Algoma Stakes

You have to love claiming a horse for $20.000 and then winning a $100.000 Stakes race next out, that is exactly what S Dot Farm achieved here with this filly that seemed to grow an extra leg with the addition of a shadow roll. Her workouts didn’t seem to improve much for the change but once she got to the races, she was very game in winning by a nose right on the line. The extra weight Sentiment was carrying apparently made a difference as she battled hard but just couldn’t hold the outsider. The front running Dressed In Pink just faltered inside the last furlong ending up a close third.

Regent Stakes

Night Raider let the speed roll before getting through for a fairly comfortable win. In typical HRP style he was finishing third over twelve furlongs in the Breeders Stakes 10 months ago and now burns down the track in 56 and 1 to take this race over 5 furlongs, it can really be difficult sometimes to pick out a preferred distance for these digital horses. He hadn’t won for a long time, so this was a welcome victory over La Fiere Bridge who was competitive in his first stakes race. Tiger Force finished hard for third only beaten a half.

Muskoka Stakes

Only four started and it was an Asgar one-two as Speed Five made it three in a row. Winning at the same time as her lowly Hastings Allowance win, we will have to wait and see how good she turns out, but this was a very nice prize for the stable that bred this one and they will be very happy with the outcome. Underlined was second coming off a win at BTP and All Out Fury was third coming off an FP $4.000 claimer win.

Simcoe Stakes

Consumed By Fire made it two from two for Big Guns Stable, making all and fairly toying with his rivals down the stretch. This was an impressive win for a horse that looks to have a bright future. Categorical Vow was second but the fact that he was sixth in a free track allowance last time gives you an idea that this form may be a bit suspect. Can’t knock the Asgar-bred runner up though his works said he was better than that free track effort and he proved it today. Masculinity was a shade weak at the end and may need more time.

The NJ Breeders Handicap

An expected result here with Daddys A Baller getting the job done fairly easily. Running the stalk, he won in hand shows us that those recent works are no fluke and that he is in the best form of his career. Unattainable came off a long break to run second showing early speed but understandably tiring late, Whispered Talent stayed on at the one pace for third.

The Fleet Indian

Offlikeapromdress has a great name and ran a career-best race to take this by a neck. This was a nice improvement from the Night Mare Racing filly who has always promised this sort of win. Jean From Winter Pen ran on hard into second leaving her challenge a bit late but looks like a decent $30.000 claim and Lil Sunshine was third after making the early running but finding the weight penalty just too much in the end.

The Funny Cide

Mooresy had to fight hard to win for favorite backers but got there by a nose at the post. With four good efforts now, he may need testing at the next level up to see if he can go forward from here. What I Love To Do flew home for second and only just failed, he looks like one that will only get better the further he goes. An inch behind the first two was Into The Ether which was third-beaten inches and is another that looks like a router in the making.

The Seeking the Ante

Melting Shadows made it three wins from four starts with a swooping last furlong which saw him run right away from them. This was a very impressive win by the filly from Jokerjoes who may try and find a path to the BC with their homebred. Uptown did well from the wide gate to run home for second but had no chance with the winner whilst Letsgoflyakite tired off the lead ending up third.

The West Point Handicap

Proved that the trainer doesn’t only win grade ones by taking this by a very easy two lengths and I have a feeling that is where this one will be going before long. The breeder has been very patient with the four-year-old who didn’t debut until this year, and he looks the type that will fit right in with the better horses in the champs’ yard. It was a race that looked dominated by the two lightly raced and lightly weighted four-year-olds and that turned out to be the case as this one flew home for second. He was never really given a chance at the winner, and I feel that he may have to get some diversity in his running style if he is going to fulfill his undoubted promise. Dead Heating for second was the seven-year-old Ethereal Flame who continues to run honest races for the stable and was again very good today.

The Yaddo Handicap

Pippin got home right on the line after coming late from an impossible-looking position. This was a huge late effort and a testament to the fact that instructions still affect a horse as she was on speed last time and a closer today in very similar races. Sandrine thought she had the race won but was nutted on the line but continues to run strong races at this level. Ginger Lucy stayed on for the third but never looked like beating the first two.

The Albany

Red Fox Farms has been enjoying a nice run recently and again got some black type with Jameson who improved on his IND Derby third to take this nice purse. This must be one of the first crops the new trainer bred in the game, so they have done incredibly well with him. Gaslight made the running but was passed fairly softly in the end and continues to run well without setting the barn on fire. Soho Story stayed on for third and very nearly caught Gaslight for second.

Bernardo Handicap – Grade III

Smoking Cara looked to be in a bit of trouble at the back of the pack but when she was asked to quicken, she fairly flew past them for a dominant and impressive win. Her running style will always be the reason she doesn’t win more because if you look at the times she gets the timing right she looks like a superstar, but then when the timing is off the results aren’t as good. She deserves more success, so I hope she can find her timing again. La Roo ran a solid second with Rainy Bronze Party who made the running fading a little into third.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded