The Duke Quiet Memorial Stakes

This weeks feature race in Jamaica is the Duke Quiet Memorial Stakes and it has drawn a small field of 6. The race is at Ungraded stakes level over the marathon 2 miles on the firm turf course and open to horses 3 years old an up.

Duke Quiet won 11 of his 56 races and had 11 wins over the route distance for $275k in earnings, and this race is in memorial to his feats while racing.

Well lets take a look at the runners.

#1Movinonin trained by Arouset. This 4yo colt has won 8 of his 34 starts for $91k in earnings. He is at 9/1 here and probably should be longer looking at his form. He has placed on the turf and is unplaced at his only try on the turf. He is stepping up from a dirt 6.5 furlong allowance to the 2 miles on turf. A lot of things against this guy here.

#2 Arizona Casino trained by Tanman. Nice horse here who has won 10 of his 38 races for $154k in earnings. All of his wins have come over the route distances and on the turf so he is well placed here. Has been running consistently in the mid 80’s speed figures and has to date been well held over the 12-14 furlong distances. Will need to improve here to get in the prize money but this is a relatively weak race.

#3 Casey’s Quest trained by Stalcasey. Nice horse here by Gulch who has won 8 of his 31 races for $383k in earnings. This guy prefers the routes on the turf with at least 4 of his wins coming on there. He has been competing at the highest level with multiple Grade I starts 3-4 starts back where he ran his best race to finish 4^th in the South Is King Stakes where he ran a 102 speed figure. He will look to go to the front and well with form like that they really should not see which way he went.

#4 Make Me Forget trained by Miltinho. Well the favorite for the race and he is by Manila and has won 7 of his 17 races for $201k in earnings. He has been very consistent with speed figures of 96-98 for his past 3 runs over the 12-16 furlongs, so the distance will not be of concern for him. Led all the way 3 starts back over the 2 miles in stakes company so the class is not of concern either. He should just settle off the speed and he will be right there in the finish.

#5 Ed’s Red Az trained by Santanna. This guy is by Abuzaid and has won 3 of his 14 starts to date for $98k in earnings. Eligible for much easier race but did win a stakes race last time out with a nose victory over the 12 furlongs at this track. Backs up here after a 5 weeks break so looks to make it a double. Solid speed figures here give him a chance with speed figures in the mid to high 90’s and he will be looking to challenge in the stretch with a solid speed.

#6 Explosive Dan trained by Nat329. The best bred horse in the race by Sadler’s Wells who has won 7 of his 55 races to date for $236k in earnings. Well placed here with all 7 of his wins coming on the turf and over the route distances. Was well held in a time restricted allowance last time out but he can definitely bounce back here. I think the extra distance will be in his favor here as he ran a solid race 7 races back over the 13 furlongs. Does have speed figures in the low’ 100’s so he has a great chance here.

Well quite a tricky little affair here with some good chances, will lean towards a slight upset with #3 Casey’s Quest to win from #6 Explosive Dan with #4 Make Me Forget for third.

Good luck to all runners,

Simon