Sky Classic Stakes – Grade II
WO   Race #2   1 3/8m   Turf   Graded Stake
Purse $175.000  For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Admirals Aces, trained by Mb Stables
With almost 50% of the entries there is a fair chance that one of the stables horses will win so lets start with this four year old.
Racing with the three year old weight allowance last year he managed two stunning wins, firstly in the Hirsch Turf Classic and secondly in the BC Turf Classic. Both those wins were made all the more impressive in the fact that he raced from a wide draw in both.
Put away after those great wins he was bought after failing on seasonal debut for $500.000 by the games leading trainer and was soon earning some of that money back with a very easy win in the grade two Elkhorn. His next run was equally good closing late to be fourth beaten less than a length in The Manhattan but he then faced the three year olds in the Nijinsky Stakes where he came in a  soundly beaten fifth.
His turf works are still strong but he is dogged by inconsistency so it is a gamble if you fancy him to run to his BC form today.

2 Solow, trained by Smokey Stover
The best three year old in the race on form so it is pretty easy with the weight allowance to call this one the winner. His hard closing fourth in the BEL Derby last time was hugely impressive and he is no one trick pony as before that he had taken the American Turf on a soft surface. He takes on some good four year olds today but the weight allowance should just be enough to see him winning.

3 Cherokee Charlie, trained by Team 7 Illusions
Although he has no black type form and was running in claimers up to June this year being a  three year old and going on work times he is not out of the reckoning. After being bought for under twenty dollars he put in a pleasing effort last time when a close third in a DMR Allowance and looks like this trip will be right up his alley. I dont think he can beat Solow but a bit of bad luck for the others and good for him may see him getting in a the finish.

4 Techfluence, trained by The Sidley Stud
Usually runs on dirt but has done enough on turf to give him a shake in this race. Second in last years Marathon he loves a long trip and has been thereabouts in some good races. His dirt works are probably the best in the field and a win in the Dominion Day Stakes last time suggest he is in good form. He may be a length better on dirt though so i am struggling to place him in the winners circle on the grass.

5 No Reason, trained by Mb Stables
This one is trying to jump on the growing bandwagon of three year old stakes winners this year and like so many of the stables horses has shown some remarkable improvement this summer. Winning a fairly cheap maiden in January he built a record in overnights before taking the California Dreamin last time out. His works are just about good enough but he will be hard pushed to beat Solow off level weights.

6 Sunny Gabe, trained by Mb Stables
Last years Breeders Stakes winner on this day he is another older horse that relishes a stamina test and yet another from Mb Stables. His works are fast enough to beat the three year olds and i liked the race he ran in the United Nations when a close fourth. My only worry is that this will be his third race in seven weeks but his works are suggesting he is relishing that work rate. If any of the older horses can win then its this one.

7 Controlled Power, trained by Spankys Barn
A good maiden winner and a strong worker he shouldnt even be in this field but with the class system being a bit wonky and the three year old weight allowance he is not without a hope. A wide draw and suspect form (just one maiden win from seven attempts) are enough to write him off but just beware and maybe if his odds hit 100/1 then have a dollar each way on him.

SUMMARY
The usual blend of older horses that have achieved, stakes class three year olds and three year olds hoping for the weight allowance miracle.
I cant get past Solow for this but Sunny Gabe may push him and Admirals Aces is all class if he turns up today.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES