Nine runners look to capture this years Commonwealth here at KEE on Saturday. This is a weekend full of races leading up to the Kentucky Oaks for the fillies and the Kentucky Derby for the boys. We must not overlook the talents of some of our older thoroughbreds, and this event should prove to be a dandy.
- The Commonwealth Grade III Stakes
- Keeneland Racecourse Seven Furlongs Main Track
- Purse $250.000 For Four Year olds and Upward
Looking over this field of nine hopefuls, I can see a race developing unlike any I have seen in sometime. All are capable of capturing the crown, and all will be worthy of owning it.
Looking to compare this group, we will start with recent winners this season. Controlled Lion ( Our Athletes ) has two victories to his credit, the most recent being the Gr. III GP Sprint Championship. He would earn a 99 speed figure in that race after running a 98 number in an earlier OpClm62.5 victory. Has experience here in the Coolmore Lexington last year, so knows the surface.
If we look to west coast shippers coming to strut their stuff, we need to look at Residue ( Smokey Stover ) and Z One Chance ( John Henry ) who went one, two in the Gr.II Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs. Add to that duo the likes of Di Farley ( Gdp Inc ) and Crop Duster ( Mb Stables ) who are also heading here from Santa Anita after they went one, two in the Gr. II San Carlos Stakes at seven eights of a mile. Residue was able to post a 101 speed figure with his victory, while Z One Chance was close behind with a 100 number. This wasn’t Residue’s first time with this kind of speed, posting two one hundred speeds in his victories last season capturing the Gr. I Forego and the Gr. I Vosburgh, so it looks like he is just continuing to burn up the track. Z One Chance was also a winner in the Gr. I Crosby at DMR, that with a 99 speed figure.
With their efforts in the San Carlos, Di Farley posted a 98, a number he seems to be consistently tallying in events. We must also keep in mind he was our BC Dirt Mile winner last year. For Crop Duster, his efforts produced a 98 speed number as well and you need to look carefully at his past performances to see some nice underlying talent. Last year at this time he finished second in a photo finish behind Z One Chance in the Gr. I Triple Bend, so he can also make this an interesting affair.
Others on the card for Saturday in order of post positions will be French Eclipse ( D J C Racing Stables ) who has won his last three starts. Closed out last year winning the $100 Grant Stakes, then stretched out to route affairs against OpClm company for this years wins. No Graded experience could make this a tough fit.
From the five hole will be Warrior Patriot ( Paradise Stable ), who missed by a neck in the Gr. III General George Stakes to one who finished fourth behind two other runners here in Gr. I company. Did manage to capture two Grade III titles last season at a mile and a eighth, but will need to be on his toes early to have success.
The other two entries are Arbre Aleatoire ( Eastern Equine ) and Alpha Uno ( Estero Farms ). Arbre is coming off an Alw50 victory at six and a half furlongs at GP. Found the slop in his closer last season in his only Graded try, but if he had better numbers in his sprints, I might consider him. As for Alpha Uno, he did close out last season with a show finish in the Gr. I Malibu ahead of Di Farley and Controlled Lion, so that ranks him merit. Been working consistently at GP so could show up with a surprise.
Summary– All these talented runners makes a handicapper shake his head and sometimes make us say, “I think ill just watch this one and enjoy”. If I had to pick, I guess I would give Residue the slight edge, with possibly Z One Chance and Di Farley looking to play the spoilers. Good Luck.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
