The Forty Niner Handicap ($250.000 Purse)
AQU- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
October 26, 2024

This Saturday at the Big A, we will have the 21st running of the Forty Niner Handicap, and it is the third time this race will run at AQU. The purse has been lower, but the current amount does represent a $50.000 reduction from where it had been over the last three years. Six horses will be heading to the starting gate, and the weights will range between 118 and 121 pounds. Last year, Spankys Barn won the race with his gelding, Surprise Authority. That horse would only end up running one more time for Spankys Barn before being sold to Riggins Racing for $100.000. He’s still active, but for the time being, is not competing at the stake level. Here’s a look at those looking to become the next name added to the list:

1- Investment Center (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by D Davis)- The colt has three wins over his twenty career starts, with his most recent win being an open allowance in January. He had been inconsistent early in his career, but it looks like he had been getting it together with more reliable production this year, including being second two starts back in the Grade 3 Iselin Stakes. Struggled in the slop last time out, but he may just be a horse that doesn’t want it wet.

2- Stormy Sultan (Luz International, ridden by S Elliott)- He will be the high weight for the race, carrying 121 pounds. That usually means you have been winning, and it is certainly true for Stormy Sultan. After being claimed in April for $16.000, he’s won three of four, and that is highlighted by capturing the $100.000 Storm Cat Stakes, for PA-breds, at PRX in late August. Ran well last month as well, placing second in the Durham Cup Stakes (Grade 3). Works well, so the extra pounds are really the only question with him.

3- Louisiana Asset (Big Jd Racing, ridden by F T Alvarado)- Last month, Louisiana Asset was at PRX and won the $100.000 PARX Sprint for his second win of 2024. He has been more of a sprinter than going longer like this, but he is not a rookie at this type of distance, either. He has not won at a mile or more but has hit the board six times in nine starts. Has a few graded races under his belt, with hit and miss results.

4- Settle The Score Vr (Luz International, ridden by A Achard)- This six-year-old gelding has had a successful career, so when Luz International claimed him for $62.500 in January, he was hoping that the horse could get back to the graded level. In six starts in his new silks, Settle The Score Vr has won three of six, including his first stake victory since 2021. Last month, he went graded for the first time since October 2022, and while he didn’t cash a check in the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes at WO, he was within a length of victory and earned a 100 SRF in the process.

5- Tacitus (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- Many of this one’s 29 career starts have come at the stake level, but none of his six victories have been in one. He typically runs in ungraded races or other State bred stakes, and he has had some close calls. One of them came two starts ago, in the $100.000 Rumson, where he was second in a photo finish. Mostly been a sprinter over his career and will run long for the first time since February.

6- Senor Vinagre Y Agua (YME Stable, ridden by F Pennington)- This race is a step down for Senor Vinagre Y Agua, as after all, his last two starts have been in the Whitney and the Pacific Classic. He has a strong performance in the Whitney, running third, so if he can duplicate that here, this race will be his. However, he was not as good in the Pacific Classic. He needed some rest after that hard August schedule and got it, and now with his recent regular rider in the saddle, the gelding should be able to rebound nicely from that. He’s the one to beat in this race.

Prediction: 6-2-4-1

— NS

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded