San Diego Handicap – Grade II
1 1/16 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $200.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Nice Distorted Laff Night Rider Stables Maldonado E

First of all what a brilliant tough performance this was from the top weight who just wouldnt let his rivals passed when he had every right to falter under his top weight. But before we talk about this great win lets talk about something that was alluded to in the forums this week by support and that was how important it is to have the ‘jockey fit’ right for your horse. Here we had a jockey with a turf strength and a dirt weakness which considering this was a durt route may lead you to believe that he wouldnt be a good fit. He was recently rated at 9% but has just gone up to 10% and seems to be riding better than ever after a period where he struggled to find winners. I guess as suggested in that forum post the advantage or disadvantage must be very small but whatever influence the jockey choice had here you have to come back to the way this horse just kept going in a race where there was plenty against him. Going to the front he set a fairly good gallop which certainly suggested that the closers would be able to come at him late but even though some made ground nothing could get passed his shoulder and he won in the end by a quarter length. How good could he be? Well whilst it would be easy to overlook him against some of the more established dirt stars and of course in a field with no three year olds it is tough to weigh up he certainly has a huge heart and looks the type that just doesnt know how to run a bad race.

2nd Game Cent Mb Stables Prat F

As suspected he was put closer to the pace than usual and i must admit i expected him to find more as they hit the stretch but though he tried really hard he just couldnt get to the winner and went down by a quarter length. An honest sort there is a graded win in him somewhere as long as he avoids the three year olds.

3rd Dogs Noah Maxmillion Farm Garcia Mar

The wide gate put him up on the speed just like in his last race but though he kept on pretty well he never looked like the winner even though he was only beaten a half length. This one continues to run well but just seems to lack that essential turn of foot which may be the reason he has now gone 18 months and 10 races since a win.

4th= Shootfromthehip Nakamura Stables Franco G

Much closer up today thanks to the race engine after two wide draws in his last two forced him way back i must admit i was just waiting for him to explode passed the front two and go on and win. As the race went on though you just felt the old champions legs just couldnt go any faster and he could only keep on at the one pace for a share of fourth. This was a solid effort but it seems now his best days may be behind him.

4th= Minutes Hand Mb Stables Espinoza V

Its not often Mb Stables chooses the wrong tactics but after being forced up front by the widish gates in his last few races it was decided to pull him back today and it was ultimately a tactic that cost him being much closer. He was never far away but always faced a wall of horses and though he weaved his way through he was never in a position to mount a serious challenge.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES