Northern Dancer BC Turf – Grade I
3:00 WO Race #4 1 1/2m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $300.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 Stormbringer John Henry Franco G
When this three year old gamely won the Snow Chief by a nose i thought he would go on and run up a sequence but he has been tested in his last three and whilst he has run well he hasn’t troubled the judge. He gets the same draw he won that Snow Chief from today but he has yet to really make his mark and doing it at grade one may be a bit too much.
2 Jump Shot Mb Stables Lezcano J
An M Stables three year old with the perfect draw in a 3’s and up grade one, normally that means only one thing but this one is not so obvious as some of the others. I think his form is similar to Stormbringers in so much as he won the ungraded War Chant and it looked like a launch pad but he just battled in his next two. His works are strong but that can be said for everything these days so whilst he has a good chance it is not a clear winning one.
3 Obeah Mon Night Rider Stables Zayas E J
He has a very good turf record but most of his races have been on dirt where he has done very well most notably when third in the Woodward Handicap and a close sixth in the Travers before that. This looks a really good opportunity for the son of Z Jinxed One and his works and draw are good enough to make him a very good winning chance.
4 Steel Tunes Nakamura Stables Ryan S
This five year old hasn’t been tested this year but was a dual grade three winner a couple of years back and is certainly up to this sort of race at his best. The trainer has been in sparkling form this year and this is just the sort he can pull up by its boot straps and get a big run from.
5 Controlled Power Spankys Barn Prat F
He has been a great servant to his trainer over the years and still retains enough ability to make his presence felt at this level. Winner of the San Luis Rey early in the year he hasn’t managed another win but with 1.3K purse money on the turf he is all class and will have his supporters.
6 So Lonely Diablo Diablo Stein J
Took the Elkhorn beating Controlled Power back in April but has been inconsistent this year mixing such efforts as a second in the Manhattan with terrible runs in his last two. A little look closer however and you see that those last two runs were on an off track so there has been excuses. At his best he will be a threat.
7 Big Aspirations Fractious Gutierrez Mario
He looked very good in the DMR Derby last time and looks to be coming into a good vain of form at the right time. I think he may struggle at the end as he hasn’t shown the best turn of foot but i am pretty sure he will be right in it.
8 Concerto Of Eggs TwinTowersRacing Davis D
An interesting name for sure and whilst his form isn’t so interesting his works are. The trainer can often pull one out of the hat at long odds so i wouldn’t be writing him off a place finish.
9 Degataga John Henry Bahen S R
A lightly raced four year old he only broke his maiden in July so shouldn’t be a danger here. However and there is always one of those at HRP he is by the great Cherokee Sunset and we all know that his sons can win a race like this.
10 Techfluence The Sidley Stud Tunon M
Possibly the best turf router the game has seen and if not the best he is certainly the one who has held his form the longest. The winner of 15 races and nearly 4K in purse money he hasn’t looked his old self in his last two and that will raise some questions. However he is all class and his fan club will be cheering him home one more time.
11 Hefner Mb Stables Garcia Mar
When you look at this horses form it is amazing to think he has ony won twice in 25 starts. A very capable sort he would be a great each way bet but may struggle with this poor draw to get the win.
12 Fuji Smokey Stover Bisono J
With the exception of Techfluence he is probably the best horse in this race and he gets the three year old allowance which would make him an irresistible choice was it not for the car park draw. A 1.34 and 1 turf mile work is the best recent work in the field and his close fourth in the Hirsch Turf Classic last time had next up written all over it. If the race engine favors the draw in this race he would be the obvious choice but i feel we will be relying on lots of ‘other’ factors to come into play
SUMMARY
The great old timers Controlled Power and Techfluence can never be ignored but there are a couple of others here who may just have faster legs at the end. If Fuji gets some help from the race engine he could well win but i am going for the safer draw and Obeah Mon to win.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
