The CC Iron Horse – NG
12/7/19
GP Race 5 1 1/16M – Dirt
Purse $110.000
Three Year Olds and Up

Almost a full gate here for this years running of the Claiming Crown Iron Horse for the hard knocking route claimers of the game. It is for horse which have started for an $8.000 claiming price in the last two years so it is the cheapest starter for the claiming crown. Let’s look at the field.

1. Get Jiggy With It (11-4-1-2 $380.950), trained by Ace Racing Stable

And the first runner in the field will be making his first start for Ace Racing Stable here as he claimed him in history last start for eight dollars. He has been in bad form for a couple races though and I just can’t see him even running in the top half of the field.

2. Superbourg (25-6-3-2 $319.360), trained by Allinthegate

Not very often you see a graded stakes winner in a race with this low of a starter claiming price but that is what this runner is. He is going to pay for those graded stakes wins though as he is carrying one hundred and twenty seven pounds. I think the weight difference gets him beat.

3. Toxic Personality (29-10-6-5 $183.220), trained by RNP Stables

Now to this runner right here who is coming into this race off of a win in an optional claimer at Parx where he ran a very good race and he ran a quick time that day. A race like that will be very tough to beat in here so if he can repeat that last performance he will be very tough.

4. Duke Of Wellington (23-5-7-2 $96.710), trained by T Boy Racing

My first runner in the field here and he has been kind of disappointing since the first time I ran him. He has not been running bad necessarily but he has not ran as good as I think he should have either. Not sure if the distance is good for him either but I’m taking a shot and you never know what will happen.

5. Here We Go (21-7-3-4 $122.220), trained by Greeko Holdem

This next runner here has two knocks against him. One is that he has been running on the turf and the only two wins on the year have been at the free track. But he has won five races on the dirt so the surface should not be an issue. If the free track form translates at all he could possibly have a chance.

6. Gifted Man (4-2-1-1 $16.000), trained by Spankys Barn

Well I’ll tell you that I had a horse in the race with this horse when he won his last out and he crushed that field by six lengths and ran an exceptionally fast time. It was sprinting though and this is a way tougher field than that was but if he can repeat that race around two turns and beat this field he may be a horse to keep on your watch tab.

7. Kings Counsellor (36-12-3-5 $152.810), trained by Kingelleinc

This old gelding here has really turned it around in his last three races with three wins in a row. He won a first level allowance in his last start at Parx over a muddy track but that was still a big win. That allowance win should make him very competitive in here if he runs that same race.

8. Nice Double Laff (15-3-5-1 $26.100), trained by Night Rider Stables

Next horse in the field here and he is coming into this race off of two second place finishes in a row. I do not think the two seconds were in that tough of company but you can’t knock two seconds in a row. He likes to go to the lead so he should be one of the pacesetters.

9. Smart Rogue (13-3-1-1 $63.120), trained by Arq Racingfarms

This horse here has already won a starter stakes this year when he won the Jack Cole at Albuquerque a couple months ago. He has been in very good form lately and I think he fits right in with this field. He’ll have to step up some more but I wouldn’t be surprised if he won.

10. All Blacks (33-8-9-3 $127.800), trained by T Boy Racing

My other entry in the field here and I like him more at this distance than my other runner but I am not sure if he is as good as some of these others. He has won six races this year but none of them have been over five dollar claiming races. A longshot but maybe he will surprise me who knows.

11. Priest Of Zeus (31-8-6-6 $107.820), trained by Arindel

Well this horse here has been on the turf almost the whole year and he has been sprinting also. It is hard to say how the turf sprint form will translate to a dirt route race but he has won on the dirt and going long. Just not sure how he will perform with this field.

12. Ice Wall (19-6-5-1 $116.280), trained by RNP Stables

Second runner for RNP Stables here and this horse also looks to fit very well. He has been running very good against allowance and stakes company with New Jersey breds and then he dropped in for a claim last time. I think he will fit very good with this field if he overcomes the post.

13. Timeless Crown (9-2-2-2 $32.340), trained by Nakamura Stables

Final runner in the field here and he really surprised me in his last start with a third place finish in the Comma To The Top stakes at Santa Anita. That type of race fits very good with this bunch but the post will be very difficult to overcome. The post hurts him too much in my opinion.

Summary

Well obviously a very tough field to pick a winner from because it is so big and many are pretty evenly matched. My top choice is going to be Toxic Personality in here off of that optional claiming win in his last start. Good luck to all in the field.

3-7-12-9

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES