3/25/23

   10   FG   Muniz Memorial Hcp (GII)

 $300.000  4yo&Up    1 1/8m  Turf     Hcp Weights

We head down to Lu’zanna and look at the field for the Muniz Memorial, a mile and an eighth handicap for the older turf males and it’s a wide-open group, in my eye.  I ended up going with Atomic Eclipse as the top choice, despite the fact that he’s back on very short rest.  He was third in the San Marcos (GIII), and a repeat of that should get the job done vs. this group.   I like Zensational a little bit, so let’s give him the second spot.  He has been on the board in both ’23 starts, both stakes, and that would give Smokey Stover both of my selections… not that there’s anything wrong with that. 

Here’s The Field –

He’s a tough racehorse that brings home checks every time he goes to the gate.  He hasn’t run in stakes company in quite a while, but goodness knows his best can run with just about any type.  Do you think he has one races but one in him?

Another that runs big races but has made most of his money vs state bred types.  He ran a big race over this track last out vs. open Alw types and the big barn certainly knows when they have something, so it’s up the ladder and you have to give him a look. 

Closed out ’22 with a bit of a dud but closed well to just miss vs. lesser at TUP last out.  At 8yo, you have to think his best races are in the rearview mirror, but maybe he facing down and find some old magic.   

Solid handicap type that had three wins last season and has been on the board in both the Carousel and Fitzsimmons Hcp.  He’s back on short rest and was tiring in that last out race, so he’s going to need to bring his best to this dance.

He’s been fourth in both of his ’23 starts, but had three wins from nine starts last season, finding his best stride late, score in his last three starts of the year.  He changed hands, won a stakes right away for the new connections… he has to be watched today. 

It’s been s struggle of late, with a lone fourth being his best finish on his recent form.  He’s been facing top notch horses, so he does bring a class factor, but I don’t know if that’s enough.  He beat one horse in the McKnight, last out, and obviously that’s not going to cut the mustard. 

Second half of the big barn entry and this one was claimed for $32.000, then won an Alw race at TAM in his first start for this outfit.  Closed well in that one, so it’s up the ladder and we all know you always have to fear this barn. 

Got the job done in his first start of the ’23 season taking down Alw horses on the soggy sod at HOU, and with that he’s equaled his total of wins from last year.  He’s all about the grass, can run all day, and should be considered when you go to the windows today. 

Hasn’t seen the winner’s circle in about a year when he won an Alw race at GP.  Now, he’s been close in a number of races, and closed well last out vs. OptAlw types at SA, so maybe he finds some of that old form and gets in the picture. 

I like this one a little bat as he’s been on the board in all of his seasonal starts, including a third in the San Marcos (GIII) at SA, but he’s back on very short rest and I’m just not sure if that’s what a 6yo needs… RL, yes… here, not so much. 

First or seventh seems to be his gig right now… won the VA derby, then seventh in the Hill Prince (GII) and Commonwealth Turf (GIII) and closed out last season with a win vs Alw types.  Seventh in the TAM Stakes (GIII) in his first ’23 start… what do we see today?

Got the job done vs OptAlw horses at SA in his seasonal debut, so he has equaled his ’22 win total.  He’s always in the picture as they head down the lane, and he should have some odds, so maybe he goes on some of the tickets. 

          COZMAN   10 / 4                Willie’s Green Card   2 / 10        

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES