Shadwell Turf Mile (Grade 1)- $875.000
KEE- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Turf
October 3, 2020

The highlight of a big day at KEE is the 16th running of the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile, a race that brings together elite horses that may be targeting either the BC Mile or the BC Turf, though the former is the far more common option. In the past, we have seen the likes of Dogma, Bbff, and Spanish Showboat. Last year, Mojave Rattler would win the Shadwell Turf Mile and take the momentum he gained from that into the BC, and won the BC Mile as well. While he will not be here this year, we will have no shortage of quality here in the fourteen runners that make up this field. The purse for the race did see a reduction, unfortunately, having been $1,000.000 every year since 2014, but perhaps the cut could have been worse. Let’s meet the field!

#1- Going Gone (John Henry, ridden by G Franco)- For the fourth year in a row, we will see this Cherokee Sunset gelding in this race, and he will be hoping that this is the year that he finally cashes a check in the race. His previous finishes have been 7th, 9th, 8th in this race, but he did win here at KEE in the Makers Mark Mile this April, so maybe he has finally figured this track out. He also comes here off of a win in the Grade DMR Mile in late August, and has triple digit SRF’s in three of his last four races.

#2- Show Shocker (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- The trainer is known as one of the kings of the turf, but this is a race that he has not been able to win just yet. Show Shocker will be his lone entry here. The three year old has won two of his seven starts this year, but overall has been in the money in six of them, with a close call second place in the Grade 2 American Turf in May at CD. Came from off the place in his last start, the Grade 1 Secretariat, on soft going in August. While he has won a Grade 3, he certainly seems to be on the cusp of a major victory.

#3- Paris Diplomat (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- Looking to pick up his first stake win of any time, and has just two wins in thirteen starts thus far in his career. This year, he has been a good show bet, finishing third in four of his six starts. His lack of a big win makes him easy to look past, but his ability to be close to the winner quite often makes him one that you can’t ignore.

#4- Bobs Ticket (Mb Stables, ridden by Mar Garcia)- Burst onto the scene this June when he won the Grade 1 United Nations, which is run at eleven furlongs. However, he has not seen firm turf since then. His last three races have all been on either soft or yielding turf, and his race lines show a similar tale of being mired in the back early and not being able to make an impact. He will be happy to see the expected firm ground here, giving us the best look at him since the United Nations.

#5- Di Vieux Carre (Gdp Inc, ridden by B J Hernandez Jr)- Makes a big step forward in class here, having never run graded, and with one exception, has only run in overnights for his 22-race career. His last race, a statebred optional claimer at BEL was an impressive win, but he didn’t see anything like this there. Additionally, that race was only two weeks ago. I’ll pass.

#6- Spiral (Mb Stables, ridden by M Tunon)- Last year, he ran in the Shadwell and ended up finishing fifth in the race, one length behind Mojave Rattler. He would go to the BC Turf, and not the Mile, after that race, and disappointed with a double digit finish. He was slow to get going this year, but recently has been on excellent form, winning two out of three, and that includes the Grade 1 Fourstardave at SAR in August. That victory allowed him to eclipse $1,000.000 in career earnings, and he is working very well right now.

#7- Through The World (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by J C Ferrer)- Acquired by the trainer in private sales for $125.000 in February, and has picked up two wins in seven starts since then. In all of those races, he has been within a length of the winner regardless of where he finished, so he certainly has the ability to get with that close pack at the wire. Comes here off of a win on soft turf in the Grade 3 Saranac with an impressive come from behind run.

#8- Multiple Shadows (Our Athletes, ridden by A Beschizza)- This four year old Strategic Command colt has won five out of sixteen races, with two of them graded wins this year. This is highlighted by the Grade 2 Wise Dan win in June, and his only race since was the Grade 1 Sword Dancer, where he was second on soft ground. He’s had a couple duds this year, too, which the trainer hopes he has put behind him.

#9- Pure Gifts (John Henry, ridden by R M Hernandez)- This spring, he won the Forester Turf Classic in May at CD, and that was a race that helped him sell for $500.000 from former trainer Mb Stables. He’s raced once in the John Henry silks, and that is a race that he would rather forget, coming at KD. It’s probable the yielding turf was the big reason for that, but he needs a bounce back race here.

#10- Lab Cat (Our Athletes, ridden by J Lezcano)- Last year, he raced here during this weekend in the Bourbon, which will be one of the highlights of the schedule on Sunday. He is still looking for a win to be real excited about, with the highlight being the $110.000 Equistaff at TAM in last March. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but I would pick his stablemate over him.

#11- Bold Express (Mb Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- Our third and final entry from Mb Stables is a horse that will probably be among the favorites. His last win was impressive, coming in the Grade 1 Secretariat Stakes, being perfectly fine with the soft turf that day. Earlier in the year, he won the Grade 2 American Turf. His PEN Mile effort causes some concern, but perhaps that can be blamed on the tactic used. Much to like here, including his works, and he is well rested.

#12- Masons Day (Gdp Inc, ridden by L Saez)- The trainer is certainly going for it in this race, with one entry making his graded debut and now Masons Day making his turf debut. If this race were on the main track, then there would be no reason for concern with him as he has won two of nine this year, and comes off an ungraded stake win. However, as mentioned, he runs on the grass for the first time here and this is a tough crowd to be up against when doing so.

#13- Sunday Phunnies (Nakamura Stables, ridden by S Ryan)- The Phunny Guy gelding has had a solid career with six wins in 20 starts, but is still looking for that signature win. Perhaps that is coming soon, as he recently won a graded stake for the first time, triumphing in the Grade 2 King Edward BC Stakes in late June. He then followed that up well, running fourth against strong company in the Grade 1 Fourstardave. This is not going to be easy, but he is at the top of his game right now.

#14- Technic- Scratched

#15- Bombastic Nobility (Oval Express Farms, ridden by J Bisono)- This seven year old gelding will be making the 53rd start of his career. He has thirteen wins, and has run predominantly in overnights. His wins have mainly come in starter allowances and optional claimers. Since arriving with Oval Express Farms, via the June auction for $43.580, he’s tried a couple graded stakes, including the Whitney. So far, he is still looking for a competitive outing in one of them.

Prediction: 6-2-1-13

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES