Grade III Marcos Footwear … A Preview
Race ID:3833.5515
Grade III Marcos Footwear Handicap
$225,000
All Horses, 4 Years & Up
One Mile and a Quarter
Good Turf
A gloomy forecast awaits the patrons at Queensland’s racecourse on Saturday with a track listed as “good”. Though soggy conditions may be one story line, a competitive group of eight older horses parade to the post to contest the 11th Annual running of the Grade 3 Marcos Footwear Handicap. We have seen some long prices over this race’s 10 year history and conditions being what they are we just may have another shocker in the making. Enjoy!
Race Analysis by Hladun
PP 1: 35151 DISTORTED COLONY(KY) jrogue2 D. Missen (9/1) RANK: 59
Unraced as a two year old, this four year old horse by Distorted Humor has one Graded placing to his credit in the $500K Grade 1 Owner’s Stakes. Run over 12F of ground this past August his 108 speed figure was a career high. Most recently he finished second in The Stormy Sea Adle Challenge held in France closing fast to miss by only two and a half lengths. He did finish second last year on a good track over this very distance on the turf in Florida but may not have enough speed to keep up with this group so an even finish is likely in this spot.
PP 2: 121542 EXCLUSIVE HABITAT(ENG) iant8 C. Wyatt (EVEN) RANK: 11
A winner of $2.6M over his career, this five year old by Sakhee has 13 wins from 23 starts missing the board on only three occasions. He is 1 for 1 on an off track that being in the 10F G3 Long Legged Handicap where he wired the field in a smart 2:01:0 over a yielding Queensland course. His only start at today’s distance resulted in an off the board finish but likely had more to do with an off day than the distance itself. With three Grade 1 wins to his credit he clearly is the one to beat and a speed style is likely if he’s ready to go.
PP 3: 27386 TRYING(KY) 375stud T. Cox (15/1) RANK: 832
This son of Cozzene is doing just that … “trying” to earn the first Graded win of his career with his characteristic charge through the stretch. His most notable success was earned in the Grade 2 dawn To Dusk Cup over 12F and will likely desire more ground than he’s getting today.
PP 4: 96254 FAREWELL DEPUTY perdido8 A. Epps (98/1) RANK: 10000
Experience is all this hard trying seven year old by Dixieland Heat is likely to get out of this race. He exits out of a pair of 14F $10K claiming races where he finished second and third. A rank outsider … just taking a shot!
PP 5: 150008 CID CAMPEADOR(KY) bertamiran T. Phillips (8/1) RANK: 742
A four year old son of Arch, has yet to try graded stakes company so gets the acid test today. Has put up two consecutive impressive speed figures at 8F most recently but will have to carry that speed another 3/8 of a mile against a seasoned group of graded competitors. He does have a win and a third in three starts over off tracks. A tough assignment.
PP 6: 20868 CONNOLLY CREEPERS(IRE) diminuendo L. Wilber (34/1) RANK: 171
This four year old son of Mr. Dinos comes out of his last race a little worse for wear as he was distanced putting up a 58 speed figure in a 16F Louisiana Allowance race NW2t. His best result was three races back again in an Allowance encounter over 8F of ground where he ran a 102 winning by just over a length. This is a lot to expect. Pass.
PP 7: 130943 BENDIGO cuprunners M. Cameron (2/1) RANK: 48
Though competitive in Grade 1 events to date, his only graded victory came in the Grade 3 Premium Jockey Guild Stakes over 9F of firm turf. This six year old son of Gone West most recently competed in the Grade 1 Penn Handicap where he unleashed a rousing run through the stretch and finishing fourth missing by just 1 ¾ lengths. He needs a pace to close into but today’s pace scenario is likely to work against him unless the unexpected happens. For a piece.
PP 8: 100877 TOWN PRINCE(IRE) quitter L. Lang (5/1) RANK: 15
A winner of $1.9M and five Graded Stakes races in his career, this six year old son of Ballingary is set to challenge in this spot. Sporting two wins and a second over three races on off tracks, one of which in the 10F Grade 1 Movieland Turf Cup, this horse would not be a surprise. Though his last two outings were out of character for this competitive steed the pace scenario sets up well for him to pounce on an unsuspecting field. Gets the call for a minor upset in this spot.
Stake History:
- Stake Record (11F): 2:01:1 – Storm’s Gone Again (2008)
- Lowest Win Mutuel: $ 3.60 – Prospector Send (2001)
- Highest Win Mutuel: $ 79.60 – Pharivor (1999)
- Smallest Win Margin: 1.75 lengths (1999) Pharivor
- Largest Win Margin: 6.5 lengths (2002) Prospector Rizzo
- Winningest Post Positions: #4 (2001, 2006, 2007 & 2008)
The Swami sayz …
1. TOWN PRINCE(IRE)
2. EXLCUSIVE HABITAT(ENG)
3. BENDIGO