Vanderbilt Handicap – Grade 1

SAR – 6 Furlongs – Dirt

For Three Year Olds And Upward

July 29, 2023

These horses are no strangers to each other. Three of them met in the Smile Sprint, including the winner, Lennon. Five competed in the True North. They’ll line up against each other again in this very competitive division.

Here’s the field:

1 Neo (Arindel)

Won in N1X company at CD last out. Only 3 wins in thirty-seven starts for this five-year-old gelding. His only stakes win came at LRL. This is a big step up.

2 Lennon (Arindel)

Coming in off a win in the Grade 3 Smile Stakes. He’s won at stakes level twice this year and ran a close second in the Say Florida Sandy. He’s already beaten some of these. A win here wouldn’t be a surprise.

3 Lions Reward (Spankys Barn)

Graded stakes winner but hasn’t been to the winner’s circle at that level since this time last year when he won the Iselin Stakes (Grade 3) at 1 1/16 mile.  Will need to bring his A game against these.

4 West Coast Party (Martyparty)

Has hit the board three of five tries this year in graded company. Stepping up from Grade 3 to Grade 1. Always close, but not sure if he can close the deal in this field.

5 Blamethespeedparty (Martyparty)

Another one that has been knocking around in graded company all year but with less success than West Coast Party. Only hit the board once in four starts, but that was a win in the Whitmore where he scored a 101 SRF.

6 Tehran (Mb Stables)

Back-to-back triple digit SRF figures for this gelding, but he is still winless in 2023. Close in his last two starts after changing hands for $30.000 in March. Just missed last out in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. Wouldn’t count him out.

7 Chip Away (South Short Stables)

Has been racing at allowance level after an eighth-place finish in the BC Sprint in November. Tried graded last out but only beat one horse. Will need to step it up to compete here.

8 Ideal Info (Arindel)

Won the Commonwealth (Grade 2) in April but hasn’t been able to hit the board in his other starts this year. Does his best running from off the pace, so he’ll need a good trip and some racing luck.

9 Street Edge (Spankys Barn)

Second by a neck in the Sensational Star against CAL-bred company in March. That’s the closest he has come to the winner’s circle this year. Solid works. We’ll see if he can transfer that to the track.

10 Championship Rounds (Mb Stables)

Won the $100.000 Phoenix Gold Cup Handicap in March. Third in the Cartier Stakes (Grade 3) two back. Could get a piece of the purse.

11 High Time (Maxmillion Farm)

Graded winner at three, this four-year-old gelding hasn’t been able to get back to that form since. Last win was in optional claiming company. Has had some success in ungraded company, but this is asking a lot.

12 Buy Low Sell High (Asgar)

Won the Grade 3 Cartier Stakes, then followed that up with a tenth-place finish in the Grade 2 True North last out. When he’s good, he’s very good, but when he’s not, he finished well up the track. Will he be on or off for this contest?

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES