C C Express – $110.000 Ungraded Stake
3 Year Olds & Up
6 Furlongs – Dirt – GP
It’s hard to argue with an 11-4-4-2 2016 record, and that’s what Milanguero brings to this race. But Hollywood Lad has won more than three times as much money in just two more starts this year. You could also make an argument for Masterlicious, who turned in a blistering 57.55 five furlong work just a few days ago at ZIA, and the very lightly raced Penny Stock, who scored a 100 SRF taking third in the Damascus last out.
Of course, if you’re superstitious or believe in fate, you might want to take a look at C C Express.
Here’s the field:
1 Danger Road
Owner: Night Rider Stables
Breeder: Flamingg Moe
Claimed twice this year, Danger Road has two wins to his credit in eleven starts. The last came in a $28.000 claimer at DMR two starts back. He was claimed out of that race and tried at starter allowance level last out, resulting in a fifth place finish.
2 Milanguero
Owner: Mojica Racing
Breeder: Salamanca Stable
This six-year-old gelding has been in the money ten of his eleven starts this year. Has never been tried at stakes level, but he could be in the mix here. Has been very consistent for Mojica Racing.
3 Returning Voice
Owner: Angelos Stable
Breeder: Canadian Racing
Very lightly raced four-year-old gelding with just seven starts to his credit. Has been in the money in every start, including two wins in two starts this year. Making his first start off a $7.000 claim for Angelos Stable.
4 C C Express
Owner: Hambletonian Stable
Breeder: Halo Thoroughbreds
No, that’s not a typo. A horse named C C Express will be competing in the C C Express. Ungraded stakes placed, C C Express comes here riding a two-race winning streak, including a starter allowance win in his last start. Very consistent in low-level claimers, but may be to big a step up here.
5 Seven Notrump
Owner: Hambletonian Stable
Breeder: Team 7 Illusions
Another one coming in off a starter allowance win. This six-year-old gelding is having the best year of his career. Then again, he only has twenty-one total starts under his belt, twelve of which came this year.
6 Masterlicious
Owner: Night Rider Stables
Breeder: Team 7 Illusions
Only four starts this year, and three of those were at stakes level. Last out, he finished a close second in a field of four in the $170.000 NM Classic Cup Sprint in state-bred company. Looks strong in this field. A win would not be a surprise.
7 Hollywood Lad
Owner: Hambletonian Stable
Breeder: Riggins Racing
Another strong contender. Unraced at two, this three-year-old colt has won $207.620 in thirteen starts this year. Claimed in October for $62.500, he has finished first and second in allowance company in his two starts since. Has won high level allowances, and is stakes-placed.
8 Paid Time Off
Owner: Downwind Stables
Breeder: Pan Farms
Claimed for $7.000 in August, then came back for his new connections to win a $34.000 N3L at RP, only to finish seventh and last in N1X company just a little more than two weeks later. The three-ear-old colt has raced three times in just thirty-eight days. This time he gets a nice rest in between starts which could impact his performance positively.
9 In Camo
Owner: Hacienda Don Tito
Breeder: Night Mare Racing
Has done very well this year in state-bred claiming and optional claiming company and has a $26.000 starter allowance win under his belt. May not be up to the challenge here.
10 Penny Stocks
Owner: Threshold
Breeder: Riggins Racing
Only four career starts for this four-year-old, but he has been in-the-money all but one, his first start. Finished third in the $100.000 Damascus Stakes in his last start. Looks like an improving gelding. Will need to step it up again to win here.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded
