The Dangers Hour
AQU Race #2 1m InTurf Stake
Purse $150.000 (plus up to $22.50 for NY-breds) For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Cage Rage Maxmillion Farm Carmouche K 123 —

The turf king looks like they have worked their magic again here with a $32.000 claim that is clearly finding some of that five-year-old magic dust. Working like lightening he won an optional claimer at SA in 1.32 and 1 which is good enough for a BC Mile so I have a feeling that, although he has only average form through his 24-race career, he has indeed been ‘found’ and will win despite his form failings.

2 Grayte Agent Mo Mentum Farm Worrie A S 123 —

Well, it has to be said that whilst the horse inside him is lighting up the gallops so is this one and whilst he hadn’t looked a world beater he certainly showed in his last start when a very close second in the TAM Turf Classic that he is well placed in this grade. A front runner in his last two you would expect more of the same today especially as when he had been stalking earlier, he hadn’t produced a good enough turn of foot. It will take a good one to grab him down the stretch.

3 Old Fashioned D J C Racing Stables Spencer J P 123 —

Another whose works say superstar but whose form says ordinary. Gets his chance here after a confidence boosting win last time but if you ignore the works which we have to do a bit these days his form is a bit lacking.

4 Buffalo G Nakamura Stables Luzzi L J 123 —

The class horse in the race he has nearly $1,000.000 in prize money to his name and has been against the best in his time. This is a good example of what I was saying about works because his works are no better than the three inside him who have far less form than him at stakes level. So as long as the works are OK, we have to rely on form and his is pretty good. My one caution with him here is the mile which I feel may be a bit sharp for him and he may get out paced early which on this race engine needs certain scenarios to come into play.

5 Once Upon Onlineracingclub.com Castillo I 123 —

Claimed for just $9.000 he may have got some five-year-old fairy dust this year as he looked much improved last time when taking an allowance at TAM. Sure, his recent form looks well below these, but we must not forget this is a computer program and if he has got enough fairy dust, and his works say he has had a bit, then he could be worth a dollar each way.

6 Pinnacle Beauty Invicta Group Llc Gomez J A 123 —

He has looked a bit weak when running on the pace and a late closer when ridden off the pace so I guess his best chance comes with him going back and hoping the race engine plays out a scenario where closers can close. He has some smattering of good form and is working well so considering he has also reached that magic age I wouldn’t write off his chances even with a rather ordinary looking pilot sitting in the saddle.

7 Frick High Voltage Cancel E 123 —

A nice enough sort who has plenty of speed and it will be interesting to see where he tracks in this race. Sprinters normally go back over ground when stepping up so that could well be the case here, but he is a fast starter so could also burn to the lead. Either way he is not out of this, but he will need the race engine to work in his favor to beat a few here.

8 Vince The Prince Riggins Racing McCarthy T 123 —

Drawn the car park he has been an on-pace runner recently so we may see the wide gate speed push put him into the lead. If he gets away with some sectionals, he certainly has the ability both on and off the track to make a few of these work.

SUMMARY

A tough race to call as it is a matter of which five-year-old has got the biggest sprinkle of fairy dust. They are all working well enough for this to be a graded race so it is hard to tell which will be able to leave their old form behind. On recent form I would say it is between Buffalo G and Grayte Agent, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Max has found a good one so am making Cage Rage my top selection.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded