Station
KEE Race #5 1m Turf Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds.

A race that has flown under the radar it carries a great purse and one that will have a few people kicking themselves that they didn’t notice it. Five stables did notice it however and they get a great chance at a good prize in a small field that may well turn into a procession and will be won by at least one of them.

Here is how they line up:

1 Puissance de La Mer Big Guns Stables Jimenez A

When you look at the races this one has been competing in it is easy to stop here and consider him the winner from this lovely draw. Unbeaten as a two year old on turf he ran a decent enough seventh in the Fountain Of Youth and then a strong third in the BG Stakes to suggest he may be a decent dirt runner. A big failure in the Day Mile caused the trainer to go back to the drawing board and he was brought back to turf where he ran creditable races in the MTH Stakes and the BEL Derby from terrible draws. His last start was in the JC Derby where he again ran well to be fourth and this looks an ideal place for him to regain his winning form.

2 X Marque Lendroit Asgar Lopez P

Bought at auction after running and winning at the lowest level he was upped in levels and got a win on the third attempt for the new owner. Interestingly that was his first start on turf and after a sizzling 1.34 and 2 mile work on that surface it was not unexpected. I think this is one of those that has hit an upward curve in his growth and improvement code and the trainer may well have found the key to unlocking that potential. Though he has achieved very little i expect a big run from him today and he would be my HRP special bet.

3 Acapulco Cyclone Lanfranco Stable Davis D

Bought for just six dollars the trainer has done well with him picking up a win and a second since that purchase. Both were in state bred races and this is a big step up in grade but he is a consistent sort and deserves a shot, maybe not today though.

4 Argentinian Nakamura Stables Luzzi L J

The trainer has two entries drawn next to each other so we can maybe expect some tinkering with the instructions button. This one made some improvement through the middle part of the year and ran a decent third in the Better Talk Now last time suggesting there is an upward motion in his improvement curve so a good run wouldn’t be a surprise.

5 Tanerko Nakamura Stables Velazquez J R

Never out of the first three in four races on turf he looked good winning the Toronto Cup Stakes last time and on that and his consistency is probably the better bet of the two stable mates.

6 Upon Impact Broken Spoke Stables Elliott S

A winner of four from five this year i was very impressed with his win last time at DMR in a sub 1.33 time suggesting he is ready for black type racing. The wide draw in a six horse race can be a difficult place and that is the only real black mark on his chances.

SUMMARY

A small field without much form to really get your teeth into. The form would favor Puissance De la Mer but i am intrigued by X Marquee Lendroit and would have him as my winner based solely on his recent works and vast improvement when switched to the turf last time. Of the others I feel Upon Impact could well win given the chance by the race engine but would have him in second or third from the wide draw, Tanerko may round out the purse getters.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded