DMR Handicap – Grade II [BC]
DMR Race #9 1 3/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

As a BC qualifier, the DMR Handicap has always been a bit of a backdoor to the BC Turf, and today we see 12 entries trying to get a look into the big race at the end of October.

It can be a difficult race to read, and this year is no exception, as we have some very fast workers without this type of form and some very good stakes-winning horses with similar or slower work times but a far superior racetrack record. One of those, of course, is none other than the great King Que Niagra, who gets the indignity of the car park draw but amazingly, considering his record, gets away without top weight. Despite a grade two win early in the year the champion router hasn’t looked himself in recent efforts but there is absolutely no doubting his class and this would be a fitting win for the eight-year-old superstar. However, although I hope I am wrong, he does look to be losing his sparkle so it may pay to look elsewhere.

The top weight here is Tower Isle, which as usual in these handicaps, has me scratching my head as to what calculation could result in a five race winner being allotted more weight than some of these and whilst he is no doubt pretty good, it would be a tough ask to win with top weight and from an outside draw. Diamond Haggis is another top weight, but he has a much larger resume. Although he has only managed 4 wins from 20 starts, he has also been close up in much more prestigious races over the years.
Gold Vault switched to the turf last time after 23 starts on the dirt and went one from one with a win in the Niagra, the old HRP hack proving once again there is nothing like a late switch of surface to get a horse back in form. His works since make him look like a turf veteran and he is likely to be the favorite to win on my list. Of the others, well, it is a list of sprinters and claimers with a smattering of stakes winners thrown in, and all have something in their works or form that gives them a chance.

For me at least this race could go to Gold Vault with maybe Camp Command as a bit of an outsider and Derby Dreams with a great draw to stay a bit closer this time.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES