The Nikkan Sport from Japan – 14 Entrants – Awesome Field
1 QUEST FOR MY HONOR
Owner: oneojai
Jockey: B Ball
Earnings: $365,165
Odds: 11/1
Nine wins out of thirteen runs. Thats impressive in anyone’s language. His last run is why this colt has been given a chance at Graded racing with a speed of 113 over 10 furlongs in the Hollywood Halo Turf Route Stakes for the win. Most of his racing has been at the Allowance level with only his last 2 races at Stakes grade. Seriously good run his last one though. Not the favourite here but he looks good!
2 RIDDLE ME THIS TED
Owner: hayseed
Jockey: D Brock
Earnings: $241,674
Odds: 9/1
Well bred colt out of Pour Moi has done his fair share of racing at stakes and graded company with his best result probably being a well run 3rd place in the G3 The I Can’t Rhyme Stakes over 10 furlongs on turf on 24 September 2016. Has run a 2nd in Stakes company but the graded third placing is certainly a class higher. Has won at this length before but seems to maybe prefer a shorter run the higher up class he runs maybe? Hard to tell. Still has plenty of racing under his belt and certainly knows this distance. At 9/1 odds has a good chance to at least place here.
3 LAKE IN THE HILLS
Owner: kaner8
Jockey: M Scott
Earnings: $276,347
Odds: 7/1
A lake in the hills. You could have a lake at the bottom of a hill but it would be hard for the lake to be at the top of the hill unless it was a very big hill! Still its just a name hey :). Last run was impressive with a speed of 112 at Stakes level of 9.5furlongs. Strong and steady finish for the win. Last 5 runs on turf have all been over the 100 speed rating so this colt is very consistent. Should give another strong performance here in what will be his 2nd grading race after debuting in a G1 2 runs ago. Finished a well placed 5th out of 16 runners in that so is definitely in the right class level here. Very good chance with 7/1 odds.
4 COMEBACK MOON
Owner: nickesydtop
Jockey: C Maxie
Earnings: $4,108,214
Odds: 26/1
First thing I see is awesome earnings of over $4 million!! Although this one has not been running well of late and certainly not well enough to be much of a chance of winning here which is why he has the odds of 26/1. However if you look a lil further back you will note that he has a G1 win over 12 furlongs with a speed of 110 in early June last year. Has gone downhill from there but this one can definitely run this distance at a much better class level than this currently graded at G3 race. So if he comes out of his form slump – watch out because he could win this easily and well and the punters who back him will be paying for the bar for the rest of the night. I am sure the trainer is hoping he will reclaim his old form and class here. Good luck – I will be watching to see how he goes.
5 DARK FASHIONZ
Owner: deeprock39
Jockey: M Perez
Earnings: $122,554
Odds: 20/1
At 20/1 and not huge earnings this is probably one of the less fancied runners in this list. Still better than just about anything in my stables though. Has run in graded racing before with maybe his best finish around midpack in a G2 race. Last 3 runs have been good at Stakes company with a 2nd and two 3rd placings. Last two races would suggest he wanted less length to run out and so the trainer has dutifully given him that here so now it is up to Dark Fashionz to say thanks mate to the trainer and run a good race. As with all fashionistas who knows what that actually means but if he places or better noone will be complaining that is for sure. Needs to compete well here in the big lights.
6 LE TRIGGER
Owner: hollandia5
Jockey: J Castillo
Earnings: $471,234
Odds: 6/1
I like the name of this one. Sounds like he is ready and poised to fly like a bullet out of a gun. Thats exactly what this 5yo did two runs ago in a Stakes race over 10 furlongs for the win. Speed of 111 was impressive that day. Picked up in a claiming race mid last year this owner has done seriously well with him and at odds of 6/1 is one of the favourites here today. Not a bad return at all!! Last race was wanting way more distance which was a bit strange considering his previous races so hopefully he goes well again here today over what has been his favourite distance. Le Trigger :). Had to say the name again.
7 THE ESKAJESTY
Owner: meguire4th
Jockey: P Vincent
Earnings: $1,497,870
Odds: 7/1
At first glance I saw the name and thought wow what is an Eska Jesty anyway?? but then I saw what he was bred from in Eskendereya x His Majesty x Exceed and Excel and it makes sense. Cool name now I think! Another which has a good chance of winning here. 8 October last year ran a very strong finishing 2nd place in the G1 The Roberto Clemente over 10 furlongs. May want more than that in distance based on that run but his last run was found wanting over 10 furlongs so who knows. Either way the trainer has opted to stick with the distance and drop him to the G3 race here today which makes sense to me. Regain that strong finishing for which he has shown a few times. Go the EskaJesty!
8 ASPIRING SKIES
Owner: apniner
Jockey: W Manfull
Earnings: $941,697
Odds: 6/1
Best results for the Aspiring Skies colt is two wins at G2 level and a 2nd place finish at G1 level. Has been a case of almost but not quite in many of his runs but has been amazingly consistent and is one very strong finisher in quality and classy company. Back to a G3 level here so you would think would be quite fancied to take this out and the odds suggest that as well. Shown stacks of potential – trainer wants more as do we all 🙂 Definitely in with a huge chance here.
9 RED ROSE RED
Owner: slim
Jockey: C Roser
Earnings: $141,560
Odds: 10/1
At 10/1 odds you would be forgiven in thinking that this cold out of Redoute’s Choice is only a chance of maybe getting a place here. However if you just would kindly look at his last run and if he can repeat that here then a win is what he will get. Speed rating of 116 over 10 furlongs in Stakes company for the win. Doesnt get much better than that. If he can repeat it he will take out some of the more fancied runners for sure. Big big chance and I like these types of runners – exciting, full of potential and well huge gains for the owner and horse alike. To top it off, with a name like Red Rose Red, the marketing of this horse will be limitless!
10 WIRE WIZARD
Owner: alysalley2
Jockey: T Brewer
Earnings: $211,580
Odds: 15/1
Very well bred out of Dubawi however I fear he is going to struggle over the 10 furlongs required here to run this one out. Has definitely shown he can run at this level with a 2nd and 3rd place finishes at G2 level. However each of his runs he has been struggling to hold out for the finish line. Will probably run well and be up the front early – just needs to hold on at the end and find a little bit extra to run it out. I would suggest a place at best however I could be wrong.
11 EAT AT IL PADRINO
Owner: jbcri32
Jockey: T Snider
Earnings: $613,364
Odds: 7/1
Eat At Il Padrino gives me a vision of a small mum and dad cafe where the food is awesome and the atmosphere is cozy. Its a nice vision! His runs though are even nicer. Get this…. Is coming off 8 wins in a row and has 14 wins from 18 runs on turf. Impressive hey!!! Owner got this horse in a claiming race way back in 2015 so thats an awesome return so far. Is definitely stepping up in class here but has stakes wins and definitely the form to carry into this race. Needs a good run to continue his winning ways – big chance also.
12 BORN TO BE WILDER
Owner: highlanders
Jockey: N Tippins
Earnings: $175,818
Odds: 16/1
Aren’t we all born to be wilder? Just different levels of wildness apply. How wild is this colt? We shall find out today! Has run a few times in Graded company now with some good closing finishes but each time has run out of room. Failed miserably in the G3 run in September last year which was anything BUT wild however that is the exception. All his other runs has looked very promising. Even though the odds suggest he is an outside chance, he actually does have the potential to finish well here. Could be one that surprises and then I guarantee that trainer will go wild :).
13 KRIS S APPROACHING
Owner: elkstables24
Odds: S L Ledwith
Earnings: $225,109
Odds: 13/1
Has run in graded company twice before in only his 3rd and 4th race. In hindsight was probably a little too early however at the time he had run a magnificent 85 speed rating in his 2nd maiden race so I can definitely see why he was rushed into the higher stakes racing. With considerable time spent racking up wins in Allowance level racing now has got the chance to go back to graded racing and see what he can achieve. It will be a step up but is a well earned chance.
14 NORTH CAMBRIDGE
Owner: barcelona1
Jockey: J Whaley
Earnings: $225,626
Odds: 14/1
Only the twelve runs but has six wins to show from them including one at Stakes level over this distance. Last two runs have been good with speed ratings of 108 both times. Has run in graded company twice before but not with any success to write home about. Was starting to work through the field both times but ran out of distance over 12 furlongs. Hard to say how he will go here – which might be why his odds are out at 14/1. Trainer is certainly hopeful otherwise he wouldnt have been entered. One of those horses who has the potential to surprise and take this out and run a steady and good race and not disappoint.