City of Hope Mile – Grade II [BC]
1 Mile Turf Stake Purse $200.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st Zion Birdie La Canada Racehorses Bejarano R

If you take out his awful effort in the PEN Mile on an off track, then this one’s form reads pretty well, and I must admit he added me to his list of admirers today as well as becoming a lively BC hope.
Mid-pack and a little back from the fast pace he was always going well and when the normal rails run opened up, as HRP horses only seem to know to drift wide, he still had enough in the tank to take it and fly home for the win.
I have no idea if this was a fortuitous rails run or the effort of a BC winner, but I do think he will head to the BC a very fresh horse and if he wins may be one of the training feats of the year.

2nd Prestigious Freak Saratoga Stud Lopez P

Why not, it has been one of those weekends when outsiders seem to be doing well and this one was nearly biggest outsider in the field took the race by the scruff of the neck and nearly shocked them all. Fighting off the other wide speed he went pretty hard but was still then with two furlongs to run and even managed to hold on to an unlikely looking second. A lifetimes best effort for the son of Hollywood Freak.

3rd Wicked Good Lanfranco Stable Espinoza V

Finished nicely for third and will give a semblance of bragging rights for the owner. His works always promise a lot, but he just can’t seem to find that timing at this level and as a six-year-old his time may be running out. I still have the feeling he has a good race in him before he calls it a day though.

4th Darrow Mb Stables Velazquez J R

Kept on for fourth but once again had his chance but didn’t seem to go through with it; twelve races, five wins for over $800.000 is not a failure by any means, but I still think he may be frustrating his owner a little in these big races.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES