The Dandy – Grade II
SAR Race #9 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Excoriator Jerry Garcia Racing Cohen D 122 —

Went to the KYD a huge hope after three straight wins in the San Vincente, Holy Bull and Ruby Stakes but ran a bit flat on the off track in the Derby and could only finish sixth. The trainer took it easy on him after the big one and he reappeared in the Winn last month only to come up against Blazing and we all saw how good he was last week. He ran that horse to a half-length to be second. With that form looking great and the premise that the rains don’t come, I think he has a great chance here and could well be my top pick straight off the bat. His works have been super too, my only fear is the gate as the rail draw hasn’t been too great on this new engine.

2 Licit D J C Racing Stables Pennington F 122 —

A progressive sort who gets a great draw, I have been just a little disappointed in him especially after his 1.36 and 2 work could not convert into a win in the IND Derby last time. He was just a shade flat that day after a promising run in the Lang Stakes, and he still has to prove himself over longer trips after five runs for no wins.

3 Fire Chase Fractious Gaffalione T 122 —

Took the SA Derby on his way to the KYD and ran a cracker that day running on well for third. He missed the Preakness to go for the BEL and again ran well to be sixth just a length off the winner. With triple crown form like that and a grade one victory over this trip he will have plenty of market support jumping from a nice gate.

4 Without Me Ajm Stables Carroll D 122 —

Bought for $40.000, he has run two good races for the new owner especially in his last start when he took the Marine catching the front runner down the stretch. He may not have the form of some, and he is not so flashy on the gallops, but he is improving all the time and though this is his biggest test by far, he may be ready to get involved.

5 Walk Em Down Mb Stables Moore R L 122 —

Well, if the trainer knows how to do a rain dance that he may just be out looking at the sky because this is certainly the best wet track horse in the race. If that was all he was however then it would be easy, but he can run in the dry too and that will strike fear into his rivals. You don’t work 1.10 flat or sub 58 if you are a wet tracker so dare I say it he may be even better on the dry. He won the Risen Star on the wet on his way to the KYD so when the track came up off, he became a big chance but whether it was the draw that beat him, or it was just one of those races he never got involved and ended up 14th in the Derby. Roll on to the Preakness and the rain kept falling and once more an off track saw him coming home strongly for a narrow win. It is remarkable that this horse has never won a maiden or an allowance with his two career wins coming at Stakes Grade one and two and it is clear he is a very, very good horse. Whatever the weather, a winning chance.

6 Lasting Impressions Alydar Stables Lezcano J 122 —

This one hasn’t done much wrong in his six races but is yet to break through beyond maidens. Fourth in the Lewis and third in the FL Derby, he didn’t get enough points for the KYD so had a go on turf in the Pennine Ridge where he ran pretty well to be fourth. He was just OK in the Dwyer so has something to prove today. Work ways he has worked 1.36 flat and 1,10 and 1 recently, so if he can reproduce that sort of form in a race then he would be as good as any of these. An interesting outsider from a stable that knows how to win big races.

7 Jerome The Bus Mo Mentum Farm Lopez P 122 —

The difficulty in working out these races at HRP is no better shown than with this one. A winner of just one, a maiden by a nose, he is working as well as any of these and as quick as the graded stakes winners, so on works alone we just have no idea which will come out on top. What the works do tell us is that, potentially at least, this one is a lot better than a maiden winner, beyond that it is guesswork.

8 Good Memories Mb Stables Ferrer J C 122 —

There are not many trainers that can bring a Preakness and a BEL winner into any race let alone in the same year they won those races. Here we have the second prong in a lethal looking fork, and it is anyone’s guess as to which way round they will finish. Beaten by Walk Em Down in the Preakness he went on to win the BEL a shade cozily and comes here on the back of a gallop where he worked faster than Walk Em Down. It really is a coin flip between them although the draw won’t be easy for Good Memories and out of the two it is Walk Em Down who gets his grade one winning jockey.

9 Central Hawkes Bay Mojica Racing Ortiz J L 122 —

An interesting entry here as the American Derby winner comes here for a first ever dirt start. He has won three in a row so is in great form but trying to translate the turf form to the dirt is impossible. His dirt work recently wasn’t as sharp as the others in this race so that raises some question marks and he has been handicapped by the wide draw so whilst I hope he does well for his owner the odds looked stacked against him.

SUMMARY

A great race in prospect but in all honesty who wouldn’t back against an Mb winner. Who can beat his Preakness and BEL winners, well probably nothing but this is HRP after all so nothing is impossible. I guess you would have to say Excoriator and Fire Chase look the biggest dangers and those two trainers will certainly be looking to upset the apple cart. A great race in prospect, good luck to all.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES