Longacres Mile – Grade III
EMD Race #1 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Peppermint Force Allinthegate Ceballos F

The three year olds should dominate this race despite any previous form, so this one comes into things from the inside draw. The winner of four as a two year old, he has not won in five attempts this year but has run in some good races and has shown enough to be a chance. Probably his best start this year was when thundering home in the BG Stakes to end up a close fourth, and that sort of run would be good enough today.

2 Steel Tunes John Henry Matias J

A tough and consistent sort gets a great draw to give him some sort of chance against the almost unbeatable three year olds. Another that hasn’t won this year but has been in some very good races, finishing second in a grade three before being prominent for a long way in the GP Mile. The weight will be tough to give away, but he will be in for the fight.

3 Born To Laff John Henry Orozco K E

An interesting purchase at just $10.000, this three year old looks home and dry in this race, with the form and the works to do the business. He ran the Canadian triple crown, finishing third in the Queens Plate and then second in the Prince Of wales and, though they were over a longer trip, he has plenty of early pace and this mile should suit.

4 Dream Controlled Mb Stables Hernandez J J

A seven race winner of over $1,500.000, most of his best efforts have come over further than this mile, but he is an honest galloper who should give a good account of himself. The winner of the Marathon last year, his best run this year came in the Brooklyn when third, but that came over a mile and a half, and I wonder whether he has the pace to win over a mile.

5 Chrystal Believer Maxmillion Farm Couton J

After winning the San Felipe, he was a live chance for the TC races. He had a bad draw in the KYD but weakened in the mud after stalking the pace but ran much better on better ground when sixth beaten under a length in the Preakness. Rested after that effort, he was a big disappointment in the Haskell, and I do wonder whether this may be his best trip. A win chance for sure and will go very close.

6 Quickly Angelos Stable Gutierrez J M

On his works, this is one of the best chances of the older horses, but he hasn’t really put it down on the track yet, despite a decent all the way win in the Wickerr last time. That win was on turf, but his 1.36 2/5 work was on dirt, so who knows which is his best surface. Could win; could finish last.

7 John Pussycat High Voltage Sanguinetti A

A consistent three year old that hasn’t run in the top grade but has recorded some good speed figures, so would have to be given a chance with the weight allowance. The draw will make it tough, so he will need a bit of luck but he is more than capable if he can step up to this level.

8 The Great Bonsai Allinthegate Barber R

At five he is the oldest horse in the race, which says more about how HRP works than whether he is good enough. Despite sprinting for all of his eight wins, I have seen stranger things at HRP, and he may just be the dark horse in the race.

SUMMARY

This looks between the two three year olds in Born To Laff and Chrystal Believer. Of the older horses, I think Quickly may spice up the multiple bets.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES