11/24 KY Jockey Club – Grade II [KYD]

CD Race #4 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Two Year Olds.

1 Hymnal Williams9 Geroux F

Three good wins in overnight company made this juvenile a bit of a stable star but he came up against it last time when upped to grade one stakes racing. Settling back he made no real impression ending up tenth in the Champagne although it should be noted he was only beaten three lengths. Sadly at HRP being that close in a finish means very little so you have to go back to his win before that in allowance company to think he may be suited by a rain affected track. He will stay and he is drawn well so he is sure to be around the front end i just can’t see him winning without a bit of rain.

2 Levi Walker Joseph Racing Gaffalione T

Took a while to break his maiden finally getting a win on his fourth attempt in a statebred race at GP. He went to the Grey Stakes last time finishing fifth beaten just a length and that was a pretty decent run considering a difficult gate. His works arent bad but they arent the best but he gets a better draw to run from today and he must have some sort of each way chance.

3 Serengeti Sands TwinTowersRacing Mena M

Another that didnt win until his fourth attempt but he ran out the mile very nicely that day and looks the type to be suited by a decent distance. He stayed on late to be fourth in the FL Sire Stakes last time but he may need to start adjusting his running style to lay up a bit closer early on as he has always been the sort that gets well back early on. A bigger field and an inside draw wont help it if he comes from a long way back but he is working strongly and clearly has the ability to win a race like this.

4 Dreamscape Joshua Stables Albarado R J

Won his debut by no less than six lengths so its no surprise that he was placed into stakes company on his second and last start. That race was the grade three Borbon where he flew late to be fourth beaten less than a length. Both of his starts have been on turf but he is switched to dirt today after the sort of works that suggest he is atleast as good on this surface. A definite winning chance from a handy draw.
5 Admiration Mb Stables Landeros C

The first of the usual couple of entries from the stable his record would read much better had he not me an off track in his second start. Another that won his debut by six lengths but rather than send him to stakes racing after that his trainer has kept him to overnights for his last two starts. That is probably more due to the amount of horses the stable has rather than a reflection of his promise although he was only fifth on his second start although as a alluded to earlier that was down to an off track. He bounced back on a better surface for an easy win last time and is working as well as just about any juvenile so must be respected as a winning chance.

6 Zero Risque Mb Stables Bridgmohan S X

Bought for $200.000 after finishing third in a maiden he went on to claim a maiden last time by a hard fought half length in his first start for the new owner. He is working well enough but has something to prove today after that price tag and may just be found a little wanting.

7 Opus Dane Drabfantasy Leparoux J R

Still a maiden but two good seconds out of three starts with the last being in a stakes race suggests he is better than a non winner.An on pace type he may gun for the lead and that would be a difficult task so whilst he looks to have plenty of ability his best chance may be in holding on for place money.

8 Maybe Tonight Alydar Stables Court J K

One of the most experienced in the field he won a sprint maiden on his third start but was very poor when upped to graded level in the Best Pal when last beaten five lengths. He had been running on pace as a sprinter but his trainer adjusted the instructions when he was put over a route trip in the Grey Stakes last time and he ran a cracker to get beaten only a neck into second. He will need to lay up a bit closer to be a winning chance here but he clearly has the goods.

9 Free At Last Eastern Equine Hill C

An easy maiden winner on his second start he was thrown into the Champagne last time when he stuck on gamely for fourth beaten just a length. There’s some improvement in his works so if he steps up on that last run he would have a major chance in this. The draw is a bit sticky and he may find himself working hard early on.

10 Root Cause D J C Racing Stables Lanerie C J

It seems the ‘random draw’ has lumped all the multiple entries togther and this is the first of DJC’s runners who are both drawn wide. After three seconds in maiden company that old chestnut the class system came up again as he broke his maiden last time out in the ungraded WV Moscarelli Memorial Breeders Classic. He clearly has ability but i feel his stable mate may handle the bad draw better.

11 Not Perfect D J C Racing Stables Hernandez B J Jr

This one has plenty of experience and is a fair type as he proved last time when third in the Grey Stakes. His works are in the zone (although they all are) and he must have a chance even with a horrible draw.

12 Call Me Godd Sir Daniel Martin Beschizza A

Won two before taking on stakes company and ran very well in the fourth of the Breeders Futurity when running on late to be fourth. He tried to make all last time out when third in the Street Sense but that didnt work so well so we may see his trainer trying to beat the race engine and get this horse back early on.

13 Sport Guide Estero Farms – Also Eligible –
14 War Command Fractious – Also Eligible –

SUMMARY

A tricky race with, as usual, most of the runners seemingly very similar. The draw may be key here so i am going for Dreamscape or Admiration to go to the winners enclosure.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES