LA Stakes (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
FG- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
January 16, 2021

The LA Stakes may only be a Grade 3 that runs for a $125.000 purse, but you wouldn’t know that based on the quality of the field. Many well known, proven commodities will be making their way to the starting gate, including a total of five horses that have surpassed the $1,000.000 mark in career earnings. The race has certainly come a long way from being a $60.000 and $75.000 stake, and last year we only saw six go to post. That race was won by a horse named Long Time Ago for Maletto, one that started 2020 well, but by the end of it, was not as productive. Let’s look at this field that is sure to provide a thrilling race on Saturday!

#1- Range Of The Sun (John Henry, ridden S R Bahen)- I have spent a lot of time previewing this horse over his 37-race career! He is now seven, and looking to win his tenth race overall. 2020 saw him win only once, but he did hit the board six times, as second place was a popular spot for him. That win was in October, in the Grade 3 Durham Cup, a race with conditions much like what we have here. Winning here would not be a career highlight, but he’d love to start the year strong.

#2- Nb Forrest (Greeko Holdem, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This horse does not have as much experience on the track as Range Of The Sun, but he has made his nine career races count, winning four of them. He has won one stake, that being the Bryan Station at KEE in early November, a stake that runs just a little longer than this one will. He’s never faced as many stars as sees here, and will need to be at his best.

#3- Hang Around (Nakamura Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- A relative new arrival to the Nakamura fold, Hang Around was picked up by the trainer for $121.010 in the September 2020 auction. Since that sale, he has only raced one for his new connections, coming in the Grade 3 Harlan at KEE. He was not a factor in the race, though did get up for fifth, and that could be attributed to a long layoff. That is not going to be the case here, so expect him to be in the mix.

#4- Champion In Action (Night Rider Stables, ridden by D Davis)- With just over $1,000.000 in career earnings, this six year old gelding has provided plenty of reasons for the trainer to be excited about him. Last year, however, did only see one win, coming in November at the $60.000 Millions Classic Preview for FL-breds. Prior to that, several Grade 1’s saw him finish at least three lengths behind the winner. Interesting to see how this year may unfold.

#5- Boardwalk (Fractious, ridden by G Saez)- Last spring, Boardwalk was able to pick up a fourth place check in the KYD, but the PRK was a whole different story. After that, it was off to the turf, and that seemed to work well. After running second in an optional claimer, he was able to win the Grade 3 Quick Call at SAR. He’s only raced once since then, which was in September, so the layoff is a concern here. There is no doubt that he has been prepared well for this race though as he returns to the main track, and going over a mile.

#6- County Medical (Crocker Ggs, ridden by A Cedillo)- A productive horse with just over $660.000 in career earnings, but has been a little hit and miss for me in the races that I have seen him in. Great moments include winning the $400.000 Prince of Wales Stakes in July, part of what was an excellent summer for him. Since then, he has not been able to carry it into the colder months, being a non-factor in the JC Gold Cup. His last race was interesting, in that he was only sixth in a sprint allowance. He can certainly win this race, I just have a hard time getting excited over him.

#7- Shanghai (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J J Castellano)- This five year old gelding has made almost the same amount over his career that County Medical has been able to do. He also seems to have about the same amount of unreliability in terms of placing money on him. He won just once last year, and that was back in February, though a couple of second place finishes make up for that, including one in the Autumn Stakes at WO in November. One thing I do like about him is that it appears as though this is his best distance. Is that enough to give me confidence in him to pick him? Not sure!

#8- Bellamango (Wood Duck Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- In the starting gate, he is next to Jolly Rook, but as far as the level of experience he has compared to others in this field, we might call Bellamango the “rook”. That doesn’t mean that this Decima colt can’t show the veterans a thing or two, as he has managed three wins in seven starts, and is hoping to build on that during 2021. That last win was back in July, coming in the Grade 3 Seagram Cup at SAR, a race with conditions much like this one. It is a win that saw him advance to the Dandy, and then a couple Grade 1’s, and a third place in the JC Gold Cup is the best result he has to show for that stretch.

#9- Jolly Rook (Angelos Stable, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- As for the real “Rook”, he is actually the most accomplished horse in the field in terms of earnings, have made just over $1,400.000, putting him a little higher than Range Of The Sun. All of that came last year, in large part to an impressive double over the summer in winning both the Haskell and the Travers. He ran well in the PA Derby, too, placing fourth, but since then, he has not made another dollar. In the BC Classic, he was near the back though we can forgive that easily. Following that, the 11th place run in the Cigar Handicap is a concern. Jolly Rook needs a boost, and was probably hoping to see that here, but still gets a major test.

#10- Silent Commander (Serenity Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- The Command Attention gelding won just once in nine starts during 2020, but it was a nice score, coming in the Grade 3 Peter Pan. However, he was unable to build on that in either the BEL or the Travers, and would be non-factor in the BC Dirt Mile. His last race, though, is the most concerning, when he faded to seventh after setting the pace in the Grade 3 Harlan. That’s a race of similar conditions that a few of his rivals come out of. I’d like to see him run another big one before I can get more confidence in him.

#11- Crack Dab (Gdp Inc, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This is another of those horses that I am very excited about watching during 2021. He started off last year hot, winning several overnights, before bursting onto the scene with a second place effort at the Whitney. At that point, he was on everyone’s radar as an up and coming horse, and he backed that up three weeks later by winning the Pacific Classic at DMR. Since then, he has failed to hit the board again, and that includes hoping for better in the BC Classic, where he was 11th. This is a great race for a tune up back to form, but he will have to earn it against excellent opposition.

#12- Eclipse My Knowledge (Nakamura Stables, ridden by F Arrieta)- The third of three horses in the race for Nakamura Stables, but one the trainer has plenty of experience in entering. This will be the 34th race in the career of the six year old, and he hopes it will be his tenth win. In many ways, he is similar right now to Range Of The Sun, and they do have a recent race in common: the Durham Cup. Eclipse My Knowledge was third in that race won by today’s rival. His last race saw him place second in the slop at a PRX allowance. Never count out an old vet!

Prediction: 9-1-8-11

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES