The Go For Wand Handicap – Grade III
AQU Race #2 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward.

With just two pounds separating this field we can forget it’s called a handicap and just pick the best horse to win. That, however, is never easy, let’s see the runners for The Goforwand Handicap.

1 Gerri G Luz International Luzzi L J 118 —

This five-year-old gets in well here and with the ace draw must be a strong contender. Highly consistent over a 21-race career she is rarely out of the first three and has won nine races and five over longer trips than her recent outings.

2 Sweet T Spb Racing Velazquez J R 119 —

It is interesting how the weights work with this one getting the same weight as non-stakes winners. I think the reason for that may be that her win came over six and a half furlongs in the Chillingworth and with only six starts and all over sprint trips she may in fact be poorly weighted against proven routers. Add that to the fact that she is a three-year-old and she is far worse off at the weights than she would be in an all-aged race, The great draw will help but there are all sorts of question marks about her, if she wins and it’s not out of the question, she will be a superstar, if not there will be good excuses.

3 Furlough Maxmillion Farm Carmouche K 118 —

Another three-year-old that will find the weights tough, she is in fact working pretty strongly so may be a bit more forward compared to others her age. The trainer certainly knows how to win stakes races and she is drawn well, so I would be tempted if she was offered at decent odds.

4 Moment To Reflect Threshold Franco M 119 —

She has a decent record for a filly with only four starts and her form and works say she is in the right field.

5 Texas Holdem D J C Racing Stables Lopez P 118 —

Another that slips nicely into this handicap thanks to all her recent form being over sprint trips. She is much better off at the weights with Sweet T after their runs in the Chillingworth and if weight means anything, she should be able to avenge that run. Her works are strong enough and she has won three times over longer trips so this is a good spot for her.

6 Longclaws Maggie Big Jd Racing Ferrer J C 120 —

Gets top weight for what it is worth for her win in the Trillium Stakes but was beaten by Gerri G in The Pumpkin Pie and is worse off at the weights so may find it tough to beat that one if weight means anything. The advantage with her is you know she will stay the trip and will be finishing strongly late and that may help against a few of these that have been used to sprinting.

7 Spliter Sheffler Stables Beschizza A 118 —

A three-year-old that has come into form nicely but with three of her four wins coming on the turf she is a bit of an unknown quantity. She is a solid filly, but a wider draw and the disadvantage of the weights may make it too tough.

8 Commandakoffokee TwinTowersRacing Davis D 120 —

A three-year-old with joint top weight and a wide draw may end her chances, but I would never write anything off from this stable. She stays a trip strongly, so I expect her to be coming late.

9 Charleston Girl Nakamura Stables Centeno D E 120 —

We find what may be the best filly in the race in the car park and with joint top weight so it won’t be easy for her to confirm that status here. The winner of 6 from 15 and 4 over a longer trip she will need some race engine luck and good AI decisions to win.

SUMMARY

This is a tough race to call because under weight for age conditions I would probably favor one of the three-year-olds but it will take a good one to beat the older ones here, so I have to side with that fact. Gerri G gets a decent draw and could be in the top three along with Moment To Reflect and Charleston Girl.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES