9/9/2023

  2  KD   Simpson Stakes (GII)       

$1,000.000    3yo    6 1/2  Turf   122lbs

The purses stay huge at KD, and the Simpson Stakes (GII) is a chance for the sophomore sprinters to land a huge payday.  A field of ten headed to the post on this odd, undulating course, and I’ve landed on Drinkin Creepin as the top choice here.  The big barn gets it done when the money is on the line, and this is a huge pot.  He just seems to stand out from a class point of view.  Let’s go right next door and take Chai Silent Type as the second choice.  I think the distance sits well with him, and he may come with some decent odds.  It’s a wide-open affair after that top pick, in my opinion, but let’s ride off with this cold exacta and see if we can cash a ticket.

Here’s The Field –

He never seems to run a bad race, on the board in six of eight starts, two of those wins, and he just missed last out in the Mahogany at SAR on wet sod.  Looks like a quick strip for this one, but he runs on dogleg and I think the distance fits him very well, to boot. 

He won two in a row, taking down Alw types at CD, then winning the Quick Call (GIII) at SAR.  Closed a late gap to be third in the Mahogany at SAR as the heavy favorite, but I think this one will enjoy the extra furlong today.  I think he will be a factor when they turn the dogleg and head for home. 

He went wire to wire in the Dade Park Dash on wet sod, then tired to be fifth in the TS Turf Sprint, both over the ELP turf course.  He is certainly a horse that has talent, but this is a salty group and I’ll probably have to look at some others today. 

Looked unbeatable at one point, ripping off seven in a row including four stakes, the PEN Mile (GII) being the best of that streak.  But tired to be fifth in the BEL Derby (GI) and was last of six in the NMofR (GII) at SAR, last out.  So, it’s back to the sprint distance trying to wake him back up. 

Always in the picture, hitting the board in eight of ten starts and six of those have been wins.  Broke maiden three back, then won a claimer, only to miss by a nose in the Hamilton, those later two at WO.  He’s fond of the grass, runs hard and should be given a look

Hotter than a $2 pistol… four wins and a second from six seasonal starts.  Two sprint stakes wins coming in to this one, taking the Grand Prairie Turf and TS Turf Sprint.  This looks like a spot where he can keep his hot hand going and the barn should be happy about that.

We stay with the word consistent, as this one has two wins and a duo of runner-up efforts from seven trips to the gate, and he just missed in that Quick Call (GIII) race, before winning a nice Alw sprint, both at SAR.  Another like his recent efforts and he should be in the middle of things.

Solid year for this one, and it’s interesting to see him come back to the sprint arena, and he won the Baffle on the down-hill course at this distance.  He’s been running mile-ish type races, taking the Transylvania (GIII) at KEE where he demolished a good group, and also won the PENN Mile (GII) (DH)

Two wins from his last three starts, both stakes, and another true sprinter.  He was second in a stakes between those two wins, and the distance seems to be right where he wants it.  He may have some odds in this, and could be an upset special. 

Another that has run well vs. a bit softer than graded but has struggled at the graded level.  Seventh in the Penny Ridge (GII) and last of seven in the Quick Call (GIII) but won the Lake Superior at WO last out, so you get my drift.  Can he step up to this type and get the job done?

COZMAN  8 / 7      Willie’s Green Card   8 / 6 / 7              

https://simracingform.com/2023/09/06/simpson-stakes-sends-sprinting-sophomores-to-the-starting-gate/amp/

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES