Turf Monster Handicap – Grade III (P6)
PRX Race #13 5f Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
Another handicap that isn’t really much of a handicap with just two pounds separating top from bottom weights. The Turf Monster himself has two entries here but they are handicapped with the outside gates which is far more of a handicap than the two pounds they receive so it remains to be seen whether Maxmillion can win the race that was named after them.
here is how they line up;
1 Shelbags Lindeman Prairie Cedillo A 120
This six year old has won eleven races on the turf but despite never having won a graded stake and only running in one in its entire forty race career he gets top weight for this. That impost is outweighed by getting the inside post for this race which will no doubt be run at a frenetic pace so i am certainly not writing him off for his 120Lbs. Claimed last summer for just $9 the trainer has done a great job in bringing him along slowly and steadily and letting him find his own improvement. Second in the GP Turf Sprint at the start of the year they didn’t throw him in the deep end but rather picked his races carefully which has resulted in him winning his last two including the Lucky Coin last time. What i like about this one is that he is very fast and that is what is needed for a race like this which will no doubt be completed in a time very close to 56 seconds. As long as he gets away and is within a length or two of the lead from the gate he should run a big race.
2 Dracarys TwinTowersRacing Velazquez J R 118
Despite running some good races in good company this one has only won two from thirty but his one length sixth in the Appleton over a mile suggests he wouldn’t have to find much to be competitive here. A couple of ticks in boxes with the two draw and bottom weight and he threw a 57 and 1 work for the five furlongs too which is pretty swift. The trainer has a habit of coming up trumps with these types of horses so he may be a bit of a dark horse in this.
3 Wingman Angelos Stable Ryan S 119
The winner of three from twenty nine he has placed 14 times which goes to show you that he may be better than that win record. A very close second in the Green Flash Handicap last time on the same handicap mark in 56 flat there is plenty to like about his chances in this five furlong dash. The work on the track was good but this is an even field and a lot will depend on luck in running, if he gets it he is a winning chance.
4 Real Problem Scarletandgraystable Gutierrez Mario 120
Must start the favorite on his win in the PARX Sprint last time over this course and distance winning by a comfortable length and earning a 99 speed rating. A regular in claimers it is a testament to the class system that he was beaten in a ten buck claimer 23 days before taking that grade three in a pace that wasn’t much different. The new owner clearly spotted the potential for this one and found a great race to win first up so huge ups to them and they mat have just found another great opportunity for this four year old.
5 Shining Rubicon Arindel Bridgmohan S X 118
Three year olds in handicaps did OK last year but this year they are already at a disadvantage without the fact that they have to race older horses on levels so he may be hard pressed to get competitive here. Having said that he ran well in the Greenwood Stakes last time and is pretty fast in his own right so he isn’t out of this in any way.
6 K T Warrior Maxmillion Farm Saez G 118
The turf king’s two entries are both drawn wide so tactics may play an important part here. This one was full of promise back in 2018 when he took the National Museum Of Racing but he has struggled to come on from that and has been sparsely raced since. His work times on both dirt and turf are very good so i wonder whether the stable will take advantage of that speed and push him forward. A difficult read but a winning chance.
7 Rising King Maxmillion Farm Jaramillo E 118
A lightly raced four year old with a nice record of five wins from twelve starts. A stakes winner on dirt last year he has a great turf record too and has won two from four this year both of them coming over this trip in low 56 second winning times. He made all to win last time so again he may find he is pushed forward early and indeed the two stable mates could form a rather effective wall if they get clear away and sit first and second.
SUMMARY
This is no BC race but it is an interesting handicap. I think Maxmillion’s tactics will be key here and they could easily dominate for a one two but i rather like Wingman for a bit of value and if Shellbags can get away with them and hold the rail he will be a winning chance.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
