Hoofit, sent off at the odds of 15 to 1 for the BC Turf Sprint, deserves a chance said trainer Graham Motion
The globetrotting 4-year-old Graham Motion trained gelding Hoofit edged Aikenite by a nose to win the 159th running of the Grade 3, $175,000 Stoll Keenan Ogden Phoenix Stakes at Keeneland on 7 October, 2011.
The New Zealand bred was not nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, but here he is, 3 weeks gone past that sensational performance Hoofit is the main contender for the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
The son of Mossman, out of Chuckle by Danehill, Hoofit has been installed as the 15 to 1 at the morning line odds in the Turf Sprint, and the gelding will be under his trusted ride Edgar Prado, who guided the agile 4-year-old to an impressive victory last time around the two were out on the tracks.
Lucky number seven for Hoofit as he breaks for post number seven for the Turf Sprint. His main rivals would be the 2010 runner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, California Flag, who last time around finished 8th in the field of 14.
This year the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint has drawn a formidable lineup, and it contains 11 sprinters who will be tested over the Churchill Downs 5 furlong long turf track.
Thed 7-year-old gelding, California Flag is coming off a win in his last exit in the Grade 3 Morvich Stakes at Santa Anita. Under Patrick Valenzuela, California Flag zipped over the Santa Anita’s turf course and covered the six and a half furlong distance in 1 minute and 11.91 seconds.
On the way the experienced gelding downed Excessive Passion and Ain’t No Other, who finished second and third on the day, respectively.
With the likes of Regally Ready and the last year winner of the Turf Sprint Chamberlain Bridge, Hoffit's chances look bleak and he is also sent off as a long shot to win the race, but trainer Graham Motion believes that Hoofit deserves a chance.
“(The Breeders’ Cup) seems like an ambitious spot, but he’s done everything so nicely and you don’t get a lot of shots to run in this race,” said Motion. “He’s a fresh horse and is doing great and I don’t think there’s a lot of down side to it.”
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