LA Stakes – Grade III
FG Race #9 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $150.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
1 Crack Dab Gdp Inc Jaramillo E
Comes in to a grade three with 1.5K in purse money and ten wins including a grade one and a fourth in last years BC Dirt Mile. That’s pretty good credentials and in getting into the ace draw it must give this six year old a serious chance. It does have to be said however, as a word of caution that he can be a little in and out with his form and as he has got older the wins are fewer and far between but he has the ability to win this by open air so has to be respected if he brings his A game.
2 Ricki Tikki Tavi La Canada Racehorses Bridgmohan S X
A length behind Crack Dab in the BC Dirt Mile when sixth but it has to be said that the three’s were struggling last year for some reason so it is possible he has progressed more than Crack Dab since then. Three times a stakes winner last year, twice at this grade, he also wasn’t disgraced when seventh in the KYD so brings some good form. Drawn the best draw in the house he will get all the favors and should be able to sit comfortably just in behind the lead. The only drawback with him is that he hasn’t run since last years BC so may need the race.
3 Neo Arindel Saez L
A one race winning sprinter who failed to win in 12 attempts last year at overnight level would not be anyone’s choice of winner but this trainer has been on fire recently and seems to be able to get the sort of performance out of a horse that only Mb Stables has in the past. Both the stable runners look hopelessly outclassed but both have worked stakes winning times recently and i have seen this many a time that when a stable is in form the horses run above themselves, i prefer the stable companion but wouldn’t write this one off despite all the negatives.
4 Figured The Storm Arindel Velazquez J R
As i just said the trainer is pulling crazy good performances out of their horses at the moment and brings this four year old to this race off the back of a $14 claiming win. He has just thrown a 1.36 and 1 mile work out of nowhere so maybe another miracle win for the trainer.
5 Champion In Action Night Rider Stables Hernandez B J Jr
His form screams inconsistency but the seven year old has amassed nearly 1.4K in prize money and has nine wins to his name so at his best he would be a big winning chance. A former grade one winner and the 2021 winner of this race he faces a tougher field this year but is more than capable of making it two years in a row.
6 Electric G Mo Mentum Farm Cedillo A
A consistent over-nighter he looks a bit outclassed in this race but is a really tough customer and will run his heart out.
7 Air Raid Sir Edward Estates Gutierrez R
This trainer is better than his figures suggest but he will have to be a master player to get this sprinter home in this tough race. Bought for $175 he hasn’t exactly looked like a bargain buy winning three small races and this looks like it is a real throw at the stumps to see if he can justify the trainers confidence.
8 Personal Injury Nakamura Stables Franco M
Another that is known more for his sprinting he won at this distance at DMR last August but hasn’t really lived up to expectations since. His works are pretty good and the trainer can get the best out of them but they will have to to get this one home.
9 Sunderland Til I Die TwinTowersRacing Beschizza A
Didn’t run badly in the Travers after an optional claimer win and was only three lengths back in the PA Derby so he clearly has some ability but as yet he hasn’t really shown it with winning form. A solid type but will have to run a career best to win this.
10 Grayte Cruise Fractious Saez G
A bit of a surprise winner of The Travers last year, he then ran really well in the PA Derby before two efforts that said he needed a break. One of those was in the BC Classic from a wide draw and he has never run his best race from a wide gate which makes me worry about gate ten today.
11 Wrangler High Voltage Gaffalione T
Another of those useful overnight types that is trying for some higher level success, he too has some good works but will need to step up on known form. The wide draw may be an issue but if he can get the lead he is an honest type who wont be easy to run down.
12 Market Value Nakamura Stables Hernandez C J
A pretty consistent six year old he has shown some glimmers of good form but for the most part that form has been over twelve furlongs and he may find this trip a little sharp. If he can get a position from this rotten draw and the pace is strong enough he will certainly be running on at the end.
SUMMARY
Ugghh where do i start, a mixture of stakes performers and hopefuls from the overnight ranks and very hard to really work out a winner. The obvious choices on form are Market Value, Grayte Cruise, Champion In Action, Rikki Tiki Tavi and Crack Dab but i have seen these types of races before and would have to go with the current miracle maker for this. For me i can’t ignore the recent work of Figure The storm and will look for some value from him.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
