Hanshin Cup (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
AP- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
May 11, 2019

It was a good day for veteran horses making their graded debut. In the 13th running of the Hanshin Cup, Deliberation was making the 22nd start of his career, but the first at this level. After a mile, he would make the most of it, and pick up this Grade 3 win for trainer, Angelos Stable. It is the first winner for them in this stake, and that is also true for jockey, M Murrill. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:34.94, a middle of the road time in comparison to previous winners. Let’s take a look at it!

(1/4 Mile- :23.46)- Eatin My Dust jumps out to the early lead for Hambletonian Stable, in hopes of living up to his name in the race. He takes a lead of a length over the second place Evil Position, out of Maxmillion Farm, who is the only one pursuing the pace at this point. In the middle of the field, we have our eventual winner and pre-race pick to win, Deliberation on the rail for Angelos Stable, with the post-time favorite, Prophecy, alongside for Mb Stables. Trailing is the D J C Racing Stables entry, Traveling Band.

(½ Mile- :46.84)- Eatin My Dust continues to lead and run at a good clip down the backstretch, and opens up a lead of two and a half lengths now as Evil Position backs off the pursuit a bit. Still in the middle of the field, and unconcerned about the race leader are Deliberation and Prophecy, each trailing by four an a half. It’s another length to Traveling Band.

(Top Of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- At the front, Eatin My Dust is out in front still, and running by herself. At one point, her lead ballooned to three and a half lengths while rounding the turn. Towards the exit of the turn, we begin to see Deliberation, and a moment later, Prophecy, make their move and cut into the lead. At the top of the stretch, Deliberation was now just a little more then two lengths from the front. Prophecy was another length back and moving forward. Evil Position called it a race during the turn. Traveling Band had yet to make his presence felt.

(Finish- 1:34.94)- In the stretch, Deliberation moved to an inside lane of Eatin My Dust, and being true to her name, made the pass in a deliberate fashion, gracefully reeling her in, and making the pass for the win with half a furlong to go. Eatin My Dust held on decently in the stretch, and it was enough to beat Prophecy by a neck. Traveling Band closed to being within two lengths, but that is it for him. The fatigued Evil Position rounds out the finish order.

About The Winner- Deliberation, trained by Angelos Stable, and ridden to victory by M Murrill, is a five year old gelding by the late Five Star Moon, and is out of Excess Baggage. He was bred in New York by Mb Stables as a first quarter two year old, and acquired by Angelos Stable for a $30.000 claiming tag in his second career race back in September 2016. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his eighth in 22 starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $325.000.

Track: Fast
Time: :23²  :46⁴  1:10¹  1:34⁴

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 4 Paid 11.50
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 4 – 2 Paid 24.80

Scratched: None

Winner picked by NS

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES