Bruce D Stakes – Grade I
1 Mile Turf Stake Purse $300.000 Open 3 Year Olds.
With no graded stakes winners in the field this was just about as weak as an August grade one could get on paper. However with a sub 1.33 winning time it was clear what this race lacked in form it made up for in promise and it turned out to be a competitive race.
Here is how they finished:
1st Kings Poker Wood Duck Stables Fukumoto D
I said in my preview that this horse looked the most promising in the field and sure enough he won like the best horse in the race. Just off the pace he had to work to make his space but when he did he exploded through for a comprehensive win and now comes into the BC reckoning as one of the few three year olds that looks as though they can challenge the older horses. It is great to see a new player have a breeding success like this one, he was bred in the trainers first full season at HRP proving that it may not be so hard to learn the breeding ropes as it looks. Using the trainers own stallion and mare who had won just $5 on the race track between them he will propel the breeding operation even higher after this success.
The road will be tough for the gelding from now on as he will have this grade one on his record and his options will be limited but he looks good enough to continue at this level.
2nd Fearisque Maxmillion Farm Jaramillo E
The turf king took his sprinter back in the field to try and get him home and whilst he finished nicely to grab second he never looked like reaching the winner. It was probably due to his stable mate going to the front that he was instructed back but whilst Insist on Perfection weakened and this one ran on the race had already been won. A decent effort though and there will be more to come from him.
3rd Sevens Vb La Canada Racehorses Beschizza A
I was looking at the pace of this race and waiting for this one to come home like he did in the War Chant but when the whips came out he couldn’t quicken and just whacked away for third.
4th Insist On Perfection Maxmillion Farm Saez L
Tried the new engine by going to the lead but went a little too fast and set it up for the closers.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
