Lukas Classic – Grade II (P2)
CD Race #2 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three-Year-Olds And Upward.

1 Gold Vault Fractious Van Dyke D 121 —

Looked to be heading the TC way when a good third in the TAM Derby but got too far back in the Wood Memorial and missed out on qualification. He went to the Peter Pan instead of the KYD and once again got way too far back to get near them, so the trainer then used the gaming buttons to get him up on speed in his next two which included an excellent third in the Haskell. Back to his old tricks in the Pacific Classic last time one feels he needs a good start to have any chance here but he has done it before so there is no reason it can’t happen again.

2 Charming Man Fractious Wilson E J 124 —

Another that is generally a closer has some good efforts as well as a few so-so ones which isn’t unusual when you rely on the AI to get you into the finish at the right time. He was good in the Governor’s Stakes in gaining a game-nose win but pretty much a no-show in the JC Gold Cup last time. His works are sharp, but then everything’s works are sharp in the stakes races, so I am not sure how that helps his chances, but they are certainly of the quality required. Like his stable mate drawn next to him…randomly…. a lot may rely on the AI or the trainer’s choice of gaming buttons but if anyone can get that right it’s Fractious who continues to have a stunning season.

3 Berlin The Sidley Stud Husbands P 124 —

I have always liked this six-year-old and he has had some really good results this year with three stakes wins. He was caught trying to stalk an impossible pace in the Whitney last time from a wide gate so, his sixth place was not surprising but he was still within a couple of lengths of the winner, so it wasn’t a bad effort. With two closers on his inside, he should be able to make the rail easy enough from the gate and I think he will run a good race today.

4 Eichel Night Rider Stables Carmouche K 124 —

The trainer gives him his fourth shot at graded stakes level today but so far, he has failed to deliver anything better than sixth. There is some belief here from the stable and he ran a decent race to win a big-ticket allowance and go very close in the Commentator Handicap but that form still needs to be improved to be a contender today.

5 Wahpekute Sioux Mb Stables Gaffalione T 124 —

After a good three-year-old season where he was a grade one winner and only beaten two lengths in the BC Classic the trainer having seen many horses turn four and level out gave this one time to find his feet as he got a year older. After a nice gradual reintroduction to life without an allowance he came right back to his best with a battling win in the PIM Special and then a brilliant win in the grade one Foster. That beautiful early season, almost a perfect training build made his last two races all the stranger as he first failed in the Whitney and then was even worse in the Pacific Classic, in both cases pretty weak in the finish. There is no evidence in his works that he has taken a big backward step, so it is possible it is just that thing that happens at HRP, it just happened twice. You have to give him a winning chance at his best.

6 Angle Of Attack Luz International NavMarin J 124 —

The difficulty of following form here at HRP is evident even in this 6-runner field as this one was beaten by Wahpekute Sioux in both the PIM Special and the Foster but then easily beat that one when fourth in the Whitney. He was poor in the JC Gold Cup last time for no apparent reason, but we are used to just shrugging our shoulders when that sort of thing happens here at HRP so let’s ignore that. His works have always been better than most but that doesn’t mean a thing either so we are left with yet another winner who has every right to win at his best, but it is impossible to say anything for sure.

SUMMARY

Well, I think Angle Of Attack on balance gets my vote here, the draw isn’t great, and he will need a fast pace, but I think he may get it and if he does, I can see him picking them off late if the AI manages to wake up soon enough. He is not a fully confident pick and probably a more sensible choice would be Wahpekute Sioux who would be a certainty if not for his last two efforts. Of the others they all have claims and if one of them wins you could make a strong case as to why so this isn’t a race I will be putting the house on.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES