New Orleans Handicap (Grade 2)- $400.000 Purse
FG- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
March 20, 2021
It was a strong race for Nakamura Stables in the New Orleans Handicap, as the trainer picked up a 1-2 finish with his horses Torque Converter and Eclipse My Knowledge. The winner came into the race off a second place finish in the Grade 3 Mineshaft and seemed poised for a big run here. He would do exactly that. Congratulations to Nakamura Stables and jockey T J Pereira, who each won the race for the first time. On to the race, which was won in 1:47.65.
(½ Mile- :48.40)- The two Nakamura stablemates would break well out of the gate and they led the way down the frontstretch for the first time. They would also show the way around the opening turn and into the backstretch before they were caught by John Henry’s Remson. He is now a length behind Torque Converter, our eventual winner, and even with Eclipse My Knowledge. Running fourth and within half a length of Remson is Champion In Action, out of Night Rider Stables. After these four, we get to the heart of the pack, consisting of Hang Around (Nakamura Stables), Ice Wall (RNP Stables), A Storm Has Arrived (Maxmillion Farm), Fortaleza (Mb Stables), and Hollywood Revolution (Patterson Stables). Ranking Official (Allinthegate) is next while on the rail. It’s several lengths back to First Class Male (Team 7 Illusions) and the habitually poor starting, even with the old race engine, Class Edge (Chili King Stables), has once again started poorly.
(¾ Mile- 1:11.74)- Eclipse My Knowledge is in the top spot as they complete the backstretch trip and move into the turn, and his lead is a length over his friend, Torque Converter. It’s another length now to Champion In Action and Remson, who are running side by side. Behind them, there is little change, including a five wide group in the middle of the field as they prepare to run in the turn.
(Top of Stretch, 1.8F To Go)- Things were looking really good for Nakamura at this point, but he probably thought it was going to be Eclipse My Knowledge picking up the win. That one was able to maintain his length lead on Torque Converter, and the two of them were beginning to pull away from the rest of the field. Neither Remson nor Champion In Action could keep up with them, and began dropping back. A Storm Has Arrived, the winner of this race last year, was looking good on the rail and moving up, but had a lot of ground to make up if he wanted to win the race. Hang Around was starting to find his best stride as he moved into the fifth position. If others wanted a piece of the purse, they needed to get moving now!
(Finish- 1:47.65)- Nakamura Stables could sit back and relax as his two entries pulled away from the field as he wondered which of them would pick up the win. Torque Converter was making progress on Eclipse My Knowledge with every stride, and in the end, he would catch his stablemate at the wire by a nose! A Storm Has Arrived was a clear third in this race, prevailing over Hang Around and Hollywood Revolution, the latter of which was closing pretty well while having an outside trip most of the way. Ranking Official got in the mix here as well. The final running order is Champion In Action, Fortaleza, Remson, Ice Wall, First Class Male, and Class Edge.
About The Winner- Torque Converter, trained by Nakamura Stables and ridden to victory by T J Pereira, is a five year old gelding by Final Delivery and is out Catch Some Zs. He was bred as a fourth quarter two year old in New Mexico by Greeko Holdem, and acquired by Nakamura in private sales for $88.000 in June 2020. The win is his fourth in 19 starts, his second stake win, and first graded win. His career earnings are now $496.150.
Track: Fast
Time: :482 1:113 1:352 1:473
$2 Mutuel Prices:
$1 Exacta: 3 – 7 Paid 25.00
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 7 – 4 Paid 319.10
Scratched: None
— NS
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
