After selecting the winner in the hot, sticky weather at Louisiana Downs, we head north to the cooler weather of Assiniboia Downs for Tuesday’s QPW as we have horses foaled in Manitoba in the Phil Kives Stakes, which will be a one-mile race. Post time is set for approximately 9:25 pm Eastern time.
Assiniboia Downs Race 3 – Phil Kives Stakes
Favored in this field of six horses is the 3 McKague (6/5 morning line) who comes into this race after winning an allowance race going seven and a half furlongs stalking the pace and drawing off in the stretch. He won this race two years ago and was runner up last year. He can handle this distance and with a similar trip could replicate his performance from two weeks ago.
The 4 Delvecchio (3/1 ML) was dueling on the outside in the same race here at Assiniboia Downs two weeks ago and could not hold off the favorite in the stretch. He could have the lead to himself tonight, but he might have some nearby company in this race.
The 5 No Show No Call (5/1 ML) basically did just that in the Manitoba Derby eight days ago, as he broke outward at the start of the race and was wide from the backstretch to the stretch, costing any reasonable chance of winning last week at Assiniboia. He gets to cut back here tonight and might be closer to the pace.
The 1 Al Reichert (4/1 ML) comes in from Century Mile in Edmonton for this race and he has won three of four races so far this year, but those races have all been at five and a half or six furlongs. I would not worry about the mile distance. He had traffic issues in that mile race in June at Century Mile and did run well last year at a mile in Edmonton and a two-turn seven-and-a-half-furlong race at Century Downs in Calgary.
The 2 Sugar Daddy Jack (30/1 ML) has not shown much if anything in his five races so far this year, while the 6 Crowned Royal (10/1 ML) does have a couple of third place finishes this year going six furlongs, but will need to improve a lot to win here tonight.
Delvecchio is going to go for the lead here, but how they line up behind him may be a bit of a mystery. Al Reichert should be closer to the pace after breaking outward last time out. But he may be on the lead given that he raced at six furlongs the last time out.
This is going to set things up nicely for the favorite McKague and No Show No Call. I think McKague will pass by the leaders in the stretch just like he did two weeks ago while No Show No Call may get tired from running a second race in eight days. I’ll call this 3-1-4-5 and my play is $20 to win on the 3. Good luck everyone!
QPW Update Desk
- Colonial Downs announced that the 2025 Virginia Derby will be moved to the main dirt track and will be run during a special four-day meet that will take place in March. The race will be part of the Road to the Kentucky Derby and will award 50 points to the winner of the March 15 race.
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