Grade 3
$200.000 for three year olds
Keenland Racecourse
1 1/16 Mile on Dirt
D J C Racing’s colt, Mr C, is the only entrant in this race with a shot at getting into the starting gate the first Saturday in May, numerically speaking. Right now, he has 26 points, which leaves him on the sidelines. But with the ten points up for grabs here, he could pass Niner Forty Niner and get in.
He has a pretty good chance, too. This is a fairly soft field, but there are some real contenders, like Mb Stables’ All Memories and Mb’s other entry, Red Broomstick, the only horse in the field with a graded win.
Here’s the field:
1 Finalist
Owner: Our Athletes
Breeder: Joshua Stables
Eight starts with only a maiden win to his credit. Has had some close calls, like the $100.000 Clever Trevor which he lost by a neck to Out On A Limb last November. He’ll have his work cut out for him against these.
2 No Returns
Owner: Smokey Stover
Breeder: Heavens Own
Another one with eight starts and just a maiden win. SRF numbers don’t look strong enough to compete against these.
3 Mr C
Owner/Breeder: D J C Racing Stables
Earnings over $200.000 and a close third place finish in the Risen Star, a race in which he earned a k99 SRF, make D J C’s homebred one to watch. Could by at the post in the KYD with a win here.
4 Bolt Speed
Owner: Teamf Racing
Breeder: Mb Stables
Broke his maiden last out at 1 1/16 mile. Seems to be improving with each start. Will need to step it up again to win here.
5 Danzig On The Rocks
Owner: Mb Stables
Breeder: Mo Mentum Farm
The most impressive thing about this gelding is the $399.000 price tag he commanded at auction last month. He did score a 98 SRF in a N1X win in December. The 1:35 and change work he put in at AQU should get him some attention. Don’t count him out.
6 Swell Magne
Owner/Breeder: Elki Stable
Impressively consistent colt. Took him a while to break his maiden, but he followed that up with a win in the $100.000 Pasco at TAM. Never out of the money in seven starts. Remains to be seen if he can go past a mile.
7 Forced Landing
Owner: Mains Boys
Breeder: Mcl Stables
Won the $65.000 My Dandy TX Stallion Stakes in November, then finished second in the Logan on turf. Distance is a real question mark for this one. Has never raced beyond six furlongs on dirt. Will need racing luck.
8 All Memories
Owner/Breeder: Mb Stables
Finished a close fourth in the Rebel (G2) last out and scored a 99 SRF. That was the first time he’d finished worse than second since last August, including a win in the $50.000 TUP Derby two starts back. Should be a factor here and a win wouldn’t be a surprise.
9 Red Broomstick
Owner/Breeder: Mb Stables
The second entry for Mb Stables. Won the Iroquois (G3) last September but hasn’t been able to duplicate that performance in three subsequent starts. He is the only graded stakes winner in the field, though, and that should count for something.
10 Virtual Knowledge
Owner/Breeder: Nakamura Stables
Put together a five-race winning streak that came to an end last out in the Fountain of Youth (G2), his first try in graded company where he came from way off the pace to close within three lengths and finish fifth. He could be there at the wire if he can avoid traffic.
Categories: Grade III
