May 4, 2024
 

   5    CD     Forester Turf Classic (GI)   

Purse $1,000.000    4yo&Up   1 1/8m  Turf   122lbs

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Older turf handicap types are on the menu as we look at the racked-and-packed field for the Forester Turf Classic (GI), a mile and an eighth sod test that has the best of the best ready to head to the gate around 7:25pm. 

What a great group of horses, and where do you start?  Well, let’s go with the horse that everyone is calling one of the best grassers of all time… the KING!  King Que Niagra just keeps getting the job done, or at least gives 100% every time he lines up… Won the BC Turf (GI) to close out ’23, won the PWC Turf (GI) to kick off ’24, and was second at SA going a flat mile on a soft turf course… he may see that again today, but he loves it wet, so, he gets the top billing from me.

My second choice is tough as nails, but the distance does give me a bit of anxiety… Albaquirky is a hard-knocking type that brings his A-game every single start.  He’s been on wet turf in his last three starts, winning the Hernandez (GII) and Kilroe Mile (GI), both at SA, then was a hard closing third in the Markers Mark (GI) at KEE, last out. 

How about a claimer that has the hostile takeover put on him, then wins a (GII) in his first start for the big barn… Flaming Hot is just that, winning the Muniz Mem Hcp (GII) at FG in his first start after being tagged for a mere $25.000… I know he hasn’t been fond of the wet stuff, but… he seems to have a new lease on life, so… why not!?

   Here’s The Field –    

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1		Details Matter		Alydar Stables	Bridgmohan S X		122	7/1
2		Fire And Ice		TwinTowersRacing	Hernandez R M		122	6/1
3		Oh Brother		Spankys Barn	Gaffalione T		122	10/1
4		King Que Niagra		D J C Racing Stables	Gutierrez Mario		122	9/5
5		Wimbledon		Night Rider Stables	Saez L		122	8/1
6		Winter Book		Fractious	Beschizza A		122	7/1
7		Killer Instinct		Mb Stables	Franco M		122	9/2
8		Albaquirky		Santan Stables	Geroux F		122	7/2
9		Flaming Hot		Mb Stables	Lezcano J		122	4/1
10		Hawaiian Lord		Our Athletes	Prat F		122	7/1
11		Grand Opening		Riggins Racing	Velazquez J R		122	9/2
12		Gallant		Royalty Stables	Lopez P		122	10/1

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COZMAN   4 / 8 / 9            Willie’s Green Card    11 / 4 / 10  

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