Sycamore – Grade III
KEE Race #3 1 1/2m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Showable Set Angelos Stable Rodriguez A R 124 —

I have a feeling that this one is ready to run a big race despite the fact that he has been running in lesser grade than this and in fact has only ever raced in two other stakes races. The fact that he won over a mile in 1.32 flat last time and is working 1.09 and 1 for six furlongs says he has received a sprinkling of that five-year-old fairy dust and may just be the dark horse here. The inside draw should suit his on-pace style, and I will be watching him very closely.

2 Seven Is Lucky Mb Stables Velazquez J R 124 —

A more established stakes horse compared to the horse inside him that of course means very little these days and certainly at this time of year when form starts to ebb and flow from a tough season. After winning the Lure and The HOL Turf Cup last year he was expected to be a winner in 2024 by now but in seven starts he hasn’t been able to find the winner’s circle despite some good efforts. A grade two winner and a good third in the BEL Gold Cup over this trip, I think if he does manage to win today it could be the 12 furlongs that is the key factor, that and the draw, trainer and jockey which are all giants ticks.

3 Fire And Ice TwinTowersRacing Franco M 124 —

In typical TwinTowers style this one went from a mile and three eighths to six furlongs in his last two and performed pretty much the same which is pretty common here at HRP. He was a good fourth in the Manhattan recently so has the form over a route trip to be a contender in this race and if there is one trainer you can never write off it is this one.

4 Eustace Haney Avenue Z Pennington F 124 —

An easy winner over this trip in the Precious Passion Stakes last time, I am wary even though he has only won three from twenty-two that he has improved this year. All his previous form wouldn’t even get him a mention in this race but the 99 SRF speed figure he received, and the ease of that much improved win last time has me thinking that he may be heading up a very steep improvement curve.

5 Kegger Threshold Lezcano J 124 —

The trainer will need a firework up the backside of this one to get him out the gate and in contention for this, but he has a bit further to catch up today so just maybe he can finally find some form to match his ability.

6 Tolerance Winning Link Stables Hernandez R M 124 —

Easily beaten by Eustace Haney last time in the Precious Passion I see no way he can reverse that form. He has ability but will need to dig very deep to find enough to win today.

7 Inherently Mb Stables Buick W T 121 —

Made all to win the VA Derby last time but with the jockey booking I would be surprised if he made the lead today. The three-year-olds are getting there as far as the improvement curve goes and one or two have had me thinking that they are ready to start their late season domination, but I am still not convinced that three pounds is enough. Having said that this one is working just as well as the older horses and is getting weight so it does make sense that he would have a big chance.

8 Well Done Team 7 Illusions Davis D 121 —

This one went from optional claimers and allowances to a no show in the Nashville Derby and then a win in the grade one Hirsch Turf Classic last time. That last effort would have him top of many lists, but it was only two weeks ago, and it was a very tough race, so I would be surprised if he had recovered enough to repeat that effort. Listen to me, surprised at a result at HRP, as if that was unusual!! Common sense says he will not be able to win, but this trainer knows better than anyone how to take down stakes races and if they think he is ready then that is good enough for me.

9 Tom Kha Gai High Voltage Centeno D E 124 —

Has shown the sort of improvement in his last three that screams fairy dust and as a four-year-old that is great news for the trainer. Two good wins and then last time a very close fourth in the DMR Mile puts him right in this with a massive chance. Now the ticks in boxes do have one big glaring cross and that is the car park draw so whilst he is in great form and has the ability to win it will be the race engine and circumstances that really decide his fate.

SUMMARY

There are three here that I suspect have hit upward motion in their improvement curves. Tom Kha Gai, Eustace Haney and Showable Set and any one of them could continue that improvement to win today, I think I will settle on Showable Set just because he is drawn the best as the winner here and he may be at rewarding odds. Seven Is Lucky is due a win so he has to have a big chance on more readable form, and it will be very interesting to see how Well Done does after his short turn round from a grade one win.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES