Haley’s Comet Stakes
Race : Haley’s Comet Stakes – Grade III – $125,000
Track : Montana
Restrictions : Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance : One mile on the Turf
Welcome to Big Sky Country for the 9th running of the Haley’s Comet Stakes. The fifteenth race on the card is the mile long race for fillies and mares on the turf. Only 5 have entered here, the smallest field since the inaugural race in 2000. The track is listed as yielding which could be an obstacle for some of the horses in the field. The Haley’s Comet Stakes has never been won by a horse with a previous graded win and all the horses in the field are going for their first graded victory here. Unfortunately, 6 of the 8 previous winners were never able to win against graded company again. All but one of the retired winners have produced at least stakes placing offspring. The stakes record is held by 2005 winner Storm Force with a 106. The record will probably stand unless one of these ladies has the best race of her career. Let’s look at the field:
PP 1 HIGH MOTIONS (IRE) (HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) x THEATRICAL(IRE) x IRISH RIVER(FR)) bred and trained by mstrinity1 (Trinity Stables, 4%) Odds: 3 to 5
There is not much not to like about this three year old out of Perfect Motion. High Motions is ranked 4th for turf classic 3 year olds, has never finished out of the money in her 13 career starts and has brought home well over half a million dollars for Trinity Stables. She is the favorite in a race where the favorites have won 4 times and she has drawn top jockey P. Wright who is having a great year, winning almost 30% of his races. She is coming of a second place finish at the G3-Appalooza Stakes where she posted her career high speed of 100. She is also the only horse in the field to find success on an off track. This one is going to be hard to beat.
PP 2 THE ORGANIZATION (AUS) (COMMANDS (AUS) x MR. PROSPECTOR x PHONE TRICK) bred by jimmyv24 and trained by jimdscott (Kaif Stables, 19%) Odds: 18 to 1
This three year old out of Jess Phone is making her stakes debut here. She is coming off two wire to wire victories in her previous two times out. Usually we when see a high price combined with a recent poor showing we can chalk the odds up to the horse just having a bad day. Unfortunately The Organization’s bad race was on a track listed as good and today’s is going to be worse, it is listed as yielding. So the two big questions for The Organization are whether she can handle the jump in class and the off track.
PP 3 KINDLE (KY) (LOST SOLDIER x TWO PUNCH x SUNDAY SILENCE) bred and trained by rocket33 (Rocket22 Stables, 11%) Odds: 5 to 1
After breaking her maiden on the dirt, Kindle went back and forth from dirt to turf for 5 more races until trainer Rocket22 decided to stick with the turf. She has brought home two more wins since then, but is looking for her first stakes win here in her graded debut. This 3 year old has raced on an off track before without any dramatic difference in her performance. The yielding turf here could work in her favor.
PP 4 BODOG BANDIT (KY) (UNBRIDLED’S SONG x DANEHILL x SADLER’S WELLS) bred and trained by turfking32 (Turfking Stables, 19%) Odds: 9 to 2
In PP 4 is another horse who broke her maiden on the dirt. Then trainer turfking32 switched Bodog Bandit to the turf and jumped her up to stakes. She has a handful of stakes wins and places and she finished third in her graded debut last October. This three year old out of Daddy Wells has only tried this distance twice. Once was a second place finish on the dirt and the other a 10th place finish in a G1 race. She is coming off a victory in her last time out at The PHARETA WISH (FR) Stakes. She has never tried an off track before and seems to prefer a shorter distance, both of these factors could affect her chances here.
PP 5 NAVAJO WELLS (TOCCET x SEEKING THE GOLD x BROAD BRUSH) bred by roys and trained by badasboots (Stevemunoz Stables, 15%) Odds: 3 to 1
There a lot of things looking good for Navajo Wells. This three year old out of Maricopa Well’s has a handful of wins and places and definitely likes this distance. Her high speed is the second highest in the field. She does have a third place finish with graded company, but her other two graded attempts were not successful, 9th and 10th place finishes. Just like The Organization she has the chance to prove here that she can compete in this class.
It is hard not to go with the morning line on this one. With her previous success on an off track combined with everything else she has going for her I think High Motion will be in the winner’s circle. I think Kindle will have a strong start and be in the lead most of the race only to be passed by High Motion in the stretch. My pick for third is Navajo Wells. Good luck to all and happy racing. J