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Sophomore Sod Sprinters Seek Salvation in Simpson Stakes

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9/16/2020

  1  KD     Simpson Stakes (GIII)

                    $500.000         3yo          6 1/2f  Turf        122lbs

There’s a pile of money on the line as nine 3yo’s will be headed to the post in the Simpson Stakes (GIII) to be run at six and a half furlongs here in Southern Kentucky.  As expected, when you have a purse like this, the big boys come out to play and we have a strong field here today.  I’m going to look for Pollinate to keep his hot streak going again today as this one just never seems to run a bad race… well, he had one hiccup on the BEL main track but…  he looks good to me.  Let’s go out wide and put One Man Show in the middle of this one.  He just missed last out in a very fast race and a repeat of that may give him the win here.

It’s a mid-week graded race, but don’t sleep on this one.  Grab a wobble-pop and let’s watch…

Here’s The Field –

1
   Eggs And Bacon    Mb Stables    Tunon M   122   5/1 

He’s still looking for his first win of the 2020 season but he was a bang-up freshman that just hasn’t found that old form.  He was third in the BC Juv Turf (GI) so you know he has class and ability.  You know how Mb is in these stakes races, he’s here to win. 

2
   Keanu Storm    Arindel    Hernandez R M   122   7/1

His only seasonal win came vs. NY-bred stakes company, and he was ninth at SAR in a graded race on their inner course.  Perhaps the turns got him that day and the jug-handle here may be the ticket to get him where he needs to be.  The turn back to shorter may help as well.

3
   City Watch    John Henry    Davis D   122   4/1 

He’s won half of his six starts this season and just missed last out at ELP while facing stakes company… so, of course, he sold prior to this one.  The new stable certainly is no stranger to big races and big purses so the change of barn in interesting.  Mb usually gets the most out of them, but….

4
   Pollinate    Mb Stables    Velazquez J R   122   7/2

Another with three wins this year and he also just missed last out in a sprint stakes at ELP.  Won a GIII on the PRX soft sod prior to that, so there’s no doubt he’s in peak form right now.  Part of the Mb entry, and I say again, he’s here for the cash.

5
   Gordon Drive    Estero Farms    Gutierrez Mario   122   4/1  

Didn’t do so well in two marathon races which made me scratch my head as he had just won the six furlong Jaipur (GI).  This seems to be a distance that he can close and get the job done, and you have to give him a serious look in this one.  

6
   Shattered Pieces    Rampage Stable    Rosario J   122   8/1

His lone seasonal win came vs. OptAlw types on the wet dirt at PRX, and his last pair of turf races were hit-and-miss as he was last in the Lure at SA and then just missed against Alw horses at SAR. He will need his A-game to compete here.

7
   In Name Only    Patterson Stables    Stein J   122   20/1

Has been struggling vs. claiming company, sold and was last of five against OptAlw horses at DMR, sold again (for more money) and now is going after stakes horses.  He may win this by five lengths, but not with my $2.

8
   Stormbringer    John Henry    Court J K   122   8/1 

His only win this year came over the SA turf when he took the Snow Chief against Cal-breds going a mile and an eighth.  Looks like they are trying to shake the cob webs off in a sprint, but he has shown some speed.  Still, there’s some other’s I like a lot more. 

9
   One Man Show    Maxmillion Farm    Garcia Mar   122   7/2

Catches the outside post but he won from out wide in the Bridgetown at AQU back in April.  Only five races this season and he’s been right there in all but that longer race, so it looks like a place for him to shine. 

 

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