Victoria Stakes
WO Race #2 5 1/2f Dirt Stake
Purse $125.000 (plus up to $18.75 for ON-breds) For Two Year Olds.

1 Stake The Claim Nakamura Stables Ryan S

Ran a decent debut second at PRX and then went to CT where he came across a wet track and handled it well to win. He seems to have a closing style which will suit this extra furlong but wont suit the rail gate so he will need to do some running to get through a big field if he comes late again today. The works are good but not the best but he is in here with a chance and thats all you need.

2 Clown Fear Aer Stables Stein J

Also went to CT but this was for his debut and he duly won iy nicely in his only start to date. His works are pretty comparable since that win and he has been given plenty of time and at 16.1hh is a big brute of a horse that will be able to muscle his way from this perfect draw.

3 Con Of The Kiwi Smokey Stover Bahen S R

Experience can count for a lot in these juvenile races and this one has had four races for the one win. A good maiden winner in a GP State Bred he was one of those that the race engine spat out in the FT Futurity and after a slow start from an inside gate was never in with a chance. He made up a bit of ground at the end and going on works and previous efforts is better than that as long as the trainer can get him out of the gate this time.

4 Smokin Secret Mb Stables Moran D

Battled very bravely from an on pace position to win one of those big ticket maidens at WO he certainly hails from the right stable that has dominated the two year old scene in recent years. His works are on song and he will probably start favorite or close to it from a decent draw. The slow starters inside him will certainly help his cause.

5 Mediterranean Sea Mo Mentum Farm Husbands P

They are all winners in this race and this is another winner of one of the big ticket maidens at WO. He won in the mud that day so it is hard to really weigh up that form but the stable is in great form and he would certainly be in this with a chance.

6 Encore Fractious Flores Em

Won very nicely on debut in an FL State Bred maiden and it is worth noting that he won in a quicker time on debut than Smokin Secret won his maiden at WO on his second start. This could be a superstar but second up is often a bit of a leveler after a debut win so treat him with a little caution.

7 Kenny Is The Law Kopites Kimura K

It is good to see this trainer back and it didn’t take them long to get back into the big time. They bought this horse from Night Rider Stables after a game maiden win and whilst he may have something to find against the best of these he looks a nice enough type.

8 Gorogue Laga Arindel Bridgmohan S X

Another one than won a big ticket maiden at WO he is one of the best workers in the race and though his draw is a bit awkward may be the answer in a difficult betting race. Gelded after his debut run that can often give them a boost and that is exactly what happened. He has been given plenty of time between runs so should be fresh and ready for this.

9 Eastern Alliance Barcelona Farms Wenc I C

This trainer knows a thing or two about winning races and though on paper this one may look a bit outclassed i certainly wouldn’t be writing them off. A nice winner of an LS Maiden he is a bit of a dark horse here but faces a tough task from the draw.

10 Purple Team High Voltage Wilson E J

Not the most impressive of workers but he certainly has the form to win this after a good maiden win and then a strong second in the FT Futurity where he had Con Of The Kiwi well behind. He had a tough draw that day and he has another tough one today but he should get a bit of a boost from the wide draw and will be in the race for a long way.

11 Night Raider Mb Stables Hernandez R M

Yet another winner of a big ticket WO Maiden it seems almost a right of passage for these early stakes race to take out one of those. Won in the same conditions as Mediterranean Sea but did it quicker so that is a bit of a pointer but the trainer will have to work on his running style as he is a slow starter so far and a slow start from a wide draw may put him too far behind early on.

12 Indian Summer Diablo Diablo Boulanger G

Yes you guessed it, another WO Maiden winner. Like Night Raider he did it from an inside draw and gets the car park today so it will definitely be much harder but he is an on pace sort so with the wide gate speed push will probably near to the front early on, will need race engine luck but has a chance.

SUMMARY

These two year old races are always tough but i think Gorogue Laga may be the one here. The Mb pair will be in it of course and of the others maybe Encore may be a contender.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded