The HIS EVENTS Handicap

In contrast to previous weeks when less than half a dozen horses left the gate in the District of Columbia’s feature race, a relatively large field of eleven is set for the HIS EVENTS Handicap. Fillies and mares ages four and up will go a mile and an eighth on a fast dirt track. The purse is $35,000.

The race is named for His Events, who won twelve races, including two stakes races, and over $275,000.

1 – Reno (6/1) is coming off an allowance win at the same distance as the His Events Handicap. Although she displayed plenty of talent last summer — she’s run faster than any other horse in this race — her good races don’t seem to come as often anymore.

2 – Grade III stakes-placed McFly (8/1) won an allowance race last month, but would need to run a career best speed figure to win here. Although she’s still racing successfully, she doesn’t appear to be as sharp as she was late last year.

3 – J.T.’s Nan (5/1) is coming off a brilliant allowance victory and seems to be improving again after experiencing a minor slump earlier in the year. A hot pace may favor her running style — she has a great closing kick.

4 – Rock Hard Six (13/1) had a great effort in an April allowance race, but most of her other races were not nearly as good. She’ll have to put forth her best effort to have a shot here.

5 – Favorite Rose Crown (4/1) has posted some of the highest speed figures in the field and is generally quite consistent. Her record looks good, but she seems to be a mare who needs the lead to win. This may make her vulnerable here, as Radical Star T, Sport Sharewood, Quality Indy, Goplay Intramurals and Northern Elusive could also be fighting for it.

6 – The Radical Star T (26/1) is running against stakes company for the first time today after a NW1X allowance victory. Just barely missing the 100 speed figure benchmark last time out, The Radical Star T looks to be developing into a nice filly, but even a duplication of her best effort won’t be enough to win today. She’ll want to be on the lead.

7 – Quality Indy (11/1) has run two good races in a row and likes the nine furlong distance. Her connections can’t, however, be happy about the hot pace that will likely develop in the His Events, as Quality Indy is yet another filly who likes to be on the lead.

8 – Goplay Intramurals (14/1) – Much like Quality Indy, Goplay Intramurals has run some nice races but will be hindered by the number of fillies and mares in this race who are also frontrunners.

9 – Stormshaft (6/1) has perhaps the most impressive resume of anyone in the field — she’s won three Grade II stakes and was second in the Grade I Blue Grass Oaks and the Grade I Breeders’ Bowl Distaff during her three-year-old season. She’s still capable of running a big race, as she proved by winning the Willowbay Special in March, but doesn’t seem to be as consistently sharp as she was a couple years ago. One mark in her corner is the fact that her running style is versatile.

10 – Sport Sharewood (7/1) had a disappointing race last month, but she doesn’t seem to run two bad races in a row often. Her biggest challenge here may be her affinity for being on or near the lead — there’s a lot of speed in this race.

11 – Northern Elusive (5/1) – This four-year-old Elusive Quality mare has steadily improved throughout her career. She’s consistent, too — in her last five races, she’s never run below a 100 speed figure. She may be just a step below the top horses in the race, but she has a great shot to hit the board. She normally likes to be on the lead, but showed the ability to rate in the George’s Burglars Memorial, which she won.

My picks: 3 (J.T.’s Nan) – 11 (Northern Elusive) – 9 (Stormshaft)