dunn preview – erc grass prospects

Ireland (IRE)
Saturday, March 9, 2023 — 1:30 PM EST
Stakes – Purse $100,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds
9.5 furlongs on Turf

The third race of the season for the Elite Racing Club takes place at Fairyhouse Racecourse, Ireland’s premier horse racing venue which is situated in the parish of Ratoath in the County of Meath. Eight impressive three year olds have made the journey here for The ERC Grass Prospects, a 9.5 furlong race on the turf featuring some great speed assembled by the famed barns of ERC owners/trainers. They are racing for the winner’s share of the $100,000 purse, with the victorious owner/trainer also collecting club stakes bonus points which will determine a club champion at year end. Jockey tactics and racing luck will probably play an important role in determining the winner and at first glance it looks like this will be a close contest.

Here is a closer look at the field:

#2
dubawi zip                                         
harrylanexp13 barn                          
b tate                                                  9/2

Out of the harrylanexp13 barn is this three year old son of DUBAWI out of the Sim Mare SEA ZIP. He is making the fifth start of his career here and has finished in the money in all four of his previous starts. He comes in off an impressive 98 speed win last time out over a nine furlong track where he won easily. He comes in well rested and will probably top 100 speed for the first time and he should be in the mix to take home the first Stakes win of his career.

#3
king of wizard                                   
amir1666 barn                      
b wu                                        7/2

Out of the amir1666 barn is this three year old son of KINGMAN out of the Sim Mare I JUST LIKE YOU. He has four wins in five career starts and comes in off a 98 speed win at the “Alyfoo Deed Turf Route” where he won by more than two lengths. Two back he finished fifth at the “ERC Churchill” and he will look for revenge here as he faces the winner and runner-up of that race. He will go off as one of the favorites but faces a very competitive field.

#5
federal aviation                                            
jbcri29 barn               
s ledwith                                 5/1

Out of the jbcri29 barn is this three year old son of PERSIAN KING out of the Sim Mare  EXCEL WITH BARB.It took him seven starts to break his Maiden but he finally got it done three back when he ran 92 speed over a seven furlong track and won by a length and a half. Since then he has had back to back runner-up finishes with the most recent coming at a mile Allowance Race where he impressed with 99 speed but could not catch NOT THIS PULPIT. He should like the distance and with that speed will definitely be one to watch.

#4
dr strike                                 
bigzstables9 barn                              
x bowden                                           7/1

Out of the bigzsables9 barn is this three year son of DR FONG out of the Sim Mare ORANGE STRIKE. He has finished in the money in six of his seven career starts and comes in HOT having won five straight. He will make his first Stakes start here and will also stretch things out to greater than six and a half furlongs for the first time. He will likely go to the front early and the ownership group is hoping he will be able to handle the distance and will still be in the mix as they come down the stretch.

#6
stormy exodus                               
covedowns barn                               
r harzheim                              6/1

Out of the covedowns barn (newfy) is this three year old son of STORM THE STARS out of the Sim Mare EASTERN EXODUS. He finished his two year old season strong with a runner-up finish at the “G3 Future Colt” and an impressive win at the “ERC Churchill” where he blazed 97 speed over the eight and a half furlong track. Unfortunately he came out flat in his first start of this year when he ran seventh “Horde Run a Foul Turf Route”. He will look to rebound here and get the ownership group some much needed early season points. 

#7
vyzi padtheway                                
doradowns barn                   
a reed                                     4/1

Out of the doradowns barn (dunn) is this three year old son of DUX SCHOLAR out of the Sim Mare OUTBACK PADTHAWAY. He has finished in the money in all seven of his starts and makes his third straight Stakes start here following a runner-up finish at the “ERC Churchill” and a win last time our at the “Horde Run a Foul Turf Route”. He ran 97 speed in both of those races and could top 100 here for the first time today and should go off as one of the favorites.

#1
noble harbor                     
wintersetbuyco barn                       
w moxley                             5/1

Out of the wintersetbuyco barn is this three year old son of NOBLE MISSION out of the Sim Mare TOKYO HARBOR. He finished third at the “ERC Churchill” to finish up his two year old season and began 2024 with a third at the “Horde Run a Foul Turf Route” where he ran 96 speed but could not catch VYZI PADTHAWAY. He will likely run near the back of the pack in the early going before kicking it into high gear in hopes of running down the leaders.

#8
roobart                                  
chino6 barn                           
e newcomb                            14/1

Out of the chino6 barn is this three year old MIKKI ROCKET filly out of the Sim Mare AVANI. She has finished in the money in three of her five career starts and began the 2024 campaign with a fifth place finish at the “Thundering T Turf Filly Sprint”. She has never gone greater than seven furlongs in any of her starts and it will be interesting to see how she responds to that and also to facing the boys for the first time.