The Ruffian Handicap – Grade II
AQU Race #3 1m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $200.000 For Fillies And Mares Four Years Old And Upward.
1 Menacing Shadow La Canada Racehorses Davis D 120
With these handicaps at HRP we normally have to look for a lightweight fast worker who will beat all the classy top weights but with only one pound between all the runners this has less of a handicap look about it than most non handicaps at HRP.
This one is the winner of eight from twelve including the Distaff Handicap off the same weight last time. That race also saw all the runners separated by one pound, so this race has a sense of Deja Vu about it.
2 Whoop Whoop The Sidley Stud Lopez P 120
OK OK OK, call me stupid but this horse was well beaten in the Distaff Handicap last time with 119Lbs, one pound less than the winner and her rival today in Menacing Shadow. Roll on to this race and he has 120Lbs, the same weight as Menacing Shadow…..now if anyone can explain that I would love to hear from you!
So even though this one is a decent sort, the winner of six from thirteen the form book says she has absolutely no chance….sounds like a good reason to pile your Disney Dollars on this one.
3 Groovy TwinTowersRacing Franco M 120
This five-year-old was bought from Fractious at Auction and has done very well for her new owner taking the Chilukki and running third in the Inside Information, A little outclassed either side of those efforts this looks exactly the sort of grade that could see her back to winning ways.
4 Gutter Black Mo Mentum Farm Velazquez J R 120
A pretty decent filly who took the step from being a very good sort at lower grade to looking a prospect for this level when running a huge second in the Doubledogdare last time. She has a good running style that should see her in the second group and if she can time her run right should be right there in the finish,
5 Inginuity Mb Stables Prat F 119
Beaten fair and square by Menacing Shadow in the Distaff Handicap last time, it is hard to see her reversing that on the same terms. Having said that there has been plenty of improvement since arriving at Mb Stables so she should be a contender at least for top three.
6 Little Chair Mb Stables Ortiz I Jr 119
Won a $16.000 claimer last time after some consistent efforts and looks to be an improver. Whether the champ can get her to improve enough here against a couple of decent up and comers remains to be seen but if anyone can they can.
7 Tracking Device Spankys Barn Castellano J J 119
He has struggled to pay back his auction price since being taken from Fractious Stable but has shown a glimmer in his last two suggesting he may be on his way back.
8 Flint Off Asgar Lezcano J 119
A decent four-year-old that looks to have trained on nicely she ran very well in the Royal Delta last time in a prelude to what we might see today. Taken right back she flew home to be fourth beaten a length and with this wide draw today we may be in for more of the same.
SUMMARY
With the ridiculous handicap ratings this race looks at the mercy of Menacing Shadow with the only worry I have being a false pace. If a front runner can make the front and steady them into a slower tempo then the race could be won off the front.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES