The Vanderbilt Handicap – Grade II
SAR Race #8 6f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $400.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

With three whole pounds separating this field of “handicappers” the weights shouldn’t make much difference but we all know that a pound here and a pound there can make as much difference as a horse towing a cart, so we have to take the impost into account. The six-year-old Pure At Heart gets top weight after a couple of grade three wins but on the face of it at least he looks pretty much in keeping with the rest of the field so maybe that few pounds will be enough to keep him from winning. Anyway, here’s how they line up with one of the three Mb Stables runners scratched so we see Grimleys Diablo II take the car park draw:

1 Everest Mo Mentum Farm Franco M 120 —

Last year’s winner carries exactly the same weight as he did when winning this race pretty comfortably and as luck would have it, he again finds a nice inside draw to save some energy whilst racing handy. He has held his form pretty well and it would be easy to see him doing the same as he did last year in keeping his line and piling on the pressure after the first quarter.

2 Buck My Life Luz International Kimura K 119 —

The winner of the grade three Hooper over the mile at the start of the year, he was then third in the SA Handicap over the ten furlongs. In real life of course a closing router dropping back into a competitive sprint would seem a mountain too high but here at HRP the trip seems to have very little effect on ability most of the time. His sprint works are right up there for this race, and he squeaks in with a very competitive weight from a great box so must be considered a winning chance.

3 Silent Sunset Riggins Racing Gallardo A A 119 —

The winner of four from his last six, the last two at lowly TUP and LS whilst working sub 1.10 six-furlong work times suggests this one may have been aimed a little low recently maybe to get into a race like this with a competitive weight. One of four to break the magic 1.10 barrier which would’ve been unthinkable a few years ago he certainly must be considered here on that fact alone, but his form is hard to get a real handle on.

4 Creepy Romantic Maxmillion Farm Jimenez A 118 —

Another sub 1.10 worker that has been absent from stakes racing for a while, he has been consistent at high level in overnights but doesn’t win out of turn which is slightly surprising considering his fast works. Won a competitive allowance at CD last time in a good enough race time to make him a big hope with “bottom” weight.

5 Pure At Heart Night Rider Stables Bejarano R 121 —

The top weight came out of two claiming wins to take the MD Sprint last time, a good win which sees him saddled with the top mark here. At six, he is the perfect age for a sprinter to mature and going on his form this year he has certainly found a peak in his improvement curve. A fourth win on the trot would not be out of the question in an even looking contest.

6 Bluff Master Mb Stables Lezcano J 120 —

I find this entry fascinating for several reasons. Firstly, he went for just $1.000 in last September’s auction after being well beaten in claiming company. He was bought by Spinetingling to join the powerful free track yard and to help further dominate that level but after four wins was then bought for $80.000 by Mb Stables. Since then, this one has surpassed two huge works milestones, firstly in beating the 1.10 6-furlong mark and then the 1.36 one-mile mark. Those works would be faster than most BC winners both sprinting and routing so where on earth do we put this entry in this race? Well in his first start for the new owner he was third in an open allowance at PRX, so if we are going on that performance he would probably be an each way chance but I just keep coming back to those works and the fact that he is being allowed to run here with 120Lbs which seems pretty high so the trainer must have some confidence in him.

7 Mamba D J C Racing Stables Elliott S 119 —

Third in the Triple Bend last time which was a good effort in a competitive race he really wasn’t beaten far and must be seriously considered. The works are strong and this trip ideal so if you are looking for a fairly weighted horse of the older generation with decent works and form then he could easily be your top pick.

8 Imposing Scenario The Sidley Stud Husbands P 119 —

Well, there is no better trainer in the sprints this year than Sidley Stud, so you have to look very carefully at anything they run below the mile, or above it for all that. A late bloomer, this one has been tested all year and whilst he has yet to win in 2025, he has run some good placings most notably when a close third in the Cartier. He doesn’t jump off the page as the winner but has that smoldering type form that can often prevail in these handicaps.

9 Nutmeg TwinTowersRacing Smith M E 119 —

Well, if there is one stable that can cause an upset it is this one and their entry here certainly has chances. A turf winner at CD last time, he was coming off of a poor effort on an off track but had been competitive and consistent prior so I think we can take the sloppy effort out of the form unless it rains for this race. Tactics may be key here as he may get some outside speed push so watch out for him at big odds.

10 Dorian Gray Mb Stables – Scratch – 119 —
11 On Schedule Mb Stables Gaffalione T 118 —

The seven-year-old hasn’t been easy to win with recently and had to go to a small race at LS to get on the score sheet after nearly a year without a win. Another exceptional worker he is hard to weigh up as he is very good on his day but has become a bit temperamental in his older years. Five times a stakes winner if the trainer can work his considerable magic, then this one may just use the wide gate to blow them away with “bottom” weight.

12 Storm Water Asgar Jaramillo E 119 —

The winner of the GP Sprint Championship, he is fairly lightly raced for a five-year-old so isn’t without a chance. An on-speed type he will need some luck from the wide draw but if he can get up front and not be pushed too hard he comes right into the reckoning.

13 Diablo II Grimley Ortiz I Jr 118 —

Finds the car park after coming off the ballot he would have to have found some steep climb in his improvement curve to get home here. Claimed for just $4.000 in March, he has since won two overnights at the high level which was some claim but his attempt at stakes level saw his winning come to an end when he finished eighth in the Cartier. A decent sort that may have a way to win if the pace is suicidal and he gets a run at them down the outside but there are plenty better in this line up.

SUMMARY

As always, these handicaps are a tough call with fairly average form with lightening works and low weights against stakes form and higher weights. I think one more chance needs to be given to last year’s winner Everest here although literally anything could win, so he would be my top choice from the rail.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES