International Turf Cup – Grade 3 – $200.000 Purse
PIM – For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile – Turf
September 10, 2022

This field is full of questions to be answered, which makes it hard to pick a winner. Not that they are that evenly matched, it’s just that the ones that have been performing best lately have been doing so on dirt. The exception to that statement is Guardian (Nakamura Stables) who won the Williams Turf Mile last out. But he hasn’t made it to the winner’s circle in graded company. Unicorn (Black N Gold Stable) won at graded level recently, but on dirt.

Here’s the field:

#1 Sin City Joker (Maximillion Farm) Five-year-old gelding won in optional claiming state-bred company two starts back. First try at graded level. Big step up.

#2 Guardian (Nakamura Stables) Won the $100.000 Williams Turf Mile last out at ELP for his one and only win in stakes company. Likes the distance. Working well. Will have to wait and see if he can get it done in graded company.

#3 Unicorn (Black N Gold Stable) Riding a three-race win streak, all on dirt. Recent wins include victories in the $175.000 Hanshin and the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at EMD. Has had success on turf. No reason to think this seven-year-old won’t be in the mix.

#4 No Wonder (Nakamura Stables) Allowance winner at a mile on turf. Hasn’t competed in stakes company since 2020, but he has been working well at the distance. Could have a say in the outcome.

#5 Ronaldo Chop (Night Rider Stables) Has been trying graded level lately. His best performance at that level came in the Westchester (Grade 3) at BEL on dirt. Only one start on turf for this gelding and he didn’t hit the board that day.

Picks 2-3

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES