CT Classic – Grade II
CT Race #7 1 1/8m Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $800.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
The annual Greyhound race at the bullring CT track brings its usual mix of hope and talent. Interestingly this hasn’t been won by an inside draw since that famous race of 2016 when the great Niagra dead heated with the equally great A One. That may be because the turns are so tight that a wide horse gets a gentler corner or it may be that the rush to get on pace early gives those just of it a better chance of coming later and wider. Whatever the reason, the outside is not the kiss of death you would expect on a tight turning track which makes the race all the more open. This is the first time we have seen three year olds allowed in the race which adds another dimension to what is already a spectacle.
We have seen some of the greats win this race, i have mentioned Niagra and A One but we have also seen Commanding take the honors and probably my favorite winner in Edwin Drood owned by the late, great Sanny Village. Mb Stables has won this race three times but then he has won most big races multiple times so that’s hardly surprising.
Here is how they line up for the 2021 race:
1 Antonym Mb Stables Gonzalez Ru
Well the inside gate isn’t such an advantage as you would imagine on a tight turning track because you have to be big and tough and pretty quick out of the gate to hold any sort of position without being squeezed out. At 16.1 and 7 years of age this veteran will have the tenacity but he may be hard pushed to find the speed.
He is the sort of horse i love, 48 races, 19 wins and whilst he has never been a superstar he just keeps giving every year and is as honest as they come. Is he here with a realistic chance? Well you wouldn’t think so especially as the trainer has a second runner drawn nicely with form just a touch better. I would love to see him win or even run a place and with a recent 6 furlong work of 1.10 and 1, dare i say he isn’t much different than the best in the race at home on the farm. I would be tempted with a little bit each way.
2 Broken Tap Arindel Jaramillo E
Another one that’s been around a while this six year old has won 13 races for 1.6K in prize money and on his last couple of races is as good as ever. He ploughed through the mud to win the Dominion Day Stakes but i was more impressed with his last start when he kept going right to the line when fourth beaten less than a length in the grade one Whitney. He proved in winning the GP Mile that he has the pace to cope with this draw and he must go into the draw as one of the best chances on form.
3 No More Haggis YME Stable Bejarano R
This four year old son of Ginger Haggis could be easily overlooked after his very poor effort in the Suburban last time but i am willing to forget that effort for several reasons. Firstly the draw is perfect for him and should allow hi to slot in with the second group, secondly his form before that was very solid and finally he worked a sub 1.36 in his last public work. There was a time when that work time would’ve been unheard of but whilst the race times have got slower the work times have got faster and whilst fast works aren’t unusual they usually mean something big is about to happen. I have a feeling in my gut that this one might run a huge race at a big price.
4 Safer Dab Gdp Inc Gaffalione T
Three year olds haven’t been as good in these all aged stakes races this year but i have a feeling that the dial is going to be turned up soon and late developers like this might just start to surprise. Beaten in a big ticket allowance last time the form just isn’t there but the receipt of 5Lbs and a 1.10 and 2 work suggest that along with a great draw we may see a big run.
5 Aerialist Mb Stables Velazquez J R
Must be given a serious chance considering the draw and his trainer but even without those serious benefits he looks to be the type that could do well. A strong winner over this trip in the Alydar last time he looks to be coming to hand at the right time. He too posted a sub 1.36 work time so i would have to say on balance he would probably start the favorite despite his form not being as good as some of the bigger names.
6 Hollywood Revolution Angelos Stable Van Dyke D
Bought for $55 this four year old had been tried pretty extensively after being claimed by the previous owner and the best he had managed in stakes races was a third off bottom weight in the grade three Razorback Handicap. Now on those efforts he wouldn’t have much hope at this level but after being bought he raced at Allowance level at ELP and won very easily in a sub 1.34 time for the mile which signaled some remarkable improvement. How much he has improved is the big question and it may be a stretch to see him rising so quickly but it has happened before so it would pay not to write him off.
7 Shared Legacy Witeout Stables Rosario J
Another three year old with very little form to go on and who on the face of it looks well out classed. In previous years of course that didn’t make any difference as the lack of form and slower work times was more than balanced by the weight allowance. Last year this one would have looked very attractive with a 1.36 and 3 mile work and a 5Lb allowance despite only having won a maiden. This year however there seems to be a change ad it is just a matter of whether these current three year olds get some sort of boost over the next few months running up to the BC. If that bump is here this one has a chance, if it is not then it hasn’t, sadly that is a question i wont be able to address until after the race.
8 King Protocol Ace Racing Stable Santana R Jr
A solid four year old that has done well at overnight level and has consistently good speed figures. I can’t see anything in his form that says he can beat the best of these but he wont be far off them and in a race like this on this track a little luck will go a long way.
9 Delaware Warrior Nakamura Stables Carrasco V R
An eight race winning five year old his form was moving very nicely this year and when he won the grade three Salvator Mile it looked like we would be hearing more from him. That all came crashing down in the MTH Cup last time when he went to the front and clearly hated it falling away tamely to finish sixth of nine. I would expect a little more restraint today and if he can find a good spot he certainly would have a chance.
10 Red Divos Alliance TwinTowersRacing Lezcano J
Just one win from twenty two starts i want to say he hasn’t got a chance of winning but whenever i do that with one of this stables runners they go and win. He has worked 1.36 flat and 1.10 flat so clearly has the ability there but as yet we haven’t seen that sort of ability on the race track.
11 Dutty John Crow Night Rider Stables Saez L
The car park goes to the three year old with all the form. Second in the Coolmore Lexington and the winner of the Peter Pan his trainer really liked him for the BEL but he faded after running on the speed for a long way. That run was much better than his finishing position suggested and that could be said for his effort in the Haskell last time when he ended up eighth. In true gaming fashion he went from an on speed runner in the BEL to a deep closer in the Haskell and one feels that if he can settle on a preferred running style he could be much better than his recent form figures suggest. On form he is the three year old with the best chance.
SUMMARY
Well in previous year i wouldn’t be looking any further than the three year olds and whilst i am convinced they will be getting a pre BC bump i am not sure it can help them in this race. My exacta goes to No More Haggis and Aerialist and i would throw a bunch of them into third in the hope of a good trifecta pay out.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
