The Mr. Prospector – Grade III
GP Race #6 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $100.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
1 Valiant Phan Angelos Stable Leparoux J R
This four year old has been very well placed winning 13 races in a busy career. With a record of 8 from 12 this year he is the most prolific winner in the field and whilst he hasnt been mixing it with the big boys for most of those wins he has won some competitive races and may be sneaking under the radar for this race. He won the grade three Aristides BC back in June but after three defeats in a row was taken back to allowance company and has won his last four in distances ranging from five and a half furlongs to a mile. Drawn well with a good jockey this one has a winning chance.
2 Avellisqaw Wolfs Den Ortiz J L
Another who has had a busy career he is a little inconsistent but that may be more due to the fact that he has been running over all sorts of trips and surfaces. He won the WV Breeders Classic in October over a mile and an eighth and the way he ran last time out in the 7 furlong claiming series race suggests that he may be better over that sort of trip. A nice sort who is drawn well and has some good work times i am just a little worried that he may be out paced over this trip and at this level.
3 No Waiting John Henry Sanchez Jef
Won the grade one Vanderbilt Handicap in the Summer for Mb Stables but was then bought after a subsequent defeat from Mb Stables by his current owner. A good third in the Phoenix he then took his chance in the BC Sprint where a wide draw didnt help his chances. He ended up 12th that day but in the usual HRP way was only beaten two lengths so you can’t really say that was a poor effort. This is an out and out sprinter who has a grade one victory without penalty so you have to take his chances pretty seriously.
4 Dr Carson TwinTowersRacing Ortiz I Jr
The list of races this horse has run in recently is impressive but his last three starts have been far less impressive than his previous three. He won the Op Handicap in April and went on to finish second in the Foster Handicap in June but has since hit a poor run of form. Three big defeats in a row have caused his trainer to come back in trip from routes in the hope that he can recapture his best form. Though he has some good results over route trips his recent works and the way he has run suggest to me that he may just be a sprinter and i have a sneaking suspicion that he will return to his best today.
5 Dogs Noah Maxmillion Farm Albarado R J
Just five starts this year so he is lightly raced which can be an advantage at the end of the season he is a difficult read because he has been running in distance races for a long time now. His works suggest he can sprint though and he did win the grade three Mineshaft Handicap back in February so there is enough there to take a serious look at him. A midpack draw will help him get into the stalk and a decent trip will see him in the race at the end.
6 Blurred Return Spankys Barn Lopez P
The three year olds have been enjoying success as usual against the older horses this year and this one did win a competitive overnight over this trip two starts back so again with the weight advantage you have to give him a chance even with inferior form. There is no doubt he hasnt got the ability of the older horses in this race but the three pound advantage will put him right in the firing line.
7 Roombound Fractious Hernandez B J Jr
Claimed in the summer for just $20.000 he ran much better than that grade when a close third in the Fall High weight Handicap last time. His works suggest there has been some fairy dust sprinkled on him in the last few months and whilst he hasnt got the best form in the race i have a feeling he will be right in this at the end.
8 Walkin Broomstick T Boy Racing Castellano J J
Probably the best three year old in the race on exposed form that gives him a winning chance with the weight advantage even if that form doesnt look as good as the older horses. He ran well in the Amsterdam when third back in July and has continued that competitive form finishing third in the Kennedy Road Stakes last time. This wide draw will make it tough but he comes right into this on the fact that he is getting weight.
9 Sparrow Hills Mb Stables Saez L
Just six races and two wins with the second of those being in a poor race at ALB does not speak volumes but the fact that he is from the Mb Stable and like all their horses seems to be able to work stakes winning times despite their form figures gives him every chance, especially with the three year old weight allowance.
10 Seven Diamonds Witeout Stables Jaramillo E
A tough and consistent sort he has been given any favors here with a wide draw. He wont be beaten a mile but he does look the weakest runner on paper.
11 Creepy Palace D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J R
Drawn horribly in the BC Sprint he ran an absolute cracker flying home for third and only just missing out on a great win by a neck. Prior to that start he had won the True North and finished fourth in both the Crosby and the Vosburgh and that run of form would have him as a short priced favorite in a real life race. This however is HRP and with a wide draw and a whole field that can run the same speed it will, as usual, come down to a bit of luck in running if he is to come out on top.
SUMMARY
In any other world Creepy palace would be the obvious choice but as proved in the BC Sprint there is about two lengths between the top 500 sprinters at HRP so this race is far more open than the form book suggests. If the race engine beats Creepy Palace then Valiant Phan or Walkin Broomstick could take advantage.
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
