Dozen Set Out To Be Prize Winner
The second to last race on the card this upcoming Saturday in New Hampshire is the $150,000 Grade III Prize Winner Stakes, which will be the highlight race this upcoming weekend. The Prize Winner Stakes will take place over the inner turf track over a mile and one eighth and will be open to three-year-olds and up. Last years winner of the Prize Winner Stakes (G3) was 2006 Breeders Bowl Mile winner Seeking Sal, who is owned by keryn. The stakes record for the Prize Winner Stakes (G3) is currently 1:47 3/5, which has been attained by both Seeking Sal and the steff trained Congo. Neither of these two horses will be making a repeat run in the Prize Winner this weekend, but we will have a brand new field of twelve horses going to the gate on Saturday. Showers are in the forecast early this week in New Hampshire, followed by thunderstorms later in the week. Thankfully, all this weather is forecasted of being north of the track on race day, so we’ll probably be able to look at a firm turf course on Saturday at post time.
1. Yeah – kobra6 – R. Reviez – 8/1
On the rail for the Prize Winner Stakes is this dark gray colt (Awesome Again x Rubiano x Polish Numbers), who is out of the stakes placed mare Carlee’s Catch. The four year old colt has been raced a total of twenty-four times in his lifetime. His most recent race came earlier this month in the nine furlong King George BB Stakes (G3) where the horse finished four and three-fourth lengths back in fourth after fading from third in the stretch. The colt turned in a speed figure of one hundred nine for his effort in the nine furlong race. The colt has been a little hit and miss recently, winning the listed Erica’s Well Stakes and finishing second in the DeepRoute.com Reserve (G1), but then finishing out of the money in the Contagious Lord Handicap. Regardless, the dark gray colt has posted triple-digit speed figures in his last six starts, of which he has finished out of the money only once in these starts.
2. Ermington Occy (NZ) – crowblack – W. Iverson – 18/1
Next up is this five year old bay horse (Octagonal (NZ) x Danehill Dancer (IRE) x Danzatore), who is out of the stakes winning mare Danzadane (IRE). The bay horse is raced by Morrighan Stable Empire. The five year olds most recent start came last month in the eight and a half furlong listed North Amad Stakes overseas in Queensland. The bay horse finished a well-beaten fifth after a late rally from the back of the pack in tenth. The horse turned in a speed figure of one hundred four. The horse has consistently placed in the money in his last three starts and received his last win in January of this year during a mile long allowance caliber start in Newmarket, where he first set a speed figure of one hundred four. The horses last graded start was in 2006 during the mile long Kill Wayne And Show His Body Special (G1) where the then three-year-old finished a disappointing eleven and one-fourth lengths back in tenth. The horses best win in a stakes caliber race was a win in the Pro With Soft Stakes in September of last year.
3. Ollie’s Quest – beamnreasn – N. Ambrose – 7/1
This veteran horse (Rainbow Quest x Lear Fan x Danzig), who is out of the Grade I winning dam Fantastic Ollie, has drawn the third post. The seven year old bay is one of the oldest horses running in this years’ Prize Winner Stakes (G3). The horses last race came last month in the nine furlong Confederate Stakes (G2) where the bay horse finished a well-beaten thirteen lengths off the pace of the winner in sixth with a speed figure of ninety-five. Previous to this start the horse had turned in triple-digit speed figures in his last six starts. His last win came in August during the Bounded Que Stakes over nine furlongs. With the exception of his last start in the Confederate Stakes (G2), the bay horse has finished in the money in his last thirteen races. The horse is in a decline in the moment with an out of the money finish in the Confederate Stakes (G2) and a struggling fifth-place finish in The Deeproute.com Reserve (G1). The horse will be taking a step down to Grade III competition in hopes of perking the veteran up, but at seven years old, the bay veteran may be in the twilight of his racing career. This race on Saturday could tell a lot for the seven year old son of Rainbow Quest.
4. Dumber Then A Rock (IRE) – gum – P. Word – 6/1
In the fourth post is this Irish-bred four year old (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) x Rainbow Quest x Sadler’s Wells), who is out of the race winning mare Feel So Stupid. The bay colt is owned and trained by Gum Stables. The horses last start came last month in the eight and a half furlong Amerika Stakes (G3) in North California. The horse set a speed figure of one hundred seven for the race after finishing on the boar in third after fading from a near wire to wire finish. The colt has had some disappointments in the Boogity Bear Stakes (G3) and the Six Up Monster Special recently but otherwise has been fairly impressive with his last win coming in the Clique Ralph Handicap where he won with a speed figure of one hundred ten. With a somewhat hit and miss performance style, it should be interesting to follow this definite front-running horse and see where the bay horse finishes in the Prize Winner.
5. All Flags Gold – muchalulcha – M. Imahoff – 6/1
Going into the next slot is this nicely-bred four year old colt (Seeking The Gold x Seattle Slew x Halo). The bay colt is raced by Muchalucha Stables. The colt has been lightly raced with a total of only sixteen career starts. His last race came last month in Louisiana during the seven and a half furlong Seven Out Challenge where the horse finished three and a half lengths back in third with a speed figure of one hundred four for the colts closing efforts. The colts last graded start came on the dirt during the San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl Stakes where the colt finished second in photo finish, losing by a slight nose after setting an impressive speed figure of one hundred eleven. The horse has never started in a graded race over the turf, however the horse has never finished off the board in any of his turf starts, despite beginning his career as a promising youngster on the dirt. The four year old colt even earned a trip to the Middle Jewel Stakes (G1) a year ago, to which he finished ninth. He’s been nothing short of impressive on the turf so far, and it should be interesting to see where he ends up in his graded stakes debut over the turf.
6. Ron Duguay – calumet – W. Welborne – 10/1
Being sent into the middle post position is this five year old chestnut horse (Smarty Jones x Fappiano x Irish River (FR)), who is raced by Sjmeola Racing. The five year olds last start came last month in the ten furlong listed Blaze Soaring Challenge overseas in Ostend. The horse won the race by two and a half lengths and set a speed figure of one hundred three after coming off the pace to win. The horse also won his previous start, a nine and a half furlong allowance caliber race in Epsom. Should the horse win the Prize Winner Stakes this Saturday he would attain three consecutive wins in his last starts. The horse has finished in the money in his last sevens tarts and on the board in his last six starts, most with triple-digit or high ninety speed figures. The horses only graded start came last year in the Coronation Cup (G1) where he finished a well-beaten eleventh, thirty-three and one-half lengths off the pace. After a year of improvement, the horse is back to try another graded stakes.
7. Dixie’s Pappilla – doctahg1 – B. Gates – 7/1
Another bay will be loading into gate seven, this the impressively bred four year old (Dixieland Band x A.P. Indy x Round Table), who is raced by Dentition Stables. The Kentucky-bred colt had his last start in the eight and a half furlong Port Marshua Handicap (G3) last month. The colt finished just out of the money in sixth after setting out of the gate in fifth during the race. The horse also faced disappointments in the Realities Of War Special and the Your Sap Stakes, both of which were out of the money finishes. The colt last finished in the money in January during the nine furlong Strange Brew Turf Handicap (G3) where he finished fourth after being sent out of the gate in third and fading slightly in the stretch. The horse has not won a race since August of last year, this in the Fivestarnick Handicap (G2) where the colt won convincingly by two lengths with a speed figure of one hundred ten. Everything has been progressively downhill from the Posh Purse Stakes (G2) in which he finished second with an earth-shattering speed figure of one hundred seventeen. Thought not showing much in his last races, this horse could have the potential to blow away the field if he gets his run here on Saturday.
8. Absence Of Malice (IRE) – itsthebear – M. Collins – 19/1
Longshot in the Prize Winner Stakes (G3) will be this five year old chestnut (Desert King (IRE) x Mining x His Majesty), who is currently raced and trained by Willyam13 Stables. The chestnut horse saw his last start in the seven furlong Raise An Argument (IRE) Memorial where the horse broke last out of the gate in the fourteen horse field and finished tenth in the race with a speed figure of ninety-four. His previous race, the Give Me A Quarter Challenge ended in similar results with a tenth place finish and the colt finishing twenty-two lengths off the pace with a speed figure of ninety-two. His best stakes start was a fourth place finish in the 2006 GR Simsters English Derby Restricted, though the colt finished fourteen and a half lengths off the pace. Probably not quite the caliber for listed stakes competition, the horse has been very successful at the allowance level. This Saturday’s entry in the Prize Winner Stakes will be the colts first try at a graded stakes start in his career.
9. Redsadky – sherwood – P. Haynes – 4/1
Pre-race favorite of the Prize Winner Stakes is this six year old bay horse, (Red Ransom x Sadler’s Wells x Nijinsky II), who is proudly owned and trained by Dentition Stables, making this six year old horse the second entry for Dentition Stables. The six year old horse is among the older horses in the field for the Prize Winner, along with seven-year-old Ollie’s Quest. The six year old son of Red Ransom has had two electric starts recently. Though they were both at the allowance level overseas in Dubai, the horse won both races convincingly and set speed figures of one hundred thirteen and one hundred eleven respectively for both the nine furlong races. However, the horses history over graded stakes hasn’t been as glamorous. The horses last graded start came in the Sand Castle Fee Duty where the horse finished eleventh with a speed figure of ninety nine. His last Grade III start ended in a sixth place finish during the Jennifer Connley BC Turf Cup (G3). Well accomplished at the listed stakes and allowance levels, the horse just hasn’t seemed to be able to get the job done in graded races recently. His last win in a graded stakes was in 2006 during the Slowness Stakes (G3). Though not winning any graded races recently, the six year old horse has managed to finish in the money in a few, including last years’ Prize Winner Stakes.
10. Any Chance – bulddog – B. Collins – 9/1
This royaly-bred (Sadler’s Wells x Seattle Slew x Nijinsky II), will follow in the field on Saturday. The bay five year old horse is raced by Glenrohan Stables. The lightly raced five year old saw his last start last month in the North Amad Stakes where he finished just one-fourth off the pace in second after battling with other horses for the lead in the listed turf race. The bay horse should be up near the pace in the Prize Winner Stakes but has been fading towards the en of his races in his last few starts, mainly allowance caliber races. There was a stretch of some disappointment in the horses career not so long ago, but the horse seems to have recovered and is back to his consistently money-placing ways in his races. Despite success in the allowance level and some in his listed stakes races, this Saturday’s start in the Prize Winner Stakes (G3) will mark the horses first start in a graded race in his career.
11. Dancing Master (IRE) – yunkai – N. Ritcher – 9/1
Next in our field of twelve is this five year old bay horse, (Peintre Celebre (IRE) x Shirley Heights (GB) x Vice Regent), who is proudly trained by Given Stables. The bay horse had his last start in the Confederate Stakes (G2) where he finished just one and a half lengths behind in second while setting a speed figure of one hundred eight. The horse made a come from behind move in the Confederate to place second in the race. He wasn’t as impressive in the Slowness Stakes (G3) where he set a speed figure of ninety after finishing nineteen lengths off the pace of winner. Like some of the other horses in this race, the horse has been a little hit and miss during his racing career, making impressive performances in races such as the Confederate Stakes (G2) and Storming Buda Challenge, but then faltering in the Slowness Stakes (G3) and Marcos Footwear Handicap (G3). The biggest question for this horse on Saturday maybe which Dancing Master (IRE) will show up at the Prize Winner.
12. Bowel Movement (ENG) – hawk10 – C. Bang – 14/1
Last in the field and settling for the far outside in the Prize Winner Stakes is this four year old chestnut colt (Rainbow Quest x Vice Regent x His Majesty). The English-bred chestnut colt is currently owned and raced by Hawk10 Stables. The chestnuts most recent start was last month during the Confederate Stakes (G2), where many of the Prize Winner Stakes other contenders have hailed from. The horse finished eight and one-fourth lengths back in fourth in this race, setting a speed figure of one hundred for the nine furlong turf race. Previous to this the colt finished second in the eight and a half furlong listed Swift G. Special with a speed figure of one hundred five. Though impressive at the allowance level and showing some shine of brilliance in some of his stakes starts, the colt has only finished on the board in one of his graded stakes starts, this in the previously mentioned Confederate Stakes. He has won a single stakes race, the D. Shot Special which was on going away by two and one-fourth lengths with a speed figure of one hundred three.
Sorria’s Picks
Win: All Flags Gold
Place: Redsadky
Show: Yeah