Grade I North Fork Stakes: Two-Year-Old Colts Square Off in California

A field of fourteen will be looking for their first Grade I win on Saturday in the Grade I North Fork Stakes, which will be run at 8.5 furlongs on a fast main track. For many, the question will be whether the colts in here can handle the added distance.

(1) DEPLORABLE TB (owner shadyrest5, 6/1) is already a multiple graded stakes winner, having won his last two starts – both were in Grade II events, including his last start over this California main track. He put up 90+ SP numbers in both of those starts, and looks to be in really good form coming into this race. The son of Pleasantly Perfect and Grade I winning mare KILGALLEN will be stretching out, and I’m not sure that fits his pedigree. His mother was mostly a sprinter, so while he’s in as good of form as any in the field, the distance is a question mark.

(2) HUSSLE HARD (owner thebaker, 10/1) makes his first start on the main track, fresh off a win in the Group III Premie Champion Stakes. That race was at a mile over the turf course. After winning that race, this is an interesting move for the Japan-bred, who seems to have a pretty turf-strong pedigree. Of course, you never know whether these horses will take to the new surface or not. That last race was a sign that he liked the longer distance. If he does take to the dirt, he has a shot to be involved.

(3) LILANGO (owner morn3333, 12/1) has been knocking on the door of a graded stakes victory in his past two starts. The colt finished second in the Grade II Closest Friend Stakes last time out here in California. Before that, he also finished second in a Grade III. He stretches out quite a bit here, running a quarter mile longer than his previous race, which is a big change. I don’t think he’ll mind going longer here.

(4) FOUR STAR A.P. (owner calbreds, 16/1) is a California-bred trying to make some noise here at his home track. His first race was here in California back in March, when he finished fourth. He’s been in allowance races ever since, gradually improving along the way. The son on Game A.P. is fresh off his maiden win over in Vermont last month, where he won by nearly two lengths with a SP number of 83. If he can improve from the last effort, he could be in contention here, but this is a big step up in class.

(5) READY FAN (owner vertain9, 8/1) put together two wins earlier in the year, once in a maiden race in May and then in an allowance race in June. His last race was in the Grade II Closest Friend here in California, where he finished third behind LILANGO despite starting from post 14. He’s another one in here who is stretching out quite a bit. He closed into a hot pace last time out, and his pedigree seems to support the stretchout. He could be dangerous in this spot.

(6) GIFFINCAT (owner graywolf4, 20/1) is a New York-bred who has had the most success in state-restricted races. He did have a nice race last time out in New York earlier this month, where he finished second in a state-bred allowance race. That race was at 8 furlongs, so he didn’t seem to mind the stretchout. The son of Griffinite struggled in his first stakes race back in July, an ungraded event in Louisiana. He finished midpack in that race, and never really got involved. I’m not sure he’ll fare much better here against a tougher field.

(7) SUPER SPUN (owner crandyv, 14/1) has yet to finish out of the money in three lifetime starts, and has made some nice strides in those races. He started here in California in the maiden claiming ranks, winning at first asking. After venturing to Texas, he came back to the West Coast and finished second here last month in what was a pretty solid open allowance field. After holding the lead for most of the way, he got passed in the end and finished second. I’m not sure the extra sixteenth of a mile will help him. This is a big step up, but he could show up underneath.

(8) BREAKING WICKED (owner kody3, 9/1) has been moving through the ranks quickly, winning in his first start and then hitting the board in both of his subsequent starts in ungraded stakes races. He then moved up to the graded level, finishing a very close second in the Grade II Upper New York Special last month, where he threw down an SP of 89 – one of the best in the field. Like many others, he’ll be travelling a quarter mile farther than he has before. His father, Wicked Strong, did well at the route distances in his career, so BREAKING WICKED might like the longer distance too.

(9) DEVIL’S GATEKEEPER (owner atw14, 10/1) finished fourth in his first race back in May, but has rattled off three wins in a row since. The son of Arrogate is fresh off an open allowance over this surface last month, putting up an SP number of 87. He stays here in California, and this will be a significant jump in class. That being said, that last race was solid and showed he can hold his own against talented colts. He could make some noise in this spot.

(10) WORTH THE LAUGHS (owner racinqueen, 14/1) has had a busy two-year-old campaign so far, as this will be his eighth start of the year. This Indiana-bred is a son of Airoforce, who is not one of the sires you typically see in a race like this. He has been beating up on Indiana-breds over the course of the year, but did not make a whole lot of noise in either of the two ungraded stakes races that he was in. He’s been improving throughout the season, but I’m just not sure he’ll be up to the challenge against a field of this caliber.

(11) SEATTLE STORM GATE (owner ddkstables25, 5/1) is another offspring of Arrogate, and he has dazzled in his two starts so far, comfortably winning both and registering an SP of 89 last time out. He really could not have looked much better in either of those starts, and looks like a big threat to win in here. The bloodline is impressive too – Arrogate x Storm Cat x Seattle Slew. Two-year-old races always have a level on unpredictability, but he looks like a major contender in here. I’d be surprised if he doesn’t hit the board.

(12) DOUBLE F’N HELIX (owner connection, 9/1) is 2 for 2 so far, winning a maiden and an allowance race. He is the son of Honor Code and Grade I winning mare THE BULB FACTOR, and has looked good in both of those wins. He just won over in Kentucky last month in a NW2L allowance race. The distance should not be an issue for this colt, and it certainly looks like he could be a factor in here – he’s one of several very talented horses toward the outer part of the field.

(13) ELK GROVE DANNY (owner signals4, 14/1) adds some more flavor to this race, as he is a Texas-bred son of Sequoia Grove. He is out of successful mare STORM SPUN, and has won 3 out of 4 lifetime starts. It’s been quite the journey so far – he was claimed in his first career start, a $50,000 claimer in Virginia. He followed that up with two wins and a really good second last time out in an open allowance race in New York, finishing a length behind the favorite in this race, SEATTLE STORM GATE. He could be one to watch in here at a price.

(14) WEST COAST CHROME (owner moreready9, 11/1) has been lighting it up lately in the Lone Star State, winning his last two and never finishing off the board in five lifetime starts. The son of California Chrome has been improving as the races have been getting longer, and won by 2 1/2 lengths in his last race, a NW2L allowance race. He’s been trending in the right direction, and he certainly could play a big factor in this race at a bit of a price.

My Picks:

(11) SEATTLE STORM GATE, 5/1 – He’s by no mean a sure thing in a field this talented, but the pedigree and results so far indicate that he could be tough to beat.

(12) DOUBLE F’N HELIX, 9/1 – Another one who is 2 for 2, and seems to be a logical contender.

(8) BREAKING WICKED, 9/1 – Was a head away from a graded stakes win last time out. Shouldn’t mind the stretchout.

(13) ELK GROVE DANNY, 14/1 – Going to take a shot with the Texas-bred, who looked good in his last race.

Have a great day!