The Razorback Handicap (Grade 3)- $500.000 Purse
OP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
February 18, 2019
Monday is anything but a quiet day this coming week as many top stakes will be taking place throughout the game. One of them is the 14th running of the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap. This is now a $500.000 race, but it was not always that way, as up until 2013, it was only a $150.000 race. 2017 was the year in which it increased to its current level. The inaugural race was won by Columbia River, a winner of over $4,000.000 in his career for Whitewater Stables over a decade ago. Always good to throw out a name like that once in a while in an article, because they should not be forgotten. A good blend of accomplished horses are mixed together with this field, so it should be an interesting battle, and perhaps a little tough to predict. We’ll give that a go anyway! Here they are!
#1- Have A Seat (Maxmillion Farm, ridden by L Saez)- Acquired in November from El Primero Rodeo for just $15.000, this quite a jump for a horse that just six months ago was regularly racing in $6.000 claimers. He has it in his past, though, go back to 2015 and you’ll performances like a third in the Grade 2 PA Derby. His first race with Max saw him run fourth in the Claiming Crown, then he won a starter allowance. He can win, he’s done it 22 times in 51 starts, but it would be a good comeback story if his next win was right here.
#2- Cheapsnake (John Henry, ridden by D Van Dyke)- The Snakie gelding shows good consistency throughout his career to pick up a check, and he has won a quarter of his starts. He’s been versatile, getting positive results sprinting, routing, and on both dirt and turf. The last time he raced with a similar condition, he won a $50.000 stake at FG, in December. Has not hit the board in any of his three graded attempts though, but he deserves this chance.
#3- On Deck (Night Rider Stables, ridden by Ro Maragh)- This one has had an interesting career, considering he is seven and has “only” made 20 starts. He won just once in his 14 starts, but then after that, went on a four race winning streak. That’s a streak that culminated in the Grade 1 Awesome Again, as well, a race that he won as a 21/1 longshot. Due to that win, he was able to get in the BC Classic, but failed to beat any of his rivals. Is this a horse who just had a hot streak, or is the bet yet to come? He’s the highweight in here and by five pounds over some, so I think that will do him in. This race kicks off his 2019.
#4- Alpha Uno (Estero Farms, ridden by A A Gallardo)- If this one is starting to find consistency, then expect him to be very successful as a four year old. He was not consistent for much of his career, but then things changed in September at the Grade 3 Gallant Bob. He didn’t win, but finished second, and every since then has seemed to be a more reliable horse. Won the Thunder Rumble, and then ran well in the Grade 1 Malibu, running third. This distance is a bit longer then what he’d been running in those three races, but he can handle it. Bigger question is, though, is he best at it? I think it will be helpful for him that he is one of the low weights, and will give him the edge.
#5- Tekkers (Maxmillion Farm, ridden P Lopez)- The third place runner from the BC Dirt Mile comes into the race off three weeks race following a disappointing showing at the Grade 3 Hooper. It was muddy that day, so hopefully that is the only reason for the largely flat effort. He has a couple lines in his past performances like that, but rarely will ever have two bad races in a row. The quick turnaround into this race tells me the trainer is not one bit concerned, and everyone else should take notice.
#6- Minutes Hand (Mb Stables, ridden by F Pennington)- Acquired in June from Fractious via private sales for $225.000 after attempting the TC chase, it’s hard to say if Minutes Hand has met the expectations of Mb to this point. A win here certainly would give an emphatic answer to that. He’s been fine, and did run second at the Grade 2 Phoenix, so he is not a bust, but Mb Stables doesn’t need to spend that kind of money for a horse to win a couple optional claimers. We’ll see how it goes!
#7- Kiss The Snake (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J Talamo)- The second of the two Snakie foals in this race, and this one is due for a win. Nakamura paid a big price for him in private sales back in December 2017, a $200.000 purchase, and has only managed one win since, coming in the Grade 3 Ali at KEE in April. He only picked up $180.000 in earnings during 2018, so while there were some quality third place finishes, when considering the nomination fees involved, Kiss The Snake needs to step up here. I believe he will get a smaller piece of this purse, which is a theme the trainer has gotten used too.
#8- Farley On Wheels (Tiratzo, ridden by R Bejarano)- The five year old by Charley Farley has won just over $1,000.000 for his career, but this could be a bit of a “show me” race for him. He’s done some great things, but you really have to go back to 2017 to find them. Since a poor showing at the Grade 1 Foster Handicap, he was downgraded into a couple of $24.000 or so allowances, and failed to the board there, too. With this bloodline, you have to wonder if the shed will be calling if he has a bad race here.
#9- Zombie City (Eastern Equine, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This time last year, he was being talked about as one of the better TC contenders thanks to winning the Risen Star. That race is running this weekend for this year’s class, and is loaded, so it speaks well of Zombie City’s achievement. He’s continued to run well, and won the Grade 2 Dandy at the Spa last July. A week after the Travers, Eastern Equine paid $1,150.000 to acquire him in private sales, and he’s been very productive, though still has not won yet. Placed 4th in the BC Classic. Now, the fun begins to see what he may do as a four year old. I’d pick him if the race was a little longer and if he wasn’t carrying one of the higher weights in the field.
Prediction: 4-9-7-5
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
