Been pushed back a little later in the CD Meet. Final Friday weekend. Please someone fact check this but this race has become one of the Key Races in the country off the last two years. Probably produced 10 Stakes Winners and order of finish is meaningless since fields are usually 14 deep.
Last year Celestine prompted the pace and faded to 10th. Isabella Sings won. Shug mare Onus went favored. Brown stakes mare was 2nd and Tommy the Torpedo was mid pack. Prior year field had similar quality up and down. Many of these are Keys when GP gets rolling.
Ms Revere herself was a nice local CD based mare. But nothing great. Not an Oaks winner. Not a BC Winner or NY Grade One winner. Hell I dont think she ever won on Turf because there wasn\'t a course back then. She was locally owned by Hiram Polk and Richardson one of whom was a Dr or Vet which means there is politic in everything. Regardless the quality of this race and the impact it will have on next seasons races is far superior to the quality of the name on it. Take note and tab later....
A solid field. Many up and comers and always and the ones to look out for in the coming months. Obviously Harmonize looks very strong with Grade One form. However this is another 14 horse field with either traffic or ground loss possibly in her way. She is spotting 1 point in weight. And for some reason was shipped south to Payson to train and now returns to 40 degree temperature drop. There is a respectable amount of speed signed up. Hawksmoor. is the wild card. But outside post could hinder.
Clark Handicap will come down to trips and form. Gun Runner drew well and is fond of CD. Has developed a lot and danced a lot dances this year. Effinex appeared shot to me after a grinding Suburban win. Shammans Ghost was scratched Breeders Cup returns here but pull in JJ. Hoppertunity has had solid consistent form all year gets a small drop in class, Baffert-Pegram team knows how to grab-the-lute at CD. Outside post is a problem. Noble Bird is the question mark. Like Effinex has a mind of his own. Used to hang a lot but now has decided winning by daylight can be fun. Owks a Grade One win at CD, beat Hoppertunity to do and gets 3 lbs. Noble Bird sets or prompts the pace brings-home-the-lute at $9.60. Good Luck everyone