The GP Handicap (Grade 2)- $350.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile on the Dirt
February 11, 2017

Despite a purse reduction of $150.000 from last year, the 14th running of the GP Handicap attracts a quality field.  This is a race that once saw the mighty Alpha Ultimo pick up a victory, taking the crown in what would prove to be his final full season.  More recently, this has been a good race for Grimley, who has won the stake in two of the last three years.  Last year, Sinissippi Eagle rallied to win late with E Trujillo aboard.  It would be their last race together, as Grimley sold him afterwards, and he has not won a stake since.  In 2014, led Russian Cash to win, and believe it or not, he sold him right after the race. So, make note. Grimley has two in this race, and if one wins, he is bound to sell the winner.  All kidding aside, he is one of two trainers that have won this race more then once with Unreal Racing being the other.  This year’s race boasts quite a bit of talent, and the race seems a bit wide open.  I’m anticipating a thriller, and I notice that in we’ve never had a dead heat in this race.  Going into its 14th edition, you know its overdue.  Maybe this will be the year!   Let’s meet our field!

#1- West Northwest (Grimley, ridden by J J Castellano)- I’m a little more attracted to the trainer’s other entry in this race, but this seven year old gelding has had a long career of success.  Most recently, those races have been on the grass but it was not always that way.  In fact, it’s probably more appropriate to say the turf experiment is over (or postponed), as he has mainly been on the main track.  His last dirt win came in the Grade 1 Cigar Handicap.  Of 2015.  More recently, he has three 6th place runs and one fifth place in this last five starts, with the other being an allowance win.  His career needs a jolt, and this would be a good time for it.

#2- Fly Millennium (John Henry, ridden by J R Velazquez)- This is becoming one of those horses where it seems like I get all of his races.  He’s had some good ones, especially the second place finish in the BEL Sprint Championship in the first race for the new trainer, but some others where he never really got involved.   He had a great run of form in the summertime last year, but most recently he’s merely been in the mix.  A horse like that is always capable, just tough to bet on.  It could be beneficial that he carries a couple less pounds then key rivals here.

#3- Palestinian (Nakamura Stables, ridden by J Bravo)- Has won 9 of 17 career races, but have we reached the point now in his career where we throw out the 7 of the first 8 and look more recently? Probably so, and in doing that, you’ll see the now four year old gelding has remained solid, just not dominant. He finished off his season with a win, but it came in an open allowance.  His end of season runs were competitive, and I do like this exact distance for him.  I’ve picked him in the past and he’s burned me, or maybe I jinxed him.  Therefore, I am going to look beyond him at this point.

#4- Captain Rush (Downwind Stables, ridden by R Bejarano)- I can’t look past it.  I’d like to focus on this horse’s accolades, but I can’t get over the fact that he was sold three times during the month of December, without any races in between.  I won’t talk about the dollar amounts, just the simple fact that on December 4th it was from Australia Wide to Heavens Own.  The 12th from Heavens Own to John Henry.  And the 21st from John Henry to Downwind Stables.  On the 30th, he was allowed to be a race horse again.  He liked going long in that optional claimer win, and could very well win this as well.  Regardless, let’s hope he doesn’t get sold again for a while.

#5- Thats The Truth (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J R Leparoux)- Right here at GP last month, Thats The Truth ran the best race of his career, scoring a win in the Grade 3 Hals Hope, knocking off the two horses starting to his outside here, Dogs Got Wings and Impending Decision, in the process.  Now, because of that win, he ends up having to carry a couple extra pounds then most, but less overall then he did in the Hals Hope.   That win was just the second of the career, so it hints that this colt is heading in the right direction.  Can he build off that race, or was it a one time flash in the pan?  We’ll see on Saturday.

#6- Dogs Got Wings (Grimley, ridden by M Franco)- Its almost hard to believe that he won only one race last year, because he always seemed to be hanging around and being a contender in the races he ran.  The win was in the Grade 3 Spiral, where he jumped out to the lead and never looked back to punch his ticket to the KYD.  Once that chase was all over with, he ran a strong third in the Grade 1 Kings Bishop, and closed nicely last month in the Hals Hope.   He should also be happy to have M Franco aboard and figures to be a contender.

#7- Impending Decision (Night Rider Stables, ridden by J Lezcano)- At eight years of age, this gelding has not missed a beat and started off his season with a runner up performance in the Hals Hope (a race he won in 2015 and 2016).  Here, he hits a milestone in that it is career race #50, and it has seen tremendous success with 13 wins, several of them being graded.  Perhaps the highlight of his career was his most recent victory, coming in October in the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap, but I think a win here would take that crown.  This gelding is simply not slowing down, but as good as he looks in this field, he is the highweight.  Though, not by all that much.  I’m giving him the nod here.

Prediction: 7-5-4-3

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES