2/18 The Southwest – Grade III [KYD]
OP Race #3 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.

1 Quenched Aer Stables Talamo J

Although on paper this isnt the strongest Southwest ever to be run it is hard to place this one in the winners enclosure but he has done enough to suggest he will be somewhere close in the finish. He was pretty impressive when racing from a wide draw and coming late to snatch the Nashua Last year but despite running well has struggled to step up on that effort in his two starts since. He stayed on well to be fifth in the Springboard Mile at the end of last year but was then drawn nicely in the Lecompt and failed to get involved after a difficult trip. This one has it all there but i will need to see a return to form here before putting him on my KYD short list.

2 Ete Crack Gdp Inc Gaffalione T

Took a while to break his maidens but was impressive when he did but he has struggled a bit since and may find this step up in grade a little too far. Having said that a very nice draw and a sub 1.37 work are both big plus’s so he is not entirely out of it.

3 Made Out Of Glass Mb Stables Velazquez J R

As usual the stable has a glut of sub 1.37 workers and this one of three entries into this race from the yard. He was game in winning his second and third starts but was a shade disappointing on seasonal debut when beaten into third in the ungraded Pascoe Stakes. He was entitled to need the run so may improve from that and comes here with a good draw and an in form jockey.

4 Eternal Reign Mb Stables Bridgmohan S X

Tested in better grade maidens he had to go to PEN to gain a first win in a statebred maiden but followed that up with an Allowance win at TUP on seasonal debut and looks an improving type. Another sub 1.37 worker he doesnt appeal on form but has the magic of Mb Stables behind him so must be taken pretty seriously.

5 Commanding Bee John Henry Gallardo A A

Bought for $500.000 he certainly has the form on the board to demand a price like that but has yet to race as a three year old and goes into the mucker today with similar work times to everyone else. He very nearly won both the Champagne and the DMR Futurity going down by a neck and a head in those races but was pretty disappointing in the BC Juvenile when racing from a decent draw and only managing tenth. His final start was in the Remsen when he ran fourth in the mud so ignoring his BC start he does look like the form choice in this race.

6 Maybe Tonight Alydar Stables Boulanger G

He ran really well behind a rabbit in the Grey Stakes last year but has failed to produce with a more normal pace since and comes here with a little something to prove. Fit from an average effort in the Sham Stakes he will need to show something here or he may be out of the TC chase.

7 Bo Knows Smokey Stover Bejarano R

Well if Commanding Bee has a great chance then this one should be even better as the form lines put him ahead once again of his old rival. He has beaten him every time they have raced, not by far, but three from three is a pretty good record and its hard to see a clear reason he wont do it again today. The game winner of the Champagne he went on to run a cracker in the BC Juvenile when finishing hard for fourth and then did well in the mud when second in the Remsen. He ran well enough in the Lecompt on seasonal debut to suggest he is ready to get some KYD points today.

8 Candlestick Mb Stables Beschizza A

The third stable entry he has the work times but has yet to prove himself at this level. He didnt run badly from a tough draw in the Champagne last year but could only manage eighth and finished the year with a second at ungraded level. His seasonal debut was in overnight grade and he was a little disappointing in finishing sixth so on the face of it he looks the worst of the three stable entries.

9 Instagooglefacetweet John Henry Van Dyke D

The second entry from the stable and the trainer will be hoping his twenty dollar purchase doesnt put his five hundred dollar purchase to the sword. Although unproven at this trip he didnt run badly in the Hopeful last year after his maiden win and is probably the fittest horse in the race with two starts already this year and a half decent third in the Allison Derby in his last start. He doesnt look a danger on his exposed form but a 1.36 and 2 work came out of the blue a few days ago and he has to be taken seriously for that reason.

10 Grandiose D J C Racing Stables Garcia Alan

Ran his best races on the turf as a juvenile most notably when a close second in the Bourbon but its the time of year when anything with a pulse is thrown at the TC trail and he will take his chance on dirt today. His works suggest he does have some ability on the surface but this nasty draw and his lack of dirt performances cause me to overlook him today.

11 Liberty Valance D J C Racing Stables Bravo J

A super impressive maiden winner last time but that was a sprint at TAM and is a long way from this race. Again the trainer is throwing him in here with a hit and a hope, and good luck to him i hope one of these sticks.

12 Cherokee Reward Estero Farms Pennington F

The jockey rode the Derby winner for the stable last year and this one certainly has a chance here despite a nasty draw that will test his ability. His trainer will be hoping for a rabbit or he may find himself leading as he did when beaten in the LA Futurity but a good stalk and he may be good enough to get into the fight. He was wide and on speed in the Lecompt last time and battled on well for a close second so that will be enough for most people to make him a top choice.

SUMMARY

The big question is whether there will be a rabbit from one of the stables with multiple entries because if there is it will bring Cherokee Reward right into this. A more regular pace should see Bo Knows and Commanding Bee fighting out the finish with Bo Knows coming out on top.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES