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San Diego Handicap Looks Like an Interesting Affair

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7/17/21

  8  DMR    San Diego Hcp (GII)

$250.000    3yo&Up     1 1/16m  Dirt     Hcp Weights

Out to SoCal and the House That Durante Built for the San Diego Hcp (GII), a mile and a sixteenth main track stakes for three year olds and up.  I love DMR, the place literally put me through college the second time… long story… but it’s a real gem and so is this race – any stable would love to have this feather in their cap.  I have a funny feeling that the recap of this one will be interesting, but why put the cart before the horse, pardon the pun… I really don’t know which way to go today but I’ll take Twilight Flame as my top choice.  He just missed in back-to-back GII races and was only a length back last out in the Met Mile (GI) so maybe he can use the rail to get home on top here.  Let’s go to the outside post and give Akkadian a shot to get home first.  He won two stakes at AQU before a less than great effort in the Gold Cup… let’s look over that and see if he can bounce back in a big way here.

I’d grab two cold-snacks before heading to the rail… you may need them!

Here’s The Field –

1
   Twilight Flame    Mb Stables    Bahen S R   120   7/2

He’s still looking for his first win of the ’21 season but was on the lead in the Met Hcp (GI) at BEL last out, tiring a bit late to be third.  He either closes and can’t get there or leads and can’t stay… is today the day that he gets back on the right side of things?

2
   Soul Reaver    Aer Stables    Morales P   118   15/1

Hmmm… very interesting placement.  Won a $10.000 claimer at MNR, sold for $40.000 after that race… and has changed hands five times… now they move him up to a GII race.  Sit back and watch folks, something good is about to happen.  I smell smoke… smoking fractions, that is. 

3
   Jumbo Bite    Nakamura Stables    Van Dyke D   119   4/1

Hasn’t won since taking down LA-bred stakes horses to kick-off his ’21 season, but he’s been close in a couple of graded races.  Third beat a half-length in the GP Mile (GII) and third last out at MTH in the Salvatore Mile (GIII).  He should be in the hunt here, as well. 

4
   Bellamango    Wood Duck Stables    Hernandez R M   119   12/1

It’s been tough sleddin’ for this one in ’21, beating three horses in four starts.  He’s flashed some speed only to tire badly, or just didn’t get going at all… he’s going to have to turn things around in a big big way if he wants to be part of this one.

5
   A Storm Has Arrived    Maxmillion Farm    Pyfer J   119   9/2

Won an Alw race at GG and was third in both the NO Hcp (GII) and OP Hcp (GII), so despite not winning, he’s been putting some serious cash away with the runner-up finishes.  Can he find a little extra and get his picture taken today?

6
   Class Edge    Chili King Stables    Talamo J   119   6/1

Won the Mineshaft (GIII) at FG in his second seasonal start and was third last out vs. top end Alw types at CD.  He was up the track in a pair of graded races between those two, so he will need his best and could be looked at for a minor share. 

7
   Familiar Moon    John Henry           SCR

Early Scratch

8
   In Captivity    Mb Stables    Saez G   118   5/1

Bang-bang seconds in his two most recent starts, both against high-end Alw company, one at SA and one at WO.  He won an Alw race at TAM back in Feb for his lone ’21 victory, but could be part of this one if he can turn it up a notch or two. 

9
   Akkadian    Night Rider Stables    Espinoza V   121   7/2

Had three solid races including a win in the Stymie and Excelsior (GIII) both at AQU.  Didn’t lift a hoof in the Gold Cup (GI) at SA in his most recent, but maybe that was just a bounce and he comes back firing big today.  I think he will bounce back. 

COZMAN  1 / 9       Willie’s Green Card      8 / 5

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Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES