Pharoah Stakes – Grade I [BC]
SA Race #12 1 1/16m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Two Year Olds.
There’s a little feeling of hopelessness when trying to pick a winner of these pre BC two year old races. Fast workers seem to get slower, slow workers seem to get faster, claimers become superstars and superstars become claimers in the blink of an eye. So rather than trying to pick a winner i look at these races to find the next win which may well be in November in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. So which one of these will become a new challenger lets have a look and see.
1 Crack Danz Gdp Inc Lermyte J
After taking a good maiden and then the Victoria Stakes on dirt the future and the form looked very good for this home bred. Then however he had a crack at the turf and was left in ninth place with a pretty much no show. A recent 1.37 and 1 dirt mile work, a time that KYD runners were working a few years ago, says that he belongs back on the dirt and over today’s sort of trip. A much better draw today gives him every chance of getting back to winning ways and that recent work screams at me to get the money on.
2 Phooey Politics Onlineracingclub.com Smith M E
After a decent debut run this one worked a very handy 58 and 3 and then duly wn his next race at DMR. That was in a one mile state-bred maiden and he needed every yard of the 8 furlongs to get his head in front so this trip will hold no fears. I worry that his next and last work didn’t show any improvement and that tends to be a key factor in these juveniles but he gets the draw every one wants in a race like this so cannot be counted out.
3 Awesome Return Axeman Hernandez J J
A lot of the recent stakes winning juveniles have had a few races under their belts and this one falls into that sort of category. A good win on debut back on April 1st then saw three defeats in a row before he took on the Simcoe last time and was a very gritty nose winner. He needs to improve again to win today but his woks are suggesting he is and he gets a good draw and an in form jockey. The trip is still a mystery but he saw out the six and a half well last time so he should be OK.
4 Afterburner Fractious Cedillo A
This one could well end up as favorite for the BC if he wins this like he did the grade three Iroquois last time. He certainly improved for being stepped up to the mile and was pretty impressive in running the stalk and going on with it to win by just under a length. He had the perfect draw that day so there has to be a little question mark but his draw is just as good today so there can be no excuses on that front. Working well, has the form on the board so i think he will start many people’s favorite to win.
5 Dub G Mb Stables Gaffalione T
When you are buying every two year old with a decent work $200 may not seem much but we don’t often see Mb Stables throw that sort of cash away.they had to be disappointed by this ones first effort last time out though. Drawn well he ran alongside the eventual winner in Afterburner but did nothing when put under the whip ending up ninth. Of course ninth at HRP only means a length or two so it is easily turned round and i wonder whether the trainer will switch running styles with this one today and take him back. He is working well enough ad had shown some good form over sprint trips so only time will tell us the answers.
6 Between The Hedges Mb Stables Juarez N
As so often happens with the old random draw trainers with more than one entry often find themselves drawn in consecutive gates, so next door to Dub G is his stablemate. Out of the two i think this one looks superior having taken the Saplin last time over the Mile and also recorded a 1.37 and 1 mile work after that win. The stable is having a huge second part of the year after an uncharacteristically slow start and this would have to be a winning chance.
7 Burnin Red Hooves TwinTowersRacing Bejarano R
An impressive maiden winner he went on to take the Bashford Manor after that but was found out a little in the SAR Special last time when never mounting a challenge in 11th. As i have said before though there is very little between winning and losing here at HRP and he was only beaten two lengths that day after getting into the traffic from a rearward early run. His works haven’t been inspiring over further but he takes his chance here and wouldn’t be a shock winner.
8 Turbocharged Aer Stables Stein J
A debut winner he went on to run a nice race when a closing third in the Victoria Stakes when just a half length behind Crack Danz. He went on the speed in the SAR Special and was only beaten a length into sixth so with a bit more restraint today he looks to be right on song for a race like this. A 1.37 and 2 work puts him in the right ball park so i guess it will all be down to tactics with him from this awkward gate.
9 After Market Fractious Beschizza A
The way this one has been finishing off his races suggests to me that this sort of trip hasn’t come soon enough. He will need luck if choosing to come from behind again today but if he gets a clear run could well be strong enough at the end. Beaten a length when third in the Simcoe last time he was finishing stronger than the winner so that rematch will again be close today.
10 Hunting Foxes D J C Racing Stables Pennington
If this one had been drawn in a little he would have been my first choice and could still be good enough to overcome the draw and take this. Beaten a half length in the Bashford Manor he has since run well to be fifth in the Best Pal and then even better when fourth beaten a length in the grade one DMR Futurity. He has worked 1.37 and 1 since which seems to be the benchmark this year for the dirt mile going into the BC and as the most experienced in the field i would be keen on him at-least as an each way shot.
11 Heffalump Hanny Jive Inc. Court J K
It is a shame this progressive sort has been drawn so deep but you would have to say his wide gate makes it a very tough ask to win this. I was super impressed by the way he ran away with the Rio Grande Senor Futurity last time but things will have to go his way to repeat that sort of performance today. Deserves to run well and maybe the value bet.
12 Last City Lemax Farms Russell S
The car park draw goes to Last City and he may well be the one sacrificed by the race engine to take them along early. He is right in this though splitting Turbocharged and Crack Danz in the Victoria Stakes and he had a rotten draw that day so it may not be beyond the realms of imagination to see him in the first three even from out here. He ran nicely when second in the FL Sire Stakes Affirmed last time ploughing through the mud so maybe with an uncontested early lead he may just be able to hold on.
SUMMARY
There could well be a 12th beaten two lengths in this race as is the norm these days so it is hard to really pick a clear winner. I think Crack Danz, Afterburner and Between The Hedges may be the best here but it wont be by far.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
