The Dwyer Stakes drew a short and sweet field on Saturday at Belmont Park and this race is really like a consolation prize. Often times the Dwyer Stakes entices those that could not cut it on the Triple Crown Trail and this year is no exception.
The Dwyer Stakes was inaugurated in 1887 as the Brooklyn Derby and it was renamed for the Dwyer brothers, who dominated thoroughbred racing in the late 19th century.
Over the years, a variety of styles have won the Dwyer Stakes. Stage Door Johnny, who was known basically as a turf influence, won this race in 1968. Coastal, a long-striding colt that never backed down from a fight, won the Dwyer Stakes in 1979 and also won the Belmont Stakes. Last year Fish Trappe Road was coming off a second in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes before capturing the Dwyer Stakes with a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.
Five youngsters will square off in this Grade 3 $400,000 mile stakes.
Tale of Silence will break from the rail. The colt had to come from dead last in the win at this distance two back but he came back to earth in a thud in the Easy Goer last time. It’s questionable whether he was beating anybody in his win on April 28. The place horse that day has lost twice since and was not impressive in either outing. Tale of Silence still has a shot to have a nice career as his full-brother Tale of Ekati took multiple Grade 1s. He seems fit enough but will need a rebound race. This racer will be ridden by Manuel Franco.
Battalion Runner was troubled in his debut. His trainer Todd Pletcher has been patient with this runner as you would expect when you are dealing with a $700,000 purchase. Pletcher is looking for the third Dwyer Stakes win after success by Strong Hope and Any Given Saturday. This runner was second in the Wood Memorial last time. The race was also very productive. The fifth finisher took a $100,000 stakes in Philly and the show horse cashed in the Preakness. This youngster is proven fresh and he has best of the morning drills all over the work tab. This racer is the speed of the speed and is strictly the one to deny.
Practical Joke must be respected because of his consistency. Backers can draw a line through the Kentucky Derby as the runner broke from the 19 post. The Derby was ultra-productive too. The sixth finisher took the Belmont Stakes next out, the show horse won the Grade 3 Affirmed in a tour de force. Also the eighth finisher took a Grade 3 at Churchill Downs and the 18th finisher took the Grade 3 Ohio Derby. There are some concerns. Backers have to hope the freshening has done this star a world of good. He started his career like a ball of fire and will be trying to regain that form. His style is the main obstacle as those that like this runner have to hope somebody goes with the Pletcher horse, softens him up, and this colt finds a lane to rally into in time. Joel Rosario will ride the Chad Brown trainee.
True Timber will be trying to cut down some big trees in this edition of the Dwyer Stakes. He has only won once in his career but his trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has always had confidence in this son of Mineshaft. The youngster must prove he can score going long. He has some semblance of speed but it’s hard to see him clearing the field here and getting an easy lead. Since this one is fresh, one could build a case he’ll be on the muscle and aggressive early but he was not exactly flattered by the horse that ran second in this colt’s lone win. That runner, Horoscope, is now one for 10 and the win came in a state-bred MSW sprint with a 91 Beyer.
Giuseppe the Great has not yet raced like his name suggests. The name doesn’t quite fit yet. This $100,000 purchase ignited on the Florida to Keeneland ship for the lone win and he was just decent in the Woody Stephens last time. He came out a bit at the break in last, raced three wide, was put to a drive, but had nothing in the tank. On the positive side, this runner has a chance to get the distance as lone sibling Rumba did graduate in a dirt route.
As with any race, the winner of Dwyer Stakes will have to take advantage of any pace angles that favor him. Interestingly, with a short field, one would expect the race to be run cleanly and clearer cut than most races but that is not always the case. I’ve seen traffic jams in short fields that would rival things like the parking lot that happens on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles.
Riders will not be able to fall asleep and just go through the motions here because there is a clear speed horse here. Battalion Runner will be on the lead. He graduated when he went to the front from the sound of the ball and he repeated in an optional claimer when he came from just off the pace. The nine furlongs of the Wood may have just be pushing the envelope last time but he has worked solidly for this race. Trainer Pletcher gave this runner May off but his workouts in June were excellent. He worked four furlongs a couple of times and then was set down in his June 23 race. He posted a best of 15 work that day and proved it was no fluke when he went 1:00 4/5 on July 1. That was the best work of 14 that trained at that distance.
Of the horses that sold at auction in his edition of the Dwyer Stakes, this runner cost the most. One of his best assets could be that he has options. If rider John Velazquez feels that another rider is intent on the lead, he can back off and track that runner until the right time comes.
Key this youngster on top look for him to try to steal this race.
