Shoemaker Mile – Grade I
SA Race #4 1m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Rantanen Royalty Stables Dettori L 124 —

Working like a sprinter, running like a miler, how many times have I thought that about horses at HRP. Won an allowance in a sub 1.33 time and then ran a solid and close third in the American Stakes so there is some ability there but as yet he has not convinced me he is a grade one winning type.

2 Dancing Lord Apache Warrior Lopez P 124 —

Won an $8.000 claimer in 1.32 and 1 pretty much the same time you need to run to win the BC Mile, such is life trying to work out form and ability at HRP. Claimed from Nakamura Stables for just $3.200 in April he was upped in grade for the first run for the new trainer and took out a very competitive CD optional claimer. You have to say that this one looks at this stage like the claim of the season and despite running at such low level for most of his career he could turn out to be a BC mile winner as unlikely as that sounds.

3 Outcrosss Threshold Saez L 124 —

Well this one has been around the block and apart from one highlight when runner up in the BEL Gold Cup has struggled at this level. We know he has ability, and it is interesting that he comes back to the mile after a decent work over the trip, so I wouldn’t be writing him off just yet.

4 Jakarta Nakamura Stables Centeno D E 124 —

Won the San Francisco Mile is a stunning time but then you notice that Dancing Lord won a $8.000 claimer in more or less the same time which put things into perspective. Though he has only won 4 races two of those have come in his last two races and it looks like the old five-year-old thing where they disappoint at four and then find their form at five. A big winning chance for the in form horse of the race.

5 Americas Hope Nakamura Stables Velazquez J R 124 —

Just lasted home to win the American last time in his first go at the mile for a while. A good sort but will have his work cut out against his stable mate today but we know he has the potential to win on some big runs and wins over a short career.

6 Eight West Party TwinTowersRacing Franco M 124 —

As usual as a horse from this stable he has been highly tested recently and has been pretty solid all in all. He is working probably the best dirt times in the field which isn’t such a negative as it sounds, and it really wouldn’t surprise me to see him very close to winning.

7 Absolutely Grande Grimley Geroux F 124 —

Ran a close fourth in the Makes Mark Mile and then just got shaded in the Opening Verse last time suggesting that this six-year-old is as good as ever. He is a good miler who can run the times and due to the draw monsters not so random draws he is more than used to running from a wide gate.

SUMMARY

Well at first glance it looks like this is Jakarta’s race to lose, but I have seen it too often that a horse improves from nothing to become a real talent and Dancing Lord falls into that category. Apart from those two it is a pretty open race.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES