I'm Stoked looks set to add to sterling record
I’m Stoked began his career by winning four of his first six starts. He has slowed down a bit, with only two wins in his last five, but don’t worry, things appear to be looking up.
I’m Stoked’s victory last out showed just how good he can be and makes him the horse to beat in the Monday feature at Aqueduct, a second-level optional-claiming sprint at six furlongs.
Monday’s card will be the last on the New York circuit before an 11-day Christmas break. Racing will resume Friday, Dec. 26.
Don’t let the fact I’m Stoked’s last win came at Finger Lakes scare you. He ran straight and true to win the $50,000 Leon Reed Memorial in fast time as the class of the race. Trainer Mike Hushion has given him a nice break and five works since that Oct. 4 stakes, and the horse should be sitting on another top effort.
Finger Lakes ran three six-furlong stakes in a row Oct. 4. Capella Dancer won the Arctic Dancer (race 5) for fillies and mares in 1:12.11, and Good Luck Gus took the seventh, the New York Breeders’ Futurity, in 1:11.87. I’m Stoked smoked a half-mile in 44.53 en route to a 1:10.42 clocking in the sixth race.
I’m Stoked is 2 for 2 at Finger Lakes, having also taken the George W. Barker Stakes there in the spring. But he is also 3 for 6 over the inner track at Aqueduct and should feel right at home Monday.
I’m Stoked, who is entered for the optional $62,500 claiming price, will be ridden by Manuel Franco. He will carry the high weight of 124 pounds and concede two to seven pounds to his nine rivals.
The card also includes two first-level allowance races for New York-breds.
Key contenders
I’m Stoked (Last 3 Beyers: 90-70-80)
◗ He was bred and is owned by Chester and Mary Broman, who also raced his sire, Hook and Ladder, who they bought in 2000 and raced through 2003. Hook and Ladder won 6 of 19 starts and $388,000.
◗ Frisky Warrior, whom I’m Stoked defeated in the Leon Reed, is 13 for 30 in his career and 11 for 20 at Finger Lakes.
Big Guy Ian (Last 3 Beyers: 96-89-57)
◗ He has hinted all along that he has what it takes to be a nice horse and may finally be living up to that potential. He earned a career-high Beyer last time out in winning a first-level allowance sprint. The 89 he earned two starts back when third in an allowance was a career top for him at the time.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 10 Big Guy Ian. Trainer Michael Dilger is 9-5-2-1 with a $4.10 ROI over the past two years in dirt sprints with last-out winners. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
:: Learn more about Formulator | Buy Formulator PPs
:: Follow the @DRFFormulator Twitter feed and get free Formulator facts
Monster Mash (Last 3 Beyers: 89-97-80)
◗ He won a first-level allowance in the mud at Belmont on Oct. 24 and then came back to be third behind Honor Code and Maleeh at this level last time out.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Monster Mash. Trainer Chris Englehart is 88-12-11-16 with a $1.09 ROI over the past five years in sprints on the Aqueduct inner dirt. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
◗ There is a lot of speed in this field, and quick fractions could set up Monster Mash’s run from off the pace.