6/6/2015   Post Time 3:25PM

RACE 5 BEL    The Stephens (GII)

$500.000    3yo     7f    Dirt

Sophomore Sprinters will be the tale in this one as a full gate looks ready to get seven furlongs in The Stephens (GII), over the main track.  It’s a fairly wide-open affair but I’ll give the nod to Cape Canaveral, coming off of a nearly 60-day rest.  He looked good in that DH win at KEE, and the barn still gave him some time and now bring him back in a shorter distance, where he should be able to find his speed and tactics to be the winning combination.

I give Power And Money and Mojoboa big chances here today, despite their outside post positions.  I think both have enough early lick to get out of traffic issues and make their presence known when it comes time to hand out the prizes.  Good Luck to all!

Here’s the Field…

Was chasing the TC path until that dud in the BG Stakes (GI) at KEE, so they gave this one some time to grow a bit and the works say he’s ready to come back in a big way today.  The rail could work against him, being a one-run-son-of-a-gun type, but if he can miss the New York rush hour and find a clear path he could be a big factor here today.

Another that went big-game hunting on the TC trail but less than favorable outcomes in the Gotham (GIII) and AR Derby (GI) sent this one back to the farm for a while.  His works have been full of bullets and he looks ready to fire a big one here today.  Of course they don’t pay for works, so he has to bring that to the track, with the lights on.

Just missed north-of-the-border in the Marine (GIII) last out.  That seems to be the story for ’15 – close, but can’t find the winner’s circle.  The trouble is, it doesn’t get any easier with this group, so he will need his absolute best to get a piece of this pie.

DH’ed in the American Turf (GII) at CD last out, and that may be his better surface.  He won the Palm Beach (GIII) at GP on the turf in what could only be described as a mind-numbing late move.  Still, he has some dirt ability and may pull a surprise at a nice price in this one.

The barn plunked down $35.00 at the March Auction and it’s been nothing but wins since.  Nice score v. Alw horses at SA and then took a CT stakes by a nose, so now they go up the ladder after graded horses.H  He’s a big kind of a horse with a long stride and that could be very handy here.  Still, I’ll look at a few other proven horses.

Got back to the winning ways at WO last out when taking the Woodstock by a half length in pretty quick time.  The distance here seems to be right in his wheel-house so expect another bang-up effort and perhaps a sizeable check.

Another good effort last out when fourth only beaten a length at SA in the Barrera Stakes (GIII), and that was off of his win here in NY in the Bay Shore (GIII) at AQU.  He loves the 7f distance and should be right in the middle of things when they hit the wire.

Won the Collmore Lexington (GIII) at KEE (DH) back in Apr and I thought he would be aimed at bigger paydays but the barn took him home and let him grow up a bit.  The distance may be a big shorter than what he really prefers, but he certainly has tactical speed and a ton of class.  He has a big chance to get right back into the swing of things.

Still looking for his first seasonal win after that fourth placed finish in the Bay Shore (GIII) back in Apr.  The barn is full of talent and this is another bullet in their gun… never count them out, but I’m going to have to look at some others despite their ability to get to the winner’s circle.

Snapped back from that forgettable Wood Memorial (GI) effort to get the win while sprinting over this surface in the Gold Fever.  He was sharp as a tack that afternoon and may show that he is a sprinter to be reckoned with as time goes on.  They plunked down a pretty penny for him, so you know the barn loves him.

Was on the road to the TC but that SUN Derby (GIII) race obviously wasn’t what the barn wanted to see so they sent him back to the farm for a while and bring him back on a new mission.  He really hasn’t looked like the sprinter type, but this is a sharp outfit and knows where to place ’em.  Don’t discount him in your trifectas.

Two in a row and has won half of his eight lifetime starts, so you know he has ability.  Got stuck out in the horrible post, so this is going to be a “trip race” for him.  He can certainly run, but can he overcome the gate issues?

In January, he looked like the sky was the limit after winning the Hutchinson (GIII) at GP… then, things kind of fell apart and he hasn’t been able to find the tote board since then.  He needs to draw in to make the field and even those chances don’t look great.

Recipient of the unkindest of cuts prior to that Sir Barton start, and even that didn’t seem to wake him up.  Hasn’t won since Feb so maybe not getting in here is just as well.

Willie’s Green Card      8  /  10  /  12

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES