Alysheba – Grade II
CD Race #9 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $750.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Face The Lunatic Martyparty Corrales G 122 —

Caused a bit of a shock wave when winning the KY Classic last time but he had always promised a performance like that and was in the end a fairly comfortable winner. Good enough to contend the Classic the year before he has always been one of those horses that threatened to be brilliant without ever really stringing the results together. Now at the magic age of five he may have found the top of his improvement curve, and we could be seeing a year when the rest have to face the lunatic.

2 Charming Man Rock Creek Prat F 122 —

Another that can be a bit in and out, he put his best foot forward in the Challenger last time for a good win finally getting back to form after four tough races. Also, one that has hit the five-year-old mark this could be his biggest year if he can repeat that last effort, and his works are certainly saying he can.

3 Schopenhauer Maxmillion Farm Jimenez A 122 —

A fairly lightly raced six-year-old he has been grade one placed and ran a decent last race in the GP Mile. An on-pace type he can be very dangerous off the front especially if he is left alone although can be a little one paced at the end of his races. Another chance in an open field.

4 Master And Commander John Henry Franco M 122 —

Took the California Crown last year which came after a really good run in the Travers and he was a strong chance going into the BC Classic but never got into it and ran 13th. Two poor races since then and he comes here with a lot to prove. He may have been more of an early type as his works haven’t improved but if he can find his old form, he would give these a good spanking.

5 Lunar Victory Mb Stables Velazquez J R 122 —

The champion dirt miler and GP Mile winner looked nailed on in the OP Mile last time but was a little disappointing in finishing fifth albeit only a length off the winner. His work since was a sharp 1.36 flat so that may have just been one of those days and it will pay to give him another chance today.

6 Buck My Life Luz International Kimura K 122 —

Won the Hooper before being allocated a tough weight in the SA Handicap last time. Right up on the speed he stuck on really well in the end for a very creditable third and looks to be improving into a competitive four-year-old. He may find one or two too classy here, but I do like him to win races like this, if not today, one day.

7 Doc Rivers D J C Racing Stables Lopez P 122 —

He has been given some tough tasks but has shown once or twice that he is up to it, most notably when a very good second in last year’s Haskell. He hasn’t fired yet this year and maybe suffering from four-year-olditus but we know the ability is there should he decide to put his best foot forward today.

8 Investment Center TwinTowersRacing Hernandez R M 122 —

The winner of the Clark at the end of last year, he has run two good races this year suggesting he may be ready to rock and roll on start three.

9 All Take Alydar Stables Curtis B 122 —

The six-year-old has been in massive form this year with three graded wins in a row. It had looked like he was slowly declining last year, but the trainer has never given up on him, and he is in the form of his life at the moment.

10 Distant Breeze The Sidley Stud Pennington F 122 —

A consistent sort in lesser grade, he was very good in the Ghostzapper last time clearing off from the front and with this wide draw may find some wide gate speed push to help him do the same again.

SUMMARY

All Take is in such great form it is hard to go against him. The best of Lunar Victory would see him winning this race, but I said that last time when he was beaten so I am loathed to say it again, just yet. This is a very competitive field with ten chances and should be a great race.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES