Foster Handicap (Grade 2) (BC)- $600.000 Purse
CD- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
June 15, 2019

The first automatic qualifier for the BC Classic was held on Saturday in the 17th running of the Foster Handicap. Several in the field would have an excellent race, and a photo would be needed to determine the winner. That winner would be Erupt, at crazy odds, and now he looks to do what his sire Niagra did five years ago, and win the BC Classic. For now, trainer D J C Racing Stables will celebrate this win, which is his first in the stake. Jockey J R Velazquez wins the race for the second time, and they have come in the last two years. Congratulations to them! The time of the win was 1:47.52, a midpack time when looking at the past winning times of the race. Let’s take a look it!

(½ Mile- :46.93)- Minutes Hand, out of Mb Stables, would start much better then he would finish by jumping out to the lead right from the gate. No one else was hurried, so rather quickly he led by almost three lengths around the first turn and into the backstretch. As we got closer to the half mile point, Joseph Racing’s Banshee Star advanced from a four wide position to cut a length into that gap. Running third on the rail would be Cube Zero, out of Aml Racing. Half a length behind them, and in the middle of those two were De Fuego, out of Defoe, and For The Boys, running for D J C Racing Stables. Another length back, we had our eventual winner, Erupt, also for D J C Racing Stables, running to the outside of three wide, and eyeing the lane to the pull alongside his stablemate. On his inside ran Royal Eclipse (Chili King Stables) and Steel Tunes (John Henry). Last year’s winner, Air Show (Mb Stables), seemed to struggle out of the gate and was now running with Zombie City (Eastern Equine) and Simple Request (Saratoga Stud). Trailing was Shootfromthehip (Nakamura Stables), with eight lengths to make up.

(3/4 Mile- 1:10.63)- The lead still belongs to Minutes Hand at this point, but he laid off some of his early speed midway through the backstretch, and was caught by Banshee Star who was pulling up to his outside. Looking to split them was Cube Zero, and For The Boys had also closed in while running four wide. With De Fuego running to his inside, Erupt continued to remain in the lane that would allow him to move to the outside of For The Boys, but he had not really pushed forward yet, and trailed by three lengths. Royal Eclipse was starting to come through on the rail, which would be clear, especially after Cube Zero had moved down to the second lane. Steel Tunes and Simple Request still ran with the pack. Air Show, Zombie City, and Shootfromthehip were at the back.

(Top Of Stretch, 2.0F To Go)- Plenty of excitement seemed to be in store for the stretch. Minutes Hand’s time had run out for being on the lead, and Banshee Star was a head in front, with plenty of company surrounding him. Cube Zero had a great trip up to this point and was about to overtake him to the inside, while For The Boys was doing the same while on the outside. Approaching the exit of the turn, Erupt had begun to make his move, and it would be a five wide venture to this outside of For The Boys. Beginning to lurk a little further back was Simple Request, our pick to win, and he seemed to have a nice gap between the D J C Racing Stables horses if he had the legs underneath him to take it. Meanwhile, Royal Eclipse continued his steady advance, using the rail to his benefit before he had to leave it to avoid running in to Minutes Hand. De Fuego seemed to be running well at this point, too, as was Steel Tunes. Air Show and Zombie City were looking for room to come through the pack, and Shootfromthehip continued to be the trailer.

(Finish- 1:47.52)- The stretch run was fascinating, and there was no way to tell who was going to get this win until just as they hit the wire. Banshee Star became unable to keep up with the others at the front end, and midway through, For The Boys and Cube Zero had the advantage. However, Erupt was advancing with every stride. Also, a nice gap opened up for Royal Eclipse along the inside between Banshee Star and Cube Zero and he would take advantage of it. As for Simple Request, the lane was there, but he was not able to come through it with enough authority as it would take. As they got closer to the wire, D J C Racing Stables had to be happy to see his two emerge with the lead, but Royal Eclipse would be a concern, and Cube Zero, though slightly passed, was still very much fighting on the rail. Simple Request was coming, and out of no where Zombie City swings wide with a full head of steam. Erupt, at odds officially posted at 377/1, would prevail in this hard fought battle over the second longest shot on the board, Royal Eclipse, at 84/1, in a photo. It was an even tighter for show, and For The Boys barely prevails over Simple Request, then Cube Zero. Zombie City had a valiant bid but started it too late, and ends up sixth. Banshee Star still only lost by a length himself, and was half a length ahead of Steel Tunes. Rounding out the order, its Air Show, De Fuego, Shootfromthehip, and Minutes Hand.

About The Winner- Erupt, trained by D J C Racing Stables, and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a four year old colt by Niagra, and is out of El Gran Cuffed. He was bred in New York as a yearling by D J C Racing Stables, the only trainer for which he has ever known. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his sixth in 21 starts, his third stake win, and second graded win. His career earnings are now $820.900.

Track: Fast
Time: :46⁴  1:10³  1:35   1:47²

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 3 – 1 Paid 1,547.40
$1 Trifecta: 3 – 1 – 7 Paid 1,553.10

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES