The Woodhaven
AQU Race #2 1m InTurf Stake
Purse $125.000 (plus up to $18.75 for NY-breds) For Three Year Olds.

1 Statement Hunterman Stable Castillo I 122 —

The two races he has won he has won well, and this is certainly his trip, but as a first attempt at black type it is a step up for him. His works are good but then everything seems to work well these days so more important may be the draw which will help him settle in midfield without expending too much energy. He is not far off these but seems to have a little bit to go to be considered the winner for this, but a good effort certainly wouldn’t surprise.

2 Exuberant Mb Stables Lezcano J 122 —

The winner of three of his last four there is certainly some movement upwards in his improvement curve, but this is his biggest test yet and he still has something to prove. The perfect draw and of course the trainer’s expertise will play a big part and he should certainly be considered a winning chance.

3 Stormy Invasion Red Fox Farms Luzzi L J 122 —

I think if you take his two efforts in his hated off going, he doesn’t look a bad sort and the works certainly bear that out. He has been running as a deep closer, so if set with that task today he could face an uphill battle. He will need a fast pace and some race engine luck, but it is not impossible that he will find a late run and come over the top late.

4 Y So Serious Fractious Franco M 122 —

Ran a close second in the Pasadena Stakes and this looks the right race for him, his works may not look as sharp as some but that means nothing these days at HRP so I wouldn’t see that as a reason for him to get beat. He will need a little bit of luck early on but if he can find a good position there is no reason he can’t do better than his two seconds at this level.

5 Fear The Stars Riggins Racing Davis D 124 —

Switches to turf for a first effort here and that can often bring success. He was coming on nicely on dirt so much, so the trainer gave him a shot in the grade one FL Derby last time out and whilst he finished ninth, he wasn’t that far off the winner. His recent turf work suggests he will be equally as good on this surface and he may be a danger to the big two stables here.

6 Stage Door Johnny D J C Racing Stables Spencer J P 122 —

He has been thereabouts at this level and ran a nice race from a poor draw in the Kittens Joy suggesting this could be the right spot for him. He battled bravely to win at FG last time and is working well so certainly has a clear shot at this. I guess the tactics will be the key for him in this race he has gone too early and weakened and arrived too late when trailing so he will need to find a nice mid pack position in this race to have his best chance.

7 Esprit de Corps Joshua Stables Castellano J J 122 —

Only three starts ad a fair third in the Cutler Bay last time suggest there is plenty more to come from this gelding. His works are a little off some of these so there is no doubt he has something to find but works don’t mean what they used to. The bigger concern may be the wide draw but if he can use it to lead, he may be able to dictate terms in a race where a lot of the runners will be looking for a late effort.

SUMMARY

Another close looking race but then aren’t they all these days. Normally when it looks close, I just go for the Mb or Fractious runner, and they would be a good choice here as they both find decent draws.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded