The Forester Turf Classic – GI
5/2/20
CD Race 6 1 1/8M – Turf
Purse $1000.000
Four Year Olds and Up

Full field of twelve for the race before the Derby and that is the Forester Turf Classic with a thousand bucks on the like for the best turf males in the game. A big competitive field so let’s take a look at the runners.

1. Freaky Onez (13-3-1-1 $259.500), trained by Maxmillion Farm

And this first one in the field here is coming into this race off of a second place finish in an allowance race at Santa Anita. He is coming into this race in good form but he has not been running with the likes of these types.

2. Argead (15-5-3-1 $472.040), trained by Fractious

Grade one winner in the field here and he is coming into this race off of a seventh place finish in the Makers Mark Mile. He needs to get back to that grade one win last winter to have any shot in this field.

3. Xmas Snow (22-6-3-4 $781.660), trained by Maxmillion Farm

Second for Maxmillion Farm here and he is coming into this race off of a layoff but in his last start he did win the Pegasus World Cup Turf. If he stays with that performance he looks the on to beat in this field.

4. The Force Awakens (35-6-7-3 $1074.160), trained by Diablo Diablo

An old war horse right here and he is coming into this race off of a sixth place finish in the Makers Mark Mile. He did not run terrible that day but he still definitely need to do a whole lot better to have a chance at winning this.

5. Sunlander (12-4-2-0 $563.600), trained by Estero Farms

Graded stakes winner here and he is coming into the race off of a second in the Kilroe Mile. He ran a very good race that day and he seems like the extra furlong will benefit him a lot today. I could see him upsetting this field for sure.

6. Lets Do It Big Boy (34-6-7-4 $1375.970), trained by RNP Stables

Another old hard knocking runner here and he is a graded stakes winner just like a bunch of these. He has not been to the winners circle in a couple races so he needs a big form turn around to pull of the shocker in here.

7. Cheers Grans (18-5-6-2 $859.400), trained by Team 7 Illusions

Once again another graded stakes winner in this field and one of his dgakes wins came right here at Churchill last year. If he can get back to his form of last year he is dangerous and has a shot to upset the field.

8. Pure Gifts (26-9-5-2 $713.160), trained by Mb Stables

Graded stakes winner once again in here and he is coming into this race off of a third place finish in the Kilroe Mile. And if he can improve off of this and get a little better he could have a decent chance to win this spot.

9. Viking Major (25-5-3-3 $209.740), trained by Nakamura Stables

One of the non graded stakes winners here and he is coming into this race off of a front running victory in the Tampa Turf Classic. His best running is on the lead but it will be awfully tough to keep going with this class of runners.

10. First Class Male (20-5-1-3 $533.600), trained by Team 7 Illusions

And another grade one winner in the field here and he is coming into this race off of three terrible races in a row. He has not ran well at all and he likes to launch from way back but I just do not see him having much of a shot.

11. Dead Madness (16-8-3-2 $4166.900), trained by John Henry

Last years Breeders Cup Turf winner right here and he has not been able to win since he ran that day. He needs to get back to that Breeders Cup win if he wants any shot at winning this and he also has a bad post to overcome.

12. Solow (38-8-7-6 $774.740), trained by Chili King Stables

Last but not least the most experienced horse in the entire field. He was second in the Dangers Hour in his last start. This is a huge jump up in class for sure and he is going to have to run the race if a lifetime from this post.

Summary

A great field has taken shape for this race and there are a lot of very talented and successful horses in this field. Top choice is Xmas Snow as he had the best recent form in here. Good luck to all in the field.

3-11-5-8

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES