The N. Clan Cap Stakes
The N. Clan Cap
Stakes
8.5 F
Fast Dirt
$95,000
All horses, 2 years old
Welcome to Kentucky and the N. Clan Cap Stakes. The trainers and horses have provided a very diversified and exciting field you will not want to miss! Some make their stakes debut and others are a new distance that looks favorable. The odds may say the favorite is Thornton Mellon but, can he endure this field.
1) Hast Invasion – 9/1 – gavinw
This colt is the least experienced of the field. He has only raced in two maiden races but, he did post the best speed of the field (77) in maiden races. The jockey for Hast Invasion will be Kendall whose 6.4 winning percentage is less than ideal. This is the wild card for the race which seems likely to come on strong in the end but, nonetheless fall short.
2) Man Du Mout – 10/1 – lglong2
This colt’s return to stakes comes after a journey of Maiden Special Weight, Graded, and Allowance races. He has yet to find a race too long, save the graded race which was out of his reach. His late push will come much too late as it appears he would be much more of a factor in a longer race.
3) Thornton Mellon – 5/2 – dolphinman
The favorite is reappearing in Kentucky after finishing 5th in the G3 Television Stakes. The colt has won three of his six races. He got his first stakes win at 7.5 furlongs on a sly track last time out. He posted his best speed of 88 in his longest race. Another reason to like his chances is jockey D. Givins who posts an impressive 26.7 winning percentage.
4) Spanish Sword – 4/1 – super23
This colt has only finished outside the money once in four races which was last time out in the G2 Faber College Juvenile Stakes which was also held in Kentucky. Spanish Sword is another stakes winner. He picked up his stakes win in West Virginia at 6 furlongs at a speed of 79. Until this race he has yet to run in a route which will showcase his closing speed. He also draws P. Cadigan again who sports a 14.8 win percentage this year. Spanish Sword will be making a move late with Thornton Mellon but, will he be able to get that extra push?
5) CanYouSeeMeNow – 5/1 – kewmwa
CanYouSeeMeNow has won both races he was entered. They were both sprints and he was a strong closer in both. His last time out he won a shortened field in an Allowance race of 7 furlongs. He makes his stakes debut on a jockey who has not done that well in B. Sipe. This colt will probably make a move during the race but, will not be able to sustain the full 8 ½ furlongs.
6) Sultan – 7/2 – ovidius
This colt is the lone horse in the field that gets out early. He won a stakes race at a distance of 6 furlongs and his last time out he fell short in a G2 as he finished 5th after getting out to an early lead. Sultan is a good bet to be leading the race ¼ of the way through. But considering his past performance he seems also to be a good bet to fade late and quick. His last time out he finished just ahead of the surging Spanish Sword; this time he won’t have the steam.
7) Grand Opening – 10/1 – mcjonny
This colt’s stakes debut is a pun CoMeDy Central’s members salivate over. All jokes aside he is a strong closer but, has yet to race past the Maiden level. All three of his races have been in Louisiana and between 5-6 furlongs. He appears to be the long shot in a more experienced and better bred field.
8) Rumbling Thunder – 6/1 – mcjonny
Rumbling Thunder has great closing speed and was able to use it to get his first victory last time out at a distance of 8 furlongs. He makes his stakes debut as he has only raced in 3 Maiden races previously. However, it is worth noting that his first two races that were not successful were sprints. He seems to have hit his stride running at a longer distance.
Outside of the favorite, Thornton Mellon, who seems poised to get his second stakes win, there are a couple of horses whose chances I have to like. Sultan is the only horse that gets out early but, 8 ½ furlongs will likely prove too long to hold off the likes of Spanish Sword and Rumbling Thunder. Spanish Sword would be my second pick in his bid to pick up his second stakes win. I like Rumbling Thunder as my third pick who could pull the upset and make his stakes debut a memorable one for trainer mcjonny. It is a definitely a race that should prove exciting, dramatic, and one for the history books.