G3, Wicker Sofa Stakes: They will go 6f in Japan.
| Japan (JPN) Saturday, January 7, 2023 — 2:45:00 PM EST | Race ID : 3012055 | |
| Wicker Sofa Stakes | |
| Grade III / Group 3*CPU – Purse : $150,000 | |
| Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older | |
| 6 Furlongs | ~1200 Meters | Three Quarters of a Mile | Fast Dirt |
We are headed to Japan this weekend where on Saturday the running of the G3, Wicker Sofa Stakes will be run. We have a nice looking field of nine horses that will be running for this $150,000 purse. There is only one prior graded winner in the field while the other horses will be seeking to pick up their first graded win. The morning line odds have been set and the post positions have been drawn. Let is now take a preview of this nine horse field that will be running in the G3, Wicker sofa Stakes.
| 1 | ICAN NOW LOOK | KY | 4M | karmafarm | B Ball | 13 | 4 | 69% | $118,956 | 8.06 | 7/1 |
This is a 4 year old Bay Colt who is a scratch bred (AMERICAN PHAROAH x DEEP IMPACT x SMART STRIKE). Two starts back he ran in a Listed Stakes, Ferdibuster Dirt Route. This was his first time to try stepping up into a stakes race. He was making a big closing effort in the race but could only find a fifth place finish with a 110 speed. Last time out he ran in Turkey on 10/28/2022 going 8.5 furlongs in an Allowance race. He came out of the gate and grabbed second and he would hold that position throughout the race and finished with a 111 speed rating. He has been running much longer distance and there are concerns dropping back down to 6 furlongs could be challenging for him. The owner is looking for another quick start out of the gate for his horse on Saturday when they come out to represent the All-Stars Racing residency.
| 2 | KINGOFTHEBOLD | AUS | 5M | southforkstable | M Scott | 15 | 5 | 67% | $187,526 | 14.13 | 10/1 |
Next, we have this 5 year old Bay Horse who is a scratch bred (KING CUGAT x STRIKE THE GOLD x NUREYEV). He has had some difficulties in several of his prior stakes starts, that is until his most recent start on 11/26/2022 when he went 6 furlongs in Pennsylvania in an Owner Restricted Listed Stakes, Hoosier Racing-The Liberty Bell. He was stalking the leader and when ask for more effort he took the lead at the third call and went on to get up for the win by one with a 101 speed rating. He is going to need to put together another good trip this weekend as he moves up in class. The owner feels confident in his horse and would like very much to see his number on the boards when he comes out to his gate here in Japan representing the Hoosier Racing residency.
| 3 | BARSTOOL SPORTS | KY | 5M | belafonte | H Harzheim | 17 | 7 | 71% | $304,690 | 28.00 | 5/2 |
Here we have a 5 year old Light Grey Horse who was sired by Medaglia D’Oro (MEDAGLIA D’ORO x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x DISTORTED HUMOR). Two starts back this horse got in there for second in the Jamie Likes Spoons Dirt Sprint with a 115 speed rating. He had a nice run that day and then was moved back up in class on 11/13/2022 in Ontario to go 6 furlongs in the G3, Camelot Road. He tried to close late in this race as he crossed under the wire in fifth with a 105 speed rating. The owner would like to see a little improvement over that start in Ontario and see a little extra effort. He is coming into this race well rested, and he should put a fight in this race when he comes out to represent The Mecca residency.
| 4 | FRANGLO | JPN | 5G | dowelly3 | E Kennard | 15 | 2 | 20% | $118,080 | 0.00 | 18/1 |
This is a 5 year old Chestnut Gelding that was sired by French Deputy (FRENCH DEPUTY x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR x STORM CAT). This horse only ran two races during the 2022 season and was not able to find the boards in either of those trips. He is lightly raced and has not seen the track since his last start on 08/28/2022 in Brazil when he went 5.5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Meadowgold Dirt Sprint. He ran flat in that race in eighth throughout that trip with a 96 speed rating. This horse needs to show up with an improved effort this weekend in Japan if he wishes to challenge for a spot on the boards when he comes out of the paddock and over to his gate representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 5 | RED HIGHBLADE | BRZ | 4M | deyoto | S L Ledwith | 12 | 4 | 58% | $248,205 | 20.00 | 10/1 |
Next, we have this 4 year old Bay Colt that was sired by Verrazano (VERRAZANO x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x KINGMAMBO). The two most recent starts for this horse have been much improved and he hit the boards in each of them. Two starts back he tried to make a gate to wire trip but was caught late and crossed the wire in second in the NW4L Allowance race. He was sent back out for his most recent start on 10/15/2022 in Sweden where he traveled 7 furlongs on a wet track listed as “good”. He handled himself nicely on this off track and took the lead at the third call and held on for the win in the Every Award Dirt Special with a 110 speed rating. He gets the call from his owner to move up in class again this weekend and the owner is looking to see continued improvement from this horse when he breaks from his gate representing the Midas residency.
| 6 | MILITARIZATION | KY | 5M | songbird | B Doherty | 20 | 9 | 70% | $1,258,980 | 22.00 | 3/1 |
This is a 5 year old Bay Horse that was sired by Union Rags (UNION RAGS x CITY ZIP x INDIAN CHARLIE). This horse is a prior G1 winner, but in the past year he has not ran in any graded starts. Last time out he ran on 11/12/2022 going 6 furlongs in a small Owner Restricted Listed Stakes, The Mecca Sprint. He ran a flashy 117 speed in this race, but it was only good enough for a second place finish. As he moves back up in class again this weekend the owner would like very much to see another speed rating like that one against this field on Saturday. Horse and jockey will saddle up in the paddock and make their way out in the post parade to represent The Mecca residency.
| 7 | DOOTSIN’S BOUQUET | SAF | 5M | cut2018 | C Meads | 20 | 8 | 65% | $301,249 | 24.00 | 9/2 |
Next, we have this 5 year old Chestnut Horse that was sired by Flower Alley (FLOWER ALLEY x FLATTER x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY). He has been having some good starts recently and has consistently been hitting the boards. Two starts back he got the win going 6 furlongs in a Local Championship Stakes in South Africa. He was then sent out for his most recent start on 11/20/2022 going 6 furlongs in New York in the G3, Fall Midweight Handicap. He had another nice run that day as he crossed the wire in second just one stride back with a 110 speed rating. This horse seems to be in the hunt for his first graded win and he gets another opportunity to get it this weekend in Japan when he makes his way over to the gates to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 8 | TETRATONIC | IRE | 4M | thezoo13 | H Artack | 12 | 6 | 83% | $278,082 | 48.25 | 6/1 |
This is a 4 year old Light Grey Colt who was sired by Dark Angel (DARK ANGEL (IRE) x PIVOTAL x SMART STRIKE). Three starts back this horse was moved up in class and has run three straight Listed Stakes race in a row. The owner is surely smiles in what this horse has done in those three starts. He finished third in the Spank The Monkey Dirt Sprint, then he got up for the win in the Your Cat Dirt Sprint and then he came his most recent start. This would be on 12/04/2022 in India where he went 5.5 furlongs in the Call The Shots Dirt Sprint. He again lingered just off the lead in this race and then grabbed the lead for himself by the time of the third call. He went on to get the win by one stride with a 111 speed rating. He again gets moved up in class this weekend here in Japan and gets his first graded start when he comes out of paddock representing the GR Simsters residency.
| 9 | INVERMAY | KY | 7G | bets7 | D Davis | 38 | 6 | 32% | $78,503 | 0.00 | 16/1 |
Coming out of the final gate with be this 7 year old Bay Gelding that was sired by Mineshaft (MINESHAFT x DYLAN THOMAS x KINGMAMBO). During his 2022 season this horse was unable to find a hit on the boards. This time out he will be going off as one of the longer choices in the morning line. Last time out this horse ran on 10/28/2022 in Dubai on the poly surface going 8.5 furlongs in a NW2s Allowance race. He ran sluggish in this race and struggled to keep up with the front runners as he crossed the wire well back in fifth. He will need to show up with some extra effort this weekend here in Japan against this field. He will make his way out into the post parade and over to his gate draw to the cheers of an excited crowd.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
6-Militarization: Looked good in last two starts. Can he bring that speed with him this weekend?
7-Dootsin’s Bouquet: Just missed last time out in a G3. Can he get the win this time in Japan?
8-Tetratonic: Looked good all last season. Does he start out this one with some fireworks?
Thanks Skippy great job 👌🏻