Forester Turf Classic – Grade I
CD Race #11 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $1,000.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
1 Lunar Blaze John Henry Velazquez J
This horse is probably the best horse in training at the moment going on his two wins this year. He really has gone to another level although we mustn’t forget that he was a BEL Derby winner and Arlington Million winner at three and whilst in the intermediate years he has done well enough none of his form lives up to those two wins and his two most recent. His seasonal debut was massive when he trounced The Pegasus World Cup Turf field with a dominant front running display and then he followed that up with a game win in the grade one Kilroe Mile last time. If he gets into the lead or a stalk at a fair pace today he could well add a third grade one to his 2019 tally.
2 Barton Rovers Maxmillion Farm Pennington
We all know what Maxmillion Farm can do to an average looking horse and after claiming this one out of a maiden they quickly turned him into a very useful race horse indeed. He won three on the bounce right after being claimed but has really stepped up this year taking on stakes company and winning two from three. He certainly loves these extreme trips and whilst not needing it he also seems to grow flippers when its wet so any conditions will suit him. His last gasp win in the Elkhorn last time puts him right in this with the look of an improver from a great gate and from a stable in form….oh yes and the turf magician Pennington in the saddle.
3 Penitentiary D J C Racing Stables Lanerie C J
What he lacks in a turn of foot he makes up for in class and whilst his form doesnt quite look sharp enough he is very capable and you should never write anything off from the DJC stable. A good winner of the FG Handicap off a feather weight he plodded into third in the San Luis Rey last time and that may be the best he can hope for here.
4 Early Retirement Mb Stables Beschizza A
A triple grade one winner last year including a huge four length win in the BC Turf this will be many peoples top choice for this race. He was terrible in the wet first up so that is certainly something to look out for if it rains but he was right back to his best in the San Luis Rey when making all and toying with them to win by a length. At his best he can win this easily and from a great draw there is no reason why he wont.
5 Crafty Shenanigans Mb Stables Colon L H
This was a classy three year old finishing second in the grade one Canadian International and Secretariat but his form tailed off a little as a four year old and he was progressively dropped down the grades. This year however he has bounced back albeit at lower grade winning three from three and with Colon on board could be fighting for a one two for the stable. I do wonder whether he will be used to make the pace for his stable mate however so you should probably listen to the grapevine to see if there is any hint of that.
6 The Laffin Sniper Diablo Diablo Baze T C
The winner of the HOL Derby as a three year old he was pretty average as a four year old winning just one at overnight level. He took advantage of a low handicap mark in the Muniz Memorial Handicap winning nicely in a rabbited race but there are some very good horses in here and i am not sure that form is good enough. We know he can win at this level though and as usual at HRP it is hard to write anything off.
7 Ingrained Our Athletes Gutierrez
Managed to win a grade two handicap last year but over all his form was a disappointment after winning the BC Mile as a three year old. That disappointment was shown when Mb Stable sold him for just $50.000 at the end of the year which had to be a bargain for a BC winner and he repayed his new owner straight away with a game win in the San Gabriel. He was poor on an off track last time as he has shown before so forget that run and if that win first up is a signal he is back to his BC winning best then we may see him running a big race today.
8 Trumpomatic Night Rider Stables Maragh Ro
This looks a pretty hopeful entry but you have to be in it to win it and this four year old has the odd snippet of form. He wont be good enough today though.
9 Winter Solstice Maxmillion Farm Castellano
Finished the year with a close second in the HOL Derby and is another that the trainer has picked up and turned into a superstar from very average beginnings. A good second in the San Luis Rey last time puts him in the picture and his works have been pretty sharp recently so he is yet another from the yard with a chance of winning this big purse.
10 Xmas Snow Maxmillion Farm Centeno D
The third stable entry he is yet another the trainer has picked up cheap and turned into a stakes winner. A triple grade three winner he hasnt won beyond that grade and i wonder whether he is in here on a wide gate to improve the chances of his stable companions. He is one of many that like to be on pace as he showed when wining the TAM Stakes last time so the wide gate shouldnt be to much of a problem.
11 Lets Do It Big Boy RNP Stables Hernandez
He was huge in the BC Turf last season running third for teh trainer who had bought him for the thrill of a BC runner. He added The Fort Lauderdale at the end of the year to cap off a good season but has failed to win this year in 4 starts. He has been close up in all those races so isnt far behind the best of these but with a wide gate it is going to be tough for him to turn the tables.
12 The Ego Has Landed TwinTowersRacing Bejarano R
This was a consistent sort in overnight grade and has carried that on into stakes races with two good efforts this year. Third in the FG Handicap he then came with a big late run to win the Pan American with two of the best turfers in the game behind him in Techfluence and People Doubted. The track was a little off that day and that may be his best chance of success today from this nasty draw. With rain he could be the surprise package.
SUMMARY
This is a hot turf race but so it should be for teh big purse on offer. Maxmillion is worth a length on turf so you have to respect each of their three starters and of course Mb Stables has two strong entries too. However the horse that has started the year on a real high is Lunar Blaze and he will take plenty of stopping if things go his way.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
