Big Race Preview 2874

Race: 2874.5515 Doomben Cup – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Queensland
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

Rain God heads this field of turf distance runners. This time he is cutting back to a mile and a quarter from his last few races at a mile and a half. He has only won once in the last six months but he has been facing some of the toughest runners in the sim. He had a clear lead in his last race only to just get beat near the wire. He was third in this race last year but there is no Bristol Rovers or I am Scheming in this race. He should do well here.

Title Duke is the second favorite in this race but he has not won a race in over a year. His has been close in a few of his recent races and running solid speed figures. This seven year old will need his best effort to win here. Gerfly’s Deed is fresh off a second place in the G1 Keg of Guinness. He has been pretty solid at this distance and he is lightly raced enough to think he can still improve a bit.

Rise to KLP has won two races in a row including his last in the G1 Keg of Guinness. This old veteran is on a roll and does not appear to have lost a step. His deep closing style can put him in a position in this race where he has to chase down Rain God and that could be a lot to over come. The long shot play here could be Grimnosh. The grizzled five year old is the only speed in the race and that could mean he sticks around for a piece of the pie.

Race: 2874.0114 Ugly Breeders Bowl Distaff – Grade I – $450,000
Track: California
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

Cold Storage is the slight favorite here in California. The pace here looks to be hot and that is where Cold Storage likes to run. She was a wire to wire winner at a mile and a quarter last time out in the G1 Virgin Mary Stakes. Her speed figures are as good as the boys at these distances. She has only won one race in her career when she did not set the pace and that was on the dirt over a year ago. If she does not break well and make the lead she could be vulnerable.

Empire Reef is probably the runner that will set the pace here. She only has one run on turf and that was not too bad. She ran a solid speed figure fading to fourth in the end. She is back at a distance she has had more success at but with the likely hood of her receiving pace pressure she could also be vulnerable. Thirteenth Date is a very good miler stretching out a bit. She has won at this distance before and her running style should put her in a position to run well.

Othfly’s Mambo is here and she will add even more pace to the race. She goes straight to the lead most races and that will be a crowded place to be this week. If Dreaming of Love can step up her game a bit I do not think she will ever have this set up ever again. She should have a world of pace to run at from off the pace and that could put her on top this week.

Race: 2874.3815 New Hampshire Handicap – Grade I – $600,000
Track: New Hampshire
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Reigning older handicap horse Call of the Wild II makes his first start since a third place finish in the G1 Sand Castle Classic. This guy shows up more times than not with over eight million in earnings in just twenty one career starts. He usually gets good position on the track stalking the early pace. He has regularly taken breaks throughout his career and has done well coming off the layoffs. He is the class of this field and he should give a good account of himself.

Unprecedented is on a roll and that should not be ignored. He has been running some big speed figures and comes off an impressive win in the Maryland Special. He too should have a good stalking trip but still may be a step or two behind the favorite. Crafty Victory has been running some very nice races finishing second and third in graded company. He steps up in company but seems to fit well here. He could very well run in the top three again but will need to really step it up if he wants the win.

Anticosti is back in grade I company. He has had to step back down to the allowance level to get wins recently. His last stakes win was the Swamps last summer. He is back in good form now and faces a tough bunch of runners. He was second last time out in a grade II and if he keeps up the form he could be in the mix at the end of this race. Toy Maker looks like a serious threat to win this race. He will be near the pace and if there is no other pace in this race he could very well wire this field. He is the only other runner in the field to have run a speed figure recently that matches Call of the Wild II. Should be a dandy.