The Pan American – Grade II
GP Race #12 1 1/2m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Raj Action Packed             Arindel                   Jaramillo E

Gets a weight penalty for this but to be fair to him he probably deserves it after two strong wins this year and it may not stop him. The eight year old loves these long trips and has dug deep in both the McKnight Stakes and the Diarmida this year to go two from two for 2021. He gets the perfect draw for his stalking style and for a horse that was good enough to run fourth in the BC Turf last year i rate him a huge chance. Fifty races, twelve wins and over 2.4K in prize money says it all.

2 Just Chillin          Nakamura Stables            Bahen S R

Sandwiched between two terrible runs in the FG Stakes and the HOL Turf Cup we see a win in the Singspiel and a close third in the Tropical Turf. So is this five year old horribly inconsistent? I don’t think so i just think he has been a victim of the draw which at HRP can throw up vastly different form . Back to the two box today i expect a much more competitive effort.

3 Sunlander             Estero Farms              Velazquez J R

The winner of the Pattison Canadian International last year over this trip and from a tough draw he went on to run very well considering another terrible draw in the BC Turf to be a closing sixth. His run of bad draws went to three when he ran his seasonal debut in the Pegasus World Turf Cup but he very nearly overcame it when running a game second. Back into a decent draw today it would be easy to see him back in the winners enclosure.

4 Annihilator              Eastern Equine              Alvarado J

With only ten runs and two wins it would be easy to underestimate this one but considering his last eight starts have been in top races he has performed very well and may be sneaking under the radar for a race like this. He has been beaten by Sunlander in both the Pattison and the Pagasus so i can’t see him turning that around but he is another who doesn’t get much luck from the draw Gods so he may give some value if his odds ate decent enough.

5 Paris Diplomat           Mo Mentum Farm               Carrasco V R

Looks to be out of his depth on his recent starts but it wasn’t long ago that he was only beaten a length in the Shadwell Turf Mile so he may be better than that. A little bit before that he was only beaten a quarter length in the Wise Dan so it is clear he has the class gene if not the speed to win consistently. This trip may just be the answer fro him so i wouldn’t be surprised to see a big run from him today.

6 Stallsome            Maxmillion Farm              Saez L

This is the sort of race that is the turf kings bread and butter and this six year old has done it before so should be taken seriously. The winner of the Connally BC Turf on seasonal debut he was then a little disappointing in the Diarmida when only eighth behind Raj Action Packed. I don’t see him as a clear winning chance but i am sure he will be in at the finish..

7 Momentus            Fractious            Bejarano R

Won the DMR Handicap last year but disappointed in the BC Turf after being bought for $300 from Mb Stables. To be fair to him he has had a run of terrible random draws which almost seems too unlucky to be random but gets in a bit better today so we may see him run up to his best. I liked his effort from the 11 box in the FG Stakes last time and his works suggest he can run well today.

8 Lord City          Our Athletes             McCarthy T

Did nothing from a wide draw in the Canadian Turf last time but ran pretty well from a better draw in the McKnight Stakes the time before so it is clear he has the ability with some luck. His works are on the mark but he gets out a bit again today so it will rely more on things going right for him than anything else.

9 Shimoon Chai            Martyparty               Stein J

An eleven race winner this six year old has never raced against stakes company before but that isn’t a particular negative here at HRP. If he has the class gene he has the works and ability to run well, if he doesn’t then he wont. The trouble is we wont know that until the race is over.

10 Cherokee Surprise            TwinTowersRacing             Davis D

It has to be said his win in the FG Stakes surprised me a little but then the trainer has the knack of turning up surprising winners in these types of races. His previous win to that came over seven furlongs less than this race but as we know the trip doesn’t mean much at HRP so i wouldn’t be reading too much into that. The draw makes it tough but you can never write off a runner from Twin Towers Racing.

11 Puget Sound              John Henry             Bridgmohan S X

He has promised a bit more than he has delivered up to now and may face a bit of an acid test today. His task is made more difficult by the draw today but sons of Cherokee Sunset can never be written off is races like this. I have a feeling he will be flying late so with a clear path and a fair wind he may run well.

12 Workload Mb Stables Gaffalione T

The last time he had such a terrible draw he was second in the Pacific Classic to Sunlander but whilst that horse gets a much better draw today this one doesn’t so it s hard to see how he can turn the tables.Of course we have had much tinkering with the race engine since then so who knows what will happen and this one is good enough if things go his way.

SUMMARY

This looks like Sunlanders race to lose as he gets the sort of draw in the sort of race he should win. Raj Action Packed is sure to be there again and i think Annihilator will run well. Of the longer odds i’d rather like a dollar each way on Paris Diplomat.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES