Kilroe Mile (Grade 1)- $300.000 Purse
SA- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
March 1, 2025

We’ll stay at SA as we move on to the Grade 1 Kilroe Mile, sending older horses that distance over the turf course. The race runs for 21st time, and has a very impressive list of past winners, including Alpha Ultimo, Jagged Account (2x), and more recently Lunar Blaze (2x) and Anoush Command. Unfortunately, the purse took a step back last year, to the present $300.000 level, after peaking at $500.000 in the two years prior. That race was won by Albaquirky, for Santan Stables. The gelding had a great year overall and finished third in the BC Turf. He’s still active but will not seek to become the third two-time winner of the Kilroe Mile. Here’s a look at those we will be seeing:

1- Charlie Jace (Mb Stables, ridden by W T Buick)- Got hot right after he was picked up by Mb Stables in the June auction for $275.000, winning four out of six races with the trainer. This included a stunning four length win at the $400.000 Breeders Stakes for ON-Breds, which led to winning the Grade 1 HOL Derby later in the year. His lone race since then is the Pegasus World Cup Turf where he came on late to be fourth. Looks very promising in here, but so do others.

2- Bronze Crown (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by D Davis)- A horse that has been hit and miss over his career, and that certainly includes his last three starts. Two back, he went wire to wire in an allowance, but when taking on stake company in the two races that surrounding it, such as the Grade 3 McKnight Stakes last month at GP, he was near the back. It may be his day here, but this field is too deep for me given him the nod.

3- Electric Blue (Spankys Barn, ridden by L Saez)- Won two of six races in 2024, with the big win being the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile right here in May. That would get him into the BC Mile, but he’d only be an also-ran that day. Spankys Barn opted to give him a very rare dirt start after that in the Grade 3 Toboggan, and he looked good in running second, but it will be back to the grass right here. Puts together some very good works, and maybe a return to this track, where he is 2-for-2 lifetime (both graded wins), can help.

4- Lantern Yard (Avenue Z, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- The veteran six-year-old will make the 39th start of his career, looking for win number six. This is a turf regular, who has gone back and forth between sprints and distances like this looking to pick up his first victory since the end of February last year. He’s been more dependable with hitting the board, with a third-place effort at the Seabiscuit Handicap in November being his best race recently. Needs to run as well here to have a shot.

5- Jakarta (Nakamura Stables, ridden by S Elliott)- Etched his name into the record books last fall by winning the BC Mile, which was one of his two wins over the year. Began this year off the same way he did last year, which is a silver lining from a poor result. Dead last in the Pegasus World Cup Turf last month, just like he was in 2024, and that did not set him back at all. Interestingly, I see that when he has been bad, he’s started from the outside. So, whatever that reason may be, that’s not a concern in this race.

6- Sioux Arrival (High Voltage, ridden by F T Alvarado)- This is another horse in the field that can be hit and miss, though he very rarely will have two bad races in a row. Last time out was one of those tough races, starting near the back in the Pegasus World Cup Turf and not doing much other than picking off a few late. He was better in the race before, but the start that appeals to me more was back in late September, when he was second in the Grade 2 City Of Hope Mile, since it was right here at SA, and at this distance. Needs to run like that here.

7- American Generals (Riggins Racing, ridden by Jam Rodriguez)- I like a horse that is hot, and American Generals would fit that, given he has won three of his last four. It was just two weeks ago when we last saw him, and he took care of business that day in the in the Grade 3 FG Stakes. He’s shown that he could get into the BC, doing so in 2023, but right now, he may be on the best form of his career and is appealing to watch as this year goes on.

8- Penal Hockey Party (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by J Lezcano)- Definitely deserves his “stick taps”, as he has won over $4,000.000 for his career, while winning nine of 31. And while Ovechkin is on top form right now at an older age, Penal Hockey Party should not be ruled out from having a big year, either. For that to happen, he’s going to need to be better than he has been over his last three, and maybe leaving the longer distances behind will help. Ran second in this race back in 2023.

9- Spam Luka (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- It’s not the past performances that will convince many to put virtual money on him. He did look nice last time out, though, going wire to wire in an N1X NY-bred allowance at AQU, but this a big step up from that. His lone ungraded attempt, from December, was dismal. He’s young enough to be progressing still, but I will need to see on the track, first.

10- Winned (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by Mar Garcia)- Made an immediate impression last year as a TC hopeful, and while he did not run well in the KYD, that in no way derailed him from going on to have a great year. After a breather, Winned was moved to the grass in August and won the KD Preview Nashville, setting off a stretch of three wins in four races, all coming on the grass. We have not seen him out there for a couple months, as he last ran around Thanksgiving time in the Grade 3 Commonwealth Turf and won. This is where he kicks off his four-year-old campaign, and I think it will be a successful venture.

11- Continuously (Jediminds Stable, ridden by A J Juarez Jr)- The trainer spent a lot to pick this one up last April, acquiring him in private sales for $350.000. Didn’t fare well initially and would be move to the turf after a couple starts. It is there where the results have improved for Jediminds Stable, but he still seems to have a little way to go. Doesn’t have the one race that really stands out to me as appealing when measuring him up against the competition, though if he can duplicate his Lure Stakes form, then he can be in the mix.

Prediction: 10-1-7-5

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES