Turf Monster Handicap (Grade 3)- $300.000 Purse
PRX- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Five Furlongs on the Turf
September 24, 2022

Entering the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap, Cover Photo had been hot, winning his last three, beginning in open allowances before winning an ungraded stake for the first time six weeks ago. This would be his graded debut, and his chances seemed promising for it to be successful. He would be our pick, as well as the pick of the masses, going off as a 2/1 post time favorite. After five furlongs, he would prove to the best, beating longshot Phooeys Quest. That one was interesting, and for the runner up, it’s another example of how horses just seem to come alive when entered in a stake they have won previously. Cover Photo denies him the win, though, and gets the first win in the stake for both his trainer, Axeman, and his jockey, T Gaffalione. Congratulations to them! The time of victory was :55.94, the third quickest in the history of the race. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :22.23)- The field makes their way down the backstretch with three horses vying for the early lead, with three stalkers running right behind them. The first group has Maxmillion Farm’s Strong Kommand with a nose in front to be able to lay claim for being the leader at this point. Thunder Canyon, runs second on the rail for Spankys Barn, and in between them, it’s Insist Always, out of Mb Stables. It is in the second group of three where we find our eventual winner, as Axeman’s Cover Photo runs between horses. To his inside, is the upset-minded Phooeys Quest for Threshold, and on the outside is Arindel’s Argyle. After another length and a half, Son Of Sandston (Onlineracingclub.com) runs all by himself.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Around the turn, Thunder Canyon pushes half a length in front of the two that he had been running with, and he seems to be in good shape entering the top of the stretch. On exit of the turn, Thunder Canyon left some room on the rail that Phooeys Quest would be able to take advantage of early in the stretch. The other two frontunners, Insist Always and Strong Kommand, were still running competitively at this point. Meanwhile, we had not seen a push from Cover Photo yet, but he had not lost any ground, either. Some room was opening up for him to come through along the inside of Insist Always. Meanwhile, Argyle and Son Of Sandston were still within reasonable striking range.

(Finish- :55.94)- In the stretch, Phooeys Quest is the first one to move by Thunder Canyon, and for a brief moment his trainer was looking forward to hearing me have to take back what I said about him winning being a major shock. However, Cover Photo had other ideas, taking advantage of the lane that was in front of him, and powering to the lead, leaving Thunder Canyon and Phooeys Quest in the dust. He would go on to win by a length over Phooeys Quest while that one is second by a length over late running Son Of Sandston. Thunder Canyon, surprisingly based on how he looked at the top of the stretch, fell all the way to fourth. Argyle seemed confused about his stretch path early on, and that cost him, though he still tops Insist Always and Strong Kommand.

About The Winner- Cover Photo, trained by Axeman and ridden to victory by T Gaffalione, is a four year old gelding by Fire Mission, and is out of the late Nebraskan Life. He was bred in British Columbia by Wood Duck Stables as a third quarter two year old, and was acquired by Axeman in June 2021 following a $37.500 claim. The win is his ninth in 18 starts, his second stake win and first graded win. His career earnings are now $490.480.

Track: Firm
Time: :22¹  :44³  :55⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 5 – 1 Paid 343.70
$1 Trifecta: 5 – 1 – 2 Paid 1,331.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES