Preview – The Thank You Stakes

 

 

 

Japan (JPN)
Saturday, February 24, 2018 — 2:50 PM EST | Race ID: 1944245
The Thank You Stakes
Grade 3 Stakes – Purse $150,000
Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older
Seven Eights of a Mile on Turf

 

# 1
santiago de chile               jockeyrobledo18 barn       i suzuki                      8/1

This son of Thunder Gulch has competed almost exclusively in Stakes and Grade 3 Stakes races and has finished in the money in eleven of those eighteen starts. He is a come from behind specialist usually depending on a late dash to get him to the finish line and may need an extra push to get there today.

# 2
mister nice guy                  baff2014e barn                    h critchlow               9/2

This 5 year old son of Choisir began his career with an impressive streak of seven wins in a row including four Stakes victories. He is a consistent runner with speed with twenty one straight races with speed over 100. He looks to improve on a fourth place finish at this race last year but will have some tough competition in this field of fourteen.

#3
paco’s giant                        jcasino barn                         r dowell                     10/1

This four year old colt won twice at this distance in Grade 2 races as a two year old and four of his seven career victories have come at this distance on the turf. His last Grade 3 start resulted in an eight place finish but he has since followed that with two third place showings at Stakes races. He should be competitive here today and could challenge for a spot on the board.

# 4
feast on goodness            horizons barn                      t snider                      27/1

Our youngest and most inexperienced entry comes in with only ten starts under his belt. He has not run since November and was last on the board back in May. He may be overmatched here today but I see good things in his future as he gains more experience. I will keep an eye on him for future starts to see how he progresses.

# 5
dark city castle                   deeprock78 barn                b parker                    60/1

This four year old son of Var had a nice start last time out achieving his first speed rating over 100 of his career. Raced exclusively on dirt early on and has performed better since switching to turf. He has not been successful in previous Graded Stakes but hopes his luck will change here today. He will need better than his best to compete with this tough filed today.

#6
trailblaze it                           scorehobby3 barn             j ventura                    5/1

This five year old has won ten times in nineteen starts and has claimed victory on all three surfaces. He seems to have settled in on the Turf and had a nice showing at a Grade 1 Stakes race in New Zealand to begin this season. He should blaze a nice trail against this group and I expect him to be in the mix from start to finish.

#7
depression hurts               jbcri24 barn                          j van dam                  8/1

This five year old had an impressive Grade 3 win at the “German Sprint Cup” at this distance back in October. After a nice break he came back on New Year’s Day and finished second going seven and a half furlongs in Paris. He has shown good speed over his last nine starts and he should be in contention here today.

# 8
ozzy tadanah                      ozzybred6 barn                   m russell                   10/1

This five year old son of Exceed and Excel comes in on a three race win streak with his most recent victory coming at the “Spring Head Turf” where he waited patiently before making his move for the wire. This is his first Graded Stakes race but he will fit in nicely with this group and will like the distance. He should be in the mix to finish in the money.

# 9
daddy giff                            nagsrus barn                       s wooley                   10/1

 

This five year old “ghost” (http://blacktypebugler.com/?p=43723) comes in following a seventh place finish at a Grade 3 Stakes at this same distance at the end of January. He ran in the middle of the pack the whole way and wasn’t able to challenge. He will try his luck again today against this field of fourteen. Based on past performance I may be inclined to take him to a mile or more and feel he may be more successful there.

# 10
dark n xcellent                   almitos7 barn                      w manfull                  69/1

Had back to back wins to start 2017 but has struggled since then, having not finished in the money once in eight starts. Has yet to reach speed of 100 or greater and will need that kind of speed to compete here. Not ready for this level yet and will not be a factor here today.

#11
user unknown                    autografs barn                    i lopez-onna             30/1

Makes his first Graded Stakes start today following a nice start in late January where he ran a 107 at the “Spring Head Turf Sprint” to finish second. I like this colt and pick him as long shot pick against this field today. If he doesn’t hit the board here today, he will in the near future.

# 12
sepoy og kush                   baff2014c barn                    r harzheim                12/1

This four year old son of Sepoy started his career with four straight victories including the Grade 3 Stakes “M.L. Trophy”. Five more victories have followed since then along with one second place finish. He ended the 2017 season with tow subpar starts and his first as a four year old resulted in a seventh place finish. This strong field of fourteen may be too big a test for him today.

#13
general desaix                   buffy7 barn                          g moss                      5/1

This five year old gelding has finished in the money in eighteen of twenty-four starts and has only finished outside the pay once since being gelded a year ago. His impressive speed ratings over that time period make him one to watch out for and I expect he will be a factor today against this field of fourteen.

# 14
skallinger                             generic08 barn                    a smith                      7/1

This five year old son of Fastnet Rock has finished in the money in sixteen of his nineteen starts. He is a previous winner of a Grade 3 Stakes as he was successful over six furlongs at “The Chipchaser” back in late June. He followed that up with a runner up at “The Hungry Ford” at the same distance as today.  Definitely seems like a force to be reckoned with.

 

dunnpicks

trailblaze it
general desaix
mister nice guy

longshot

ozzy tadanah