Dracula Stakes-G3

Dracula Stakes
Grade III
One mile
Firm Turf
$150,000
All horses, 3 years old

Graded racing returns again to Kentucky as the track preps for the upcoming Bluegrass Derby in just a few weeks.  Our attention though is on the turf course this week as a field of ten has gathered for the Dracula Stakes-G3.  The late scratch of R Loyal Man has left the field devoid of the big names as many are prepping for the upcoming 2000 Guineas but what is left is a highly competitive group of runners looking to add their names to the elite list.  Not much really separates the top six runners as all have recently ran in the mid to low 90’s rating wise but something tells me that at least one of these colts are ready to break out with a triple digit effort.  Again, it’s hard to justify one horse over another but the 5/1 Carolina Quickstep kind of catches my eye with both experience and superior breeding. 

Good luck with your wagers.

PP 1

10/1 JM MIND WARS(FR)

(MINDS MUSIC x STALWARS x GROOM DANCER)

Trainer:  tamjennic

Our likely pace setter, JM Mind Wars already has luck on his side by drawing the inside post.  Perhaps the sentimental favorite by the racing fans as he is anything but royally bred.  He’s already a two time stakes winner and after turning three has shown that he has more to prove with SP’s in the 90’s.  What else can you ask for with 25 BP’s?  However, his front running style may put him jeopardy as he takes on a slew of stalker/closer types.  His best chances lay in how the horse starting next to him, Uncle Tiger, chooses to attack the pace.  If he challenges the lead with him, his race is over before it starts.  But if he can get out far on his own, he could just pull off the wire to wire finish.

PP 2

7/1 UNCLE TIGER(IRE)

(TIGER HILL (IRE) x MISWAKI x GREAT NEPHEW(GB))

Trainer:  iant6

Uncle Tiger’s success has been almost by the book.  Since starting his career back in July, he has seen steady improvement from one race to the next.  His connections were in no hurry to move him along as he progressed from Maiden to Allowance to Stakes winner.  After showing that he could handle the class, he’s been moved up and it’s hard to argue his entry here today.  He is coming off a win and a lifetime best 93 SP in The School Kris(GB) Special and if his trend holds true he’ll likely come away with better run than his last one. 

PP 3

4/1 UNINTENTIONALLY(KY)

(DIXIELAND BAND x WILD AGAIN x FUSAICHI PEGASUS)

Trainer:  pjlracing

Unintentionally returns to the weeds today after a very nice run on the main track in The Opal Slew Memorial in Jamaica.  This colt seems equally suited for either surface and his connections have picked a good spot as he has garnered second billing by the odds makers.  He appears almost identical to the horse starting to his outside, Demon’s Direct, in the fact that he’s only missed the board once in seven turf starts and can stalk or sit just off the pace.  He seems better suited for a flat mile and the race sets up as a speed duel in the end. 

PP 4

7/2 DEMON’S DIRECT(KY)

(AWESOME AGAIN x WAR CHANT x HALO)

Trainer:  cougar

Our morning line favorite, Demon’s Direct looks poised to take down a very tough field today.  This Awesome Again colt is coming off a lifetime best 98 SP effort in The Whip Surge Stakes and stretches out a bit further in this one.  He’s only missed the board once in eight lifetime turf starts but things really seemed to come strong after the start of the year.  It looks like he just needed a little time to fill out and though he’s been racing just shy of mile for the most part and I do like the move up to two turns here.  He looks to have the stamina to take down the field as well as it should be an exciting finish.

PP 5

9/1 ULTHAR(KY)

(KITTEN’S JOY x BROWN ARC x ROYAL SKI)

Trainer:  elenalag

Breaking from gate #5, Ulthar may find the going here a bit rough.  Although he is coming off a lifetime best SP rating of 92, he found himself giving up ground in the Grade 3 Alec and Stephen Stakes to eventual winner Paper Jesus.  That race was ran at 6.5 furlongs and his only other start at a mile or farther ended with a 14 length loss.  However, all may not be lost for this colt as he may have simply been outclassed in his last outing and perhaps a return to two turns may be what is needed to get him going.  Still, I’d recommend betting at your own risk as on paper he doesn’t have much to back up his chances.

PP 6

5/1 CAROLINA QUICKSTEP(JPN)

(FORTY NINER x SADLER’S WELLS x A.P. INDY)

Trainer:  1i2

At 5/1 Carolina Quickstep could be the best value on the board.  This li2 trained colt is exceptionally well bred and had strung together four consecutive turf stake wins up until his last race.  That string was capped off with a graded victory in the Rantofan Handicap in early February.  His streak was ended though after an ill fated attempt against older horses last time out in the Jennifer Connely BC Turf Cap.  If he can bounce back well after that effort he could be the one to catch.     

PP 7

14/1 BRISKEN(KY)

(SAINT LIAM x NUREYEV x FAPPIANO)

Trainer:  wes32

If you’re one that likes to bet the long money, this may be your best bet.  Although others may disagree, I’m not at all opposed to going from Maiden win to Graded stakes if the move is warranted.  I think that Brisken fits that mold nicely.  After trying a few times on the dirt track he really shined in his last race when he started in his first turf race.  He rated exceptionally well with a 90 SP and I believe that he could even show more here in his second start as he won that last race with little effort under a hand ride.  Could this be a super star in the waiting?  The only that leaves me scratching my head is the two week turn around time which seems unusual for the Kbsweet Racing Stables. 

PP 8

21/1 ARAZEE(AUS)

(ARAZI x SAKHEE x ALLEGED)

Trainer:  hardhead2

Grabbing the longest odds on the board, Arazee’s chances seem almost nil.  He’s making his fourth start in six weeks and is on pace to race in 24 races this year; a grueling schedule for a three year old.  As our only maiden, he’s 0-16 and his last race on turf back in early January netted him a 73 SP.  I give an E for effort but I’ll have to pass.

PP 9

9/2 WHY MARRY(KY)

(MEDALLIST x BUILT FOR PLEASURE x OLYMPIO)

Trainer:  graywolf

Making his second consecutive start on the turf, Why Marry looks to improve on his last effort.  He placed a very close second in his last start in The Get Well Soon Supertoy7 Stakes but many in the press box are questioning his schedule as he takes on his third race in four weeks.  He has ran well in the past though has even notched a few Graded placings as a two year old but his hard racing schedule may get the best of him in this one. 

PP 10

9/1 DELITE OF SWAIN(IRE)

(SWAIN (IRE) x STRANGE LOVE(FR) x PROSPECTORS DELITE)

Trainer:  ildottore2

The road to graded stakes has been a slow and rough trip for Delite Of Swain.  As a two year old he seemed stuck in second gear as he couldn’t seem to improve for several months.  However, with patience his connections are finally starting to see the fruit of their labors as he seems to finally start to come of his own.  He’s fresh off his first stakes win last time out in The Redoutabeel(AUS) Handicap where from last to first to pull off the win.  He will need to make sure not to give up too much ground in this one as speed in the final half mile looks to be the key.  However, he just seems to me to have the looks of a very late developer and if he doesn’t show well here today I’m sure this isn’t the last time we’ll see his name mentioned.