The Hirsch Turf Classic – Grade I (P5)
1 1/2m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.00 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 Give Your All Mb Stables Franco M
A 3 time grade one winner on the dirt at distances of a mile or less its only at HRP that a horse after 35 races on the dirt can win an 11 furlong turf grade two after being winless at graded stakes level for 18 months. But this is just a computer game at the end of the day and the rabbit in that DMR Handicap melted down the software and threw up this horse as the winner. So the six year old goes again here and the question is has the horse suddenly become a turf superstar or do we dismiss that last race as a glitch in the matrix. To be honest this writer is not a programmer so i have no clue what will happen today other than this horse ran a 1.09 and 1 six furlong turf work which was his fastest ever six furlong work he has ever run so who knows with Mb as the trainer it seems anything is possible.
2 Winter Solstice Maxmillion Farm Garcia Mar
Won the Forrester Turf Classic in the mud and then ran a cracker to be a close third in the Manhattan but since then his form has started to slip for some reason and his last start ninth in the KD Turf Cup was pretty average. His works say he is in this and he gets the perfect draw to find himself again but like the one horse you have to rely on the magic of the turf king to get this one home.
3 The Force Awakens Diablo Diablo Gutierrez R
This one has always promised a lot but can be a little hit and miss at this level. On a sound surface he is honest enough and the stable is in the best form so who knows today may just be one of those days for him. On the balance of form i couldnt see him troubling the win but depending on how the race is run form may have little to do with the result.
4 Raj Action Packed Arindel Zayas E J
Claimed when beaten in a claimer the emerging trainer managed to produce three super runs from him culminating in a shock win in the KD Turf Cup last time out. With no changes in adds and only a month between the claiming defeat and his third in the AP Handicap it seems that nothing major was done apart from the change in trainer sparking a return to the sort fo form that saw him second in the HOL Derby and fourth in the Arlington Million as a four year old. Once again i have no idea whether his last run can be repeated it does seem to have come to the point where form books mean very little so if you like him go with it because he clearly has the ability if things go his way.
5 Puget Sound Mb Stables Hernandez B
The second of three runners from the stable but that goes without saying this son of the great Cherokee Sunset represents another set of HRP oddities and another chance to just rip up the form book. This one went from a second in a one win allowance and then a win in an optional claimer to a win in the United Nations at grade one. Its seems this race is full of horses that win from out of nowhere and like the others he has followed that with the sort of runs that makes you scratch your head . He ran on well to be sixth in the Arlington Million but was then pretty awful in the Northern Dancer last time out a run that could be put down to the wide draw. I feel like i am repeating myself here by saying he has the ability but there can be no confidence drawn from the form book.
6 Face Your Fears Mb Stables Garcia Alan
This looks the best of the Mb runners which usually means this is the winner and certainly whilst the others so far are a bit hit or miss this one is far more consistent. Taking out the odd effort in the BEL Derby he was the gutsy winner of the MTH Stakes and the SAR Derby before just getting run down in the Northern Dancer. Those three efforts looks outstanding as far as form goes and the three good draws for the Mb runners make it look like the race can be set up perfectly for him.
7 Running Bien Chili King Stables Wilson E J
Fourth in that rather stupid DMR Handicap he hadnt shown enough prior to that to give him a chance against some seasoned stakes horses. Knowing HRP that probably makes him the winner but for the sake of sanity i cant make him my pick.
8 Hypothesize Savage Racing Stable Prat F
Bought for $10.000 in the auction this honest type will give the new trainer a thrill but i cant see him troubling the best of these.
9 Video Master Aer Stables Saenz D
This horse is a remarkable story and would be a real fairy tale winner. He had always been a fair sort but it wasnt until this year at the age of eight he suddenly turned into a world beater and landed his first grade one. It wasnt the only thing that changed because several trainers had owned this horse but only his most recent AER Stables managed to find the tricks which would see him rise through the ranks. The trainer is forever threatening to leave and this horse must’ve been close to leaving the game too a few times but here he is on the brink of a BC effort. He beat Techfluence who is probably the outstanding turfer this year in the Sword Dancer last time and that is probably the best form leading into this race. He has won twice recently from widish draws so that wont be a worry so the old fella may just give us another win.
10 Jamie Mach RNP Stables Contreras L
This tough five year old deserves a win here after a season where he has run his heart out more often than not. He flew home to be beaten just a length in the WO Mile last time and was third just a length off Video Master in the Sword Dancer prior to that so the form is on the board. The draw will make it tough but he will be in the mix.
11 Wired Up Rampage Stable Ortiz I Jr
Hasnt been too bad recently but all of his best races have been from generous draws and today he has to cope with box eleven which may just make it too hard for him. On his third in the BEL Derby and fifth in the SAR Derby he would have a chance and his works have been very good recently so dont write him off arriving late.
12 Cherokee Charlie Team 7 Illusions Da Silva E R
A testimony to the ‘computer game’ situation we find ourselves in at horse racing park as he has a 26 length last sandwiched between a grade one and grade two placings. That ‘gamey’ effort was in the ridiculous DMR Handicap a reminder that we can click a button an change a race so its best forgotten and going on his great third in the Northern Dancer last time he would have to have a chance even from the coffin draw.
SUMMARY
Well we will either have a rabbit and a spread out field with a few Pegasus’s flying home or a normal race where most of the field will be separated by a few lengths. We cant do much about either of those things so lets find a winner. Face Your Fears from Mb Stables will have all favors and looks a safe bet and with so many one hit wonders in the field its hard to find a form line to beat him. Of the rest Video Master will be trying hard and Jamie Mach may just be the dark horse in the race.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
