The OP Mile – Grade III
1 Mile Dirt Stake Purse $500.000 Open 4 Year Olds And Up.

The vagueness of HRP form can be fickle at times and what we saw here was a good example of that. What we also saw was a dirt mile winning time in the 1.33’s which was enough to knock the virtual breath out of the great Individuation but not a rather remarkable front running performance from Xavier Breath. In true HRP gaming style the last time this horse ran in a race with a finishing time being in this sort of bracket he was a closer, today he was a front runner. Gaming aside let’s look at how the first four finished:

1st Xavier Breath Maxmillion Farm Garcia Mar

If you look at the past four races of this six-year-old, you could draw the conclusion that he is improving like an un-raced two-year-old after its debut. He carried 118 to be third in a mile that finished in 1.34, then carried 116Lb to be eighth in a 1.33 and 3 mile and now 3 months later he carries 122Lbs for a win in 1.33 and 4. Those sorts of figures show remarkable improvement and if you factor in the weight, it becomes almost superhuman, or super equine. So, is this horse the favorite already for the BC Dirt Mile? Well, who can say, but with that sort of progress there is no doubting he could be a champion in November. The Cigar Handicap that was won in a quicker time than this and saw this horse behind was won by Rudy Is With Me carrying the same 116Lbs as Xavier Breath, that horse was beaten a long way into last place last week so that just goes to show how up and down any form is at the moment.
So, we are left wondering just how good this horse is and how he measures up to the best in his division. Today he made all and was never really challenged, he beat last year’s Preakness winner and a BC champion and did it with contemptuous ease. So, at this very moment you would have to say that the trainer will be counting their BC dollars. however, they just like us know that things can change very quickly.

2nd Gorogue Laga Arindel Lopez P

This horse has certainly found his mojo again. After the Preakness he had struggled and after a tough TC campaign that was understandable, some horses can come back from that, and some can’t but in his case his last three efforts have certainly suggested he is back. He was close enough to the fast pace but in the end could not produce the turn of foot to get past the leader and we often see that with horses stalking a fast pace, they rarely are the ones that get past the front runner, they normally come from further back. So, he did very well to hold second, and I guess the question will be will he go longer or shorter from here.

3rd South China Sea Fractious Velazquez J R

Got back from an inside gate and that can cause problems with traffic. He ran home nicely and wasn’t beaten far and though he lost his winning streak, did not lose any of his reputation of being another six-year-old that is finding a new lease of life late in his career.

4th Dayton Pan Farms Smith M E

Another very good effort but he continues to finish close up in good races without winning. It is a year now and nine races since he last won and whilst that isn’t stopping him building a nice career record it may be that a win is what he really needs to start a ball rolling.

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES