Alcibiades – Grade I [BC]
KEE Race #5 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $600.000 For Fillies Two Years Old.

1 Stink Eye TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 122 —

The last big weekend of BC qualifiers sees the youngsters take the center stage for this automatic qualifier to the big dance. We start off with this improving filly who started fairly average but has got better with each race, and that is always a good sign. After walking home in her maiden after three attempts she went to the grade one Spinaway and ran a cracking race to be third, beaten just a length. She is not the flashiest of workers but that seems to matter less and less at HRP these days as she has proven herself on the track and that is the engine that matters. The draw will certainly suit her stalking style and if she can repeat her great run from the Spinaway she must be a genuine contender here.

2 Silk Road Big Guns Stables Espinoza V 122 —

Two runs for two wins, you can’t get better than that and we got an idea of where she was going with her 1.37 and 2 mile work a week or so ago. She closed well for both her wins, and we have seen a bit of a turnaround with closers in the past week so maybe that style will be more of an advantage than it has been in this race. Her win at PRX was very nice and certainly was good enough to put her in this race with a huge chance especially as she has a lovely draw to work with.

3 Escapist Williams9 Saez L 122 —

The stable has done really well with their two-year-olds this year in the main thanks to some intelligent buying, but they have certainly emerged as a stable to watch out for. After a weakening third place in the Astoria many eyebrows were raised when this one was bought for $350.000, but after an average effort from a poor draw in the Adirondack she repaid that stable’s confidence with a game win in the Pocahontas. We often see horses that need further seem to weaken in sprints, but I think it’s more of the fact that they cannot sprint for an entire trip and just keep on at the one pace and when they stretch out, they really come into their own. That certainly seemed to happen with this one on her last race and though her works are less than impressive, she certainly seems to prefer the race engine to the works engine, and you would have to give her a big chance on her gritty win in the grade three last time.

5 Cozzy Corner Mb Stables Franco M 122 —

Some maiden races can be better than stakes races with two-year-old races at this time of year, but this one has had three maiden races and not managed a win yet. Bought for just $21.000 from Fractious, this is an interesting entry from the champion trainer as certainly on form she looks up against it in this grade. Her works though are pretty good, so whist I couldn’t give her a win chance on what she has done so far, she could certainly run into a place.

6 Somke Them Williams9 Alvarado F T 122 —

Another maiden this time still a maiden after five attempts so it doesn’t fill the punter with confidence to see that form line. In fairness to her though she has yet to run a bad race in some strong maidens and this is her first time over a longer trip so maybe she can run well today. Her works aren’t that inspiring, so it is tough to make too much of a case for her in this company, but this is HRP and it seems these days anything can happen.

7 Out Of Tlove Williams9 Velazquez J R 122 —

Another runner from the stable and one that is probably already in the BC, she comes here off of three third places at stakes level including the grade one DMR Debutante last time. You can’t knock that form for a race like this and her on-pace racing style has certainly given her a consistent record. Bought for just $27.000, she is another good buy for the player who has been really enjoying this juvenile season and has two here with some of the best form on paper in the race. Her SRF numbers are very good, but I do worry that with this draw she may use up a lot of energy getting on the speed, and she may pay the price the latter stages. A winning chance but one with a few question marks.

8 Credit Crime Aer Stables Ortiz I Jr 122 —

This filly is probably the main reason we see this trainer persevering with their career and what a lovely filly she is. She won the Astoria very easily and then ran a good third in the Adirondack before a brilliant win in the Spinaway meaning she is already in the BC but is using this race as a warmup for the big dance. Her works are fantastic, her form top notch, the jockey the same as her grade one win last time so the only thing that can beat her is the draw, but I don’t think that will stop her. Out of War Chant, the horse that stopped Howl To The Hound in the BEL, she will certainly get the trip, and I can find no reason she won’t win this.

9 Angel Wings Waldo Cedillo A 122 —

A tough win last time sets her up for this and looking at her works and breeding she should give a very good account of herself. A bit of a dark horse, she was bought for $100.000 from Fractious after strong pre-race works and I would expect improvement after her maiden win last time as we haven’t seen her work publicly since. She is certainly one I will be watching closely.

10 Arrowette Alydar Stables Hernandez R M 122 —

The car park goes to this daughter of Niagara and whilst a wide draw is never fun, I have seen this trainer use it to their advantage before. On her hard closing second in the Adirondack she has a winning chance over this trip and whilst she got the timing wrong and a poor trip in the DMR Debutante last time I feel she is much better than that. The two options here are: use the wide gate speed push and surprise a few by going to the lead or run her usual style and rely on the race engine to find her a run late, either way she could be a threat for the win, and I will be tempted to throw a few Disney Dollars her way in the pick ’em.

SUMMARY

Two-year-old races are never easy, but I do feel this one should be as Credit Crime does look to be an outstanding chance in this race. I do like Arrowette to run a big race and Angel Wings and Silk Road could be contenders too if they prove to possess the class gene. That leaves out two very good horses from Williams9 and Stink Eye which all have great stakes form and if they won it would be no surprise at all.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES