The Eclipse Stakes – Grade II
                    WO Race 4 1 1/16M – Dirt
                             Purse $175.000
                       Four Year Olds and Up

A field of ten are going to line up north of the border for the Eclipse Stakes. There is rain in the forecast so we might need to look for an off track lover to win it. It looks like a tough race on paper and will be a competitive race for sure. Let’s take a look at the field that has assembled for the race.

1. Z 99 (15-4-4-4 $167.840), trained by LionKing Stables

A claimer just two starts back when his trainer claimed the horse out of that race. Right off the claim the horse won for his new owner. He’s four for four in the money on wet tracks and with the forecast looking like rain will come, it will improve his chances. I’m not sure if he is at this level yet though.

2. Call Your Doctor (6-2-2-0 $75.760), trained by Crocker Ggs

This four year old California bred colt is lightly raced for his age. Only six starts in his short career he’s done good for his handful of races. He worked very good last time we saw him work on the track. He’s oh for one on am off track so who knows if he will like a wet surface at all in here.

3. Surprising (12-3-1-2 $245.570), trained by Threshold

This five year old Steel Ball gelding has ran decent since the purchase by his current owner. He ran fifth in the SA Handicap and then ran a very nice runner up finish in the SUN Handicap. He’s been running good for his new trainer so far. He’s oh for three on the wet track but has a third place finish on it.

4. Kiss The Snake (16-6-2-1 $487.750), trained by Nakamura Stables

A winner last year at WO but that was in a sprint race. He was bought for $200.000 from Luz International and was immediately stretch out to a route of ground. He ran up the track in the SA Handicap but won last out at KEE in Ali. He has never ran on the mud before so he is a big question mark.

5. Pip Pip Hooray (17-6-2-3 $240.890), trained by Gdp Inc

This four year old gelding is coming of an allowance win at TAM on a good track. He’s the best horse in the field on an off track with a record of two wins in three starts on the off track. He’s going to need to take a big step up in class though to win here since he hasn’t been with this quality of horses in a while.

6. Dogs Noah (10-3-0-1 $143.030), Maxmillion Farm

This West Virginia bred colt was the winner of the Mineshaft Handicap at FG last start. That was by far the best race he has ran in his career so far and if he replicates that finish he might be a tough one to beat. He has only ran on an off track once in his life and it was an off the board finish so who knows how he will run.

7. Sweep The Fire (11-7-1-0 $356.880), trained by Smokey Stover

The win machine of this field he has won seven of his eleven career starts. He is a stakes winner and a graded stakes winner so far. He hasn’t been able to win a really big race yet though so he will need to break that in this race. He was a decent fourth last out in the OP Handicap. He’s never ran on an off track before.

8. Cube Zero (14-1-4-2 $384.080), trained by Aml Racing

The horse that is still eligible for a non two allowance race will need to make a big jump up in class to win this race. He hasn’t won in awhile and might need to find an easy condition allowance race to regain his confidence. He’s ran twice on an off track with a third place finish in one of those starts.

9. Crop Duster (17-3-7-1 $494.080), trained by Mb Stables

Scratched

10. True Code (18-3-4-1 $138.180), trained by D J C Racing Stables

The only entry from the wizard is a four year old colt that is a New York bred. He won a New York bred stakes last year at FL. He has been winless since that race and has only been in the money once. He has never ran on an off track before so that will definitely be a big question mark.

Summary

I think Sweep The Fire will be very tough and he has shown that he likes to win races. If it ends up to be an off track Pip Pip Hooray may be the toughest horse since he has shown he likes to run on an off track. Other than that the race is a pretty wide open field and none of them would really shock me if they won.

7-6-4-3

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES