Great Fishing Hole Stakes – Looks to be a great contest

This week’s feature race in Mexico is the Great Fishing Hole Stakes at Grade III level over the 6 furlongs on the fast dirt track for a purse of $125,000 open to all horses 3 years old, and it is always exciting when there is a Graded race on the card for a day. The excitement level at the track is elevated as owners of the horses come from all places to hopefully see their wonderful investment or passion claim the ultimate prize in racing.

This weekend’s race has attracted a top quality field of 14 runners from all over the American division and I have flown here a few days early and have had the opportunity to watch the runners go through their final paces and have a chat to what trainers I could catch up with to get their opinions.

So let’s get into it and have a look at the field in more detail:

Morph the Cat trained by Trotter2: This statuesque brown colt by Cat Thief has won 4 of his 11 starts and has been competing against the very best. He ran last time out in the Bluegrass Derby where he finished a well beaten 20^th place with a super performance prior to that when second in the Sand Castle Derby. He comes into this race after a 4 weeks break from the Bluegrass. He has exquisite sprinting form with 4 wins and 2 seconds from 6 starts and a Grade 3 win back in week 2951 in the Closest Friend Stakes. He looked a picture as he quickened up over the last 2 furlongs of his 5 furlong gallop and he trotted off the track on his toes. Trotter was waiting for him when he returned and he said “We were disappointed in the Bluegrass, but hey you only get one chance as a 3yo to win those races. He is probably better suited over the sprint trips but he is one who can stretch out as well. We just wanted to freshen him up after that last run and he has come up a treat”. He looks to be the class of this race.

Black Jack Blues trained by Blackswan: This guy is a very athletic looking chestnut colt who has won 6 of his 11 starts and led all the way last time out in an amazing performance to win the Grade 3 MD Breeders Bowl over this distance. He looks to be a natural front runner so will need to get there easily. He looked great just trotting a couple of laps if the fibre track as the sun rose. Blackswan said “It was a dynamic performance last time out, but out concern is that that was only 2 weeks ago. We have really had our work cut out trying to freshen him up but he has brightened up significantly the last few days. He was pretty tired after that last run. He will certainly give them something to chase”. That he will, and he may just be too fast for them.

Fat Flabby Slob trained by Matrepok: A beautiful looking grey colt by Saarland who has won 8 of his 13 starts including his last 5 in a row and 4 stakes races. He looks to just stalk the pace and there will be plenty of pace in this race. He won with a 103 speed figure last time out 3 weeks back so he should be well rested for another top performance here. He looked bright and alert as he came out and cantered 2 laps of the sand track with the track rider holding him under a tight rein. Matrepok said “That was all we wanted him to do, just a nice piece of light work. He is hard and fit and on a nice winning streak and he deserves his chance at some Graded glory”. He certainly deserves his chance and this could be a nice race for him.

Ma Sicuro trained by Sibi2: This colt it a solid athletic type by Theatrical and is a multiple stakes winner. He has been competing consistently in stacke class with his last 7 starts at that level with 2 wins including a nice win last time out in the West for Sea Challenge. He makes the jump to Graded class here for the first time and he deserves the chance. He looked great in his final work out when he galloped with a companion over the 5 furlongs and he was getting the upper hand in the final furlong. Sibi2 said “He comes into this race with good form but does drop back in distance. He is probably better suited over a longer trip but does have a good sprinting record. Wh are very hopeful”. He looks a solid chance.

Indy Gold Jungle trained by Bloodrock: A very tall and lanky brown colt by the super sire AP Indy here who has won 5 of his 14 starts. He switched surfaces last time to the turf and certainly did not handle it well at all with a disastrous last place. He has not won in his last 6 races which is of concern especially at this level and last time at this level he was well held in the Giant Slayer Classic. He looked fit when he was let down his last 3 furlongs on the main track and he came of the track blowing quite heavily. Bloodrock said “It has effectively been 6 weeks since his last run as he did not put in last start. This is a suitable race for him but he will really need to lift his game here to be in the finish”. He will really need to run out of his skin here and get a good bounce of that last turf start.

Hollow Halo trained by Nextbonus: A very compact looking colt by Speightstown who comes into this race after winning 6 of his 11 starts including a stakes win last time out. He ran very well 2 starts back in the South Bronx Stakes at this level when he finished third and he did run a 100+ speed figure last time out. He did not come out onto the track to do any work as Nextbonus preferred to give him a long walk and a couple of laps in the pool. Nextbonus said “He likes to race fresh so 4 weeks since his last run is ideal. A swim and a walk is all he needed as he did a good piece of work earlier in the week. He improved last start with his first 100+ speed figure so hopefully he can go on with the job here for his first graded win”. With further improvement he will be a contender here.

Majestic Sakhee trained by Factorx: The least experienced colt in the race is the well built Sakhee colt with only 5 starts but 3 wins. He won 3 starts back with a 103 speed figure on an off track so a soft track would suit him here. He has run second in his last 2 stakes races and makes his graded debut. He looked wonderful as he strode around the course proper with a nice piece of work down the stretch and he came off the track on his toes. Factorx said “This guys potential is unlimited, he has just missed his past 2 runs when he has tried to lead but he will hopefully get a good run here and live up to what he has always shown us in his work. He is a future graded winner like his dad so hopefully he breaks through here”. A colt with a good looking future.

Go To The Mountain trained by Xstitch: A compact colt by Perfect Soul who has won 4 of his 8 starts and recorded a career high speed figure last time out on the off track of 92. He is a stakes winner and comes into this race off a last start allowance win. He looked a likely type when trotting around the fibre track well before the sun rose so I did not get a good look at him. Xstitch said “He has continued to improve every run and he was suited on the off track last time. He will certainly need significant improvement, speed figure wise here to be competitive but he is hard and fit and deserves his chance”. Probably has his work cut out here in his toughest test to date.

Fraktal trained by Muninn240: This is a fantastic looking colt by Dynaformer who has won 4 of his 8 starts and more impressively all of his 3 starts on dirt. He is one who likes to lead and that could pose a problem here and set the race up for something to come from off the speed. He has won his past 3 races and the last 2 with 98 speed figures. He is making the step up to Graded class so that is the big test. He looked fit and well as he did some light work just going half pace and then quickening to evens down the stretch finishing under a strong hold. Muninn240 said “He has been super impressive since switching to the dirt and he won well last time out in stakes class. A graded race was the next step and this race suited his program. He will look to maintain his natural running style so hopefully he runs well’. He will need further speed figure improvement but looks capable.

Made Myself trained by Epcotlen3: A tall and lanky colt by Pleasantly Perfect who has won 3 of his 9 starts and makes his graded debut here after a solid stakes win in the Seeking The Cat last time out. He certainly has been mixing his distances and surfaces with a mixture of 3 routes and 6 sprints and 5 dirt runs and 4 turf starts. He definitely has ability and he looked a picture when he was just sent out to trot around the centre sand track for his final piece of work. Epcotlen3 said “He was impressive last time for his first stakes win, the owners wanted to give him a chance at a graded race and this suited his program. He is a front runner so there will be a lot of pace on here so he will give them something to chase. We really don’t know how good he is at the moment as he has shown a lot on the track but has not fully realised it in his races….yet!” I sense and air of confidence here so he could be one to look out for.

Summer Gulch trained by Austar: A stunning looking colt by the Mr Prospector horse Gulch. He has only had 7 starts but has won 2 of them and comes into this race after and good open allowance win last time out with a 94 speed figure. He makes his graded debut and would appear to be in well over his head here. He looked relaxed when he galloped with a companion and they were let down the last furlong and they both crossed the line together but Summer Gulch looked to be travelling the better. Austar said “This is certainly his biggest test to date, he has shown a lot in his track work and he has had some problems. He is over them now as shown by his last win. He will be up on the speed so he has his chance here”. He looks to have his work cut out for him here.

Devils Soul trained by Mamaxerxes: A smallish colt by Perfect Soul who has only won 2 races from his 10 starts. He only has speed figures in the mid 90’s so will have his work cut out here. He was also very well held in his last start, the Seeking The Cat Memorial but did run well for a 5^th place in the Nasty ‘n’ Bold Handicap at Grade 3 level 3 starts back. He did not do much this week as he was getting over the travel from Denmark but he looked bright when he was out having a pick of grass. Mamaxerxes said “This was a good chance to get him back to the American division, he will need to improve here but we brought him back here to increase his options. He is bright and well so we hope he runs well”. He will have to run up to his very best for a place here.

Left to Go trained by Seedly: A nicely filled out colt by Lemon Drop Kid who has only had the 5 races starts and makes his graded debut. He has won 2 of his 5 starts and won nicely last time out in a Nw3x allowance with an 84 speed figure. This guy was well held in his only stakes appearance 3 starts back so it is hard to see him making an impression here. He did look solid in his last work out with a companion when they galloped over the 6 furlongs with a run down over the last furlong. Seedly said “He is a promising type and this race will show us really what he has. It is a huge step up in class for him but you don’t know unless you try”. Hard to see him making an impression here.

No tips forthcoming from me, just good luck to all runners!!

Simon