April 5, 2016

Macht Nichts was a solid Grade II winner to close out 2015 and the Grade III Tokyo City Stakes was the ideal race for a comeback and he simply toyed with a top-class field that included the most recent BEL winner, en route to a docile wire-to-wire open by a couple of lengths. From a solid family, and with a solid record already, he seems to be putting it all together at these longer distances and now sports more than $500.000 in earnings and five career wins, with a return to PIM in his sights for a try at another big win against older runners.

Macht Nichts (2.20) broke like a rocket into the first of three turns in the Tokyo City and led Hes Spectacular (7.50) by a length in the first furlong and as soon as that happened, he was down to the rail to save some much needed ground. Deja Steel (*1.70) tucked into third quite nicely with Socal Man (3.55) at his flank but moved forward into second under the line for the first time while three-lengths in arrears of the leader. Everyone sat very patiently through a modest half-mile in 49.89 as Macht Nichts continued to lead the way and it was unusual to see the back half of the field almost three-wide into the far turn with Condottieri Cream (34.80) very wide from last outside of Copperhead Rythym (6.20). The lead was still three-lengths through six-furlongs in 1:14.29 and down the backstretch and into the far turn, it really looked like a one-horse race with the leader completely in control of the fractions up front. 1 ¼ miles came up in 2:03.45, very slow for the distance, and Macht Nichts was absolutely dominant with Deja Steel in second and Hes Spectacular trying to make up ground in third. While the margins lessened to the wire and the race for third became close, positions remained unchanged under the line with the winner two-lengths to the good, with Socal Man fourth and Copperhead Rythym and Condottieri Cream at the back, closer than it could have been after such a long race.

Although the fractions where quite slow given the class, Macht Nichts was still able to handle the distance better than everyone in the Tokyo City field and score his second straight win and first at this marathon distance, in clear wire-to-wire fashion. The Grade III PIM Special looks like the perfect place for this top caliber horse to make his presence felt with races at both DMR and SAR down the line well within his grasp at these marathon distances.

Congratulations goes out to owner Eastern Equine and their four-year-old colt Macht Nichts, a dazzling wire-to-wire winner of the Grade III Tokyo City Stakes at SA!

Prediction                       Macht Nichts / Socal Man / Deja Steel

Winner                            Macht Nichts

                                           Four-year-old gray colt

                                           Machiavellian King-Dam Shes Noisy (Dam That Fusion)

Owner                              Eastern Equine

Time                                  49.89, 1:14.29, 2:03.45, 2:29.38

Overall

Macht Nichts                   2.20 broke sharp, never threatened

Deja Steel                         *1.70 second throughout

Hes Spectacular               7.50 inside run, mild late momentum

Socal Man                         3.55 tracked in midpack throughout

Copperhead Rythym       6.20 no factor

Condottieri Cream           34.80 wide run early

Triple T Racing 🙂

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES