Neil Howard’s Power Rush to go in a strong field of 2-year-old sprinters in the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga
Trainer Neil Howard’s 2-year-old colt Power World will get a taste of strong competition on 24 July’s six furlong dash in the Grade 2 Sanford Stakes at Saratoga race course. The colt will be up against the odds on favourite Todd Pletcher trained Overdriven.
Neil Howard is of the view that his colt could be a better prospect in longer distance races, and when the juvenile begin to stretch out later in the meet, let’s say the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, than his colt would actually get a chance to show what he is
made of.
Already graded stakes placed Power World will be up against seven other 2-year-olds in the Grade 2 $150,000 Sanford Stakes. Power World kicked off his career with a debut win at Churchill Downs, where he broke his maiden in a 4 ½ furlong dash.
Under jockey Corey Lanerie Power World with a strong rush down the Churchill Downs race track stretch over taking She Digs Me and Sark in a fast 52.83 seconds to claim his first winner. Power World is a half brother to the multiple grade 1 stakes winner,
Santa Catarina.
The impressive debut run prompted trainer Neil Howard to try out the son of Distorted Humor in the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes, and the colt did not disappoint.
Over the distance of six furlongs, Power World gave his all to with another strong rush down the stretch, but this time got held off by the winner Exfactor, who barely kept Power World off him, as he crossed the wire.
There is no doubt that the 2-year-old is capable of reaching new heights, and that attribute is recognized and now visually reflective in the level of the races he entered, grade 2 after he broke his maiden and now advancing towards a grade 2 race, which
his connections think that he is perfectly able to handle.
Neil Howard constantly stressed upon the fact that he had a good run in previous two races, but his best is yet to come when he climbs up on longer distance races, where he can utilize the stretch.
Ideally in a six furlong dash, a colt that can break out of the gates and keeps building on the pace till the wire is more suited than a colt that holds it off and unleashes later on.
Power World is of the latter type, and the longer stretch theory by Neil Howard adds up in his case.
But a 2-year-old colt has to show versatility at the beginning of his career to last longer and win bigger.
With the likes of Overdriven, Moonrush and Tarpy’s Goal to contend with, who will test him at every inch, Power World will face the strongest line up in his two year old career.
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