5/8/21
6 BEL The Man o War (GI)
$700.000 4yo&Up 1 3/8m innerTurf 123lbs
The past winners of The Man o War (GI) are some of the best turf monsters in the land, so who’s ready to put a big feather in their cap and my top choice really doesn’t have much room left for another feather. Billy Joel has won half of his fourteen starts including the BC Turf (GI) last fall and despite drawing the outside post, I just don’t think you can look past him here either. He won his ’21 debut and looks to keep the train rollin’. Another that’s been running big is Raj Action Packed, and he comes in with a three race win streak. He was fourth in the BC Turf (GI) so he knows what he’s up against here. It’s a nice group of horses so let’s look for a great race today.
Here’s The Field –
Won a sprint stakes at HOU to kick of his ’21 season, but he’s beat two horses in his last two starts, which isn’t going to get it done here. Stopped in the Kilroe Mile (GI) at SA then never got off of go at SA on the down-hill course facing OptAlw horses. He will need to find some magic to be a factor here.
Up and down sort that was second in the PCC (GI) at WO last year and also in the Diarmida (GII) at GP two back but he’s also thrown a few clunkers in there as well. The big barn usually comes out shooting, but this one is going to have to improve to run with this bunch.
Another that has been up and down, running second in the HOL Turf Cup (GII) last year and again in the Canadian Turf (GIII) at GP, but hasn’t done much in his last pair. Can he turn it around or is this another up-the-track finish?
Has won three of his last four, with the bad race being in the BC Turf (GI) so you certainly have to think that this one is ready to run another big race today. Loves to run late so if he can get a clear shot at them down the lane, look for him to be a serious factor.
Great handicap grass horse, but the last three have been uncommonly bad. He won the BC Mile (GI) and then was eleventh in the PWC Turf (GI)… but then ws fourth and fifth in a couple of other graded races, so did he get the dreaded BC curse or does he come back today?
Was humming along, coming off of a runner-up effort in the RBC Hcp (GIII) then ran next to last in the NO Hcp (GII) at FG and changed hands via private purchase, but it looks like they made a hand buy, as he was second in the Elkhorn (GII) for the new barn. He showed good speed in that one, so does he run off here?
Hard to fault this rascal right now, running fourth in the BC Turf (GI) but has won three in a row since, taking the McKnight (GIII), Diarmida (GII) and Pan American (GII), so he had a winter at GP. He looks like he’s on top of his game right now and has to be given a big look today.
Got the unkindest of cuts and it seems to have gotten his attention has he has two wins and a third since the vet stopped by. now that was vs. softer than this, but let’s see if he doesn’t recognize any of them and just keeps running.
Easy Money wasn’t exactly a big hit back in 1983 but ’20 was a good year for LCR to put some cash in the bank with this guy, and ’21 looks to be more of the same. Four wins in his last five races taking the Nijinsky (GII), HTC (GI), BC Turf (GI and kicked of ’21 taking the PWC Turf (GI). In case you couldn’t tell… he’s real good.
COZMAN 9 / 7 Willie’s Green Card 9 / 7 / 8
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
