Durham Cup Stakes – Grade III
WO Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $125.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Dirty Kruz Nakamura Stables Moran D

A big field contests here and trip may be the key as the field looks pretty close. With a nice rail draw this one looks like he can take advantage of that although as yet he hasn’t really done much at this level. He went pretty well in the Queens Plate to be sixth and was a nice winner of an allowance last time and whilst that doesn’t look great form the fact that he should get an easy trip may just give him a better chance than that form suggests.

2 Pulpit D J C Racing Stables Contreras L

Won the Eclipse in June and then ran pretty well in the Whitney before failing in the mud of the Forego last time out. Taking out that off track run he has good form for a race like this and of course gets the perfect draw to be able to stay pretty close in midpack.

3 Eclipse My Knowledge Nakamura Stables Husbands P

Won the TX Mile in April and then ran third behind Pulpit in the Eclipse. Since then he has only had two runs and both were from wide gates so its safe to say he will run much better from this nice draw today. In a tight race he may be the value bet.

4 Fortaleza Mb Stables Kimura K

On form it looks like Mb Stables has the best two horses in the race and this is certainly one of them. Won the Plate Trial before very nearly making the double by taking the Queens Plate as well but came up short by just a head. A fairly absent ninth in the Travers next out was followed by a decent third in the Super Derby last out. Now the key to his form is that he has had three difficult draws and gets a much better one today so i expect him to be right in the finish here.

5 Chai Pirate First Street Stables Lermyte J

A decent sort in overnights he hasn’t got form anywhere near most of these but he has some good works and deserves his shot in this race.

6 Mad King Mb Stables Ryan S

Doesn’t get the full three year old allowance but then with a win in the MTH Cup and then a fine third in the Dandy he may not need it. I think his stable mate may just have the edge with the 2Lb’s he gets but this one will go close.

7 Range Of The Sun John Henry Bahen S R

What a great old horse this is. His last run in the DMR Handicap was huge coming from a wide gate and keeping on for second. An on pace runner this draw may make it tough for him to find a spot but he is certainly capable with a bit of luck.

8 Socrates Mb Stables Stein J

The third runner from the stable he has struggled a bit recently but has put in some decent performances at this level so is by no means the third string. He will need some luck from the draw but shouldn’t be far away.

9 Boa G Night Rider Stables Fukumoto D

Once more the claiming Prince of HRP brings one here with no form for the race but they have done that before and come out with a win. Stepped up in trip after sprinting the new owner has brought out the best of him but this is a huge step up.

10 Mintmach Nolespan Racing Wilson E J

With Night Rider the claiming prince then Nolespan must be the claiming king as he took this one from a $10 claimer to win two graded stakes in just four starts since. My worry for this one is that in between those great wins he has run poorly from wide draws and that’s what he gets today. A win chance if the trainer can click all the right instruction buttons.

11 Viareggio Smokey Stover Boulanger G

A good overnighter he is one of the best mile workers in the field so even without any stakes form and a wide draw you have to look closely at this chances. A winner over this trip last time he has been consistent all his career but i worry that whilst he can run good times he hasn’t got the turn of foot to win at this level.

12 Dressed To Impress Rampage Stable Salles L

Another that has been consistent in overnights he too has some impressive works but hasn’t been seen in this grade. If you ignore the draw and class then he is entitled to go very well on his works so just maybe if there is a strong pace these wide draws may just be getting home late.

SUMMARY

An interesting race as there are many chances in this and they are all a bit different which makes it intriguing. We have the wide draws who are working the lights out but don’t have the form and we have the stakes winners inside who are all going to be keeping an eye on each other. It may pay to go safe here with the two stables that seem to fight out most of the stakes races these days and go for Eclipse My Knowledge and Fortaleza to fight out the finish.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES