The Connally BC Turf – GIII
HOU Race 6 1 1/2M – Turf
Purse $200.000
Four Year Olds and Up
And here we have a field of ten runners that are going to be contesting this years Connally BC Turf here at Sam Houston Race Park. It is a very solid field of ten and the defending champion Techfluence is back and is going to try and be a repeat winner of the race. Let’s take a look at this field of ten runners.
1. Sound Decision (26-10-5-4 $300.380), trained by Gdp Inc
Here we have this five year old gelding that is coming into this race off of a third place finish at Gulfstream in the CC Emerald. The winner of that race is running at Gulfstream in the McKnight Handicap so we will see how tough that race is. I think this horse has a decent shot in here.
2. Taniwha (15-6-3-1 $1255.660), trained by Aml Racing
Right here is a grade one winner last year and also a participant in the Breeders Cup Turf. He didn’t run good in the Breeders Cup Turf where he ran ninth and got beat by eight lengths that day but that definitely wasn’t his best race at all. He ran a clunker that day and I think he will have a pretty good chance.
3. Justin Credible (32-7-5-4 $400.410), trained by Maxmillion Farm
Now this horse right here looks like to me that he is finally putting it all together. He was kind of inconsistent early on in his career but in his last two races he won the grade three Sycamore and ran second in the HOL Turf Cup. He likes to come from way back so a quick pace up front will help him out a lot.
4. Bayou Quartier (26-8-6-4 $755.740), trained by Invicta Group Llc
Also a participant in last years Breeders Cup Turf but this horse hasn’t really ran a good race since he won the Belmont Gold Cup last June. He had won three graded stakes in a row at one point last year but ever since the Belmont Gold Cup he hasn’t really ran that good. He will have to run a very big race to win.
5. Mist Maker (14-3-1-2 $1161.000), trained by Crocker Ggs
A runner in last years Preakness and also a runner up in the Queens Plate also. He made the switch to the turf in the Sword Dancer last year which he won but after that race he hasn’t ran a jump at all. He will have to run a very big race to even have a chance and he will also need a quick pace because he likes to close from way back.
6. By Design (14-4-2-3 $234.560), trained by Mb Stables
This horses last race was the first time he had ever went this far over the turf and man did he like it a whole lot. He won the Jerkens at Gulfstream by a quarter of a length after closing from very far back. I think he finally found what he wants to do and I think he will run a big race in here.
7. Techfluence (34-11-6-7 $1846.890), trained by The Sidley Stud
The winner of this race last year after making all the running that day. He went on after this race to win three more graded stakes races including the grade one Northern Dancer BC Turf. He ran fourth in the Breeders Cup Turf and that wasn’t a bad performance at all. I think he has a very good chance to win for sure.
8. Expressly (17-7-1-1 $209.350), trained by Nakamura Stables
Now here is a horse who I think is a little bit outclassed on this spot because I just don’t think that he is the same quality as some of these big hitters in here. He is coming into this race off of a third place finish in a wide open allowance race at Santa Anita but that was a four horse field. I just think he’s in over his head.
9. Sweep The Beach (13-2-2-1 $9.720), trained by Maze Stables
Another one that is in here that just looks like he is in way over his head because he is coming into this race off of a win in a non three allowance race at Turf Paradise. He just looks like a horse that is outclassed in every way to me. I don’t give him a chance at all in this spot.
10. Steppe Cossacks (21-7-3-3 $549.450), trained by Rheingold Stables
Now here is one that is kind of puzzling me a little bit because he has never been anywhere close to this distance at all. His best running has been sprinting on the turf and he even ran fourth in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint two years ago. I’m not sure how this horse is going to run at all.
Summary
A very good field for this years Connally BC Turf for sure and there is plenty of horse who are even above this level of this race. I think the top runners in here are Techfluence and Taniwha. Those two look very tough to me and I honestly think that Techfluence is going to go back to back in this race.
7-2-4-3
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
