Bold Venture Stakes – Grade III
WO Race #1 6 1/2f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $150.000 For Three-Year-Olds And Upward.

1 Bayside Bomber Nakamura Stables Gaskin D Z 123 —

Five years old seems to be an age when some horses at HRP can find dramatic improvement and a look at this one’s works certainly seems to suggest that. However the seven runs without a win in comparison is contradictory. So what do we get today, a great placed effort which seems to have happened this year or a stunning win that starts a run of form that his works suggest is possible? The truth is of course we won’t know until it happens but there is certainly a big win bubbling in the background for this one and maybe today can be the day.

2 Electric Angelos Stable Curtis B 123 —

This one’s best form seems to be over longer trips but an early season win in the Toboggan suggests that a win over this sort of trip is not an impossibility. The seven-year-old gets a great draw to stalk from today and with a likely fast pace, he will have more left at the end than some.

3 Indiscretion John Henry Bocachica Ar 123 —

A graded stakes winner last year, he hasn’t seemed so good this year but a good effort in an SAR allowance last time suggests that if he can get on speed he will give a good account of himself today. A sprinter through and through, he gets a nice gate from which to run a big race.

4 Elvis Lives Party Mb Stables Franco M 123 —

The winner of seven from a fairly light career, his form and works are certainly in the ball park and a win wouldn’t surprise. I really liked his effort in the Cartier two back and similar race conditions and a better draw today should produce a similar effort.

5 So Slick Asgar Lopez P 123 —

His last two efforts on turf may have given him some confidence after solid efforts hadn’t given him a win since September last year. I put no importance on the surface as it doesn’t seem to matter much at HRP with most horses and with some strong dirt works I would expect a big effort today. He is likely to be at decent odds and I would be putting him in as the dark horse here.

6 Harsh Tactics Axeman Rodriguez Jam 123 —

Despite only winning a little State-Bred stakes race this year his works are as good as anything on the surface, so he is another that could outrun his form. The draw will make his preferred stalking style tough, but if he can get in quickly enough he should run well.

7 To The Mattresses Threshold Cedillo A 123 —

The six-year-old has been knocking on the door at this level, but has yet to really break through, but he must be a decent each way chance if he can work with this awkward draw.

8 Hyakutake Riggins Racing Velazquez J R 123 —

A decent sprinting type which has won nearly 50% of his runs, so although he hasn’t run at this level for a while, his chances are obvious. He won at SAR last time in a very fast time and that effort puts him right in the mix.

9 Link Wray South Shore Stables Husbands P 119 —

The three-year-olds will find it tough here with just four pounds advantage and wider draws but this one’s win at CD in 1.08 and 3 certainly brings him into things. The draw won’t matter so much, as he has run well as a closer or a front runner so there is plenty of upside especially as it comes to that time of year where the three-year-olds start to dominate the older horses.

10 Everest Mo Mentum Farm Salles L 123 —

Hasn’t been as sharp this year but has still been admirably consistent and must be a strong chance again today. The wider draw may actually help as he likes to go on-speed, and the wide push will help that so as long as he clears most of those inside him, he should be right in it at the end.

11 Sky Diver Crocker Ggs Walcott R W 119 —

Has been seen mostly over the longer trips recently and looks a little out of his depth, but there is a scenario where this one could win and that is if the pace up front is cutthroat. He has been a deep closer for his best efforts and may just find a lot of weakening horses going down the stretch and may find the outside motorway.

12 Back Class TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 123 —

A very difficult form read but I can’t find too much here to see him winning. Of course, that is usually when TwinTowers produces a winner, so whilst I cannot see him closing them down late for a shock win, I wouldn’t be writing it off either.

SUMMARY

It is almost impossible to separate these sprinters. I may be getting old but way back when, a 1.10 work would be superstar status, and we wouldn’t have to look much further but these days every horse and their dogs work the same or very similar times, so it is impossible to look at those as see a winner. The form isn’t much better with draw and pace being the seeming difference rather than a horse’s ability to win so this is a race where I will respectfully say I have no idea which horse can win. My pin says number one so I will go with that.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES