The Donn Handicap – Grade I
1 1/8 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

1st Salt Lake City, trained by Boomtown
This horse has been on my radar since a remarkable second in the General George Handicap
last February and when the rains came the planets began to align for him. A winner of the
Grade Two Rebel on slushy ground last year he revels in the wet and he certainly looked at
home on the surface. Taken to the rear he benefitted from a solid pace and was able to move
round tiring horses at will. Hitting the front in the stretch he kept on very strongly after
taking the wide path to win by a quarter length.

2nd West Northwest, trained by Grimley
This remarkable run that this six year old has had since winning a sprint claimer last May
very nearly continued as he put up a gutsy display under top wieght. The rain certainly
evened things up for him as he had proved he can act on an easier surface but this was still
a massive run in an attempt at five wins in a row. Sticking to the inside he got the splits
when he needed them but when the race developed at the death he just could not find that little
bit extra.

3rd Flying Warrior, trained by Axeman
Put up a great run in finishing third battling gamely as the usual HRP ruck headed for the line.
With a cigarette paper seperating just about every runner he could have been fist or last just
as easily but at the post it was third and he certainly franked his great run in the HAW gold cup
with this performance. I am sure the four year old son of Iroquois Warrior will have another good
season.

4th Pinnacle West, trained by Pan Farms
Got to the front after halfway and travelled well throughout this race. In the end he got out
muscled in the HRP calvery charge to the line, beaten less than a length into fourth he could
easily turn this run around.

5th In Control
He won by nine lengths the last time the rain got into the ground but that was in a cheap state
bred race so this race was a different kettle of fish. Like so many of the stables runners he
has travelled from graded stakes through low track small statebred fields and back and with
the defection of Niagra looked good for this if he could recapture his three year old form.
Setting a solid pace in the conditions he kept on gamely but could not quicken eventually ending
up fifth, though beaten only a length.

6th Greek Poet
Stalked the lead and looked to be going well as they turned for home. In the race to the line
though he lacked another gear and could only finish sixth.

7th Stranger
Was close enough throughout but never really looked happy and ran a pretty weak race in the end.

8th Steel Kelp
This seven year old has never really liked the wet and never looked comfortable.

SUMMARY

The usual HRP calvary charge down the stretch only three lengths covered all the runners
in the end. This result would be differet nine times out of ten but today its congratulations
to Boomtown who took the cash with the forgtten horse of last season.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES