Grade II Nakayama Handicap Features Runaway Victor
Race ID:3875.5014
Grade II The Nakayama Handicap
$1,200,000, All horses 4 Year Olds and Up
One Mile and one eighth (9 F)
Track: Turf Good
Local racegoers crowded the grandstand in spite of the wet conditions as nine older horses took to the track to compete in the 1st Edition of the $1.2M Grade II The Nakayama Handicap over nine furlongs of “good” turf in Japan. A highly competitive field paraded to the post featuring morning line favourite RODE ME HARD(KY) 40oz but on paper the race was a wide open affair. As the gates sprung wide, jockey C. Roser took his mount THEATRICAL TRAILER(IRE) coolk2 directly to the front hotly pursued by both BOWLED SHANE(IRE) cozzene99 and PROSPETARIAT(IRE) xssessive. Nostrils apart at the opening quarter, Roser continued to pressure THEATRICAL TRAILER (IRE) for more speed in an attempt to run away from the two on his heels. A much different race that he faced just last weekend here in Japan as he navigated Hoosier Miner(KY) to victory from off the pace in the $2M Grade I February Stakes. On the run down the backstretch, only eight lengths seperated first from second last as only MILLVIEW EMBLEM(JP) wyndaway3 in trouble and having thrown in the towel. As the horses entered the far turn, jockey Roser asked the leader to open up and like hitting a switch off he went, now on top by four at the top of the lane. With powerful strides, THEATRICAL TRAILER(IRE) held fast his dominant position throughout the stretch without competition and finishing ahead by three. RODE ME HARD(KY) 40oz was stalking throughout and did his best to stay with the eventual winner he simply could not cut into that lead and finished a solid second, three lengths in front of ALL RIGHT(KY) peeps10 who was the best of the rest staggering home in third.
Actor Bruce Willis of Die Hard Fame presented the Nakayama Gold Cup to the winning connections coolk2 who was quoted as saying … “It was a thrill to meet Bruce but I’d much rather have had a peck from his Ex Demi Moore”.
GRADED HANDICAPS: Hladun said …
PP 1: 116882 THEATRICAL TRAILER(IRE) coolk2 (6/1) RANK: 70
“This five year old son of Theatrical comes into this race off of a win in the Grade II Sanders Stakes at today’s distance of nine furlongs. A monumental race in his career given that it was his first graded stakes attempt and put on a incredible show to boot with a 112 speed figure in wiring the field. With seven wins in fourteen career starts and coming off of two consecutive stakes wins, he’s a dangerous dude right now as he’s fresh and fast. A major player here.”
“He’s been kicking the stall door down all week. I’m expecting a huge effort here” coolk2
PP 4: 73252 RODE ME HARDER(KY) 40oz (3/1) RANK: 45
“This four year old son of Rahy has won his last three races over the turf and ten of seventeen overall. He comes out of the Grade III Strange Brew Turf Handicap where he crushed the field at today’s distance winning going away by over two lengths. A monster performance, he ran the nine furlongs in 1:46:4 with a 116 speed figure. A repeat of that effort takes this going away!”
“That was a monster effort in his last. My only concern going into this one is the bounce factor. He’s been eating hardy all week so I think he’s primed for another stellar outing” 40oz
PP 9: 113468 ALL RIGHT(KY) peeps10 (9/2) RANK:
“This five year old son of Mingun is a veteran of thirty one career starts and comes into this race off two consecutive wins in non-graded stakes company. His latest came in the Well Resume Special over nine and half furlongs in Surrey. Sitting in mid-pack, eight lengths off the pace, he unleashed a furious stretch run in which he collared the leaders deep in the lane and won by a measured quarter length. An excellent ride by the bugboy R. Whisper, he has been good for awhile now and would not be a surprise here. A contender.”
“His last two were just wonderful. He proved he could do it either way … that is win on the lead or come from behind. We’ll see how the race sets up but I’ll leave it up to the jock” peeps10
MEDIA QUOTES:
“This horse is a monster right now. That’s two Grade II’s in a row and three overall. If there’s a better turf horse out there right now, I want to meet him. I believe this horse can get better. The Breeders Bowl is on our dancecard if we can keep him fit and healthy.” … coolk2 (in the winner’s circle)
STAKE STAT’S:
- THEATRICAL TRAILER(IRE) coolk2 is on a role and is now 3 for 3 all being in stakes company with the last two both Graded II events … and is now a MILLIONAIRE!
- Winning time for 9F (Turf) was 1:46:4 (116)
- Five horses earned triple digit speed figures ranging from 100-116
- Winner paid $14.40 (6-1). Exactor (1-4) paid $29.50 for a $2 wager
- Trifecta (1-4-9) paid $135.10 for a $2 wager
- MILLVIEW EMBLEM(JP) was distanced eased by jockey Szott in mid-race