Tropical Turf Handicap Grade III
For Three Year Olds And Upward
Going a Mile and an Eighth on the Turf Course
For a purse of $122.500
at Calder Race Course
on Friday December 2, 2011
This is the eighth year that the Tropical Turf Handicap Grade III has been run at HRP. In the past seven 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 1:43.98, this also serves as the track record. The track has been firm there and it looks like there is no chance of rain before this big race. Lets look at the 2011 entries
1 Five Card Limit
Owned by Big Jd Racing
Bred by Pumpkin Racing
Sire Five Daddy Five
Dam No Limits
Life Record 19-4-2-4
Five Card Limit struck out on the soft sod in the Grade III Commonwealth Turf as he scored a seventh place finish. His last win comes from a win at Belmont Park in an Optional Claimer $50.000 Non Winners of 3 races. This race was at a mile and a sixteenth turf. Prior to that he won up at Saratoga Race Course against $45.000 Claimers at the same distance. He will need to step it up for a win today.
2 White Life
Owned by Chili King Stables
Bred by Maletto
Sire HRP-White Eagle
Dam HRP-Monade
Life Record 11-1-1-5
White Life ran in the Commonwealth Turf where he finished third beating both Five Card Limit, and Five Crazy Five. Since the purchase from his breeder in June 2011 for $18.070 he has four starts for his new owner, and all of them have finished third. To find a win for White Life you have to go back to February 2011 when he broke his Maiden at Gulfstream Park. I think others appear more likely.
3 Lets Pay Attention
Owned by Aberford
Bred by Second Chance Farms
Sire Trouble In Town
Dam Buzz Got Lucky
Life Record 29-10-6-4
Lets Pay Attention is the 2010 Tropical Turf Handicap winner. Since that win he has only won one other race and that was in February at Gulfstream Park against $56.000 Allowance company. He is hoping to be able to pull off his second win in this race. His recent performances against Graded Stakes company has not been impressive. He should improve since he is cutting back to a mile and an eighth, the longer distances he could not win at.
4 Artax
Owned by Ken Allan
Bred by Reverse Karma Stable
Sire Albahtross
Dam Fast Helen
Life Record 24-5-5-1
Artax is been poisioned in the win category since June 2010 when he was able to pull off a win in the AP Sprint. That win will not get him one against this class as he would be several furlongs short. To find a win at todays distance you have to go back to February 2010 against Allowance company. to be honest that is not very promising so I have to opt for others.
5 Five Crazy Five
Owned by Team Furey
Bred by 30west
Sire Five Daddy Five
Dam Crazy Kasey
Life Record 12-3-2-3
Five Crazy Five comes in here coming off two soft goings races since the claim back in August. In the Commonwealth Turf Grade III at Churchill Downs in November he finished fifth. Prior to that in September at Belmont Park he finished second by a neck against $35.000 Claimers. He has only been over the sod five times in his career. I think with the track being firm, you can expect a better performance out of this $5.000 Claimer. If he can pull of this win, what a great return on investment for the Team Furey connections!
6 Iron Kaki
Owned and Bred by Chateau Gill
Sire Ironbound
Dam Kaki
Life Record 10-4-0-2
Iron Kaki coming into this race after running in the Breeders Cup Mile Grade I and finishing third. In that race he blew a 104 SRF Speed Figure. Prior to that race he was in The Hirsch Turf Classic another Grade I. This race was at a mile and a half and he scored another third place finish. I think with the drop in class, that you can expect Iron Kaki who is carrying 120 which is not the top weight in this race. I am expecting a big performance here.
7 Sha Na Na
Owned by Jmg Racing
Bred by Spinetingling
Sire Axle Grease
Dam Chiquita
Life Record 23-10-7-3
Sha Na Na ran against Iron Kaki in the Breeders Cup Mile Grade I last month, but would not fair as well as he finished eleventh. Prior to that he also ran in the Hirsch Turf Classic against Iron Kaki and would finish behind him again to be fifth. He has started at a route distance seven times and is 0 for 7 in the win column. I do not expect this to change today. I expect you will see Sha Na Na racing in sprints in 2012 or maybe even be retired.
8 Plucky Mach
Owned and Bred by Ken Allan
Sire Machiavellian Boy
Dam Plucky Hen
Life Record 11-5-3-1
Plucky Mach will carry the top weight of 123 pounds today. Plucky Mach recently raced in the Breeders Cup Turf. In this race he could not get the distance of a mile and a half over the sod, and he would placed twelfth. Two back he ran in the Kent Stakes a Grade III event at todays distance where he was able to pull off a win! Three back he also won the Grade II DMR Handicap at a mile and three eighths. Yes he carries the highest weight but he has carried it before and in his last two races he carried 122. Looks like he should do well.
9 Bank It
Owned and Bred by Harrowden
Sire HRP-Straight Man
Dam HRP-Bank Account
Life Record 11-6-1-3
Bank It recently picked up a win in the CA Cup Classic against California breds. Actually Bank It has done just that as he has won his last four races. Prior to this race a lot of his races were against Optional Claimers. I do think that he will struggle against the tougher company. He is looking for his fifth consecutive win, but he will have to step up for that to happen.
10 Leaveit On The Track
Owned by Mwn Racing
Bred by Mb Stables
Sire HRP-Seeking The Gold
Dam HRP0Spring Adieu
Life Record 16-2-3-4
Leaveit On The Track has raced at a route distance nine times in his career. In the nine starts Leaveit On The Track has 0 wins at a route distance. That is one reason I will not be betting on him today. The six year horse might be seeking retirement after this year. He has yet to win a race since May 2010 against Allowance company. I opt out.
11 Holiday Gift
Owned by Wolfs Den
Bred by Sarahs Stables
Sire HRP-Sunreigh
Dam HRP-Maid Of The Mint
Life Record 38-14-10-6
Since Holiday Gift was claimed back in September he has made two starts for his new owner. The first one was right here in a $16.000 Claimer at a mile on the soft turf where he scored a big win. Then he tried to come back here and race on the dirt against Optional Claimers $25.000 company of Non Winners of 3 races where he would finish third. He has three wins in ten starts over the sod. To find another sod win you would have to go back to September 2008. This clearly shows that he has been on the dirt, and it will be interesting to see if he can hang with this group. Longshot here.
Iwin Picks: 6-8-3
The Tout Picks: 9-6-3
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
