Wise Dan – Grade II
CD Race #7 1 1/16m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 State Apples Mb Stables Lopez P 122 —

As the TC fades into history so the BC comes to the fore front of everyone’s minds, and it is now that barns will start to gather points in earnest to be part of the big day. This five-year-old has shown enough to be given his chance and after two very close seconds in the Whiitingham and The Arlington he must be considered a chance for the premier barn. His works are sharp, and he has been consistent enough to suggest that as a five-year-old he is peaking for this season.

2 Oh Brother Spankys Barn Saez L 122 —

After he won the MM Mile I was surprised to see him run a shade flat in the Arlington last time when behind State Apples over this course and distance. We have seen that variation in form a lot this year so I wouldn’t write him off and certainly at his best he is very much a winning chance. He has always run his best over a mile but the extra sixteenth although a stride too far on occasions must be in his scope. Interestingly, he goes back to his partnership with Saez today after Gaffalione couldn’t get the best out of him last time.

3 Chagrin Falls Mo Mentum Farm Geroux F 122 —

The seven-year-old can be a bit in and out but last time he was all class in taking the Whittingham and on a line through State Apples has the beating of the two inside him. His running style like his form can be a bit all over the place but on his day, he is certainly good enough to back up his last win.

4 Operation Mongoose Maxmillion Farm Hernandez R M 122 —

The turf king showed their experience and brilliance to get this one over the line in the Arlington last time after the six-year-old had been assigned to lower grade and shorter trips by the previous trainer. He once again takes on the same course and distance and on the form lines through the three inside him it gives him every chance of following that win up.

5 Tom Kha Gai High Voltage Centeno D E 122 —

A tough and consistent sort who took out the San Louis Rey with a tough on-speed performance from a poor draw and then backed that up with a very close third in the Danger Point. He doesn’t win too often but is never far away so a top three finish could well get him in among the action.

6 Grand Opening Riggins Racing Velazquez J R 122 —

The BC Turf champion looked like he was going to go through the season in a big way when he came back out and took the Pegasus World Turf Cup on his seasonal debut but two narrow defeats in recent races suggest he may have an Achilles heel. Fourth and beaten a half in the MM Mile and then a head in the Danger Point he looks vulnerable to a finish over these shorter trips if the pace is a bit average. He certainly is a winning chance but if his odds are skinny, I may recommend some value outside of him.

7 Booker TwinTowersRacing Davis D 122 —

A solid individual but with only the three wins may find this company a bit hot. The trainer and the horse though don’t care much about the competition and at his best he could be a threat.

8 Last Way To The Beac Maxmillion Farm Jimenez A 122 —

He has certainly been there and done that as a multiple stakes winner but just recently has been set back to sprinting in an effort to rekindle his best form. At HRP it can be hard to assess a horse of this age as their works tend to be the last thing that drops off and to be fair his works are probably the best in the field, but his form has looked like it has been declining at that is the gamble if he is your pick. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had a big win left in him and if anyone can get him over the line it is the turf king.

9 Snidely Whiplash TwinTowersRacing Gutierrez Mario 122 —

If names won races, then this one would be unbeaten but as it is he has just the one win to his name. That fact would normally be enough to pass him over but his big effort in the Poker Stakes last time says it all about HRP and these big races so I wouldn’t be writing him off and maybe he is worth a few Disney Dollars if his odds are blown out by the odds monkeys.

10 Hawaiian Lord Our Athletes Gaffalione T 122 —

Another seven-year-old whose works are strong, but his form had looked to be dropping off. That all changed in the grade one Forrester Turf Classic last time when he only failed by a neck on the off track to secure the win. Certainly, at his best he is a contender here, but I am always wary of off-track form if it is dry so he will need to repeat that run today to convince me that he is at his best.

SUMMARY

A typical race as we head to the BC where everything has good enough stakes form and works to win and it will all come down to who is best on the day. You really could pick any of these but I think I am settling on Grand Opening being the obvious choice although I do worry about this trip being a little sharp. Of the rest well, I think I will wait for the odds Monkeys to do their thing and box up some outsiders for second in the Exacta.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES