The 15th Running of The Marine Stakes-G3
June 27, 2021 WO Race #7
$150.000 3YO 1 1/16 Dirt
C/G 123 Lbs F 118 Lbs + Penalties
Stakes Record-1:41.58 (Return Home-2017)
Track Record-1:39.28 (One For The Road-2012)
Welcome to Canada for the 15th Installment of the $150.000 G3 Marine Stakes for 3YOs carrying 123 Lbs (Fillies 118) plus penalties. In the previous 14-runnings there have been 16-winners as the top two could not be separated in 2014 nor 2020. Four jockeys have been on the back of half of those 16-winners and Mb Stables has claimed the prize on four occasions (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018).
Last year, Jolly Rook (Angelos Stable) used this race as a springboard to two G1 victories in The Haskell (MTH) and The Travers (SAR). Can any of the sophomores lining up today emulate his success? Time will tell, but this is a solid group and someone will leave WO a graded winner and, hopefully, onto a similar path. Let’s take a look at today’s combatants:
#1 Princess Jasmine (Mo Mentum Farm/R.M. Hernandez): For the 6th consecutive race, this Brutal filly takes on the opposite sex in a Graded contest. Her first two tries against males were under a different conditioner as Aer Stables managed a 2nd in the G2-TAM Derby and a 3rd in the G1-SA Derby before the current owner took over after forking over $750.000. After the purchase, this filly competed in all three legs of the Triple Crown and comes in here only 22-days after that nice 4th in the G1 BEL. Obviously, this one has talent, but at some point one has to wonder if the wheels fall off. That being said, she has shown the ability to compete with the males in her class and seems to have bounced out of the TC series well. Mixed signals.
#2 Ricki Tikki Tavi (La Canada Racehorses/J. Stein): This one competed on the TC trail and the KYD so these horses shouldn’t intimidate him in this spot. The Bright Command gelding used a 2nd in the G2 San Felipe and a 4th in the G2 Bluegrass to punch his ticket to the KYD-G1 where he pressed the pace before finishing 7th two lengths back of the winner. On May 31 this guy shortened-up to 7f and claimed the $200.000 Commentator Stakes for NY-Breds. Has the tactical speed to be close early, but has yet to find a way to beat these types and will need a career-best effort to take this one down.
#3 Noble Decision (Nakamura Stables/J. Lermyte): This Noble Minister gelding comes in here relatively fresh and looking for graded stakes glory. Last seen in the G3 Barrera at SA where he was only beaten 3/4 of a length when 4th at 7 furlongs. This will be his second attempt at the G3 level and 3rd stakes try overall so the inexperience at this level could prove difficult to overcome; however, he is touting himself with that 1:10.68 2/51 work at WO on June 23 so appears to be progressing nicely. Taking a pass today due to the relative inexperience and a route record that isn’t great, but could definitely regret it when they cross the wire.
#4 Walk The Moon (Greyfriars Stable/K. Kimura): Condottieri gelding found the TC trail a tad too tough and comes here off of a 78-day layoff. When last seen in the April 10 G3 Lexington at KEE, he tried to rally from mid-pack, but wasn’t able to make up much ground and had to settle for a non-threatening 6th. He doesn’t have a published work since May 23 so there is a lot that is unknown with this guy. Based on the lack of success on the TC trail, the long layoff, and no recent workouts that we can see, this one may be hoping for a minor prize at best….or he could be ready to fire off of the bench at a big number. Taking a wait and see approach here.
#5 Angelino (Nakamura Stables/G. Boulanger): This one was on the TC trail for his first three starts of the year where he picked up a win in the CAC Derby for Cal-breds before running 3rd, beaten a head, in the G3 Risen Star (FG) and 14th in the G2 Rebel (OP). Came back to the allowance ranks in his latest two tries, but didn’t relish the mud at CD when 4th of 5-runners and finished 3rd on the turf at WO in his latest. His effort in the Risen Star makes him a player in here and anything less makes him an also-ran so a lot depends on which version of this City Of Speed gelding shows up.
#6 Rotarian (Mb Stables/S. Ryan): If you look at this one on paper, it appears that the big barn has liked him from the start. Mb Stables gave him three chances at the GS level even though he was still a maiden so the talent was always there. Broke his maiden at CD on May 10 in a $91 MSW and came right back to score here at WO on May 30 in the 7-furlong Queenston Stakes for ON-breds. The conditioner has won 4 runnings of this race and this one is his lone entrant this year so safe to say that a big effort can be expected. Sometimes these 3yos just need a bit more time to develop and this guy checks a lot of boxes to be that type of runner. The top pick.
#7 Sweetly Chai (Greyfriars Stable/D. Fukumoto): Another entrant from Greyfriars Stable, this guy looks like he has turned into a much better 3yo than what he showed as a juvenile. The Clockwork Chai gelding returns to the races here after just missing in the G3 Winn at CD on May 29 where he was beaten a length. He is another who is light on the published work tab, but his race form looks to have him squarely in the middle of this contest. Look for him to break running and always be close as he appears to be an excellent candidate to round out the exacta.
#8 Hint Of Sugar (Arindel/D. Moran): Crossing The Rubicon-sired gelding broke his maiden January 24 at GP and was immediately thrust on the TC trail where he earned a birth in the KYD-G1 with two 2nd place finishes in the G2 Fountain Of Youth and G1 Florida Derby (both at GP). In the KYD-G1 he found his best stride late as he crossed the wire 8th while beaten only two lengths before returning in the G1 Stephens at BEL on June 5. In that 7-furlong affair he looked poised to make a winning move before tiring to finish 6th (beaten 2-lengths). All evidence says he will find today’s 8.5 furlongs much more to his liking and could see him making a run late to grab a piece.
#9 Dumervil (Wood Duck Stables/L. Contreras): Ran twice for his former owner before bringing $11.000 at the September auction then immediately rewarded Wood Duck Stable with a MSW victory October 24 at SA. Has ran in five consecutive allowance contests and has yet to cross the wire first since; however, he has been bringing home steady checks back to the barn with him. This All Ouy Blitz gelding seems to be a tactical-type that can adapt to any pace scenario, but it will be up to L. Contreras to work out a trip in this entry’s first foray into graded company.
#10 Doctors Order (Crocker Ggs/E.J. Wilson): This Call Your Doctor colt comes north of the border seeking his first win since that August 16 MSW score at ELP. Yet another who spent quite a bit of time on the TC trail as his first four races of this sophomore season came in KYD-G1 preps. Found that company a bit too tough to tackle before trying ALW foes at CD where he could only muster a 5th place finish when beaten 5-lengths. The last two works since that May 14 contest suggest he comes in here ready to compete, but feels like a minor placing may be his ceiling in this G3 contest.
#11 Crack Danz (John Henry/S. Bahen): This Safecracker gelding has changed hands twice for big money; first, Fractious plopped down $600.000 on November 16 before selling him to the current owner for $400.000 on February 24. Looking at his juvenile campaign, it is easy to see why he was so popular as he took down the G1 Pharoah (SA) to go along with an earlier win in the $100.000 listed Victoria Stakes right here over this WO strip. Unfortunately for Fractious and John Henry, the horse’s sophomore campaign has seen five graded attempts without a single placing as he failed to duplicate his 2020 form. Obviously talented and in the right hands, but one has to wonder if his 2yo days may have been the best we see from this one.
#12 Invade The Storm (Saratoga Stud/P. Husbands): Saratoga Stud paid $500.000 for this Storming gelding after Fractious guided him to wins in a MSW and the $150.000 Jerome Stakes. Earned his way into the KYD-G1 starting gate via that Jerome victory and a 2nd in the G2 Bluegrass. Ran off the board in the first two legs of the TC and comes back here today off of that 7th place effort in the G1 PRK. The two works at KEE since say he may be moving in the right direction, but from this outside draw it is tough to see him earning anything more than a minor placing.
Final Analysis: 6-7-1-8
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
