Millions Classic Preview ($100.000 Purse)
CRC- For Three Year Olds and Upward Foaled In FL
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
November 12, 2016
The sixth running of the Millions Classic Preview did not attract many trainers this year, and this race has had a habit of not filling in the past. This year, we will get to have a race for these FL-breds as a small field of four are going to go to the gate. It’s not a bad foursome, and for what the race may lack in quantity, it could make up in quality. Let’s look at the field.
#1- Dev Null (End Run Farm, ridden by M Rispoli)- Starting on the rail, Dev Null has more career earnings then the other three in this race combined, thanks to a strong three year old campaign. For the year, he has gone (8-3-3-1) with the only time he has not hit the board being an attempt at the Grade 1 Woodward two starts ago. After that race, he bounced back well and won the Foolish Pleasure, part of the FL Sire Series. Another good race on his resume is a runner up performance in the Grade 2 MTH Cup at the end of July. Dev Null truly looks like the horse to beat in this field.
#2- Thank The Dealer (End Run Farm, ridden by E Jaramillo)- It seems likely that Thank The Dealer is here so the trainer could have a full field for Dev Null. This isn’t to say we should completely disregard him, as I’ve learned to never count anyone out in a preview, but let’s just say it would be a surprise if he won.
#3- Mugarooni (Mo Mentum Farm, ridden by N Juarez)- The gelding by The Dark Prince has taken on stake company in his last two starts, including The Curlin at SAR in July, and comes off the best race of his career to date, running second in the $75.000 Brubaker, recording a 96 SRF that day. It is a positive trend for Mugarooni, but some might be concerned that he will not have raced now for nearly two and a half months. I am not expecting that to be a problem, and think this is a truly pivotal race for him, and feel he runs big.
#4- Alpha Way (Mb Stables, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Brought along patiently by the trainer, Alpha Way began his season modestly, but began picking up the level of difficulty in each race as he seemed to be able to step up. A pivotal win for him was the $100.000 Super Derby Prelude at LAD in August, which would send him into graded competition. A month later, he seemed to build on that with a runner up performance in the BC Derby, and it was on to the prestigious JC Gold Cup (Grade 1) at BEL for its $1,000.000 purse. He was seventh, but did beat quality names like Port On The Horizon and Bo Jangles. It’s a bit of a head scratcher to me why he seems to make a big drop here. Is there a problem? Or is there just no where else for him to run for the trainer?
Prediction: 1-4-3-2
— NS
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
