Ahhhhh…  The Great Race Place.  It’s going to be a wonderful spring day here in Arcadia with the races that will be run on this program, and the SA Hcp (GI)  is certainly the center piece of not only the day but the entire spring meet.

I’m probably going to get beat up or laughed at for some of my selections in this one, but so be it.  My top choice is going to be Downwind Stables’ Hardline.  I love that last out second in the San Antonio (GII) off of the long layoff.  I think he will run very big in this race today.

If not for the post position, I probably would have made my second choice the top pick…  Russian Whiskey has been on a roll of late and despite being at an age where most people have sent you off to the retirement home, this old boy is as good as ever.  But does any horse win from the thirteen hole?

Niagra is probably going to be the post time favorite… and why not?  The horse is right in the middle of things each and every time he goes to the post.  It’s great to see that the barn let him run as a 5yo when most would send him over to the breeding shed.  His works certainly say that he will be a huge factor again in this one.

Here’s the field….

Ran the race of his life taking the GP Turf Hcp (GI) on a soggy strip in South Fla in his most recent effort.  I’m a bit shocked that they came back on to the main track since he looked so good on the turf, but that bullet work says he’s ready to fire big.  I don’t know if he can win this but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a check.

As recent as last May you could have tabbed this one from a $25.000 claiming race – now, I don’t think you could get near him for 10x that.  Won the Cigar Mile (GI) to close out his ’15 season, then just missed in his return to the oval, finishing a fast closing second in The Donn (GI) at GP.  Bullet work getting ready for this and he is a big contender today.

’15 was a great season for this one as he almost stuck $1,000.000 in the bank winning three of his ten starts.  He tired to be sixth in The Donn (GI) and I’m just not able to give him a big tout in this one.  He may surprise me but that just what it will be.

Ughhhh…  certainly did not look like the BC Classic (GI) winner when last of nine in the San Antonio (GII) over this surface in his return to the track.  Now he’s been known to throw a bad race every once in a while, like in the BEL (GI) last year, but that race certainly has me shaking my head.

Found out the hard way that there’s a difference between NY-bred stakes and black-type horses when fifth in the Donn (GI).  He’s a horse that like to show the way and runs as far as his heart will take him.

Closed a late gap to be third in the Donn (GI) and I like the positive bounce back from that ninth place finish in the San Pascal (GII) here back in Jan.  He’s been pretty tough when facing the best horses so don’t leave him off of your tri tickets.

BC Dirt Mile (GI) winner came right back to be a handful when second in the San Antonio (GII) in his retrun from a long layoff.  He’s five now but looks every bit as tough as he’s every been… today may be his day.

Just couldn’t hold on when second in the SSM Classic after setting the pace throughout that one and I can’t believe they dispatched him at 6/1 odds that day.  He was right there in just about every start last year while facing the best of the best time after time.  Solid bullet work and he looks ready.

His last win came in Nov when taking an OptAlw mile event at DMR.  This looks like a tough spot to go big-game hunting but he comes from a smart barn and I don’t think they are here to just fill the race.

Sold at the December Auction and his return to the races was certainly not what they wanted.  Fourth of five in an OptAlw race here at SA, but they may have had an excuse as that was his first start on the lawn and maybe that just wasn’t his cup of tea… but that eighth in the PA Derby (GII) may have been a sign.

Only a single win from his ’15 season but he stuffed $1,940.000 in the bank, so you know he was sneaking around in some very big races as well.  This is his first start of the year but that 1:09 work here on the 18th says look out.

Still looking for his first fast track for the new barn… and now they get the twelve hole to make a run at ’em.  He was beating up on NY-bred prior to being sold at the Sept 15 Auction for $450.010 and I’m sure the barn isn’t happy about the post.  Let’s see if he can at least get part of this.

An immediate return for the new barn as they nabbed this one for $120.000 through private purchase and won the San Antonio (GII) here in the first start for the new barn.  The 7yo certainly looks tough, but the post is going to be tough to overcome.

Eighth in both his last start of ’15 in the BC Classic (GI) and his ’16 debut in the San Antonio (GII).  He won half of his starts last year, but getting the job done from this post and this group of horses… well, it would be something to talk about.

Sit’s on the outside looking in as the barn just picked this one up for $75.000 via private sale.  He ran in $7.500-10.000 claimers most of last season, the AE list might be where they want to keep him.

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Categories: Grade I