KY Jockey Club (KYD) (Grade 2)- $250.000 Purse
CD- For Two Year Olds
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
November 30, 2019
There will be some KYD points on the line this Saturday as the 17th running of the Grade 2 KY Jockey Club takes place. Will any of these be back here in five months for the big race? Only time will tell, but any amount of KYD points that can be earned can be valuable. Last year’s winner of the race, Serengeti Sands has had a decent three year old season but did not make it to the KYD. The runner up in this race had the better year, as Admiration won the BEL after running second in the PRK. However, he did not run in the KYD, either. A few in this field ran in the BC Juvenile, but none of those who earned a check in the race. Will we have an eventual TC winner in this race like we did last year? Let’s look at the field!
#1- Commander Kemp (Mb Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- The PA-bred has won two of five starts this year, with his biggest win being right after he was acquired by Mb Stables in the September auction. That was in the $100.000 McDermott at PID for PA-breds, on a muddy track. He’s gone long once, and that was a try on the grass last month at AQU, and he looked pretty good that day.
#2- Intaglio (Arindel, ridden by T Gaffalione)- This one of three in the field that was able to run in the BC Juvenile, but it did not go well for him out at SA. He looked good going into that race, thanks to finishing second at the Pharoah Stakes at that same race track. For whatever the reason, the BC wasn’t his day, and that can happen. The trainer hopes he comes out of that in good form, but has not worked publicly since then.
#3- Lawn Party (Rampage Stable, ridden by J Rosario)- After starting his career well on the main track, including running third in the Grade 2 Best Pal, it was only natural for a horse named Lawn Party to decide to try the grass. The Grade 3 Futurity party saw him finish fourth, but now the trainer is hoping his horse takes the next step in extending his distance as he goes more then six furlongs for the first time. Should be ok, based on an October work.
#4- Stark (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M J Sanchez)- For some reason, Stark was the post-time favorite for the BC Juvenile. I didn’t see it then, so was not groaning when he ended up finishing a distant 11th. He had a good looking second place run in the Breeders Futurity, but also has shown signs of being inconsistent. Fine, he’s two, that can happen. Against a lesser field then that, he has no excuses to not run well here, and if is as good as some think he is, he should certainly grab a piece of this purse.
#5- City Sniper (John Henry, ridden by J R Leparoux)- The third of those that ran in the BC Juvenile, and City Sniper was at least near the front as he finished in the fifth position. He started off his career as good as could be with three wins out of the gate, and also ran second in the Grade 3 Iroquois after his interesting month of August in private sales. We’ll see him prep races regularly next year, barring catastrophe, and it seems like he has a ton of potential.
#6-Telladifferentstory (Nakamura Stables, ridden by F Geroux)- This is new territory for the gelding, as his story thus far has been only in overnights. In those four races, the results are good, with two wins and two places, but even there, he has not been running at high tracks. His story then is one of potential and not of a resume, and he is working just as good as anyone else in this field. He’s the x-factor in this race. Don’t think his odds will climb, but if they do, take a shot.
#7- Lord Of Peace (Our Athletes, ridden by E Jaramillo)- The Lord High Admiral colt has spent his entire career thus far running in his home state of Florida, in state breds. That string of four races ended with a solid third place run at the Juvenile Sprint three weeks ago. He did go a mile to break his maiden in the race that proceeded that, and based on a recent work, he should look going long again here. With this race, the trainer will get a chance to see what he has in Lord Of Peace, and it could end well.
#8- Chai Morning (Aer Stables, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Comes into this race off of a win in the $120.000 Street Sense right here at CD, going wire to wire while starting from post 11. Early on, Chai Morning has been a top performer, with three wins in his four career starts, but the Street Sense was actually his debut with Aer Stables, who wisely picked him up for a $32.000 claiming tag. Former trainer Tiratzo may be regretting letting him get away like that. Working very well, and should have a strong run.
#9- Starship Leader (Mb Stables, ridden by M Franco)- While Chai Morning was going wire to wire winning the Street Sense from post 11, Starship Leader went right to rear of the field while starting from post 10 in the same race. At the end, he made a valiant close, and finished second by less then a length. If he needed just a little more distance, he is getting exactly that here. Overall, Starship Leader has been successful in FL Sire Series races, but so far has just his maiden win.
#10- Hollywood World (Estero Farms, ridden by J K Court)- In his four races thus far, he has one strong race and three others that have been anything put. The win was the maiden triumph at ELP, but otherwise he has been soundly beaten, twice of which by five lengths, and the other by three, where he ran eighth. Something has to change, and it has, as Hollywood World moves off of the grass and onto the main track. He worked very well at AQU last week, and I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t see the grass again for quite some time.
#11- Zigs Really Poor (Rock Creek, ridden by R Chirinos)- It will just take a look at his legs to figure out how he got his name, but so far he is showing some speed. At least that’s what the trainer is hoping as they race for the first time together since he was claimed from La Canada Racehorses for $16.000. He ran very well for La Canada, but was not placed at the high tracks. The trainer is seeing something, and it must be something other then that October 1st work. With those legs, if you think you have something, you can’t waste any time going for it.
Prediction: 5-8-6-9
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
