The Rockville Centre- $125.000 Purse
BEL- For Two Year Olds Foaled in NY
Six Furlongs on the Dirt
July 18, 2015

New York is a highly recommended place for breeding, due to the high purses offered by the NYRA affiliated tracks.  NY-bred purses are some of the largest you will find in any statebred racing.    Upon getting the assignment of the Rockville Centre, I was anticipating to cover a race with a large field, as after all two year old racing is in high demand at the current time.  Surprisingly, there are only four going to the gate, and this is a disappointment.   It is the second edition of the event, with last year’s race drawing a field of seven.  It would have been nice to have seen something like that again.  That race last year was won by Night Rider Stables’ I Never Bluf So Fold, who has since gone on to win almost $400.000 in what is still a young career.  Night Rider is one of the four trainers to enter a horse in this field, and it is one that should have a very good chance today.  After winning this race, I Never Bluf So Fold went on to win a couple other NY bred races as a two year old with high purses, so hopefully we will see those races draw bigger fields.  There is no shortage of talent with our runners today, and the lack of other interest should not be held against them.  So enjoy the talent of these four two year olds, and hopefully the excitement of this race will lead to more entries in future two year old NY bred races.

#1- Rajivs Poker Face (Night Rider Stables, ridden by K Carmouche)-  Last year, Night Rider Stables won with a horse that never bluffs, so you have to wonder if you really would believe his poker face.   What you can believe in is that talent of Rajivs Poker Face, who is coming off an incredible race in his last outing.   That was a nine length win in a $50.000 maiden claimer at BEL.  Forget the “claimer” part of that, because what this gelding did on the track was impressive with a winning time of :57.49.  That earned him an 88 SRF figure, which is the best any of these have earned thus far.   He is by a relatively unheralded sire by the name of George Count, though some might say that bodes well for him in the future.  Expect him to run competitively with a strong chance to win the race.

#2- French Lad (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by A S Arroyo)- After not doing much in his first race, French Lad improved his game dramatically in his second race, taking a NY-bred MSW race at FL back in May, and an earned an 86 SRF for that 4 1/2 furlong race.  There is not much to go by publicly in regards to his works since that race, but I do like how he covered the 6th furlong in a work at BEL in late June.  He will be ready to run on Saturday, and has all the ability that one will need to win this race.   His breeding will make any Frenchman proud, being by French Summer as a sire, who goes back to Steel Ball.   His Dam is Bourbon Street Lady.  Surprisingly there is no Bon Soir in his pedigree.  I was expecting to see him somewhere when I checked!

#3- Mr Prince (Diablo Diablo, ridden by B Blanc)- Out of a General Assembly mare, Mr Prince looked good while winning his debut race at TUP in an April.  A month later, he ran into a NY-bred named Grandeur who was very impressive in winning an allowance.  Mr Prince was third in that race, but that is nothing to be ashamed of, as I would gather there are going to be a few from that race who go on to have very good careers.  Grandeur could be in the next NY-bred race we talk about, but for now Mr Prince will be glad not to see him.  Though he does see Rajivs Poker Face, who turned in that same 88 SRF.  Mr Prince is getting better, and on July 1st, he turned in a work at PRX for six furlongs that none of the others in this field have been able to beat thus far.   This is one to watch for the future, even if he doesn’t win here.  He will have a good chance though.

#4- Run Hawk Run (Wild Aces Stables, ridden by M Franco)-  So far, 2014 KYD winner Laffin To Mia has not done much in the shed, and trainer Wild Aces Stables, who enjoyed that ride, will be hoping that Run Hawk Run can follow in his father’s footsteps.  It’s early, and you can’t put too much pressure on this young colt, but he is showing some promise.  Like Mr Prince, his career got started by winning a MSW at TUP and then ran into a good allowance field at EMD last month.  Prior to that allowance, he had shown some improvement in his works, but he does not have anything publicly since that race.  He will probably had to have improved a little more to win this race, but that’s possible for any two year old.    He hopes to become his sire’s first stake winning foal here.

Prediction: 3-1-2-4

— NS

Categories: Ungraded