CT Classic – Grade II
 CT   Race #5   1 1/8m   Dirt   Graded Stake
Purse $1,250.00  For Four Year Olds And Upward.

Well all i can say is this is one heck of a race. It is the who’s who of dirt routers and the who’s who
of invested players here at HRP. If this was at a big wide open track it really could go to anyone but the
tight turns here at CT make the draw and the trip 99% of the winning formula leaving those horses drawn
outside relying on the Gods to get them home in front. Here are the runners in all their glory, good luck to
all as we find out which older horse will rise up to try and beat the three year olds in the BC Classic.

1 Russian Whiskey, trained by Mb Stables
Now a seven year old he was bought just a month ago by HRP’s champion trainer and we all know what this stable
can do with veterans. The difference between this one and others they have bought is that this fella is already
established as a graded stakes horse and that very fact makes the rest of the trainers quake in their boots.
He started his graded stakes winning form back in 2013 and although he has had dips in form ever since and changed
hands no less than nine times he has continued to perform at the highest level. He was the dead heat winner of last
years BC Marathon and kicked off this year with a win in the San Antonio Stakes at grade two. He took some big scalps
in that race with the likes of Hardline, A One and Viking Shield behind. In his last start he carried joint top weight
in the SA Handicap but could not overcome a horrible draw and ended up beaten three lengths. Back on levels today and  with a much better draw there is no reason he cannot win this especially considering his very strong recent work.

2 A One, trained by Eastern Equine
The winner of last years Preakness and second in the BEL he became the talk of the season when bought by his current
owner for $1400. Since that day he has won two grade ones and was a close third in the BC Classic cementing him as
the buy of the season. Whilst there is no doubting his three year old form it has to be said that in his two starts as a
four year old he has looked less impressive placing third twice. His first run of the season came in the San Antonio where  he was beaten a length by Russian Whiskey. That seasonal debut looked like it would lead to better things but his next start  in the San Carlos Stakes he was a little disappointing ending up in third again but well beaten this time. There is no doubt  that this trip will suit him better and with a great draw and lightning fast works he must have a huge chance of a first win  of the year today.

3 Niagra, trained by D J C Racing Stables
This is without a doubt one of the communities favourite horses here at HRP, trained by one of its most popular trainers.  It’s hard to believe this horse has actually only won 7 races but in those 7 wins and 9 placings he has amassed over six thousand  dollars in earnings. There is no point in looking at all his great races because at the age of five and after such a career it  is the sad fact that it is his last 5 or 6 races that actually reflect his chances in this race. Beaten less than a length when fourth  in the BC Classic he finished the season off with a brave second in a grade one handicap and then took a well-earned rest. After four  months in the paddock he returned in the SA Handicap where he ran a great race to be beaten a length into fifth place after travelling  on the pace for most of the race. That run from a poor draw told us that he has returned in great fettle and with a blistering work  last time out he is once again ready to put in a big performance.

4 Tundra Kenny, Australia Wide
A fairly lightly raced four year old he became one of the top turf routers last year rounding off his huge season with a
half length win in the BC Turf. If this was a race on the green stuff he would be amongst the favourites but with all of
his stakes form on that surface he enters into unknown territory today. He has won on dirt but that was before his recent  meteoric rise and a recent work suggests he may be a tick off these on this surface.

5 Lil Old Louie, trained by Mb Stables
Winning form is good form and this one is on for his fifth straight win today. An easy winner of a grade three handicap on  seasonal debut he then scrambled home in the Skipaway last time. There is no doubt he is an improving sort and he has been working  pretty well but this is a huge step up against the creme de la creme of dirt routing and i cant see he has a winning chance.

6 Macht Nichts, trained by Eastern Equine
Another who has been fairly lightly raced to now he is also in career best form. His win in the HAW Gold Cup at the end of last  season was his best form and he looked better than ever when taking the Tokyo City Cup by an easy two lengths on seasonal debut  and after a four month break. An on pace type with a fair draw he may be the surprise package in this especialy if he can get a soft  lead.

7 Generals Companion, trained by Maxmillion Farm
This horse caused a few ripples when changing hands last season but he has amassed a pretty good lifetime earnings total without  really getting the recognition he deserves. Beaten a neck in the KYD after winning the SA Derby he went on to run a nice sixth in the  BEL and a very close second in the Haskell but then lost his way a little. He had a short break after a lack lustre sixth in the BC  Dirt Mile and came back this year in a similar vein that he left last with an eighth in the San Pasqual Stakes. He was a little better in  The General George Stakes but still only managed third but then bounced back to win The New Orleans Handicap last time out. He is  working well and at his best would be right in this but i need to see him run well to be convinced he is as good as he was at this  time last year.

8 West Northwest, trained by Grimley
Was bought at auction mid way through last year and has since put together some great performances. He started the ball rolling with  a neck win in the Cigar Mile Handicap and then came back after a break to run a close second in the Donn Handicap. The trip found  him out in the SA Handicap last time where he weakened into eighth and this trip is about as far as he wants to go. His works are  in the right ball park and he is a progressive sort who at six years old has reached his peak.

9 Outward Bound, trained by Eastern Equine
Theres a direct line with West Northwest here as this one dead heated for eighth in that SA Handicap last time out. Last years Pacific  Classic winner was a little disappointing in that race but it couldve been the fact that he was thrown into the lead at a time when  HRP speed wasnt holding up. From this draw i expect him to do the same today and that may be his undoing unless the sharp track suits  his running style more than SA did. At 6 he may be coming to the end of his improvement curve as he hasnt won since August last year  but he has every chance in a tough field.

10 Salt Lake City, trained by Boomtown
Dissapointed a little in the TC series last year after looking a viable hope going into the KYD. After those races he lost his was a  little but seems to have come back as a four year old stronger than ever. A winner three times in the wet i feel that may be his best  chance of a win today but i have liked his two races this season especially as he adopted his come from behind style something which  may benefit him from this widish draw. Last time out he took the Donn Handicap by a quarter length notching up triple digit speed figures  he is no forlorn hope regardless of weather, but if the rain comes it will be him i will be betting on.

11 Hardline, trained by Downwind Stables
Another old favourite he has lived a little in the shadow of Niagra through his career but still has managed to amass three and a half  thousand dollars in prize money and been involved at the top level throughout his life. Last years BC Dirt Mile winner he has run two  great races this year beaten a half length in both the San Antonio and the SA Handicap. This trip is about as far as he goes so as long as  he doesnt get beaten by the draw he should be right in this. He has never been an over impressive worker and his works are a few ticks  off the fastest of these but i would imagine he will be right in this at the end.

12 Royal prodigy, trained by Mb Stables
Scratched

13 Viking Shield, trained by Delta Farms
He ended up an enigma last year. He won the AR Derby and went into the TC a strong fancy but after a close fifth in the KYD he ran two poor  races in the Preakness and the Belmont. Beaten but second in the Canadian Derby and the SUN derby he managed a strong win in The Durham Cup  Stakes before a somewhat surprising win in the BC Classic. That win pushed him over the four thousand dollar mark in career earnings but after  a spell in the paddock he has been back to his bad old ways since. He ran a poor race in the San Antonio and then a stinker in the SA Handicap  and on the evidence of those two efforts you would have to worry about his chances from a tough draw today. This may well be his swansong if  he doesnt perform today but after that BC Classic win last year you would have to say anything is possible.

14 Hyper Silver, trained by Night Rider Stables
A seven year old with eleven wins and just under two thousand dollars in the bank he is yet another piece of gold in this field. A close sixth in  the SA Handicap from box 14 he gets no favours again today running from the same box. The winner of last years JC Gold Cup he was running on late in  last years BC Classic only beaten three lengths. He deserves respect but i feel this trip may be too sharp for him and he may find it too tough from  this horrible draw.

15 Galvaston, trained by Hay Makers Inc
Gets into the widest gate and will need something to win from there. He is actually a nice sort with 11 wins in a long career as well  as graded stakes winning form. I liked his win last time and if the wide speed push catapults him to the lead and the rail he may stand  a chance of a little purse money.

16 Clouseau, trained by Wolfs Den
On the AE and a nice enough sort but may find things too tough if he draws in.

SUMMARY

Well this really is a race for the ages. Forget having a bet and just sit back and enjoy 14 of the best dirt routers of recent years duke it out.  I rather like Niagra for this race and it would be some kind of win if this great horse could pull it off. Russian Whiskey looks the pick of the veterans and would be a popular winer but then again if it rains i feel we could be cheering  home Salt Lake City at big odds. This race really is about the spectacle rather than a betting race so sit back and enjoy!

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES