G1 DPCD VIII Epiphany Too Handicap
4169.0805 – G1 DPCD VIII Epiphany Too Handicap
All Horses 2 Years Old
One Mile (8F)
PURSE: $500,000 TURF: FIRM
Maryland plays host to the eighth annual DPCD racing series boasting eight Grade 1 races covering the spectrum of racing conditions from two years and up over both dirt and turf surfaces . In the Grade 1 DPCD VIII Epiphany Too Handicap Stakes, several of the top-ranked Juvenile males vie for divisional honours today as each attempt to influence the voters one last time. The number one and number two ranked juvenile horses are here today in jetersring’s PREPOSTERAGEOUS and bertaal’s BLACK GOLDNINER respectively. The latter of this pair took the Grade 1 BB Juvenile Turf six weeks ago and faces many of his rivals again from that day today. All in all this sets up as a great race and one that likely will have a major impact on the outcome of the year end awards. Let’s handicap the field …
RACE PREVIEW:
POST: 1 177033 BAD BEAT BOBBY(ENG) slowhand (16/1)
Beat Hollow(GB) x Gone West x Roberto
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 137
BANK: $183,475
WEEKS REST: 6
On the improve like many in here, this son of Beat Hollow looks to make it four in a row as he competes for the first time in a non-restricted graded race. Well rested and perfect three for three in races over a mile of turf and now takes the next logical step in an attempt to validate his class. A stalker’s style has served him well but he’ll need to pick-up the pace to gain a similar striking position today. He would need to take a big leap forward to win today and though that may be a stretch a solid effort is expected.
POST: 2 179590 PREPOSTERAGEOUS(ENG) jetersring (6/1)
Medician(GB) x Danehill Dancer(IRE) x Roberto
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 1
BANK: $2,509,000
WEEKS REST: 6
The SIM’s number one ranked two year old male turf horse boasting $2.5M in career earnings has done so in only six starts to date. This handsome son of Medician comes off of a second place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Stakes after reeling off five consecutive victories including the Grade 2 Champagne Mile over today’s distance. In the Juvenile, he was poised to pounce on the leader at the top of the lane but failed to keep pace to the wire. A repeat of that effort which saw the mile covered in a rapid 1:35:2 puts him right there. A strong contender and the one to beat.
POST: 3 42979 UNLIMITED RISK(KY) lenny10 (11/1)
Unbridled’s Song x Storm Cat x Pine Bluff
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 95
BANK: $117,660
WEEKS REST: 8
This son of Unbridled’s Song is an interesting entry and one full of promise. On the improve, he comes into this race having finished third in the Grade 1 Duetoburst Stakes over seven furlongs. After closing with a furious rush he simply ran out of real estate being beaten by two but gets an extra furlong to work with today. He ran an 88 that day and if he can build off of that one he may just find himself in the winner’s circle today. A threat to mow them all down in deep stretch at a square price.
POST: 4 182283 SI TU SABES(KY) elenita (9/1)
Dynaformer x Seeking the Gold x Storm Cat
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 80
BANK: $114,230
WEEKS REST: 3
After beginning his career on the dirt, this son of Dynaformer has discovered an affinity for the turf having won his first two attempts over it. His latest, the Grade 3 Philanthropist Stakes, was perhaps his best though he finished third covering the one mile distance in a smart 1:35:4 (94) while gaining in deep stretch. The main concern today is the quick turnaround as he comes into this race on just three weeks rest while facing a tougher field on paper.
POST: 5 15050 SISSON’S SPOTLIGHT(KY) v8mullet (21/1)
North Light(IRE) x Giant’s Causeway(IRE) X Red Ransom
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 73
BANK: $77,374
WEEKS REST: 6
An underdog of sorts, this son of North Light tales a big jump in class here today as he attempts to get himself back on track. He comes into this race out of the Grade 2 International Stakes where he failed to distinguish himself on a yielding course at today’s distance. A longshot that day, he lost ground to the leader at every call in a field full of graded placed and stakes winning competitors. He gets the acid test today in hopes of reasserting himself in this division on a firm surface which he prefers.
POST: 6 123681 GETWINDOFTHESKUNK(JPN) blzngskunk (10/1)
Alkaased x Montjeu(IRE) x Blushing Groom(FR)
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 93
BANK: $118,700
WEEKS REST: 5
Shipping in from Japan, this son of Alkaased has yet to prove himself at the graded stakes level. He comes into this affair off a rapid allowance win over today’s distance running a 94 over an undistinguished group. He’s improved his speed figures dramatically in his last two efforts and gets an opportunity to validate his improving class here today. With five weeks of rest under his belt he’ll have no excuse. If his last was genuine he’ll contend here today.
POST: 7 181903 BUDA ROCKS(KY) chop (8/1)
Rock Hard Ten x Seattle Slew x Sadler’s Wells
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 19
BANK: $181,624
WEEKS REST: 6
Rock Hard Ten is well represented here by Buda Rocks who comes into this race off a solid effort in the Grade 2 International Stakes over a yielding course. In that event he stalked the pace throughout but failed to menace the winner Fusaichi Zombie late. The race was completed in an impressive 1:35:3 (95) considering the conditions and a repeat of that performance may place him in the mix at the end. Dangerous today and must be respected .
POST: 8 180598 BLACK GOLDNINER(JPN) bertaal (9/1)
Black Hawk(GB) x Forty Niner x Seattle Slew
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 2
BANK: $769,450
WEEKS REST: 6
This son of Black Hawk is on a roll of late having captured the prestigious Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf at over 20-1. Somewhat unexpected, his winning effort was nothing short of awesome as he completed the distance in1:35:2 (99) defeating Preposterageous whom he faces in here again today. Considering the twenty seven point speed figure jump in his latest, it’s hard to imagine him being able to build off of that in this his next outing. Look for him to bounce somewhat here today though he may indeed make his presence known before all is said and done.
POST: 9 16160 SOUTH OF SANITY(KY) sdmf1 (8/1)
Dynaformer x A.P. Indy x Kingmambo
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 22
BANK: $177,720
WEEKS REST: 6
This son of Dynaformer has not seen the winners circle in the past four starts all of which came in graded company though he’s been on the board in three of them. In his latest, the Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Juvenile, he just never got untracked as he slowly lost ground throughout finishing an even eighth beaten six lengths. Two starts back he did finish third in the Grade 2 Bed ford Stakes over today’s distance. This is his ninth start of the campaign and thus may be a little fatigued at this point. He’ll need to show more … much more if he hopes to crack this group. For as far as he goes.
POST: 10 177034 DUEL TO THE DEATH(ENG) wistful3 (20/1)
Green Dessert x Diesis(GB) x Storm Cat
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 34
BANK: $165,204
WEEKS REST: 5
This son of Green Dessert was on a roll going into his latest with improving speed figures and three consecutive wins but then the wheels fell off. In the Grade 1 St. Cloud Stakes over ten furlongs he simply ran out of gas and finished far up the track. He looks to get back on track here and regain his winning ways against a tough group some of whom are looking to secure division honours. A deserved longshot, he’ll need to regain his confidence somewhat and keep it close early to have any chance in this event.
POST: 11 14474 COOLMORE LIGHTNING(IRE) desimster3 (8/1)
Montjeu(IRE) x Fusaichi Pegasus x Danzig
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 26
BANK: $356,625
WEEKS REST: 6
Another entry looking to get untracked after a recent rough outing, this son of Montjeu attempts to shake off the Breeders Bowl blues having been soundly beaten in that one. Never competitive in that one, he looks to regain the confidence which saw him finish a strong second in the Grade 2 Grand Critter Stakes over today’s distance. On nothing more than a hunch, I wouldn’t sell this one short today.
POST: 12 178456 BOWPRINCE(IRE) ontarget (8/1)
Strategic Prince x Rainbow Quest x Woodman
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 13
BANK: $331,140
WEEKS REST: 6
A son of rising turf sire Strategic Prince Bowprince, like many in here, comes out of the Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Juvenile Stakes where he ran evenly throughout to finish in mid-pack beaten only four lengths. Yet to win at a mile his best efforts have come at seven furlongs having captured two stakes races including the Grade 3 The A Bomb Stakes three starts back. As with several others in here it’s difficult to say how he’ll rebound from the BB Juvy but I’m leaning towards a similar result given the distance question.
POST: 13 178028 LAST STONE(KY) socalman (9/1)
Curlin x A.P. Indy x Nijinsky II
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 139
BANK: $195,740
WEEKS REST: 6
This son of Curlin attempts the lawn for the first time in his career after having competed in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile (8.5F) on the dirt where he finished a disappointing twelfth. Two starts back he did finish a strong second in the Grade 1 Paramus Mile Stakes missing by less than a length at the wire. His connections are hoping to get him untracked by changing surfaces and though it can work they’ve picked a tough spot to attempt it in. I cannot recommend him at this point.
POST: 14 96373 GUITAR(IRE) super4 (14/1)
Dylan Thomas(IRE) x Mineshaft x Danehill
TURF CLASSIC RANK: 79
BANK: $164,610
WEEKS REST: 6
This improving son of Dylan Thomas enters this event with some confidence as he ran very well to be second in his most recent, the non-graded Desert Warrior(IRE) Special Stakes. In that race he competed at a mile for the first time after good success sprinting and missed by just a quarter of a length running the distance in 1:36:2 (91). I look for more improvement here in spite of the company level he’s facing today. A dark horse today but with much upside and at 14-1 … will get attention at the wicket.
THE WIZARD’S CRYSTAL BALL:
1. 7 BUDA ROCKS … firm ground has his connections excited about redemption
2. 14 GUITAR … the potential for an upset. Could be sitting on a huge effort
3. 2 PREPOSTERAGEOUS … to be the man you have to beat the man
4. 3 UNLIMITED RISK … a threat to mow them down late
AT THE BETTOR’S WINDOW:
Bet to Win: #7, 14
Exacta Box: #7, 14, 2, 3
Triactor Box: #7, 14, 2 with 7, 14, 2, 3 with 7, 14, 2, 3, 6, 11