Simpson Stakes (Grade 1)- $2,000.000 Purse
KD- For Three Year Olds
Six and a Half Furlongs on the Turf
September 7, 2024

The next big race at KD for Saturday to look at will be the sixth running of the Simpson Stakes, which runs as a Grade 1 for the first time this year. In 2019, the race debuted as a Grade 3 for $500.000 and was promoted to a Grade 2 two years later. The purse also has doubled from last year’s $1,000.000 amount, making this race increasingly prestigious. The race is run for three-year-olds on the turf, making it different from the KD Turf Sprint, which is a win and you’re in for the BC Turf Sprint. Last year, the Simpson Stakes was won by Fiddlestyck, for Chili King Stables, and he would go on to finish sixth in the BC Turf Sprint two months later. He hasn’t been the same in 2024, and recently ran for a $40.000 claiming tag at SAR. However, the BC Turf Sprint winner did run in this race, as Drinkin Creepin finished second in the Simpson Stakes, one of the rare times we can remember him not winning a race. You’ll see him in the KD Turf Sprint. For now, let’s take a look at the field of twelve running this year:

1- Awad (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- In March, Awad won the Grade 3 Gotham with an impressive come from behind effort. This got him into the KYD, but that would be a struggle and led to the trainer moving him to the turf for the first time. That went well, as he won an optional claimer before being entered into the Grade 3 Quick Call, where he was second. Now, off of a win in the $150.000 Mahony at the Spa, Awad is here in the Simpson Stakes. He’s run in the BC Juvenile, the KYD, and Hopeful, among others, so he won’t be intimidated by his rivals here.

2- Cousy (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Gets the spot in the gate right next to his stablemate, but he doesn’t have the same resume as Awad. That’s not to say that he is not accomplished, but he is looking for his first his stake win. He has been going back and forth being sprinting and going a mile recently though regardless, he is one that will look to come from off the pace unless the trainer decides to do something differently. Awad, by the way, should have early speed.

3- Exemplary (Mb Stables, ridden by P Lopez)- Now, we move to the Mb section of the starting gate, as the trainer will have his three horses all alongside one another. This is a nicely bred colt by Tactical, and out of The Belle Tolls, but to this point the wins have not been coming. He’s only been able to get two victories over thirteen starts and has turned in some competitive results since then as well as some other races that are less appealing. Ran third last time out in the Quick Call, one length behind runner up Awad and winning stablemate Bad Fear. A horse can always turn the tables, but his inconsistency would have be looking their way over his way.

4- Heinous (Mb Stables, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- A lightly raced gelding that will be making just his sixth start but he has made the most of his trips to the track thus far. He’s hit the board in all five races, with two wins and two places during that stretch. The $100.000 Desert Code, where he was second, is his lone stake attempt thus far but he has most definitely earned the chance to run here. Worked very well at DMR, so if he gets lost in the shuffle on the odds board, I strongly suggest putting some money on him. Though, sometimes a horse likes this ends up a surprising favorite or second choice, not that it wouldn’t be earned.

5- Bad Fear (Mb Stables, ridden by M Franco)- He was hit and miss over his first five races, and possibly some off tracks hurt his climb through the ranks. However, in a $20.000 claimer at PRX, something clicked, and Bad Fear has been nearly unbeatable since then, making the trainer thrilled that he was never claimed. He’s won three of his last four, taking the $150.000 Paradise Creek at AQU, and then two starts later, scoring the biggest win of his career so far: the Grade 3 Quick Call at SAR. Came from off the pace in that one, which has been the norm for him.

6- Good Knights (Our Athletes, ridden by F Geroux)- This one was fantastic late last year and into this year, with strong performances in KYD preps. Second place runs in the Lecomte and the Rebel led to his entry in the KYD, but he would only run in the middle of the pack there. He would be cut to seven furlongs afterwards for the Grade 1 Stephens, and won that SAR race, and now he’ll see another change: being moved to the turf. This is his first such race on the grass, so we’ll see what happens.

7- Jurassic Park (Smokey Stover, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- Our third runner in this field that was seen in the KYD four months ago, but like the other two, Jurassic Park finished in the double digits. He got there by winning the Rebel and finishing third in the AR Derby, but after struggling in the Grade 3 Winn a month after the KYD, Smokey Stover decided to change things up. He’d run in a turf sprint, an optional claimer at DMR, that he won, and he has some great turf works, so certainly he has a future on this surface if the trainer stays on this path. He appeals to me here, especially if his odds climb a bit.

8- Supered (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by A Beschizza)- This will be just the fifth career start for Supered, and it comes off of his maiden win at ELP in July. It was his first time in a turf sprint, he went wire to wire and pulled away late for an impressive three length victory. He’s working really well, so this is certainly a name that we are going to want to remember. However, before we get carried away, this is a big jump and none of the horses that he beat that day have done much since.

9- Last Round (Fractious, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Last Round will be making his turf debut here after finishing towards the back last month in the ELP Derby. Overall, he has three wins in thirteen starts, and that includes an impressive victory in the mud at the Grade 3 Lang Stakes at PIM and he did do well in the race that followed, which was also a sprint. There are no public turf works on that one, so there is nothing to go by there. Surely, the trainer likes what he sees privately, but I will need to see it on the track first.

10- Thug (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by A Cedillo)- Ran well in winning a couple of overnights before being promoted to the stake level, and that also would correspond with the time he started seeing wet tracks. They did not go well, but it was dry again for the $100.000 My Frenchman Stakes two months ago, and he was second in a photo there. This is his first race since then, and rain is not expected. I look forward to seeing how he builds off of the My Frenchman here.

11- Fayette County (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Jo Dominguez)- Began his career on a tear, winning four in a row, including the Grade 1 Hopeful at SAR. Then, after running second in the Champagne, he’s been struggling, and found himself dropped into a claimer, albeit of the $100.000 variety. Maxmillion Farm picked him up there in late May, but we have not seen him since. Now, after three months, Maxmillion is ready to unleash this one in a race, and it will be his turf debut. I love how this one is working in anticipation of this, and love that the trainer has been patient. Fayette County may be about to remind everyone of how promising he once was and to show he just needed to be on the grass. But, when you have a three-month layoff, you always have to wonder: will he need a race first? I feel good about him not needing it.

12- Bronze Crown (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- He didn’t get to start next to his stablemate like all of the others, but he won’t be too far away. Bronze Crown makes his seventh start, and to this point, only has his maiden with to speak of, but he did finish second in the $100.000 Murphy Stakes in May. He’s only sprinted once, and it was not a career highlight, making me a little concerned about him getting the outside post here. That may be a little too much for him to overcome.

Prediction: 1-11-4-7

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES