Gierkink's preview: Royal North lures invaders

Sunday, July 27, preview

Terrific Royal North Stakes

Shippers have gone on a tear here in recent stakes. The Grade 3 Royal North, a six-furlong turf sprint, contains a trio of American invaders: Ageless, Liz Pendens, and Richies Party Girl.

Ageless (5-2) has been freshened since her victory in the five-furlong The Very One Stakes at Pimlico on May 17. She was previously victorious over the gifted Free as a Bird in a 5 1/2-furlong stakes at Keeneland. Her connections were concerned about her drawing post 9, but the closer has lots of speed to chase, and the course is quite roomy with the portable rail in lane 2.

Liz Pendens (10-1) comes from Chicago off a closing fifth against males in the 5 1/2-furlong Arlington Sprint. Trainer Mike Stidham won a recent stakes here and has won local stakes in the past using jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson.

Richies Party Girl (7-2) could add some fuel to the pace fire off a victory in the seven-furlong Wait a While Stakes at Belmont. Her trainer, Wesley Ward, has had sporadic success at Woodbine, but he’s winless here with seven turf starters during his career.

Goldstryke Glory (3-1) won the allowance prep for this event in front-running style and could be the speed of the speed.

Sine Metu meets older

Sine Metu (6-1), a late bloomer trained by Tom O’Keefe, could run back in the Breeders’ Stakes if he performs well against older opposition in this 11-furlong optional claimer on the lawn. O’Keefe has four wins and three seconds from just 11 starters at the meet.

Hawk’s Well shouldn’t go off as high as his morning-line quote of 10-1. He possesses sufficient stamina for the task at hand and will tote the high weight of 124 pounds, including trainer Ian Howard’s go-to rider, Gerry Olguin.

Smooth Stone (2-1) finished a lapped-on third at this level July 1 on the Polytrack. He graduated on the front end traveling 10 furlongs on the grass here last September. His connections, Sam-Son Farm and trainer Malcolm Pierce, have captured a host of turf races at this stand.

Jackpot Hi 5 carries over again

The Jackpot Hi 5 carryover heading into Sunday’s 10th race is $74,756.

Bear’s Good Men (3-1) is plunging from Ontario-sired allowance company to $12,500 in the seven-furlong conditioned contest and should prove tough to beat if he’s anywhere near right. His connections won last Wednesday’s nightcap with a similar dropper.

Logical “underneath” horses include Hes a Sly One, Theregoestheblonde, Mattangel, and Donna’s Boy.

Horse to Watch

KEEN GIZMO
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Last race: July 26, 5th
Finish: 3rd by 2 1/4
He raced wide going a mile and wasn’t beaten by much in his first turf experience, a decent effort when you consider that he doesn’t possess much turf breeding. Moving back to the Polytrack should enable him to break through at the first Ontario-sired allowance level.