The Bay Shore (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
AQU- For Three Year Olds
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
April 6, 2019

As the TC chase goes on, the prep races will reveal that there are some very good horses who are just not going to be able to get the distances needed to be successful there. Instead, their wheelhouse is to go a little shorter, at least at this point in their career. The Bay Shore is for those three year olds. Many of these gave the TC chase a shot, and some may even have picked up a point or more for their efforts, and while they could be successful there eventually, turning them back to seven furlongs during April means that trainers have likely decided this is best. I can speak for one of them, of course, as I have opted to put my own Socotra Island in this field, and when I look at some of the horses he will be going up against today, I see horses where the story looks pretty similar to his. A field of twelve assembles here to go seven furlongs, and it will not be any less of an exciting race, it will just be for a smaller purse and for no KYD points. Let’s meet the runners. (Disclaimer: Comments about individual horses will be shorter then my norm as I don’t want to take a chance on possibly saying what I think about one of them, and having that coming back to beat me).

#1- Marx On The Moon (Court Jester Farm, ridden by J Pimentel)- Took his shot in the prep races in the Fountain Of Youth last month, and after setting the pace early, he faded late, and was passed by everyone. He will be happy to cut back to a distance where he looked better at two starts ago, in an optional claimer.

#2- Born A Diplomat (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by E J Wilson)- Managed two wins in nine career starts, while consistently putting together SRF’s in the mid to upper 80’s. He ran against graded company as a two year old, but this will be the first time he does so at three. Purchased for $245.990 in private sales about ten months ago.

#3- Timber Rattler (Williams9, ridden by R J Albarado)- Just two weeks ago, he looked pretty good in finishing fifth in the Grade 3 Hutcheon Stakes, but will not get much time to rest here. Had better results when running against NM-breds, but the competition level is not always the strongest in those races.

#4- Golden Boy (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M Franco)- The aspirations were higher for this one last year, running well in several good two year old stakes, including a win in the $200.000 Funny Cide. He was able to participate in the BC Juvenile, but prep race season was not kind to him, with back to back “10’s”, and that’s not meant to be seen as a “perfect 10″. This is the first time he goes less then a mile since winning the Funny Cide.

#5- Man Childe (Our Athletes, ridden by B J Hernandez Jr)- He’s been able to win three out of seven in his career thus far, but to this point he has not been able to step up at the stake level. Comes off a good looking win in an optional claiming sprint just prior to the race, and he has liked today’s distance before, so the trainer is hoping for some positive momentum.

#6- Que Paso Hermano (Nakamura Stables, ridden by G Boulanger)- Went on a three race winning streak near the end of last year, a run that was highlighted by the $200.000 Juvenile Stallion Stakes. There were some good names in that, looking back, including Salar de Uyuni, Rocky Mountain Hi and Pericles, all of whom are running in the Wood Memorial; and Socotra Island, who sees here again. After some tries at over a mile, he returns to that distance here today.

#7- Socotra Island (Nynl Stables, ridden by Mario Gutierrez)- After years of writing about other stables “taking a chance” in a prep, I had to do the same with him in the Gotham. Races like the Bay Shore are pretty much where I see his future, though, and after the Gotham, this is where he will be. Entering him here was a late decision of mine, since I wanted to be sure he’d work well coming out of it, and it seemed like all I was getting when he was green/green to work were muddy tracks! Eventually, that proved to be the case, so I’ll be hoping his streak of win/no win/win, continues.

#8- Band Of Brothers (Aer Stables, ridden by A Bocachica)- Winner of three of his last four, with the biggest win being the $100.000 Inaugural Stakes at TAM in mid-December. He’s been patiently brought along, and with his one try at the TC Chase being a disappointment in the Smarty Jones, he’s back to a better distance. Looked good in his last start, a TAM allowance win.

#9- Restless Quarter (Estero Farms, ridden by P Husbands)- After a couple of close calls, he was finally able to break his maiden on the first of February at SA, his sixth career start. This send him to a small ungraded stake, where he placed fourth. The trainer liked something about that, though, as he upgrades him quite a bit into this field. Works are strong.

#10- Back Up (Mb Stables, ridden by D E Centeno)- The trainer paid a big price for him, spending $300.000 to acquire him in private sales after winning his debut, but he has not won since that race. A pair of seconds were seen in smaller ungraded stakes, but that’s not why this investment was made. When he tried the Withers, he disappointed significantly.

#11- Shadowsilver (Fractious, ridden by C P DeCarlo)- After winning his debut on the free track, the trainer was so impressed that he placed him into the Grade 3 Swale Stakes for his next start. That may have been too much too soon, but he bounced back very well and won a GG allowance last month. It’s back into graded company, but with a jockey who, at press time, is 0-for-28 at the track so far this year.

#12- Storming (John Henry, ridden by F Prat)- Performed quite well as a two year old, with the highlight being a runner up, by a nose, showing in the $200.000 Golden State Juvenile, for CA-breds. He’d be sold a few days later from Blushing Meadows, for $255.000, and embarked on the TC trail. That has not fared well, so he returns to running under a mile for the first time since the GS Juvenile.

Prediction: 7 (have to be an optimist)- 6-2-4

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES