6/14/2020
12 LS TX Stallion Stakes – Avenger
$75.000 2yo Colts & Geldings Foaled in TX 5f Dirt 118lbs +penalties
We get a field of nine freshmen headed to the starting gate on Sunday and take a look at the field for the TX Stallion Stakes – Avenger division, to be run at five furlongs on the main track here in west Dallas. I know the money will be plopped down on the obvious two-time winner, Ernesto G, but I’m taking his stable-mate Ethan G as the top choice. I liked that win at WO, even though he was in a DH on that day… here, I think he proves that he can run and get the job done. I’m also interested to see if Im Not Laughing is the real deal… you never know on those MNR wins, but he got home quick and aired by six, so he’s worth the look.
Here’s The Field –
| 1 | Dharma Vb | Shermfirm Stables | Elliott S | 118 | |
8/1 |
Not much to show from his first two starts as he broke poorly in both but did show a little bit of run in the end of those races. Still, this is tougher than maidens and he will need to show more or have another long day at the office. | ||||
| 2 | Thermostat | Shermfirm Stables | Cabrera D | 118 | |
7/1 |
Pretty much the same story as his stable-mate, as he’s been in a pair of races where his start was poor and he passed horses late. The up side is he was much closer in the end of those races, so he may get better as the races get longer. | ||||
| 3 | Im Not Laughing | Luz International | Luzzi L J | 118 | |
4/1 |
Blew away the field in his first start at MNR where he won by six and got home in pretty quick time for that surface. I can’t get a better read on that race as I don’t see any other starts for that field, so basing it on time and the win, he looks nice. | ||||
| 4 | Dab On Dem Fools | Night Rider Stables | Quinonez L S | 118 | |
6/1 |
Not a bad run when third over this track and he was nabbed out of that, taken for the $15.000 claiming tag. Shows a single am gallop getting ready for this, but he will need his best to be any part of the goings on. They should like catching the Q-man in the saddle here. | ||||
| 5 | Overdone B | Shermfirm Stables | Hamilton Q | 118 | |
7/1 |
Another that got away from the gate in poor fashion but seemed to be getting a better feel for things in the late stages of his first trip to the post. That was a pretty quick field at PRX, but again, he’s going to need his best to be in the running here. | ||||
| 6 | Midnight Freak | Luz International | Diego I V | 118 | |
7/1 |
Broke well in that first race at PRX, but he put the cue in the rack pretty quick in that first effort and doesn’t show an am gallop since that race. The vet paid a visit and put his mind on the races, so maybe he bounces back and shows a bit more here today. | ||||
| 7 | Ethan G | Gustafson Stable | Bridgmohan J V | 118 | |
3/1 |
Nice win although he had to split the purse in that DH win at WO last out. He was pretty competitive in his other two trips to the gate where he was fourth in both of those starts, including a trip over this trip in his first out attempt. I think you have to give him a big chance here. | ||||
| 8 | Diplomat G | Gustafson Stable | De La Cruz W | 118 | |
7/2 |
Got the job done over this surface last out but was another that had to split the money in a DH win. He was third in his other race, an abbreviated dash over the TAM surface where he just missed by a neck, so it looks like this one can run a little bit. | ||||
| 9 | Ernesto G | Gustafson Stable | Eramia R E | 120 | |
3/5 |
He looks that part… that’s for sure… two-for-two including a first out win over this track then a follow-up win vs. stakes company at TUP so he gets two additional pounds along with the outside post. Can he overcome? | ||||
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
