G3 Giacomo Stakes
This Saturday will be the first running of the $125,000 G3 Giacomo Stakes in California. The race will be run on a perfect looking dirt track at 11f with a small field of 3yo colts gathered to take the glory. The headline act is none other than the tbgifted trained son of Birdstone, Achaemenes. It would not surprise me if he is banned from running at Kentucky ever again after screaming home, scorching the dirt in the stretch in the Derby. He didn’t win there and looks like a good thing here with extra ground to nail them. He has some stiff opposition so lets take a look.
PP #1 – HE’S CRAFTY(KY) – CRAFTY PROSPECTOR x STORM CAT x RELKINO(GB) (browns) 6/1
Cannot see this guy getting 11f, but having said that he is a restricted stakes winner at 9.5f. His dam only had three starts and didn’t hit the board but she has produced a graded winner along with this guy. Stable has over 12% winning ratio and whilst I cannot see him winning this he may just sneak a place if he is able to cover the ground. Coming off a 6th placed G2 Texas Derby run after just missing by a hand in stakes company at 8f posting a SP of 96 in 3168. Prefer to see him at the mile but will be interesting nevertheless coming in with a four week break.
PP #2 – DEVIL’S DAY(KY) – DAYJUR x DISTORTED HUMOR x DEVIL’S BAG (hardrada) 5/1
Trainer hardrada has certainly not given this colt an easy ride this year with the son of Dayjur having his ninth start this year. Has developed nicely after switching to dirt after his 2yo campaign of turf was relatively unsuccessful. He has since hit the board on six of his seven starts on dirt including his previous two runs that have seen him place back to back in stakes. These two runs have been at 8.5 and last time out 9.5f in which he has posted SP’s of 94 then 99 respectively. He is heavily inbred to Danzig 2SX4D, Northern Dancer 3SX5D and Mr. Prospector 3SX4D which tells me he won’t handle the 11f however Devil’s Bag will certainly help. Place chance if he gets the trip.
PP #3 – GOLDEN TOY(KY) – TOUCH GOLD x WOODMAN x SECRETARIAT (lostcode) 8/1
About the only positive for Golden Toy in this race is the fact that he is inbred to Buckpasser 3SX4D. He was destroyed in G2 company last time out but prior to that he had showed promise at allowance level winning one and placing 2nd twice. His dam won five races – four at dirt route distance but he will need to grow an extra leg to win this. His allowance win on rain affetcted dirt was good and he may be best placed on a surface such as that again to take advantage of this.
PP #4 – ACHAEMENES(KY) – BIRDSTONE x COZZENE x RELAUNCH (tbgifted) 5/2
What a massive year this nifty little colt has had. Three stakes wins and a giant killing G1 Sand Castle derby lock win has seen him rocketed to 10th ranked dirt long route and surpass the 500k mark. Whilst some may feel he had a disappointing run in the Bluegrass, both I and trainer tbgifted know better. He was sixteen lengths down at one stage and then displayed a bone rattling final burst to close on the field turning a gap of more than twelve furlongs to just over two at the post. 11f will give him the extra distance required and the subsequent drop in class will see him nail the field in the stretch when closing hard and fast. Only hiccup could be an apparent lack of speed in this field. Back him!
PP #5 – ATTENZIONE(KY) – DIXIELAND BAND x WOODMAN x NIJINSKY II (super2) 6/1
After two average runs to start the year, Attenzione looks to now be at the top of his game with a stakes place in 3175 and a barnstorming stakes win in 3196 giving him a four week break into this. Likes to get a long way back in the field and close gradually and this is a great move pushing him up to 11f with Buckpasser, Woodman and Nijinsky II in his blood, however with an inbred to Mr.Prospector in the 2nd generation on sires side, he may be more suited to less. This will be both a great distance test and class test with Achaemenes in the field. Stable has 18.2% winning ratio and although untested past 9.5f this should be interesting.
PP #6 – CLARK KENT(KY) – EMPIRE MAKER x NUREYEV x SEEKING THE GOLD (lenny1) 15/1
Unusual move here by lenny as he generally makes his horses prove themselves before stepping up in grade, so this may just be part of his plan for sim domination! Damn sexy breeding that really does indicate that this trip will just about be spot on with the use of the blueblood pedigree however the inbreeding to both Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer may tell a different story. Has only won a maiden and 1x allowance and although he only missed by a hand last time out whilst posting a SP of 91 at 9f he has still not proved himself a graded level performer. Having said all that, I think he will put in a cracking run and if he gets the trip, I think he may run a very cheeky race and I may well eat my words but……. ITM maybe.
PP #7 – SHEEBAH’S GOLD(KY) – STEPHEN GOT EVEN x SEEKING THE GOLD x ALYSHEBA (rharfbeam2) 7/1
No doubts about the 11f, from the strong Rharfo Empire and in great form! Has not really done to much wrong of late with just the one bad race when stepping up to allowance level off his maiden win. Ran a nice 3rd place in stakes company in Florida two starts back on rain affected ground then backed up very well with a win at stakes level last time out, winning by over four lengths posting a 93 SP at 9.5f. Although all her runs this year have been in fields less than ten horses, his win really proves he can mix it in this class. Pedigree to win or place in this.
PP#8 – EMPERATIVE(KY) – EMPIRE MAKER x THEATRICAL(IRE) x KRIS S. (funster) 8/1
Smashed by an average of twelve lengths in first three outings this year before stepping out in the mud in 3203 at 8f in an easy allowance to post a 100 SP to finish second. Breeding says this will suit him down to the ground but I would prefer to see him either taking this field on in the mud or dropping back to allowance class to get the score on the board and prove himself. That is not to say he cannot go well but his performances prior to this have been horrid and he must show he belongs here. Deep closer who can not afford to give this field too much of a lead.
PP #9 – WHO DO YOU LOVE(KY) – AWESOME AGAIN x DAMASCUS x HOIST THE FLAG (lenny9) 5/1
Another week writing for BTB, another articles with one of lenny’s chargers featured. Blushing Groom, Damascus, Ribot and Hoist The Flag all tell me he will be there at the business end of this race. He is a front runner who may benefit from sitting just off the pace this week but he does have the score on the board to date. Four races, a maiden win followed by an allowance win and directly onto stakes glory before posting a 99 SP last time out to place 3rd in the Texas Derby, beaten just two lengths. Ranked 99 but he is red hot and should run a cracker here will extra ground. Was beaten by two established performers last time out and may find this easier.
Good luck to all.
My tips:
ACHAEMENES, WHO DO YOU LOVE, SHEEBAH’S GOLD with CLARK KENT an outsider at odds.