5/15/21
14 PIM The PRK (GI)
$1,000.000 3yo 1 3/16m Dirt 126lbs
Preference to TC-PRK Qualifications
PIM Racecourse
I think I gotta lean on Kacey Musgraves for my inspiration today… They are blowing up our phones, asking where we are… because the expected suspects seem to have found their way out of Saturday’s The PRK Stakes (GI). We all knew that Howl Of The Hound, fresh off of his KYD (GI) win would be here, but when eight of the twenty starters entered for the second leg of the TC, and the second, third and fourth place finishers skip the trip to Baltimore… let’s just say that it’s a head-scratcher. The fifth place finisher is here, and she’s a filly. This was just not expected, not in my eye.
KYD Finish
So can anyone run with the KYD (GI) winner? You have to put Howl Of The Hound on top of this field as the undefeated gelding just keeps plugging away like the Energizer Bunny. I see him going off as the HEAVY favorite today.
I’ll take a swing at Tko as the second choice… pardon the pun. He was close to the pace and gave a very even effort in the KYD (GI) finishing two lengths back of the winner, but I think you have to give him a puncher’s chance today… there I go again.
A new face on the TC Trail is War Chant and I think he is one that really must be feared today. I know, I know, he only has a single win and that came vs. NY-bred types at AQU back in Jan, but he has been close in a number of graded races and this barn just seems to have a knack at winning these big races.
Here’s The Field For The 2021 PRK Stakes –
Only a maiden win from this colt but he was second in the AR Derby (GI) prior to that up-the-track finish in Louisville. He was also a close-up fourth in the LA Derby (GII) so he’s run with a few of these, but can he turn it around from the KYD (non)effort?
Undefeated, KYD (GI) winner… yeah, here is your favorite folks. He never wins by daylight, but he has gotten the job done every single time they put him in the gate. Can he grind out another win and put the second TC feather in his cap?
The filly was sold after her near-miss third in the SA Derby (GI) and didn’t do much in the KYD (GI) yet they are back again to go against the boys on short rest. She really just never found her stride at CD and will have to make a marked improvement to compete with them today.
Got the job done last out taking the Ruby Stakes (GIII) at TP, closing well in the late stages to get home by a length in that one. Was fifth in the TAM Derby (GII) prior to that, but with only six lifetime starts he could improve a bit.
Only four prior starts for this gelding and he was perfect until that seventh place finish it the AR Derby (GI) where he was three lengths behind the winner that day. He’s another that could certainly improve and looks ready to run a big race.
Had three consecutive thirds in graded company prior to that twelfth place finish in the KYD (GI) where he just got too far off of the pace and couldn’t find a path through the traffic. Can he stay a bit closer here and be a late factor?
The Gotham (GIII) winner tired in the KYD (GI) and was out of the picture in the SA Derby (GI) sandwiched between those two. He has to pick it up if he wants to be part of this one, but I’m just not sure this is the spot to come back on short rest.
He’s sold twice in the past five races and has no on-the-board finishes in that string, so it’s pretty obvious that this one will need to change his ways or face another long day at the track. He won the Pharoah Stakes (GI) at SA, but that was back in Sep, so…
Only a maiden win from this one, but he’s certainly been around the winner in a number of big races. Just missed in the Southwest (GIII) and the Rebel (GII) before a fourth place finish in the AR Derby (GI). Comes into this one rested and this barn knows how to get a big win in TC races.
Only a maiden win in his pocket and that did come vs NY-bred stakes company, but his form just doesn’t give me a lot of hope. He beat one horse in the AR Derby (GI) and if he wins here, it would be a major upset in my eye.
Solid yet even sixth place finish in the KYD (GI) where he came into that one with back to back graded wins. How will he bounce back on the short rest and will the tighter turns equal a better spot for him to run a big race. I think you have to give him a shot… a big shot.
Another lightly raced gelding, only making his sixth start, and he won his first two starts prior to being sold. He just missed in the BG Stakes (GII) at KEE and closed a bit of ground in the KYD (GI) where he was ninth but only beaten three lengths.
She proved her worth with a big run in the KYD (GI) where she ended up fifth and was only two lengths back. She’s been tough against the boys and catching the outside post could be a big drawback. She’s a real tough filly so don’t leave her out.
Some real solid efforts from this one including a pair of thirds from his last two starts in the LA Derby (GII) and the Coolmore Lexington (GIII). Sold prior to this one, and they’d love to hit it big on the first start for them.
Can he get a scratch and draw into the field? Claimed for just $6.250, he won the Coolmore Lexington (GIII) last out and would certainly be a value add to the field. I’d love to see him get in… that’s for sure.
Undefeated filly that has sold twice and won three… welcome to the party. She’s another that would be a real interesting entrant, if she were to make it into the field via a couple of scratches. She hasn’t done anything wrong yet.
COZMAN Picks 2 / 11 / 9
SCOTTY 2 / 12 / 13
Willie’s Green Card 4 / 2 / 14
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
