Forester Turf Classic (Grade 1)- $1,000.000 Purse
CD- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Turf
May 6, 2023

Maxmillion Farm certainly seemed loaded up for the Forester Turf Classic, entering three of the nine horses. They all seemed like they had a good shot at the race win, and when it was all said and done, it’s a 1-2 finish for the trainer. Picking up the win would be Penal Hockey Party, a horse that had our support in the preview as well as the bettors at the track, as he was made the post-time favorite. He had come into this race off an impressive second place effort three weeks ago in the Makers Mark Mile and the winner of that race, Mickey, was not here. Penal Hockey Party would follow that race up nicely here in the Forester, and we will look forward to what he does over the summer and eventually, the BC. This is the second win for Maxmillion Farm in the race, as he also won in 2019 with Winter Solstice. Jockey J R Velazquez is now a two-time winner, as well. Congratulations to them! The time of the race was 1:44.98, which is the fourth quickest in the twenty-year history of the race. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/2 Mile- :46.15)- Affirmed Authority, from Asgar, is not messing around at the start of the race and quickly pounces out to a lead of two lengths. If it were not for second place B N Broadway, from Choppy Inc., that lead may have been twice as large. Behind these top two, the rest of the pace seems content to race with one another in a tight pack. Threshold’s Bronze Bomber is the leader of that group after a half mile, with Our Athletes-trained Hawaiian Lord right next to him, and Maxmillion Farm’s Last Way To The Beac nearby in the three wide position. Devil Made Me Doit, also from Maxmillion Farm is a length behind him, and to his inside, is his stablemate and the eventual winner of the race, Penal Hockey Party. Proud Bo is also with this group, for TwinTowersRacing. Only Mb Stables- trained Pxg is behind this group.

(3/4 Mile- 1:09.67)- Down the backstretch, it’s clear sailing for now for Affirmed Authority. No one is interested in running with him as they prepare to enter the turn. B N Broadway, who had been the closest pursuer to him has actually lost some ground and is now in a position to be passed by those who had been racing in the pack. Last Way To Beac, again trying to look good in a race I cover, will be the first one to make the pass, as he takes the outside route while running third. Bronze Bomber and Hawaiian Lord are still running well, and Devil Made Doit, Penal Hockey Party, and Proud Bo were all in striking range. Pxg was way back.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Affirmed Authority is still the leader, but as we enter the stretch, the rest of the field was quickly approaching him, and unless he had a second wind still to come, he was a sitting duck. Last Way To The Beac was now in second, but perhaps as a product of taking the outside lane, he did not gain as much ground in the turn as it looked like he was going too, and those who were running closer to the rail, like Bronze Bomber and his Penal Hockey Party made more progress on Affirmed Authority. Penal Hockey Party was now within three lengths and was one of a few horses that looked like they had a good shot in the stretch, it would simply come down to who would find that additional push and desire to get it done. Hawaiian Lord and Devil Made Doit also looked like good threats here.

(Finish- 1:44.98)- with a furlong to go, the action was tight, as there were seven horses within a length of one another. At this point, Penal Hockey Party was looking good, along with Bronze Bomber, though it was Last Way To The Beac now with a head in front of the field. Getting even closer to the wire, Maxmillion Farm was certainly enjoying what he saw, as Last Way To The Beac was still running well, and only one other horse, also wearing his silks, looked like he could snag the win away for him. At the wire, it would be Penal Hockey Party with a strong looking win by half a length, and don’t take anything away from Last Way To The Beac who ran second while being at least four wide all race, and even more so in the stretch. Hawaiian Lord got the head bob over Bronze Bomber for third, and Devil Made Doit was not too far off from making it a 1-2-3 finish for Maxmillion Farm. Proud Bo, Affirmed Authority, B N Broadway, and Pxg round it out.

About The Winner- Penal Hockey Party, trained by Maxmillion Farm and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a four-year-old gelding by Penal Code, and is out of Americanhockeyparty. He was bred in California by Martyparty as a third quarter two-year-old and was acquired by Maxmillion Farm in private sales last June for $450.000. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his sixth in 17 starts, his fourth stake win and third graded win. His career earnings are now $1,439.940.

Track: Firm
Time: :46   1:09³  1:33²  1:44⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 2 – 9 Paid 107.80
$1 Trifecta: 2 – 9 – 7 Paid 289.00

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES