{"id":56926,"date":"2022-02-11T00:27:18","date_gmt":"2022-02-11T00:27:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=56926"},"modified":"2022-02-11T00:27:20","modified_gmt":"2022-02-11T00:27:20","slug":"g-1-the-february-stakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=56926","title":{"rendered":"G-1 THE FEBRUARY STAKES"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Japan (JPN)<\/strong> Saturday, February 12, 2022 — 3:30:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2800555<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grade I \/ Group 1*CPU – Purse : $750,000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 Furlongs | ~1600 Meters | One Mile<\/strong> Fast Dirt<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One has to applaud the efforts of the track maintenance crew here at Tokyo Racecourse. Despite swirling winds, several inches of snow and temperatures in the mid-forties, they’ve manicured the main track beautifully and we’ll have a fair, fast dirt course for today’s one mile event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fourteen runners, a mixture of colts, horses and geldings, ranging from 4 to 7 years of age will contest what is shaping up to be a very “contentious” affair! The morning line track handicapper has named no less than, eight of today’s entries at odds between 6-1 and 9-1, signaling how closely contested, they expect the February Stakes will be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listed as 6-1 co-favorites are trainer given’s MR RICK JAMES, winner of 10 of his 24 lifetime dirt efforts and trainer cadet5’s NARPAS SWORD, who’s finished 2nd or 3rd in 5 of his 7 Graded Stake tries!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the capsule breakdown for the 14 entries:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1<\/td>9<\/td>ABSORBING SUNLIGHT<\/td>PACE %<\/td>8.43%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>7.77%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>2.52%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>74.47%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>6<\/td>RANK<\/td>7<\/td>RANK<\/td>12<\/td>RANK<\/td>10<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … trainer dixiedotco’s 5-year-old horse, ABSORBING SUNLIGHT has drawn post #1 for the February Stakes. The post should allow the son of Medaglia D’Oro to settle into a comfortable tracking position behind the early speed running leaders and set-up his stretch running. This is the same style ABSORBING SUNLIGHT displayed last race, where his late rally fell just a head short of capturing the G-3 Khartoum Challenge, posting a career best 117.821 speed figure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2<\/td>23<\/td>NATION OF HONOR<\/td>PACE %<\/td>9.58%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>8.23%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>2.62%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>190.29%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>3<\/td>RANK<\/td>5<\/td>RANK<\/td>11<\/td>RANK<\/td>2<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … this will be trainer elkstables31’s lightly raced 4-year-old colt, NATON OF HONOR’s first try at taking on “older” horses and Graded Stake company, that’s a tall order! NATION OF HONOR is a fast-breaking speedy sort and looks to be on or very near the early lead. NATION OF HONOR has won 3 in a row under similar conditions, so the 23-1 odds seem a bit generous, given the fact early speed is always “dangerous”!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3<\/td>13<\/td>MUHAARAY<\/td>PACE %<\/td>6.33%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>2.21%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>0.01%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>47.06%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>10<\/td>RANK<\/td>14<\/td>RANK<\/td>14<\/td>RANK<\/td>14<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … it’s not often you see a runner entered in a Grade-1 event on a surface they’ve never raced on before, but that’s exactly the course trainer zacehold1 has decided for his 6-year-old horse MUHAARAY! Even though MUHAARAY has obvious turf bred connections up front, his dds sire is Forty Niner and Zacehold1 is hoping his runner has inherited his impressive dirt talents. MUHARRAY has plenty of turf credentials on his resume’ with 2 Grade-1 wins and well over $1 million in turf earnings, so how well that translates on the dirt will be answered in today’s event!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4<\/td>7<\/td>FLOATINGINSUNBEAMS<\/td>PACE %<\/td>10.99%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>10.80%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>5.74%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>88.55%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>1<\/td>RANK<\/td>3<\/td>RANK<\/td>7<\/td>RANK<\/td>6<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … the “veteran” of this field, trainer thevillage’s 6-year-old horse, FLOATINGINSUNBEAMS, has 28 races under his belt. There’s no question that he fits the conditions as his last 16 races have all been 8-furlong fast dirt events. FLOATINGINSUNBEAMS generally likes to “stalk” the early pace close to the lead, but he showed versatility 3 races back in the Grade-3 Long Acres, when he broke 13th and rallied in the stretch to win drawing away. Rarely not in contention, big chance today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5<\/td>6<\/td>MR RICK JAMES<\/td>PACE %<\/td>8.85%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>10.87%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>3.60%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>66.16%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>4<\/td>RANK<\/td>2<\/td>RANK<\/td>8<\/td>RANK<\/td>12<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … the Tokyo track handicapper has made trainer given’s 5-year-old horse, MR RICK JAMES the 6-1 co-favorite today, despite never winning or placing in the 3 Graded efforts in his 24-race career. That doesn’t mean that MR RICK JAMES doesn’t have credentials, he’s coming into the February off 2 “impressive” late rallying wins, both in $100K open stakes, setting a career high 120.947 speed figure in the process. He may be able to track the early pace a bit closer today and if he holds form and fires, he’ll be there at the wire!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6<\/td>21<\/td>PEGA SIXTIES<\/td>PACE %<\/td>2.20%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>4.59%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>2.01%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>75.24%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>14<\/td>RANK<\/td>12<\/td>RANK<\/td>13<\/td>RANK<\/td>9<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … ambitious as it may seem, trainer perks9’s 4-year-old colt, PEGA SIXTIES, has little to prove in allowance conditions, so a run at a Stake, albeit a Grade-1 affair, makes good sense. The son of Sixties Icon has done everything asked, winning 6 of his 15 career dirt starts and finishing in the money in 14 of the 15 tries. Usually breaks mid to rear pack and has a real “knack” for rallying and earning a share of the purse!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7<\/td>12<\/td>MEDAGLIA AP<\/td>PACE %<\/td>2.56%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>4.71%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>3.10%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>53.09%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>13<\/td>RANK<\/td>11<\/td>RANK<\/td>9<\/td>RANK<\/td>13<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … trainer ironman1’s 6-year-old horse, MEDAGLIA AP, has been a bit off form in his last 4 races, his slow breaking near the rear style has simply left him too far back to catch the early speed runners. Oddly one would think MEDAGLIA AP would find more success at longer distances, however he’s 0 for 11 in longer races, with only a 2nd place conditioned allowance finish on his record. Interestingly, he’s won 4 of 8 at 8 furlongs, so that’s where he does his best work. Needs a “fast, tiring” pace today, for his late rally style to be prominent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8<\/td>6<\/td>NARPAS SWORD<\/td>PACE %<\/td>7.52%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>8.66%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>9.37%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>72.43%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>7<\/td>RANK<\/td>4<\/td>RANK<\/td>4<\/td>RANK<\/td>11<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … blessed with good early speed, trainer cadet5’s 6-year-old horse, NARPA’S SWORD, should be able to settle near or possibly on the lead early. Ran a “bang-up” race in the Grade-2 Middle Ground Mile, where NARPA’S SWORD stalked the early leader, took control at 6 furlongs, but “hung” mid-stretch and had to settle for 2nd cash, posting a “blazing” 121.465 speed figure! NARPA’S SWORD has little margin for error as 8 furlongs seems to be his outer stamina limits. I like the front running effort last race, that should set him up well for the February Stake, looks to be in striking position at some point today, could last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9<\/td>13<\/td>TRIPPING ON JAGR<\/td>PACE %<\/td>4.46%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>7.82%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>2.80%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>83.00%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>12<\/td>RANK<\/td>6<\/td>RANK<\/td>10<\/td>RANK<\/td>8<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … it took 7 races for trainer fairhaven8 to figure out the best racing conditions for his 5-year-old gelding, TRIPPING ON JAGR. First trying the dirt, with little success, TRIPPING ON JAGR broke his maiden on the turf. His next 2 turf tries were unsuccessful so fairhaven8 moved TRIPPING ON JAGR back to the dirt and the son of Bodemeister, promptly rattled off 3 straight allowance wins. His late stretch running style has led TRIPPING ON JAGR to 5 wins in 7 tries at 8 furlongs, on the dirt. His last start saw him “flying” late to make up over 10 lengths to record his first Open Stake win! Always a threat to close and capture a purse slice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10<\/td>7<\/td>WHISPERING DEATH<\/td>PACE %<\/td>10.20%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>5.91%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>12.13%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>90.89%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>2<\/td>RANK<\/td>10<\/td>RANK<\/td>2<\/td>RANK<\/td>4<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … after racing exclusively on the turf, trainer masterfun’s 7-year-old horse, WHISPERING DEATH, moved to the turf as a 4-year-old. Success came early and often, winning 3 of his 1st 4 efforts, including an Open Stake. However WHISPERING DEATH, like a fine wine, got better with age! Last year as a 6-year-old WHISPERING DEATH added a Grade-2 and Grade-3 win to his resume’ and capped off the season with a “game” effort, running 2nd in the Grade-1 Sterile Mile. As he enters his 7-year-old season, you might think his race ability could decline, however, WHISPERING DEATH is “lightly” raced for a 7-year-old and dismissing his chances would be a “big” mistake!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11<\/td>7<\/td>KILLIN MO TIME<\/td>PACE %<\/td>7.44%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>11.03%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>9.20%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>89.02%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>8<\/td>RANK<\/td>1<\/td>RANK<\/td>5<\/td>RANK<\/td>5<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … at first glance, looking at trainer phillipj’s 5-year-old gelding, KILLIN MO TIME’s last race, the Grade-1 Sterile Mile, where he just never found his best stride. You may be tempted to dismiss his chances in the February Stake, but another glace back, to his 3rd last race quickly changes that! In the Grade-2 Middle Ground MIle, KILLIN MO TIME tracked the early speed mid-pack. He made his move at 5 furlongs, turned on the jets and won by 2 lengths drawing away, posting a phenomenal 124.200 speed rating. looking for a bounce back effort, big threat today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12<\/td>8<\/td>AFIRMATIVO<\/td>PACE %<\/td>6.56%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>6.77%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>10.62%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>86.21%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>9<\/td>RANK<\/td>9<\/td>RANK<\/td>3<\/td>RANK<\/td>7<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … has lots of “back-class” in his past performances, winning the Grade-1 2020 Equinics Empire State Building Stake and fine hard charging finish in the Grade-1 Breeders Bowl Dirt Mile, that same year. Even though his 2021 accomplishments didn’t match 2020, trainer xhaack’s 7-year-old horse, AFIRMATIVO, did post a fine 2nd place finish in the Grade-2 Prims Memorial last July. I like his Jan-02 tune-up effort, a fast-closing 2nd in open allowance company, should be gaining late in today’s event!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13<\/td>51<\/td>NYQUIST AT FORTY<\/td>PACE %<\/td>6.09%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>2.91%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>8.69%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>353.42%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>11<\/td>RANK<\/td>13<\/td>RANK<\/td>6<\/td>RANK<\/td>1<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … it’s easy to disregard any runner, that’s trying older runners for the first time, especially at the Grade-1 level. The morning line oddsmaker has dismissed trainer elkstables11’s 4-year-old colt, NYQUIST AT FORTY at 50-1 odds. It may be a mistake, even in light of the fact NYQUIST AT FORTY is still eligible for allowance nw2x entry. There’s several things to recommend trainer elkstable11’s runner, first he’s got lots of early speed and that’s always a “danger”. Second, he’s only got 2 wins, but one of those wins was in the Grade-2 Trial By Night Stakes, where he wired the field. Dangerous if he gets to the front!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14<\/td>9<\/td>INTO OUTCROSSES<\/td>PACE %<\/td>8.79%<\/td>SPEED %<\/td>7.71%<\/td>CLASS %<\/td>27.60%<\/td>BET VALUE<\/td>175.46%<\/td><\/tr>
<\/td><\/td><\/td>RANK<\/td>5<\/td>RANK<\/td>8<\/td>RANK<\/td>1<\/td>RANK<\/td>3<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

comment … trainer givenfinal’s 5-year-old horse, INTO OUTCROSSES, has accomplished something very rarely seen. In late 2020 and early 2021, INTO OUTCROSSES strung together 3 straight Grade-1 victories. Making the accomplishment even more impressive is the fact he won them on the turf and dirt! The son of Into Mischief, has amassed over $2.5 million in earnings and is only 40k short of winning $1 million+ on turf and dirt. INTO OUTCROSSES likes to stalk the pace on, or near the lead. He’s been facing “tough” Grade-1 company 9 of his last 11 starts. INTO OUTCROSSES has been given a 3-month rest and his 9-1 odds seem exceedingly generous!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The February Stake is “chock” full of diverse runners and there’s a lot of interesting story lines!! Will the classy, seasoned, battle tested veterans like NARPA’S SWORD or INTO OUTCROSSES prevail? Will a proven turf winner MUHAARAY crossover to dirt with success or will one of the young guns like NATION OF HONOR or PEGA SIXTIES catch lightning in a bottle and make the huge climb from Allowance to Graded Stake winner? The answer awaits!!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s the program Spotlight runners<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPEED (win bet)<\/td><\/td>LATE RUN (win bet)<\/td><\/td>CLOSER (place bet)<\/td><\/tr>
NATION OF HONOR<\/td><\/td>ABSORBING SUNLIGHT<\/td><\/td>TRIPPING ON JAGR<\/td><\/tr>
FLOATINGINSUNBEAMS<\/td><\/td>MR RICK JAMES <\/td><\/td><\/td><\/tr>
INTO OUTCROSSES<\/td><\/td>KILLIN MO TIME <\/td><\/td> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Japan (JPN) Saturday, February 12, 2022 — 3:30:00 PM EST | Race ID : 2800555 Grade I \/ Group 1*CPU – Purse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-56926","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=56926"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":56940,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56926\/revisions\/56940"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=56926"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=56926"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=56926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}