PROS

• A full field of 10 starters with a wide variety of running styles made it a race that would be won with more effort than luck.

CONS

• Not one graded stakes winner in the field and only two of the 10 contenders had ever even hit the board in graded stakes company.

BOTTOM LINE

• The winner, El Brujo, gave jockey Garrett Gomez the middle leg win of the three stakes wins he had on the Turfway card this day. While El Brujo did rally with intention, it’s hard to tell if he’s found his preferred distance and style or if he just benefited from Gomez having a REALLY good day. That said, his only two bad races of his career have come over a route of ground and the running style he displayed here would be a perfect strategy for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Would like him more in The Sprint if Gomez stays aboard.