Autumn Stakes (Grade 2)- $175.000 Purse
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
November 9, 2024

Up north this Saturday, we will have the 18th running of the Grade 2 Autumn Stakes, a race that probably has one of the lower purses that you will see for something that it is indeed, a Grade 2. There has not been a lot of fluctuation in that amount through time, as it is has ranged between $150.000 and $200.000. This year, there will be seven heading to a race that was won in 2023 by Quality Road and D J C Racing Stables. Quality Road’s win in the Autumn Stakes would be the final win of his career, as he struggled this year before being retired. Here’s a look at those looking to be the next name added to the list of winners:

1- Gorogue Laga (Fractious, ridden by P Husbands)- The 2023 PRK winner will be making his fourth start for Fractious after the trainer picked him up in the June auction for $885.010. While none of the previous three are wins, the gelding has been second twice, and that includes his last start, the Grade 3 Ack Ack, a race in the slop that saw the trainer get a 1-2-3 finish. After about six weeks off, Gorogue Laga could be a good bet here to win his first stake since the day after Christmas, when he won the Grade 1 Malibu.

2- Bahamut (Ashwood Farms, ridden by J Stein)- Early in his career, Bahamut showed plenty of ability, but he hasn’t really done much as a four-year-old. He has not won any of his six starts this year and has earned $42.170. That’s not an expected resume of a horse starting beside the likes of Gorogue Laga in a Grade 2. Bahamut struggled in the $70.000 Bud Special at ALB but has been inconsistent recently. He’s only a threat here if he can rediscover the late 2023 version of himself.

3- Angle Of Attack (Luz International, ridden by K Kimura)- Between March and August, Angle Of Attack had a great stretch of races where he had one finish in each of the possible top four positions, earning triple digit SRF’s in all of them. While it was not a win, the most impressive race in that stretch was his second-place effort in the Grade 1 Foster at CD. However, his form has dropped off in his last two races, being defeated by four lengths in each of them. Though this is still a Grade 2, the Autumn Stakes is enough of drop in anticipated competition for it to be a good spot for the gelding to get back on his feet.

4- Bonus Baby (Night Rider Stables, ridden by H M Vanek)- Finished his four-year-old season with four straight wins, but the gelding has not been able to carry that into this year. He was won just once in six races, that coming two starts ago in the Grade 2 Seagram Cup Stakes right here at WO, earning a 102 SRF along the way. That’s also the only time this year that he has hit the board, although that is a little deceiving since he is typically competitive. Last time out, he was against some of the best in the business in the Grade 1 California Crown but was not a factor at the end.

5- Booker (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by L Salles)- After a string of unproductive races on the main track, TwinTowersRacing moved Booker to the turf last month for the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes, and it seemed to work out as the gelding finished in the second spot. That could have meant another turf start, but that will not be the trainer’s plan for Booker as he sends him back to the main track here. His last win on this surface was a good one, coming in March at the $150.000 Stymie, but he would go into a slump afterwards. Slumps can be broken, so we will see how it goes.

6- Lossupra (Riggins Racing, ridden by E J Wilson)- There’s no denying that Lossupra knows how to win, as he has done so almost half of the time, ten times out of 21 starts. He had a great run in 2023 and was acquired by Riggins this February with a $100.000 claim. Most of his year has been running in open allowances, and an ugly race where he was beaten by six lengths at HST in July does seem to be an outlier. Won the $150.000 PID Mile about two months after that. However, he also ran two weeks ago and others in here are much fresher.

7- Prince Ferro (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by D Moran)- If Prince Ferro runs like he did in his last race, he is unlikely to be defeated here. At SA, he ran in the Grade 1 California Crown and placed fourth in the $1,000.000 race. The ones that defeated him are nowhere near this race, after all. Prior to the California Crown, he not only ran second in the Pacific Classic, but finished second in that race. Looking at those two results, it’s a bit of a surprise that he did not take part in a BC race last week. Ran nicely on the turf right before that, and there is no reason to think that will not happen again. He should rule over this field.

Prediction: 7-1-3-5

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES