Bashford Manor
6 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $225.000 Open 2 Year Olds.
1st Minnesota Heat The Sidley Stud Franco M
Saying this race is a lottery is no detriment to the winner but the fact that the official margin between first and last was three lengths, well you get my point. This son of Techfluence Heat was a strong debut winner and despite a horrible draw managed to gut out a win against a good field with a game performance. Right up in a close stalk from the off, I kept waiting for him to weaken out of it, but he really dug in to prevail by a head in the run to the line. Early points for the BC, I think this unbeaten colt may just turn out to be pretty good as he beat two much faster workers here showing that he is not all about the works.
2nd Chasing Magic Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario
Got a bit far back in an ordinary start and had to work hard down the stretch to get in a challenge. He ran on really well and only just failed, maybe another 50 yards would have seen him win. Clearly a good early type he ran differently today after leading up in his first two races and ran a super race displaying the kind of flexibility in running style which can be the sign of a good horse.
3rd Harbor Lights Riggins Racing Velazquez J R
The fastest worker went to the front and looked for a long way as if he would stay there but just faltered in the final yards and ended up a very close third. This is his third race and his third wide draw and it would be really interesting to see him off an inside box as I feel he would be able to save some of his energy for the finish. A fast sort that may be worth a look should he make it to the BC juvenile sprint.
4th Mitchell Royalty Stables Garcia Mar
Only beaten a neck into fourth, he stalked the lead and kept on well but just didn’t have that extra surge when it was needed. Who knows where all these two-year-olds will be at the end of the year as these early stakes can be early burn out races, but I do think this one will be better the further he goes so he could end up winning a nice one by the end of the year.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded