7/5/2020

  2   PRM     The PRM Cornhusker Hcp (GIII)
  $300.000              3yo&Up                 1 1/8m  Dirt                   Handicap Weights

A very interesting group of seven gents headed to the gate for the 2020 running of The PRM Cornhusker Hcp (GIII) to be run at a mile and an eighth here in Des Moines.  It’s a wide open affair but I’ll look for Devilish Details to take this one for Mb Stables.  His resume’ just seems to move him to the top of this group despite a lack of recent stakes success.  He was fourth in the BC Mile (GI) and did take an Alw race at GG this year… and his best starts have been on the grass, but he does have some main track success and this could be a spot for him to expand on that.  I’ll put Dastardly Havoc in the second spot and I think he is the stronger of the Maxmillion Farm’s one-two punch.  A repeat of his last out fourth in the OP Hcp (GII) should get him in the middle of this one.

Here’s The Field –

Changed hands three races back and it’s been an up-hill battle since then.  He was fourth for a $25.000 tag at SA then not much vs Alw horses in SoCal and in a stakes north of the border.  He won a stakes back in Dec of ’19, but unless he can find some of that old magic, this could be another long afternoon at the office.

Two starts in ’20 and has a third and a fourth from those efforts, the better finish against OptAlw horses in SoCal and last out vs. graded horses over the OP oval.  He was only beaten a quarter-length in that GII OP Hcp race, and he was 40/1 on that afternoon… I’d expect him to be a factor here today.

Second half of the Max-duo and he’s won two of his last four starts including a maiden win to close out ’19 and a Cal-bred Alw win at SA last out where he went wire to wire for the victory.  Both of his wins came on the front end so I’d look for him to be out there winging it today as well.

Claimed for a mere $10.500 two races back and won the Alysheba (GII) at CD in his first start for this outfit.  A bit of a return to Earth last out when last of thirteen in the Met Mile (GI) at BEL, but even there, he led part of the way and was in the hunt until mid-stretch where he finally folded up the tent and went home.  Who do we get today?

Wire-to-wire winner last out taking a 6f sprint at PRX by three and won three back in similar speed-form methods winning a turf spring down at FG.  He certainly likes to live on the front end and speed is his game, so look for him to be out on or near the pace in this one as well.

The hostile takeover moved this one into a new barn as he was claimed for $22.500 where he finished a fast closing third at SA going 6f.  They must see something they like, but with only a pair of wins from nine stats and never seeing this class of horse, I think it’s a lot to ask.

Was fourth in the Met Mile (GI) last out and the flat mile has made up the bulk of his race attempts.  He has six career wins and a chunk of money in the bank, but his happened last summer when he won a couple of stakes including the Wise Dan (GII) on the CD turf course.  His only ’20 win came on the GG lawn, but I think he may be ready to run a big race.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES