G1, United Countries Handicap. They will go 11f on the turf.

New Jersey (NJ) Saturday, June 26, 2021 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2616333
United Countries Handicap
Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $750,000
Restricted to 3 Year Olds and Older
11 Furlongs | ~2200 Meters | One Mile and and Three Eighths	Firm Turf

This week we head over to New Jersey where we will find a great race on the card for a field of 3 year old and older horses.  We have a field of thirteen entries in this race which will be at the distance of 11 furlongs across what will be listed as a Firm Turf.  The field looks very competitive for this race and it should be an exciting race to watch when these horses break from the gate.  The odds makers have formulated their morning line odds and the post positions have been drawn.  Let us take a look at the field that will be running in the G1, United Countries Handicap.

1

MAGNIFLY

JPN

5F

italst9

W Cahill

16

6

69%

$422,989

52.00

6/1

Drawing the inside gate will be this five year old Bay Mare that was sired by Deep Impact.  She has sixteen career starts and has found the boards in eleven of those races.  In April of this season she went out in Kentucky going 12 furlongs in the G3, Tabitha Bewitched Stakes and she got up for the win by a neck.  Then she was sent back out for her most recent race in New York on 05/16/2021 to travel 11 furlongs in the G2, Sheepherder Beach Handicap.  She was making an attempt at another gate to wire performance but was caught in the final stretch and cross the wire in second with a 111 speed rating.  She is now being sent out to again take on the boys in this race on Saturday.  The owner remains confident in his horse against this field of contenders and has called in jockey, W Cahill from Oklahoma to take the mount up top.  I would expect the jockey to get this horse out quick and to the front coming out of this favorable gate draw for the horses running style.  They will be headed out at post time here in New Jersey representing the Empire State Racing residency.

2

RIZLA’S IMAGE

IRE

5M

supapogs8

K Bowen

16

7

81%

$3,804,985

2.00

5/1

Next out we have this five year old Bay Horse who was sired by Sea The Stars.  This multiple G1 winner has sixteen career starts and has found the boards thirteen times in those races.  He has three starts this season and has not missed the boards in any of these races going the distance of 12 furlongs in each.  In March he came out in California and ran in the G2, The Sandy Ray Handicap and picked up a second place finish with a 115 speed.  His owner then sent him back out for his most recent trip in Germany where he traveled 12 furlongs on the yielding turf.  This front runner was making a gate to wire attempt but was caught late to finish in second in this $48700 NW1s Allowance race.  On Saturday the owner has called upon the services of jockey, K Bowen who will be coming in from Minnesota to take the ride with his horse.  I look for this horse to run at or near the front in this race when they break from their post draw representing the GR Simsters residency.

3

SEEKER OF PAIN

ENG

4G

lenny27

K Banner

13

4

69%

$95,291

13.06

23/1

This is a four year old Bay Gelding that was sired by Dubawi who is on a hot streak and not missed the boards in his three most recent starts, all of which were at the Allowance level.  He has hit the boards in nine of his thirteen races and the owner is going to be giving this horse his first opportunity to run at the Graded level.  This will be a big jump in Class for this horse, but the distance looks right for him.  The odds makers have shown some concerns in their morning line as they make him one of the longer choices in the field.  In this horses most recent start he ran on 05/13/2021 in Nebraska going 11 furlongs in a $9700 NW4L Allowance.  He closed very nicely in his stretch run to catch the wire first by three and a quarter lengths with a 110 speed.  The owners sends out his horse in this race to be guided by jockey, K Banner from Pennsylvania who will need to find a little extra effort out of his ride and try to make a nice closing effort down the final stretch.  This pairing will be headed out of the paddock representing the GR Simsters residency.

4

WORPEDO

IRE

4M

deyoto8

GD Mate

15

4

53%

$190,025

22.02

9/1

This is a four year old Bay Colt that was sired by Camelot and that has found the boards in eight of his fifteen career starts.  He has already hit the track five times this season but seems to have no problems with shorter rest periods and frequent starts.  This horse seems to take well on both the dirt and turf surfaces and has ran his three most recent starts on the grass.  This horse is a prior Listed Stakes winner and that came his way in his most recent start on 05/29/2021 when he traveled 11 furlongs in Maryland in the Creepshow Turf Endurance.  He was out quick and to the front in this race and no one could catch him in the stretch for home.  He made a nice gate to wire trip and got up for the win by three and a quarter with a 110 speed rating.  For the race here on Saturday the owner has called in the services of jockey, GD Mate who will be flying in from New Zealand to take the trip up top with this horse.  This should be another front runner in this field when they break from their gate representing the Midas residency.

5

CAMELOT’ SON

IRE

5M

pisanof

Z Kentucky

23

8

48%

$378,590

49.50

6/1

Here we have a five year old Bay Horse that was sired by Camelot and in twenty-three of his career starts he has found the boards in eleven of his races.  He had a nice start two races back when in May he ran 11 furlongs in California in the G3, The Golden Bridge where he was trying to make a good closing effort on his way for home.  He came up short but did manage to cross the wire in third with a 114 speed.  For his most recent trip to the track he went back out on 06/05/2021 in Oklahoma to go 11 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Majestic Water Turf Stayer.  He again made a good closing effort in his final stretch run to come in second with a 112 speed.  For our race here in New Jersey the owner has made the call to a familiar jockey to his horse in Z Kentucky who will be traveling in from Ireland to take to the saddle for this race.  He looks to get some extra out of this horse in the stretch run for home and find an opening for him to close.  This pair will be headed out to their post draw representing the Universal Racing Club residency.

6

KHELLENDROS

KY

5G

canyontx2

A Jolly

19

7

68%

$514,646

94.03

7/1

This is a five year old Bay Gelding that is a scratch bred (GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x STREET CRY x SADLER’S WELLS) that has been doing very well for his owner.  He has nineteen career starts and thirteen hits on the boards.  He has really been stepping things up this season as he comes out in February to pick up a Local Championship in Kentucky, then a second place finish in Florida in the G3, Pan Americana Handicap and then he traveled to Germany for his most recent race on 05/09/2021.  On this day he would travel 11 furlongs in the G2, The M-Class of which he had another good trip.  He stayed pretty far back in this race and then by the third call he had weaved his way into second.  Down the stretch the jockey timed it just right as he drove his horse to pick up the win by three quarters.  For our race here in New Jersey the owner is calling upon the services of jockey, A Jolly who is coming in from Louisiana to take to the irons for this trip.  There is a lot of up front speed in this race and the jockey will most likely try to take advantage of that with this late closer when they break from their gate draw representing The Minnesota Testbarn Residency.

7

TOLL AND THUNDER

KY

4M

sremel9

E Newcomb

12

2

58%

$107,905

13.13

15/1

This is a four year old Bay Colt that was sired by Awesome Again that has found the boards in seven of his twelve career starts.  This season has been good for this horse has he has started four times and never missed hitting the boards.  He has been putting in some good efforts and has ran in two Listed Stakes in his two most recent starts, but has been beating out at the wire in both of those races.  In April he ran in Argentina in the Coominya Duds Turf Stayer of which he closed for second with a 108 speed.  Then the owner sent his horse back out for his most recent race on 05/16/2021 to travel 10.5 furlongs in the Strong Belwas Turf Route.  He showed some much improved speed with a 114 but it was only good enough for him to find a third place finish.  This horse has been showing improvement and jockey, E Newcomb from Ireland is coming in to see if he can get more out of this horse as they move up in Class for this race.  I expect to see this horse just off the leaders in this race if he has a good trip when they break from there gate draw representing the Empire State Racing residency.

8

CUBOCYCLOID

JPN

4M

5wide

Z Ayya

15

5

53%

$277,441

9.00

13/1

This is a four year old Bay Colt that was sired by Deep Impact that has fifteen career starts and has found his way to the boards in eight of those races.  He has shown his ability to run on the Poly surface as well as the turf.  In January of this season he came out and had a very good trip on the Poly in a Listed Stakes in New York, the Poly Wants A Cracker.  A 111 speed rating was good enough to put away the field as he won by two lengths.  His most recent trip to the track came on 05/29/2021 when he traveled 11 furlongs in Maryland in the Creepshow Turf Endurance.  He found himself over ten lengths back in third place when he hit the third call of the race.  But he made a big closing effort in the stretch and was able to close the gap and grab second a little more than three lengths off.  He ran a 108 speed in that race and the owner is looking to see some improvement in that number here in New Jersey.  Taking the trip with this horse will be jockey, Z Ayya from New York.  This horse has had several unfruitful Graded starts in the past and they look to change that when they head out for the post call representing The Canadian Thoroughbred Residency.

9

POWER OF THE JULII

ENG

5G

atw16

T Small

25

4

56%

$217,339

34.75

7/1

Next we have this five year old Bay Gelding that was sired by Frankel that has twenty-five career starts and has hit the boards fourteen times.  This horse was running in Claiming races and doing well when back in August of last year he caught the eye of his new owner that put in a claim and brought this horse to his stables.  This horse has done well under his new ownership only missing the boards once since being claimed and that came in his most recent trip to the track.  In April he went out and ran 10.5 furlongs in Paris and got up for third in the G1, The Good Day.  He returned to the track for his most recent outing on 05/16/2021 when he ran 10.5 furlongs in Ireland in the G1, Tattersalls Gold of which he did not have as successful of a trip.  He began to tire around the third call and fell back in this race to cross the wire in a disappointing seventh with a 108 speed.  Here in New Jersey his owner returns him to the track and has called upon the services of jockey, T Small from Germany to come in and take the ride up top.  This jockey has paired up with this horse in the past and should know what kind of race this horse likes to run.  They will be headed out together to the turf representing the East-West Connection residency.

10

BROOKLYN BOMBER

ARG

4G

waremblem8

R Bokie

13

6

77%

$225,790

20.00

15/1

This is a four year old Bay Gelding that was sired by Hit It A Bomb that in thirteen of his career starts has found the boards in ten races.  This horse has been improving and trying to move up in Class.  In March his owner sent out his horse in Iowa to run 11 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Mambo Wildcat Turf Stayer.  He had a nice trip in that race and closed nicely in his stretch run to get up for the win with a 114 speed rating.  He again tried to move up in Class and was sent out for his most recent outing in Germany on 05/09/2021 where he was entered in the G2, The M-Class.  This move up in Class was not a trip of which he could find the boards when he crossed the wire in fourth with a 109 speed.  Sights are now set for New Jersey for this horse and owner and they looked toward jockey, R Bokie from Virginia to hop in the saddle and take this trip.  This is a new fellowship with jockey and horse and I am sure the jockey has gotten clear instructions as to riding this mount.  They will being heading out in the post parade representing the Universal Racing Club residency.

11

ELUSIVE KANALOA

JPN

5M

ddkstables2

D Givins

19

4

63%

$341,566

20.00

6/1

Here we have a five year old Bay Horse that is sired by Lord Kanaloa who in nineteen starts has hit the boards in twelve of his trips to the track.  In his first race of this season he went out in March in Japan to run in a Local Championship of which he handily won in a good closing effort for the wire.  He then returned on 05/01/2021 in Berkshire to run across a turf track listed as good that day in the 10.5 furlong G3, The Loxley Stakes.  He had another good effort from near six lengths back at the third call to find his way to a second place finish just missing by three quarters.  He had a 113 speed rating in that race and he is going to need all of that speed here in New Jersey when jockey, D Givins from Kentucky jumps in the saddle to take the ride.  This pair should be closing late in this race with a good clean trip and stretch run.  They will saddle up in the paddock and make their way out in the post parade to the cheers of an excited crowd.

12

YOU PISA JANE

JPN

4G

parramatta

R Reveiz

10

1

50%

$86,744

0.00

50/1

This is a four year old Light Grey Gelding that was sired by Victoire Pisa who is coming in to this race after breaking his maiden his last time out at the distance of 8 furlongs.  The odds makers share their concerns in making this horse the longest choice in their morning line.  This horse does lack in experience and has never traveled the distance before and is taking a huge jump in Class.  I feel I must share in these concerns with the odds makers.  The horse last ran on 04/13/2021 in Japan in a $50600 Local Maiden race.  He ran a nice 107 speed against that field to get up for the win by two lengths.  This horse will have some high hurdles to overcome and prove to be a contending in this field on Saturday.  The owner acquired the services of jockey, R Reveiz who was looking for a mount in this race over at the jocks room.  This pair will be head out to the turf at post time representing the Universal Racing Club residency.

13

SONICEIDIDITTWICE

KY

5M

trotking4

F Gossett

20

4

70%

$400,370

42.00

9/1

Coming out of the far outside gate will be this five year old Bay Horse that was sired by Declaration Of War.  He as made twenty starts in his career and has found the boards in fourteen of those races.  He has made several Graded starts, but finds difficulty in racing at this level.  This horse went out in March of this year and did capture a win in an Allowance race in Germany.  He was then sent back out for his most recent trip on 05/09/2021 to again run in Germany in the G2, The M-Class which was at the distance of 11 furlongs.  Another disappointment fell his way at the Graded level when he crossed the wire back in ninth place and was over thirteen lengths back when he lingered across the wire with a 102 speed rating.  He is now here in New Jersey where he will need to show much improvement against this field.  To assist him in these efforts the owner has called up jockey, F Gossett from California to come in and take the ride up top.  In this horses best efforts we usually see him closing fairly late and in the stretch run.  The jockey is going to be seeking to give him that opportunity and will probably give this horse some pops of the whip to see if he can get some more fire out of those legs coming for home.  This pair will be coming out to take their spot in the thirteenth gate representing the Empire State Racing residency.

Good luck to all owners and horses!

Skippy’s Watch List

5-Camelot’s Son:  Looks hungry and is coming off some recent good starts.  Is he ready?

6-Khellendros:  The horse had a nice G2 win last time out.  Can he pick up a win in New Jersey?

11-Elusive Kanaloa:  Coming off two nice starts.  Can this Local Champ find a Graded win?

Tarton’s Long Shot

10-Brooklyn Bomber:  This horse in recent races has been showing some promise.  His last time out he showed up in fourth in the G2, The M-Class and has faced several of the entries in this race before.  The horse drew a good jockey to work with in this race and could show up as the surprise in this race.  At 15/1 I think he needs to be on some of my exotic tickets when I head to the betting windows on Saturday.