Makers Mark Mile – Grade I
KEE Race #2 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.00 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
1 Block Message Tiratzo Bejarano R
An improved sort he did well as a three year old running second in both the Pennine Ridge and the Kent Stakes and running well from a wide draw in the DMR Mile. Going from three to four can be tough in this game but he has atleast not lost any ability and ran probably a career best race last time in the Thunder Road when a very close second to Mean Street and comfortably in front of Controlled Power. He seems to prefer coming from a little off the pace which may be tough from this gate but he has also made al to win a decent open allowance so if he can remain in the race and not get boxed he may be a fly in the ointment for some of the bigger guns.
2 Controlled Power Spankys Barn Van Dyke D
Just under a length behind Block Message in the Thunder Road he may have need that run as it was his first for a few months and ran much better when a very close third in the Kilroe Mile last time behind Lunar Blaze. He gets the perfect draw today to get vengeance on that one and we mustn’t forget the great late run he put in to win last years running of this race. This is a very tight contest but with the best of the draws this one has a good winning chance.
3 The Hand Youre Dealt Mb Stables Pennington F
With Mb Stables securing the two premier turf jockeys this could easily turn out to be a one two for the in form trainer and this five year old with a great draw could easily come out on top. A fair three year old on the dirt he really started to show top form when switched to turf as a four year old. Several good runs including a win in the grade one Foster Handicap preceded an excellent fourth in the BC Turf Mile and put him right up there in the top ten turf routers in the game. After a blow out in a sprint on seasonal debut he took the Canadian Turf last time with an impressive last burst and really looks to be as good as ever coming into his five year old season, one which is often a best for the later developers.
4 Devilish Luck D J C Racing Stables Gutierrez Mario
After claiming this one cheaply from Mb Stables DJC Racing has really done well with the horse picking up a grade two and placing at grade one last year. For me he certainly peaked when second in the Sword Dancer and a close fifth in the Northern Dancer BC Turf but both of those were over extreme trips and he comes back to a mile today against some mile specialists. In true HRP style however he won a sprint stakes on seasonal debut running sectionals that BC Sprint winners would be happy with so the trip whilst it looks to be an issue probably wont be here in HRP land. He is a good honest sort i am just not sure he can beat these over a mile but he certainly has the ability to prove me wrong.
5 Spanish Showboat Mb Stables Colon L H
This great great old horse just needs no introduction and he has been written off a few times in his long career so i really hope his poor start to the year isnt a sign of his coming to the end of a great story. After a solid third in the Pegasus World Cup on his favored off track on seasonal debut he went to the San Luis Rey last time and ran a very poor race to finish eighth. Since that effort he has clocked a 1.34 and 1 mile work so that may just have been a blip but the doubters will be doubting and today may just be his day that he has to prove himself all over again.
6 Lucky Phooey Estero Farms Lanerie C J
The winner of the BC Mile last year and not much else he really has a lot to prove this year especially after a pretty average effort on seasonal debut. He finds a tough field here but despite being a fairly surprising winner of the BC Mile he did run some pretty good races in defeat last year and certainly rates highly enough to be a big part of this race. He will find it tough this year without the three year old allowance and whilst you have to give him a chance i am not sure today will be his day.
7 Lunar Blaze John Henry Velazquez J R
A double grade one winner as a three year old he like many other four year olds struggles through his four year old season and couldnt even manage a win. He did however finish a close fith in the BC Mile that year so it was clear the ability was still there but he just couldnt get his nose in front in any sort of race. Last season wasnt much better but he did manage a win in the grade three American Stakes clocking a sub 1.33 time so whilst he continued to be a little disappointing it wasnt like his career was over as he was still showing signs he could live with the best. Into his sixth year and THIS season we are starting to see that old three year old form finally come back. Some of that may be due to some forceful tactics as going against the popular trend he has made all the running to win both his grade ones this year and comes here looking for three in a row. The outside gate will help him get a boost into the lead and if he can reproduce his wins in the Pegasus World Cup and the Kilroe Mile he may just achieve it.
SUMMARY
The outside draw and the fact that no-one thinks a horse can lead all the way and win may just help Lunar Blaze win his third grade one in a row here. There are six other horses in this race and any of them could win though so this should be a great spectacle as well as a tough race to win. The Mb pair will be the biggest dangers.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
