San Francisco Captain Handicap

One of three Grade I races to be on the California card for this weekend, the race we will be focusing on here is the San Francisco Captain Handicap (G1) which will be held over a mile and a half on the turf. The race, which is offering up a purse of $750,000 has drawn a total of thirteen horses to the starting gate for this weekend and is open to four-year-olds and up. The race has also drawn a lone mare to the field that will try to take on the boys this weekend. With a post time of 6:00 pm EST, the track looks like it will be set as firm at post time. Let’s take a look through the contenders.  

1. Heart’s Rage (JPN) – given2ndchances – O. A. Haack – 9/1 

On the inside rail, this Japanese-bred five-year-old gelding has won over two million in lifetime earnings over a span of twenty-one starts. The most recent start for the brown gelding was last December here in California during The Lost Angeles Turf Cup (G1) at a mile and a half. The gelding was forwardly placed in the race, setting off the pace in second out of the gate. He would take control of the pace midway through the race and go on to win by two and three-quarter lengths with a speed figure of one hundred and thirteen.  

2. Bricks In Galileo (JPN) – dkstables19 – T. Small – 23/1 

Another Japanese-bred will be in the second slot. The four-year-old brown colt will be seeking out his first Grade I win in this race. The most recent start for the colt came in South Africa during the It’s Cracking (G1) at a mile and one-quarter. The colt would be last out of the gate at the break in the race, but started to pick off other runners towards the middle of the race. The steady move to the outside of the other horses may have come a little to late as the colt crossed the wire in seventh, setting a speed figure of one hundred and six. Prior to this the colt would win in France during the O’Neal (G2) at a mile and a half last September by an impressive margin of four and a quarter-lengths.  

3. Five Quick Shots – desplocal – D. Givins – 11/1 

Making his first start in Grade I company and just his second graded start of his career, the four-year-old brown colt most recently started last December in Vermont during the Happy New Year (G3) over a mile and five-eighths. The colt went straight to the front at the start of the race and managed to take the field from gate to wire and win the race by half a furlong while setting a speed figure of one hundred and sixteen in his graded stakes debut. Connections of the Street Sense sired colt have decided to try taking another step up in class for the four-year-old this weekend with his first Grade I start.  

4. Skies May Fall (IRE) – sreme19 – N. Lawton – 9/2 

Returning to the track for the first time since November of last year, this Irish-bred five-year-old horse most recently started in last years’ Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) at a mile and a half here in California. The chestnut horse was placed towards the front of the field at the break in the Breeders’ Bowl, sitting just off the pace in fourth early on out of the gate. He wouldn’t make much headway in the race and would eventually cross the wire in fifth, setting a speed figure of one hundred and twelve. The most recent win for the horse was August of last year during the URC – A Tribute to Smokeglack (G1) over a mile and a half. Again, forwardly placed, but off the pace of a few other horses early on, the horse would start to make his move midway through the race and would go on to win by half a length. 

5. Praywithoutceasin (GB) – billiam40 – W. Kewmwa – 19/1 

Starting in a graded race for the second time in his career, this four-year-old bay colt most recently started in an allowance race here in California over nine and a half furlongs. The colt came out of the gate sharply and settled into second, less than a length off the pace early. He would cross the wire where he started in second, setting a speed figure of one hundred eleven, which is a lifetime best for the colt. His prior start was the colt’s sole graded venture, which came in The Narrow Land (G3) overa mile and a half in New York last October where he would finish fifth after going straight to the front out of the gate and setting a speed figure of one hundred two. The colt’s most recent win was in an allowance race over eleven furlongs on a yielding course in Indiana where he took the field from gate to wire to win by one and three-quarter lengths.  

6. Doom Mons (IRE) – rtees – M. Zeus – 16/1 

Coming into this race off of four consecutive wins, the five-year-old son of top sire Gaileo (IRE) is making his graded stakes debut this weekend. The most recent start for the bay horse was last December during an allowance race in New Zealand over fourteen furlongs. Breaking out of the gate from the inside post, the horse was held just off the pace early in second and took over control off the pace by the midway point of the race, going on to win the race by an astounding eleven and a half lengths despite the modest speed figure recorded of seventy-two. Prior to this the horse won a listed stakes race over sixteen furlongs in Cananda by five lengths. 

7. Random Kid – esagin – V. Jennings – 10/1 

Seeking out his first graded win, the five-year-old horse by Lemon Drop Kid has made a few graded attempts in the past, always coming up short, but is taking another try this weekend at graded victory. The bay horse most recently started last December here in California during The Los Angeles Turf Cup (G1) over a mile and a half. The hose set off out of the gate and settled back towards the middle of the field early on, but he would be shuffled back in the field as they charged down the stretch. The hose would ultimately cross the wire in seventh, setting a speed figure of one hundred and five. The most recent win for the horse was also here in California, this coming in last November during a listed stakes race over the same distance. Further back off the pace in this race, he would show an impressive turn of foot down the stretch as he came charging to the wire late to win by three and three-quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred and twelve.  

8. Kvasir Excel (IRE) – daniel4 – J. Ledwith – 15/1 

Making his graded stakes debut this weekend, the four-year-old colt has only finished off the board twice in his career. Sired by Exceed And Excel, the bay colt most recently started last December in Germany during an allowance race over twelve furlongs. Out of the gate and settling just off the pace in second early, the colt would take over the lead as the field came down the stretch and would win the race by two and a half lengths, setting a speed figure of one hundred seven. Another interesting note to this colt is that this will be his first start occurring outside of Germany.  

9. Full Metal Zombie (GB) – stczzombie – A. Reed – 12/1 

Working our way towards the latter half of Saturday’s field, this horse is the second in the field to be sired by top sire Dubawi (IRE). The five-year-old horse is graded placed but is still on the quest for his first graded win, which the connections of the horse hope will come this weekend. The most recent start for the horse came last December during an allowance race over twelve and a half furlongs in England. The horse went straight to the lead out of the gate and took the field from gate to wire to win the race by a length and a quarter while setting a speed figure of one hundred and ten. The most recent graded start for the colt was last September during the Canada Turf (G1) in Ontario over a mile and a half. Also going straight to the front in this race, the horse would cross the wire in fifth. 

10. Frankly Millennial (ENG) – asrfrankel2 – N. Lebreche – 13/1 

The most experienced horse going into the starting gate this weekend with a total of twenty-two prior career starts, the five-year-old is returning to the turf and to graded company for this race. The most recent start for the horse was in December of last year here in California during a listed stakes race over sixteen furlongs on the dirt. Forwardly placed early, the horse would cross the wire in tenth over the firm dirt track, setting a speed figure of ninety-six. His prior start was over the turf and was also his most recent win. This race came last November in New Zealand during the New Zealand Drinking Device (G2) at two miles over the turf. Going straight to the lead out of the gate in this race, he took the field from gate to wire the entire two miles, winning the race by half a length and setting a speed figure of one hundred and one. This will be the horse’s first start against Grade I company. 

11. Fighting The Rock (IRE) – 1strule – B. Scott – 6/1 

In the eleventh slot we will have the lone mare in the race that will be taking on the boys again for her start this weekend. The five-year-old daughter of Fastnet Rock (AUS) is an End Of Year Award Winner and has earned more than two million in career earnings. The most recent start for the bay mare came here in California last November during the Breeders’ Bowl F and M Turf (G1) over a mile and three-eighths. The mare was held back off the pace in the middle of the pack early on out of the gate. She didn’t make her move until the field entered the stretch where she would come home to finish third, setting a speed figure of one hundred sixteen. The most recent win for the mare was in February of 2002 against the boys in The French Grand Prix (G1) over a mile and a half. She ran this race in a very similar fashion, coming from the middle of the pack early on to win by three and a quarter lengths.  

12. King Of Dubawi (GB) – rubber – K. Ledwith – 4/1 

Making his sixth consecutive Grade I start, this five-year-old bay gelding made his most recent start here in California last December during The Los Angeles Turf Cup (G1) over a mile and a half. The gelding was placed towards the middle of the pack early on and was urged to make his move midway through the race. The gelding would cross the wire in second, setting a speed figure of one hundred and eleven. The most recent win for the gelding was over a track rated as good for The Milan Grand Prix (G1) over a mile and a half last June. Again, setting out of the gate and held back towards the middle of the field, he would make his move early, going on to win this race by three and a half lengths.  

13. We Good (IRE) – bkeliteflops – R. Hansen – 29/1 

Last into the gate on Saturday will be the morning line longshot for the race who will also be making his graded stakes debut in the race this weekend. The four-year-old gelding will be making his eleventh career start this weekend. The most recent start for the bay gelding came in Sweden during a listed stakes race over twelve furlongs. The gelding shot out from an inside post and went swiftly into third. At the midway point of the race the gelding took control of the pace and went on to win by two and three-quarter lengths, setting a speed figure of one hundred and seven for the race.  

Flrancho’s Picks: 

Win:  Heart’s Rage (JPN) 

Place: King Of Dubawi (GB) 

Show: Skies May Fall (IRE)