The Fourstardave Handicap – Grade I (P2) [BC]
SAR Race #7 1m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $500.000 For Three Year Olds And Upward.
I’ve said it before and i will say it again the fact that this race is called a handicap is pretty ridiculous considering there is only two pounds between top and bottom weight. I have no idea if thats a reflection of how close horses are at HRP or whether that is the norm for American Handicaps but these types of races become the only races available to older horses as the weight for age kills them against the three year olds. So here’s the line up and whilst the household names arent here there is some quality in the field.
1 By Design Mb Stables Carmouche
This ones recent form is hardly inspiring but sure enough regardless of form he is working just as well if not better than anything else in the field. Drawn 11 he was used as a rabbit in his last race and as he did such a successful job may just find himself doing the same thing again today. Will Mb try and use his multiple entries to give his other runners a better chance, well if the Forbidden Apple, this ones last start is anything to go by then yes. What would make it really interesting is if Nowhere Man was sent as the rabbit this time and this one took up the trail, i wonder what the result would be then? As interesting as that may be this one has done it once very effectively so i guess he would be doing it again today.
2 Jakers Delight Nolespan Racing Franco G
The question for the rest of the field is to try and race against a likely rabbit and so far this one has been raced on the pace so the signs are not good. With only five starts he is very lightly raced and actually didnt see the track until this year so you have to respect what he has achieved in a very short time. A maiden claimer winner he went on to run third in the grade two Dixie on only his third start and then ran a creditable race in the AP Handicap when sixth. To me the mile is his best trip but i worry about his running style if the pace is fast.
3 Creepy Big Ears Fractious Castellano J
Taken out of a claimer 2 starts ago stupidly he gets more weight than a graded stakes winner that was beaten a length in the BC Mile last year. As i said i dont understand the word handicap when said with an American accent but this is what we have today so lets get on and look at this runner. After that claim the new owner set him to turf and after being narrowly beaten in a sprint he managed to win the Irish War Cry Handicap over this trip last time out and of course in true HRP style is working just as fast as everything else. His draw is great and he is clearly better than a claimer on the turf but this is his big test.
4 Nowhere Man Mb Stables Franco M
Took advantage of his stable companion rabbiting the Forbidden Apple last time to come from a long way back for a half length win. His form before that was solid enough to win in his own right but we all know Mb Stables doesnt take chances when it comes to winning so maybe we should expect a repeat performance today. He races over his best trip again today, has a great draw and a reasonable weight so he must have a pretty good chance of following up.
5 Name Drop John Henry Gallardo A A
Won the PEN Mile last year and went on to run a close third in the BEL Derby before a brilliant sixth beaten just a length from a terrible draw in the BC Turf Mile. He ran two good races at the start of the year picking up a small allowance before a string second in an open allowance at SA. After that sort of form it was strange not only that he went to auction but that he only made forty dollars but this was a shrewd buy for John Henry and after a faltering display in his first start he looked back to near his best in the Oceanport last time when a very close third. More strange than his auction price is the fact that he gets away with bottom weight in this handicap so with this decent alley i think he may be a big hope.
6 Butter Ball Aml Racing Cancel E
The winner of eight he had been very good at lower levels but had previously struggled at stakes level until his last start when ridden on the pace to take the Poker Stakes. I’m not sure he is quite good enough to win this especially as he has looked better when ridden on the speed and we may just see a rabbit in this race.
7 Controlled Power Spankys Barn Prat F
A dual grade one winner over the mile he showed in the Kilroe Mile when a close third that on his day he still has that sort of ability. After that run of success last year he became pretty inconsistent and its a little unclear whether that was decline or just the inconsistency of HRP results. He gets in here with 117Lbs and certainly has the ability to win of things go his way.
8 Thats Fazzt Estero Farms Lopez P
It may be a pretty common occurrence at HRP but its still an achievement to go from cheap claimer to stakes winner and thats what this one did last year taking the King Edward BC Stakes after winning an $8 maiden two races before. He went on to finish a brilliant second in the Shadwell Turf Mile and saw his value sky rocket as he was bought for no less than $400 just 4 races after being claimed for $8. A great effort in the BC Turf Mile and a second at grade two ended his three year old year and then of course as a four year old he found things much harder. His works are still sharp and we know he can compete at this level so just maybe if a rabbit is sent he may be the one to benefit.
9 Sinister Sunset Team 7 Illusions Hernandez R
You only have to look at the sire to give this one a winning chance and though he isnt the best of Cherokee Sunsets offspring he has certainly been competitive at this level and would rate a chance at his best. He too has been used as a rabbit but with no stable companion in the race it is unlikely that will happen again today. I guess with this draw it will come down to a bit of luck and creative gaming and if anyone can make that happen its T7.
10 Snakie Authorization Blushing Meadows Bravo J
A lightly raced four year old he was bought from Barcelona Farms Stable in June and ran a fairly good second on debut for the new owner suggesting he was a good buy. Although all his best form is on dirt he is in fact unbeaten on turf and if things work out with a rabbit he may just well be a good chance from this draw.
SUMMARY
The big question here is not which is the best horse but whether Mb Stables will send the rabbit in this race. If a rabbit is used the result will be completely different and brings into the reckoning Snakie Authorization, Name Drop and Creepy Big Ears. Without a rabbit then Jakers Delight, Controlled Power and Thatz Fast. So we have to look for safe bet whether a rabbit is sent or not and that may just be Nowhere Man.
Categories: Grade I, STAKES ARTICLES
