Bowling Green Handicap – Grade II
SAR Race #7 1 3/8m InTurf Graded Stake
Purse $250.000 For Four Year Olds And Upward.
1 Jamie Mach RNP Stables Court J K
Although there are only 5 Lbs between top and bottom weight this is the first handicap for a long time that i have written about that actually looks like a handicap. This one gets in with bottom weight and that could be pretty decisive for a decent sort that has ten wins to his name and a grade one win over this trip. After a run of bad form, who knows why, he looked back to somewhere near his best last time when comfortably winning a high end open allowance and that may be a clue that he is ready to get back to the big time here. This is a decent field so its tough to make him your top pick but a win wouldnt surprise.
2 Devilish Luck D J C Racing Stables Velazquez J
Faces top weight here thanks to his excellent win in the Makers Mark Mile he certainly deserves the impost and has carried a big wieght to victory in similar races so shouldnt be written off just because of his handicap mark. He gets a great draw to equalise the weights a bit more and ran much better than his finishing position suggests from a wide draw in the Shoemaker Mile last time. If ever a top weight could win its this one.
3 Long River Aer Stables Maldonado E
A winner of 12 races this eight year old was one of several that the trainer got cheap from Canadian Racing and had been off the track for a long time before recording a brilliant comeback win in a six furlong dirt sprint last time. It would be truly one of those HRP stories if he could go from that extreme to this with successive wins and at his bets he would rate a chance off bottom weight. Maldonado is making a comeback since HRP have put him back up to 10% so he could be a good booking too.
4 Regret Nothing Maxmillion Farm Gutierrez Mario
Bought for $100 from Estero Farms this horse has undoubted ability but tends towards disappointment recently. A former KYD contender his turf works have been strong but his form doesnt reflect that but like some of the others he is certainly good enough of he is anywhere near his best.
5 Penitentiary D J C Racing Stables Contreras L
The winner of the FG Handicap at the start of the year he hasnt run badly since but has been a little bit off the pace in some tough races. He didnt run badly in the BEL Gold Cup last time making the running for a long way and ending up fourth but this is a tough field for a handicap and i think he may be better thought of as a place chance despite a very competitive work last time.
6 Sweep The Beach Maze Stables Pennington F
The trainer has had a go with this one but so far his attempts at this level havent looked too promising. A nice enogh sort but he looks out of his grade here.
7 Crafty Shenanigans Mb Stables Bejarano R
This wet ground specialist has been winning races recently but mostly at a lower level although he proved in the Forster Turf Classic in May that with the right conditions he is a very good grade one turf router. His works are as usual solid enough but he grows a leg in the wet and he may need the rain to be a real contender in this. Has the ability, has the form, the jockey and the trainer and is good enough to win.
8 Kippy Invicta Group Llc Alvarado J
A consistent overnighter he will run his heart out but looks a little outclassed in a tough field.
9 People Doubted Aml Racing Colon L H
This horse has looked on occasions the best turfer in the game but poor draws have made his form look less than stellar and once again he has been dealt a tough hand by the random draw creator. Add to this 121Lbs and a jockey that used to be the best turf jockey in the game but has suddenly and inexplicably been listed as having turf as a weakness and it doesnt look to bright for the four year old. We mustnt forget though that this horse won two grade ones in a row from a wide draw so its not an impossible task.
SUMMARY
The two top weights are there because they are potentially the best horses in the race and to be honest at their best they would be 5LBs better than these. However weights can have a strange effect at HRP and whilst 5Lbs doesnt sound a lot it can be the difference between first and fifth. Out of the others Jamie Mach could run well and Crafty Shenanigans is good enough to win on any ground but if it rains really comes in as a favorite.
Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES
