 |
|
|
HAW Gold Cup Draws Six
By
Iwin
Oct 5, 2011,
2:53:54 PM
|
|
HAW Gold Cup Grade II
For Three Year Olds and Upward
Going a Mile and a Fourth on the Dirt
For a Purse of $400.000
at Hawthorne
on Saturday October 8, 2011
This is the sixth year that the HAW Gold Cup Grade II has been ran at HRP. In the past five years there has been no trainer that has won this race more than once. Back in 2006 trainer Serenity Stables saddled the winner Dani Dauntless who holds the race record with a time of 2:00.92, which also serves as the track record. The track has been fast there and the sunny looks to be shiny throughout the rest of the week, so this should mean we will have a fast going on the main track. Lets take a look at the 2011 entries
1 California Sunset
Owned and Bred by Alydar Stables
Sire Sleep Talkin
Dam Dani California
Life Record 24-6-4-2
California Sunset three races ago ran at this distance in the Hollywood Gold Cup Grade I. He sat off the pace, and when he arrived in the stretch he would rally to get up to be second. Then he shipped across the country to Saratoga Race Course where he would race in the Whitney Handicap Grade I on the good going. He would sit off the pace, and he would never make a bid in the stretch to finish sixth. From there he would hang around until closing weekend at Saratoga Race Course where he would attempt to race at a mile and an eighth in the Woodward Grade I. In this race he sat off the pace, and never made a bid in the stretch to finish sixth. Rosie Napravnik will replace Nakatani. I think others appear more likely.
2 Dogtastic
Owned and Bred by Drabfantasy
Sire Dog Flower
Dam Fortuitous
Life Record 12-2-2-3
Dogtastic three back raced in a sprint over the soft sod where he sat off the pace, to rally in the stretch to finish third. From there he would go on to race against Optional Claimers Non Winners 3 where he started out fourth, and would finish there. His last race was another sprint over the sod where faced Open Alloance Company. He went out on the lead, and into the stretch he faded to finish second. It is worth noting that Dogtastic two wins come from sprints on the dirt. He broke his Maiden and won a $12.000 Stakes. I think he is a bit out of his league here.
3 Ducks And Drakes
Owned by Dynark Stables
Bred by Dew22
Sire HRP-Skimming
Dam HRP-Grand Shot
Life Record 23-7-5-3
Ducks And Drakes was acquired by his current owner back on December 22, 2010 for $220.000. Three back Ducks And Drakes ran against Optional Claimers on the yielding sod. He came from off the pace to get up for the win. From that he would run 18 days later in the Sky Classic Stakes Grade II, this is todays distance but on the good sod. He was out to be second, and by the far turn he had taken the lead to go on to win. Most recently he was up at Woodbine race in a mile and a half on the sod in the Northern Dancer BC Turf Grade I. He sat off the pace, and never made a bid in the stretch and would finish sixth. Ducks And Drakes seven wins, five places, and two shows come from the sod, and has only had two starts on the dirt. Therefore I am opting out of this selection.
4 Mordred
Owned and Bred by Diablo Diablo
Sire Die Laffin
Dam Born Single
Life Record 26-10-8-1
Mordred raced in the Foster Handicap Grade I back in June. He did not fair well in this race and would go on to finish fifth. From this disappointing attempt his trainer would ship him to Philadelphia where he would run in the Greenwood Cup where he would race at a mile and a half over the main track. He would come from off the pace to make a rally in the stretch, and finish in a dead heat with Big Waste Of Time who will be in the six post position today. Then he was shipped to TP where he would run in the KY Cup Classic Grade II where he broke to be third and would finish on top. He looks great here.
5 Rancho Ruler
Owned and Bred by Australia Wide
Sire Ladera Ranch
Dam Vera Wang
Life Record 21-12-3-5
Rancho Ruler three back ran over the mud in the Alysheba Grade III. He broke out of the gate and broke on top. In the stretch he would fade to finish third. From there he would meet up with Mordred and Big Waste Of Time in the Greenwood Cup. He pressed the pace in this race from third, and kept it close throughout the race. He was able to hold on to finish third by a length. Most recently Rancho Ruler ran in The Iselin Stakes Grade III where he broke out to be second, and hunted down the competition in the far turn to take the lead, and go on to win. He looks to be a top finisher.
6 Big Waste Of Time
Owned by Barcelona Farms
Bred by Gryphon Racing
Sire HRP-Desert Prince
Dam HRP-Kalmia
Life Record 13-6-2-1
Big Waste Of Time was purchased on June 23, 2011 from trainer Big Player for $499.000 and his first race was the Greenwood. Out of the gate he was in the middle of the pack to be fourth. In the stretch he would rally and get into a duel with Mordred to finish in a dead heat. He then was shipped across the country to Del Mar to run in the Grade I Pacific Classic. He did not fair well in this race were he started out in fourth, and faded to finish sixth. He should do well here.
Final Thought- Mordred, Rancho Ruler, and Big Waste Of Time will meet up again, and this should prove to be a great repeat for them all. This race really boils down to a three horse field, and it is up to them to make the winner.
Iwin Picks 4-6-5
The Tout Picks 5-4-6
Until next time this is Iwin signing off!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
