UAE Night of Stars (Grade I)

Saturday, January 29, 2022 — 11:30:00 AM EST

Grade I / Group 1 – Sponsored – Purse : $500,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds
8.5 Furlongs | ~1700 Meters | One Mile and One Sixteenths
Fast Dirt

Watch Race – 3D Viewer   –   Watch Race – 2D Viewer

#1 MISO SLY (13/1) MISO SLY is making his third attempt at the graded stakes class, having fallen short the first two attempts. Aside from stumbling in his graded attempts, MISO SLY has won four of his five starts. MISO SLY is sired by SOLOMINI (2021 Sire Rank – 109) who has sired 9 stakes winners in his first two years as a stud. MISO SLY’s dam SHE’S A SNAKE has produced 1 stakes winner (her first foal) who won in a turf sprint. MISO SLY like to sit off the pace, but will need to be careful not to fall too far off pace as he has had success when sitting about two lengths off the lead but has struggled when he falls further behind.

#2 GOOGLE TRANSLATE (21/1) GOOGLE TRANSLATE is making his stakes debut after breaking out at a mile having finished top two in all races since stretching out in August. GOOGLE TRANSLATE is sired by DRAMEDY (2021 Sire Rank – 629) who has sired 6 stakes winners, but none since at least 2017. GOOGLE TRANSLATE’s dam EXBOURNE’S SHAKIRA has 5 foals so far, 3 of which have been allowance winners but is still waiting for her first stakes winning foal. GOOGLE TRANSLATE will likely sit well back from the leaders, having come back from over eight lengths back in his last outing.

#3 CHURCH CHORUS (11/1) CHURCH CHORUS is coming off a strong win last outing in his stakes debut, a Maryland local stakes race, and is on a three race win streak. CHURCH CHORUS is sired by BIBLICAL (2021 Sire Rank – 294) who has 1 stakes winner in his debut crop, with CHURCH CHORUS being this stakes winner, looking to push to be the first graded winner. CHURCH CHORUS is a deep closer having twice come from over ten lengths back to win, including coming from almost 13 lengths back in his stakes win last race.

#4 DUNGEON DRAGON (8/1) DUNGEON DRAGON posted a career best speed in his stakes debut last outing, however failed to finish in the money after coming in off two strong Maiden and Allowance races. DUNGEON DRAGON is sired by MEDAGLIA D’ORO (2021 Sire Rank – 5) who has had 5 stakes and 2 graded winners already from his 2021 crop and 129 graded winners all time. DUNGEON DRAGON has sat about five lengths off the lead in all starts, and when successful has been a dominant closer down the stretch pulling out to two length leads.

#5 NATHAN THE SNAKE (20/1) NATHAN THE SNAKE has seen improvement over the last 3 starts since making the switch to a dirt track including a 3rd place finish in a stakes race last time out. NATHAN THE SNAKE is sired by NATHANIEL (2021 Sire Rank – 1121) who has had a multi stakes and graded winner from his 2021 crop and 14 graded winners overall. NATHAN THE SNAKE’s dam PERFECT SNAKE has three foals, but is still waiting in her first stakes winning foal. NATHAN THE SNAKE has sat a few lengths off the pace in his 2 wins, however he has sat a little farther back in other starts where he had troubles closing the gap.

#6 THE TRUE KNIGHT (9/2) THE TRUE KNIGHT saw an impressive jump when he moved over to the dirt track, and followed this up with a stakes win to finish off his 2021 season. THE TRUE KNIGHT is sired by SEA THE STARS (2021 Sire Rank – 41) who has 3 stakes and 2 graded winners from his 2021 crop and 171 graded winners overall. THE TRUE KNIGHT’s dam THE WORD was a 3 time G1 winner at 10F and has 2 G1 winning foals and 5 stakes winning foals, earning her a spot in the Hall of Fame. THE TRUE KNIGHT has come from the back of the pack to pull ahead down the stretch in his two last races, coming from 4.75 and 5.75 lengths back to win by over a length in each race at the wire.

#7 BONEBLACK JACK (28/1) BONEBLACK JACK picked up his second win last outing in a NW2L allowance race where he wired a short 4 horse field, and will be making his stakes debut. BONEBLACK JACK is sired by NO NAY NEVER (2021 Sire Rank – 1) who has 17 stakes winners and 4 graded winners from his 2021 crop and 33 graded winners overall. BONEBLACK JACK has been on or near the lead in all starts, with both victories coming in races where he wired the fields.

#8 MOB ASSASSIN XLV (9/1) MOB ASSASSIN XLV is a perfect six for six including a stakes win last time out, this will be his first run outside of New York where he was dominant on the local scene as a 2yo. MOB ASSASSIN XLV is sired by SOLOMINI (2021 Sire Rank – 109) who has 4 graded winners from his 2021 crop and 9 stakes winners overall with 2020 as his first crop. MOB ASSASSIN XLV’s dam SALUTE THE BRAVE has 9 foals, and MOB ASSASSIN XLV is her first stakes wining foal. MOB ASSASSIN XLV has only once found himself trailing, and this was in his stakes debut where he sat a quarter length off the leader before taking over coming into the stretch and pulling out to a 2 length lead.

#9 DIRTY DEREK (8/1) DIRTY DEREK brought a 3 race win streak into his stakes debut last time out where he came up short when he tried stretching out to 9.5F in his 3yo debut in a 4th place finish. DIRTY DEREK is sired by CALIFORNIA CHROME (2021 Sire Rank – 135) who has 2 stakes winners from his 2021 crop and 35 stakes winners and 10 graded winners overall. DIRTY DEREK has dropped right to the back of the pack in all 5 career starts, and has been able to close the gap to either win or finish within a length in all but his last start.

#10 FEIGN DEATH (8/1) FEIGN DEATH was victories in his 3yo debut where he stepped back to a NW3L allowance field after tailing off in his graded debut to finish his 2yo campaign. FEIGN DEATH is sired by GOOD MAGIC (2021 Sire Rank – 243) who has 1 stakes winner from his 2021 crop and 12 stakes winners and 2 graded winners overall. FEIGN DEATH’s dam OLD GIANT has 1 stakes winner and two graded placed foals so far from 13 foals. FEIGN DEATH likes to sit 2-3 lengths off the pace and seems to make his move early, closing the gap with the leaders between C2 and C3 in most races.

#11 SOUTHERN ACES (7/1) SOUTHERN ACES is the only graded winner in the field, having taken the G3 ‘Pleasure Stakes’ in his stakes/graded debut last time out to cap off his 2yo season. SOUTHERN ACES is sired by HARD ACES (2021 Sire Rank – 12) who has 2 stakes winners and 2 graded winners from his 2021 crop and 1 additional stakes winner from his debut crop in 2020. SOUTHERN ACES’ dam DYNO DNA has 2 foals with SOUTHERN ACES being the only stakes and graded winner, the other foal just broke her maiden in her first 4yo start. SOUTHERN ACES sits well off the pace as a deep closer, and likes to burn down the stretch where he has pulled ahead by 2 lengths at the wire in his last two races, including coming from almost 9 lengths back in his graded victory.

#12 WAR CRUISER (11/1) WAR CRUISER is the only filly in the field, but that shouldn’t be held against her as she has pulled out 2nd place finishes in her last 3 races which have all been at the stakes class including racing against the colts/geldings in her last start. WAR CRUISER is sired by CATALINA CRUISER (2021 Sire Rank – 170) who has 2 stakes winners from his 2021 crop and 1 more stakes winner from his maiden crop in 2020. WAR CRUISER’s dam SCITUATE and 2 foals have all peaked at allowance victories. WAR CRUISER has positioned herself towards the back of the mid pack in recent starts and although not winning since her first two races, she has held within 1-2 lengths of the leaders in all but two races.

#13 CALIFORNIA PRINCE (10/1) CALIFORNIA PRINCE is coming off his second stakes win where he posted a career best speed to end off 2021 in style in a local stakes in Japan. CALIFORNIA PRINCE is sired by CALIFORNIA CHROME (2021 Sire Rank 135) who has 2 stakes wins from his 2021 crop and 35 stakes wins and 10 graded wins from all crops. CALIFORNIA PRINCE is the first and only foal for her dam SPEEDY PRINCESS. CALIFORNIA PRINCE has been dropping back 5-6 lengths from the leaders in recent races, including his two stakes victories where he pulled ahead down the stretch.

#14 BISCUIT THIEFS (12/1) BISCUIT THIEFS is the most experienced horse in this field with 12 starts under his belt including a NW2L victory to start off 2022 and his 3yo campaign. BISCUIT THIEFS is sired by MIND YOUR BISCUITS (2021 Sire Rank 219) who has 1 stakes winner from his 2021 crop and 8 stakes winners and a graded winner overall. BISCUIT THIEFS’ dam THE WALL OF SHAME has 11 foals with one stakes winner so far. BISCUIT THIEFS has been positioned just off the lead in most starts sitting 1.5-2 lengths back in most cases, however in his last start he dropped back almost 4 lengths before closing in for his 2nd victory.

Keggers Projection

Three runners stand ahead of the pack in CALIFORNIA PRINCE, SOUTHERN ACES, and THE TRUE KNIGHT with all three having cracked the 100 SP barrier and all three coming in off stakes wins. The oddsmakers have crowned THE TRUE KNIGHT as their favourite, however I would project all three to have equally strong shots of victory from this group.

Outside the three in triple digits, MOB ASSASSIN XLV looks to be projecting upwards, and may be ready to explode out of the NY local scene. If he has been holding anything back, this will be a field that will push him to bring 100% effort.