2/15/2025

  8  FG      FG Stakes (GIII)       

   $175.000     1^1/8th  Mile   Turf        4yo&Up      123lbs  +penalties

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A full gate of nice looking older handicap horses will be headed to the FG turf course on Saturday, and we look at the field for the FG Stakes (GIII), a mile and an eighth test that has a very evenly matched group of horses, and a field that brings a lot of intrigue to a city that deserves such.  With this race starting on the turn, I look for a bunch of these to be on the early gas, looking for a rail trip… but can the speed hold or do the closers swoop?

I’m going to look for some value with my top selection and give I Miss Texas the slight edge.  He closed out ’24 with two wins over this course, an Alw score and then another win in the Woodchooper… both of those were nice closing efforts, and with the speed in this race, it could setup nicely for this one. 

Let’s goo to the far outside and look for Oh Brother to run a big race.  He ran a solid race to be fifth only beaten a length in the BC Mile (GI), and his only seasonal win came just before that in the City Of Hope (GII) at SA.  He’s been lightly used thru his career, so there should be plenty left in this 6yo gelding.

Now back to the rail for our third choice… I think On Fire is a horse that could makes some very loud noise this season.  The 5yo shows seven wins and four other on-the-board finishes in his twenty-one start career, but I think the Big Barn has this one hitting on all cylinders and could be a tough cookie.  Back to back wins coming to this, including the Bradley, over this course, last out.  I think he runs a big one today. 

Here’s the Field –  

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1		On Fire		Mb Stables		Velazquez J R		123		7/2
2		American Generals		Riggins Racing		Lopez P		123		3/1
3		Buffalo G		Nakamura Stables		Pedroza M Jr		123		5/1
4		Calling All Angels		D J C Racing Stables		Espinoza V		123		8/1
5		Manticore		High Voltage		Graham J		123		10/1
6		Distant Breeze		The Sidley Stud		Hernandez R M		123		6/1
7		Violent Crime		Diablo Diablo		Barbosa J		123		8/1
8		King Luka		Night Rider Stables		Ortiz J L		123		10/1
9		Absolutely Grande		Grimley		Smith M E		123		6/1
10		I Miss Texas		Jediminds Stable		Curtis B		123		6/1
11		Boo Boo		Nakamura Stables		Rodriguez Jam		123		12/1
12		Oh Brother		Spankys Barn		Geroux F		123		9/2

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COZMAN  10 / 12 / 1         Willie’s Green Card  1 / 2 / 12  

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