Prince of the Big Hill Stakes, or is it Princess?

Written by LittleBit

A full field of fourteen 2 year olds head to post for the seven furlong Grade 2 Big Hill Stakes.  There are not one but three horses looking to extend their perfect record led by Grade 3 winner and co favorite Doubled Exposure.  The other co favorite is fellow Grade 3 winner and filly invader She Walksin Beauty.  This is a tough and talented group of juveniles and a continuation of any win streak is at risk.  Plenty of speed in the race could easily lead to quick fractions and a come from behind winner.  The time has come to take a look at the field for the $375,000 Grade 2 Big Hill Stakes.

 

PP 1,  9/1  Fits Like This, Colt, (Flatter x Danzig x Storm Cat) Scratchbred

Trainer: extras5

This son of Flatter ran a big race last out finishing second to currently undefeated Jungle Pirate in his first stakes attempt, the Grade 2 Closest Friend Stakes.  In each of his starts he has shown growth and improvement and the added sixteenth of a mile should be to his liking.  Another step forward and Fits Like This could easily find himself in the winner’s circle.

 

PP 2,  12/1  Whitetail Buck, Gelding, (White Muzzle x Peintre Celebre x Rahy)

Trainer: meezy

After breaking his maiden in a $45,000 maiden claimer on August 3, Whitetail Buck is now a perfect two for two heading into his first stakes attempt.  Both his wins have come at seven and a half furlongs and the Big Hill Stakes will be a cut back in distance.  He has the talent to handle it however I would be more comfortable seeing him at a mile.

 

PP 3,  6/1  Carsons Way, Colt, (Congrats x Carson City x Wild Again) Scratchbred

Trainer: fantasticfour

Carsons Way is the lone Grade 2 winner in the field and looking to redeem himself after missing the winners circle by a length last out in the Grade 1 Hopeless Stakes.  Co-third choice on the morning line, the son of Congrats has improved in each of his four starts and will be in the mix when the horses cross the finish line.

 

PP 4,  6/1  Right Royal Trip, Colt, (Trippi x Redoute’s Choice x Storm Cat)

Trainer: connor1

Right Royal Trip enters this race sporting the top speed figure of the group with a 90 earned last out in the Mount Billy Dirt Juvenile in which he took the lead and never looked back.  A perfect three for three he will be cutting back to a distance I think he will love.  There is a fair amount of speed in this race and if he can show the ability to rate and come from just off the pace he will do well.

 

PP 5,  58/1  Darskelis, Colt, (Storm the Sars x Birdstone x Victory Gallop (CAN))

Trainer: anewstar1

The longest shot on the board, Darskelis is looking for a breakout performance.  Last out he cut back in distance and broke his maiden in statebred allowance company going four and a half.  He should like the stretch out however he may need more time to mature before we know his true ability.

 

PP 6,  15/1  Red Holiday, Colt, (Decorated Knight x Harlan’s Holiday x Danzig)

Trainer: deepesr

Red Holiday is on the improve since making a switch to dirt and while this race will be a cut back in distance, his lone try over seven furlongs resulted in a one and three quarters length score.  That win was followed up by a solid first try in graded company last out.  I expect him to be mid pack early and looking to take advantage of what could be quick fractions up front.

 

PP 7,  8/1  Ghostly Knight, Colt, (Ghostzapper x A.P. Indy x Secretariat) Scratchbred

Trainer: peterparker

A well bred son of Ghostzapper, Ghostly Knight is searching for his first graded win after fading to fifth last out in the Deli Computer Futurity.  Although he seems to prefer the lead, he did show an ability to sit just off the lead in his maiden score.  He may need to settle a bit further back and let the speed come back to him.

 

PP 8,  26/1  Ad Time, Colt, (Ad Infinitum x Square Eddie x Majestic Warrior)

Trainer: tfon24

Ad Time enters the race after a third place effort in lifetime allowance company last out. While he didn’t win he did show a large improvement in his numbers and showed an ability to close.  With the knowledge that he can close and that he will have pace to run at, he will be one to keep an eye on.  The addition of distance will work in his favor and if he makes another step forward he should not disappoint his trainer.

 

PP 9,  14/1  Streaky Intuition, Colt, (Hansen x Curlin x Medaglia D’Oro)

Trainer: bigsteve1

Streaky Intuition skipped home by three lengths last out in his first try at seven furlongs and while it sounds promising, it was a four horse field in which he was much the best on paper.  His breeding suggests a different story and helps his cause.  A son of the speedy Hansen out of a stakes winning Curlin mare, Streaky Intuition should enjoy the seven furlongs and want more ground in the future. In three starts he has never been worse than third and is always there at the end. He isn’t my pick today but he is one to watch heading into the three year old season.

 

PP 10,  19/1  Windy Union, Colt, (Rafeef (AUS) x Dixie Union x Aptitude)

Trainer: adeeprock6

The mud loving Windy Union is in tough here however he did show some growth in his last start.  He will be cutting back in distance and it is hard to say if that will work in his favor or not.  Time and maturity will help this son of Rafeef.

 

PP 11,  5/1  She Walksin Beauty, Filly, (Distorted Humor x Seattle Slew x Roberto) Scratchbred

Trainer: valesa6

The lone filly in the race is your co favorite and deserving of the honor.  A Grade 3 winner, She Walksin Beauty missed the Grade 1 win last out by only three quarters of a length in a strong performance and first try at seven furlongs.  Her ability to stalk the pace will be useful here.

 

PP 12,  10/1  Hard to Follow, Colt, (Liam’s Map x Hard Spun x Carson City)

Trainer: 2019firsters

This son of Liam’s Map is hoping the cut back in distance will be more to his liking after finishing tenth last out in the Grade 2 Darling Squash Futurity.  A closer, this race should set up perfectly for Hard to Follow.  If you are looking for a price, this one might be it.

 

PP 13,  5/1  Double Exposure, Colt, (Shackleford x Seeking the Gold x Deputy Minister)

Trainer: zebra5

Two stalls out is your other co favorite, Double Exposure, a full brother to Grade 3 winner Deliciouslynaughty. The son of Shackleford heads into this race with a perfect five for five record and searching for his second graded stakes score.  This will be a mild stretch out for him and his breeding suggests he will want more.  His versatility to pressure the pace or sit just off it will be to his advantage.

 

PP 14,  11/1  Branches, Colt, (Forestry x A.P. Indy x Wild Again)

Trainer: robd11

After an experiment on the grass last out, Branches makes a return to the dirt and continues the search for a stakes win.  Although his race record isn’t as flashy as others in the field he has been right there in all of his starts, let’s toss out that turf race.  I would not be surprised to see him on the board or even in the winner’s circle.  His mid pack closing style will be a huge advantage.

 

LittleBit’s Pick: 11-14-13-1

 

Good Luck and Save Travels to All!