CC Canterbury ($150.000 Purse)
CD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
Five and a Half Furlongs on the Turf
November 12, 2022
This weekend is claiming crown weekend at CD, as several races have been scheduled for former claimers. To be eligible for the CC Canterbury, one had to have been entered for a $25.000 tag or less since the beginning of 2021. In our game, so much can happen in that stretch of time, so it is not a surprise to see a deep field here. The late Armed Escort won the race for Fractious last year, but would only make two more starts after. Other past winners include Cold Weather Rider and Chamber Assembly. Let’s take a quick look at the field. Recap quality will be better, I’m a little under the weather tonight.
#1- One Man Show (Spankys Barn, ridden by T Gaffalione)- After running in several graded races as a two year old and even a BC race (Juvenile Turf Sprint), his progress began to derail to the point of being entered for the $25.000 tag this March. He’s been hot again, and has returned the graded level recently.
#2- Golden Authority (Asgar, ridden by M Murrill)- Last November, this gelding was put up for a $14.000 tag by Chubby Racing, and Asgar picked him then and has never looked back. Golden Authority has won twice in ten starts since then, making a handful of stake appearances, but has not won one of them yet. Struggled on the turf in his last two outings.
#3- Mount Cook (Aandc Stable, ridden by R J Albardo)- This gelding has been claimed twice since June, and this will be his start while running in the Aandc silks. Does a great job hitting the board, doing so in 11 of 12 starts. Five of them are wins, but he has never been tested like this.
#4- You Know Youre Right (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by F Geroux)- Was put for a $12.500 a a maiden claimer in February and struggled, but would be moved to the grass after that. He’s been a lot better on the turf, and finally broke his maiden in August. Just before that, he had a few runner ups in triple digit maidens.
#5- Albaquirky (Santan Stables, ridden by G Corrales)- During the winter, he ran for a couple of smaller claiming tags at GG. After winning one in January, he’s career began to move forward with placement, and he even won the $50.000 Albany at GG in June. He’s spent a lot of his career out at that track, but has come east as of late.
#6- McGill (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by J R Leparoux)- Over the summer, McGill was entered for $25.000 and $19.000 tags, and after winning the June race, his level of competition has increased. Made his stake debut last month in the $100.000 California Flag Handicap, but did not fare well.
#7- Lunar Watch (Black N Gold Stable, ridden by J R Velazquez)- Plenty of stake experience on this 34-race veteran. He’s won fifteen races, which is pretty impressive for anyone, and did pick up a couple of ungraded victories earlier this year. He was up for a $12.500 price a couple times in mid-2021 in order to be eligible for this race.
#8- Son Of Sandston (Onlineracingclub.com, ridden by A Beschizza)- Much of this one’s career has been running in claimers, and he was picked up for $10.000 in June. Onlineracingclub.com has had bigger aspirations, though did run him for a $25.000 price tag in July before moving him into stakes. Last time out, he was third in the Grade 3 Turf Monster Handicap.
#9- Cincinnati (Our Athletes, ridden by J S Rocco Jr)- Picked up by the trainer in this most recent auction for $7.700, and ended up being put in a $20.000 claimer afterwards. He was second there, but Our Athletes liked what he saw enough to give him this shot. This is the toughest field he has faced to date.
#10- Nuclear Zak (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by L Saez)- This gelding was put in an $8.000 claimer back in February, where he was picked up by Mb Stables and ran well there for three races. But the third of those three would see him get claimed again, this time for $30.000. Nuclear Zak comes here off an allowance at PRX where he was third.
#11- Check Matie (Bigchief Stables, ridden by Mar Garcia)- Late last year and into this year, this one was a regular entry in claiming races, but after finishing second at GP in March, then winning a starter allowance, Check Matie was elevated into graded competition. He’d been running well in them until his last start, where he collapsed in the stretch.
#12- Phooeys Quest (Threshold, ridden by J Talamo)- As recently as August, this one was put for a small claiming tag, being in for $7.000. Right before that, he was in for $6.000, so safe to say at that Threshold didn’t think much of him. But in August, his win at FE excited the trainer, and off of that, Phooeys Quest ran in the Grade 3 Turf Monster, where he was second best.
#13- Wintry Mix (La Canada Racehorses, ridden by B J Hernandez Jr)- In September, Wintry Mix was entered at MTH for a $10.500 tag, and ended up winning the race. Later that month, he was solid in a LAD allowance, before being entered in a $40.000 claimer last month. Has two wins in his last three races.
#14- Cacciadiavoli Bay (Asgar, ridden by C J Hernandez)- Our final runner comes into this race off a true struggle in the Grade 2 Nearctic, but had been running much better before that race. Ran for some smaller tags over the spring in order to get into this race, including the $10.000 tag that Asgar used to acquire him in May.
Prediction: 1-5-12-7
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
