The 18th Running of the G2 DMR Handicap
August 21, 2021 20:00
DMR Race #10 $300.000 13/8 Mile Turf
3YO+ Handicap Weights
Track Record-2:10.87 (Fire-2012)
Stakes Record-2:11.25 (Momentus-2020)
An automatic birth to the G1 BC Turf will be on the line in Saturday’s $300.000 G2 DMR Handicap. Nine horses will try to punch their ticket by winning the 11-furlong test on the DMR lawn. Mb Stables (2013, 2019, 2020) has saddled three winners of this event in the past while jockey R. Bejarano (2011, 2018, 2019) has ridden the victor on three occasions to lead all HRP trainers and jockeys, respectively. The “Pride of Massachusetts” has saddled the last two winners of this G2 and brings Never Met Me into this year’s renewal. Here’s the field of nine competing in this year’s G2 DMR Handicap:
#1 Money Truck (Spankys Barn/D. Van Dyke 119): 4yo gelded son of Grandeur will break from the rail in just his fourth start of the season. Enters here off of a loss in the G2 BEL Gold Cup, but SRF figs have steadily increased in each of his three runs this year. This would be his first stakes win of any kind, but he has the speed to keep his positioning throughout and that always makes a horse dangerous. Hasn’t endured as grueling of a campaign as some of these and may be nearing a peak performance.
#2 Guardian (Team 7 Illusions/A. Beschizza 118): First of two 3yos in the field gets an advantageous post for just his 7th career start; however, the son of State Police is only receiving one pound from seven of these and just three pounds from the high weight, City Watch. Defeated winners for the first time last out when going 12-furlongs over a soggy ELP turf course, but this isn’t the Pea Patch. Appears to do his best when he’s involved from the jump so would not be a surprise if this one tried to get to the front at the break.
#3 Fuji (Smokey Stover/Mario Gutierrez 119): Smokey Stover-trained 4yo has been fed a steady diet of ALW races since a disaster as the favorite in the G3 TAM Stakes back in February. Raced exclusively against stakes horses in an 11-race sophomore campaign. Gelded son of What Have You Done has rounded into form quite well, and does sport a two-race winning streak entering the gate on Saturday. This conditioner is among the most patient in the game, so entering here signals that this guy may be sitting on a big race; look out.
#4 Lillehammer (Invicta Group Inc/F. Prat 119): 4yo daughter of Grandeur is the only filly in this field of nine and only gets a couple of pounds from the highweight. Comes here off of a very game 2nd place effort in the G3 San Juan Capistrano which was also vs males. Took the $100.000 Keertana in front-running fashion prior to that and while it is only a two race sample, she looks like she enjoys this game. Will be interesting to see what tactics are employed as there is speed to her inside and she could find herself at least three wide when they get to the first turn.
#5 Ideal Gift (Threshold/J. Bravo 119): $6.250 claim was no match for Billy Joel (last year’s G1 BC Turf winner and the HRP Turf Champion), but rewarded his conditioner’s faith by besting the rest in the G2 Whittingham. 7yo has been claimed three times for $9.000 and less, but in HRP you can get the right horse at the right time. That 36th start of his career equalled his best SRF figure (98; October of 2017) he’s ever achieved. Seems to do his best running from off of the pace, should be no worse than two wide for any portion of the race, and there is ample speed signed-on for this for him to have a chance to prove his worth. Just have to decide if that last race was a fluke or if this may be the claim of the year.
#6 Mock Galaxy (Jive Inc/T. Gaffalione 119): Second of two 3yos in the race wasn’t as fortunate as his classmate at the post position draw and faces the same weight scenario. Really only has one “poor” race on his resume after his debut and this son of Day Of Destiny looks to be really sharp heading into this one. Yet another who looks to want to see his number at the front early, this post could work-out to his benefit if he can get to the rail just behind the speed. Unlike the majority of runners in here, this guy will have to answer the distance question; $100.000 American Derby score was his 3rd win at 8.5 furlongs, but he’s never been asked to travel further. If he handles the distance, not a stretch to see this guy in front during the later stages of the race.
#7 Never Met Me (Mb Stables/E. Jaramillo 119): Two-time defending champion trainer of this event only sends one runner to this party. $120.000 Lure Stakes score came in his first turf start in nearly 20-months. Tough to pin down what kind of trip is most likely for the 5yo son of Anybody Home; there is a scenario where he finds himself in front, his best trip may be in a stalking position while travelling in the two-path, but he could also find himself travelling three wide in the third set. Barn’s top jock gets the call and he’s the conditioner’s lone entrant, so safe to suggest expectations are high.
#8 Torque Converter (Nakamura Stables/V.R. Carrasco 119): Classy individual has held his own against the best dirt runners in the Handicap Division so his inclusion here deserves respect. Will be making only the 2nd turf start in a 23-race career, so can understand those who remain skeptical. 5yo gelded son of Final Delivery currently sits in 16th on the G1 BC Classic leaderboard and the G1 Pacific Classic goes twenty minutes after this one……beware.
#9 City Watch (John Henry/S.X. Bridgmohan 120): Most accomplished horse in the field (on turf) gets the double whammy of drawing outside and carrying the most weight; however, he avoided being heavily penalized as he only gives three pounds to one rival and two to the rest. 4yo Motor City gelding looks to be in the best form of his career as he returns here off of a winning run in the G3 AP Classic last month. Has to negotiate another 1/16 in this one, but his speed should keep him from being caught too wide. Two works since signify this guy means business and a repeat of his last should be good enough to punch his ticket to the BC.
Final Analysis: Multiple scenarios appear at least feasible, but, in the end, they’ll hit the wire 9-3-7. Good luck to all of the connections involved in the $300.000 G2 DMR Handicap!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
