The Sword Dancer – Grade I [BC]
SAR Race #9 1 1/2m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $750.000 For Three-Year-Olds And Upward.

1 Nonsense Oval Express Farms Centeno D E 124 —

You can never write a five-year-old off even one that finished last of ten in its previous race because they can improve by lengths overnight and when you least expect it. Having said that, I am not sure this one has improved enough on that last effort to be a contender here, but he has a right to take his chance in this race. Generally, an honest type in lower grade, his works aren’t too bad, and this marathon trip can be good for those that struggle with finishing pace over shorter trips. Not for me and a great result may be top four.

2 King Z Mb Stables Buick W T 124 —

The trainer hopes that William Buick is the new Ryan Moore as, yet another foreign jockey looks to take HRP by Storm. The preferences say he could be the next jockey to have in turf routes so we will all be watching him closely this weekend. He gets a great ride here for the champion trainer on a horse proven over the trip and a grade two winner last time out. It is difficult to place him in the run as he has been a front-runner and a closer but over these longer trips, he tends to go on speed so with a great draw today, I would expect him in the first two early on. A win chance.

3 Dark Arts TwinTowersRacing Geroux F 124 —

It’s hard to understand how this horse has only two wins to his name, but the owner has aimed high with him since his last win in 2021. Third three times at grade one and fifth in the BC Turf last year he has the ability, but his record shows he has taken the bridesmaid spot on more occasions than not. His works continue to be good, so I would expect him to be in there again, but it is going to take a few things to happen for him get win number three.

4 Distant Breeze The Sidley Stud Gutierrez Mario 124 —

Bought for just $7.000 he has gone three from three for his new owner and now gets his biggest test of all. He was hugely impressive in the California Dreamin last time and his works are pretty similar to everything else, so this could be a remarkable result for the owner if they can go four from four.

5 Life Is Beautiful Riggins Racing Bridgmohan S X 124 —

Proven over this trip, he has been really good this year taking the Connely BC, The Diarmida, and the San Juan Capistrano Stakes, all really good races leading into this and with the trainer in great form he could be a serious winning chance. A length behind the King in the United Nations last time if he can reproduce that effort, he will be top three and maybe could even take advantage of the trainer’s great recent run.

6 Brit Style Lemax Farms Bejarano R 119 —

With the three-year-olds getting their annual bump it will be interesting to see just how much they have been bumped as this one takes on some wily old staying types as well as the King himself. There is nothing to say in his form that he can get into the top four here, but this is the time of year we throw that form book out and look at other factors. He is working similar times to the rest and that can be key when the time comes for the threes and the weights start to make a difference. Watch this one very closely.

7 King Que Niagra D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J R 124 —

What can I say that hasn’t been said about this great champion and reigning BC Turf winner? Now a seven-year-old old, he cast away all doubts about decline when making all from the same gate to win the United Nations last time and he is the sort of horse that makes these races a pleasure to write about. Can he defend his crown this November, well who could forget just how easily he won this very race on the way to the BC last year and that was after being beaten in the United Nations in the race before? Could he actually be improving? Watch out everybody if he is!!!!

SUMMARY

The King will be the horse everyone is watching here and certainly for those of us that aren’t competing, we will all be hoping for another huge win. Can anything beat him? Well, this is HRP, so of course pretty much anything can happen. Mb will be hoping for some Buick fairy dust and Riggins will be hoping their form can inspire their runner, but I will be looking very closely at the three-year-old as I have August in my notebook as the time the three start to dominate.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES