HOL Turf Cup (Grade 2)- $200.000 Purse
DMR- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Turf
November 25, 2016

Earlier this month, Dogs Dragon was part of the field in the BC Mile, and he ended up finishing well, although it was in a sixth place position that sees no checks cashed for it.  The mile distance has essentially been his maximum, though there a few 1 1/16’s mixed in, and back in the day last year, he did try ten furlongs once.    Though that race was his worst performance, finishing position wise out of any race in his career.  I was a little skeptical about him running this distance and doing it on three weeks rest, but Dogs Dragon has blown those doubts into flames with this run.   The winning trainer is Maxmillion Farm, and it is his first win in the stake.  That also holds true for the jock, J Talamo.  The time of the victory was 2:25.10, placing it the quickest of the three stake editions that have been run on DMR.  Congratulations!  Here’s a rundown of the race.

1st- 1- Dogs Dragon (6/1)- Our eventual winner from Maxmillion Farm got off to an average overall start, but was able to maintain his position along the rail with no difficulty for the run around the first turn.  Moving into the top of the frontstretch for the first time, he run fifth, and be three lengths from the lead.  While he was generally unhurried at this point, it was interesting to see a subtle block he puts on Pink Devil moving into the clubhouse turn.  This allowed him to maintain his length advantage on the ultimate runner up but more importantly it put his rival behind a horse in Personal Secret that really wasn’t going anywhere at that point.  After shoving his rival down there, he then goes back up to the rail as if nothing ever happened as he knows no virtual stewards were watching.  Midway into the backstretch, he impressively threads the needle between Fear The Feathers and Jovan River and launches an all-out run for the race lead.  The two lengths he needed to make up were accomplished by the time they were halfway into the turn, and by the time Pink Devil started being able to follow him through the same hole he had a two length advantage on that one.  Happy Bday looked like he would challenge for a while but could not keep up.  Charging hard in the stretch was Pink Devil in an all out drive but Dogs Dragon and J Talamo would stay with it and hold him off by half a length, to get the victory!  The time of the win was 2:25.10.  Dogs Dragon is a four year old gelding by Dogs Bachelor Party and out of Iron Dragon (Ironbound).  He was bred in California by Kopites as a first quarter two year old and was acquired by Maxmillion Farm, via La Canada Racehorses, for $400.000 in private sales in June of 2015.  Congratulations to the connections!

2nd- 6- Pink Devil (10/1)- It was a slow start for the Night Mare Racing gelding, but that was not a surprise as he is used to doing his best running late.  Coming down the frontstretch, he was in a three way battle for the 7th position, running five lengths from the pair up front.  Seemed to have some intentions of advancing early in the backstretch but ran into the wall known as Personal Secret, and had to back off to wait for a new lane to open up.  Ultimately, that lane would be the one in which Dogs Dragon utilized to get to the front.  Impressively split horses into the top of the stretch and was coming on strong to try and catch Dogs Dragon, but he would run out of time.

3rd- 7- Happy Bday (17/1)- The festive Night Rider Stables entry seemed as though he was going to run with the leaders fresh out of the gate, but then jockey S Elliott restrained him to a midpack position.  Ran fifth, almost four lengths from the lead the first time they hit the finish line.  Rounded the clubhouse turn while about four wide, but was in an all out drive in the backstretch and moved into the second position prior to reaching the final turn.  Passed Steel Kelp in the turn, but in the meantime Dogs Dragon slipped on by him.   Battled the winner for a while, but seemed to lose some step in his stride in the final half furlong.

4th- 8- Inspector Jacque (10/1)- The Kopites entry had absolutely no interest in running early and was way back at the start, conceding two lengths to the pair that was running right in front of him, and eight from the lead.  With a half mile to go, not much had really changed for him, as he was still seven lengths and had only passed one on the track.  While rounding the final turn, he was looking like a natural deep closer, slicing into his deficit while running into a clear lane on the rail.  Ran well in the stretch, and he got by the eventual pacesetter he was far behind in time for the wire, it was just those others who also saved their run for late, though were closer to the front that were spotted too much of an advantage.

5th- 5- Steel Kelp (5/2)- The post time favorite, from Serenity Stables, was strong at the start, and followed Jovan River around the first turn before ultimately taking the lead himself at the top of the front stretch early on.  He would be the leader at a half mile, running it in :48.56, and hitting six furlongs in 1:12.62.  At the top of the backstretch he was starting to open up on the field, increasing the gap to two lengths on second.  Heading into the final turn, the rest of the field began to turn it up, and Steel Kelp found himself at the mercy of those who had been saving their best for the end.  Tired out in the stretch.

6th- 4- Personal Secret (7/1)- Looking for his eighth straight win, the Mb Stables entry sat about three lengths off of the lead heading into the initial frontstretch run.   Situated himself right behind stablemate Jovan River into the opening turn.  Ran at a steady pace in the backstretch, getting by his stablemate and was moving forward, though also found himself passed by Dogs Dragon and Happy Bday at this juncture.  Matched the stride of others near him, but lost ground to the top finishers in the stretch.

7th- 9- Fear The Feathers (9/2)- Our pre-race selection from Up And Up Racing was quick out of the gate and stalked the top two going around the opening turn and into the front stretch, and was able to round the first turn while along the rail.  Advanced to second in the backstretch and seemed to be in very good position midway through this race.  Heading into the turn, once Dogs Dragon got by him, it seemed like he may have lost some interest.  Had no stretch response.

8th- 2- Let Them Talk (28/1)- The second Maxmillion entry started alongside his stablemate in the middle of the field in the early stages.  While running around the opening turn, he dropped out of that position and was more near the back, five and a half out when hit the finish line the first time.  Lingered at the back down the backstretch, and into the turn.  By that point, the trainer was focused on his entry at the front of the pack as Let Them Talk is not a factor here.

9th- 10- Jovan River (6/1)- Started well out of the gate, and was able to get to the inside in time for the opening turn for this trainer, Mb Stables.  Surrendered the lead to Steel Kelp prior to hitting the half mile, but was within a length of the leader then.  Began to drop off the leader heading into the backstretch, and was swallowed up by the field at that point, essentially ending his day.

10th- 11- Breiterate (64/1)- Initially seemed ok out of the gate before V Espinoza appeared to put the Asgar entry on a strong restrain heading to the opening turn.  Content to run near the back of the field down the frontstretch the first time.  Lost more ground in the backstretch and would soon trail the field, conceding eight lengths to the leader.

Track: Firm
Time: :48²  1:12³  2:00⁴  2:25

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 6 Paid 355.20
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 6 – 7 Paid 1,453.40

Scratched: Kenny Wisconsin

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES