Turf Monster Handicap (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
PRX- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Five Furlongs on the Turf
September 21, 2024

Having turf monsters is nothing new for Maxmillion Farm, but until this year, the trophy for the Turf Monster Handicap was not a part of his trophy case. Three months ago, he claimed Chilled Niagra for $25.000, and now just two starts later, the gelding is a stake winner. About six weeks after being claimed, Chilled Niagra was entered into a starter allowance at DMR that he also won, and this was the first time he ever had run in a stake. He seemed like a good option and was among our picks but not the top choice. There’d be no one better today as he went on to win by a length for that first Turf Monster Handicap win for Maxmillion Farm as well as for jockey Jo Dominguez. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was :56.03, the fourth fastest in stakes history. Let’s take a look at it now:

(1/4 Mile- :22.08)- From the outside, Buck Ford pushes to the front for Spankys Barn and will lead the field into the turn while holding an uncontested length advantage. Behind him, they’re four wide across the track with Sacrifice A Rook, trained by Simmer Down Stable having a neck in front of the others. In the second lane, the one we did pick, Black N Gold Stable’s Start With A Smile is third, and running to his inside is where we have Serengeti Creeper, for TwinTowersRacing. The eventual winner of the race, Maxmillion Farm’s Chilled Niagra, is with this group as well and runs in the third lane, running to the outside of Start With A Smile. It’s another length to Hershel G (Bears Stable) and I Want It All (Luz International), who each choose an outside path. Three Hour Nap (Axeman) trails but is not far behind.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- The field rounds the turn and enters the stretch with Buck Ford in cruise control at the front of the field. He has not lost much of his advantage, but it would now be time to see who would emerge as the biggest challenger. Looking good here was Chilled Niagra, who was handling his first stake race very well, running quicker than those who had been running alongside him earlier to take second as he positions himself to move to the outside of the pacesetter. Sacrifice A Rook and Start With A Smile are not as quick as him but are still within a half-length and are certainly not out of it. However, the same could not be said for the other original stalker, Serengeti Creeper, as he backs out. Meanwhile, Hershel G is looking for room to run and Three Hour Nap looks for his best lane. I Want It All was caught wide and lost ground in the turn.

(Finish- :56.03)- With a furlong to go, Chilled Niagra had pushed ahead of the others in the field to now set his sights on Buck Ford, and then grab the win. He gradually made progress, and approaching the wire, would complete the pass and pull away to go on and win by a length over the runner up, Hershel G. It took a little longer than desired for the one to find a lane where he could then hit his best stride, but a good day for that one as well. Buck Ford holds on for third in a photo with Start With A Smile. I Want It All was resurgent on the outside to get fifth, topping Three Hour Nap, Sacrifice A Rook, and Serengeti Creeper.

About The Winner- Chilled Niagra, trained by Maxmillion Farm and ridden to victory by Jo Dominguez, is a four-year-old gelding by Stress Free, and is out of Queen Niagra. He was bred in Ontario by Alydar Stables as a second quarter two-year-old, and was acquired by Maxmillion Farm with a $25.000 claim in June of this year. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his seventh in 14 starts, and first stake win. His career earnings are now $226.560.

Track: Firm
Time: :22  :44³  :56

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 5 Paid 43.40
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 5 – 8 Paid 177.60

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES