Sir Alfred James poised for stakes success, but has to conquer Tapeta
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Sir Alfred James emerged as an intriguing runner in the second half of 2021. The gelding gets a chance to start 2022 off on a high note as he seeks his first stakes victory in the $100,000 Holiday Cheer Stakes on Saturday night at Turfway Park.
Sir Alfred James, a Munnings gelding who officially turns 6 on Saturday, made solid first forays into stakes company for trainer Al Stall Jr., finishing third in the Aristides Stakes last May at Churchill Downs, and then second in the Good Lord Stakes in July at Ellis Park. After a brief freshening, he posted an impressive victory in an allowance race in September at Churchill Downs, kicking clear to win by 5 3/4 lengths and earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 103. He was claimed for $62,500 out of that effort by trainer Norman Cash.
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Sir Alfred James went in the Grade 2 Phoenix Stakes in October at Keeneland for his new barn and finished fifth, then was third by a neck in the Bet On Sunshine at Churchill Downs. Since then, the gelding has scored another allowance-level win at Churchill; finished sixth in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight at Aqueduct; and most recently was third, beaten less than a length, in a Dec. 18 allowance at Oaklawn Park.
The question mark for Sir Alfred James will be his performance on Turfway’s Tapeta. The gelding has never started on a synthetic surface; he has one runner-up effort to show for two career outings on turf. The gelding is a half-brother to Got Stormy, a multiple Grade 1 winner on turf.
Sir Alfred James used front-running tactics to score his 2021 allowance wins at Churchill. Jockey John McKee will likely have to make use of that speed, as he is drawn on the rail in a full field of 12.
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In contrast to Sir Alfred James, who is a question mark on this surface, Souper Highvoltage and Here Mi Song are both coming off local allowance-level victories at Turfway. Souper Highvoltage earned a Beyer of 94 for his rallying score last out, the top last-out number in this field. He could get pace to rally into from the likes of Sir Alfred James and Here Mi Song, another confirmed front-runner who will have to work out a trip from post 11.
Top Gunner ships in off an allowance victory at Oaklawn. Aggressivity, Keepin It Classy, and Williston Way also come in with momentum, as they exit allowance victories at Hawthorne, Indiana Grand, and Mountaineer, respectively.
Stakes-seasoned Johnny Unleashed posted an allowance win at Turfway to start 2021, however, he has not won since.