ET Mint Julep Handicap – Grade III
CD Race #5 1 1/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $250.00 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.

1 McCaskill Royalty Stables Lopez P 117 —

My opinions about how the handicap works at HRP is well known so I won’t go on again, but I will say that bottom weight, even if it’s just a pound, seems to have an advantage. This one shares bottom weight with four others and whilst she has only won two claimers, the other bottom weights share stakes wins and graded stakes performances so as I said let’s not go there.
As for this four-year-olds chances, well she is lightly raced, consistent and working strongly so despite the form not being what you would expect in a race like this she does have chances. The draw should allow her an easy run up the rail, and she is an honest and improving sort so may be worth a gamble at longer odds.

2 Dipped In Love Invicta Group Llc Prat F 117 —

Another lightly raced sort off bottom weight she has been in better company than her rival inside her and put together some good efforts. A winner at WO last time in Allowance company in her first start on the grass she may be a different filly on this surface and from a great draw may be worth following to back that win up.

3 Jacqui Alydar Stables Curtis B 121 —

Clear top weight even if she is only giving four pounds away usually proves too much even for the classiest of runners. She is certainly the most accomplished in the field and if this were a real life race the four pounds wouldn’t be a worry but here at HRP it does throw up red flags. The winner if six including an impressive win in the Beaugay last time, she does look like the best in this race and could still win even with the burden of 121Lbs.

4 Cypress Hill Code Spankys Barn Van Dyke D 117 —

With only two runners that aren’t bottom weight, this is a tough race to read but this one certainly seems to have got in light as she comes off a very competitive fourth in the Modesty last time and already has a stakes win to her name. The red flag for her is the trip as she had been sprinting pretty well for a while but after that good effort in the Modesty in only her third attempt over ground she is given another chance at the longer trip today. At the weights I think she is the best.

5 The Desire Sheffler Stables Pedroza M Jr 119 —

Gets in with 119Lbs and that looks fair as she has some pretty decent form. Only two wins but very consistent she has amassed over $350.000 in prize money and taken on some good races. Her works are sharp, and I feel this is her best trip so she may well be the one to take on the bottom weights.

6 Beach Body TwinTowersRacing Franco M 117 —

Behind The Desire in the Benson Memorial, she came out after that race and trounced a decent field in a TAM overnight. With the benefit of receiving two pounds from The Desire she may be able to turn the tables today.

7 Lonely Is The Night Maxmillion Farm Velazquez J R 117 —

Bought from Luz International for $225.000 the trainer will be hoping for a big run today. All four of her wins have come on the dirt including the big purse WO Oaks but the trainer is known to like the turf and gave her a seasonal debut on that surface where she ran a decent second in an SA optional claimer. The wide gate is the concern but if the pace is strong, she may get over the top of them late.

SUMMARY

Another even looking field. Of the bottom weights I rather like Lonely Is The Night and Beach Body and my pick would be one of those to win but the two that have more weight certainly have the ability to overcome their burdens and won’t be far away.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES