7/29/2023
8 DMR The San Diego Hcp (GII) 
$300.000 3yo&Up 1 1/16th M Dirt Hcp Weights
Out where the surf meets the turf… we look at the field for The San Diego Hcp (GII) and it’s a mixed bag to say the least. A bunch of these have changed hands recently, some multiple times… but, we delve in looking for a winner. I’ll take Gigabyte as the top pick, and the class rascal has always been in the Smokey Stover barn. He’s having a tougher time as a four-year-old but had the lead till late in the Met Mile (GI) last out, so I’ll give him the nod. Uranus is another with some class, and he was in the thick of it till late on the sod at LS last out. It’s back to the main track, and I think he can make some noise in this one. It’s going to be an interesting race.
Here’s The Field –
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Hurly Road | Establo Pichon | Eramia R E | 119 | 7/1 |
His lone ’23 win came at the OptAlw level, and he tired to be seventh in the BEL Derby (GI) last out. Comes back to the main track where he’s done most of his damage, but this is a tough group and he’s going to need his best if he wants to cash a check.
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Mohegan Smoke | Asgar | Lopez P | 119 | 8/1 |
Tagged out of a $3.000 claimer and has two wins since the hostile takeover, both at the Alw level. He was fifth vs NY-Bred stakes types on the BEL sod but seems to be running his best on the main track. Can he keep the rags-to-riches story going?
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Uranus | Threshold | Saez L | 119 | 8/1 |
Tagged out of a $47.500 and ran back in a fair yet tiring effort in the TX Turf where he set/pressed the pace only to get weary late and run fourth in that one. Back to the main track and graded foes… now, he’s run with some of the best in the land, so he’s not going to be afraid… he could be a big factor.
|
Crack Stone | Mb Stables | Velazquez J R | 119 | 9/2 |
He’s been running sold vs Opt/Alw types and closed a late gap to be fifth in the Met Mile (GI) at BEL. Another like that, and he could be right in the thick of things when they turn for home. I like him in this spot.
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Gigabyte | Smokey Stover | Centeno D E | 120 | 7/2 |
Picks up a pound for being forth in the Met Mile (GI)? Wow… who’s the racing secretary? He has two wins this year, at the Alw level, but was up the track in his other graded attempts… now don’t get me wrong, you don’t put $3,000.000 in the bank without being a heck of a horse, but added weight is uncalled for… use him on your tickets.
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Sting Operation | TwinTowersRacing | Franco M | 119 | 9/2 |
Won the Shackleton at GP for his only victory of the season, and he just missed when fourth in the Runhappy (GIII) but was fifth in the slop at CD vs. Alw types after pressing the pace in that one… his best puts him in the picture, but he will need his best.
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Eagle Mountain | Spankys Barn | Van Dyke D | 119 | 4/1 |
Did all of the heavy lifting in the PRM Cornhusker (GIII) before ending up third that afternoon, and tired to be seventh in the Cartier (GIII) at WO, in his two starts for the current connections. He’s changed hands a few times this year, and his only win was at the $32.000 claiming level, where he was nabbed… He could be part of this, but… I like some others.
COZMAN 5 / 3 Willie’s Green Card 4 / 7
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
