The Go For Wand Handicap (Grade 3)- $250.000 Purse
AQU- For Fillies and Mares Three Years Old and Upward
One Mile on the Inner Dirt
December 3, 2016
There will not be many in the starting gate for the 11th running of The Go For Wand at AQU, but that is not much of a surprise. Historically, this race always seems to be passed on by most of the game and four horse fields have been common. Half of the field will be making their debut for their current trainer having recently been purchased in private sales. It’s a race that seems like it could be better, and a little tough to get excited about. The race is a handicap in name only as the entire field will be carrying 119 pounds. Let’s meet the field.
#1- Mint Condition (John Henry, ridden by A A Gallardo)- Purchased by the current trainer from Australia Wide on November 22nd for $150.000 after spending the majority of her career running on the ON-bred circuit. Her most impressive result is not one of her wins, but actually a second place performance out at the $500.000 WO Oaks, where she only failed to beat Ena Barb and that filly has actually had a fantastic season. Made her graded debut in her last start, and was fifth in the Grade 1 Spinster. Normally I would be concerned about why she was sold after that race, but Australia Wide is known to sell anything at any time so in this case I read nothing in to it. Mint Condition is a strong threat here, but not quite my choice.
#2- El Gran Tigercat (Spark Racing, ridden by I Ortiz)- After contesting a series of maiden races at modest levels, El Gran was able to finally break though when moved up to DMR. That put her on the right path, and she followed that up nicely in the $145.000 OKC Distaff, and there were a few good ones beaten that day. She advances to the graded level here and I think that the trainer has got the perfect field for her to showcase her talents in. I like that she seems to run better when the stakes are higher. Bear in mind also that she is still very young race-wise, as this will only be her sixth career start. The trainer is searching for their first ever graded victory.
#3- Eviction (Nakamura Stables, ridden by M Franco)- Here is the other one in the field making their debut for a new trainer, but Nakamura Stables has been patient since purchasing her in the end of September for $125.000. A stat I love about her is that in 17 career starts, she has been part of the exacta in 14 of them, with it split evenly between 7 wins and 7 places. She also has two thirds and a fourth as well. Looking at the sizes of the fields she has run in killed some enthusiasm from this statistic, but it does show that Eviction always is in a position to win a race. Eviction is a former graded winner, but you have to go back 13 months to find it. Time for a return, and she is my top choice.
#4- Laff Night Out (Buddhabase, ridden by E S Prado)- After three races of trying the turf with her most recent run being a win in optional claimer, Laff Night Out is going to return to the main track, a place she has not been since June. The most recent results on the dirt are not the greatest, but she has been going against some true superstars there, such as Swarley Kapai. In this field, she is able to tone it down a notch, though there is quality in this field, even if not the quantity. The race could suit her nicely here if its run how I think it will. Just because I am putting her fourth doesn’t mean I don’t think she can win.
Prediction: 3-2-1-4
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
