Elkhorn – Grade II
1 1/2 Mile Turf Stake Purse $350.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Ptyrannical Arindel Gutierrez Mario

If ever there could be said to be a dead cert winner at HRP it was this one, and I was pleasantly surprised to see him win as he should. Cruising behind the leaders on just an average pace he was sent to the front before the stretch and never looked troubled to win by a length. I am not entirely sure he loved these 12 furlongs but there was no pressure early and the pace was easy enough that he was never going to be beaten. He will march onto the BC and whichever race he goes in he will be among the favorites.

2nd Dark Arts TwinTowersRacing Geroux F

In his last few races, he has adopted a late closing style and today he decided that he couldn’t beat the winner so opted to race the rest and came out on top. Flying through I do wonder if he had launched his run earlier that he would’ve worried the winner, but the new engine is very difficult when it comes to the AI timing late runs, and they don’t get it right too often. As it was this second place was a career best and he beat some good ones, so I feel he may have found his niche in these 12-furlong races.

3rd Spankersville The Sidley Stud Gaffalione T

He was close enough on just an average pace, but I was a little disappointed at how little he found when asked to go after the winner. He couldn’t even hold the late finisher for second which coming off a three-win streak in graded stakes race was a little surprising at least. Very much a dual surface horse, as most are, I wonder whether he will go back to the dirt next time to regain his winning ways.

4th Fire Marshall Bill Nakamura Stables Alvarado F T

Set the pace early on but was never left alone and in the end, I think he was outclassed rather than beaten by the trip. He certainly couldn’t muster a finishing kick today and I do wonder whether despite three decent efforts on the pace he may be better coming from midfield as he did when second in the HOL Turf Cup last year.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES