AP Million – Grade I
CNL Race #3 1 1/4m Turf Graded Stake
Purse $1,000.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.

1 Grand Opening Riggins Racing Hernandez R M 124 —

This was a very good four-year-old that won the grade one WO Mile last year, but it looks like he has continued to improve as a five-year-old old and his previous two wins have been top-drawer. Taking the Forrester Turf Classic in early May he was given plenty of time to get over that grade one win and didn’t run again until the end of June when he destroyed the Wise Dan field. On those two efforts, he is a stand-out in this field and with the ace draw should be able to stalk the lead easily and looks like a big winning chance.

2 Ziccio Night Rider Stables Beschizza A 124 —

A nine-race winner, he was brilliant in the Whittingham when winning by a length but didn’t really get in a blow in the Manhattan last time when sixth, making ground late. Only a quarter length behind Grand Opening in the Pegasus when this one had a terrible draw, he is entitled to get very close to that one today and that would be good enough to win.

3 Jacks Courage Mb Stables Ortiz I Jr 124 —

Beaten less than a length when fourth in the BC Classic, this is one of the best in the game on either surface. A multiple grade one winner, he should probably have won more than the seven races he has won but nevertheless, he is a star of the game and one that adds hugely to this race. Still only a four-year-old, he seems to have been around forever but to be only four and win grade ones on both dirt and turf you have to be pretty special, and he certainly draws attention in every race he runs. His works as always are sublime, and he has the right running style for this race coupled with the right draw let’s face it these $1,000.000 races nearly always go home with Mb Stables.

4 Zensation Threshold Lezcano J 119 —

The only three-year-old in the race, he is a deep closer that will need a click of the gaming buttons or a bit of race engine luck to get into this race.

5 Drone Strike D J C Racing Stables Pennington F 124 —

The four-year-old hates the wet and if it rains, I would imagine we will find this one shivering in the back of his box when the others are running. Assuming a dry track he is a decent sort and whilst he hasn’t been winning too much this year, he has run some decent races. He was a good winner of the Opening Verse but that is the only time this deep closer has found the right timing, a problem we see so often these days. Another who may need some luck or the clicking of buttons to get him into the race.

6 Gallant Royalty Stables Lopez P 124 —

A conundrum for the owner as he wasn’t able to get the timing right as a deep closer but also failed to enjoy running off the front so he could be another hoping for some luck late in the race. There is ability there as he showed in the Diarmida when a late charging fourth, but it is tough to see him beating any of the first three for this race.

7 Wayward Prince Angelos Stable Elliott S 124 —

A consistent sort, he has a decent record but again it is hard to see him competing with the top three. He too has run as a closer, but his most recent win came from on speed and that may be his best chance from this draw. He will stay the trip well and is working well so give him an each-way shot.

8 Ice Cream Glitter TwinTowersRacing Gaffalione T 124 —

Pretty much exclusively a dirt runner, he has run three times on the turf for a win so is not a complete unknown on this surface. An on-speed type that will certainly help his cause today with some outside speed push and some of his dirt form is pretty good so this one may be sneaking under the radar.

9 Justice Of The Peace Maletto Gutierrez J M 124 —

Into the car park and we find this one that has performed very well on the gallops at home but can struggle on occasions to put that into actual race form. He comes into this race with rain and if he can use the outside speed push and whilst he doesn’t compare with the inside three gates there is cause for optimism looking at his works and his last start third in the Highlander

SUMMARY

This does look like a race dominated by the first three in the gates with maybe Grand Opening and Jacks Courage being the two to fight it out for the win. Without much speed in the race, it may be the person who takes the chance to click the gaming buttons that gets a result here as this race looks wide open for some enterprising tactics and certainly, if any of the top three are going to get beaten it won’t be by a closer off an average pace.

Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES