The GP Handicap (Grade 2)- $350.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
February 11, 2017

In the race prior here at GP, Grimley was likely disappointed with the performance of star Admirals Aces in the GP Turf Handicap in his first race since the BC Turf.  The trainer could not despair too long, because he knew the next race on the card would be the GP Handicap, one in which he had won two of the last three races.  With two entries in the race, his chances seemed good, and a horse needing a career jolt, West Northwest, surprisingly found himself in the winners circle at odds of 11/1, the longest shot on the board.  We’re not sure how many private sales offers Grimley has received for West Northwest after the race, since after his last two wins in this race, he sold the winner before ever racing them again.  Nonetheless, the trainer has now won three of the last four runnings of this race, so congratulations to him on that achievement! Aboard the winner was J J Castellano, who’s been riding better of late after a slow start to the year.  The time of the win was 1:34.60, a middle of the road time historically when the race was run at a mile.  Here’s a deeper run down!

1st- 1- West Northwest (11/1)- Our eventual winner, from Grimley, got off to a decent but rather unhurried start while along the rail.  After a quarter mile, he was running third, leading a, at the time, three wide group, that also consisted of Fly Millennium and Captain Rush.  Over the backstretch, the longshot just seemed to bide his time and cruise along, possibly hoping that the top two would lose some steam, which they ultimately would.  As he matched strides with the ultimate runner up Captain Rush, the inside track position proved entirely beneficial to him as he could stick to the rail to pass Impending Decision while Captain Rush had to take it four wide.  At the top of the stretch, he would emerge with the lead, and had a length on his primary rival who had been running with previously.  All he needed to do was keep his form going.  J J Castellano made sure that he would do that, and the result is West Northwest getting the win that he really needed, doing so in a time of 1:34.60.  West Northwest is a seven year old gelding by Hail Two Bob and of the autogen West Nile.   He was bred in Ontario as a yealing by Barcelona Farms, and was acquired by Grimley, via Choppy Inc, in the June 2015 auction for $46.460, prior to ever running at the graded level. Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 4- Captain Rush (9/5)- The somewhat surprising post-time favorite, from Downwind Stables, put together a strong performance on Saturday.  He did not seem overly hurried out of the gate, but would emerge in a midpack position as they moved into the main track.  Matched strides with West Northwest over the backstretch, about three lengths from the front.  Moved to the outside of Impending Decision and Palestinian in the turn to get by both of them, but this would lead to him being considerably wide.  With the winner having the rail, Captain Rush was not going to have the same beneficial trip here, but he ran well to hold off his rivals, particularly Dogs Got Wings, for the second position.

3rd- 6- Dogs Got Wings (10/1)- The second entry from Grimley and former runner for Downwind Stables was not all that interested in running quick early, started at the rear of the field if you don’t count Thats The Truth, who was simply in his own world early.  He’d end up behind his stablemate in the backstretch, so the trainer was likely hoping here that he could just follow West Northwest to the front.  Took him a little while longer then desired to pick this lane, and as West Northwest took over the lead, he showed his team spirit and moved down a bit so Dogs Got Wings could move to the rail.  Did all he could from that point.

4th- 2- Fly Millennium (7/2)- The John Henry entry found himself in good company early on, running in the middle of the field between the eventual winner and eventual runner up until deciding to back out of that and drop another length or two back in the backstretch.  Trailed by four and half going into the turn, and by two to the two he decided not run with.  Looked to make his move while rounding the turn, but had to extend too much energy just getting even to the two he could have been running with earlier as he was forced to handle this turn from centerfield, 7-wide. Ran well to the wire, but you can’t help but wonder if that backstretch decision cost him the entire race.

5th- 3- Palestinian (8/1)- Started well for Nakamura Stables, choosing to stalk the pace set by frontrunner Impending Decision while maintaining a position on the rail.  During the backstretch, he started to show his intentions to pass Impending Decision, and looked to draw even with him as they moved around the turn.  At his point, I thought he looked good but then realize I’ve seen this story before.  As we approached the top of the stretch, he would get by Impending Decision, but those who had been behind him had far more left in the tank.

6th- 5- Thats The Truth (4/1)- It was right to the back for the TwinTowersRacing entry, finding himself almost six lengths out of it before they hit the main track.  Minded his own business and ran his own race over the backstretch.  About midway into the turn, he began to make some progress, but he spotted the field way too much ground in the early moments, and this run would be a case of too little, way too late.

7th- 7- Impending Decision (10/1)- Career start #50 started well for the Night Rider Stables entry has he jumped out to the early lead.  In the opening quarter, run in :23.66, his lead was almost a full lengths on the stalking Palestinian.  Showed the way for the entire backstretch run, going a half in :47.18, but the presence of Palestinian was looming larger.  Showed heart while rounding the turn, but at the top of the stretch, he looked beaten.  Stunned that Thats The Truth got by, though.

Track: Fast
Time: :23³  :47   1:10³  1:34³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 4 Paid 29.50
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 4 – 6 Paid 1,529.10

Scratched: Pretty Ghost

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES