McKnight Handicap Grade II
For Three Year Olds And Upward
Going a Mile and a Half on the Turf Course
For a purse of $150.000
at Calder Race Course
on Saturday November 26, 2011
This is the seventh year that the McKnight Handicap Grade II 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 2009 trainer Bush Wackers Of Ohio saddled the winner Charming Behrens who holds the race record with a time of 2:23.98, which also serves as the track record. 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 Frankly My Dear
Owned by Maverick Racing
Bred by Acber Farms
Sire Zamochit
Dam Lizabeths Star
Life Record 22-6-5-5
Frankly My Dear recently ran at Keeneland in the Grade III Sycamore at todays distance over a soft sod. He was on the lead throughout the race. In the stretch he was beat to finish second. Prior to that he ran at Belmont Park in Jun in the Manhattan Handicap a Grade I at a mile and a quarter on the sod where he scored a second by a nose. Prior to that at Hollywood he ran in the Grade II Murray Handicap at todays distance he scored a third place finish after being on the lead throughout the race. He will have to face Dark Nevada who recently beat him in the Sycamore but what a day for a rematch.
2 Dark Nevada
Owned and Bred by Ken Allan
Sire Nevada
Dam Dark Fighter
Life Record 15-5-4-3
Dark Nevada just beat Frankly My Dear in the Sycamore Grade III over the soft sod at Keeneland at todays distance. These two will have a rematch. Prior to that win Dark Nevada also picked up a win in an Optional Claimer $80.000 Non Winners of 4 races at Arlington Park. Comes into this race two for two, looking for his third consecutive win, and third consecutive win at this distance. In his five career starts on the sod he has never finished worse than third. Comes out of a hot farm right now winning at a 21 percent, which is the best in this race. Look out!
3 Isla de Piedra
Owned and Bred by Rockitpad
Sire HRP-Songandaprayer
Dam HRP-Irish Jay
Life Record 10-6-1-2
Isla de Piedra enters into this race coming off a Grade III win in the Knickerbocker Handicap at a mile and an eighth on the sod at Belmont Park. Prior to that he was up at Saratoga Race Course where he picked up a victory at a mile and a sixteenth on the sod against Non Winners of 1 race Allowance Company. Prior to that he has been racing against Louisiana Breds at Evangaline Downs. He won The LA Showcase Turf at a mile and a sixteenth. At this point he has four consecutive wins and looking for his fifth. His longest distance is 9 furlongs, and today he will have to try and add 3 more to his longest distance. I think he ranks well here, but the distance has me thinking that he will struggle to get the added distance. Wild card here!
4 Raise A Cowboy
Owned by Chili King Stables
Bred by Spinetingling
Sire Abjector
Dam Key Equine
Life Record 21-9-5-2
Just acquired in October for $799.000 from Dynark Stables. His debut race for his new trainer would be the Breeders Cup Turf Grade I at todays distance. He would finish sixth there. Prior to the purchase he ran in the Hirsch Turf Classic Grade I at Belmont Park where he just missed to finish second by a nose. He finished second back in July at Monmouth Park in the United Nations Stakes a Grade I at a mile and three eighths on the sod. He picked up a win in the Grade I Whittingham Memorial Handicap at a mile and a quarter over the sod. Looks to rate well here, and will face a slight easier class of horses today.
5 Arctic Xerxes
Owned by Ekli Stable
Bred by Small Heath Alliance
Sire Xerxes
Dam Arctic Ilusion
Life Record 29-5-8-6
Arctic Xerxes recently ran in The Smith Handicap Grade II at Aqueduct Park where he finished fourth over the mile and three eighths on the sod. Prior to that he scored a second place finish in the Hirsch Turf Championship Grade II at a mile and a quarter over the sod. In August at Del Mar he ran second by a nose in the DMR Handicap Grade II at a mile and three eighths over the sod. Prior to that he ran third in the Man O War Grade I, Whittingham Memorial Handicap Grade I, and Murray Handicap Grade II. Looking for redemption today.
Iwin Picks: 2-5-4
The Tout Picks: 3-4-5
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
