River City Handicap – Grade III
CD Race #5 1 1/8m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $125.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

Another handicap thats nowhere near handicapping any of the horses. So forgetting the handicap lets look at the chances of todays runners:

1 Thanks For Nothing D J C Racing Stables Lanerie C J
This four year old has struck an off track in his last two starts so we can forget those runs unless it rains. Previously on a dry track he made all for an easy win in The Lure and was a battling sixth in the grade one United Nations so on those efforts he should certainly rate a chance in this easier field. The inside gate should allow an easy trip and i expect him to make a bid for the lead and be hard to pass.

2 Captain Cook Nakamura Stables Bridgmohan S X

Took a maiden claimer and an open claimer before being claimed from Smokey Stover he looked the type that could step up and he has done so since. Put to the dirt in his last two starts he was a closing third in a big ticket allowance before very nearly winning the ELP Derby over a mile. Back to the turf and showing some strong works he will be tough to beat from this much sought after draw.

3 Grande Chai Latte The A Stable Chuan M

With just three races and a maiden win its hard to see why in a handicap he is carrying the same weight as stakes winners but i am not here to talk about the stupidness of the handicapping system rather his chance off equal weights. His maiden win was on dirt but previously he had been second on turf so i feel he can handle this surface however his works arent saying he can make this step up in grade.

4 Steel Home Nakamura Stables Santana R

Bought for $100.000 after a fair fifth in the King Edward he had looked very good on a couple of occasions prior to that and i think its the best of his form that brought that price tag. Inconsistency has been his main problem but Nakamura Stable is a master at sorting these types out and he has had this one long enough to do just that. This one could be the dark horse in the race.

5 Sezarchai Ekli Stable Geroux F

Gets a top weight which is actually just one pound so we can safely ignore that impost when considering his chances. A couple of strong open allowance wins suggests he is up to winning at this level but when he has been tested recently at stakes level he has come up a bit short. He is good enough of he is on his game but its hard to know whether he will be today.

6 Bubba Kush Threshold Beschizza A

This is another who has always been pretty good at overnight level but always seems to find a reason to lose at this level. His best overnight form gives him a chance but his best may be behind him.

7 Glacier Express Maxmillion Farm Saez G

Fairly consistent at overnight level he has yet to break through at this sort of level but has the trainer who can work miracles with turf runners and his last work was among the fastest in the race.

8 Battle Of Midway Spankys Barn Cohen D

I think his last run was that of a horse who may find a length or two on the turf and if he can get away with this draw he will be a strong chance. Not far away in the SA Handicap on dirt he was a game third in the Knickerbocker Handicap over this trip and surface and that is a good guide to his chances.

9 Moscow Court Wolfs Den Gaffalione

Gets the coffin draw however i have seen it work for some horses so all is not lost. He has been drawn wide in his last two and the race engine put him out front and in both cases he was second beaten by the inevitable closer. He will be up on the pace and in the race for a long way but may once again find one going past him at the end.

SUMMARY
A very even race where everything can be given a good chance of winning. I rather like Captain Cook for the win with Glacier Express in the mix however i say that with very little confidence.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES