Blue Diamond Road
Two year olds are converging on Victoria this week with $750,000 on the line in the Grade One Blue Diamond Road Stakes. Run over six furlongs on firm turf, the field is an evenly matched group of ten. Six of those runners are co-favored at 5/1, with another two under 10/1 odds. We have one filly taking on the boys, Green Hearted and undefeated daughter of Shamardal. Imperial Crisis, a son of Arch, is the only stakes winner in the field, although several have stakes experience. The Quiet Cat is the least experienced runner with only one start, albeit an impressive one to his name. Let’s take a closer look.
#1 Side Netting 5/1 nnovak2 stables J Kohlmorgen rides
Side Netting is the locally-bred hope in this field. He is a son of Hussonet out of the g-grade Tapit x Dynaformer mare Lenny. This is her only foal. Hussonet has already sired three stakes winners from his two year old crop and overall has 39.3% winners from that group. One of those stakes winners is out of an A.P. Indy mare, grandsire of Tapit. Side Netting had a solid debut win, taking a four and one half furlong maiden by ½ length with a 67sp. He returned in an ambitious placement, the five and one half furlong Grade Two Bobby Papin Stakes. He closed with a furious rally to fall ½ length short, finishing fourth with an 80sp.
#2 Imperial Crisis 5/1 gipper5 stables Bi Cliark rides
Imperial Crisis is a son of Arch out of the d-grade Rock of Gibraltar x Seeking the Gold mare Rock All Night. Rock All Night was a multiple stakes winner sprinting on the grass but not until she was four years old. She was winless in two starts at age two. This is her first foal. Arch has had 34.5% winners from 2011 two year old starters and three stakes winners. Imperial Crisis broke his maiden going six furlongs with a 73sp. He returned to win at five and one half furlongs in the Hell On Earth Juvenile with a 79sp, followed by a runner up finish in the Grade Two Coventry Steaks at six furlongs with an 81sp. He duplicated that number in his last start, a fourth place finish in the one mile Grade Two Champagne Mile.
#3 Mr. Danehill 5/1 dannejaka stables N Fagan rides
Mr. Danehill is a son of Mr. Sydney out of the g-grade Danehill x Easy Goer mare Miss Money. He is her fifth foal to race and first stakes runner. Second crop sire Mr. Sydney has produced 32.1% winners from two year old starters. This would be his first stakes winner from the group. Mr. Danehill broke his maiden going six furlongs with a 69sp. He finished second in the Redoute’s Son Turf Juvenile at the same distance with a 78sp. Most recently he finished third in the six furlong Grade Three Railaway Stakes with an 84sp.
#4 Riverboat Song 5/1 pogs4 stables R Bailey rides
Riverboat Song is a son of Montjeu based on the g-grade Street Cry x Kris S. horse Mountlake Terrace. Montjeu has sired 46.4% winners from 2011 two year olds and one stakes winner. Riverboat Song finished fifth in his first start at five and one half furlongs with a 70sp. He went the same distance in his second start, falling ¾ lengths short in second with a 71sp. He broke through last out to win going six furlongs with an 81sp.
#5 This Pony Can Run 20/1 quiggy3 stables S Nightingale rides
This Pony Can Run is a scratch-bred son of Afleet x Grey Dawn II x Majestic Prince. Afleet has had 42.3% winners from his 2011 two year olds. This Pony Can Run would be his first stakes winner. He began his career with a 23sp going five furlongs on the dirt. Sent straight to the auction he was purchased by quiggy3 stables switched to turf and responded with a strong maiden win going six furlongs with a 77sp.
#6 The Depth 8/1 broohar1 stables N Hartel rides
The Depth is a scratch-bred son of Deep Impact x Rock of Gibraltar x Lyphard. Deep Impact has produced 44.3% winners from his crop of 2011 two year olds, including two stakes winners. The Depth ran twice at five and one half furlongs to start his career, finishing fourth with a 58sp and third with a much improved 70sp. Stretched to seven furlongs last time out he responded with a wire to wire triumph with an 81sp.
#7 The Quiet Cat 5/1 elzid stables P Lipps rides
The Quiet Cat is a scratch-bred son of Bluegrass Cat x Miswaki x Storm Bird. Bluegrass Cat has produced 32.2% winners from his 2011 two year olds. This would be his first stakes winner. Overall Bluegrass Cat’s offspring have earned more money running on the dirt (69%/31%) but of his graded stakes winners seven of fifteen (46.7%) have excelled on the grass. The Quiet Cat has won race to his credit, but it was a solid one. He took a six furlong maiden wire to wire with a 78sp.
#8 Green Hearted 5/1 lukester01 stables J Cox rides
Green Hearted is a scratch-bred daughter of Shamardal x Danehill Dancer x Affirmed. Shamardal has produced 46.7% winners from his 2011 two year old crop and one stakes winner. That horse is out of a Danehill mare (sire of course of Danehill Dancer). Green Hearted broke her maiden first time out, winning at five and one half furlongs with a 74sp. She stretched out to six and one half furlongs in an allowance and went wire to wire winning with a 79sp. This will be her first try against the males.
#9 Deep Admiral 9/1 krustyk stables D Evans rides
Deep Admiral is a son of Midshipman out of the c-grade Octagonal x Danehill mare The Well Runs Deep. A four-time stakes winner who preferred dirt routing, The Well Runs Deep has produced eight foals including one stakes winner, one graded placed runner and one stakes placed runner. A freshman stud by Unbridled’s Song, Midshipman has produced 33.3% winners so far, with no stakes winners. Deep Admiral broke his maiden in his third start, going seven furlongs with a 72sp. He came back to win a six furlong allowance with a 77sp before finishing ninth last out in the Grade Two Champagne Mile with a 75sp.
#10 Southstreet Seaport 17/1 italst3 stables D Dowell rides
Southstreet Seaport is a son of Street Sense based on the f-grade Belong To Me x Smart Strike horse Formidable Foe. Street Sense has produced 41.9% winners from 2011 two year olds and one stakes winner who has done her best running on the turf. Soutstreet Seaport started his career with a fifth place finish in a five furlong dirt race. He ran a 53sp that day but improved 11 points in his next start, a switch to turf which he won. He stretched out to six furlongs in an allowance race last out running third with a 76sp.
Good luck to all!