Bowling Green – Grade II
1 3/8m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
Formerly the Bowling Green Handicap its change to a straight stakes race looks to be a great decision as this is possibly the best field ever assembled for it. Last years winner was recently claimed for just $12.50 after running second last in a ELP claimer but going back a bit in its history we do find the great Trading Punches and Royal Randwick. This will be a dour slog and the winner will emerge as a BC Turf contender for sure.
1 Trumbull Valley Mb Stables Saez G
Well the form doesn’t inspire here but there’s a 1.34 flat work that says once again the trainer has achieved some magic and he comes into this on that one piece of information. He has proved he can win over this sort of trip and has a great draw to run a race that may out run his form.
2 Stallsome Maxmillion Farm Hernandez C J
An entry from the turf king, drawn two and with graded stakes winning form….well some would say a formality but there is no such thing here at HRP. A gritty and game winner of the BEL Gold Cup last time he thrives in these long distance turf races and must be among the favorites to win.
3 Lets Do It Big Boy RNP Stables McCarthy T
This admirable seven year old has nearly broken the 2K barrier in prize money and could easily break that barrier today. With ten wins from fifty starts he is a stalwart of the game and rarely runs a bad race. He will have to be at his very best and then some to win today though.
4 Hammerfest Smokey Stover Alvarado J
We know this is one of the fastest milers in the race as he proved with a sub 1.34 work but whilst he has a very high cruising speed he often lacks the finish that would see him at the top of the turf routing tree. Second in the BC Turf last year his best performances have come in defeat and whilst he could easily get his nose in front he may have to settle for a place effort again.
5 Key Biscayne TwinTowersRacing Davis D
A dour stayer he is always a force in these types of races but often finds one or two too good. He has a bit to find on Bel Gold Cup form but is a plodder and sometimes these races can turn up a lifetime best performance and if anyone can find it it is this trainer.
6 Commanding Star Oval Express Farms Wilson E J
This looks like a speculative entry from his owner but hey you have to be in it to win it. He would hate a wet track but if its dry then just maybe the trainer knows more than we do.
7 Dead Madness John Henry Bahen S R
What can you say about this great horse. The 2019 BC Turf winner he was looking vulnerable this year until he shut his critics up with a stunning victory in the Manhattan last time bringing his career earnings a few dollars short of 6K. His consistency has suffered a little as he has aged and he can throw the odd clunker these days but at his best he is one of the best turf routers the game has seen.
8 L Train The Sidley Stud Gutierrez Mario
The trainer is known for bringing his horses along slowly and recognizing talent and when they do they usually have a good one. This lightly raced four year old was bought cheaply and has been improving nicely for the new owner taking his last two over this sort of trip including the Grand Couturier last time. His works are saying he will be at this level before long, the test is whether that is today.
9 Raj Action Packed Arindel Court J K
Another great favorite here is another of those HRP superstars that it is great to see still going. At eight years old with 52 races and 2.6K in prize money he has just got better and better as his teeth have got longer and this trainer that claimed him for $25 has developed a wonderful relationship with him. With three graded wins already this year he was brave as always in the BEL Gold Cup last time going down by a nose to Stallsome and with on pace runners doing better recently he could once again be very hard to get past.
10 Slo Mo Maxmillion Farm Cedillo A
Another from the turf king ths one was in a seven dollar claimer last March and was winning the grade two Elkhorn a year later so is one of those HRP specials that seems to have found a steep improvement curve. He loves these extreme trips and may just be the dark horse in the race.
11 King Que Niagra D J C Racing Stables Saez L
The winner of the Fort Macy in May and a very close second in the Wise Dan this is a four year old with plenty of ability but he faces some tough routers today. His sprint work times are much better than his route times so i do wonder whether he is better over shorter but that doesn’t tend to make as much difference as it should at HRP. He gets a very tough draw today and that will make it hard but at his best he could be in the fight.
12 Just Chillin Nakamura Stables Hernandez R M
Just Chillin in the car park, it has a ring to it but a ring the trainer wont be enthralled about. There are smatterings of form here but it would be a major accomplishment of he can make the top four.
SUMMARY
A couple of the great routers come out here and out of them Dead Madness is clearly the star. He should again be among the favorites but Raj Action Packed has loved this new race engine and Hammerfest and Stallsome will be tough as always. If i had to side with one it would be Stallsome who may go to the stalk with this draw and is not one to stop running.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
