KD Turf Sprint (Grade 3) (BC)- $700.000 Purse
KD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Six Furlongs on the Turf
September 7, 2019
The fifth running of the KD Turf Sprint will play major role in determining who is a part of the BC Turf Sprint in a couple of months. It is an automatic qualifier, and if that was not enough, it’s purse is the largest it has ever been, increasing from $500.000 last year. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the field is full for the race. The race does see a distance reduction of a half furlong, so we will not be able to compare race times after the race. Last year, the race was won by The Grandmaster, and he is part of this field again in an effort to repeat as champion. Let’s take a look at him, and his competition for the race!
#1- Hobo In The Lane (Crocker Ggs, ridden by L H Colon)- Worked very nicely at MTH in preparation of this race, which is his second attempt at the graded level. He ran a somewhat flat fifth in the Quick Call on opening day of Saratoga two starts ago. He’s been better when he is quick out of the gate, and with the rail in this race, that may be the plan again.
#2- By Design (Mb Stables, ridden by E Maldonado)- After a successful three year old campaign, By Design has yet to find the winners circle this year. His races had actually been quite disappointing until his last, where he was third in the Grade 1 Fourstardave at SAR. The trainer hopes that is the race that can get him back to form, but he is a little tough to pick here.
#3- Flooded (Estero Farms, ridden by C J Lanerie)- This has been a dominant horse at five furlongs this year, and he does not mind if the weather is wet, as he has two recent wins on soft turf. That’s not something that will be a factor here, though, as the weather should be good. The Ohio-bred has eight wins in 17 starts, and is arguably the best horse in the game from the Buckeye State! Not sure how many more there are out there.
#4- Awesome Indeed (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by D E Centeno)- We are used to seeing Awesome Indeed run longer distances, even going 1 3/16ths on the grass in his last start. At times, he has sprinted lately, but those are not the best lines in recent past performances. If you go back longer, you’ll see that 4 of his 5 wins are from sprinting, and three while on the grass. So, this can be considered a return to his roots.
#5- The Grandmaster (John Henry, ridden by J Talamo)- As mentioned earlier, he was the winner of this race last year. Since then, he has continued to be successful with five wins, four of them graded, and two of them coming in Grade 1’s (The Jaipur at BEL and the Highlander Stakes at WO). Each of those two wins came in June, so he certainly in great form. His one race since saw him run in a $100.000 stake here, and he was second to No Childe Of Mine, a rival he will get another chance at here.
#6- Great Bounty (Drabfantasy, ridden by R Bejarano)- The winner of the BC Turf Sprint last year looks to get back, but in order to do that he is going to have to race. He’s only made three starts since the BC, with one second, the Grade 2 Connaught Cup at WO being the only time he hit the board. On paper, everything is great about him and he should contend, but there is a 90-day layoff in play here, and that can’t be ignored, BC Champ or not.
#7- Im Special (Jkk Racing Stables, ridden by K J Desormeaux)- The Ideal Edge gelding is a winner of three of four so far this year, and that earns him a chance to take on the best in the division. He’s never run in a graded stake, but had a few ungraded tries, culminating in his last race, which was a win in the $150.000 California Dreamin Stakes for CA-breds. That said, he’s not going long here, which is all he has done since June 2018. Works are fantastic, though.
#8- Siberian Prince (Sir Daniel Martin, ridden by J Bravo)- In eight starts this year, the gelding is winless, though has hit the board five times. This will be his 29th career start, but you have to go back many starts to find his last win, coming in June 2018. He’s typically competitive, but not as much lately. He’ll cut back to a sprint here, where he was a little better. Not a bad horse at all, but can’t pick one struggling to win in a field like this.
#9- Gleaming Spirit (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- The five year old General Motors gelding has won three of his last four, and is my preference between the two horses that the trainer will be running. In works, he has been firing nothing but bullets lately, so there is no question that he is ready to run a big one here. He was fifth in the BC Turf Sprint last year, and will be a strong challenger there again.
#10- The Duke Of Phooey (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by G Franco)- What a strange career he has had. After failing to break his maiden in the conventional manner, the trainer ran him regularly in stakes over and over. He was mainly finish fourth, so not exactly knocking on the door of a win, but that placement continued. Finally, this March, in his 13th start, and after having already tried six stakes, he was back in a maiden, and won. Now, off of two weeks rest after a third place effort, he’s back at it here. Not the typical path to this race.
#11- No Childe Of Mine (Our Athletes, ridden by A Beschizza)- This horse knows how to win with seven victories in 17 starts for his career, which includes going three for five this year. He is still looking for that one big win, as he has three ungraded wins, including beating The Grandmaster here in his last start, the KD Preview Turf Sprint. His graded attempts have not seen a finish in the money. Perhaps it is time for the big win.
#12- Overhauled (Gdp Inc, ridden by L Contreras)- There are not many three year olds in this field, only three of them. Two of them are starting here on the outside, and the other is on the rail. There’s a three pound weight advantage in play. Overhauled is still lightly raced, as he makes his ninth career start. His last race saw him win the Grade 3 Quick Call at SAR, and the trainer will hope for continued momentum.
#13- Salili (Nakamura Stables, ridden by L Saez)- The Cherokee Sunset three year old has three wins in ten career starts, most of which have been in overnights. However, his last start saw him win a stake for the first time, coming in the $75.000 My Frenchman at MTH about two months ago. He’s been throwing up bullets in works, but this will be a tough post to overcome.
#14- Reuleaux- Scratched
Prediction: 5-9-6-11
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
