The Intercontinental – Grade III
 BEL Race #1 6f Turf Graded Stake
Purse $200.00 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 Lorient TwinTowersRacing Lezcano J

Tested as a three-year-old in the La Brea, she came up short so was sent back to overnights to learn her trade. A good win in a decent time in an allowance at HOU saw her again thrown into stakes grade and although she did better this time, she could only manage sixth. She seems to be a filly that is going to explode one day, I am pretty sure once she wins black type, she will win again but until she does, she remains a bit of an enigma at this level. It could be today.

2 On Solid Ground Oquinn Farm Lopez P

She was a consistent filly from the day she got going and she hit a rich vein of form at the end of last year ending with a win in the grade three Frankel that made me think she was going to kick on into the top grade, This year she has been tested but two poor runs sandwich a good third in the Hillsborough and the trainer has decided to come back in trip today to try and find her consistency again. It may just be the four-year-old blight, but we know she is good on her day and this draw will be ideal for her, so she definitely comes into calculations.

3 Early Fire Maxmillion Farm Carmouche K

The turf king fires this one in and she is a solid sprinter who is sure to give them something to fight with. Unbeaten this year at overnight level, her last win came in a strong allowance at SA so could really be considered this sort of level. Not as fast as some here in her homework but winning on the downhill SA track takes pace and she seems to have plenty.

4 Sweetness High Voltage Saez L

Only at HRP will you see the sort of form lines that this one carries. Fourth in this race last year, she is not only an accomplished sprinter but the winner of the ten-furlong Dance Smartly and a contender at graded level all the way up to the maximum 12 furlongs. So, whilst we can’t say whether she is a router or a sprinter we can say which we see all the time and that is a good horse at HRP can perform over any trip. She proved last time in the Mizdirection that she can get her old legs sprinting with the same enthusiasm she had when winning her debut at MNR and with a decent draw she must be one of the favorites to add yet more prize money to her growing pot.

5 Ewa Beach The American Velazquez J R

Another fine example of the crazy form lines we have to try and read at HRP, here is a mare that was running in the BC Fillies and Mares for the last two years but, now she has miraculously turned back into a sprinter. Well, the same applies to her as it does to Sweetness in that the crazy looking variance in her ability over two extremes of trips merely means at HRP that they have the class gene, and they are very good.
This mare has long been a favorite of mine, a flagship horse for the stable she has amassed nearly $2,500.000 in prize money and now at seven she seems to have found her sprinting legs again. If she gets away quickly and leads them out, she could just add some more money to her pot and maybe earn a go at the BC again but this time over a mile less.

6 Lady Of Lord Our Athletes Gutierrez Mario

We have seen two examples of mares that can run over any trip and still hold their form, but this is the exception to that common trend as she is an out and out sprinter and a very good one. The winner of 12 races she won the License Fee last time in a very good race time and has a great record in the sprinting ranks. As far as works go, she is of course working the same as a 12-furlong specialist, so it is hard to separate her ability on that score, but I like the fact that she is a specialist sprinter in a field where the best of them is not.

7 Texas Holdem D J C Racing Stables Franco M

This four-year-old has had only one race on turf and to be honest it was about the same as her effort on dirt,,,,yes, this is HRP form after all. So, taking her dirt form she may not be quite up to the best of these, but she is a solid type who is in the right race it will just be a matter of who has turned up and how the race is run. She can get something here if things go right.

8 Four Sevens Luz International Ortiz I Jr

She is another that has gone from a mile and three eighths all the way back to sprinting without much difference, but she is a bit new to this level so isn’t as exposed as some. She got within a head of Lady Of Lord in the License Fee which was a career best effort last time so she may be one of those that finds her form a bit later. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

9 Great Beneficiary Smokey Stover Dettori L

The car park goes to the HRP Pimp who brings this four-year-old from their harem of beautiful girls to do battle. The winner of nine and a sprinting specialist (for now at least) she has been kept out of graded stakes but has won four at ungraded level so should not be underestimated. Her works are sharp, but she has been heavily favored by the draw monster, so she has something a bit new to deal with today. If the AI and race engine is kind, she has a winning chance.

SUMMARY

An interesting sprint I will have to go for Ewa Beach as much from loyalty as anything. I hope she does win, but if she doesn’t then pretty much anything could.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES