Kissin Streetcry favourite in B.P.S.R. Memorial Derby Prep

PP1 OMEGA HAWK(FL) (OMEGA CODE x KINGSTON RULE x RUNAWAY GROOM) sinasta 20/1
Modestly bred colt in the Eaglehawk3 stables who makes his way here after comfortably accounting for a NW2L allowance race last time out.  Has been steadily improving since his debut 6 starts ago on turf where he was well beaten.  Has been unplaced just once since then, and a further improvement on his last start SP of 97 would see him go close here.  His only start in a stakes saw him finish mid-field in the group of 8 starters over a mile.  Would need to continue his steady improvement to match it in this class, and should be thereabouts during running and has made ground in each of his races since stepping up to 8 furlongs, so should appreciate the extra distance.

PP2 CASI CIELO(KY) (PLEASANTLY PERFECT x SEEKING THE GOLD x NIJINSKY II) sasscass 17/1
Keely sends her Pleasantly Perfect colt, out of a Grade G dam named Seeking Skypass, back onto the dirt after a failed attempt on turf last time in the Theregoesmyhero stakes.  Had recorded his best SP of 90 at each of his previous two starts, the second of which he broke his maiden in a NW2L allowance when equal favourite.  His best finish prior to breaking his maiden was in the D.P.C.D VI DelPenn MSW when he stormed home to grab second place coming from 19th early on.  Expect him to settle in the back couple and make a big charge home.  Yet to prove himself at this level, so has a big question mark over him, but this looks his ideal distance, and would not surprise to see him prominant half way down the stretch.

PP3 FLAG THE BAND(KY) (DIXIELAND BAND x SEEKING THE GOLD x HOIST THE FLAG) slewpoke 8/1
Started his career with 2 starts on dirt, both resulting in third placings.  Was then switched to turf for his next 9 starts, immediately improving to break his maiden at his first try.  Mixed form for a while, struggling in a Grade III, before running some promising races with on the board finishes in NW2L allowances.  Fired up for a hat-trick on turf, finishing off with a commanding win over 9.5f in the Lois’s Prospects Stakes, but then last time out failed to beat a runner home in the Hulk Car Special.  Looks promising on the turf, so it’s a daring move by Slewsback to send him back to dirt.  Is certain to run out the distance, and best SP of 97 two starts back in winning his maiden stakes indicates he should be hard to beat no matter what surface he goes on.  Should go back worse than mid-field early and try and storm home.

PP4 SUNDAY ACE(ENG) (STARCRAFT (NZ) x SUNDAY SILENCE x ARAZI) rock63 77/1
Rock63’s Westward Look Racing Stables sets this fellow an ambitious task, with his record coming into this race being 15 starts for just 1 win.  A winner of less than $10k, he changed stables 2 starts ago when picked up in a claimer for $25k.  His first start for his new stable was a promising third in a cpu-restricted allowance when he charged home with an SP 81.  Last time out he struggled in Kentucky when well beaten over a mile, finishing 9th of 11.  Looks a promising claimer, but unfortunately it appears that he could be outclassed in this field.

PP5 ZABEEL WARRIOR(AUS) UKOK WARRIOR (AUS) x RANSOM CALLING x ZABEEL(NZ) hewett 13/1
Grade 1 winning colt from the Briant Breeding & Racing Empire aka ladofmanor, who has struggled mostly since rocketing into contention for the big races this year after winning the Sparkling Wine Stakes back in October.  Was prominant early on last time out in the Grade II All Saints Derby Prep Lock, but couldn’t hold his position and weakened for 13th place.  Before that he was dropped in class back to an allowance and easily accounted for the field of 6, going around as the short priced favourite from gate to wire.  Finished 10th and 11th at his preceeding two runs in graded stakes races, one on an off-track.  Hasn’t been able to better his SP of 95 that he ran back in his Grade I victory, which is a concern, as he will need to show some improvement to match it with this field.  However, Grade I winners are not that easy to come by, and he is obviously very smart on his day.

PP6 DE SPIRATION(KY) (DEHERE x DISTORTED HUMOR x LIVELY ONE) donnyb 15/1
Failed to make an impact last time in the Wet Project Special when settled 4th in a field of 5 and couldn’t get closer than that position.  Prior to that he came with a run at the half way mark, but was outgunned in the stretch to finish 3rd, beaten 2 lengths.  Looked promising in his 2 starts before that, both on off-tracks, when firstly winning over 6 furlongs, and then 3rd in a field of 4, but finishing less than a length off the winner in a NW3L allowance.  Has improved since stepping up in distance, running SPs of 95 at each of his last two races.  Has been thereabouts, but hasn’t quite looked up to winning a race like this so far, his best result a 3rd in a listed stakes.  Will be hoping for further improvement to match it with these.

PP7 CRANE MOUNTAIN(KY) (A.P. INDY x DEPUTY MINISTER x DAMASCUS) afc 12/1
Big improvement last time out when led from gate to wire for a massive win in a NW3L allowance, running an SP 95.  Opened up a lead of almost 6 lengths by the half way mark and cruised home to win by 2 1/4 lengths over 9.5 furlongs.  Before that he was outclassed by a handy runner when second, beaten by over 5 lengths.  Won his previous 2 starts, both by margins of 3/4 length, the first of which was his maiden win, beating Casi Cielo, and then finishing strongly to win a NW1x allowance with an SP 87.  Hasn’t been tested in this sort of company, but must be respected on the strength of his last start win.

PP8 KISSIN STREETCRY(KY) STREET CRY (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS x GONE WEST sherwood 5/1
Huge run last time out, which has propelled him to favouritism here.  Settled back in 11th place in the field of 14 and exploded through the field to nab victory on the line by the narrowest of margins.  Before that he came home strongly, but ran out of ground when third in the Dare to Say Go Stakes, and prior to that he was too good for his first stakes win, beating a small field by over 2 lengths.  Has won 4 of 7 now, and amassed $270k in prize money so far.  Another who will be closing late, and is one of only two in this field who has topped triple digit SPs.  Will be making his presence felt late in the stretch with in form jockey, S Tate (21%) in the saddle.

PP9 DR GULCH(KY) (GULCH x AFFIRMED x COX’S RIDGE) trauma92 13/1
Keely’s second runner in this race is this son of Gulch out of G Grade mare, Doctor Knife, who did her best over sprint distances.  Has been the early leader at 6 of his 8 starts, for a record of 2-1-1 and over $50k, so look for him to be prominant from the starting gate here again.   Last time out he proved he was worth a shot in graded company, with a commanding win in a NW2L allowance, when leading all the way to hit the line with a 2 length margin, and an SP 95.  His only try in a stakes race was a 5th in a field of 13, when he was tackled entering the home stretch and battled on fairly, while losing ground to finish over 9 lengths from the winner.  Comes off career best start, and if he can get to the front early should be able to give a bold sight.

PP10 JULY FIFTH(KY) (PULPIT x RAHY x FAPPIANO) hoffiebarn 6/1
In form galloper who comes here after an impressive victory in the Star Prospector Challenge over this distance, winning by 1 3/4 lengths with an SP 97.  Topped that at his start before that with a 98, but couldn’t find the winner’s circle, going down to front runner Sahara Desert in the Stosch Special.  Is yet to finish worse than 4th in any of his 9 career starts, and looks like that record should continue here.  He will be likely to go back in the field and storm home late for the lilbitfarm stables.  Went to the line with some in reserve last time, beating the field of 4, and looks like he could find something extra if required to get him over the line here.

PP11 WIZARDS FIRST RULE(KY) (DYNAFORMER x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x MISWAKI) aaafarms 15/1
Dual stakes winner who returns to the track after a mishap last time out in the Ridge Gordon Stakes when finishing last, beaten by almost 30 lengths.  Before that, he was competitive for a 4th place finish in the Beau’s Prospects Special when finishing strongly, and was 3rd in the Malt Capote Handicap three starts ago.  All 4 wins came in succession, firstly breaking his maiden at his first try on dirt, and comfortably accounting for a NW1x allowance field thereafter.  Improved again to beat a field of 4 in the Wings of a Dove Cap, and then topped off the winning streak with victory in the Irish Futurity (dirt only).  Looks like he has further improvement left, and would not surprise to see him bounce back and go well here.

PP12 LATIN(ENG) (MEDICEAN (GB) x NUREYEV x PYRITE) dokki2 25/1
Revelled on the off-track last time out when improved sharply to finsh second with an SP 92 in an allowance NW4L, despite having only saluted one time.  His last 3 runs have all been at this distance, commencing with a maiden victory by over 3 lengths in a full field of 14 in a MSW.  Followed that up with a well beaten 6th in a field of 8 when never looked a chance in a NW3L allowance.  He is the only offspring from dam, Deposit Tie, a Grade E mare, and winner of over $300k in prize money.  Would have appreciated some rain, but on the firm track and with a significant step up in class, he may find this a little tough. 

PP13 INVICTUS G(KY) (GRAND SLAM x A.P. INDY x MISWAKI) citation4 6/1
Promising type in the pgpg stables, hasn’t been able to stand up and score against stakes company, but went close enough last start to suggest he will be able to give them a run for their money here.  Got into a speed duel last time out and failed to fire when it counted, finishing second in the Opal Slew Memorial in a field of 4.  Before that he went a career best SP 101 in winning a NW3L hitting the front shortly after the half way mark and holding on in the stretch to score by more than 2 lengths.  Was not disgraced in the Mine Forest Challenge three starts ago, when 5th in a field of 11, running an SP 97, beaten 5 lengths.  Beautifully bred, and if he can find his competitive spirit today, looks to have the potential to beat this field from a prominant early position.

PP14 SKY HAPPY(AUS) (KING OF HAPPINESS x SKY CLASSIC x CARR DE NASKRA) lodog20 22/1
First time out of Australia for this Aussie bred 3yo, out of Grade G dam Keep The Radio On.  Crosses over to the American Division for the first time, and switches surfaces, for the third time out of his 13 starts.  Stepped up last time out to blitz a cpu restricted allowance field by 2 3/4 lengths with an SP 95.  That made it 2 from 2 for wins over routing distances, and he increases a further furlong from his last effort here.  Has been unplaced at both of his starts on dirt to date, the first of which was Hawk’s Baby Dirt Sprint where he finished 4th, and then 3 starts ago he finished fifth when 19/1 and never really a factor, beaten by just over 3 lengths.  Yet to prove himself on this surface, but looks promising on turf.  Will need to turn it around to be a threat here.

PP15 MINISTER HERO(SWE) (LOCAL HERO (SWE) x FORTY NINER x DEPUTY MINISTER) leo4 12/1
The Nickesyd stables sends this fellow out on his third try on the dirt, after 2 very encouraging efforts at his most recent starts.  Firstly he debuted on dirt at his ninth start, having completed a hat-trick back towards the end of last year on turf.  Immediately he showed he was more comfortable running on the main track, with a sharply improved SP of 94 in a NW4x allowance, finishing second.  Was tried in a stakes last time out over 7 furlongs, and was doing his best work at the finish, but ran out of track, beaten 2 3/4 lengths into fifth place.  Steps up again to a more testing distance, with a record of 5 starts for 1 win, no placings when run over a mile.  Dam has produced one stakes winner, and despite his poor showings in his 4 attempts at stakes so far, he could surprise with a bold showing.

PP16 SEEKING SUCCESS(KY) (SUCCESSFUL APPEAL x SEEKING THE GOLD x CRAFTY PROSPECTOR) mjclooch 10/1
Going from the outside gate, this M & J Stables runner has shown promise so far in his tough schedule, winning 4 of his 15 career starts.  A clever claim at his sixth start for only $10k, he has rewarded his new trainer with 2 more wins, however so far has not been able to hit the board in his 4 tries in stakes, including the most recent Grade II Bonnie Situation, where he never looked a winning chance, finishing eighth of 14.  Before that he was midfield in the Beau’s Prospects Special, just beaten by Wizard’s First Rule.  Backs up after having run only last week in a NW4x allowance, where he was soundly beaten, finishing fifth in a field of 7, and just over 4 lengths from the winner.  This is tougher, and would need to produce his best to be a winning chance here.