The $75,000 Grade III Jellyton Stakes

The Grade III Jellyton Stakes Grade will highlight this weeks New Zealand racing card. The $75,00 feature presents a talented field of three-year-olds running at a mile over the Turf Course. The race features the number 5 ranked filly SPECIAL ME and number 4 ranked colt ROQUE NUBLO, as well as the highly regarded BAD BLAKE.

From the rail on out:

DEPTREE(MD) – the 3yo Deputy Storm colt will test his fortitude around two turns for the first time in his career this Saturday at the New Zealand oval. First stakes winner of five from game mare TIGRESS WILLIAMS, an earner of over $250k in her racing career, including ten route wins, the mano trained homebred should have little trouble adding the extra ground. Winner of four of six starts, the talented brown colt has already answered for class with a Grade II victory in the Flying Children Stakes in September and should be set up well to make a good account of himself in this weeks’ feature…might surprise

STORMBRIDLED(KY) – Unbridled’s Song colt takes an ambitious step this week making his stakes debut against a proven field of graded winners. The gatetowire trained light grey is extremely well-bred, hailing from the multi-graded stakes mare STORMSHAFT, a winner of over $1.5 million in career earnings including 2nd place finishes in the 2005 Bluegrass Oaks and Breeders Bowl Distaff. This very promising 3yo may not have quite found his niche yet, and may find himself overmatched at this time of his career, but is one to keep an eye on in the days ahead…in deep

MELBOURNE BLUES(JPN) – the Delta Blues(JPN) bred colt has certainly been extended by his connections stepping into graded competition immediately after breaking his maiden in his racing debut. Showing great resiliency in his next two starts, the Grade III Salisbury Medallion, and the Grade III Premie Champion Stakes, where he finished 2nd and 3rd respectively, the fernando trained JPN bred started to feel the effects of a demanding 2yo campaign and tailed off in his next two starts before finishing a fast closing 2nd in a talented field of URC restricted runners. Overmatched in latest, the capable 3yo might be might be looking for a breather and could be a risky proposition in this field…your call

FALSE FLAG OP(SAF) – doing everything his connections have asked of him, the A. P. Arrow bred colt gets rewarded with a Grade III start following his impressive showing in the GREENBACK PASSER Memorial last time out. The skunkbarn trained 3yo has shown great determination since taking his game around two-turns, and hopes to display that same resiliency this week against his more experienced rivals. South African bred hopeful has increasing speed figures in every start as a 2yo and might have to continue that trend in his 3yo debut this weekend to compete with these…might be this good

SPECIAL ME(JPN) – all one has to do is look at the past performances of this special filly to know where the competition is coming from in this field on Saturday. Distinguished as the number 5 turf ranked 3yo filly in her division, the rrlogans trained chestnut brings an impressive six of nine record into this field, including three graded victories to her credit. Second LTO in the Grade I Juvenile Filly, the precocious daughter of Special Week will have to turn her nose up to the boys once again, a task she handled brilliantly in her maiden score…dangerous

MARTY’S GREAT LUCK(KY) – the Majestic Warrior bred 3yo took an instant liking to the lawn when he drew off in his turf debut in an allowance race LTO in South Carolina. The gowans trained homebred is ambitiously placed this week making his turf stakes debut. Lone stakes start was on the dirt in the CRAZY HORSE TOO Special where he finished fourth of five. Hard to recommend against these, but might be worth flagging in his next start against a manageable field…look elsewhere

EX NOIR(IRE) – the Excellent Art (GB) bred 3yo is riding a series of very solid sprints into his two-turn debut. The hawkz trained colt looks to parlay two solid starts in the COSMO KRAMER Stakes and the CREVIS EN LA BURGS(IRE) Stakes, where he finished 1st and 2nd respectively, into a Grade III bonanza. Dam’s lone stakes win came in a dirt sprint, so this able performer will have to resist his pedigree to have a say against these, but has never been better…eligible to improve

WESTERN OIL(KY) – Street Boss bred colt makes his second stakes appearance after finishing 4th in the nine furlong Phenom Stakes LTO. The laserbarn chestnut is greatly improved since finding the turf four starts back and has added two victories to his credit since racing over the softer surface. Taking on the biggest task of his career, the KY bred will appreciate the turn back to the mile, but still would have to run a career best to finish first up against these…must show more

ROQUE NUBLO(GB) – Grade I alert, that’s what we have here…the 3yo Dansili(GB) bred colt enters this race as the fields only Grade I winner by way of a last to first finish in the G1 High Flyer stakes two back. Second stakes winner from the stakes winning mare REMEMBER PEYRESURDE(KY), the zambaygo trained sensation boasts the distinction of 4th ranked turf 3yo colt in his division, but will have to rebound from his latest outing when he failed to fire in the G1 Futurity. He should find this field less demanding after those back-to-back Grade I efforts, however his running style doesn’t leave much room for error and will need careful handling to get the jump on the fast closing filly SPECIAL ME…class edge

BAD BLAKE(KY) – the first thing that catches your eye about this magnificently bred 3yo is that pair of triple digit speed figures that highlights his past performances. The Kingmambo homebred rocked the house in the Grade III Rockette three back with a stubborn 1st place finish, stopping the ticker in 1:22 2/5 for the 7 panels while boasting his first career triple digit speed figure. The billy2shoe trained colt lived up to the hype when he repeated his three digit performance LTO with a victory in the restricted Blazing Saddles Breeder’s Showdown Juvenile at a mile. Listed as the 3-1 morning line favorite, the KY bred is racing in top form, and a similar effort of his last will force this field to stop the clock faster than they have ever done before…one to beat