Hooper Handicap Grade III
For Three Year Olds And Upward
Going a Mile and an Eighth on the Dirt Course
For a purse of $100.000
at Calder Race Course
on Friday November 26, 2011
This is the seventh year that the Hooper Handicap Grade III has been run at HRP. In the past six years there has been no trainer that has won this race more than once. Back in 2008 trainer Silver Star Stables saddled the winner Rule Of Thumb who holds the race record with a time of 1:48.15. The track record has been set by Condottiere with a time of 1:47.91 saddled by Maverick Racing on November 12, 2011. The track has been fast there and it looks like there is no chance of rain before this big race. Lets look at the 2011 entries
1 Cj Charger
Owned by Maverick Racing
Bred by Captinj
Sire HRP-Lucky Lionel
Dam HRP-Helen Nichols
Life Record 9-3-0-1
Cj Charger was recently purchased on October 26 2011 for $66.000. Three days later he would be entered at Belmont Park in an Optional Claimer for Non Winners of 3 races for $50.000. He pressed the pace in the opening half of a mile, as he pressed on he would go on to fade and finish seventh. Prior to the purchase he ran at Philadelphia Park in a $48.000 Non Winners 2 races. This race was over seven furlongs, and in this race he got out to be fourth. After the opening quarter he pressed the pace to be second. In the final furlong he went on for the win. Three back he raced at Ellis Park in an Optional Claimer for Non Winners of 2 races $25.000 at a mile. He struggled as the four to one favorite to finish fifth. I think he will struggle here as his SRF Speed Figures have been low, and the classification of horses he has been running against, have not been the best.
2 Spanish Colony
Owned and Bred by GlueFactory
Sire Penal Colony
Dam Gray Cheeks
Life Record 19-6-7-1
Spanish Colony is coming off the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile Grade I race. He was last of fourteen throughout the first three quarters of a mile. With two furlongs to go he had nine lengths to make up. In the stretch he rallied to get up to be fifth. Prior to that he was here racing in the Grade III Spend A Buck Handicap a Grade III event. He sat off the pace, and rallied in the stretch to get up to be second. Three back he was in the Washington Park Handicap Grade III at Arlington Park where he sat off the pace and struck in the stretch for the win. He has the best SRF Speed Figures and has the best resume. This is his race to loose.
3 Two Under
Owned by Chili King Stables
Bred by Australia Wide
Sire Norman Bates
Dam Twice The Joy
Life Record 11-1-2-2
Two Under was acquired in June of this year for $32.000. Three back he was at Del Mar in the El Cajon Stakes for $100.000. In this race he would sit off the pace but come up fifth. Then the next two races would be against Ontario Breds. In The CTHS Sales Fall at Hastings at a mile and a sixteenth. He had the lead throughout the first six furlongs. In the last two and a half furlongs he would tire to finish third. Most recently he ran at Woodbine in a sprint in an Allowance $55.900 Non Winners two lifetime. He pressed the pace thorughout the first half mile, and struggled to hold on to fade to be fourth. I think he does not rate as well in this field.
4 Eight Alarm Fire
Owned by Maverick Racing
Bred by Ontime Stables
Sire Bungalow Eight
Dam Bombay Siren
Life Record 14-4-3-1
Eight Alarm Fire in May ran in the Grade II Peter Pan at Belmont and did not do well to finish tenth. He would redeem himself in the Grade III Winn at Churchill Downs when he was on the lead to finish second. In his last two races have been against Allowance company and they have not been impressive runs. Two back he was here in an open Allowance for $40.000 at a mile. He sat third early, and would never fire to finish fifth. Most recently he ran at Fort Erie in the $19.200 Allowance for Non Winners of 4 Lifetime. Started out fourth, and in the final two furlongs and seventy yards he pushed up to be third. Not impressed by his most recent races, and have to think he can do better. For his sake I hope can get close to the pace, as if he does, he might have a shot. Otherwise I think he will not hit the board unless he is close.
5 Buster Brick
Owned by Dynark Stables
Bred by NorthernTraderStable
Sire HRP-Ortello
Dam HRP-Demree
Life Record 28-7-7-6
Buster Brick ran against Optional Claimers $100.000 Non Winners of 4 races back at Del Mar in August. He was last out of the gate, and he sat the perfect trip to make a run for it in the stretch to get up for the win. Then he would run 10 days later at Emerald Downs in the Longacre Mile Grade III. He would sit off the pace to rally in the stretch to get up second. Most recently he converted from the routes to a sprint when he ran in the Grade I Ancient Tile at Santa Anita. He did not fare well as he started out and finished fifth. Coming back to the routes, should help him a lot and I look for him to redeem himself here. Watch out!
6 Pip Boy
Owned by Chili King Stables
Bred by Ringleader
Sire BomBayMedic
Dam Mo Duke
Life Record 19-7-3-2
Pip Boy is coming off of the Grade II Breeders Cup Marathon where he had a disappointing run. He started out last and would go on to finish thirteenth. Prior to that he raced in the Grade II Hirsch Turf Championship Grade II where he started out last. Prior to that he was purchased for $200.000. You have to go back to March to find a win and that was in the Grade III The Razorback Handicap. He sat off the pace to rally in the stretch for the win. He needs to redeem himself, but I think he will struggle once again.
Iwin Picks: 2-5-6
The Tout Picks: 2-5-4
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
