Seagram Cup (Grade 3)- $125.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
August 11, 2019
While other horses who ran in multiple legs of the TC are being seen in the Haskell, Dandy, or prepared for the Travers, Mr Cat Summers has come north, hoping that running in this smaller Grade 3 will be a confidence booster. This makes him the headliner for this event, the eleventh running of the Seagram Cup. The race will see him take on a few older horses that are well accomplished, and some up and comers, so he will still need to be at his best here. Let’s take a look at this field of nine going to the gate!
#1- Skyscraper (John Henry, ridden by L Contreras)- Still a bit unknown at this level, but could be on the verge of getting a lot more recognition. His biggest win is a GP optional claimer, but he did run second in the Grade 3 Salvator Mile in May at MTH. Condition wise, that’s similar, but this field is deeper.
#2- Tragic (Aer Stables, ridden by E J Wilson)- Acquired for just $10.000 from Canadian Racing in private sales in May, and ran a month later in what ended up being nearly a full 365-day layoff. While he was actively racing, he found success, but a lot of that seems moot now until he shows that he can continue to thrive with Aer Stables. He is working well, so there is room for optimism.
#3- Crush Spebrate (Diablo Diablo, ridden by Alan Garcia)- It took just $20.000 for the trainer to acquire him in private sales and the aspirations are clearly high. He knows how to win, doing so seven times in sixteen races, but they have not always been at high levels. Diablo Diablo wants to do more, and he responded well in a couple turf races before this start back on the main track.
#4- Seagraves (Mb Stables, ridden by R M Hernandez)- Ran last month at SAR and won an N1X allowance. Now, the one-time $1.200 auction purchase is set to make his stake debut, and will look to enjoy his four pound weight advantage. The trainer probably would have preferred not see Mr Cat Summers here, but will get a good measuring stick to see how far Seagraves has come.
#5- Bad English (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by S R Bahen)- He has been a regular participant at the graded level, and does have two graded wins in his last six starts, highlighted by the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes. Unfortuantely, he has been inconsistent within that same stretch of time, and has a couple of duds there, too. Seems due for a good run, and I think he’ll have one.
#6- Charleys Agent (Joshua Stables, ridden by J M Campbell)- Acquired by Joshua Stables in June in private sales for $150.000, and made his debut in his new silks nine days later. There he was second in a PRX allowance. This was a productive horse as a three year old, with two graded wins during the spring, but he never really rediscovered that form.
#7- Space Cowboy (Nakamura Stables, ridden by K Kimura)- The five year old gelding makes his 25th start here, and is in search of his first graded win. He recently began running graded this spring, and looked good at MTH for the Grade 3 Iselin Stakes, placing third in that race. More of the same should make him competitive here, too, as the conditions are similar.
#8- Mr Cat Summers (First Street Stables, ridden by P Husbands)- I’m surprised to see him here. He ran in all three legs of the triple crown, and finished third in the PRK. His last start, the BEL, was disappointing, but in starting from the outside, and having to run twelve furlongs, that may have just not been the best for him in terms of distance. Theoretically, he still could run the Travers on short rest for this. Does not have anything to prove here, and if he runs his race, he can win by a couple lengths.
#9- Einstein (Winning Link Stables, ridden by E R Da Silva)- Starting on the outside, this gelding began the year well with two wins, and that saw him jump into the graded ranks for the first time. However, that did not go well in the Grade 3 Westchester. Followed that up with a fourth place showing in the $100.000 State Dinner at BEL. Could get a piece of the purse.
Prediction: 8-5-7-2
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
