The Schiller
1 Mile Aqueduct Inner Turf – – $150.000
Even though many eyes are anxiously shifting ahead a few weeks and focusing on the Breeders Cup there is still a lot of racing to be done and purses to be won between now and then. The Schiller at Aqueduct is an example of a smaller ungraded race where a nice purse and black type awaits. Races like this can often provide a springboard to bigger things down the road as well. Nine horses and owners are ready to line up on Saturday for the ninth running of this mile test.
1. Drone Strike (Prat) D J C Racing Stables homebred comes into this race following two also ran finishes which appear to indicate a downward form cycle but is working very well and might be a sleeper. Multiple stakes winner but it has been a while. Could be trouble if he finds his old form.
2. Zakouski One (Lezcano) Wood Racing Stable picked this five year old up in the Smokey fire sale for $1.000. He has made four starts since then and has not missed hitting the board Steps up in company here but his form suggests he has earned the return to stakes company. Good post and stalking style puts him on my contender radar.
3. Axel Grinder (Santana Jr) Has not found the winner’s circle yet this year but also has not been worse than third with three seconds in four starts. Mb Stables moves into stakes company with the 4 yo gelding who has been working holes in the wind in the morning, Drawn well with tactical speed. Very similar profile as the horse directly to his inside. Also a top contender.
4. Snidely Whiplash (Rosario) Has been knocking heads with top turn milers recently and the Twin Towers Racing charge has acquitted himself well placing in a couple of graded tries. Three figure speed figures in his last two starts along with the slight class relief make him look really tough in this spot.
5. Diventare (Dettori) This Invicta Group Llc four year old has been going long on the dirt since being bought back in May. There is limited turf experience in the resume but he does boast a win right after the sale. Was in really deep water in the G1 Pacific Classic and now cuts back in distance and switches to grass. The trainer obviously is high on him and he seems to always try but I’ll watch one on the grass in stakes company first before picking him.
6. Neon Town (D. Davis) Has been a hot commodity at the claim box over the past summer. Claimed by Xcel Racing from John Henry in June for 25.000 the five year old was claimed back by John Henry for $12.500 in mid August. In an interesting move the trainer brings him back into this turf stakes. He has back class with a G3 Dwyer score in his three year old season but I think others in here show better recent form.
7. Suspect The Worst (Castellano) Nakamura Stables has this one razor sharp coming into this race which is his first foray into stakes competition since he flamed out a year ago in a G3. Two turf wins in a row with an open daylight win in his last start. Four length wins in this game are rare and always catch my eye. When you take that into account along with his recent scorching works you have to think he is a four year old who might be finding his best stride and is ready to step up.
8. Jerry West (Alvarado J) Never seems to run a bad race for La Canada Racehorses and this seems to be right in his wheelhouse. The veteran five year old has not bagged a stakes win this season but has been right there several times. Works are sharp and has not run a bad race all season. I would be surprised if he was not right in the mix at the wire.
9. Kid Puka (Maragh C) We already have our winner here when it comes to the bad luck of the draw. The only three year old in the field drew the far outside and, not to disparage anyone, but doesn’t seem to have picked up the cream of the jockey colony. But, what do I know? Keith Austin Inc must like something he sees in his recent $25.000 claim to be here. There was some early two year old success on grass last year but he has not carried that forward in stakes level company for the most part. Is up against it all here. Long season with this being his twelfth start but has had a little rest and new trainer might have found something.
Races like this are tough to correctly size up. You have improving horses coming up to this level along with horses moving down to find form or easier company and some seemingly taking a shot. This is especially true at the end of a long season. Those are my excuses for when I completely botch this! With the weather looking clear for a firm track I have to go with the class of Snidely Whiplash for the win with Suspect The Worst continuing to impress for second and the Smokey bargain Zakouski One chasing them home for third.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded