The Pan American – Grade II
GP Race #17 1 1/2m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $200.00 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Cheveley Park Mo Mentum Farm Franco M 124 —

I think there is more than meets the eye with this one and the biggest question mark will be this switch back to turf after most of his memorable efforts coming on the main track. He was a good three-year-old, placing third in the OK Derby, winning the Marine and getting a run in the KYD where he was only two lengths back in seventh. In his first start as a four-year-old he took a nice Allowance at GP before a mystifying run in the Razor back Handicap. Close up that day on a hot pace he weakened badly at the end, but I think that was more to do with the effects of the hot pace and that on the new race engine stalking that sort of speed can be suicide. Ignoring that last effort and if the pace is more sensible today, I think he stands a decent chance of getting back to his best.

2 Life Lessons Williams9 Loveberry J 124 —

Lightly raced and very consistent this will be a big test, but he was very good over an extreme trip last time and was bought out of Mb Stables so will have had a good education. This is a big rise in class but there is untapped ability here and it will be interesting to see how he handles this grade.

3 Socially Distant Bomberracing Bridgmohan S X 124 —

A solid five-year-old he has yet to win any race except a sprint, so this is one of those possible HRP specials where a seeming sprinter turn out to be an extreme router. The works are fair and though he hasn’t tackled anything like this grade before you have to wonder whether he may run a big race.

4 Charley Buzz Nakamura Stables Elliott S 124 —

Tried and true form in these long-distance races can be a big advantage and this five-year-old was beaten a whisker in the grade three McKnight over this trip in January so has some credentials on that score. The works are sharp, and the trainer knows how to win good races so, I would be putting this one in the top three and possibly the winner.

5 Neds Influence The Sidley Stud Beschizza A 124 —

There was some decent form on his record before he came out as a four-year-old and took the FG Stakes over nine furlongs in his first start of the season. I am certainly liking the form he has been showing in his last two and the works are really strong so, I would expect a top three finish for sure.

6 Best Ever Night Rider Stables Ortiz J L 124 —

Another one looking to exploit the thing that can look like a loophole here at HRP and that’s a sprinter taking on the maximum route trip and showing surprising improvement. The winner of the BEL Turf Sprint it is interesting to see him in this field, but he has won over a longer trip and that early pace may be useful against some of these who may be a bit slower.

7 Never Met Me RNP Stables Corrales G 124 —

A confirmed long-distance type, he has been very good for a while now and has looked just as good so far this year as a seven-year-old. He won the grade one Pattison Canadian International in 2021 and placed in some of the top distance races last year so is well placed against a field that doesn’t boast that sort of form. Won the McKnight from Charley Buzz so must be close again with that one.

8 Afterburner Arindel Hernandez C J 124 —

This one would’ve probably been favorite for this race last year but seems to have lost his way on the new race engine in 2023 and will need to find his best to get into the top three today. Fourth in the BC Turf last year and a multiple graded stakes winner over this trip if he can find his form he could win.

9 Winter Solstice Mb Stables Alvarado F T 124 —

As an eight-year-old his best days may be behind him but since being bought by Mb Stables, he seems to have found his old mojo and if he has will be tough to beat. The winner of TEN graded stakes at over $3,000.000 in prize money there is no doubt about his class and ability the only real question is whether his old age has blunted his will to win which certainly hasn’t looked the case in his recent races.

10 Derby G High Voltage Davis D 124 —

There is plenty of promise in this one’s record but not so many wins as perhaps you would hope. He looked good last time in an SA allowance, but this wide draw will make things pretty hard for him although there is no reason he couldn’t be there at the end with the right trip.

SUMMARY

Winter Solstice is undoubtedly the best horse in the race, but the wide draw brings him back to the field and may give a few others a chance. Chevely Park interest me and may be good odds and Ned Influence is certainly on the improve and has a nice draw so they must be considered.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES