The Pharoah Stakes-GI [BC] [KYD]
                          SA Race 10 1 1/16M- Dirt
                                 Purse $300.000
                                  Two Year Olds

A full field of twelve two year olds will be lining up for the newly named Pharoah Stakes here at Santa Anita and they will be racing grade one glory and a free spot in the Breeders Cup Juvenile and also for some Kentucky Derby points for next year. It’s a big nice field so let’s take a look at the runners.

1. Maestro Authority (3-2-1-0 $86.280), trained by Axeman

Here is a horse is coming into this race off of a stakes win in a Pennsylvania bred stakes race at Presque Isle. He won that day by a head in a six horse gate and he went six furlongs that day. This will be the first time he runs in a field this big and it’ll be the first time he goes a route of ground.

2. Questionable (2-0-0-1 $9.600), trained by Mb Stables

Well this horses name fits him very well because to me this is a very questionable entry. This horse has only hit the board one time in his lifetime and that was in a maiden special weight at Del Mar last time. But maybe Mb Stables knows something that no one else does and maybe he will shock us all.

3. Hindenburg Tour (2-1-0-1 $12.200), trained by Nakamura Stables

Now here is a horse who won very impressively when he broke his maiden but it only a maiden special weight at Retama Park. He did romp in that race by ten lengths and he ran very good that day. Now will he jump in class and run that same race probably not but maybe he does and he wins.

4. Viper Command (3-1-1-1 $47.000), trained by Allinthegate

Here is a runner who is coming into this race off of a California bred maiden special weight victory at Del Mar in his last out. That race was going five and a half furlongs and this will be the first time that he stretches out to a route of ground. If he stretches out really good maybe he has a chance.

5. Argead (3-1-1-1 $33.440), trained by Smokey Stover

Now this horse is coming into this race off of a win in a maiden special weight going a mile at Monmouth Park. He ran very good that day to win by a length and I think the fact that he won going a route of ground will help him out pretty good. If he runs like he did last time he has a decent shot.

6. Patriot Warrior (4-1-0-1 $4.000), trained by Paradise Stable

Here is a runner who broke his maiden in a free race maiden special weight and then made the jump to the pay side in statebred races. He ran fifth in a California bred stakes race last time and he will have to improve a whole bunch to have a shot in here. It will also be his first time to go around two turns.

7. Fear The Dragon (3-1-1-1 $41.400), trained by LionKing Stables

This runner will be making his first start for his new trainer after he was bought in the auction earlier this month for one hundred and twenty six dollars and some change. He broke his maiden in a maiden special weight at Ellis Park last time so that will help him pretty good I think.

8. Chrystal Believer (5-1-1-2 $115.200), trained by Maxmillion Farm

Probably the second most classiest horse in the field he is coming into this race after a third place finish in the grade one Del Mar Futurity last out. He ran very good that day and was only beaten by three quarters of a length. I think he will also like the extra distance he will get in this race.

9. Sport Guide (4-1-1-0 $36.000), trained by Estero Farms

Now here is a horse who will also be making the first start for his new trainer. This horse was bought for four hundred dollars about two weeks ago and Estero Farms is waiting no time to get him in a race. I think he has a chance in here but it’ll depend on what kind of trip that he gets.

10. Rocky Mountain Hi (3-2-0-0 $94.800), trained by D J C Racing Stables

Now here is a stakes winner in the field and he is coming off of two wins in a row including the Ellis Park Juvenile last time. He won that seven furlong contest by a length and he ran very good that day. He is another one who I think will benefit from the extra distance that he will be getting.

11. Weak Sheik (4-3-1-0 $224.130), trained by Mb Stables

Finally we come to the big horse in the field and he will be trying to repeat that performance from his last start when he won the Del Mar Futurity. He will be looking for his second grade one win in a row and I think he has a very good shot to do it. He is going to be my top pick in this race.

12. Chai Bay (5-0-4-0 $53.000), trained by Serenity Stables

Now we come to the other maiden in the field but I think this one has a significantly better chance than the other one because he has at least been right there in four of his career starts. He has gotten beat by a length twice and neck twice in his losses and maybe this is the time he finally breaks through.

Summary

Well this is a very intriguing race I think and there is some very good horses that will be in the race at the wire. I am going to have to go with the grade one winner Weak Sheik but I think Rocky Mountain Hi and Chrystal Believer have a very good chance to upset him actually. Good luck to all in the race.

11-10-8-9

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES