The Pinky Honor Challenge Stakes
THE PINKY HONOR Challenge Stakes
All horses, 3 years old and up,
A mile and three quarters on the Fast Dirt Course,
Purse : $80,000
1. STORMY BEST (IRE), 5, h, by Best of the Best out of a Storm Cat mare x SEATTLE SLEW
2. DIG ME D’OR (IRE), 7, h, by Not Impossible x Digamist x Tour D’ Or
3. GREEN STAGE (NY), 4, c, by Jade Hunter x Nureyev x Majestic Light
4. DOSTOYEVSKY (IRE), 4, c, by Doyen x Summer Squall x Alleged
5. NASULINE (SWE), 4, c, by Songline out of a Black Tie Affair mare x Pleasant Colony
Ireland’s $80,000 The Pinky Honor Challenge S. has a field of five lead by heavy morning-line 3/2 favorite DOSTOYEVSKY(IRE). This handsome looking 4yo chestnut colt is seeking his 1st stakes win. Trainer Davemor claimed him back in Aug. of last yr for $10,000 after Dostoyevsky won his 2nd straight claim at that distance 12 F. Davemore stated then he saw that this horse needed more distance and took a chance. Davemore placed him on turf the next two races which didn’t fair as well as he had hoped for but after putting him back on dirt he has run extremely better and the reason for today’s stakes entry. DOSTOTEVSKY’S dirt record since being claimed is 6-3-1-1. His last race was his first attempt at a NGS and that was at 14F which he had the lead and faded to fourth with a 102 Sp#. Look for this claimer to get some reconition today. I M Buttons is in the saddle.
GREEN STAGE(NY) is entering his first ever stakes race. With a career record on dirt of 20-5-3-4 $103,514. This 4yo brown colt won his last race gate to wire by 4 1/2 lengths, an allowance 46200 NW4L at two miles with a sp# of 100. If you go off his last race he can if given the lead, run away with this. With his breeding lilbit stables thought they had a turf horse but after five races and hitting the board only once trainer spurious said to the owners “Let’s try him on dirt to see how he fairs.” GREEN STAGE(NY) was placed in a MSW 19600 in Honk Kong at 7F and won handily. He didn’t do too well in his next few races til he was stretched out to 10F in May of last yr, where won a allowance NW2L and a total of 4 races since then. Z Kentucky Ireland’s top Jockey has taken the ride which says something.
NASULINE(SWE) is 3/1 morning line with A Reed (20.4 W% yr)taking the reigns. Kartago who resides in Ireland with his Sabbath Stables trains this 4yo colt and is having a hard time finding the finish line with him this year and that is why he stated earlier that ” this horse can run and always comes back to the barn happy. I think this is a nice race for him.” Nasuline’s last win came on 7-7-07, but has been ITM eight times since.
STORMY BEST(IRE) 5/1 ML is the highest earner for Storm Cat mare Stormy Seas is owned by Jackwiz Stable another Ireland Rez. Stormy’s last win was two back in a track restricted allowance 9F. If Stormy Best is up front early either on the lead or just sitting off of it I think we might have a surprise today. D Doyle is on him today.
The number 2 horse in this 14F race is the 7yo chestnut DIG ME D ‘OR(IRE) who is 31 for 62 ITM lifetime on dirt. Trainer Nodame feels this is a good spot for his aging horse,” I love this guy!!! He is always right there at the end, I would love to see him win this would mean alot to DR A Stables!”
In brief
Dostoyevsky looks to be well placed here and hard to catch. GREEN STAGE will be a prime threat and could get up there with STORMY BEST there also.
LONGSHOT – DIG ME D’OR