Having already earned ten points in the chase for a shot at competing in this seasons Derby, trainer Fractious is hoping that his entry Scafati can gain ground in points with a victory here at Turfway Park in Kentucky.
- Ruby Stakes ( Gr.III ) ( KYD ) – Purse $250.000
- Turfway Park- For Three Year olds
- One Mile and one eighth in distance- Main track
- March 14th, 2020
While names like Brittle ( Aer Stables ) and Sweet Sweat ( Mb Stables ) will be tackling the Gr. II Rebel for the higher purse money and larger point gain, We have four runners in the top 65 at this stage of the year that will do battle here. Scafati sits presently in 25th place with ten points, and with the top placing only receiving 20 points for this affair, he may be able to get on the fringes of the top ten. Black Ice Racing has entered Currax, who has four points and sits presently in 37th. The other two runners are Country Medical ( Crocker Ggs ) with three points sitting 43rd and Personal Beliefs ( La Canada Racehorses ) with two points in 51st. Eight other runners will also be looking to secure some points on the day, so this will definitely turn out to becoming an exciting affair.
1 Deeds Not Words ( Alydar Stables ) Rider-Centeno D E…Opened the season with an OpClm32 affair going seven eights of a mile with a nose victory, then in his most recent $100 El Camino event under his new trainer, he placed out of the money with a ninth place finish. Was making some ground on the grass last season and though he gains the rail, he is in tough here.
2 A Classy Beast ( Night Rider Stables ) Rider-Cintron A…Has competed in three straight mile events since early December when he broke his maiden at AQU. The next two stakes tries came at that track as well, but disappointedly he would finish 11th in the Jerome, then close ground for a third place finish in the Gander. Trainer is hoping to spring back from that affair with a purse placing effort here.
3 Scafati ( Fractious ) Rider-Van Dyke D…With the purchase of Anoush Command, trainer is hoping to get this sophomore into the mix as well. While he would capture the Jerome on the front end by a half a length at the wire, his most recent Southwest effort after the $500 purchase was more then disappointing as he would place 10th, some five length out. Will be interesting to see if he gets out to the front here or if his trainer has made adjustments.
4 Personal Beliefs ( La Canada Racehorses )Rider-Hernandez R M…Winner of the Sleepy Hollow in the photo by a neck over a runner who now sits in 16th place in the Derby standings. Would only miss by a length in his most recent Gr. III Lewis try placing third, and his past two starts have returned 95 SRF figures to his credit, so this one is definitely maturing nicely. Definitely look for this one to make it interesting at this distance.
5 Full Of Life ( Rampage Stable ) Rider-Ortiz I Jr…Was able to get a nose in front off his geld last season winning an OpClm40 affair. Has come back to compete in the Display Stakes in the mud placing third, then an 8th place finish in the CA Cup Derby just a length shy. Would definitely have place some backing here if his numbers were a bit stronger, as he did compete against some top runners in his most recent, but he has his work cut out for him.
6 Supreme Confidence ( Mb Stables ) Rider-Saez G… Placed eleventh in his opener when he challenged the Gr. III Lecombe. Went under the knife before his most recent Alw22.5 event where he visited the winners enclosure for that race. Both events saw muddy footing underneath him and there are isolated showers in the forecast for Saturday, so will be interesting to see what he faces here. Need to consider just off of trainers talents.
7 Sweepy Magne ( Gdp Inc ) Rider-Lanerie C J…Has finished in the top three in his past five starts, with his maiden victory and a win against Alw39 company in a restricted race at PRX. Did finish third a length shy in the Street Sense to Chai Morning, who is in the top three in Derby points, so that does give him some merit. Hopefully the on again off again Lasix doesn’t play a factor on the day. Its back off for this event.
8 Zinger ( LionKing Stables ) Rider-Hernandez J J…Jockey is on fire with a 32% win ratio entering this event, and this gray gelding is as well, as he has been able to go three for three in his career. Has not been at this level of competition yet, but winning breeds winners so he knows how to get the job done. New interests should make for an interesting combination, so watch for him to stalk the pace till the stretch run. Factor.
9 Farquaad ( Mb Stables ) Rider-Castellano J J…There are not too many events were you wont see Dan have a couple of entries in a stakes affair. This sophomore won an OpClm25 affair to close out last season at this track, then stayed put for his opener in the Battaglia Memorial where he closed to within two lengths as the post time favorite. Should be charging late, just will he have enough kick to be effective?
10 Currax ( Black Ice Racing ) Rider-Bahen S R…Always nice to see Woodbine regulars south of the border for stakes events. Has just his maiden win in five starts, but he finished runner-up in his most recent Gr.III Davis event behind Finite ( Dynark Stables ) and ahead of Graveyard and Immoral ( Mb Stables )who now sits in second in KYD points. If he breaks cleanly and sits third or fourth early on, can make a run at it.
11 Country Medical ( Crocker Ggs ) Rider-Franco G…Was lighting it up in the middle of last season at WO when he broke his maiden, then went on to capture the Victoria Stakes in sprint affairs. The past events have not been kind to him, but he did close nicely in the Gr. III Sham Stakes to miss by two lengths at a mile. Contreras was aboard for that event and it’s surprising he hasn’t been called upon here with the season he is having so far. May come up short once again.
12 Starship Leader ( Eastern Equine ) Rider-Tunon M…Was a runner-up in the Street Sense ahead of Sweepy Magne, so if you are considering that runner, you will need to take a look at this chestnut. The twelve hole is never a kind place to start any race, but this will be the first start under his new interests and will be interesting to see if he goes back to a closing running style here. New barn can spark a horse, so that could play a factor.
Picks– 4-10-8-3
Duffer
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
