Wide Open Grade II Manofjunk Stakes
Ascot A full field of 14 freshman colts has assembled for this edition of the Grade II Manofjunk Stakes to be run at a distance of 8.5 furlongs on a firm turf course. Several are looking to punch their ticket to the Breeder’s Bowl in four weeks assuming a quick turnaround. Lots of value to be found in the betting in this one as almost none can be ruled out of the exotics and there is a 17/1 runner with a legitimate shot for the win.
BELONG TO DAN PP1 12/1 H Philso 4%
Scratch bred Belong to Me x A.P. Indy x Danzig colt already has 5 races to his name. Broke his maiden first time out for breeder/trainer quiggy2 and cleared his first allowance condition in his 3rd trip to the post. That allowance run was sandwiched between a couple of disappointing efforts in listed stakes. All those were on the dirt, however. Tried the lawn for the first time in his last trip. Ran evenly in a runner-up finish. This will be his first try at a route of ground and pedigree would suggest it shouldn’t be a problem. What will be a problem are his SPs so far which don’t fit with the best in here. Low percentage jock doesn’t help either.
VODKA N’ SKITTLES PP2 7/1 R Williams 15%
Jade Hunter son is the third foal of Beer N’ Skittles – and the third stakes winner from that dam. He’s already earned north of $373,000, largely due to his win in the Smackdown II series 2 races back. Broke maiden and cleared nw2l hurdle in first two tries for trainer bigtime. Three stakes races since then with the Smackdown win in between two narrow runner-up finishes. The last one was his first route and he posted an 86 SP which is the fastest of any in here. He’s won on the lead but would probably prefer to sit just off a speed duel, which is likely to develop. I’ll take 7/1 on this one all day long.
HIS HIGHNESS(IRE) PP3 10/1 J Wesselman 14%
This one is by freshman sire Azamour(IRE) out of a maiden Seeking The Gold x Lyphard mare. Another one who broke his maiden first time out. Last race was a nice length-and-a-half win in a listed stakes at this distance for trainer lenny12. Between those two wins he finished fourth in his “bid-for” allowance and third in a listed stakes. He’ll be toward the back, if not dead last, early on and look to make a late run. Could really provide value in the exotics, especially if he gets the win, which is not too hard to fathom.
FALSE MEMORIES PP4 9/1 M Day 21%
Scratch-bred Kingmambo x War Chant x Dynaformer is one more first-try maiden breaker. Took him 3 more tries to get his second win, a listed stakes at a mile on the turf. Looks to be part of a pack of three up front. Breeder/trainer lender4 was probably disappointed in his result last time out in the Grade I High Flyer Stakes. Unsure if the result was due to soft footing or a step up in competition. If it was the former, he could definitely be part of the tri. If it was the latter, he probably doesn’t stand much of a chance here, though 21% jock can’t hurt.
THE FAST LAYNE PP5 5/1 D Viergutz 10%
Yet another first time winner, this colt is bred for turf routes being a scratch-bred Rahy x Sadler’s Wells x Gone West. The least raced of these, deep close finished a well-beaten 2nd when a needed speed duel failed to develop in a listed stakes in his only other race. He goes off as the favorite for breeder/trainer seacadet. Favored status might be just a bit of a stretch for him. That said, he should get his pace contest up front this time and he gets a decent, if unspectacular, jock. Could easily get the win with just a bit of improvement.
DUKE OF NEW YORK PP6 9/1 J Dyson 11%
We finally come to one who waited until his 2nd race to get his first win. Breeder/trainer shiekabner started him off on the dirt where he picked up a 3rd and a win in a pair of MSW’s. Pulpit x Danehill x Caro(IRE) scratch-bred was switched to the turf for his first allowance try and responded very well with a length-and-a-half win over a full field of winners. Posted an 83 SP in a stalking trip. Couple of firsts for this youngster here – first try at stakes level and first try at a route. Breeding suggests neither should be a problem. Gets decent jock and should get an honest pace to sit behind. Big threat for a mild upset and definitely to be included in exotics.
COMPELLING STORM PP7 7/1 M Van Dam 8%
Another who waited a race for his first win. Breeder/trainer jungleboy sent his B-rated Fusaichi Pegasus x Seattle Slew mare to Storm Cat early this year to get this runner. Dam won. 9 of dam’s 10 wins came after switch to turf and she won 4 turf stakes, 3 of which were graded. Colt picked up a 2nd in MSW in first try. Won next 2 on dirt including a listed stakes. Level and distance not in question here. If he takes after momma, surface shouldn’t be a problem. Could come down to the ride by 2nd year jock. Like others better but this is one not to be ignored.
BEELZA CA(NZ) PP8 11/1 B Cokebottle 6%
Zabeel(NZ) is the 5th try at getting a top-flight runner from an 0-for-10 Mr. Prospector x Dance Bid mare. Would say breeder/trainer adamson finally got what he was looking for. Colt won 3 of his first 4 tries, latter two of which came on the turf. Two races back he picked up an impressive 1-¾ length win in the Grade III Sprinklers Are Broke Again Stakes. Faded a bit on soft footing last time out in a Gr I at a mile. Would think he could handle the distance, so maybe he just didn’t like the off-going. SPs aren’t quite up to par with the best here and could use better jock. Should get a decent pace to sit behind. Can’t rule completely out, though unlikely.
SENORITA’S STORM PP9 12/1 J Mcrea 12%
Storm Cat colt responded well after trainer endor switched him to the turf after a foundering first effort on dirt. He’s the 3rd foal of a nice E-rated Fusaichi Pegasus x Holy Bull mare who was retired off a 2 length listed stakes win. All of dam’s wins came sprinting and she didn’t get close in 2 tries at routing. Both of colt’s wins came in sprints. He tried a mile in a listed stakes last time out, got caught in a speed duel and tired a bit at the end. Top SP of 79 doesn’t match up with the best here. Mix in question about distance and a likely speed duel and we’ll just watch this one this time.
THE HEDONIST(GB) PP10 11/1 S Kicker 11%
Afc2 sent his B-rated Miswaki x Private Account he-mare to freshman sire Powerscourt(GB) and transferred resulting colt to the super15 barn. All of mom/dad’s wins came in turf routes and with Sadler’s Wells and Rainbow Quest blood from the sire one would think this colt will follow suit. Broke his maiden 2 back with a deep closing trip. His SP’s have steadily improved with experience and distance and he posted an 80 last time out when he couldn’t catch a rival who got a lonely lead on the backstretch. Should get more of a contested pace up front this time. With a little continued improvement and a competent ride, he’ll be in the mix at the end but he’ll have to come through quite a few stalkers to get the win.
OCELOT PP11 17/1 T Moss 12%
Spinning World colt took a couple of races to really find his stride, but apparently is an apt student. SP’s have steadily improved in his 4 races as have his results. Won his last 2, following up his maiden-breaker with an impressive length win in his first try at a route. Breeder/trainer pinerivers used a lightly raced turf routing G-rated Geri x Noholme II(AUS) to get this one. Quite a step up in level of competition for his stakes debut and he’ll have lots of company in his stalking role. Experienced jock is having career year He could provide lots of value to the exotics at these odds and an upset win is not entirely out of the question.
BONESPUR WELLS PP12 19/1 M Antoni 9%
Johannesburg colt goes off as the longshot for trainer ksparrow22. He’s out of an 0-for-13 Sadler’s Wells x Fabulous Pleasure mare and already has one more win than his dam. That win came last time out in his third trip to the post. He posted a 79 SP in winning that one after engaging in an early speed duel. That came at a mile on the turf so he should be able to handle this distance. Looks to be part of the pace picture here but wonder if he’ll be able to put away these rivals as easily. He’ll have to bump it up a few notches to get a piece here. With 2-year-olds anything is possible, but we’ll just watch him in this one.
ALYOURMEDALS PP13 15/1 C Milhouse 13%
This son of Medaglia D’Oro hasn’t missed the board in 4 turf starts after a disappointing debut on dirt for trainer buckpasser. He’s out of an Explodent x Alydar mare who won only once in a short 7 race career. Broke his maiden 3 back then followed that up with a nice 2-length allowance win at a mile. Tried the Grade III Tiny Toes Stakes last time out and picked up a 3rd place finish. Was a little farther off the pace in that one and his SP number regressed just a bit. Probably in lots of traffic in this one and probably gets a wide trip all the way around. Better than average jock helps, but another one we’ll just watch this time.