The Forego – Grade I
SAR Race #7 7f Dirt Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Four-Year-Olds And Upward.

1 Got Milk D J C Racing Stables Elliott S 123 —

Ran a great race in the Vanderbilt Handicap from a terrible draw ending up fourth after running pretty wide and fast out of the gate. This is one of those five-year-olds that seems to have leaped their improvement curve, I like to call it fairy dust but there is nothing mythical about it, it happens, and when it does horses seem to improve by lengths. His recent work of 1.10 flat on this track was sizzling and now with an inside draw, it could be his time to shine.

2 Alpha Wolf Threshold Bridgmohan S X 123 —

An improving four-year-old, this may come a little early in his career, but he certainly looks like this is the sort of grade he will be capable of competing in.

3 Crush Rush Maxmillion Farm Jimenez A 123 —

You only have to look at his speed figures to know this is a serious sprinter. With triple digits all year and two graded stakes wins, he certainly looks like the type to go all the way to the BC. He too threw a 1.10 flat work, and he too is a late maturing five-year-old who looks to have reached his full potential, so you would expect a really competitive effort. One thing is for sure the pace of this race will be hot, and it will come down to class and guts and this one has plenty of both.

4 Lennon Fractious Franco M 123 —

Bought in the Arindel fire sale he fetched over $500.000 and looks like a serious prospect. The winner of his last four, he recently went under 1.10 in a work which is pretty stupendous, suggesting he is yet another five-year-old cresting their improvement curve. Two stakes wins before his purchase, the new owner has taken their time getting him back after the enforced break, but that recent work says he is fit and ready to go,

5 Natural Instinct Mb Stables Velazquez J R 123 —

Only just behind Crush Rush in the Crosby, this is a promising sprinter who is clearly improving. He may need another 6 months to reach his full potential, but he has certainly shown enough to be considered a contender is this race. This race will be fast and furious, and this draw will make it difficult for him as he may not get a speed push, and he will take the turn probably wide, so he needs some Mb intervention or a bit of luck to find a comfortable running line. A chance although maybe more of a place chance.

6 Niagra Showdown Mb Stables Prat F 123 —

This one interests me as he was claimed as a seven-year-old by Mb Stables and now slips straight into a grade one from a claimer. That sets off all sorts of alarm bells in my head and has me trying to work out the thinking behind the claim and entry because we all know that this trainer can perform miracles. So, he has raced as a closer recently, maybe the trainer sends him on pace today and we see a different horse, maybe seeing all the speed in this race the trainer sees him flying home late as he did in the Kona Stakes. Whatever happens, expect a huge improvement from a beaten $35.000 claimer.

7 Ultra M A G A TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 123 —

There are all sorts of analogies I could come out with about the name of this horse and its chances but knowing the firestorm that is politics I will leave that well alone. What I will say is that this horse has won one race over a route trip and has won less money in his career than most of these made in their last race but still, it is impossible to say he has no chance. Why? well, he is working the work times, he was only a length behind two of the possible race favorites for this race in the Vanderbilt last time and he comes from a stable that has pulled off impossible-looking results before. The wide gate means he will be flying home late or getting the lead and both possibilities could see him running well.

SUMMARY

Wow, there was a time when you saw a 1.09 and 4 work time and assumed it was on turf, but looking at this race with a slowest recent work of 1.10 and 1 it seems that work times and race ability are getting further, and further apart as several of these working these lightening times have been beaten at overnight level this year. What work times do tell us though is enough to think that Lennon may well win this and if the whispers are true his value will go sky high if he does. I think Crush Rush is a decent chance from a good gate and he will find any fitness flaws in Lennon but a good case could be made for all of them so sit down and enjoy what is going to be a fast and furious race.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES