The TAM Stakes – Grade III
TAM Race #6 1 1/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $175.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
1 Moonlight Special Allinthegate Castanon J L 126 —
The fact that this seven year old has to carry 4Lbs more than everything else should not be underestimated but neither should the fact that it is a ten race winner and the winner of the Seabiscuit Handicap last time out. This is a horse with good form and certainly at this level should be respected penalty or not.
2 Derby Cat TwinTowersRacing Marquez Ch 122 —
The winner of only one race, this four-year-old entry is certainly being thrown in the deep end and the last time that happened he finished last in the SAR Derby. It is clear that the trainer has an opinion of him though because we see him back in stakes company, however this time, there are a few good works to back up the trainer’s thoughts. A perfect draw, a trainer that just loves giant killing and some improving works…. maybe this is the dark horse.
3 Sioux Arrival High Voltage Feliciano R 122 —
The DMR Derby winner gets in here with no penalty and that is significant especially as he has a nice draw to boot. That win wasn’t his only form that suggests he can win this as he was a close fourth in the Fort Lauderdale last time out and he is working like the sort of horse that should start favorite to win a race like this.
4 Dire Straits Nakamura Stables Lopez J E 122 —
Just as we think about the stakes winning form leading into this, we come across a good old HRP thing just to remind us we are playing here and not in real life. I wonder how many winners of this race in real life have their warmup in a $12.000 race at TUP but that’s where this four-year-old had his second race on turf and where he won in a sub 1.33 time. That winning time would probably be good enough here and to add to the fun he also has some of the fastest works in the field. On form he shouldn’t win but there are a few very good reasons why he may.
5 State Cavier Smokey Stover Evans C 122 —
The son of State Police has never really been asked the questions you would expect of a horse from this powerful stable. The winner of eight races and working great times on dirt and turf, you may expect his form to be littered with graded stakes victories, but he ran in his first last time out and ended up sixth. We should perhaps forgive that effort as it was his first on dirt and if we do ignore that his previous run saw him win The Hudson on the grass where all his 8 wins have come. Maybe the HRP magic age of five will see his career launched today.
6 Kylo Ren Luz International Cedeno C 122 —
Certainly, doesn’t seem to have a dark side as he has enjoyed a consistent career with 4 wins. He dug deep to win the Tropical Park Derby last time and certainly has the ability to win at this level as he showed with a very close third in the VA Derby at grade three. I have a feeling this one could run big today, but he will need every yard of this trip if he is going to get there.
7 Riley Royalty Stables Martinez W 122 —
Another grade two winner without a penalty, that win came in the King Edward BC Stakes and started off a roll of form that looks very good for a race like this. He very nearly won the WO Mile next out and then ran a creditable race in the BC Mile to be beaten just a few lengths. Being a five-year-old has its advantages so if he has improved at all from four, he will be a big chance.
8 King Luka Night Rider Stables Cotto P L Jr 122 —
Ran very well in the Mint Million and the Knickerbocker but ran similar in his attempts at lower grade too, so it is hard to weigh him up. His works, of course, are pretty much the same as everything else. If he runs up to his SA win in a sub 1.33 time and his stakes efforts, he is another that could be given a chance to take home the money.
9 Elitism La Canada Racehorses VillGomez H 122 —
A really nice sort, he has won his last two including the Wood Chopper Stakes last time in a winning time that would go close in the BC. In a race with so many chances and such a web of form it is impossible to single him out as above anything else, but he certainly isn’t behind too many. The draw may be his biggest challenge here, but he has won from wide draws before, so I wouldn’t let that put you off if you like this one.
10 Storm Of The Angels Arindel Diaz H R Jr 122 —
A 1.36 and 1 work on dirt recently may have had a few thinking he may go that way this season but the trainer sticks with the grass and that may be significant. A really consistent sort if the improvement in those dirt work times translates to the turf, he may just be the five-year-old that has found the most fairy dust.
11 Details Matter Alydar Stables Morales P 122 —
A very apt name because the 11th runner in this race is the eleventh winning chance and it will indeed be details that wins or loses this race. He won the grade three Station but ran maybe his best race last time when a closing third in the Mathis Brothers Mile. He was drawn in the car park that day too and took wide gate route B by going right back and running on late. I would expect the same today, but it would be interesting if the trainer gamed the system by sending him off in front as there doesn’t seem to be much pressure for the lead.
SUMMARY
I throw my hands up and surrender…literally anything could win this, rarely do I see a more even race on form and works. I would love to see Details Matter gun to the lead and hold on but that is just one scenario of maybe six that will affect the winner of this race. I think Storm The Angels may be sitting quietly and could be decent odds and worth a shot. Of the better drawn horses, the Sioux Arrival looks good, and we always have to be aware of the HRP special in Dire Straits who may just be the Sultan Of Swing.
Categories: Grade III
