RP Springboard Mile [KYD]
RP Race #1 1m Dirt Stake
Purse $300.000 For Two Year Olds.
This race was and still is to an extent a real good guide for the TC chase which starts in just a couple of weeks. In recent years as the two-year-olds have got more and more similar it isn’t the marker it used to be, but it still attracts some of the best of the season’s juveniles hoping to carry the fitness gained into a successful qualification for the KYD.
Here is how they line up:
1 Sabbath Mb Stables Gutierrez Mario 120 —
An early type as seen by his April 5th debut win he has managed to carry that form through to the end of the year and hasn’t been over raced due to that early win. The winner of the Smoke Glacken Stakes in the mud he then went to the grade one Champagne where he wasn’t far from the money but could only manage eighth. Back on an off track he ran a much better race in the Hopeful last time when an on pace second suggesting he may be at his best with some cut in the ground. If it comes up wet, he will be a big chance, and he may be OK on a dry one if he can get an easy run from the ace draw.
2 Bells N Whistles TwinTowersRacing Rosario J 120 —
Built nicely to a maiden win in his third start he then went to the turf but struggled to make his mark in a couple of stakes races. Back to the main track last time he was a game winner of the Nashua and catches a perfect gate to run a similar race today.
3 Westerly Invasion Nakamura Stables Bejarano R 120 —
Didn’t appear until September but won on debut in game fashion at the free track before another gutsy on pace run at BTP. He improved markedly when stepped up over a trip last time when making all to win at WO and his strong works suggests he could be a real decent routing type in the making.
4 Dune Road D J C Racing Stables Elliott S 120 —
Broke through in a competitive state bred maiden last time and looks to have been improved by a gelding operation in September. The trip should suit but she has a bit to prove today against some competitive types, one for watching.
5 Megabyte Maletto Rodriguez Jam 120 —
A three race winner and whilst he has yet to make his mark in stakes races you don’t win three races as a juvenile by being ordinary. An on pace type he steps up in trip today after two good wins over sprint trips but has raced over a mile plus before when third in a decent allowance race at AQU. That day he made the running as usual but weakened late and he will need to see it through to the end today.
6 Lucky Tactics Mb Stables Santana R Jr 120 —
A winner on debut at MTH he has been highly tried since but got back to winning ways last time with a gutsy win in the Golden State Juvenile. The son of Tactical has been competitive all year but until that last win hadn’t really looked to be up to this level. I think the mile will suit perfectly and if he can find a spot from this awkward draw he could be a decent each way chance.
7 Contractor Nakamura Stables Castillo I 120 —
Won his maiden on a muddy track at HST so it was a bit surprising to see him run so well when third in the Coronation Futurity last time. Another that may be suited by some rain he will need to improve to run into the top four of the track in dry.
8 Hunter Family Racing Zayas E J 120 —
Bought at auction for $20.000 from Aer Stables he was put away for a while as the trainer tried to find the magic combination with him, and he certainly looked improved when making all for an easy maiden win at FL last time. This is a big step up but if he can improve again, he should be competitive.
9 Concession Speech Noblepark Pennington F 120 —
Another three race winner he has won his last two very nicely and could be a dark horse in this line up. He was very impressive in the PA Nursery last time after a good win in a very competitive AQU Allowance and he has certainly improved since being stepped up in trip after being bought a auction for just $10.000. Gets a tough draw to run his race but of he gets favors from the race engine he could be a win chance.
10 Dime Symphony Asgar Velazquez J R 120 —
A dual grade one winner he is almost certain to start a warm favorite and as the reining BC juvenile champion is the star in this line up. His only failure in his record of four wins from five starts came on a muddy track over five furlongs so that can easily be forgiven and in his four wins he has shown he not only has bags of ability but a huge heart as well. He has made all to win three stakes races in a row so one would expect him to get some wide gate speed push here and lead them up again and it will take a very, very good horse to get past him.
11 Puppet Master Riggins Racing Geroux F 120 —
Well behind in the BC Juvenile Turf it is hard to see how he can turn that around today. Having said that we often see HRP deliver one bad run a season to even our best horses so it is possible that was just a software glitch and going on his close fourth in the grade one Champagne over this trip and surface he could well find his form again and be the main threat to the favorite. His works certainly say so, the main problem he will face is where he ends up in running from this wide draw.
12 Down To Earth Riggins Racing Lopez P 120 —
An interesting second entry from the stable sees this stakes winning turf sprinter take on the mile on dirt. The winner of the KD Juvenile and the grade three Futurity he was made favorite for the BC Turf Sprint but struggled with a wide draw and finished fifth. As this is HRP you have to sort of forget “preferences” with these horses and certainly his dirt works look good enough to suggest he could run well. I would expect him to go back from the wide draw and come late but we do of course have that other option with a second stable runner that his pace will be used to upset Dime Symphony and set it up for Puppet Master. Only time will tell but with three of the best form horses in the race drawn in the three wide gates it certainly makes this race interesting.
SUMMARY
This could turn into a tactical race but on form at least Dime Symphony looks the winner. The two Riggins Racing horses in the wide gates could try and upset the favorite so this race is certainly one to watch with the TC in mind rather than throw all your Disney Dollars at.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded