The Honorable Miss Handicap – Grade II
6 Furlongs Dirt Stake Purse $200.000 Filly & Mare 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Catch The Trip Gdp Inc Carmouche K

Handicaps really are a game within a game here at HRP as this one proved off bottom weight today. The key to winning them is finding that horse that has hit their improvement curve and gets a low weight. I mentioned in the preview for this race that this one had improved in her recent works and sure enough it was that improvement signalling some upward movement coupled with bottom weight which saw her triumph against the odds.
The difference between a few pounds in a handicap and a few pounds at allowance level was never more obvious than the top weight winner of her last two at graded level being last in this race whilst this winner had been well beaten in a grade three and well beaten in an optional claimer in her last two. That coupled with the car park draw saw this one start at long odds but she ran the race like an odds on favorite stalking the early pace and then going to the front and holding them at her will.
She is lightly raced and has now run two of her best races in handicaps so she still has to make the step up to weight for age but she has it all before her now and her trainer will be thrilled at this result.

2nd Smoke Rising Rampage Stable Rosario J

Came from the clouds to get second and ran a very nice final furlong but left it all too late. A consistent filly with a very nice record who should keep paying the bills for her owner.

3rd Storm Of Fire Mb Stables Davis D

This was her third placing in a row at handicap level and she really does seem to find it hard to win more than one a year as her record shows. Sure to get one of these races before long.

4th Toothless Night Rider Stables Lezcano J

She has always been on the cusp of winning good races and is very consistent over any trip but she seems to lack whatever it is that will see her break through at this level. I felt she had her chances today off bottom weight but in the end finished a creditable fourth without finding that zip at the end to win.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES