G1, The Los Angeles Turf Cup
This week we are headed over to California where on the card this weekend we have the running of the G1, The Los Angeles Turf Cup. The race is restricted to those horses 3 years old and older at the distance of 12 furlongs. The race will be across the firm turf this Saturday afternoon and has drawn a field of nine nice looking horses. We have one G1 winner in the field and the rest will be hunting to earn their first G1 win and collect their prize over at the winner’s circle. The morning line odds and the post positions have been released. Let us now take a preview of the nine horses that will make the start in the G1, The Los Angeles Turf Cup.
| 1 | MYSTERY EXCELLENCE | AUS | 5M | amir1662 | L Heart | 23 | 5 | 61% | $733,305 | 60.00 | 7/1 |
Coming out first we have this 5 year old Bay Horse (EXCEED AND EXCEL x DAIWA MAJOR x NUREYEV ) that picked up a win earlier this season that the distance in the G3, The Stars And Bars. He would then have a couple of off the board starts prior to his most recent race in New York. He would go 12 furlongs in the G3, The Narrow Land where he would be over fourteen lengths back at the third call. He would begin picking off horses in his stretch run that would be good enough to get him on the boards in third when he crossed the wire with a 103 speed rating. This will be his second G1 start of the season here in California this weekend when he heads over to the turf representing the Elite Racing Club residency.
| 2 | ABSOLUTE FAVORIT | SAF | 5M | safspin | A Jolly | 31 | 8 | 68% | $286,786 | 17.00 | 13/1 |
Here we have a 5 year old Bay Horse (ORATORIO (IRE) x STREET SENSE x DYNAFORMER ) that has gone without a win this season but that has put up a few good efforts. In his most recent start, he would be seen in New Zealand going 12 furlongs in a Local Championship Stakes. He would find himself well back over thirteen lengths in the hole at the third call. He would make up a lot of ground down the stretch as he made his way all the way up to cross the wire in second with a 109 speed rating. He looked good in that race and needs another good start here as he makes his first graded appearance of his career when he heads out of the paddock to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 3 | BLAVAKIN | ENG | 5M | peeps9 | M Wallace | 28 | 7 | 61% | $2,129,996 | 264.00 | 4/1 |
Next, we will see this 5 year old Brown Horse (DUBAWI (IRE) x A.P. INDY x SADLER’S WELLS ) that has two G1 wins to his credit this season in the G1, The Greatest Show On Turf and in the G1, The G.P. Von Baden. He would then go off the boards in the Ark De ComicDog before making his most recent start here in California. He would go 12 furlongs in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Turf. He would again struggle in this start as he trailed the field until his final stretch run. He would peel through some horses to get up to twelfth when he hit the wire with a 109 speed rating. He is looking for a rebounding effort this weekend after those two off the board starts when he heads over to his gate representing the GR Simsters residency.
| 4 | THE WICKED SHIP | JPN | 5G | atw10 | E Sharp | 27 | 6 | 67% | $393,012 | 44.13 | 6/1 |
Next, we will see this 5 year old Bay Gelding (RULERSHIP x TAPIT x GALILEO (IRE) ) that two starts back would pick up the win in Local Championship Stakes in Japan with a nice 114 speed rating. Then came his most recent start in New York where he would go 11 furlongs and test the waters in the G2, Flying Carpet Handicap. This late closer would find himself over 10 lengths back at the third call and when he hit the top of the final stretch, he would find some extra effort and get across the wire in third with a 109 speed rating to earn his GP badge. He is seeking another good start here in California this weekend when he heads out in the post parade to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 5 | CITY OF CRUSHERS | KY | 4G | givenpraise | T Ace | 19 | 7 | 74% | $759,473 | 111.00 | 3/1 |
Here we have a 4 year old Chestnut Gelding (TAPIT x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x REDOUTE’S CHOICE ) that two starts back would pick up the win in the G3, Winchester Park Cup. He would then head over to Argentina for his most recent start going 12 furlongs in the G1, The Grand Carlos. He would get out of the gate quick and by the second call be out in front where he would remain until the final stretch. He would be run down by one of his foes in this race and would cross the wire in second with a 115 speed rating. He has run very well for the owner all season and is looking for another good performance when he heads over to his gate representing the GR Simsters residency.
| 6 | PANHISPANICO | GB | 6M | salaparuta | Q Rein | 24 | 7 | 54% | $1,402,245 | 32.00 | 4/1 |
Now we come to this 6 year old Bay Horse (DUBAWI (IRE) x DEEP IMPACT x SEA THE STARS ) that would run third in this race last year. This season he has only made one start and that was back in July in New York going 11 furlongs in the G1, Man Of War Stakes. Out of the gate he would find a spot in fifth and that is the same spot he would cross the wire with a 109 speed rating. He gets one of his favorite jockeys up top in this start on Saturday and looks to improve his efforts when he breaks from his gate representing the Universal Racing Club residency.
| 7 | ROCKEFELLERS | ENG | 4M | cjt4 | T Kelly | 18 | 2 | 22% | $70,305 | 5.00 | 22/1 |
Next, we will see this 4 year old Bay Colt (FRANKEL (GB) x DEEP IMPACT x SEATTLE SLEW ) that recently made a move over to a new barn under the same ownership. He must have liked the new view and came out for his most recent start in Ontario where he would travel 12 furlongs in a $31500 NW2L Allowance race where he would go gate to wire and put a tar and feathering on this field as he crossed the wire for the win by over eleven lengths and a 108 speed rating. The owner is bumping this horse up in class and wants to see what he can do when they head over to their gate representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 8 | HE MIGHT BE SUPER | GB | 5G | unclebucky | C Orza | 32 | 7 | 47% | $480,812 | 17.63 | 7/1 |
This is a 5 year old Chestnut Gelding (FRANKEL (GB) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x SEEKING THE GOLD ) that back in April of this year would get up for the win in the G2, The Frisco Mile. After that start he has been unable to find a hit on the boards. He most recently raced in Italy going 8 furlongs in the G2, The Ribot. He was third at the third call but would lose his spot as he crossed the wire in sixth with a 106 speed rating. I do not see that this horse has raced beyond 9 furlongs this season, so he is definitely jumping up in distance here as he rises to go 12 furlongs in California representing the East-West Connection residency.
| 9 | HACTIVIST | KY | 4M | asrstar13 | M Buck | 19 | 3 | 47% | $359,393 | 3.06 | 7/1 |
Breaking from the final gate in this race will be this 4 year old Bay Colt (QUALITY ROAD x AWESOME AGAIN x A.P. INDY ) that has struggled in his recent turf starts. He has only been on the boards twice this season and they both came on the dirt. His most recent trip to the track was in Victoria going 10 furlongs in the G1, The McKinnon. He ran fairly flat in this start and would cross the wire in fifth with a 106 speed rating. The owner is hoping to see his horse step up his game here in California when he makes the start representing the Orphan Racing residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
3-Blavakin: Two tough starts in a row. Can he rebound this weekend?
4-The Wicked Ship: Three most recent starts looked good. Can he challenge here?
5-City Of Crushers: Running well all season. Does he get the win in California?