BG Stakes – Grade II (P9) [KYD]
 KEE Race #5 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $1,000.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Scarlet Ninja Joshua Stables Smith M E

Well we are getting down to the knuckle now for most of these runners and this is just one of many that should be in the Derby but may end up missing out. Bought for $250.000 as a two year old he ran a close second in the Breeders Futurity before a fair run in the BC Juvenile after getting buried from the ace draw and running on late for a close up ninth. He was a good third in the Lecompt on seasonal debut but was stuck with a car park draw in the Gotham and failed to get into the frame. He didnt run badly that day making up plenty from last to be seventh beaten just two lengths. His running style is to get back a bit which will cause problems again from the inside draw but if his trainer can get him traveling just behind the speed and the gaps open up he is certainly good enough to win this.

2 St Louis D J C Racing Stables Lezcano J

Just 4 starts for one win but this trainer has thrown worst at the wall and seen it stick. A perfect draw will certainly help his chances and he wasnt bad when a close second in the Gander last time but he doesnt look up to some of these with better credentials.

3 Matsue Castle Smokey Stover Lanerie C J

This horse has improved rapidly since breaking his maiden at the fifth attempt and is certainly a very fit horse after four starts this year. He flew home in the Rebel last time to very nearly win and i must admit i didnt fancy his chances that day so i was pretty impressed. His work since that run shows he is still improving and he gets the perfect draw today to get himself in the Derby picture.

4 Glitter Diety Mb Stables Beschizza A

An interesting entry from the champion trainer who continues to try and qualify as many as possible for the KYD and ultimately the TC chase. He won his maiden gamely after being gelded last year and i was impressed with his first start as a three year old when he ran home very strongly to be sixth in the Holy Bull beaten just a length. With so many KYD hopefuls Mb Stables could give this one a confidence boosting win at overnight level and target this race with him and a 1.36 flat mile work certainly speak volumes about his chances. I think this could be the best of the stable chances today and he may work this draw into a good position and be a winning chance.

5 Peppermint Force Allinthegate Alvarado J

I had my eye on this one after he went two from two early in his juvenile campaign but he was just behind the ball in a couple of graded stakes after that and had to go back to ungraded stakes to win again. After winning 4 from 6 at two he came out as a three year old straight into the KYD cauldron running a good seventh in both the Smarty Jones and the San Felipe but failing to pick up any points for the big one. Today is the last chance cafe really and he is certainly good enough to get into the finish but still has a bit to prove at this level.

6 Born To Laff Joshua Stables Colon L H
Claimed for just $12.500 at the start of the year he showed just how little there is between a claimer and a stakes race at HRP by going into the Davis Stakes three weeks later and finishing an excellent third. He was stuck out wide in The Rebel and tried to get into position A from gate 13 and found it all too much in the end finishing a well beaten twelfth. His works and his effort in the Davis Stakes certainly say he is good enough but he still has a bit to prove at this level.

7 Lionking Invader Estero Farms Hernandez R M

He did fairly well as a juvenile but ran above himself in the Springboard Mile flying home to be beaten just two lengths in what is turning out to be a strong form race for the KYD. He confirmed that run to be where he was at by coming out on seasonal debut to get a game win in the Swale Stakes and he really started to look a serious hope for last years Derby winning trainer. He was drawn fairly wide in the Gotham but his trainer managed to get him in a good position early on in that race but he didnt find much at the end finishing a one paced sixth. He gets a midpack draw today and put in a 1.36 and 1 work recently so is clearly in a much better position today to get some valuable Derby points.

8 Di Atoni Gdp Inc Ortiz J L

A good allowance winner last time and is working well enough to be in the field but i cant see him being good enough to gte into the first three today.

9 Reacher Black Ice Racing Saez G

Took a bit to win his maiden at two but he has certainly improved at three most notably when taking the Ruby Stakes last time by a nose on the line. That wasnt a bad effort against an even field and he proved he is very happy over nine furlongs which is a real advantage in this sort of race. Drawn a bit deep he could turn out to be a bit of a dark horse in this race if he gets some luck in running.

10 Senora West Mb Stables Campbell J M

A consistent sort he has run some fair races but looks more of a hopeful entry from Mb Stables than his usual. Behind Reacher in the Ruby Stakes last time he had run well in the Smarty Jones the time before and is never far away in his races but often finds a couple too good. He is sure to stay the trip and will give his all but will need some of the favorites in the race to get some misfortune to get the win.

11 Unfold Mb Stables Pennington F

The third entry in the stable and probably second best out of them. He has improved nicely after a late start to his career winning his maiden over this trip before a solid third in the TAM Derby and that effort puts him right in this with a fair chance. He has proved he can travel in the right sort of place to be effective at this trip but his wide draw may make it hard for him to get there without losing some stamina along the way.

12 Di Bug Night Rider Stables Maragh Ro

This could turn out to be one of the main dangers going on his game effort in the Gotham also from a wide draw. He was fourth in the Springboard Mile last year which as i have already said is a good form race for the KYD and also won the Hopeful as a two year old. Strangely at HRP certain horses seem to get successive wide draws and this is certainly one of them drawing wide in his third KYD qualifier in a row, but he has proved he can cope before so it may not be such a negative.

13 For The Boys D J C Racing Stables Garcia Alan

Claimed for $25.000 as a two year old he has certainly improved on that form this year running third in the Smarty Jones and fourth in the TAM Derby. His draw will be tough but with a little luck he is certainly good enough to get in among them.

14 Texas Flood D J C Racing Stables Esquivel E

Unfortunately for his trainer the third stable runner joins the second in the wide gate but if any horse could use the wide gate to their advantage its this one who is certainly a handy running sort. He was poor in the TAM Derby last time but had enough pace to win the Winkfield over seven furlongs the time before and he may find his best chance comes with a soft lead.

SUMMARY

On the form book it looks like Matsue Castle, Lionking Invader and Glitter Diety hold the aces here but i rather like Reacher to run a race and get among them too. As usual though the race may be won and lost in teh first half mile and many chances will disappear with a heavy handed Jockey or some poor decision making.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES