The Nerud – Grade II
BEL Race #3 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 California Sun Royalty Stables Talamo J 123 —

He went from a claiming race early in the year to three wins in a row culminating in the Runhappy at grade three. This can often happen with five-year-olds after they shake off the disadvantage of being four-year-olds and this one proved his winning streak was no fluke with a great third in the Triple Bend from a terrible draw last time out. With an inside draw I would expect him to use his early pace once again and he certainly has a lot of things going for him here. A big winning chance.

2 Crypto Maxmillion Farm Jimenez A 123 —

Clocking up over $1,000.000 in prize money this one ended a great three-year-old season by taking the Toboogan at the end of the year. He has only had the one win this year in the OP Mile but is coping with being a disadvantaged four-year-old and is actually doing pretty well. He has been stretched out a bit this year and comes back to his favored seven furlongs today and with the perfect draw has a real chance to add to an impressive record.

3 Demon Wood Duck Stables Garcia Mar 123 —

Another successful three-year-old he has done pretty well at four running second in the grade one Carter Handicap and then winning the Aristides last time out. From this draw he will be able to sit up with the pace which is sure to be competitive early and is right up there with the best of this very good field of sprinters. I really liked the 1.08 and 2 time he won his last race in and the sort of splits he ran that day makes him very competitive here.

4 Lokoya Road Establo Pichon Walcott R W 123 —

A five-year-old, he has been a little in and out this year and still has a bit to prove at this level. His run in the CD was better than his finishing position looked, so I wouldn’t be writing him off at his lack of form at this level, but he does look up against it.

5 Money Truck Invicta Group Llc Alvarado J 123 —

This is an interesting six-year-old who at first glance looks out of form and maybe on the decline. But if you look a bit harder there are plenty of excuses and if there is a fast pace and he can find some room down the stretch he could be the dark horse in this race. Forget his run over 12 furlongs last time and take a look at his fast-finishing effort in the CD, the one and only time he has run over seven furlongs. Better known as a turfer and a router his trainer has been working him over three furlongs to try and build some speed into his legs and it will be very interesting to see how he goes today.

6 Burnin Red Hooves TwinTowersRacing Jaramillo E 123 —

I always check twice with a runner from this stable because they are often under rated and can run huge races. I like the way he sprinted to take the Thors Echo last time but that was in a lesser grade, so he has something to prove here. As usual his form is a mix of sprinting and routing as the trip makes so little difference here at HRP sometimes so it all looks a bit mixed up, but his SRF figures are strong, and he could mess with a few of these with better sprinting form.

7 Pray For Sunshine Spankys Barn Davis D 123 —

A solid type who can go a good race on occasions. I liked the way he won the Fool Handicap, plenty of guts and glory from a sticky gate he just wouldn’t give in that day and that sort of effort will stand him in good stead here. His works are strong and if he can get a position from this mid pack draw, he could give a very good account of himself.

8 Wedded Bliss Axeman Carmouche K 123 —

He put an end to a string of defeats at lower level with a game win in the ungraded George Royal last time, but this is a much better race, and he may be hard pressed to get into it. A bit of a punters chance he will need things to work out for him to get involved.

9 Plan To Wheel Fractious Cedillo A 123 —

This five-year-old has been well placed and is an out and out sprinter so will appreciate the chance to sit and watch things unfold from out wide and pick his time to pounce. A good win in the Kona Stakes preceded a brilliant second in the Triple Bend from the same draw as this and that run gives him the beating of most of this field. A winning chance and due to his gate, you may get some decent odds.

10 Blamethespeedparty Martyparty Husbands P 123 —

A well named sprinter he certainly has the speed to win this but will have to overcome a tough draw. He won the grade three Whitmore Stakes at OP but this is a bit tougher, but he is a solid type and well suited by seven furlongs. I liked his most recent work and if the race engine is kind to him, he could be running a big race.

11 Hollywood Cruiser Threshold Juarez A J Jr 123 —

He was running at the free track and claimers at the end of last year but has taken the five-year-old boost and is a much better horse this year. He did well to get up and win the MD Sprint last time and today we will find out just where his improvement curve has got. Of course, he has the wide draw to get over first and there may be a reason he is out here, but he is entitled to run well if the race engine lets him.

12 On Schedule Mb Stables Bridgmohan S X 123 —

Talking of handicaps, the True North winner has been heavily handicapped here with the car park draw but he is certainly good enough to overcome it. Went from a mile and a quarter to sprinting to win the True North but of course that is how it rolls at HRP. Is the stakes winning router really a top sprinter that has been hiding all this time, well today we find out.

SUMMARY

It really wouldn’t surprise me to see On Schedule overcome the wide draw here and he should certainly be in the top three whatever happens, but it may pay to go for one of the ones with a better draw to try and get some value for our Disney Dollars. I think California Sun will love the inside draw after his tough run last time and he may be better value if the odds Monkeys are making sense.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES