Cup and Saucer Stakes
WO Race #1 1 1/16m Turf Stake
Purse $250.000 For Two Year Olds Foaled In Canada.

A great advert of the value of State bred racing for trainers here as Asgar took home $240.000 of the $250.000 on offer and won it with a horse that scarped home at the free track last time. With pickings so slim and HRP’s very own version of a recession this is certainly the way to get the most out of your buck although if you are Mo Mentum Farms you may not think that!!
Here is how the five horses went in the Cup and Saucer.

1st Spread The Word Asgar Lezcano J

Though this gelding only just got home in a free track allowance there was as many differences about the conditions of that race as the differences between the classes today. Going from a dirt sprint to a turf route should be a huge difference but at HRP not so much, but if this horse does develop into a turf router, then that performance against other race winners that may have been more suited by the surface and trip could turn out to be pretty good. Sitting nearer the back he watched the race unfold in front of him before picking off his stable mate and winning by a quarter length in a solid display. We won’t really know how good he is until he races up in grade but for now, he is a stakes winning two-year-old and the winner of three races on the trot.

2nd Sincere Difference Asgar Gutierrez Mario

Started as the race favorite being unbeaten and winning over this trip last time and raced with his winning stable mate at the back of the five runners. They both ran on well, but this one was a quarter length off the winner in the end after hitting a flat spot and then running on again close home. Though he was closing from an inside draw he didn’t really get stuck in traffic, so I am not sure why he spent a furlong toiling and then went again, but at the end of the day he was beaten fair and square by a horse than ran far wider than him through the home turn.

3rd Categorical Vow Asgar Lopez P

The three stable mates sat off the pace and came together and this one looked a real chance until he just didn’t go through with it inside the last furlong. Whereas the other two look like the trip suited this one looked as if it was a bit too far and he may be kept to shorter trips in the future.

4th Dramatic Mo Mentum Farm Velazquez J R

The race engine had been favoring the speed runners so you couldn’t blame the trainer for taking his two horses to the lead and stalk in a small field. The pace was maybe a shade faster than comfortable with this class of horse, but it didn’t look fast enough to kill the leaders like it did as both the stable runners were passed fairly easily by the closers. This one hung on for fourth and the whole field was only covered by a couple of lengths, so it is hard to weigh it up until further down the road when these horses tackle non-State Breds.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded