AP Million – Grade I
1 1/4 Mile Turf Stake Purse $1,000.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Grand Opening Riggins Racing Hernandez R M

Well placed throughout, the race favorite took an age to get his nose in front but did so just at the right time. His third win in a row, two grade ones and a grade two, he looks to be a main BC contender for the turf crown in November after this gutsy win. The trainer has been in sublime form recently and is riding the tide of success at the moment so they will be hoping that it continues through to the fall. At five he looks to have breached the top of his improvement curve after a good year last year that saw a grade one win and a close fourth in the BC Mile.

2nd Gallant Royalty Stables Lopez P

Lived up to his name here with a brave display of on-pace running and only got caught in the shadows of the post. This was a massive improvement on his efforts as a closer earlier in the year and even on his first attempt as a front runner when he weakened out of contention in an allowance at SAR but today, he got the pace right and had enough to fight all the way to the line.

3rd Ziccio Night Rider Stables Beschizza A

Ran a very solid race to be third making ground all the way to the line. He had won the Whitingham from a similar in transit position in a faster time so the case could be made that he is at least as good as the winner on his day but today he probably needed to be a length closer on the turn to have a winning chance.

4th Wayward Prince Angelos Stable Elliott S

Made good progress into fourth for a decent effort but never looked like getting to the first two.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES