The Singspiel Stakes (Grade 3)- $150.000
WO- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
July 3, 2016
It’s a big day at WO on Sunday with the running of the Queens Plate. That won’t be the only race worth watching north of the border as the undercard is strong as well. One such race will be the 8th running of the Singspiel Stakes, which is a long turf event for older horses. Last year’s winner, Stormy Kg, is also the most prolific winner of the race, having won nearly $2,800.000 in his career, with plenty of time to push for three. Breiterate is the one in this field mostly closely following in those footsteps to this point, but there is plenty of overall talent in the field. There are seven going to gate, so let’s meet them!
#1- T S Crystal (Triple K, ridden by L Contreras)- The Laffin Warrior colt will race at the stake level for the first time after picking up his fourth win in his eleventh start. It was a small field, but it was an eleven furlong event and he was running strong all the way to the end. It was the first time he ran such a distance and he matched his career high SRF of 96 in the race. Looking back at his past performances, there are some eye opening results in allowance company with a performance at SA in March particularly getting my attention. He’s never seen the type of opponents he will face here, but if he is not intimidated by them, he will be competitive.
#2- Discernment (Mb Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- After rotating between several stables early in his career, Santan Stables was finally able to get Discernment on the road to success. He won three of six while with that trainer, being entered in a few ungraded stakes along the way. One of them, the Unbridled Handicap, ended up in victory last September. This March, he was put in the auction and ended up with Mb Stables for $75.000. He’s run in three shorter turf races since the sale, one which was the Grade 3 Jaipur at BEL three weeks ago, where he was 4th. Historically, he’s done well going long, so we’ll see what he is able to do with Mb Stables here.
#3- Valor Moghulis (Gdp Inc, ridden by I Ortiz Jr)- He showed some promise early in his career which led to him being placed into several stakes as a young three year old. One of which was even the Grade 2 WV Derby. Those results did not really go well, and the WV Derby saw the end, until now, of stakes placement. His last race was his first win since that fateful day at MNR, and it came while going ten furlongs on the dirt. Running on the turf is something he has only done once, coming very early in his career, and the result wasn’t good. The entry of Valor Moghulis here has the feeling of being something the trainer is trying out just to see what happens. So will the rest of us, I suppose!
#4- Gila Bend (Barcelona Farms, ridden by E J Wilson)- The five year old Hail Two Bob gelding is one that we know will have no problems with the conditions of this race, because he he has made his living going the longest distances offered. Two races ago, in April and on soft turf, he was the winner of San Juan Capistrano Stakes (Grade 3), and most recently he is coming off a strong second place in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap to surprise winner Party Prep. Going back further on his resume, you will see two other graded victories while going longer then most, although they were on dirt. He’ll be a factor in this race, but do note that due to his win in the San Juan. he carries two more pounds then everyone else, and seven more then Yummy Opus.
#5- Yummy Opus (Drabfantasy, ridden by R J Albarado)- Without question, Yummy Opus is the most intriguing entry in the field. The first reason is because of the fact that he is carrying five fewer pounds then everyone other then Gila Bend, of whom he carries seven fewer. We have seen three year olds dominate races like this recently, and you have to like him for that reason. Beyond that, he is also interesting here because he is coming out of the BEL, and ran pretty well in that race, finishing fourth in a race in which he was coming on strong. Off of that, it’s a little surprising to see him return to the grass, where had been earlier in his career. Don’t forget that a strong juvenile campaign led to him taking part in the BC Juvenile Turf last fall. He’s an improving horse and would be one of the horses to beat here even without his weight advantage. Taken that into consideration, you have to love what he brings into this field, and he is my pick to win.
#6- Breiterate (Asgar, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- Over the course of his 30-race career, Breiterate has won over $1,600.000. He has two Grade 1 wins over the course of his career, starting early when he won the Secretariat Stakes at AP, and being as recent as a win in the $1,000.000 Manhattan Handicap about a year ago. He’s run twice in BC events as well. 2016 saw him begin the year in a private sale, going from prior trainer Sanny Village to Asgar for $90.000. In late April, he finished third in the Grade 3 San Francisco Mile, then turned in a solid effort in his most recent race when he fourth in the Grade 2 Whittingham Stakes. Today will be the first time he goes twelve furlongs for Asgar, a distance in which he had a lot of success with for Sanny. He’s a top contender and probably the biggest threat to Yummy Opus.
#7- Make Change (Night Rider Stables, ridden by G Boulanger)- You have to admire the confidence and perseverance that Night Rider Stables has had with the seven year old gelding after claiming him for $50.000 from Canadian Racing. With just a couple of exceptions, it’s been all graded stakes for him ever since and he has won one of twelve of such races, and one of 14 overall for Night Rider. That win was the Grade 2 Ft Lauderdale in January 2015 on good turf. Since then no wins. No seconds either. And one third. Recently he was demoted from graded company, but didn’t even bounce back there. This is a horse you want to see win for his trainer and to see things pay off, but I am looking elsewhere.
Prediction: 5-4-6-2
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
