SuperPeg leads the field in New Hampshire Handicap
Fans of the dirt classic handicap division flock this weekend to the Granite State for the ninth running of the New Hampshire Handicap. The 9f Grade I event (it was classed a G2 in the inaugural running in 1999) again carries a $600k purse, making this race one of the richest for the division. Most years the winner is not an obvious one; favorites have won twice, but most years they finish well back in the field. Prince of Gold, who won in 2003 at 11-1 odds, set the stakes record with a final time of 1:46.4.
Post-time favorite at 5-1 is SuperPeg himself. Pigeon3’s star 5yo Ermington Pegusus rolled to a new stakes record in the G2 Eviscerator. Perhaps the most consistently dominant older horse ever, a win here moves him up to #4 on the all-time earnings list. It also gives him back the #1 divisional ranking that he, Awesome Force, and Solar Song have been trading around every time each races. What else can be said of the superhorse who closes from nowhere like lightning? ErPeg is fast, he’s in fine form, and should handle this field with ease.
But wait, at 6-1 Manius the Mighty is quietly lurking in the wings to take down the Superhorse. Waremblem1’s 5yo Kingmambo son is fresh off back to back 114SPs and just picked up his first graded win last out. He’s been playing in the ranks of the big boys for just under a year, falling on hard time throughout. It had to really hurt to see Manius run a 117 and only finish second in the G3 Gravestone in December. But he seems to have found his winning ways and looks a very strong threat to SuperPeg. He loves to push the lead, so watch for a super stretch run with SuperPeg doing his level best to mow down the Mighty one.
One of four at 8-1 (shows just how good this field is when six are at 8-1 or less), Cool Bluff drew the lucky rail gate. He most recently lost to Manius The Mighty by a full length in a G3, but make no mistake, he is a very fast horse. How else would he earn a 116SP on his record (from two races back)? Like Manius, Cool Bluff loves to be right up on or very close to the lead, which sets up a fast pace up from for the closers to enjoy. The 4yo Pine Bluff colt, trained by Toplight, makes just his second graded start since a pretty good 2yo campaign. Still looking for a grade victory of his own after 25 starts.
The second 8-1 entrant, trained by Ironmcc, is IronBock. The Grand Slam 4yo ran a huge race to win the G2 Soupy Sailslast out, posting a 117SP (only SuperPeg in this field has gone faster). Ordinarilythat would set him up for a huge bounce, but Iron Bock has shown he’s capableof stringing together multiple 113+ SPs in a row. He’s going to want to upfront all my his lonesome, but with Cool Bluff and Manius The Mighty hard onhis heels, can he get to his usual comfy daylight lead by the first turn?
The last time our third 8-1 entrant dropped from a marathon down to classic distances, he took the G2 Bertrando in fine style. Trainer Mook must have high hopes for his 4yo A.P. Indy colt Non Negative. Popped a 116 two back in losing to Iron Bock in the Soupy Sails. He clearly enjoys the 9f distance, making him a good threat here. Add in a healthy ability to stalk or close, plus that aforementioned distance change, and Mook just may be getting a positive.
The last 8-1 horse is Mambo Bones, a 6yo son of Kingmambo trained by Jrogue5. Last win was a week short of a year ago, but he’s been hitting the board quite a bit in graded company. Although he’s never actually won at 10f, the horse generally earns high SPs at that longer distance. Have to like him for at least a top 5 with the way he always runs gamely to the bitter end. Closes from well back too, so with him and SuperPeg sweeping into the stretch together this should be a visually exciting race.
Doza thinks Sundays Rule, but does the 5yo son of High Yield agree? Has lucky-number-13 wins behind him, but still looking for that G1 win. He is a strong contender with an unusual past. Won a G2 (the Heat Less) in April of his 3yo campaign, then settled o some allowance victories as a 4yo. At 5, surprise, he’s back! Took down a 9f G3 last out with a 114, and has been earning 103+ SPs for seven straight starts. Very strong horse more than fits in this crowd. 9-1 odds.
207’s Bluegrass Derby winner Ataun starts at 10-1 odds. Owned by Palmisland, the 4yo son of Gone West hasn’t won in four starts this year, but he was second behind ErPeg in their January debut, and has been posting respectable SPs in graded company. Ataun’s been struggling lately, closing very nicely but still running out of room in the stretch. The colt might benefit from a return to 10f if he gets another chance there. he may also be needing a break after 21 tough races. Have to respect such a good horse, but he doesn’t appear to be a huge threat here despite some solid recent speed figures.
Also 10-1 is Pazbarn’s Triple A Prayer. The Aldebaran colt last won on Sim World Cup day when he beat a group of talented 9f horses including Fly For Buda and Waymart. Although out of the winner’s circle in eight starts since, he’s still been good enough for at least sixth every time, and was most recently a strong second in a G3. Seems to be coming back into form, and the 113 last out was his best yet. Great things figure in the colt’s future. This time around hard to say if he can stay with the speed he’ll encounter, but should at least give a good accounting.
Verona’s Otto Causes was a half-length out of a Breeders Bowl upset at similar odds last October, but the 5yo has been struggling since. Blame his idiot handler for keeping him in big stuff when the Giant’s Causeway son probably needs a) a go on grass; b) a an easier race; and/or c) a long vacation. If Causes has his way he’ll shoot straight for the front and try to hang on futilely while being run down at the top of the stretch. Then again, miracles have been known to happen, and he is fully capable of pulling big numbers out of nowhere on occasion. 13-1.
At 15-1 is one of my favorite horses to follow, Fly For Buda. At 6, the son of Sadler’s Wells has had a long and glorious career, highlighted by graded wins in three of his five racing years including a beauty of a Middle Jewel Stakes win. Gg’s star horse is certainly slowing down. After all, he hasn’t won in almost a year, and while he’s still running 100+ regularly, that isn’t nearly enough to win this race. Could very well sneak up for a top-5, but doubt he’ll make the winner’s circle this time around. Still, love to see the old boy still toughing it out and holding his own in a very difficult division.
Corzak’s Synchronization goes off at 17-1. The 4yo Tactical Cat colt is a G1 winner on the turf, but makes just his second dirt start here. That one other was a 12f affair just under a year ago; Sync ran second to a graded winner, and clearly earned a shot here. Has done some serious grass damage at around this distance, only question is if he can duplicate his best turf SPs (like the 116 he earned on DelPenn Day) on the main track.
Jrogue enters Buckminister at 25-1. The 4yo A.P. Indy colt has become something of a mud specialist, winning 33% of his off-track starts. His only stakes win was at 10f, earned on a good track last out. Top SP of 110 there is good, but enough to win a race on a fast track? Time will tell. Makes his graded debut in a very difficult spot. The trainer clearly believes in ducking no challenge.
Our final entrant at 27-1 is Waymart. Trained by Mpeace777, the 4yo Statue of Liberty colt won the G1 Eddie Haskell handily last September but since has found his way back to the winner’s circle just once in an allowance. Had to love the way he held on to nearly steal a 9f allowance last out, but the 108 (and loss) doesn’t bode super-well for beating SuperPeg. What i do like is that the colt is capable of coming from midpack – so many of the entrants must be close up or way back that he will have a nice bubble to run in all by his lonesome.
This is one of the deepest G1 fields in recent memory. The only way it could possibly be an even tougher field is if Awesome Force had shown up, but as it is, Ermington Pegusus will have his hands (hooves?) full dealing with Manius The Mighty, Iron Bock, Cool Bluff, and the rest of the crew. SuperPeg is the class of the field on resume, but he’s facing some serious challenges, and by no means does he have the race locked up.