DMR Mile (Grade 2)- $200.000 Mile
DMR- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
August 19, 2018

The DMR Mile will run for the 13th time on Sunday, and here is a brief look at the race. Due to massive time constraints, I am unable to provide a lengthy preview, but the recap will be fine. An interesting, though not really a surprise factoid about this race is that it has been won by three year olds in four of the last five years. That might be a tough trend to continue here, as I like the a couple of the older ones in here, but anything is possible!

#1- Swamp Fox (Blushing Meadows, ridden by K Frey)- Seven year old gelding making his 56th career start. He has amassed over $1,800.000 in earnings for his career, but has just one win (and one in the money finish) in his last seven races. Had a third place run in the BC Turf Sprint here last fall, though.

#2- Blame The Moon (Allinthegate, ridden by J Talamo)- Has spent much of the year running in open allowances, and did piece together a five race winning streak at TUP. Had good speed figures in those ones, and has earned this shot. It’s a step up, but he may be up for it.

#3- Solow (Saratoga Stud, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- After winning the Grade 2 Ft Lauderdale in January, Solow has been struggling. Saratoga Stud paid $100.000 for the 9th place runner in last year’s BC Turf, but so far has not seen any dividends.

#4- Apollos Gold (Team 7 Illusions, ridden by G Franco)- In just his sixth start, the four year old will be making the leap into graded competition. Went wire to wire in his last start, an ELP allowance, though at a much shorter distance. Had an eye opening mile work here on the 5th of this month.

#5- Serious Cobra (John Henry, ridden by F Prat)- Makes his debut for the trainer after being acquired for $333.000 from Smokey Stover. That’s a leap of faith for a horse that has not won since March 2017, but he did run second in the BC Mile last year. I’d be more inclined to pick him for a trifecta bet, then to win.

#6- Regret Nothing (Estero Farms, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- Got to be part of the show when his stablemate Pretty Ferro won the KYD, though finished ninth. After that, he was moved back to the grass where he raced earlier in his career. He’ll like that this race is shorter then the BEL Derby.

#7- Duke Or Earl (Gdp Inc, ridden by V Espinoza)- Makes his 21st career start, and ninth of this season. Thus far in 2018, he has never failed to pick up some sort of check for his trainer, and three races were wins. I like how he stepped it up into graded competition, and expect him to continue to be a force at this level.

#8- Moon Ruler (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M E Smith)- Acquired by the trainer in the auction for $107.100, this generally consistent six year old ran second in his D J C debut last month. This is a step up from the $150.000 ungraded Forbidden Apple he was seventh in, so certainly the trainer is confident in a bounce back effort here.

#9- Sports Car (Mb Stables, ridden by T C Baze)- Found him to be very impressive with the way he came from behind to win the Poker Stakes two starts ago. He increased his distance to the max for his last start the Grade 2 Nijinsky, and he ran second there. I’m glad to see him back at this distance and will be looking for overdrive in the stretch again.

#10- Block Message (Tiratzo, ridden by Ru Gonzalez)- Turned in to be quite a value for Tiratzo based on the $5.500 auction sale as an unraced horse from yours truly. Always liked his potential, but the short femur concerned me, and likely others. For Tiratzo, it has not mattered because Block Message has gotten better with the time, and whitelisting the competition well.

#11- Steel Home (Jediminds Stable, ridden by E A Roman)- After running in seven maiden claimers, he was finally able to get a win in his last start. Off of that, he comes here, which is pretty interesting. Worked well here at the end of the month last month, but can we be confident in this horse who took a while to win to get his second win so soon? This does work out sometimes, so we’ll see.

#12- Eastern Townships (Sanny Village, ridden by R Bejarano)- The veteran, who has accumulated over $1,300.000 in earnings, makes his 26th start. Start number 25 was a big one, as it was jolt back in the right direction after a couple disappointing finishes. That was the $150.000 Forbidden Apple. This is one to never rule out.

Prediction: 9-4-5-7

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES