecta. Pigs R Us and Red Blunt round out the finishing order. Keep an eye on Di Bug as a three year old!

About the winner: Di Bug, trained by Night Rider Stables, and ridden to victory by K J Desormeaux, is a two year old gelding by Di Medici, and is out of Thequeenhasspoken. That’s the same dam as Jinxed Queen, the Personal Ensign winner this year. He was bred in New York by Gdp Inc as a first quarter two year old, and acquired by Night Rider Stables via a $25.000 claim in August of this year. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth in six starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $206.000.

Track: Fast
Time: :23²  :46³  1:09⁴  1:22

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 2 Paid 24.60
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 2 – 6 Paid 26.40

Scratched: None

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES