KRYSTAL KING Stakes
A competitive field of seven, all making their first lifetime start at this track, provides for a very interesting feature at Vermont on Saturday in the $60,000 KRYSTAL KING Stakes to be contested on the turf at a mile and 3/16.
MELODRAMA (8 3-2-2 $96,222) is making her first attempt at stakes company. Nicely bred, she is sired by THEATRICAL, who has produced 21 graded stakes winners and 68 stakes winners. The two-time allowance winner racing for the squirrel4 stable has yet to record a speed rating higher than 83. The lone mare in the field, she is ridden by winless rider H Holman,and goes off as the long shot at 9/1.
THEOLOGICAL (5 1-1-2 $34,820), ridden by C Wolff (8%), is the earlier co-favorite at 3/1. Another horse making its first attempt at the stakes level, he is coming off a third place allowance finish where he recorded a lifetime best speed rating of 97 at 9 furlongs. This son of ARAZI was bred by easterly3 and currently races out of the summit barn.
The other co-favorite is SPANISH HARLAN (10 2-2-3 $136,761) from the fleet1 stable. This colt won its first stakes attempt in the YOUR RULES Special at this same distance and is coming off a third place finish in the J.P. Losman (GII). The only runner with a previous stakes win, he also gets the services of jockey S Graylina (12%), rider of last week’s feature winner at this track.
EIGHT NINE (12 2-3-2 $71,486) at 7/1 is sired by BRAASHEE, who has yet to produce a stakes winner. After showing promise by ending 2006 with a second place run in the SAL BRIDGE Memorial Stakes, this colt has yet to hit the board in three stakes attempts as a three year old. Saddled by trainer virus316, the horse will be ridden by jockey L Secret (6%).
ARRESTED THIEF (10 3-3-2 $81,716) makes his second try at the stakes level after recording a lifetime best 92 SP last time out, a third place finish in allowance company. This very well bred colt (CAT THIEF x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x NIJINSKY II) comes from a producer of multiple graded stakes winners. Bred and raced by verygooday, he will be ridden by jockey B Lanhorne (10%).
After failing to record a win as a two year old in seven attempts, SHIMISHIMISHAKE (11 2-2-4 $78,553) has shown much better promise lately. After breaking his maiden first time out in ’07, he followed up with an allowance win and two strong stakes runs, finishing 3rd and 2nd. He will be ridden by jockey E Stinson (21%), who has had good success this year despite a limited number of rides. Sired by a grandson of ROBERTO (SAHM), he appears to just be hitting his stride and may be ready for his strongest performance yet.
The lightly raced colt BRISKEN (6 1-0-3 $31,368) has responded well to a recent switch from dirt to turf three races ago. Since switching to turf, he has recorded three straight 90+ SPs, including a maiden win his first time on the surface and a third place finish last time out in the ALYRAP ROAR Memorial Stakes. Jockey L Owens (7%) gets the call for breeder and trainer wes32.
The race is a very tough one for this “newbie” to predict, with most of the field appearing capable of possibly pulling off the win. My best guess: The early lead will come from MELODRAMA with SHIMISHIMISHAKE not far beyond and SPANISH HARLAN making a late run at the leaders. I like jockey Graylina picking up his second straight feature win on SPANISH HARLAN, followed by SHIMISHIMISHAKE and THEOLOGICAL.