OBrien Stakes – Grade II [BC]
7 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $250.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Street Edge Spankys Barn Maldonado E

If ever there was an example of a front runner being discovered and then running consistently from its preferred running style, it is this one. Sadly, he is probably the only example in the entire game! Prior to his instructional change he had been a two-race winner that had been just consistent at overnight level, but once the new owner bought him for just $8.000 in December last year and changed the running style, he suddenly became a superstar. You could make some real-life comparisons but for me it once again demonstrated the importance of checking the boxes in the code to get the full potential out of the horse. He was brave to the line again today running a strong pace, setting up a decent advantage and then holding on with all the tenacity we are used to from him. He will go onto the BC and have plenty of people scratching their heads as to how to beat him.

2nd Plan To Wheel Fractious Elliott S

I must admit I didn’t see this one in second, but he ran the best race of his season so far keeping on at the winner right to the line. His form and draw had made him a bit of a write off, but we mustn’t forget that last year he was a TC contender and ran in the KYD and the Preakness so maybe this run spells the turning of a corner for him.

3rd Audioslave Alydar Stables Alvarado F T

I thought this old fella was a good bet for this race, but whilst the winner was running his own race, the race in behind was very messy. There are plenty of hard luck stories with blocks and shoving and knocking about and in the end he did pretty well to manage third.

4th General Obvious Mb Stables Bridgmohan S X

The crazy effect of a ‘bad start’ is never clearer in this one’s form line as he comes from a never better last in the Crosby to a competitive fourth in this race. Once again this proves that works aren’t everything and whilst this is a very good horse, he seems to find a way to get beaten more than most.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES