The Foster Handicap – GI
CD Race 6 1 1/8M – Dirt
Purse $500.000
Three Year Olds and Up
A full field will line up for this edition of the Foster Handicap which is a Breeders Cup win and you are in race. It’s a very competitive field and will likely be a great race. Bay Of Plenty looks to be the toughest in the group in my opinion coming off a fourth place finish in the CT Classic. Let’s take a look at the field.
1. Through The Tulips (21-7-2-4 $287.200), trained by Joshua Stables
The lowest weight in the field is this Pennsylvania bred sprinter. He is coming off a Pennsylvania bred allowance win at PID last out where he was claimed for forty dollars and then he was sold for sixth dollars that same day. Looks like he is up against it with these foes but at least the trainer is taking a shot.
2. Corum Jhaelen Irsei (9-3-1-2 $146.020), trained by Boomtown
The youngest horse in the race is this three year old colt right here. He ran pretty good last out against older in the PIM Special on a very sloppy track so I think he can improve off of that. But I still think this race may be too tough for him with all of these accomplished older runners also in here.
3. Atletico (17-3-0-1 $768.600), trained by Our Athletes
Last year’s Clark Handicap winner over this same course and distance has decided to show up and try to take down the other big handicap at CD. He doesn’t win that often but when he does he runs big. He won the LA Derby and Clark Handicap last year so if he is on his best day he can win for sure.
4. Winter Is Coming (22-3-4-3 $512.100), trained by D J C Racing Stables
The entry from the wizard D J C Racing Stables is the ninth place finisher in the CT Classic. It’s been a while since he has won a race and I’m not sure he is at this level but I know D J C Racing Stables just always want to be in a big race. Going to be a tough task and I don’t think he’s up to it.
5. Farley On Wheels (15-7-2-2 $1,067.400), trained by Tiratzo
The New Jersey bred who last time won the Westchester at BEL from last to first. He likes to come from way back so a fast pace will definitely help him out. I think he is moving in the right direction being how he has won his last two. If the pace is quick be watching for him with his late charge.
6. Air Show (29-5-4-3 $449.260), trained by Mb Stables
The first of the two entries from the always tough Mb Stables was just claimed for seventy five dollars out of a sprint race at SA. He was an out of the money finishes in last year’s Breeders Cup Sprint and hasn’t won a race in a while but with the barn change he may move up a little bit.
7. Bay Of Plenty (16-7-4-2 $849.780), trained by Team 7 Illusions
My pick of the race is the New Orleans Handicap winner and fourth place finisher in the CT Classic. He was a very accomplished sprinter until two races back when he won the New Orleans Handicap and then ran pretty good in the CT Classic from an outside post. He is my pick of the race.
8. Shake (14-6-4-0 $493.780), trained by Mb Stables
The second entry from Mb Stables is what I think the better chance to win. He won the Razorback Handicap at OP in February. He didn’t run too good last start in the CT Classic and that was not a good effort from him at all. If he runs back to that win at OP he can have an actual shot to win.
9. Sporty Greyjoy (15-6-4-1 $622.480), trained by Saratoga Stud
The Pegasus World Cup winner has not been able to run back to that performance in his last two. Not so great efforts in his last two which were the CT Classic where he ran seventh and then he ran sixth in the Gold Cup at SA. If he runs back to Pegasus effort he can win this race without a doubt.
10. Face Your Fear (14-3-1-5 $176.790), trained by Luz International
This Chai Latte colt has been on hard times since he won the Native Diver last November. He ran eighth in the Skip Away and then ran an okay race in the Californian last time. He has been working up a storm though and it wouldn’t be the biggest shocker to me if he won the race or runs a clunker.
11. Charley Cowgirl (15-4-1-1 $262.140), trained by Fractious
A last out winner in the Kona Stakes but that is a sprint race going six and a half furlongs. He has never even hit the board going long so I’m not sure if he even wants to go this far. But then again if he can repeat his performance for the Kona to this mile and an eighth distance he could have a shot.
12. Dr Carson (23-3-2-4 $569.400), trained by TwinTowers Racing
The OP Handicap winner is coming into this race off of a fourth place finish in the PIM Special on a very sloppy track so I think he has am excuse. He has never hit the board on an off track so he has an excuse for that clunker. Back on a fast track helps him but he has drawn the parking lot so he’s up against it.
Summary
Bay Of Plenty will be my top pick because I think he is just the classiest horse in the field. Farley On Wheels and Sporty Greyjoy are the likeliest two to upset hook I think and Shake could have a decent shot. But Bay Of Plenty looks like the winner to me. Good luck to all that are in the race.
7-5-9-8
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
