Sycamore – Grade III
KEE Race #4 1 1/2m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $150.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 Maybe Tonight Alydar Stables Hernandez B J Jr
Well there is nothing hidden about this five year old that has had 34 races to assess his ability. What we have seen is a real honest and consistent type who always gives you a good run for your money. Third in this race last year he hasn’t managed a win beyond ungraded stakes level but gets a decent draw here and is in good form. A good each way chance.
2 Key Biscayne TwinTowersRacing Bejarano R
Another five year old he has had twenty starts for just the three wins but has run in some good company this year and managed an excellent third in the BEL Gold Cup over this trip. That form was certainly his best ever but he managed a second in the San Luis Rey before that so it was no flash in the pan. His works are strong, he gets a great draw and this stable comes up with big race winners like this all the time.
3 Hammerfest Smokey Stover Saez G
Second in last years Breeders Cup Turf you would expect him to be there trying to go one better than here contesting a grade three but it still may happen if he wins here today. He is without a doubt the most accomplished in the field with nearly 2K in purse money and 8 wins and is drawn perfectly over a trip that saw him second in the grade one Hirsch Turf Classic last time out. On known form he wins.
4 Out Of Step Diablo Diablo Landeros C
Gets a crack here and this lightly raced son of Z Cars is not without a chance. He ran in some graded stakes last year and did pretty well but has only recently been switched to turf and has done pretty well to finish first and second at overnight level. His works are in the ball park and he is drawn well enough to be in with an each way chance.
5 Money Truck Spankys Barn Gaffalione T
Another that comes here pretty fresh with only 5 starts this year. His last three efforts have been pretty good finishing fourth in the BEL Gold Cup, fifth in the DMR Handicap and third in the City of Hope Mile last time. There were good solid runs that would make him a chance at grade three level but this is a firly strong field and he may find one or two too good. His works however tell a different story and with a 1,34 and 1 turf mile and a 1.36 flat dirt mile he would only have to run to them to have a winning chance.
6 Immookielee Smokey Stover Garcia Mar
The stable has a very strong hand here with Hammerfest and this lightly raced three year old. The winner of 5 from 11 he was a really strong second in the JC Derby last time from a nasty draw and that effort must give him a solid chance to run close to his stable mate. The three year olds haven’t been running the same this year so he is not as nailed on as he would’ve been last year but he looks a good prospect for a top three finish.
7 Wired Up Rampage Stable Geroux F
A little inconsistent especially recently he is certainly capable at his best and as he is working like a BC Turf Sprint contender you have to take him seriously. Second in the Hirsch as a three year old he has a grade three win to his name so if he can use the talent he has shown in his works and couple that with his form of old he would be right in this.
8 French Style Maxmillion Farm Hernandez C J
Oh this is just the sort of horse that make me salivate. The turf king beats the BC Turf runner up in a grade three with a three year old maiden, just how great would that be to write about. Well in previous years that would’ve been very possible but this year i am not sure a three can win let alone a maiden runner. Having said that this is no ordinary maiden. His last three efforts have seen him fourth in the SAR Derby, third in the VA Derby and second in a very strong allowance at CD so as always anything is possible at HRP.
9 Mr Scratch Nakamura Stables Court J K
This will need a big dose of the Nak Factor to win here with a wide draw and recent form that, whilst fair, is not comparable to the best of these. His works put him in with a chance but he has yet to be tested over a trip much passed a mile so i guess this is one of those that you can’t tip but could see reasons why it would run well.
10 Lord City Our Athletes Beschizza A
Two gutsy wins in his last two including one over this trip in the Presious Passion Stakes he certainly deserves to be here but a combination of the draw and strong opposition may see him struggle to make the top three. His works are in the ball park and he is honest enough but it is hard to see him winning.
11 Controlled Power Spankys Barn Prat F
Another one that has been a BC contender in the past he has reached the veteran stage now but is still capable of some good efforts. Twice a grade one winner he has been pretty good in his last three efforts most notably when third in the grade one United Nations. This gate makes it very tough for the old warrior but on his day he would be right in this regardless of his position in the stalls.
SUMMARY
A tough race but full of quality with some interesting three year olds to boot. You have to like Hammerfest for this and stable mate Immokielee wont be far away but if you are looking for odds i would go for Money Truck at likely longer odds as a solid each way chance.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
