Preview – The Nakayama Handicap
Japan (JPN)
Saturday, February 24, 2018 — 3:00 PM EST | Race ID: 1944247
The Nakayama Handicap
Grade 2 Stakes – Purse $375,000
Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older
One Mile and One Eighth on Turf
# 1
kingvincible silversun25 barn m anitou 17/1
This four year old son of Invincible Spirit comes in fresh off an impressive start where he posted speed of 113 in a runner up finish on January 20. Has two career wins in eleven starts including a win back in May at the “2017 GRS 2000 Guineas”. The recent speed is hard to ignore and he might surprise here today in his first Grade 2 start.
# 2
spirit journey justicesmu barn j ventura 22/1
This four year old son of Invincible Spirit has finished in the money in six of his ten career starts including two wins. Comes in well rested having not raced since early November where he finished seventh at Grade 1 “The McKinnon”. Showed nice speed at this distance in a win in July and hopes to repeat that and surprise the competition.
#3
panama swany barn r harzheim 9/2
Shake off the cobwebs and polish off the rust, another of our entries that has not competed since late August. His last seven races prior to the layoff have all been at Graded Stakes and he has had some success having finished in the money in four of those starts. He loves this distance and will be comfortable here out of the three hole. Hopefully the long rest works in his favour.
# 4
the navigator dan adeeprock9 barn b simmons 130/1
Entering his first Graded Stakes following an eleventh placed finish last time out at the “Scratched Up Turf Sprint”. Surprisingly trying this distance for the first time when most of his success has come at much shorter sprints. Has yet to reach speed of 100 or greater and will need that kind of speed to compete here. Not ready for this level yet and will not be a factor here today.
#5
dragons end quilly8 barn je biagi 5/1
This six year old son of Shamardal last start was an impressive win in Norway at the “Marit Paulsens Memorial” back in August. He comes in very well rested; a pattern of approximately two months off between races that his owner has stuck with and it has been successful. I expect that he will be in the mix today against this competitive field and would not be surprised to see him on the board.
#6
king’s stone miserman barn a smith 7/1
It has been more than two years since this son of Grindstone has found the winner’s circle and during that time he has only been in the money thirty percent of the time. His last win was the Local Championships at Idaho. He is hoping a change to a shorter distance will help as he has been going ten to twelve furlongs in all but five of his career starts. He has shown some speed so he might compete here today.
# 7
dark caleria deeprock17 barn n haller 61/1
This four year old son of Big Blue Kitten has participated in five Grade 3 Stakes. He won “The Force Stakes” back in April and since then has tried his hand at one other at this level and two Grade 1. Unfortunately he has struggled in all of these starts finishing well back of the lead and most recently finishing last in a field of fourteen on New Year’s Day. He is overmatched here and will not be a factor.
#8
youngy’s mischief croissant barn r williams 6/1
This six year old son of Pivotal had a victory at eight and a half furlongs in his last start at home in England. He started his career with an impressive speed rating over one hundred in his first race and has equaled that feat in all but three of his eighteen starts. His consistent speed cannot be ignored and he should definitely compete with this field of twelve.
#9
life of war icbomber10 barn j van dam 4/1
This impressive entry has finished first or second in all but six of twenty starts including a streak of five wins in a row after he was gelded. He shows consistent speed over one hundred and has performed well at this distance in the past. Definitely seems like a force to be reckoned with.
#10
lake in the hills kaner8 barn g moss 4/1
This Local Champion of England comes in with two wins in a row at Stakes races with the last being very impressive having reached a speed of one hundred eighteen. His last visit to Japan was not memorable as he was not a factor in a Grade 3 Stakes. That was a year ago though and I think he will fare better today and should finish in the money.
#11
turning fast dkyoung5 barn r dowell 23/1
This seven year old had one race in his first year and then took the next three and a half years off before returning to the track last April. In his nine starts last year he finished in the money in eight of them including two wins. Taking a step up today entering just his second Graded Stakes race while at the same time trying a much shorter track than he is accustomed to. I think he will be overmatched here but am interested to see how she responds against this field.
#12
st. augustine theoneonlymtk barn p kelly 9/1
Our youngest entry at just four years old comes in following a fourth place finish in her most recent start against a competitive field. She finished 2017 with a runner up at the Grade 3 “Lipstick Guineas” and looks to add to that success with a step up to Grade 2 here today. Interested to see how he fares here against some more experienced competition.
dunnpicks
panama
lake in the hills
life of war
longshot
king’s stone