Evenly Matched Race in South Korea

The JUDGE MANILLA(IRE) Special Stakes
A mile on Fast Dirt
$50,000
All horses, 3 years old
We are in South Korea to take in the Judge Manilla Special Stakes named for Judge Manilla who had eight Stakes including four Graded wins in his career. A relatively short field but it is very competitive and should be a fun race to watch. Let’s take a look:

#1 WOETTE’S WORLD trainer – derbystud, ( 6/1), Jockey – Z Graves (19%), Avg Sp # (84.8)
(SPINNING WORLD x DAYLAMI (IRE) x SNOW CHIEF) Everyone in the race has been in at least twice as many races as this nearly white colt who has been in three. He looks like the real deal though as he has a two race win streak coming in and had a really nice 89SPF last time out. If he keeps improving, trainer DerbyStud will be extremely happy. He loves the lead so capable jockey Graves should move him there quickly from his inside post. Could be a spoiler here.

#2 SHARP WITTED trainer – catamount2, ( 2/1), Jockey – L Johnson (14%), Avg Sp # (86.5)
(SPEIGHTSTOWN x DEPUTY MINISTER x WILD AGAIN) First Stakes outing for this nicely bred colt.. He has been extremely consistent in his past three with low ninety in his SPFs. Finished third in an 8.5f last time out and is moving back to the favored mile distance this time. Likes to sit behind the leaders and jump down the stretch but didn’t have the finish last time. I look for him to rebound here.

#3 INDEFENCIBLE trainer – leggo, ( 5/1), Jockey – A King (9%), Avg Sp # (N/A)
(RAINBOW QUEST x MR. PROSPECTOR x STORM CAT) Trying out the dirt for only the second time in 11 races and the first was his maiden voyage. He looks to be bred for the green but you just never know. Trainer Leggo wants to take a look here. After a promising start last year, he’s backed off a bit and this may get him kick started. This is the right kind of field to try it out on.

#4 GRAND PEGASUS(IRE) trainer – tullbrink3, ( 5/1), Jockey – B Baroo (2%), Avg Sp # (84.6)
(GRANDERA (IRE) x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x SEATTLE SLEW) This will be the first Stakes race for this guy but he’s won three of four coming in and easily ran his best effort at a mile in his last outing. He looks to be rounding into form and can make some noise with a win here. Trainer TullBrink3 has to like the effort since his switch to the dirt four back.

#5 THE LAKE EFFECT trainer – grandslam, ( 4/1), Jockey – K Hellestrae (27%), Avg Sp # (84.4)
(SALT LAKE x TIMELESS MOMENT x BELIEVE IT) After running 11 consecutive bid races on French soil, this GrandSlam trained colt tried out the Stakes circuit last time out and finished an acceptable fourth after taking a look in the stretch. His 90 SPF should put him near the leaders and he has the best jockey at the track in Hellestrae ready to guide him home. GrandSlam wants to show off his horse and why he kept him training in France.

#6 NIGHTHAWK QUEST trainer – 4nighthawk, ( 3/1), Jockey – J Ashanti (8%), Avg Sp # (89.5)
(CORONADO’S QUEST x MIESQUE’S SON x FORTY NINER) This nice looking chestnut colt will be in his 10th Stakes race and the experience should show through. His last three on the dirt all looked good and very consistent and he’s dropping back just a bit in distance which should help out his stamina. The outside post should benefit his drop back style and he may be the horse to beat in this race.

PazJazz