Sensational Star Stakes
SA Race #7 6 1/2f Turf Stake
Purse $100.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward Foaled In CA.
1 Sound Decision Gdp Inc Fuentes Ru
This veteran of 49 races is a good example of how horses operate here at HRP. They seem to have a level they can attain and then pretty much regardless of trip or surface they run to that level of ability. This one has won 9 routes and 7 sprints, 12 turf races and 4 dirt races and in pretty much all of them has demonstrated his consistency and determination. This is the type of horse we would all like to own, a winner every year since 2016 and still going strong. His chances today well from the ace draw he will be in it all the way and he wont stop trying, he has some tough opposition for a state bred but they will all know he is here.
2 Red Cup Our Athletes Velazquez J R
Though his record of 4 wins from 28 races doesn’t look too great he has managed over 1K in prize money and will probably be most peoples choice running from this perfect gate. A close fourth in last years BC Turf Sprint he returns to turf today after a stint on the dirt and whilst i don’t think that makes much difference a reproduction of his BC run would be enough. Sold recently i can see why after two average efforts this year and i must admit he has a question mark next to his name for me. His best will see him win but we have to rely on hope that that is where his head is at today.
3 Kiss The Snake Nakamura Stables Pereira T J
Another veteran that has been around the block a few times this one boats 11 wins and over 1.6K in prize money. A grade one winner twice like Red Cup he represents class in this race but unlike Red Cup his seasonal debut was very encouraging. The question mark if this was real life would be this is only his second attempt on the grass and he was well beaten in that attempt but as i have said the surface means little or nothing here and i see no reason why he wont perform on this surface today. I would have to make him my top choice in this race.
4 Troublemakerz Mis Hijos Stable Rosario J
It is a sign of the times that you enter a hundred buck state bred stakes race and come up against grade one winners and BC contenders. Whilst this seven year old has never got anywhere near the achievements of most of these he has proved he can go very fast and that in itself puts him in that maybe group. I must admit on paper he looks like a last place contender but here at HRP that is never more than a few lengths from the winner and it wouldn’t take a miracle to see this one in at the finish.
5 Sniper Jediminds Stable Gonzalez Ru
Works like a champ, as good as anything in a grade one but has yet to put that on the track with any consistency. Another entry typical of HRP all of his racing has been over much longer trips but that doesn’t mean he can’t win a sprint because as we know the trip here doesn’t make much difference. It has been a while since we have seen the best of him but this may be just the change he needs.
6 Sparky Laga Night Rider Stables Prat F
A lightly raced four year old he clearly has ability based on his third in the Mathis Brothers Mile but that was from the ace draw and he may find things tough from this draw. His works are solid and he has a chance but for me he still needs to prove himself at this level.
7 Bajan Mask Spankys Barn Van Dyke D
Behind Sparky Laga in the Mathis Brothers Mile he looked much happier over this trip when winning on seasonal debut and has been working better than that rival on the downhill SA track. The draw will be tough but if he can get to the front quickly and settle he may prove very tough to get passed.
8 Cartomancist Maxmillion Farm Gutierrez Mario
The turf king gets the outside with this improving and fast five year old but with the luck of the race engine i think he may be the one to upset his more illustrious rivals. I like the way he has won his two starts over this trip this year and the trainer jockey combination always love a good turf race with a few problems to overcome.
SUMMARY
For me there are more questions than answers in this race so i find myself edging towards Cartomancist. I think he has the pace to win this as long as the race engine is kind. There are obvious challengers to that in the shape of Kiss The Snake and Red Cup but whilst they are drawn to win i find myself wondering whether this is the right race for them.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
