Gold Lightning Stakes

Welcome to Alabama, where this week’s feature is the $65,000 Gold Lightning Stakes for 2-year-olds. A field of five will travel seven furlongs over a turf course labeled firm. Here is the field in post position order:

Sir Phyl, who is favored on the morning line at 8/5, has won both of his starts. Both were on the turf, against full fields, and his maiden win was at this seven furlong distance. He is out of a stakes-placed Danzig mare who has also produced multiple stakes winner Miss Salski. It looks like we can expect good things from this promising youngster.

Scotian Chapparal won first time out, then finished a disappointing sixth in his stakes debut. He will need to show improvement here, but given his pedigree it is not out of the question that he will improve with the added distance.

Angels On High has two wins in four starts including one at this distance, but she is a filly facing colts for the first time. Her recent allowance win came against only three opponents, and she may find the water a little deeper here.

Metal Rush broke his maiden in his second start on the dirt, scoring a nice 79 speed figure. This will be his first start on the turf. His pedigree suggests that he will not mind the surface switch, since both of his siblings – War Born and multiple stakes winner Silbersand – are multiple winners on the lawn.

One of Us, the second choice, is making only his second start. He broke his maiden in his debut, going six furlongs on the turf. His pedigree and the late kick he showed in his first race suggest that the extra furlong can only benefit him. It would not be a surprise to see him move forward and get the win today.