The Iselin Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
June 22, 2019

The 14th running of the Grade 3 Iselin Stakes takes place at MTH on Saturday, but this is not the same race that was once won by the likes of Mordred and Rancho Ruler. The purse has seen reductions from its days at $300.000 or even $250.000, to fall all the way back to $100.000. In 2018, half a furlong was cut from the race distance as well. For this event, the purse is back to its 2015 level of $150.000, and we get a quality field of seven for the race. Last year, Njvets won the race with Sweep The Fire. Unfortunately, that fire seemed to have burnt itself out after the race, as he has not hit the board since. He is still active, but was 10th of 10 in a $20.000 claimer last month, so safe to say his best in well behind him. There are two three year olds in the field, and they get a generous six pound weight allowance, which is certainly something worth noting. Let’s meet all of those runners!

#1- Eatin My Dust (Hambletonian Stable, ridden by J Bravo)- The Ironbound gelding has been productive this year with two wins and five in the money finishes in what has been seven starts already. This will end up being his sixth start in three months. He has been able to keep up with that pace, but has not always faced the type of field that he sees here. When he has, such as his runner up in the Grade 3 Hanshin Cup, he has been able to step up well. Acquired from Mb Stables (you’ll hear that a lot in this preview), in the June 2018 auction for $40.000. Likes to get out on the lead early.

#2- Pass Me By (RNP Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- Just four days ago, he was purchased in the auction from Mb Stables for $36.010. In that, we know he spent two weeks without any care paid to him as he sat it in the auction ring. He was likely worked privately on the day of the sale, or at least the next day, but I wonder if this is too soon. A couple TAM open allowances against small fields saw good results. This is a good horse, I am skeptical though that this will be his day.

#3- Salar de Uyuni (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This horse had a win in a prep race, taking the Gotham in March, but due to the restrictions on entries by a single trainer, he was never going to go there after his dud in the Wood Memorial. He did race on Derby day at CD, though, taking part in the Day Mile, and running third. He should be a top threat here, I like that he in a smaller field, and does not have to start on the outside, something that has been common for him, common except for the Gotham. As a bonus, he gets to carry six less pounds.

#4- Trumpomatic (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J C Ferrer)- It will take a complete reversal of form in order for Trumpomatic to have a shot here. In his three races of 2019, he has finished last or next to last into two of them, and he was still well beaten in the third race. If it can be blamed on the wet tracks exclusively, then he is a better option, but he is a tough horse to put any money on right now. One of only two horses in this field that never spent time in Mb’s barn.

#5- Gun Down (South Beach Racing, ridden by L Contreras)- Since finishing third in the Grade 2 San Vicente to the likes of dead heating winners Socotra Island and Rainstorm, Gun Down has been sold twice. He’s also raced twice and placed 10th of 14 and 8th of 11, but those were each on off tracks. While with Mb, he had been heading in the right direction, but perhaps he also knew when to get rid of him. No public works since the end of April. Does get the weight allowance though.

#6- Space Cowboy (Nakamura Stables, ridden by N Juarez)- Making his 24th career start and is looking for win number eight. He was also acquired from Mb Stables (is this a theme for this race?), this time via a $35.000 claim. He’s won twice since arriving with Nakamura, with one of the wins being the $75.000 Stud Muffin at AQU at the end of March. That’s his career highlight, but overall his form coming into this is better then several.

#7- Dogs Noah (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by A Beschizza)- This is the other horse in the field that has never spent a day with Mb Stables. The five year old came from another great barn though, purchased from Australia Wide after just one race for $100.000. He has been productive since then, and took a graded stake in February 2018 when winning the Grade 3 Mineshaft. He’s typically good for picking up some sort of a check, and that should happen again.

Prediction: 3-6-7-5

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES