Grade I Hit Me Handicap
Race : The Hit Me Handicap – Grade I – $750,000
Track : Upper New York
Restrictions : All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance : A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
A full field of 14 will go around in this Grade 1 race from Upper New York. Its a very open race with the equal favourites all five of them going to the post at 7/1. I ilke PP2 Tamination trained by rocket25, one of the equal favourites to finish strongly and breakthrough finally in Grade One Level. Below are my thoughts for each runner.
PP 1 THE BARBARIAN(KY) 9/1
5YH by Dynaformer 28 starts 8-6-6 $445,560 (sangster)
Third in Grade Two The West Coaster at California was followed by a good second in the Grade One Pilgrim Tribute Peace Stakes in New Hampshire over nine furlongs. Always runs an honest race with 20 placings from 28 career starts. Will be ridden by the top jockey at the track Z Ayya.
PP 2 TAMINATION(KY) 7/1
4YH by Distorted Humor 16 starts 8-4-1 $443,075 (rocket25)
Has scored four wins from past five starts including an SP of 120 three runs back in the Grade Three Skipping Away at Florida over nine furlongs. Has disappointed twice in this grade before but I think this may be his day.
PP 3 GATO DEL LAGO(AUS) 19/1
4YH by Encosta De Lago(Aus) 16 starts 6-1-4 $285,094 (mattress)
Good third in the Grade One The Barry Forster was followed by a most disappointing run in Allowance race over Kentucky over nine furlongs. Will have to improve to contend here.
PP 4 KIMBALL’S PRIDE(KY) 7/1
4YH by Empire Maker 20 starts 6-10-0 $556,185 (ziploc)
Runner up in Brooke Lynn Stakes at Oklahoma was followed by Grade One success in the Pilgrim Tribute Peace Stakes at New Hampshire over nine furlongs beating The Barbarian. Should run well. Will be ridden by the very capable C Orza.
PP 5 VOLAIMPACTO(JPN) 10/1
4YH by Deep Impact 15 starts 8-1-2 $1,006,635 (danno2)
Had score four wins on the trot before last start third in Grade One Movieland Shiny Cup at California over ten furlongs at latest effort finishing ahead of Screaming For. F Solomon should give him every chance.
PP 6 ATLANTIC BOLT(KY) 11/1
4YH by Stormy Atlantic 25 starts 6-4-4 $771,987 (bigarnie)
Ran a good third last start in Grade Two The Cornhusker Handicap at Iowa over nine furlongs. Is a Grade Two winner who has had several runs at the highest level without running a place. May find these a touch too good again.
PP 7 SCREAMING FOR(KY) 7/1
5YH by Bernardini 24 starts 7-6-3 $2,374,442 (4gone)
Third in Grade Three The Billy Donald at Maryland was followed by a fourth in the Grade One Movieland Shiny Cup over ten furlongs at California. Has not won for a while but returned an SP of 116 three runs back. Can improve here. T Kallor should give him every chance.
PP 8 HOT AND SPICY(KY) 10/1
4YH by Awesome Again 28 starts 14-3-3 $3,063,706 (londoner)
Scored second successive win in the Grade One Cosmopolitan Handicap over the mile trip before running on unsuitable turf track last start. Back to the dirt here and will improve. Will be ridden by the very capable R Radzinski.
PP 9 LEGENDARY THIEF(KY) 7/1
6YH by Cat Thief 48 starts 10-10-3 $902,774 (twister)
Down the track in the Grade One The Barry Foster was followed by improved effort when runner up in Abraham Lincoln Handicap at Stakes level over nine furlongs.
PP 10 NEVER SCRUB AGAIN(KY) 10/1
4YH by Distorted Humor 25 starts 7-3-3 $298,982 (steller2)
Last two runs have been slightly below best and followed a narrow win in the Grade Three Perfectionistic Handicap. Will struggle in this class.
PP 11 FACEBRUTO G(AUS) 20/1
4YC by Flying Pegasus(Aus) 33 starts 5-11-7 $161,512 (ngng)
Could only manage runner up position in last two runs both at Allowance level at Alabama and Louisiana. Will struggle this class.
PP 12 DARK AURA(KY) 14/1
4YH by El Prado(Ire) 21 starts 3-7-4 $183,386 (usctrojans)
Good third two runs back in Stakes race the Brooke Lynn at Oklahoma over nine furlongs before failing same class and distance at Illinois. Outclassed.
PP 13 POWER RANKING(KY) 7/1
4YH by Awesome Again 18 starts 7-3-2 $823,020 (ticketman0)
Ninth at New York at Grade One level was followed by disappointing run in the Grade Three Salvatore Mile at New Jersey. Is better then last two suggest but may struggle here.
PP 14 APARTHEID(KY) 17/1
4YH by War Chant 22 starts 6-2-3 $157,228 (aggots)
Good win in Allowance race two runs back at New Jersey was followed by an encouraging effort in Grade Two Cornhusker Handicap at Iowa but will be outclassed here.
SELECTIONS
PP 2 Tamination 7/1
PP 4 Kimball’s Pride 7/1
PP 7 Screaming For 7/1
PP 8 Hot And Spicy 10/1
Good Luck to all runners
Steve