American Turf – Grade II
CD Race #8 1 1/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds.
The 2018 winner of this race was retired recently after being beaten 20 lengths in a $4 claimer at TUP at the age of six. Not a great advert for this race which tends to come at a time when most of the potentially best turf three year olds are trying to get their feet wet in the TC series. Last years winner Bold Express did go on to a grade one win and a good fifth in the BC Mile but even at only four he finds himself on the private sales list.
So what we are looking for here is not an established star or even one that will be around for a long time but rather a horse that is in the grove right now.
This is how they line up:
1 People Pleaser Mb Stables Gaffalione T
A three year old colt by No Doubt About It and out of Good Line. The winner of three races from eleven starts with a purse value of $317.75. He won a maiden at GG on debut as a two year old and then two more in the same campaign including a win in the Graduation Stakes and thirds in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint and the De Mille Stakes. This year he has run fifth in the Texas Turf mile, second in an overnight and then eighth in the Transylvania last time out. Recent works include a 1.10 flat for six furlongs at AQU.
2 Cobra Man Arindel Gutierrez Mario
A gelded son of Manhunt this one has been in great form and has been brought on beautifully by this emerging trainer. The winner of four from seven he started off this year with a bang when taking the Dania Beach in 1.33 and 1 and 121 Lbs on his back. He followed that up with a blow in an overnight at GP making all for a handy win but then came back to black type last time in the Transylvania Stakes. He showed just how good he was there because from a terrible draw he flew home for a close second and went into many black books. His works and what he has done so far say he is a star in the making.
3 Immookielee Smokey Stover Bridgmohan S X
Another from a trainer who must be in the running to finally change the name on the breeder of the Year trophy at HRP. He is another that has been brought along slowly and with three wins from five and a record of never being out of the top three his chances must be taken seriously. He faced two horrible draws in his first two efforts this year but still managed a win and a good third at Allowance level but it was when he was given a decent draw last time out that we saw his true ability. Cruising home by three lengths he stamped his ticket to this race and definately comes under the heading of ‘could be anything’.
4 Devil Made Me Doit Maxmillion Farm Gonzalez Ru
Well Maxmillion is not known as the Turf King for nothing so you have to take any runner from the barn very seriously when there is some grass under their hooves. This gelding took five goes to break his maiden but did so on his seasonal debut in a big ticket SA Maiden, Gelded straight afterwards he enjoyed being two stones lighter by following that up with another easy win at allowance level. I love the fact that this one is working dirt times that would make him a contender in the KYD as well as turf times that are as good as anything in this race and that sort of thing normally tells us that a horse is going to be good.
For me he may be the one at good odds.
5 Canine Rule Alydar Stables Pennington F
Pennington used to be unbeatable on turf but these days he seems to have developed a dislike of the green stuff after that capital T was taken off of his stats page. He gets the ride o this gelding here and it isn’t a bad ride.
Winning his maiden at the end of last season he came out all guns blazing as a three year old taking the Winkfield and setting himself onto a tilt at the TC qualification. Two fair efforts brought him zero points however and we see him back to the surface that he broke his maiden on. looking at his works turf certainly seems to be the surface for him and i think we will see a much improved performance today.
6 Found Peace Mb Stables Jaramillo E
A three year old gelding by Calm Command out of Landing with four wins from ten starts and $463.40 in purse winnings. Won his maiden last June at LS and then ran consistently through to the BC Juvenile Sprint where he finished a half length second. He started this season off with a close third in the Texas Turf Mile but has won his last two including the Transylvania Stakes last time out where he beat a few of today’s runners. He has very strong works and will start favorite and probably win.
7 Stylishly Ugly Royalty Stables Fuentes Ru
The effect of the draw on our form here at HRP was never more obvious than it is in this horses recent record. He took his third win in a row with a seasonal debut win in the Texas Turf Mile making all for a game nose win from gate 4. Behind him that day drawn 9 was Found Peace the likely favorite for this race. In his next start however he met the same horse but was this time drawn 11 whilst Found Peace was drawn 6, sure enough the form was turned around like the draw and he found himself fourth beaten two lengths.
Today we have a much fairer situation so it will be very interesting to see how it plays out and whilst this is a very tough race to win this one has a good a chance as any.
8 Jakarta Fractious Davis D
This is another that tells a story of what life is like at HRP as he has generated $550 in sales and only won $73 on the track. Well today is the day for him to try and redress that balance and i must admit looking at his 1.34 and 1 work last time on the turf mile the odds are certainly on his side.
With just one maiden win to his name his form hasn’t measured up to his works but his run in the Texas Turf Mile was pretty good in running Stylishly Ugly to a nose and beating Found Peace. The trouble with that form is that he was drawn two which is the best place to be with the other two outside him but today he is drawn 8 with the other two inside him. He will need some luck in running but he has the sort of untapped ability that will make him a popular choice.
9 Just Wanna Blaze Gdp Inc Beschizza A
Went to turf early in his career winning his maiden at SAR but has spent all of his three year old career so far on the dirt and has been running very well on it. Beaten just a length when fourth in the Rebel and the same in the SA Derby he was just a hairs breadth away from running in the KYD in a few races time but instead finds himself in this turf mile.
He can certainly act on this surface and i am not sure many of these could match his dirt efforts so there are plenty of reasons to like his chances here despite a horrible draw.
10 British Cha Mo Mentum Farm Bahen S R
Well this is another that brings the Transylvania Stakes form to this race where he was a length behind the winner in third. He was drawn four that day and is in ten today so that’s not a good sign but with only five starts he may find some improvement so it pays to take a longer look at his chances. In his three starts this year he has shown improvement each time and his works suggest he hasn’t finished yet. If he can get some luck from this draw and he has a jockey that does well from wide gates he could well be a value bet.
11 Mahogany Storm Smokey Stover Velazquez J R
Looked to be a turf star in the making last year winning the grade two Bourbon and though he disappointed in the BC he came out as a three year old and won the Kittens Joy so things looked back on track. The TC beckoned however and he was given his chance in the Fountain Of Youth and the Wood Memorial where he disappointed. Back to turf today he has a chance at amends but this draw will make it hit and miss. He won the Bourbon from a wide draw and the Kittens Joys so i wouldn’t say its impossible.
12 Andes Arindel Court J K
This lightly raced gelding will be dodging cars in the car park and it will be interesting to see what tactics his trainer employs. With Cobra Man looking the better chance he may be sent to the pace but he is a bit better than a pace maker so if given a chance he could run pretty well. He won the Cutler Bay last time in 1.33 and 1 carrying 122Lbs and worked a 1.35 flat so certainly has the goods if the race engine is kind to him.
SUMMARY
This really is a race where any of the 12 can win. It is very hard to settle on any one horse but i feel i have to go for Cobra Man or Immookielee if i had to pick any.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
