Nacogdoches Handicap G1 $500,000

 

                                         

Texas (TX)

 Saturday, February 22, 2014 — 12:40:00 PM EST | Race ID: 1262733

Nacogdoches Handicap

Grade I / Group 1 – Sponsored – Purse : $500,000

Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older, Fillies and Mares only

16 Furlongs | ~3200 Meters | Two Miles    DIRT

 Today we travel to Texas for the G1 The Nacogdoches Handicap over the marathon distance of 2 miles on dirt. Featuring a classy international field of 11 well-bred horses trained to the minute by some of our best trainers, competing for $500,000 in prize money and trophies. We have perfect conditions for racing and a good crowd is in attendance. Lets have a look at the runners and see if we can find the winner.

STORMY BASEBALL (bigtate02 – Northwest Racing Circuit)  21 runs, 3 wins $148,835

STORMY ATLANTIC x MINESHAFT x BROAD BRUSH

Experienced, stakes placed 4 year old brown filly by accomplished sire Stormy Atlantic. She is untested on this track, stepping over the marathon trip for the first time and also stepping up in class.  3 runs back she won a 9F Allowance (NW3x) race in Arkansas (America), on dirt, running SP 92. She followed that with a well beaten 4^th of 4 in a 9F Allowance (NW3x) race in Louisiana (America), on dirt, running SP 80. Her final lead up run resulted in an inglorious 13^th in another 9.5F Allowance (NW4x) race in Oklahoma (America), on turf, running SP 59. To be ridden by R Romero to jump from gate 1. Hopelessly out of form at the moment, no.   ODDS 23/1

HARDHEAD PONY (hardhead)  15 runs, 4 wins $344,442

ZOFFANY (IRE) x DAVID JUNIOR x MCDUCK (AUS)

 Another lightly raced 4 year old chestnut filly by Zoffany who is untested on this track and is way up in class. 3 runs back she ran 2^nd in a low level 16F Maiden Claim in Thailand, on dirt, running SP 55. She followed that with a win in another low level 10.5F Maiden Claim in Dubai. Her final lead up run resulted in an inglorious 7^th in an 8.5F Claimer again in Dubai, on turf, running SP 65. To be ridden by T Klein from gate 2. Hopelessly outclassed.  ODDS 627/1

FRACASTORO (youngmc –  Northwest Racing Circuit)  14 runs, 1 wins $39,141

GIROLAMO x KINGMAMBO x SUMMER SQUALL

 Another sparingly raced 4 year old chestnut filly by young sire Girolamo out of the G2 winning mare September Royalty who is untested on this track and being tried over the longer trips although way up in class. An inglorious 8^th in a 9F Claimer on sloppy dirt was followed by a poor 6^th in a 6.5F Claimer in Colorado (America), on dirt, running SP 73. Her final lead up run resulted in a fair 2^nd place finish in a 10.5F Claimer in Ohio (America), on good dirt, running SP 83. To be ridden by U Greenleaf from gate 3. Also outclassed.   ODDS 77/1

LOCO COLONY (jrogue5)  7 runs, 5 wins $300,035

 MONTJEU x STORM BIRD x PLEASANT COLONY

My No 1 Selection:  This sparingly raced, well-bred, G2 winning 4 year old bay filly by supreme staying sire Monsun is yet is untested on this track but will run all day. 3 runs back she easily won a 14F Allowance race in Ireland, on dirt, running SP 85. She followed that with an impressive win at stakes level in the 14F Lakunza Dirt Mare Stayer in Germany, on dirt, running a smart SP 107. Her final lead up run resulted in another impressive win in the 16F G2 The Pittsburgh Stayer in Pennsylvania (America), on dirt, running a solid SP 106. To be ridden by P Wright from gate 4. Has been putting her opposition away with ease, meeting a fairly weak G1 field here and I can see her adding a G1 to her already impressive record.   ODDS 7/2

 

SECRET COLONY(steelewolf) 9 runs, 6 wins $199,642

DYNAFORMER x PLEASANT COLONY x SECRETARIAT

My No 2 Selection:  Another sparingly raced well bred stakes winning 4 year old bay filly by accomplished sire Dynaformer who is untested on this track but relishes the long trips and looks suited to the conditions. 3 runs back she blitzed a small field winning a 15F Allowance race in Paris, on dirt, running SP 94. She followed that with another easy win at stakes level in the 12F Lets See Here* in Denmark, on dirt, running a fast SP 109. Her final lead up run resulted in a fine 3^rd place finish in the 11F G2 Disco Inferno Stakes* in Sweden, on dirt, running a smart SP 107. To be ridden by B Bennington from gate 5. Ran on powerfully last start indicating the longer trip will suit her nicely. Very strong winning chance.   ODDS 3/1

MISS BUNKER (dochman3)  15 runs, 4 wins $344,442

ARCH x STORM BIRD x GRAUSTARK

My No 3 Selection:  Lightly raced, well-bred Graded placed 4 year old bay filly by accomplished sire Arch, loves this track and finds suitable conditions here. 3 runs back she easily won a 12F Allowance (NW4x) race in Oklahoma (America), on dirt, running a solid SP 106. She followed that with a fine 2^nd place finish in the 14F G1 The Empire State Stayer* in New York (America), on dirt, running SP 102. Her final lead up run resulted in a gallant 2^nd in the 16F G2 The Pittsburgh Stayer* in Pennsylvania (America), on dirt, running SP 104. To be ridden by V Webb from gate 6. Racing in great heart and will be very hard to beat.  ODDS 2/1

 

MONORO (italst – Empire State Racing) 15 runs, 2 wins $82,299

MONSUN (GER) x MEDAGLIA D’ORO x MISWAKI

This beautifully bred 4 year old chestnut filly by champion staying sire Monsun out of the G3 winning mare Swank has raced on this track and looks suited to the longer trips and conditions although stepping up sharply in grade. 3 runs back she powered home to run 2^nd in a 6.5F Allowance (NW2L) race in Maryland (America), on dirt, running SP 95. She followed that with an easy win in a 12F Allowance (NW1x) race in Arkansas (America), on dirt, running SP 86. Her final lead up run resulted in a 7^th place finish in a 7F Allowance (NW2s) in Texas (America), on dirt, running SP 89. To be ridden by L Israel from gate 7. The trainer looks to be giving this girl a try over the marathon journey, which she should be suited to, hoping to get G1 status into a very impressive pedigree. Outside chance.   ODDS 8/1

 

MAKE TWIN (lostkey11 – South Africa Racing Association) 16 runs, 5 wins $134,013

MAKE RESERVATIONS x LANGFUHR x TWINING

Another lightly raced 4 year old roan filly by unheralded sire Make Reservations who is untested on this track and but looks suited to the longer trips and conditions although has been tested in higher grades before without success. 3 runs back she ran an inglorious 7^th at stakes level in the 11F Covarrubias Dirt Filly in Idaho (America), on dirt, running SP 89. She followed that with a hard fought win in a 11F Allowance race in Vermont (America), on dirt, running SP 88. Her final lead up run resulted in another solid win in a 11F Allowance (NW4x) race in California (America), on dirt, running SP 93. To be ridden by J Hladun from gate 8. Consistent filly racing well but I think a few others will have her measure.   ODDS 19/1

DYKESTRA (jakplummer – East-West Connection))  8 runs, 6 wins $198,966

DYNAFORMER x EL GRAN SENOR x KEY TO THE MINT

My No 4 Selection:  Another sparingly raced 4 year old bay filly by accomplished sire Dynaformer who is untested on this track but seems to excel over the long trips and looks suited to the conditions. 3 runs back she won a 13F Allowance race in Maryland (America), on dirt, running SP 82. She followed that with another pulverizing (13 lengths) win in a 16F Allowance race in Louisiana (America), on dirt, running SP 71. Her final lead up run resulted in yet another win in a 15F Allowance race again in Louisiana (America), on dirt, running SP 97. To be ridden by M McClendon to jump from gate 9. Highly promising filly improving all the time, must be a good chance of being in the finish.  ODDS 11/1

ELA MONA SOU (maghie –  MIDAS)  9 runs, 2 wins $46,053

MONSUN (GER) x ELA-MANA-MOU x IRISH RIVER

This stoutly bred 4 year old bay filly by champion staying sire Monsun looks to be a late maturing horse that will run all day. Untested on this track but conditions will suit although facing some classy fillies here. 3 runs back she easily won a 12F Hot Race in Florida (America), on dirt, running SP 68. She followed that with a 2^nd place finish in a 13 F Allowance (NW2x) in Idaho (America), on dirt, running SP 84. Her final lead up run resulted in a poor 4^th (4 runners) in a 12F Allowance (NW3L) race in Indiana (America), on dirt, running SP 72. To be ridden by B F Abman from gate 10. Outclassed at this stage.  ODDS 72/1

  

ANEMIA DE BESOS (prometheus – Hispano Parlante) 28 runs, 16 wins $534,422

SMART STRIKE x A.P. INDY x DEPUTY MINISTER

My No 5 Selection:  Very experienced, beautifully bred stakes winning 6 year old brown mare by top sire Smart Strike out of the stakes winning mare Indy’s Minister is untested on this track but looks suited to the conditions. After winning 2 X 14F Hot Races on dirt, she ran an uninspiring 4^th in the 16F G2 The Pittsburgh Stayer in Pennsylvania (America), on dirt, running SP 96. Very capable mare on her day that can figure in the finish if she hits her true form. Not sure with this mare but can’t entirely dismiss her. To be ridden by H McCoy from gate 11.   ODDS 5/1

1^st place = LOCO COLONY

2^nd place = SECRET COLONY

3^rd place = MISS BUNKER

4^th place = DYKESTRA

5^th place = ANEMIA DE BESOS

 

           Greg (gcliffo)