California Dreamin Stakes
DMR Race #6 1 1/16m Turf Stake
Purse $125.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward Foaled In CA.
Funny old look to this race with older horses drawn in the first five gates and three year olds drawn in the outside four, maybe its HRP’s new handicap system to try and beat the three year old dominance in stakes races? Whichever way this goes it is a far more competitive Statebred that most are these days, so here’s the line up
1 Brain Power Nakamura Stables Gryder A T
A real consistent gelding he has won 12 from 39 and whilst most of those wins have been in a lower grade he has contested races such as the SA Derby, The BEL Derby and the DMR Handicap. He proved has hasn’t lost his zest for racing when a close second in The Douglas Park last time and put the draw with the Nak factor and it equals a good chance.
2 Maybe Tonight Alydar Stables Franco G
Looked real nice when winning an open allowance at MTH last time recording a fast time on an off track and whilst four year olds can struggle at the weights in these types of races he does have some of the best work times of the older generation here.
3 War Dance Nakamura Stables Cedillo A
Won with a game effort at LS last time but many of his race course efforts have not been as good as his works which include a recent 1.34 and 1 mile work at WO. On works he goes close on form he wont.
4 Go Fish Black N Gold Stable Espinoza V
Another consistent four year old that gets a crack at some black type he raced well over nine furlongs last time and certainly goes into the hopper with a chance.
5 Red Arrow Estero Farms Velez J I
His close fifth in the Whittingham puts him right in this but he has been flip flopping around trips and surfaces for some time so i am not sure his owner quite has a handle on him yet. A repeat of the grade two run he will go very close.
6 Anthony G Spankys Barn Van Dyke D
The first of the three year olds he was bought for $110 back in February and has won since winning over nine furlongs last time out in a WO one win allowance. The weight allowance brings him into this off his sub 1.35 works.
7 The Crow Emerald Racing Inc Desormeaux K J
A gritty seven year old he has done well over a variety of trips but his best days may have already gone at this level. An off track brings him into it and you can’t write of anything at HRP but i am struggling to make a case for him.
8 Smoking Makes You Il Night Rider Stables Fuentes Ru
Not a bad sort but looks up against it here with the worst draw of the older horses. He is capable of running a 1.33 and change so wont be far off but like the last one doesn’t stand out as a winning chance.
9 Trumbull Valley Mb Stables Pereira T J
Switched back to the turf last time to run fifth in the Snow Chief he has been claimed from a HOU claimer in March so it looks like Mb Stables has once again waved his magic wand over this one. Fast works out him in this.
10 Processed Mb Stables Garcia Mar
A very lightly raced three year old a look at his variety if races just goes to show that even the best player in the game has no idea what the best surface or trip is for some horses. He reverts back to turf and of course is working the house down but the draw will make it tough.
11 Atomic Eclipse La Canada Racehorses Gutierrez Mario
This one has the sort of form a three year old normally needs to win a race like this with two of his three wins coming this year and his last start in the Snow Chief from a wide draw full of merit. The trainer will have to beat the race engine from this wide gate but if he rolls the right number then this one may come out on top.
12 Ragin Cajun John Henry Maldonado E
Right out in the cheap seats we find JH’s runner who will need some luck from out here. He hasn’t raced much recently and has only raced once since being bought in April so i assume his trainer has been doing lots of work with him and now will be the time to see if that pays divdends.
SUMMARY
A tough race to call with the disparity in the draw. I would normally just pick a three year old from Mb’s stable but i rather like some of the older’s here to buck the trend and get past the youngsters. I think it maybe Nakamura stable with the Nak factor on one of their horses and i wouldn’t write off the horse drawn between them in Maybe Tonight.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
