8/13/22
8 SAR The Fourstardave Hcp (GI) [BC]
$500.000 3yo&Up 1m InTurf Hcp Weights
We head to up-state NY and look at the field for The Fourstardave Hcp (GI) and the sod could be soft just from the trail of jockey tears. Either way, it looks like a nice/full field and it should be a competitive race. I took Spiral as the top choice today. The Mb Stables owned gelding has been tough in all three of his seasonal starts, and I’d expect more of the same today. Let’s go right next door and put Lets Do It Big Boy in the second spot. The ol’ boy is still tough every time he loads into the gate, and with more than $2,500.000 in earnings, you know he’s has all the class you could want. You can make a case for a half dozen or more of the others, so it should be a fun one to watch.
Here’s The Field –
Two solid races against high-end Alw company, both at WO, but was last of twelve in the Highlander (GII) over that same track. It’s not going to get any easier here, so he’s going to have to find some magic to get in the mix when they turn for home.
Part of the Miaxmillion couple and he has a pair of wins after being purchased from the Dec 21 Auction, both vs. OptAlw types. He tired to be fifth in the Highlander (GII) after pressing the pace in that one. I think the mile distance might be more to his preference, getting away from the pressure packed pace… let’s see if he lands one here.
Sold for a mere $8.000 then came back to win with ease over the WO sod, scoring by five vs OptAlw horses. Sold for $75.000 after that race, and now it’s up to the graded level as Max tried to get some of that money back here. He’s been in stakes race back prior, with mixed results… another that is a bit of a wildcard.
He’s won two of his last three and has a pair of thirds to go with the wins, but here have been vs. softer than what he sees in this one. Still, he’s been running big and looks to be in fine form right now, so you have to give him a puncher’s chance today.
The old boy has a 1-1-1 record from his seven ’22 starts, including a win in the FG Stakes (GIII) back in Feb. He’s been fourth in three of his last four and a third in the other race, all graded races, so he’s knocking on the door… can he get an answer today? I wouldn’t count him out.
This grizzled vet certainly knows how to get his picture taken, showing ten wins from his twenty-three starts and has two wins and a second from three seasonal starts. He won the Forbidden Apple (GIII) over this track last out… no reason to think he won’t be a serious threat today.
Nice win at the Alw level in his most recent, getting the job done at FE on their sod, and won another turf race three back on the SA down-hill course. He’s lightly raced with only six starts, but he’s one half of ’em and was on the board in two other starts… can he step up in class?
Got back to the winning ways last out, taking down an Alw race at MTH facing NJ-breds, and that ended a four-race streak of up-the-track finishes. Two of those were vs graded horses and two were on the dirt, so getting a win on the sod holds some favor… but can he do it vs. black type competition? That is the question.
Sold three races back for a tidy $450.000, and it’s been a mixed bag since… he was fifth in the Elkhorn (GII) at KEE and sixth last out in the Wise Dan (GII) at CD, but just missed in the Shoemaker Mile (GI) at SA. He’s won +$759.000 with only two wins… so he’s not running in cheap races.
Another that has been up and down a bit this season, Winning a high-end Alw race on the soft sod at WO and just missed in the Sham Stakes (GIII) at SA… but three of the starts have been back of the pack finishes vs. graded horses. If he can run back to that runner-up finish in the Shoemaker Mile (GI), he could be trouble here.
Good looking gelding has been close in a number of races, showing a win in the Kilroe Mile (GI) along with a pair of runner-up finishes in the Makers Mark Mile (GI) and the Forbidden Apple (GIII). His best may make him the one to beat.
Haw shown some real ability, like that runner-up effort in the Met Mile (GI) two back, but was sold after a ninth place finish in the Nerud (GII). Did the prior owner give up too soon or did they see something they just didn’t like… I guess we find out today.
Would need some luck to draw into the field, and tired to be fourth in the Wicker, so I’m not sure if he wants this type of competition, but he’s come a long way from $4.000 claimers.
COZMAN 6 / 5 Willie’s Green Card 2 / 6
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES, THE BREEDERS CUP
