Young Turfsters Go Long
The Saturday Oklahoma card concludes with The DTRIM Special Stakes. It is to be run over a mile and three eights over a Firm Turf Track and it is open to all 3 year olds. The purse is $75,000 and it is the 16th Race on the card.
Let’s take a peek at the field of 6.
HIS HIGHNESS(IRE) (7/1) This 3 year old colt is a winner of over $250,000 in just 9 races. He tested the dirt last out and had a solid 2nd place finish. Now he goes back over to the turf where his speed figures have been a bit higher. Trainer lenny12 hopes the dirt to turf transition will produce a victory. His turf speed figures have been around 82-87 and he has won 2 of the 4 ungraded stakes attempts he has tried recently. A strong closer with top jock W. Cahill aboard for the ride.
MINGOON(KY) (9/2) This 3 year old colt has improved nicely since trainer reman12000 decided to move him from dirt to turf. His turf figures of 83-87 have been improving with each race. He stretches out today and had has a month to prepare for this race. He gets solid jockey Na. Lewis today and should be flying down the lane.
EL KURSAAL(KY) (5/1) This 3 year old colt also moved from dirt to turf and improved his speed figures to the 84-85 range. He won a competitive Allowance race last out with ease. 9 of 13 in the money and very strong breeding make this horse a sure contender under trainer layaguada. Experienced jockey N. Riggs takes the ride and is having a solid year.
GOLD CLOAK(KY) (2/1) This 3 year old colt is taking a move from dirt to turf today. He is very well bred by confessor and has been ITM in 7 of 8 tries. His dirt figures of 91-93 would translate well if he carries them over to turf. He has shown he can come off the pace or run on the lead. It will be exciting to see what he does today with C. Schell in the irons.
SLEEPS WITH FISHES(IRE) (4-1) This 3 year old colt comes in with experience on the turf and at similar distances. In his two races as a 3 year old he has finished 2nd twice in Stakes races with figures in the high 80’s. Trainer slades2 has moved him along slowly and we should expect a nice performance today. He likes to go to the front and it looks like he could be pretty lonesome there in this race. S. Bull gets the mount and he is having an above average year so far.
ALL RIGHT(KY) (3-1) The final 3 year old colt in the field. His trainer, peeps10, has also had excellent success with this horse with the switch from dirt to turf. 4 out of 5 ITM on the turf and 2 consecutive 2nd place finishes in similar stakes races. His speed figures have been from 89-93 the last few starts and the mount goes to the very talented G. Wendorff.
My take: This is a tough one to handicap. My opinion would be that Sleeps with Fishes gets the early lead and may be able to hold off a flying All Right at the wire. Gold Cloak is surely a contender but I am not sure if he will take to turf. I do not think the first three are quite ready but Mingoon is interesting. This race should tell the trainers a lot about their horses and I plan on learning a lesson or two myself.