dunn preview – corkscrew stakes

Kentucky – (KY)
Saturday, April 6, 2024 – 3:00 PM EST | Race ID: 3231042
Grade 1 Stakes – Purse $1,500,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds
9 furlongs on Dirt

The Kentucky Derby is less than a month away and 14 promising three-year old colts are looking to secure one of the 20 available spots in one of the most prestigious races on the calendar. They have gathered here at The Corkscrew Stakes and will battle for the winner’s share of the 1.5 million dollar purse and a chance to Run for the Roses in May.  We have a great mix of early and late speed here that promise to put on quite a show. The drama of the Derby starts this weekend right here in Kentucky. Let’s take a closer look at the field.


#11
mover n’ shaker                               
babysitter273 barn                  
e cerda                                    14/1

This son of UPSTART has finished in the money in all six of his career starts  and comes in off a runner-up finish at the “Sadlers Thorns Dirt Route” where he ran impressive 106 speed over a nine and a half furlong track. He went to  the front of the pack there and will likely use similar tactics here and challenge the rest of the field to catch him. . He should go off as one of the favorites and garner lots of interest at the betting windows.

#1
vyzi thatell
cancun8 barn                     
c garber                                 21/1

This son of UNITE AND CONQUER ended his two year old season with a gate to wire finish at the “Full of Sake” where he ran 95 speed over a mile. Since then he has failed to find a spot on the board with a thirteenth place finish at the “Killerzandglitterz Dirt Challenge” and a ninth place finish at the “Geared Down Dirt Mile”. He started his career on the turf and finished in the money in five out of six starts and he may want to return there if he doesn’t rebound here.

#8
tiz the series                          
slowrollelite0 barn                  
m rafferty                               12/1

This son of COLLECTED was picked up at a Claimer in July of last year and has three wins and two runner-up finishes for the new ownership group. He comes in off a win at the “Divine Inspiration Dirt Route” where he ran 101 speed over an eight and a half furlong track and beat WIN MISCHIEF WIN by less than a length. He comes in well rested and should like the distance as he competes out of the eight hole.

#9
hong kong hammered                  
given barn                
q cassell                                  9/1

This son of CURLIN makes his first Graded Stakes start following a 95 speed win at an Allowance Race in late January and a 106 speed win at the nine furlong “So Wet” in early March. He will likely run near the back of the pack in the early going and should be well positioned at the top of the stretch to take a run at the leaders. He has lots of speed and should have a good chance of finding a spot on the board against this very competitive field of fourteen.

#14
enoughtogoaround         
atw12 barn               
t loesch                                               9/1

This son of MENDELSSOHN has finished in the money in five of his nine career starts including three wins. He has made two previous Graded Stakes starts which resulted in a tenth place finish at the “G3 Cryogenics Juvenile” and a fifth place finish at the “G2 Felipe Alou Stakes” last time out. He should benefit from a bit of extra distance here and might be a nice long shot pick to find a spot on the board.

#10
more quality                          
harrylanexp12 barn                   
e bernstein                             9/1

This son of QUALITY ROAD has finished in the money in all five of his career starts and comes in off an impressive 107 speed win at the “Tabitha Dirt Memorial” in Oklahoma which was run at this same distance. He is making just his second start as a three year old but top trainer harrylan has him well rested and he could be posing in the winner’s circle when it is all said and done.

#3
free to dream                       
tfon3 barn                          
n lawton                                 11/1

This son of TAPIT raced nine times as a two year old with all but two of those coming on the dirt. He began his three year old season with a fifth place finish at the “Squal Me Halo Dirt Memorial” and followed that up last time out with a big 108 speed win at the “Cheap Wine Dirt Route”. If he can repeat that speed again, he should be in the mix as they come down the stretch and will compete for a spot on the board.

#2
feeling frisky lv           
bizalls12 barn           
r bokie                                                            19/1

This son of KNOWN AGENDA is undefeated in four career starts and comes in off an eight and a half furlong win at the “Grand Canyon Dirt Route” where he ran 96 speed and beat I’LL TAKE AN HOUR by less than a length. His speed numbers have increased with every start and I expect he will break 100 speed for the first time here but will need a big jump to keep his streak alive.

#5
malak bilkeda                       
crown02 barn                              
b scott                                    6/1

This son of TAPIT has finished in the money in six of his seven career starts and comes in off an impressive 107 speed win at the “Princess Ballot Dirt Route”. He makes his first Graded Stakes start here following three straight Stakes starts and will race on less than five weeks rest for the first time which hopefully won’t affect his performance too much.

#12
malak romsey                     
crown02 barn                         
m scott                                   8/1

This son of INTO MISCHIEF makes his fourth straight Graded Stakes starts with the others resulting in a seventh place finish at the “G1 Movieland Futurity”, a fifth place finish at the “G3 Risen Star Stakes”, and a 104 speed runner-up last time out at the “G2 Felipe Alou Stakes”. Like his stable mate, he is coming back on short rest and is making his third start in nine weeks.

#4
merchant of death
worldclass19 barn                     
r neely                                    12/1

This son of GUN RUNNER began the year with a win at the nine and a half furlong “Intergalactic Dirt Route” and followed that up with a 99 speed runner-up finish at the “G2 Moises Alou Cap”. He had the lead for most of that race but was passed down the stretch by late running JAMISONTAP AGAIN. He should compete here but might be best suited for a mile or less.

#6
royal influence         
danzigmoon23 barn                        
b carley                                   6/1

This son of TAPIT has gone undefeated in three starts as a three year old with his last two being 106 speed gate to wire finishes. Two back he took home the nine furlong “Godfather” and last time out he got his first Graded Stakes win at the “G3 Buccaneer Derby”. His speed numbers should play here and he has a good chance of extending his winning streak to four straight.

#13
gary stewart                            
jetforhome barn                   
r moffett                                 10/1

This son of QUALITY ROAD is making his third straight Graded Stakes start with the other two resulting in a fourth place finish at the “G3 Giant Slayer Classic” and a 106 speed win last time out at the “G2 Land’s End” where he beat MY MESSIAH but just a head. He will look to go to the front early here and might have enough speed to hold off the competition and get the win.

#7
into poetry                           
intoasr barn                         
d givins                                   9/1

This son of INTO MISCHIEF has finished in the money in five of his six career starts including three wins. Two back he was runner-up at the “Lass Appeal Dirt Route” where he ran 98 speed over nine and a half furlongs and last time out he blazed 107 speed to win the “G2 Felipe Alou Stakes” by two lengths over MALAK ROMSEY. He will likely go off as the early favorite and might be tough to beat.