Grey Stakes – Grade III
WO Race #2 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $125.000 For Two Year Olds, 10/21
1 Sneaky Little Bandit John Henry Garcia Alan
Two wins in a row straight out the box this son of Sneaky Little Pirate was sent to black type but failed first up when switched to turf. Back on dirt for the Simcoe Stakes he did much better closing off nicely to run a neck second. He didnt do so well last time out whacking away for fourth in the Bull Page Stakes so he remains a bit of a conundrum as to how good he may be. A good draw here and some pretty good works suggest he will be competitive but he is unproven at this trip and i am not sure it will suit.
2 Chocolate Sunset Estero Farms Campbell J M
Entered more for his strong works than race course performance his favourable draw will certainly help him but he does seem to have a bit to find. A winner on debut he then ran on well in a sprint allowance before being sent over a more suitable trip in his last start. Running on nicely from midfield he ran second in a BEL Optional Claimer and does have the big advantage in that he will stay this trip well. A 1:37 2/5 work last time suggests improvement so he may be a dark horse in this.
3 Not Perfect D J C Racing Stables Lermyte J
This son of Mr Creepy has been pretty busy already running his seventh start today. A winner of two he wasnt too far away in both his starts at ungraded level but does look at this stage a shade off graded stakes class.
4 King Niagra Team 7 Illusions Hernandez R M
This may be the answer in a tricky race but he does come here with something to prove after being bought for $250.000 after his debut win. A decent second in the ELP Juvenile his last start in the Iroquois wasnt as bad as it looks on his form line when sixth beaten four lengths. Starting slow from a wide draw he stayed on nicely and with a much better draw today he may be tough to beat.
5 Raunchy Mach Gdp Inc Wilson E J
Looked only average on his first two starts but once he met a route trip and wet ground he has looked like a super star. Winning his last two by a total of 13 lengths it would be easy to get excited about him but there is a couple of important grounding facts to remember. Both those wins were on wet tracks and against small fields in statebreds so whilst they look good the form may not be as amazing as it first seems. Something to prove at this level but if the rains come he could make it three in a row.
6 Maybe Tonight Alydar Stables Boulanger G
Won his maiden after two starts and then run on to run second in a ungraded statebred stakes. Things looked to be progressing well enough until his last start when the outside speed push shot him into the lead in the Best Pal Stakes only to see him weaken badly into last place. The biggest question mark here will be the trip but he will run much better from this better draw.
7 Years Gone Bye D J C Racing Stables Da Silva E R
Another from the in form D J C Stable if you take his failure on the turf out of his form line it doesnt read too badly. The winner of a CD maiden he ran pretty well to be a close third in the NY Breeders futurity last time out but there does remain a question mark about his ability to get this trip. A decent work prior to that start is good enough it just remains to be seen if he is.
8 Levi Walker Joseph Racing Husbands S P
Took four races to break his maiden but has progressed nicely as he has stepped up over ground and a recent work suggests this trip will really suit him. As there is so little between overnight form and stakes form i see no reason he wont be right in this.
9 Back Up Mb Stables Contreras L
When Mb Stables forks out $300.000 for a two year old then you know its good and this one looks yet another good acquisition from the stable that seems to own more two year olds than a cheap Chinese adoption agency. A winner on debut he has since worked 1:37 1/5 which is certainly good enough to win this.
10 Galilahi Team 7 Illusions Kimura K
This filly has been running in statebreds all her career and broke her maiden against the boys in the FL Sire Stakes – In Reality last time out in a freakish performance. She gets the same three pound advantage today and whilst that was a great win last time out i cannot see her repeating it here from a tough draw. She has won over the trip however and as we know three pounds is worth about six lengths at HRP.
11 Pal O Mine Barcelona Farms Husbands P
The stable has been pretty quiet recently but this one has been progressing nicely as he stepped up in trip and would have a decent chance if he hadnt pulled a low card in the draw stakes.
12 Fear The Dragon LionKing Stables Morales P
Bought for $126.000 after his maiden win he went on to fail in the Pharoah last time out and may not be quite as good as his price tag suggests. He gets a horrible draw to try and repay his new owners investment here and i doubt he will be good enough for now.
SUMMARY
A tough race to call as its little more than an allowance with 12 runners. I think the Mb runner Back Up will go well and i rather like Levi Walker and King Niagra to go close.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
