The Man o War – Grade I
BEL Race #6 1 3/8m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $700.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.

1 Nowhere Man Mb Stables Tunon M

This race is invariably a race where the old warriors come out to do battle and though this one is only five he comes into the category at HRP of an old battler. He has made his name over a mile in recent years but going back a couple of years he ran a nice third in the breeders Stakes over 12 furlongs and age normally blunts speed and encourages stamina so i think he may be ready for a race like this. He gets a great gate and the turf jockey of the year so watch for him flying home late.

2 Chayse Crocker Ggs Franco G

With only eleven career races he has plenty going for him especially when you consider his last two starts have brought two graded stakes wins. He loves these extreme trips and came from a mile back to nab the Pan American last time. Two consecutive triple figure speed figures in his last two starts a win here from the perfect draw will make him hot property for the BC Turf.

3 So Lonely Diablo Diablo Court J K

Another that excels over this sort of trip he took the Elkhorn last time with a gutsy show of stamina. Drawn perfectly to get up on the pace where he likes to be he is improved this year and could take some pegging back if getting a soft lead.

4 Thanks For Nothing D J C Racing Stables Bejarano R

His record doesn’t look so great with just the 4 wins from 20 starts but he is a real tryer and was only a length back in the Pan American after getting well back and finishing like a train. He has improved nicely as a five year old and should be reaching his peak now.

5 Multiple Shadows Our Athletes Lopez P

Beaten by the race engine last time he is better judged on his game win in the FG Stakes before that where he was rated 100 by the SRF. Capable of a big run but this is a tight looking race and he will need to find his way from midpack from the squeeze box.

6 Koda Estero Farms Hernandez R M

The Pan American is the form race for this and with only a length between the three runners represented this looks like it will be close again. This six year old was taken well back from the outside gate and flew home to be just a half length behind Chayse in third. Every bit of form before that says no but as usually happens at HRP he has gone from a struggling claimer to a 1.34 flat mile worker and a chance in a grade one.

8 Winter Solstice John Henry Gutierrez Mario

This horse was huge on the off track when taking the HOL Turf Cup by no less than six lengths and has since shown form in the dry in the Pegasus World Turf Cup when beaten just a half length by Xmas Snow. Another close second in the Diarmida shows he can compete on a dry track but any rain would make him a very good chance indeed.

9 Man Childe Our Athletes Beschizza A

An honest sort who rarely runs badly he has competed well at all levels but may lack the class of some of these.

10 Hollywood Niner Nolespan Racing Garcia Mar

Straight from a $25 claimer and into a grade one. If you think that’s mad then think again as its nothing this trainer hasn’t done before. The gate could set him up as a leader which will be tough over this trip but you have to rely on his trainers magic rather than anything in his form.

11 Baelish TwinTowersRacing Centeno D E

Ordinary for a long time and then bang he takes a nice allowance in a sub 1.33 mile time. This trainer can send these types to races like this and get a result so its hard to write him off but this is a strong field and he will have to improve way beyond when he has achieved so far.

12 Raj Action Packed Arindel Gaffalione T

He was looking good at the start of the year but has since been plagued by the random draw with his third wide gate in a row. Turned a 24 length defeat into a head win against Winter Solstice on differing ground conditions so i think its safe to say any rain ruins his chances. He has a chance if the race engine lets him but that’s a big if these days.

SUMMARY

A good solid race with all the top chances drawn well enough. Chayse is improving all the time and looks a good choice here but it will be hard to back against Winter Solstice if the rain comes. Of the others Koda could be the one to spoil the party and i think there is still a big race in Nowhere Man.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES