The Donn Handicap

TJ · Postby TJ » Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:58 am

Here's the wieght assignments and past performance's for the Donn Handicap to be run this Saturday, Feb. 5th. TJ

http://www.gulfstreampark.com/sites/www ... ndicap.pdf

PP's:
http://www.gulfstreampark.com/sites/www ... ndicap.pdf

dublino · Postby **dublino** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:48 am

Fly Down or I want Revenge look good here.

Doesn't seem the Quality field a Donn would normally attract?

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 6:54 am

If he ships, I'll go with Twirling Candy. Still believe he is a really good horse..

kimberley mine · Postby **kimberley mine** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 3:50 pm

Twirling Candy is the class of the field, hands down, but he's never shipped out of California.

I wouldn't touch I Want Revenge with a bargepole. This horse hasn't raced in 6 months and has yet to win against open company. In the exotics, perhaps, but absolutely not for a win.

Eldaafer wants longer. The only times he's won at less than 10f has been in allowance company.

I like Giant Oak, provided he gets a good ride. Otherwise, Fly Down.

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:12 pm

Not a quality field ?

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing ... d-cup.aspx

This lady, HOY 2010 in Chile, won both the coveted races, LATINOAMERICANNA JOCKEY CLUB and GRAN PREMIO HIPODROMO CHILE in that year.

Invasor (ARG), Uruguayan 3-ple crowner, won Dohn before thrilling with a homerun in Dubai World Cup 2005.
US Cigar made this double in 1996.

FOS · Postby **FOS** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:14 pm

hi zinn21...hi all

zinn21 wrote:If he ships, I'll go with Twirling Candy. Still believe he is a really good horse..

He is a very nice horse.

As for one that I believe in...I believe that Ron the Greek has all the potential to be BIG Time. He's an absolutely GRAND individual and fabulous mover that possesses all the physical gifts.

When he caught my eye early in his career, I got a sense his trainer didn't really know what he had, or how to train and prepare him properly. Obviously the horse and owner parted ways with the trainer (look at the PPs).

Ron the Greek was clearly given plenty of time off, and is now in the hands of Tom Albertrani...who (for what it's worth) trained Bernardini (hmmm...not bad).

Ron the Greek's first start after a 10 month layoff was a week ago Saturday (at Gulfstream Park) versus a very nice group in a one turn mile AOC. He made up 14/15 lengths, circled the field and finished very strong (that's his style); a fast closing and tenacious 2nd. Just 14 days later (this coming Saturday) he'll be asked to step up to the Grade 1 plate in the Donn and give it a go at a mile and an eighth.

Is he ready? We'll see. Does the spacing between races raise questions? Of course.

Is he good enough though? I believe he's got HUGE ability, and will absolutely positively give it everything he's got...regardless the outcome.

Take a close look at Ron the Greek...I think he's drop dead spectacular looking; and will at some point prove he's a force to be dealt with.

Will it be Saturday? I don't know...but (to my way of thinking) he's not a horse to be ignored.

Best.

Respectfully

dublino · Postby **dublino** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:41 am

wangkw wrote:Not a quality field ?

Yes this year the Donn seems not top Quality.
The Donn handicap is regarded as one of the Stallion making races, just like the St James Palace stakes in England or the Arc in France.

TJ · Postby TJ » Tue Feb 01, 2011 4:03 am

The current list of confirmed starter's for the Donn include, but are not limited to:

Fly Down 122
Morning Line 119
Rule 119
Eldaafer 118
Giant Oak 118
I Want Revenge 117
Square Eddie 116

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:57 am

The current list of confirmed starter's for the Donn include, but are not limited to:

Fly Down 122
Morning Line 119
Rule 119
Eldaafer 118
Giant Oak 118
I Want Revenge 117
Square Eddie 116

Square Eddie is an interesting entry. He was brilliant in his last start setting a track record going 6.5 @ SA. He might get loose on the lead and run them off their feet. He was as good as I've seen him last start.

TJ · Postby TJ » Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:00 am

zinn21 wrote:
The current list of confirmed starter's for the Donn include, but are not limited to:

Fly Down 122
Morning Line 119
Rule 119
Eldaafer 118
Giant Oak 118
I Want Revenge 117
Square Eddie 116

Square Eddie is an interesting entry. He was brilliant in his last start setting a track record going 6.5 @ SA. He might get loose on the lead and run them off their feet. He was as good as I've seen him last start.

Hi Z,
He worked on the 29th at Santa Anita and they put him on the plane and he arrived here Sunday. So it looks like he'll get some experience galloping over the GP strip, which should help. We'll see if any additional entries show up Wednesday and I'll post the full field when the overnight comes out. TJ

bdw0617 · Postby **bdw0617** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:09 am

I don't think square eddie has won a 2 turn race since he was 2YO. while I think he is definatly back, think the distance might be more than he wants to run
I'm still not sold on IWR being anywhere close to his 3YO form, o rbetter stated, his 3YO form actually being a GREAT horse.

I think fly down wins this race, rather easily actually.

wilf · Postby **wilf** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:21 pm

Square Eddie is back better than ever!

wangkw · Postby **wangkw** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 9:20 am

Unfortunately...SE has never shined at 3 as he did at 2...his last 4 duels all ended in deficit of 4 lengths or more.
Money Player (CAN), the couple's only other kid is worse then his younger brother.

TJ · Postby TJ » Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:40 pm

Here's the Field for the Donn, two undecided(s) dropped in. FOS, take note! TJ

10th Race. (C9) Post 5:25PM The 53rd Running of The Donn Handicap (Grade I)
$500,000 Guaranteed
Purse $500,000 Guaranteed 1 1/8 Miles
FOR FOUR YEAR OLDS AND UPWARD.
1 I WANT REVENGE (L) '06 H 117 R. A. Dominguez IEAH Stables, Resolute Group Stables, Dubb, M. Puglisi Racing, Robbins, S. and F TR: Dutrow, Jr., R
2 HEAR YE HEAR YE (L) '07 C 113 Sanchez, J Jacks or Better Farm, Inc. Gold, S
3 MORNING LINE (L) '07 C 119 Velazquez, J Zabeel Racing International Corp and Thoroughbred Legends Racing Stable TR: Zito, N
4 GIANT OAK (L) '06 H 118 Bridgmohan, S Virginia H. Tarra Trust Block, C
5 ELDAAFER (L) '05 G 118 Prado, E IEAH Stables and Albaroudy, Mansour
TR: Alvarado, D
6 FLY DOWN (L) '07 C 122 Leparoux, J Pell, R Zito, N
7 SQUARE EDDIE (L) '06 H 116 Nakatani, C Reddam, J O'Neill, D
8 RULE (L) '07 C 119 Castellano, J WinStar Farm LLC Pletcher, T
9 RON THE GREEK (L) '07 C 116 Lezcano, J Hammer, J Albertrani, T

oliverstoned · Postby **oliverstoned** » Wed Feb 02, 2011 6:16 pm

Hear Ye Hear Ye? Huh....same connections and sire of Evil Queen recent 85-1 3rd place in the Forward Gal. If I was betting I might throw him in a Superfecta.