The Pilgrim – Grade II [BC]
AQU Race #5 1 1/16m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Two Year Olds.

1 Count The Hooks Chili King Stables Prat F

Experience can be a key factor in some of these races and this one has plenty with six starts already to his name. He took a while to get going running in three maidens on dirt and not really making a mark but after a gelding operation in June and a change to turf he seems to be playing catch up. A good maiden win over this trip preceded a solid effort in the With Anticipation and whilst he was beaten a fair way into fourth he was one of those that got the spinny legs start that can happen and did pretty well to get where he did by the end. There is no doubt his early pace is a problem but one of two things can happen with slow starters from the one gate. They start slowly and get too far back or they decide to become fast starters and get a perfect stalk, which one he gets today will be down to the race engine Gods. A chance but a less obvious one than some.

2 Vieux Jeu Acber Farms Centeno D E

Went to the turf for an easy win on his second start he then flew home over the mile on an off track to be a great second in the KD Juvenile, The draw is perfect for him today to get in behind the speed and launch down the stretch and whilst he may not be the most stylishly bred or prettiest horses in the race he certainly has the ability to win and the trainer has done a great job getting him to the cusp of BC qualification.

3 American Grandeur TwinTowersRacing Velazquez J R

Won his maiden in his first race on turf really well and then went to the KD Juvenile where a chick in his armor became obvious. The trouble is we wont know which chink that is until after this race. On speed he faded out of it into a distant third five lengths behind Vieux Jeu and whilst that wasn’t the worst effort we do have to ask why that happened. Was it the off track that caused him to fade, was it the trip that exposed his stamina or was he simply not good enough? He gets a great draw again today so we will learn a lot after this race but that wont help us work out his chances before the race. Clearly he has ability and could win but on that last run he does have something to find.

4 Suave Mb Stables Cedillo A

Didn’t win until his fifth and last try so it is clear that he is a work in progress rather than the finished article. He won his maiden on the turf and over a mile so clearly that is a plus but it was an off track that day so the win is hard to assess. Look he is from the Mb Stables yard so cannot be overlooked, his mile work is in the right ball park and he is drawn well so he could well run a big race but he is not jumping out at me as a winning chance.

5 Good Buddy Maxmillion Farm Wenc I C

This trainer knows a turf router when he see’s one and pounced on him after a 1.35 and 2 mile work suggested he was far better than the fourth he ran last time at allowance level. There isn’t a lot of evidence to suggest he can win apart from that work and the trainer but they may be enough in a very hard race to get a read on.

6 Quiet Return Allinthegate Gaffalione T

This to me has the look of a winner about him. Two solid efforts preceded an impressive maiden win in a big ticket SAR Maiden the sort of race that has proved key to these early stakes races. Now add to that a 1.35 flat turf work and we have a formula that has proved very successful and for me he is one of the stand outs.

7 Iceberg Slim Fractious Saez L

Two good efforts and a solid win in a fast time last time out coupled with a 1.10 flat work make him a huge chance. The obvious question mark is the trip as he has yet to race further than five and a half furlongs but if he see’s it out then i can see him as a big contender.

8 Clown Fear Aer Stables Gutierrez Mario

We don’t see or hear as much from this successful stable than we used to but when they have a runner at this level you have to sit up and notice and this one is certainly in it with a chance. A debut winner he then disappointed in the Victoria Stakes but bounced back when switched to turf to win the Proud Man last time. There are of course question marks as that win came on an off track and he has yet to race beyond five and a half furlongs but his works suggest he is in the mix.

9 If Only You Believe La Canada Racehorses Geroux F

I said earlier that experience can be key and this one has plenty and in all the right ways. A good maiden winner on his fourth try he has run two fair efforts since in the FunnyCide and The SAR Special but the key here is that he has yet to race on turf and his recent 1.35 flat mile work suggests he is a good few lengths better on this surface. The draw is tough but the trainer is having plenty of success with their juveniles and this could well be another big winner.

10 The Way I Talk Luz International Lanerie C J

A winner of two from three he deserves his shot here and isn’t out of it. His win last time over the turf mile was nice enough but came on an off track and is hard to assess but that at least proved he has the stamina and he couldn’t do any more than win it well. The draw of course wont help him but of he has that class gene he has done enough to date to make him a chance and a possible winner.

11 Dark Night Ofth Soul Mb Stables Hernandez R M

In my mind he may be the better of the stables chances despite a rotten draw, He won over this trip impressively last time and has worked like a stakes winner the question is what he will do from this wide draw. I think the trainer has options after a come from behind win last time followed an on pace debut where he showed plenty of early pace, a combination of the two should land him nicely in a loose stalk or mid-pack and the race is winnable from there. If anyone can make the instructions work then it is Mb so he may start favorite.

12 Bob Arindel Jaramillo E

I love the name and it sort of sums him up. Bob seems the sort of name held by the good bloke down the street who can turn his hand to most things and is as honest as they come and that is exactly how i would describe this horse. Two gutsy wins at overnight level and some good work times certainly suggest a race like this is in his scope but this car park draw will make it very tough for him.

SUMMARY

A tough race as always to get a line on but i think Quiet Return ticks plenty of boxes and may be a good bet, Dark Night Ofth Soul looks a danger as does Iceburg Slim and i would be looking at If Only You Believe to be the one who may mess it all up and add to the La Canada trophy cabinet if things go well for him at the start.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES