Foster Handicap (Grade 2) (BC)- $600.000 Purse
CD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
June 15, 2019
A week after we put a period on the Triple Crown for 2019, we get started on thinking about the BC Classic. The Foster Handicap is a race that kicks off the automatic qualifiers for the BC Classic which is still four and a half months to go. Just two years ago, the race was won by Black Mojo, and he went on to win the Classic later on in the year. The 2013 winner of the race, Maruzensky won the Foster the year after he won the Classic, and went on to finish second later that year as he looked to defend that championship. Last year, the race was won by Air Show, who placed fifth in the Classic later in the year and has since been quiet this year, up until now. Air Show will look to be the first horse to win this race twice, and will start from the outside here. Trainer-wise, Mb Stables has been good here, and looks to pull off a three-peat in the race, which would also be his fourth overall win. He will have two in the field this year. Let’s meet them and the rest of the field as we get set for this exciting race with significant implications.
#1- Royal Eclipse (Chili King Stables, ridden by J R Leparoux)- Starting on the rail, this Orange Eclipse gelding is best known for some big races he had towards the end of last year. A win in the Grade 2 Fayette at KEE a week before the BC was run was followed up a try on the grass and a third place run at the HOL Derby (Grade 1). He has yet to win this year, but has a couple solid races running a mile. If this doesn’t go well, I wouldn’t be surprised if he tried the turf again. Given the two that beat him there, and others he did beat, it could be worth another try. For now, he goes here.
#2- Steel Tunes (John Henry, ridden by R Bejarano)- It has been almost a full calendar year since his last victory, which came at the Grade 3 OH Derby at TDN in late June. Since then, he has had a couple of close calls, but his last two efforts have seen him finish near the back of the packs even if his actual margin to the front was not all that bad. I’d like to see him have the kind of race he had back in February in the Grade 3 Hals Hope. Repeating that here can give him a decent shot.
#3- Erupt (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Every now and then, this Niagra colt has erupted with a big race. Lately, he has been pretty consistent with turning in SRF’s in the mid-90’s, so he will need to do that, at least, again. Within the last nine months or so, he has split his time sprinting and routing, but his best results in bigger races have been in sprints. I’m a little concerned by his recent run in the Grade 3 Excelsior in April, and because of that I will pass on him here.
#4- Cube Zero (Aml Racing, ridden by Mar Garcia)- After picking up just one win in his first 17 starts, Cube Zero has been on a tear lately, winning five of his last seven. Nine of those races came after he was gelded in August of last year, so its safe to say that has gone a long way for him. Though at the same time, the one-time Pacific Classic runner up ended up in some low races, such as TUP and TP allowances to get those wins. Lately, he’s gone back up the ladder and has responded well including two recent ungraded stake wins.
#5- Zombie City (Eastern Equine, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Became a well-known name during the triple crown races last year, and ended up being sold for $1,150.000 nine months ago. Eastern Equine is still looking for his first win with Zombie City since that purchase but did collect a decent check with a fourth place finish in the BC Classic last year. He has put forth some good runs but he reminds me of Lunar Blaze around this time last year, a big name purchase who is running fine, just not winning. I’d feel good putting him in a trifecta, but not on top right now.
#6- De Fuego (Defoe, ridden by F Pennington)- With six wins in 23 career starts, he has been productive, but only recently has been going long. He made one long start early in his career, but until then it was sprinting until the spring of this year. At 10 furlongs in the SA Handicap in March, he stepped up well, closing to be fourth and Pennington was aboard that day. I wish he would have followed that up better, though. Don’t think the modest off track in the OP Handicap was the reason, as he was otherwise good on wet tracks previously.
#7- For The Boys (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J Bravo)- This is the only three year old in the field, perhaps not a big surprise given the top threes were just at BEL last week. For The Boys is trying to climb that ladder after being acquired for just a $25.000 claiming tag in December. The trainer put him right into ungraded stakes after the claim, and he cashed several checks, but did not win one until his most recent start, the $200.000 Commentator for NY-breds three weeks ago. In the race, he earned a 100 SRF, and if he continues his improvement, this youngster might surprise this older crowd.
#8- Minutes Hand (Mb Stables, ridden by A Beschizza)- The first of two entries in the field for Mb Stables as he looks to earn his fourth victory in the stake. It was nearly exactly one year ago to the race date that he was acquired in private sales for $225.000 from Fractious, and he has won three times since then. None of them are in any of the graded stakes he has tried (that was true prior to the sale as well), so it’s arguable that he still needs to show that he can step it up at this level. He did win the $100.000 KY Cup Classic two starts ago, but that field does not really impress me. He could finish very well here, but tough to put on top.
#9- Simple Request (Saratoga Stud, ridden by S X Bridgmohan)- The highlight of his career so far came in prep race season for the TC last year when he won the $1,000.000 BG Stakes at KEE. Later in the year, he ended up running second in the Dandy at beautiful Saratoga Race Course. Otherwise, he has not backed down from running against the best, and as been seen in both the BC Classic and the Pegasus World Cup since that race. He managed a fourth place finish in the Pegasus, too. The trainer could use another big win out of him, and he should be in the contention. I like him in this field, and give him the nod.
#10- Shootfromthehip (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- When you are a KYD winner, you will always see that be mentioned as your career progresses. However, the Knowledge Geek gelding has been able to do much more during his career since then, including getting the fourth place check in the BC Dirt Mile last year. He knows how to show up with the stakes are highest since he was also second in the BEL and a Haskell winner that year, and this qualified as one of those races as it is his first Grade 1 since the BC. Talamo has been a regular rider lately, too. Don’t think he’s not capable of doing that again here.
#11- Banshee Star (Joseph Racing, ridden by M Franco)- Ran third in the same KYD that Shootfromthehip won, reminding us that he has been great on the main track well. The biggest wins for Banshee Star have been on the grass, primarily the Grade 1 Woodford Turf Classic, which is now known as the Forester. After running near the back in the BC Mile, Banshee Star may have fallen off the radar a little with as he was dropped into optional claimers, but a win in the Grade 3 Excelsior, over Simple Request and Erupt, show that he is ready to face the best once again.
#12- Air Show (Mb Stables, ridden by T C Baze)- The run through the field concludes with the winner of this race from a year ago. Heading into that race, Air Show had been dropped down in class after running in the BC Sprint for a few races. Perhaps Banshee Star can pay attention to that and use it for motivation. Since the win, he has three wins, all in open allowances, which is interesting. Did run fifth in the Pegasus, but that did not inspire the trainer to keep running him against the best, which does get your attention. It won’t be easy to repeat, but you have to like one who has done it before.
Prediction: 9-7-5-10
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
