Daytona Stakes – Grade III
SA Race #2 5 1/2f Turf Graded Stake
Purse $100.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
This race gets a much more competitive field than most $100 races for the simple reason it is a four year old and up race and everyone has worked out that most older horses don’t stand a chance against the three’s with the weight allowance. So here we are with a race that is probably better than a lot of three’s and up stakes worth twice as much, here is how they line up.
1 Kid Commander Allinthegate Bejarano R
With five wins from nine starts this four year old has a nice looking record especially when you note three stakes wins a close third in a grade three and speed figures well into the nineties. He struggled from a wide gate last time in soft ground so its safe to write that run off so i would expect a solid run from this gate as long as he doesn’t get buried by the wide gate speed.
2 The Grandmaster John Henry Talamo J
JH tried this one over a mile last time in the Kilroe Mile and he didn’t run badly to be sixth but one felt he was struggling in the last couple of furlongs. Back to his beloved sprinting he is certainly a class factor in this race with six graded stakes wins, two at grade one and over 1.5K in prize money. From the perfect draw he could well add to his already perfect tally.
3 Pink Condor Axeman Gryder A T
He was right upsides The Grandmaster in the BC Sprint last year so on that run he would certainly be in the mix from this good gate. He had the three gate whilst The Grandmaster was very wide in the BC so he may struggle to get as close this time and his three starts this year have just been average so he does have something to prove.
4 Capo Moon Asgar Pereira T J
This race wouldn’t be outside of his scope normally but the conditions are against him a little so he will have to step up his game a little here. He certainly has speed but his 4 from 20 record doesn’t inspire confidence.
5 Mystic Mac Mb Stables Espinoza V
Well beaten in the BC Sprint last year he had shown ability to win the Play The King Stakes before that so he is not without a chance of a decent run here. Kept out of stakes company so far this year he has performed well although his last win was slumming it at TUP so its hard to weigh up his form.
6 The Force Awakens Diablo Diablo Rispoli U
How many time have a i seen a top class router that has ground out a 12 furlong win like they have no pace suddenly switch to sprints and turn into a rocket. Well it may only be at HRP but as that’s where we are you have to consider this established router against established sprinters just because coming back in trip doesn’t seem to really matter with our digital charges. the 57 and 1 work at PRX screams put your money on.
7 No Childe Of Mine Our Athletes Franco G
Believe it or not three horses dead heated for fifth in the BC Sprint and they are all running in this race. Of the three this one was drawn the worst so on that evidence alone he may be the one to come out on top today. He is working well and this may be his best trip so if there is a fly in the ointment this may be it.
8 Crafty Shenanigans Eastern Equine Van Dyke D
Here we have another router that ploughed through extreme distances for some great wins switching to a sprint and working just as well as the established sprinters. It seems ridiculous every time i witness it but extreme routers seem to be able to sprint with the best sprinters when taken back in trip so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that this one will find his form of old.
9 Creme Fraiche Maxmillion Farm Cedillo A
With only two wins from fifteen starts and drawn awkwardly it is easy to write this one off but he is working well in sprints despite running mostly in routes so who knows, many many more stupid results have occurred at HRP. Can the turf king work his magic?
10 Sound Decision Gdp Inc Velez J I
Well his last win in an allowance at PRX was in 56 and 1 which was faster than the BC Sprint so whilst he looks a doubtful winner you can always find a reason for a win if you look hard enough at HRP. A nice enough sort its just vety hard to make a case for the six year old from this tough draw.
11 Angels Chance Midnight Racing Prat F
Out in the cheap seats we find the winner of the competitive GP Turf Sprint where he clocked a 100 speed figure. The last time he was drawn wide he dropped way out the back and that may be too tough for him to do in this race at this level today. Watch for him late but maybe too late.
12 Salar de Uyuni Mb Stables Garcia Mar
Another stakes winner from Mb Stables that was slumming it at TUP for his most recent run. As he couldn’t even win at that lowly track it is tough from this car park draw to see him winning today but as i said earlier many more stupid results occur at HRP and this recently turned turf sprinter has won at this level twice before.
SUMMARY
There are several results that may occur in this race that would only happen at HRP but rather than concentrating on the ridiculous i am going to pick my winner based on sound handicapping rather than HRP lottery results. So its The Grandmaster for me as a top class sprinter with the perfect draw. Second and third may be fought out by pretty much anything else so i am sticking with the best sprinter in the race as my only selection in the hope that sense and form prevails.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
