LA Handicap
For Four Year Olds And Up
Going a Mile and a Sixteenth on the Dirt Course
For a purse of $107.500
at Fair Grounds
on Saturday January 21, 2012
This is the sixth year that the LA Handicap has been run at HRP. In the past five years there has been no trainer that has won this race more than once. In 2010 trainer GlueFactory saddled Gray Shark who holds the current race record with a time of 1:41.55. The track record is held by Icicle saddled by Jerry Garcia Racing on February 10, 2007. The track has been fast there and it looks like there is a fifty percent chance of rain before this big race. This could have an impact on the race course. Lets look at the 2012 entries
1 Jammer Cat
Owned and Bred by Northern TraderStable
Sire Wind Jammer
Dam Here Kitty Kitty
Life Record 12-4-1-1
Jammer Cat is coming off a 45 plus day rest where in 2011 he was able to earn one win over six starts to earn $168.080. In his last race he was up at Woodbine in the Sir Barton Stakes where he placed second. His win in 2011 came from the Grade II Strub Stakes at Santa Anita going a mile and an eighth. His SRF Speed Figures have been in the high 90s so I look for Jammer Cat to perform well here.
2 Born A Banana
Owned and Bred by Pumpkin Racing
Sire Born To Rock
Dam Anna Banana
Life Record 20-4-5-2
Born A Banana picked up three wins in 2011 out of 12 starts that would earn him a total of $437.340 in 2011. He comes off a 60 plus day rest from when he ran in the Ack Ack Handicap Grade III at this distance, where he was able to finish third. To find an onboard finish you have to go back to four races to the Oceanside Stakes where the race was run at a mile on the sod. Three of his four career wins come from the sod, so it is interesting to see if he can translate another win over the dirt.
3 Cerano
Owned by Nakamura Stables
Bred by Ballydoyle House
Sire Blue Hat
Dam Lilylou
Life Record 28-9-6-3
Cerano picked up three wins in just eight starts in 2011 for a paycheck worth $189.000. Coming off a 45 plus day rest. He just missed in the Grade III All American at Golden Gate at a mile and an eighth on the dirt to finish fourth. His last win comes just two starts ago where he picked up a win at Hawthorne in the Bucks Boy Handicap at todays distance. His previous win would come four months prior at Monmouth Park at todays distance in an Open Allowance.
4 Roxy Moon
Owned and Bred by Aml Racing
Sire Man In The Moon
Dam Run Roxy Run
Life Record 22-5-5-4
Roxy Moon just raced on the last day of the year where he just missed at TP in a $30.000 to finish second by a head. In 2011 he had two wins out of eight starts earning $80.280. His last two wins come back to back wins. Back in November he raced in an Optional Claimer $50.000 Non Winners 4 at seven furlongs, in which he was able to pick up the win. Prior to that race he was on the sod at a mile in an Optional Claimer $40.000 Non Winners of 4 races. I think he will need to step up to race against this class, but he prefers to win on the grass more than the dirt.
5 Sussex
Owned by Mwn Racing
Bred by Fourhooves
Sire HRP-Souvenir Copy
Dam HRP-Too Bald
Life Record 21-6-4-5
Sussex is coming into this race with two wins out of eight starts in 2011 earning $298.780. His last race was in the Grade I Breeders Cup Sprint where he finished seven. Prior to that he picked up a win at Grade III Phoenix at six furlongs. To find his previous you have to go back to June to the Aristides BC Grade III also at six furlongs. This horse has won three times out of ten starts going at a route distance. Could be tough for him to get the extra distance as he has been running this sprint distance for some time.
6 Talk To The Moon
Owned and Bred by Samlam
Sire Party Talk
Dam Selene Alzao
Life Record 13-4-2-2
Talk To The Moon picked up two wins in just ten starts in 2011 earning $45.770. He picked up his last win at Tampa Bay Downs in an Optional Claimer $32.000 Non Winners of 3 at todays distance. His other win comes from a win in an Optional Claimer $16.000 at Calder Race Course at a mile and seventy yards. In my opinion Talk To The Moon needs a great race here to be competitive.
7 Born From A Voucher
Owned by Hambletonian Stable
Bred by Deep Waters
Sire HRP-Lac Ouimet
Dam HRP-Comic Song
Life Record 28-9-8-6
Born From A Voucher will make his debut race as a eight year old Horse. Back in August 2011 he was purchased for $100.000 and since then has picked up a win a place for his new owner at todays distance. In the Roanoke the going was good, and after being on the lead, he lost it in the stretch to lose by a head. In his last race in December at Gulfstream Park he scored a win at Harlan. He had two wins in nine starts in 2011 picking up a check for $157.000. Looks decent here.
8 Montepulciano
Owned and Bred by Alabarda Stable
Sire Nikkosan
Dam Pisa Tower
Life Record 15-5-3-2
Montepulciano has not had a win since his win in the IL Derby Grade III at a mile and an eighth on the dirt back in April of last year. Prior to that he a win in the Lecomte Stakes Grade III at this track back in January at a mile and seventy yards. In my opinion he has faced some tough company, but has been a bit sour in the win column. The connections are hoping that he can return to form like he did just a year ago.
9 Copious Notes
Owned by Avalos Racing
Bred by Acber Farms
Sire Cochise
Dam Honey Wrap
Life Record 40-16-9-8
Copious Notes is coming off of back to back wins. Most recent at Gulfstream Park in December in a $64.000 Allowance. Prior to that he was up at Woodbine in the Autumn Stakes Grade II at todays distance. He looks like much the best for me, as he likes the distance, and his SRF numbers seem pretty sharp. Much the best here.
Iwin Picks: 9-5-7
The Tout Picks: 9-5-8
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
