Arcade Handicap
There are several graded stakes on the card for this weekend of racing in California. Here we will take a look at the Arcade Handicap (G2) at a mile on the turf which is set to be run this Saturday with a post time of 2:45 PM EST. The race, offering up a total purse of $375,000 is open to four-year-olds and up. It looks like we’ll have a clear day on Saturday, so the track will be set as firm at post time. This year’s race has brought in a total of ten starters to the gate. Let’s take a look through this year’s contenders.
- Bravery And Greed (IRE) – xmonster12 – E. Banner – 5/1
On the inside rail, this five-year-old by Galileo (IRE) will be making his graded stakes debut in this race. The bay horse will be making his eleventh career start. His most recent race came last month in Washington at a mile in a listed stakes race. The horse was out of the gate towards the rear of the field before starting to make his move midway through the race. Closing late, he got up to cross the wire in second, setting a lifetime best speed figure of one hundred sixteen. His most recent win came here in California last July during an allowance race over a mile and a half.
2. King Danzig Ready – ddstables33 – R. Bokie – 7/2
In the second post, shipping in from Florida, this five-year-old son of More Than Ready is coming off a win this past February during The Apple Martini Handicap (G3) at a mile. The bay horse broke out of the gate towards the back half of the field in this race. The horse immediately started to take on other horses once out of the gate and by the midway point of the race had moved up into third. He found another gear as they made their way into the stretch and came home to cross the wire in front by a length and three-quarters with a speed figure of one hundred nineteen.
3. That Wont Scare Me (AUS) – liam31 – K. Banner – 6/1
Coming into this race from New Zealand, the bay five-year-old is the first of two horses in our field to be sired by I Am Invincible (AUS). His most recent race was in New Zealand last February during The What The Who (G2) over a mile on a course rated as good. One of the last out of the gate early, the horse started picking off other runners out in front early on in the race, finding himself crossing the wire in second while setting a speed figure of one hundred thirteen. The most recent win for the horse came in his three-year-old season in June of 2022 during The Jean Brat (G1) at a mile in France. Again, one of the last out of the gate, the horse started to make his move at the midway point of the race before going on to win by two and a quarter lengths.
4. Trash Eater (AUS) – desertdog18 – J. Piotrowski – 11/1
Next up we will have our second horse in the field from Australia. Also sired by I Am Invincible (AUS), this colt is the first four-year-old to into the starting gate for Saturday’s race. The bay colt most recently started here in California in the Road Kill Mile (G1) last February. One of the last out of the gate early, the colt didn’t make his move until the field entered the stretch. He fell short of the front as he crossed the wire in sixth, setting a speed figure of one hundred seven. His most recent win came in January of last year in New Zealand during the Jellyton Stakes (G3) at a mile. Also coming from the back of the pack early on in this race, the colt would win by one and three-quarter lengths after making a late run down the stretch.
5. Oldmoon Accepted (IRE) – oldmoonfarms2 – V. Jennings – 13/1
The longshot of Saturday’s field, this four-year-old gelding most recently ran this past January in Florida during the Winged Horse World Cup (G1) at a mile and a quarter. The chestnut came out of the grate towards the rear of the field and never recovered throughout the race, ultimately crossing the wire in twentieth and setting a speed figure of one hundred three. His prior start, which came in November of last year during The Oldmoonfarms Mile (G1). The gelding was slow out of the gate in this race as well but began to pick up the pace at about the four furlong point in the race. He eventually went on to win the mile turf race by a length and a half in 1:33.
6. King Of Sadler’s (GB) – smithbarn – J. Sands – 10/1
Seeking his first graded win, this five-year-old gelding is sired by Ask (GB). The bay gelding made his most recent start this past February in the UAE during The City of Gold (G3) at a mile and a half. The gelding broke out of the gate in seventh and maintained that position until the midway point of the race before getting shuffled back into eighth. He set a speed figure of one hundred nine for the race. His most recent win came in his prior start, which was in Iowa during a mile and a half allowance race over the good turf. The gelding was more forwardly placed in this race, settling into fourth out of the gate and taking over the lead at the midway point of the race.
7. Nevermore Academy – padrebrielite – J. Dorozd – 8/1
Working our way towards the end of the field, this light grey colt by top sire Tapit will be making his graded stakes debut this weekend. His most recent start came here in California during a mile and a half listed stakes race here in California. Breaking sharply out of the gate and settling into second, the colt would briefly gain the lead at the midway point of the race before being passed in the dash down the stretch. He would cross the wire in second with a speed figure of one hundred twenty-one, a lifetime best for the colt. His most recent win came in October of last year during an allowance race over ten furlongs in Texas. The colt led the race from gate to wire to win by two and three-quarter lengths.
8. Rock Reef Racer (IRE) – rubber4 – J. Harty – 7/1
Making his most recent start here in California, this four-year-old bay gelding made that start in December of last year during the Celebration Baby (G1) at a mile and one-eighth. Settling just off the pace early in third, the gelding wasn’t able to make much headway down the stretch as he went on to cross the wire third, setting a speed figure of one hundred fourteen, equaling a lifetime best speed figure. This speed figure came in the gelding’s most recent win which was in the New Zealand 2000 Dark Beers (G1) at a mile. Again, running just off the pace, this time in fourth, the gelding grabbed the lead in the stretch to win by a length and a half.
9. Haack El Galactico – oahaack – J. Biagi – 5/1
Returning to graded company after a step down in class for his last few races, this light grey son of Tapit is out of the EOY and five-million dollar earning broodmare Haack’s Arrogate. The most recent start for the five-year-old came in an allowance race over a mile here in California last month. Breaking fifth in the seven-horse field, the horse began to make his move midway through the race and went on to win by one and three-quarter lengths while setting a speed figure of one hundred sixteen, which was also a lifetime best for the horse. His most recent graded start came in April of last year during The Sundown Mile (G2) where he finished sixth.
10. Cali Adventure – nxtfuture – Q. Piekarski – 7/1
The final horse to go into the gate for this weekend’s race is this local champion five-year-old. The roan horse is returning to graded company after taking a step down in class and will once again be seeking his first graded win. His most recent start came here in California during a Local Championship Stakes over a mile. Breaking out of the gate towards the rear of the pack, he was urged to make his move at the midway point of the race before going on to win by one and three-quarter lengths and setting a speed figure of one hundred eleven. He also won his prior start which was an allowance race over a mile, also here in California. His most recent graded start came in May of last year during The Texas Turf Cup (G3) at a mile and one-eighth in which he finished third.
Flrancho’s Picks:
Win: King Danzig Ready
Place: That Wont Scare Me (AUS)
Show: Nevermore Academy