The Harrods Creek ($300.000 Purse)
CD- For Three Year Olds
Seven Furlongs on the Dirt
September 23, 2023

It’s time now to take a look at The Harrods Creek, which is one of the newer additions to the schedule at CD. The race runs for the third time, debuting in 2021 for a $275.000 purse where it was won by Mr Frost. We see an increase to the purse level this year, so perhaps an official graded designation will be in the future for this race. For now, no one will complain about the $300.000 purse that is offered for three-year-olds who don’t mind a little longer sprint. Last year, Asgar won the race with his gelding Buy Low Sell High, and that one remains active and is still running at this level, though could use quick change in his form. Here, we will have a field of ten going to post. Let’s meet them!

#1- Gallant (Royalty Stables, ridden by D Van Dyke)- Still looking to hit the board for the first time as a three-year-old, but he has been fourth a couple of times, at least. Finished there in his last race, the Grade 1 Sword Dancer on soft turf, but he was never really a factor in that one and was still beaten by three lengths. He’ll now be leaving the grass and going under a mile for the first time this year, and it does appear as though changing things up right for this horse is the right course of action. Works are solid, but don’t necessarily jump out at it you. Likely going at a high price in here.

#2- Silent Murder (Mb Stables, ridden by F Prat)- Looking to pick up his first stake win, after a string of seconditis of recently. There were a couple tries at KYD preps, running in the Rebel and the SUN Derby, and the results were decent for most barns, but not when you’re in this one. That’s when he would then come here to run in the Grade 2 Day Mile Stakes to begin his streak of three straight second place finishes, all coming at the graded level. Turned in a 100 SRF in the IND Derby, despite the muddy track. The streak of seconds ended at the WV Derby, where he fourth. Hasn’t seen a fast track since May.

#3- Fox Final Time (Spankys Barn, ridden by J L Ortiz)- Picked up by the trainer for a $25.000 claim in March, and Spankys Barn has been able to bring his career forward. In their five starts together, Fox Final Time has won twice, but neither were the ungraded stakes that he has been in. Comes here out of the $250.000 Albany, which is for NY-Breds, and was sixth of seven at SAR that day. His overall race line looks a little flat, and that may be why he is going back to this distance. I really like his work from August 14th at DMR, there’s plenty of potential with this one.

#4- Wyatt Langmore (Fractious, ridden by J Loveberry)- Fractious had Fox Final Time claimed from him for $25.000, and he claimed Wyatt Langmore for $25.000. Since the claim, the Count The Stars gelding has made four starts, with the last three being in ungraded stakes. All saw him earn some part of the purse, but in May, he did win the $100.000 King Corrie at WO. Looks to be very comfortable running seven furlongs, and fits into this field well. Interested in seeing who wins the race within the race between he and Fox Final Time.

#5- Delightful Rubicon (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by A Cedillo)- Flashed enough potential as a two-year-old for the trainer to enter him in the Grade 1 Champagne, but he did not handle the slop well at all that day. Never really got it going in several ungraded stakes, and even in the allowances he has been in, he has still not been able to get the job done. The end result is a horse that has made 14 starts, eaten a lot of nomination fees, and only made $68.600 in his entire career. He gets another chance, but this time is moved off the turf, where he had been for the last little while. Sooner or later, Delightful Rubicon needs to put up.

#6- Two Million (Asgar, ridden by M Murrill)- For the most part, Two Million has been able to get some piece of the purse, being successful earlier in his career against LA-breds before moving into unrestricted company. With three wins in 13 starts, he’s been solid but is still looking for that real big one win. The Harrods Creek could be it, and I think he’ll better at seven furlongs than he was for his last start at a mile in the ELP Derby, but he is still going to have to learn how to hold his early speed all the way to the wire when rivals start coming for him.

#7- Mellow Magic (Riggins Racing, ridden by Mar Garcia)- In February, Riggins added this one to his stable for $80.000 in private sales, and that is certainly something that has paid off very well for him. Since that sale, Mellow Magic has made six starts, including back-to-back wins in the $150.000 Eddie Stakes for CA-breds at SA, then staying there to capture the Grade 3 Barrera. Struggled against the best of the best in the Grade 1 Stephens, but this won’t be the Stephens. Was strong against several of well and in the ELP Derby, and it should only benefit him to get those rivals at seven furlongs instead of the full mile.

#8- Figure Of Speech (Arindel, ridden by G W Corbett)- Got off to a great start this year, running second in the $100.000 Hutcheson Stakes at GP before winning the $400.000 Lafayette Stakes at KEE a month later. It seemed like he would continue to climb the ladder, and he did attempt the Grade 3 Barrera afterwards. Ran fifth there, and that would surprisingly be the end of him at the stake level until now. He’s won two of his next three starts, including a starter allowance at SAR, but he probably could have continued running in stakes, so I am glad to see him running here. Working well and should have a good chance here.

#9- Gorilla Glue (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by A Ayuso)- race day will mark the one-year anniversary from when Maxmillion Farm bought him in private sales for $60.000, but the more notable date would be when he was gelded in March. That seems to be what has advanced his career from being a midpack runner to the winner he’s become now. Since then, he has won three of four, highlighted by the $100.000 seven-furlong Elgin Stakes for Canadians last month at WO. That earned him a 99 SRF, and I don’t think he has peaked quite yet. Isn’t a deep closer, but he does like to come from off the pace, so be watching for him in the stretch.

#10- Timber Snake (T Boy Racing, ridden by A E Birzer)- Earlier this year, Timber Snake won four races in a row, with three of them being some of the smaller ungraded races that one can enter, like the $20.000 FON Special, but he did win the $50.000 Auburn Stakes on sloppy ground in June to send him into the graded ranks. He’s done well, too, placing fourth in both the Grade 2 Amsterdam and the Grade 1 Jerkens Memorial at SAR, and he is not going to see that caliber of field here in the Harrods Creek. SRF’s are consistent, and he’s getting more experience than he may otherwise want in starting from the outside. This race is great placement for him, and I wonder if T Boy will try to get him out on the lead like he had done a few starts back. I think he gets it done.

Prediction: 10-2-7-9

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded