The Pilgrim Stakes
- Tuggle- Jose Lezcano/ Jeremiah Engleheart
- He has ran in a Grade 3 turf race already in which he finished last and never got going. He has speed, and I think he will actually be the controlling speed. Should improve in this spot, just don’t know how good he truly is.
- No Word- Jose Ortiz/ Todd Pletcher
- Is undefeated after 1 start. Typical Todd Pletcher 2yo move. Whenever Pletcher has a 2yo that fires first time out and wins with a good beyer, he jumps that horse up to graded stakes and hopes he or she is the real deal. Today he does the same with putting No Word in this Grade 3. No Word could be legit but will have to jump up in class today.
- Andesite- Javier Castellano/ Brad Cox
- 3rd in the G3 With Anticipation stakes at Saratoga last time out. To me he seems to just be a cheaper horse when it comes to talent. I don’t know if he has it in him, especially against this field.
- No Lime- Junior Alvarardo/ Bill Mott
- He has never tried turf but they pointed to the grass in debut yet it came off due to rain. He seems to break slow each time, and I don’t think he likes the dirt so maybe the grass is what he wants. Longshot, but maybe he has a chance if he breaks better today.
- Maxwell Esquire- Dylan Davis/ Christophe Clement
- I think this guy is going to just fine against this field today. He is coming out of strong MSW races in which he ran 2nd and then finally he hit the winners circle in his last start. I don’t like the 3rd jockey change in 3 starts though, especially when they have been in a decline of talent at the jockey position with each start.
- Our Country- Manuel Franco/ George Weaver
- This George Weaver trainee, has only run at the distance which is a plus. Franco has ridden each time and rides today. He was rank after a stumble at the start last time out and still managed to get 4th. Should improve today with a clean start.
- Structor- Irad Ortiz Jr./ Chad Brown
- A Chad Brown trainee in New York on the turf in a stakes race will solely granted a ML favorite. He didn’t get a crazy beyer in his debut win but he won while being green. Irad stays aboard which is key and I think he will be legit today.
- Famished- Joel Rosario/ John Kimmel
- Never ran on turf but is a closer with Joel Rosario aboard. Has some decent turf pedigree and good beyer numbers. Too many question marks for me.
- The Gray Blur- Kendrick Carmouche/ Christohper Davis
- This Kentucky Downs shipper gets the aggressive Kendrick Carmouche aboard today. I think Kendrick gets sneaky here and guns it for the lead from the outside. Kendrick could try and steal it on this horse who isn’t as bad as the 20/1 ML portrays.