G1, Cosmopolitan Handicap: New York hosts this decorated field.

New York (NY) Saturday, May 22, 2021 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2615827
Cosmopolitan Handicap
Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $1,500,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds and Older
8 Furlongs | ~1600 Meters | One Mile	Fast Dirt

This week we are headed up to New York where the G1, Cosmopolitan Handicap is carded as one of the feature races on Saturday.  This race is for horses 3 years old and older and will be on a Fast Dirt track at the distance of 8 furlongs.  We have a full field of fourteen horses in this race and all but one of them is a prior Graded winner.  This looks to be a very competitive race with a lot of outstanding horses who will be fighting to get to the wire first and then make that exciting trip over to the winners circle to collect their prize.  The odds makers have formulated their morning line and the post positions have been drawn.  Let us now take a quick preview of the horses that will be running here in New York in the Cosmopolitan Handicap.

1

GRAY LADY DOWN

KY

6M

snape

D Givins

23

5

70%

$1,603,125

96.00

9/1

First out will be this six year old Light Grey Horse that is a scratch bred (GRAYDAR x NUREYEV x SEATTLE SLEW) who in twenty-three starts has found the boards sixteen times which includes five wins.  This horse found a win in the G1, The February States in February of 2020 and has had several hits on the board at the Graded level.  He came back out on 02/13/2021 to defend his title in the G1, February Stakes in Japan and ran a nice 116 speed which was good enough to find a third place finish.  His most recent trip to the track came on 03/20/2021 in Dubai where he ran in the G2, Sand Castle Goldolphin Mile.  He ran fairly flat that day and never found the fire and kick.  He ended up ninth when he crossed the wire with a 107 speed.  He looks to rebound here in New York and he will be getting the services of jockey, D Givens from Kentucky to ride up top for this trip.  This jockey rode this horse most recently in the February Stakes and they look to repeat another good performance together when they head out at post time to the cheers of an excited crowd.

2

SEIZE THE SKY

KY

4G

desertdog10

H Desitter

15

3

60%

$305,749

64.00

15/1

Here we have a four year old Bay Gelding who is a scratch bred (CARPE DIEM x PLEASANT COLONY x CONQUISTADOR CIELO) that has had fifteen lifetime starts with nine hits on the boards.  This prior G3 winner found a nice run in Louisiana in February of this year in the G3, The Pineshaft Handiap where he picked up the win in this 8.5 furlong race.  He came back out again in February of this year on a short rest to run in the G3, Razorback Cap in Arkansas of which he finished in third.  His most recent trip to the track came on 04/25/2021 in California where he traveled 8.5 furlongs in the Mansur Leroys Handicap.  He seemed to be doing well and in a good spot in the race, but in his stretch run he faded back and gave up his challenge in this race and crossed the wire in fifth.  The owner has made the call to jockey, H Desitter who will be coming in from Nebraska to take to the irons.  This pair will be headed out at post time representing the All-Stars Racing residency.

3

BETTOR BEHAVE

KY

4M

newsim2

A Rolling

11

6

82%

$460,859

96.00

9/1

This is a four year old Brown Colt that was sired by Into Mischief who is a prior G2 winner.  He has had eleven career starts with nine hits on the boards and picked up six wins in the process.  His first Graded attempt came when he ran in the G1, The February Stakes in Japan on 02/13/2021.  He tried to give a little more effort in this race when he hit the top of the stretch coming home, but it was not quite enough when he crossed the wire in sixth with a 114 speed.  His owner then set his eye on Dubai and took his horse back out on 03/20/2021 to run in the G2, Sand Castle Goldolphin Mile.  This would be his day to shine when he ran a blistering 120 speed rating to capture the win by two.  For this race here in New York the owner has put in the call to jockey, A Rollings from British Columbia to come in and saddle up with his colt.  This horse is looking for another big race coming off that G2 win and he will make that attempt when he breaks from his post draw representing the Empire State Racing residency.

4

ENJOYENCOURAGEMENT

SKOR

6M

kevoman9

T Small

22

12

86%

$520,995

60.00

8/1

Here we have a six year old Brown Horse that is a scratch bred (ANY GIVEN SATURDAY x SEATTLE SLEW x NUREYEV) who has been on a Hot Streak in his most recent trips to the track.  This horse has been kind to his owner in his twenty-two starts picking up nineteen hits on the boards with twelve wins to his credit.  Back in December of last season he picked up the win in Dubai in a Local Championship Stakes with a 113 speed.  The owner decided to move this horse up in Class and sent him out again for his most recent race in Dubai on 02/20/2021 in the G3, The Not Far Stakes.  There were none better in this field that day when he came off the pace in his stretch run to get up for the win by one and a half.  He had a 117 speed rating that day and he is going to need to bring that speed with him here to New York when he moves up in Class again to take on this field of contenders.  He will get the services of jockey, T Small who will be flying in to come take the mount up top for this race.  The jockey needs to keep this horse focused if he is going to find that fourth win in a row when they break from their gate representing the EAAA Racing residency.

5

NARPAS SWORD

KY

5M

cadet5

A Jolly

18

5

67%

$479,055

112.00

7/1

Next out we have this five year old Bay Horse sired by Giant’s Causeway who will be the only horse in the field that has not captured a Graded win thus far in his career.  He has eighteen lifetime starts with twelve hits to the boards.  The odds makers definitely gave this horse a look as the send him out in there morning line with pretty short odds.  This horse ran back in November here in New York in the G1, Sterile Mile and was doing very well in this race, but could not hold onto his lead in the stretch and ended up finishing up in second with a 116 speed.  His most recent trip to the tack came on 03/20/2021 when he came out in Dubai to run in the G2, Sand Castle Goldolphin Mile.  He had grabbed the lead again by the third call but could not hold on in his stretch run where he was caught be two other horses in the field.  He still finished up in third with again having a 116 speed.  The owner has put in the call to jockey, A Jolly who will be coming in from Louisiana and saddle up in the paddock with this horse.  This horse seems to be in the hunt for a Graded win and we will have to wait and see if Saturday will be the day for him when they head out of their gate draw representing the Empire State Racing residency.

6

INTO OUTCROSSES

KY

4M

givenfinal

Q Cassell

16

8

81%

$2,207,615

162.00

11/1

Coming out next will be this four year old Bay Colt who is a scratch bred (INTO MISCHIEF x DEPUTY MINISTER x FORTY NINER) who in sixteen starts has found the boards in thirteen of his races.  This horse is a multiple G1 winner who has shown in his races that he can travel across both the dirt and turf surfaces with success.  This horse had a four race winning streak going, three of which were G1 wins.  He had a very nice race in the G1, February Stakes in Japan when he made a gate to wire trip to pick up the win by one and a half.  For his most recent race he came back out and ran in Dubai on 03/27/2021 when he ran on the turf in the G1, Sand Castle Fee Duty.  He was doing well in this race traveling just off the leader.  But in his stretch run he started losing ground in this 8.5 furlong race and faded back to cross the wire in sixth.  The owner puts in the call to this horses long time favorite jockey, Q Cassell from Dubai to travel with them here to New York and again take to the saddle for this race.  This horse and jockey seek improvement over their last trip to the track.  This is a tough pairing in this crowd and if on their game could cause a lot of trouble for many contenders here in New York.  They will saddle up in the paddock and head out in the post parade representing the GR Simsters residency.

7

NUKA LEGEND

KY

5M

icbomber7

L Radzinski

13

7

77%

$413,099

108.00

8/1

This is a five year old Bay Horse who is a scratch bred (GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x STREET CRY x AWESOME AGAIN) that has thirteen starts with nice hits on the boards and that collected in his efforts seven wins.  This horse has really been running well in his last four starts and has picked up four wins and a second.  In February he won the G3, The Khartoum Challenge I, in March he was second in the G2, Sand Castle Goldolphin Mile and then came his most recent race on 04/24/2021 here in New York when he ran in the G3, The Chester West Handicap.  He again was on point when this deep closer came from seven back at the third call to make a sharp stretch run and get up by three quarters at the wire and a 116 speed.  For this race on Saturday the owner has placed the call to jockey, L Radzinski from Washington to come in and take the ride up top with his horse.  This horse is coming off four nice races in a row and they will be looking to make it to the boards again when they break from their post draw representing the GR Simsters residency.

8

SAN FRANCISCO

KY

5M

sworddancer

C V  Murphy

23

9

57%

$983,365

216.00

7/1

This is a five year old Brown Horse who was sired by Uncle Mo and in twenty-three starts he has had thirteen strikes on the boards.  Back in November of last season he ran here in New York and had a big race in the G1, Sterile Mile when he popped with a 119 speed and made a big closing effort to pick up the win by one and three quarters.  After that race he had a few starts of which he had difficulty, but then returned for his most recent trip to the track here in New York on 04/24/2021 when he ran in the G3, The Chester West Handicap.  Once again he was attempting a big closing effort in this race, but he came up a little short when he crossed the wire in third just one and a half off.  This horse seems to enjoy traveling across the dirt here in New York and his owner gives him another shot in this big race on Saturday.  The owner has called in a familiar jockey to this horse in CV Murphy who is from Texas.  They will be seeking their first win of the season for this horse when they head out in the post parade to the cheers of an excited crowd.

9

ADMIRAL NIMITZ

KY

4M

personalensign

F Gossett

13

7

77%

$1,083,000

240.00

13/1

Next out we have this four year old Bay Colt who was sired by Cairo Prince.  This horse has thirteen career starts with ten hits on the boards which includes seven wins.  This horse started out this season very nice when he ran in January in California in the G2, San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl Stakes where he hit a career high speed of 117 and picked up a nice G2 win coming form way back in this field.  In February he finished third in the G3, Razorback Cap before turning his eye to his most recent outing in Texas on 04/17/2021.  This was the G3, Double Barreled Mile and on this day his barrels never fired.  He ran very flat and we never saw that big kick out of him that we had seen in prior races.  His owner looks to get him back on track and rebound here in New York as he calls in jockey, F Gossett from California to come in and take the mount for this race.  This is a familiar jockey to this horse and he knows how to ride him when they break from their gate to the cheers of an excited crowd.

10

CAN DO SPIRIT

KY

4M

lasthope1

W Cahill

17

5

65%

$771,106

102.00

13/1

This is a four your old Roan Colt who was sired by Honor Code and that has found his way to the boards in eleven of his seventeen career starts.  Back in July of the 2020 season he ran here in New York in the G2, Shiny Gem Stakes at the distance of 9 furlongs.  He showed up the best in this race when he crossed the wire first by two and three quarter lengths to make his way to the winners circle and collect his G2 accolade.  He has had his share of struggles since that win and we last saw him on the track on 04/24/2021 here in New York when he ran in the G3, The Chester West Handicap.  He tried to fire late in this race and he picked off a lot of horses in his stretch run where he weaved into fourth where he finished.  For this race the owner has placed the call to jockey, W Cahill from Oklahoma.  Perhaps with an old familiar face in the saddle it will spark interest and extra effort out of this horse when they break from their gate representing the Midas residency.

11

STREET STREAMER

KY

4M

upperhand2

O A Haack

15

7

73%

$523,600

92.00

17/1

Next out we have this four year old Bay Colt who is a scratch bred (STREET SENSE x SEEKING THE GOLD x UNBRIDLED) and that has fifteen starts and eleven hits on the boards.  The Given master stables owner moved this horse into a new stable in April of 2020.  He gave this horse some new faces to look at in this stable change and gave him a nice layoff.  He came back to the track in September and showed much improvement in an Allowance race in Kentucky.  This horse has been doing well since that time which includes a win in the G2, Saints Handicap in February with a gate to wire trip and a 116 speed.  He them moved up in Class in his most recent race in Pennsylvania when he ran on 04/10/2021 in the G1, Charles Town Classic at the distance of 9 furlongs.  He was just not able to find his way to the front where he likes to run as he got caught up in traffic early on.  He ended this run crossing the wire in a disappointing eighth spot in that race.  Now he comes to New York where he will get the services of jockey, O A Haack who is coming in from Florida to take the ride up top.  This jockey needs to get this horse out of the gate quickly and on lead in this race where he is most dangerous.  If he can get this rabbit out of the hole and off to a good lead this race could become very interesting.  This pair will head out in the post parade representing the GR Simsters residency.

12

AWESOME GIANTS

KY

4G

beerkeg1

R Hansen

11

4

45%

$207,601

48.00

18/1

Breaking out of gate twelve will be this four year old Chestnut Gelding that was sired by Awesome Again.  He has eleven career starts and has hit the boards in five of his races.  This horse has ran two prior races this season.  In his 2021 début he ran in California in the G2, The Scrub going 9 furlongs.  This would not be a good outing for him as he faded back after the third call to cross the wire in seventh.  This lead up to his most recent race which came on 03/07/2021 in Argentina where he traveled 9 furlongs in the G3, Winchester Cap.  He was sharp this day when he weaved his way just a half off the lead by the third call of the race.  His jockeys, M Kitty gave him a good tap and ask him for extra effort in the stretch and he delivered with a nice performance to get up by one and a half for the win.  He ran an exciting 121 speed that day for his owner.  The horse will need to bring that speed with him here to New York when gets the services of jockey, R Hansen in the saddle.  This jockey will be seeking to get another good run out of this horse on Saturday when they break from their gate representing the Drunken Jockeys Club residency.

13

GARDEN SAVER

KY

7M

skunkbred

K Ledwith

21

8

81%

$418,420

52.00

6/1

This is a seven year old Roan Horse sired by Super Saver that has seventeen trips to the boards in twent-one lifetime starts.  He draws the attention of the odds makers for this race as they make him their first choice by a small margin.  In November this horse ran in Kentucky going 9 furlongs in the G2, Lewis & Clark Stakes where he ran a nice 116 speed and got to the wire in third.  The owner then shipped his horse down to Louisiana for his most recent race where on 03/28/2021 he ran in the G3, Eviscerator Stakes.  He came out of the gate quick with jockey, C Garber in the saddle and he made a very nice gate to wire trip with a 119 speed and won by three and a half lengths.  This G3 winner now heads here to New York where his owner has placed the call to jockey, K Ledwith who is coming over from Japan to take the ride with his horse.  This horse will need to bring that 119 speed with him as he moves up in Class for this race and the jockey needs to get a clean break and move this horse up front quickly.  This pair will be headed out of the paddock and to their post draw representing the GB and Ireland Racing residency.

14

TWIRLING ENFORCER

KY

4M

francua1

C Cook

11

4

64%

$591,755

128.50

15/1

Breaking from the far outside gate will be this four year old Brown Colt sired by Twirling Candy.  He has eleven career starts with seven hits on the boards.  This horse is a prior G2 winner and he found that badge back in June of 2020 when he got up for the win in the G2, Trial By Night Stakes.  He then went on to run in the G1, 2020 Equinic-Hadron Collider where he had a big fade in his stretch run to finish eleventh.  But the owner remained confident in his horse and next ran him here in New York in the G2, The Bettis Handicap where again he made a nice gate to wire run to collect his second G2 win.  This horse seems to have his hot and cold days at the track.  He has run well here in New York before and we will just have to wait and see which side of the faucet is turned on this Saturday.  He will get the services of jockey, C Cook who is from Idaho to take the ride with him.  This jockey needs to bring his snappy whip for this race and get this horse up front quickly in this race.  This horse has the potential here, but the jockey is going to need to keep his rides head in the game and keep him focused when they break from their gate representing the Empire State Racing residency.

Good luck to all owners and horses!

Skippy’s Watch List

3-Bettor Behave:  Coming off a G2 win at the distance with a 120sp.  Can he give another big run?

4-Enjoyencouragement:  Three wins in a row.  Can he make it four?

7-Nuka Legend:  He has been hot this season.  Can he have another hit on the boards?

Tarton’s Long Shot

12-Awesome Giants:  This horse is going off at 18/1 and is coming off a big G3 win in Argentina with a 121 speed.  This four year old needs to be given opportunity to see how he will perform as he moves up in Class for his first G1 attempt.  I am going to give him that opportunity on some of my exotic tickets when I head to the betting windows here in New York.