CC Express
CD Race #5 6f Dirt Stake
Purse $100.000 For Three Year three-year-olds and upward. Additional Requirements: Have started for a claiming price of $8.000 or less since 1/1/2024.
These claiming championships used to be the BC for the lesser stables and lesser horses, but as the years have gone by and claimers started winning stakes races, they have become a race like any other stakes race. Having said that, there is still plenty of competition for bragging rights, and this series of championship races certainly brings out the best of HRP competition.
1 De Proof Team 7 Illusions Cedillo A 124 —
A decent enough sprinter for a race like this, and certainly his work times say he should be very competitive. A close third on this track at allowance level last time, his consistency and on pace running style will be suited to the inside gate.
2 Mighty Team 7 Illusions Beschizza A 122 —
The stablemate of the horse inside him, he gets a 2Lb weight allowance and going on the last work where he was pretty much the same as his stable companion, that weight advantage should see him come out on top. An easy winner over this course and distance last time, he will be coming from a little further behind than De Proof, so he will need some gaps at the right time.
3 Sensational Pirate Asgar Castillo I 124 —
Far more of a claiming type, he has only had one run for one win this year and certainly seems to have taken the break to improve and mature. A swift work on this track a few days ago looks like he may be one of the dark horses in this race.
4 Distinctly Gold Acber Farms Geroux F 124 —
This six-year-old has won 13 races and come out on top in his last two, so he is definitely in the right form to put in a good run. Likely to be put on speed, he could just run them off their feet if he can run the 1.08 and 1 time that he did in his last start.
5 Dynastic Romanov Spb Racing Rivera L R 124 —
A busy four-year-old he always seems to run an honest race but was a little disappointing last time out and may be ready for a little break. The winner of 8 has a top four chance at best.
6 Bronx Tale Apache Warrior Bacon T W 122 —
A three-year-old showing improvement, he has won his last three, including a good win at PRX last time when taking on older horses. On form, he has a little to find, but being three, he also has improvement in him, so I can see him running well if he can handle this awkward gate.
7 Sauna Santan Stables Concepcion A 124 —
A close sixth in the PARX Sprint last time, he is one of those who certainly has the ability to win this but may find the early pace too hot and be relying on race engine luck at the end. At seven and with ten wins to his name, he has got it right plenty of times, and I like the veterans in these races because a big field full of hustle can be right up their street.
8 Escape Route The Sidley Stud Torres Jo 124 —
Claimed from a little race at PID, he came straight out for the new owner to run second in the Sweet Home Alabama. The trainer is having that sort of year where everything they touch turns to gold, and this five-year-old that worked 1.10 and 1 at the start of the month could be another stakes winner for them.
9 Pride Side Our Athletes McKee J 122 —
Finally won his maiden at the tenth attempt last time out, but this is a big step up in class for a BTP maiden claimer winner. He looks to be improving but will need to improve a LOT to be winning this.
10 Coronado Beach Family Racing Gaffalione T 124 —
Claimed from a $2.500 claimer in June and beaten a length in the grade two Phoenix last time out pretty much sums up the difference between the lowest and the highest grade here at HRP. The four-year-old must have a chance on his fine effort last time and is certainly working a lot better than his previous form.
11 Universal Speed Babyhead Corrales G 122 —
A prolific winning three-year-old that was a close second in a top-level allowance last time, and working as fast as anything in this field it seems the only thing that will beat him here will be the wide draw. He has plenty of early pace, so he may push forward from the draw, but then it is up to the race engine as to how that plays out, so he will need some luck.
12 Company Store Spankys Barn Saez L 124 —
If you can work 1.10 flat then you are either a grade one winner or a claimer, and unfortunately for this one, he is a claimer. At six he has never lived up to his work time despite being around some top barns in his long career, maybe his newest trainer has found the magic formula?
13 Ward Of The State Mojica Racing Ortiz J L 124 —
A solid sort who was a good second last time, he certainly deserves to be given a chance, but this draw will make it very tough. He has the ability on that last run, but I can’t find a speed map for him here, and he may be hung out to dry.
14 The Answer Night Rider Stables Gutierrez Mario 122 —
No trainer loves winning these claiming crown races more than Night Rider, and this is a good entry, although the draw monster has not been kind. He very nearly won The Rumsen last time, and that sort of form would win this race, and just maybe if he can use the wide gate speed push here and then save something for the last furlong, the trainer could be celebrating.
SUMMARY
An almost impossible race to be confident about, but I have settled for Universal Speed here as a possible winner. In a race where pretty much anything could win, it is hard to pick the place horses, but I will settle for Mighty and Escape Route as the main dangers.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded