The Nearctic Stakes-GII (P1)
                          WO Race 2 6F- Turf
                              Purse $250.000
                       Three Year Olds and Up

A full field of twelve turf sprinters are going to line up for this years Nearctic Stakes and this is most of these runners last chances to make to the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint most likely as the goal. It looks like a pretty tough race and this is definitely going to be a pretty tough race and it should be exciting.

1. Awesome Indeed (19-4-2-3 $300.080), trained by TwinTowers Racing

This runner here is going to be cutting back in distance and I’m guessing this is just kind of a shot in the dark because he just hasn’t been running good at all. Maybe the cut back will help but I’m not sure what he wants and I’m not really expecting much from him. Big longshot right here.

2. Theory (13-3-1-2 $219.240), trained by John Henry

Now this runner here ran really good the first time he ran for John Henry but hasn’t done so well in his other two starts for him but last time he did run on the soft turf. He likes to close from pretty far back so he will definitely need a very fast pace up front which could probably happen for him.

3. Mucho Knowledge (16-4-0-2 $233.680), trained by Estero Farms

Well since his Aqueduct Turf Sprint Championship this runner from the Estero Farms barn hasn’t been able to get a win and its been a very long time since that win. He hasn’t showed much life in his last two starts and it is really going to have to be a different race from him for him to have any shot.

4. Great Bounty (10-3-0-2 $403.070), trained by Drabfantasy

Now this horse is really going to be cutting back in distance from a mile and a half to six furlongs and he is also coming into this race off a quick turn around. I think he likes to go father distances but it has been so long since he has ran this short who knows what’s going to happen with him.

5. Scripted (15-4-4-2 $490.920), trained by Mb Stables

Another one of these runners in the field who is just trying to get going again. He won the grade one Carter Handicap earlier this year but I just don’t think he is the same horse and I’m not very sure that he likes the turf that much. Maybe he will run a big race but it wouldn’t shock me if he didn’t.

6. Serious Cobra (18-4-4-4 $742.630), trained by John Henry

Once again another horse that will be cutting back in distance right here and I definitely think he will actually like it. He sometimes likes to come from behind and I think a fast pace like these sprint races usually have will help him out quite a bit. I think he has a decent shot to win this race.

7. Corroya (11-3-4-2 $170.000), trained by Team 7 Illusions

Now this horse here is coming off of an impressive win in the grade three Eddie D Stakes at Santa Anita on the downhill turf course last time. He won pretty nicely that day and if he runs that same race he has a very good shot in here. I think he will run a big race and he should be tough.

8. The Grandmaster (11-4-2-3 $579.480), trained by Team 7 Illusions

The other entry from Team 7 Illusions right here and to me this horse is just slightly better than his other runner. He is coming off of a win in the Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint which was on a soft turf course. I think he definitely has a chance to win this race if he runs like he did that last out.

9. Donatello (7-4-0-1 $145.940), trained by The American

Now here is a pretty lightly raced three year old who is coming into this race off of a stakes win last out at Aqueduct. He ran very good that day and it appears that he likes to be close to the lead so a slower pace will benefit him. If the pace isn’t all that fast he might be hanging around late.

10. Gleaming Spirit (18-9-3-0 $324.900), trained by Mb Stables

The second runner from Mb Stables and I think that this is his better chance out of the two he has in here. He just ran second in the grade three Turf Monster at Parx and he only got beat by a nose that day. I think the extra furlong will help him out quite a bit with the late running style of his.

11. Lunar Blaze (28-7-5-6 $3,011.300), trained by John Henry

Right here we have the final of three entries from John Henry’s barn and this is definitely his best horse in the race I think. He has been in so many big races over the years and it doesn’t really matter what distance either. He runs short of long and I think he is going to run very well in here.

12. Bandito (15-2-1-3 $227.240), trained by TwinTowers Racing

The final horse in the field and the second from TwinTowers Racing so it gives him the far inside and far outside post in here. This horse is another that will be cutting back in distance but I don’t think he is going to run good in here with the outside post plus sprinting. Just a big longshot to me.

13. Freak Storm (27-4-2-5 $389.760), trained by Mo Mentum Farm

Also Eligible

14. Yanworth (10-5-1-2 $69.820), trained by Night Rider Stables

Also Eligible

Summary

Now here we have a very good race with some very accomplished runners and also a couple of new shooters in the field. I am going to go with Lunar Blaze because I think his back class will show in this race and he will be the one to beat. Good luck to everyone and every horse in the race.

11-10-6-8

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES