Sycamore – Grade II
KEE Race #1 1 1/2m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Racket Cat Alydar Stables Salles L 124 —

Seems to have turned the corner as a five-year-old with 4 of his 5 career wins coming this year, the last of which was at stakes level. You wouldn’t normally expect an ungraded stakes winner to be overly competitive in a grade two but this being HRP you have to look a bit beyond the seemingly obvious. So that stakes win came over 12 furlongs on the turf and his 3 earlier wins this year had come over sprint trips on the dirt, see I told you this was HRP!! Anyway, the fact remains that despite a 1 from 15 record in routes he is working the lights out over the mile on the grass and if his only run was his last start you would say what a promising router he is. So drawn the ace and clearly making some rapid progress up his improvement curve he is a winning chance.

2 The Stars At Night Luz International Kimura K 124 —

A good third in the Singspiel last time brings him right into this and being a consistent sort, you know what you are going to get. He lacks a potent finish which is why these longer trips may be his thing and with a great gate, I expect him to be competitive.

3 Prince Ferro Maxmillion Farm Gaskin D Z 124 —

This six-year-old has always promised a bit more than he has delivered but he has been racing in top company, and this is almost a drop in class for him so he may have his chance here to pay back some of the trainer’s confidence. If you take out the races on an off track, (which he hates) then there are some good efforts including a close second in the Muniz Memorial Handicap. His recent work on the track was sharp, and this could be his day.

4 King Que Niagra D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J R 124 —

There is no doubt this brilliant champion eight-year-old has been a little less brilliant this year, but he has still been competitive, and you have to respect that in a line up where he would have won with ease a year ago. He ran well in the Hirsch Turf Classic last time, right in it until the end and finishing fourth so there is still some miles in the old legs and even if he is 75% of the horse he was, he could still win this.

5 Well Done Team 7 Illusions Cabrera D 124 —

Another one of those where the works look like BC winning times, and the form looks pretty much average. Took a confidence boosting win at ELP last time after a couple of poor efforts in stakes company, so it’s difficult to know where his head is at coming into this. The works say get on, the form says stay away so take your pick.

6 Sunshine Superman Barcelona Farms Rodriguez Jam 124 —

An eye-catching late finish in the KY Turf Cup last time saw him come up short by a head and a repeat of an effort like that would see him go close to winning today. A late closing type he will need the usual race engine luck in a fast pace and a weakening front runner, but he has managed to win nearly half his races so knows how to get it done. Anything from this stable has to be a winning chance and I think this one has more upside that most in this field.

7 Martinez Spankys Barn Gaffalione T 124 —

Won the United Nations and then ran a fine race in the KY Turf Cup when fourth and about a neck or so behind Sunshine Superman. A solid type over this trip and in this company, he must be a big chance in a race that sets up nicely for him. Interestingly he went as a front runner to win the United Nations and then as a closer in most of his other recent races so I wonder whether the gaming buttons were used that day and will be used again today. In race without too much speed up front it could be the winning tactic.

8 Gold Vault The Sidley Stud Lopez P 124 —

The four-year-old looks to have hit a decent run of form with a solid second in the Hirsch Turf Classic last time following a third in the DMR Handicap and with the stable in great form this year is another with a good chance. His works have been very good and the trip won’t be a problem, the only question that really remains is the draw. Will it send him into an unlikely lead, will it take him too far back, will the trainer use the gaming buttons to try and help? Questions that can only be answered in the race itself but if things go right for him, I expect him to be right there at the end.

9 Model Citizen TwinTowersRacing – Scratch – 121 —

SUMMARY

A really nice competitive field here and one that it is hard to settle on just the one chance. Pace will be key in this race without too much speed on paper and if someone takes the gamble an all the way winner of an average pace is likely. If that is the case, then I would probably go for Martinez but if anything challenges him for that lead that could set it up for closers and in that case Sunshine Superman or Gold Vault could come right into it. The chances don’t end there though, so I wouldn’t be risking my short in this race.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES