G2 DUE NORTH STAKES 6f
With seven Graded races on the card, New York race fans are eagerly awaiting a super days racing this Saturday. Without doubt the highlight of the day will be the running of G1 The New Yorker where the Ataun (KY) and Awesome Force (KY) are set to continue rivalry. Also attracting interest will be the ninth running of the G2 Due North Stakes carrying $250,000 in prize money for three-year and older sprinters over 6 furlongs on dirt. While none of the current top 10 ranked dirt sprinters are engaged the race has still drawn a good mix of established and up and coming sprinters.
PP 1 AUDACIOUS CHILOE (KY) – want2win A.Sailor (5.9%) 99/1
Three-year-old willing to take on the older horses and form coming into this does not give much confidence. Two times Stakes winner as a two-year-old and has been struggling ever since; best effort this season was three starts ago when finished 9th at Stakes level with a 86 Speed Rating. May find the shorter distance more to his liking but would prefer against own age group at allowance level. Sire by More Than Ready who has a history of producing quality sprinters including the dual Grade 1 sprint winner Benny Being Benny.
PP 2 SOY DE PONCE – ivanyamil R.Bullock (9.8%) 8/1
Lightly raced six-year-old whose best win to date has been at Grade 3 level over route distance, three starts back equalled career best Speed Rating of 110 when finishing 2nd at Stakes level over 7 furlongs. Followed that with poor 16th of 19 in the G1 Dr. Reuben Garr Memorial on turf before last starts owner restricted win when returned to dirt. From the last crop of super sire Danehill out of the Mr. Prospector he-mare Duke Walter who was a six-time route winner. Last start recorded a 108 Speed Rating but will find this a lot harder than recent competition.
PP 3 JUMPING SAL – thebandit W.McClendon (26.3%) 5/1
Winner of three from five this season including the G2 Florida BB Sprint Championship II with a career best 113 Speed Rating and the G3 Palbo Cruz Handicap. Followed with a disappointing 11th in the G1 The Billy and Jimmy Stakes before an improved effort when 5th in the G1 Cary Carter Handicap last start. Was super impressive earlier this season and may found Grade 1 above him in the last couple, comes into this as race favourite and chances helped with top jockey booked to ride.
PP 4 ELROD’S GOLD – russ H.McCoy (22%) 10/1
Stakes winner as a three-year-old who opened four-year-old season with a 3rd at Stakes level when tried to lead the entire journey. Dropped to allowance race last two where he finished 2nd followed with a win when recording career best Speed Rating 106 last start. Sired by Seeking the Gold who has produced 35 graded winners from five seasons at stud out of the he-mare Elrod on the Smock who was Grade 2 winner over the sprint journey. Has been struggling at Stakes level recently but will appreciate the shorter trip here after taking early lead in last three races.
PP 5 BACHELOR PARTY – super19 N.Lawon (22%) 8/1
Has been taken along patiently by connections and after winning fifth allowance race three starts back was stepped up to Graded level. At first graded attempt ran a career best Speed Rating 108 to easily win the G3 Ferris Buller Stakes, followed last start with a 2nd in the G3 MD Breeders Bowl when just failed to catch the early leader by ¼ length. Last three races have been impressive over this distance and surface and form leading into this suggest he will be hard to beat.
PP 6 C.V. CAT (KY) – reclaimed D.Givins (24%) 32/1
Three times Stakes winner who recorded career best 100 Speed Rating when finishing 2nd two starts back at Stakes level, failed last start in the G2 Captain Cook when attempting 9 furlongs for the first time. Three-year-old who has been placing consistently at Stakes level but is yet to place in Graded race from three attempts. Form suggests he will struggle against the older horses here and chances not helped with the fast surface.
PP 7 PEQUIN CAT – quietly A.Rolling (25.9%) 7/1
Grade 1 winner of the G1 The Billy and Jimmy Stakes last year who has a tendency to mix his form, has consistently been competing at Grade 1 level and three starts back finished 3rd when returned to Stakes level. Followed that with a 106 Speed Rating when finishing 2nd in the G1 The Billy and Jimmy Stakes before last start’s disappointing 9th in the G1 Gary Carter Handicap. Sire by Tabasco Cat out of the Spinning World mare Chubby Inn whose four runners to date are all winners. Is yet to win over this distance after seven attempts and has come into this at surprising short odds.
PP 8 BOOGIE WOOGIE B (KY) – thundererg99 A.Tuten (5.7%) 18/1
Three-year-old coming into this with the record of six wins from 12 career starts, won at Stakes level three starts back over 7.5 furlongs when recording career best 103 Speed Rating. Failed at next start over route distance before making amends with a win in the G2 Pea Shooters Handicap over this distance and surface. Has won three from three over the sprint journey but will be taking on the older horses for the first time here, will find this tougher than last start and may not be seasoned enough at this stage of his career.
PP 9 HOLD YOUR THUNDER – graywolf10 L.Hoskins (9.9%) 16/1
Winner over this distance and surface at Stakes level as a three-year-old who has been struggling to be competitive against easier competition recently. After poor performances at Stakes level was returned to allowance races where he has won his last two. Will find this a lot harder than last couple and would be better suited at Stakes level, sire by Thunder Puddles who is yet to produce a Graded winner from five seasons at stud.
PP10 SARATOGA SPECIAL – texasace F.Gossett (23%) 7/1
Two times Stakes winner this season having first Graded race here, has won seven of 10 starts including five from six over this distance and surface. Two starts back won at Stakes level recording career best 110 Speed Rating; followed that with a nose second at Stakes level over route distance. Sired by Touch Gold who also has the current number 1 ranked long dirt and seven times Grade 1 winner Xtremely Gold among his credits. Only lightly raced and recent form has been good coming into his first Graded appearance.
PP 11 DEATH ALLEY DRIVER – sdmy5 P.Haynes (26.6%) 10/1
Comes into this as the highest ranked horse in the dirt sprint category at #15. Three starts back finished 2nd at Stakes level before going on to take out the G1 The Billy and Jimmy Stakes when recording career best 109 Speed Rating. Followed with a disappointing 7th of 9 in the G2 Mansur LeRoys Handicap over the route distance last start. Returns to sprint distance here and may have found the distance beyond him last start and may be worthwhile to over look that effort.
PP 12 SKANONYMOUS – sighclone B.F.Abman (23.3%) 6/1
Grade 2 winner of the G2 Florida BB Sprint Championship II over 7 furlongs last year and has only been sparingly raced this season. Two starts back returned to the winners stall with a good win at Stakes level and followed with another good effort when 2nd at Stakes level last start. Is the sole Graded winner of sire Yonaguska from five seasons at stud but has shown he is competitive at this level. Has been finishing his races strongly but may find the distance a fraction short, now as a six-year-old would like to see connections give him another chance at route distance.
PP 13 FUSAICHI PANTOM – 2totango J.White (22.1%) 10/1
Has been taken along quietly by connections and after winning eighth at allowance level two starts back had first attempt at Graded level where he finished 3rd in the G3 Kentucky BB Sprint last start. Sired by Fusaaichi Pegasus who has produced the dual Grade 2 sprint winner Biting Insects among his 12 graded winners to date. Is yet to win at Stakes level and connections have given him a big challenge here, will need to improve on last effort when recording 105 Speed Rating.
PP 14 PARADISE ROAD – husky C.Ambrose (5.1%) 15/1
Comes into this with four wins from 15 career starts, won second allowance race four starts back before twice failing at Stakes level. Broke through for first Stakes win last start when recording career best Speed Rating of 100 when won at seventh attempt. Sired by Awesome Force who currently has the number 1 ranked older dirt sprinter and three times Grade 1 sprinter Ab Fab to his credits. Is facing a huge class rise and would need to improve be dramatically on last start to finish in the top three here.
A glance at the form brings Jumping Sal, Death Alley Driver and Skanonymous to hand quickly; all are established as Graded 1 or 2 winners and are racing well enough to take this out. Bachelor Party and Saratoga Special look as if they are capable of taking the step to Grade winners and both stables are expecting a bold showing. While three-year-olds Boogie Woogie B, Audacious Chiloe and C.V. Cat are facing big challenge to be the first ever of their age group to win the race. Of the reminder, Penquin Cat looks to be the only other in contention but would need to be at his absolute best to win here.
1st – JUMPING SAL 2nd – SARATOGA SPECIAL 3rd – SKANONYMOUS