Vigil Stakes – Grade III
WO Race #2 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $125.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 A Beagle Named Boo John Henry Bahen S R
This s a pretty tough midweek grade three but if ever a horse deserved a win it is this one. Beaten a neck or a nose in 4 of his last six he certainly has very good form for a race like this. Running from a difficult draw he flew home in the Triple Bend last time beaten just a neck into third and a repeat of that form from this much better draw should be enough. The downside of course is there are three year olds in the race but they are all drawn wider so if ever there was a time for a four year old to beat a three it is this.
2 Blowberg Fractious Hernandez R M
Another solid sprinter he gets the A1 draw so on that alone would have to be considered. A sub 1.09 winner over this trip at CD last time he was a grade one winner last year and ran pretty well in the BC Sprint so certainly has the class to get in at the end. Like the one inside him he has the considerable problem of the three year olds to cope with but these two four year olds certainly represent a decent chance.
3 Kill Command Fractious Contreras L
A decent sort of sprinter who is drawn well enough to go into the mix. He was a pretty good three year old winning five but has failed in five attempts so far this year and that is a worry. On his works he is as good as anything he will just have to rely on that generous helping of luck in this big field.
4 Sparrow Hills Arindel Wilson E J
A five year old that normally is a bit of an advantage over the fours and he ran well enough from a tough draw when fourth in the MD Sprint last time to go into the cooking pot. His works are the same as pretty much everything else so again with a dose of luck in running you must give him a chance.
5 Mojave Rattler Mo Mentum Farm Stein J
Last years BC Turf Mile winner where else would you expect to find him than a dirt sprint 7 months later. Such is the way HRP works as the trainer tries to recapture his dual grade one winning form from last year. He ran well enough from a wide draw in the Triple Bend last time to suggest that Mo Mentum may be onto something and guess what…..yup he is working the same as everything else.
6 Bodemister D J C Racing Stables Moran D
Just as you think the top half of the field may contain a winner you come across the three year olds. It has to be said that he hasn’t exactly go world beating form but seeing he is working the same as the older horses and getting five pounds you have to say he probably has a better chance. He tends to finish lat and that may be tough from the squeeze box but with the required luck in running you have to give him a chance.
7 Fracas Rampage Stable Husbands P
He was pretty disappointing in the Lang Stakes last time but that was against his own age group so he can’t be ruled out on that run. Good enough works and a stakes winner over the trip he could go well despite inferior form.
8 Napoleanic War Mb Stables Prat F
The winner of a little one win allowance at GG over a mile on the turf last time you wouldn’t think it would be the case but guess what….yes, he is working the same as everything else. He will need luck from the draw but the stable often finds a bit of luck so again he can go into the mix.
9 Gothic Heart SamIam Kimura K
The winner of four from ten he ran well in the Lang Stakes last time to be second and won the Animal Kingdom Stakes from a wide draw so he too must have a chance.
10 Iron Return Alydar Stables Lermyte J
This is probably the best three year old in the race and even though he is working just the same as everything else he at least has the right form to take out the older horses. The draw is the sticking point but he was drawn ten when a half length second in the Stephens last time so clearly can handle it. I guess if he leads again it will be down to the race engine as to whether he wins or not but he certainly is good enough.
11 Milford Sound Mwn Racing Boulanger G
He has never really fulfilled the promise he has shown but has posted the fastest recent work so who knows maybe today is his day. He will need luck from the draw in what is a very even race but if he ever runs to his works then he would have a great chance.
12 Kris Kross Chili King Stables Garcia Alan
A consistent sort over all sorts of trips but the draw has been very unkind and he may well find it too tough from out here.
SUMMARY
There is no doubt that the older horses are with the exception of Iron return the better horses in this race but when you look at works you just see 12 clones so you have to rely on form. There is so much at play here, the big field, the draw, the jockeys and of course the instructions making it an almost impossible race to handicap.
I will stick to the usual formula though and go for Iron Return to beat A beagle Named Boo by a nose with the rest of the field a neck back in a dead heat for third.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
