Bashford Manor
3:00 CD Race #5 6f Dirt Stake
Purse $225.000 For Two Year Olds.

1 Ikko Ikki Jerry Garcia Racing Saez L 119 —

Well, the two-year-old division will start to heat up now as all the maiden winners try and take out some of the early stakes races. To get into these early races you have to win a higher end maiden, and this one did that on this track with a strong on pace win by a half-length. That win came after a good second on debut at KEE, so he has the experience needed plus the obvious ability. His work of 1.11 over the six furlongs says he is an above average juvenile and with a great draw for his running style I would expect a big run.

2 Yardbirds South Shore Stables Corrales G 119 —

Another that took advantage of experience to win a maiden after running second on debut at TUP. That win came in a State bred at SA where he came from just off the speed to win very nicely by a length. The works don’t tell us much but in general State bred form isn’t as strong as a maiden special weight although he does go into the two box with a chance.

3 Mitchell Royalty Stables Garcia Mar 119 —

Yet another that ran a close-up effort on debut and then took advantage of the experience to win a high-level maiden on this track. On the front he showed plenty of foot to hold on by a length after being well clear at the half and is another that has to be considered in what will be a rush for the early lead. I would say barring the outside speed push he may win the speed battle and being named after my nephew I will be cheering him on from the side lines.

4 Niagara Lights Arkansas Elite Curtis B 119 —

Took his maiden after a good debut effort, see the pattern here! That win came at LS over four and a half and he came from well off the early pace so adds a different dynamic than some. His works aren’t as impressive as some of the others but that doesn’t mean much these days but with so little to go on that must be a slight black mark.

5 Chasing Magic Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario 119 —

Following the same pattern as many runners here he was second on debut and then won a high level maiden at WO. Like a few of the others he showed fine early speed to go clear early and then held on handily by a length. His recent work of 1.11 flat is in the top three and I would be surprised if that wasn’t reflected in his run.

6 Croatia D J C Racing Stables Davis D 119 —

A winner on debut at SA he then came up against a muddy track in the KY Juvenile but ran pretty creditably to be fifth beaten around a length. Likely to sit behind the speed which may be strong so if the gaps come, he could be a chance down the stretch. His works aren’t as strong as some, but the form is there so take your choice.

7 Cocky Dead Night Rider Stables Beschizza A 119 —

Followed up a good debut third for a top-level win at KEE over four and a half furlongs winning with enough in hand to suggest he is above average. His works are worrying as they haven’t improved at the same rate as some so, he will have to outrun those but his win at KEE was good, so he gets his chance here.

8 Harbor Lights Riggins Racing Smith M E 119 —

In only his third start he already looks one of those that inexplicably seems to be always boxed wide by the random draw maker. He won well on debut on a muddy track at CT and then ran creditably in the Tremont when showing early speed but fading a little into fifth. His recent work of 1.10 and 4 is as good as a stakes winning three-year-old so you have to take his chances very seriously even though works are a bit hit and miss at HRP these days. Could be the dark horse in this race.

9 Lo Schemo Riggins Racing Velazquez J R 121 —

Unbeaten and already a stakes winner you would have to think he would be a chance here but the penalty weight and a wide draw along with works that aren’t setting the world alight put me right off his chances. If he does win this he will be very special but I prefer the chances of his stable mate.

10 Minnesota Heat The Sidley Stud Franco M 119 —

One run one win you can’t do better than that. His win came with a front running display at CT which was pretty impressive but that is a step down to some of the other maiden winners as are his works. The wide draw may help him pierce to the lead again but with so much speed in this race he may get hung out wide round the turn which will be tough to overcome.

11 Forward Facing Fractious Geroux F 119 —

The stable that famously sold some of the best horses in the game and left is back in the big time with a horse he bought from another stable that is selling some very good horses and leaving. It is a pattern we see repeated so often but at the end of the day it is always great to see good players return. This colt won on debut at KEE in April and fetched a nice price for his owner at $265.000 so it is clear he has a good reputation and if the returning trainer can weave his old magic, he may have a better chance that he looks to have on paper.

12 Haggis Glory The Sidley Stud Lopez P 119 —

Went back from a wide draw in the Tremont and came home really strongly to be a close fourth in an eye-catching effort. A good winner on an off track on debut he will once again be taken back from this wide draw, and I expect more of the same late. Whether he can get the timing right will be beyond the reach of the horse and the trainer but if the pace is suicidal, he may find the wide motorway and find some success.

SUMMARY

Well, it is hard to be confident about anything in these races but on a line through form and works the top three look to be Ikko Ikki, Chasing Magic and Harbor Lights.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded