Pimlico Special shows how deep the handicap division is this year
Though, the Grade 3 Pimlico Special has been revived after a hiatus of four years, last time run in 2008, and the Grade 3 status given to the race doesn’t do justice to the lineup it has reeled in. There is so much depth in the division this year that the
Grade 3 Pimlico Special looks as tough as a Grade 1 race.
Trainer Graham Motion opting for the Grade 3, $300,000 Pimlico Special for his Grade 1 winning horse, Toby’s Corner, isn’t to provide relief to the runner by sheltering him from the wrath of the competitiveness that a grade 1 has to offer, but it is quite
the opposite.
The handicap division has some serious looking runners, who mean business at every stride and turn, the likes of Alternation, Hymn Book, Nehro, and the 1.5 million earner, Mission Impazible makes it an even to be reckoned with.
The first four finishers of the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap are participating in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special.
Alternation, the front running winner of the Oaklawn Handicap is coming out of 3 for 3 in the Oaklawn meet this winter, and trainer Von Hemel credits his colt’s turnaround to the addition of blinkers.
“I think he’s developed a little versatility,” said Von Hemel, who trains Alternation for Josephine Abercrombie’s Pin Oak Stable. “The blinkers probably put him up in the race a little more when we started with them last fall.”
Pimlico Special will offer a serious amount of speed in the race as Eighttofasttocatch, Endorsement, and Cherokee Artist have all been reeled in to burn some speed in the early stages of the race.
“I think we drew a great post, have a nice run to the turn to look things over and assess it,” said Von Hemel. “He’s a top horse, and I think you’ll see that bear out over the course of the year.”
The runners, who will benefit from this lively pace are Hymn Book, the Grade 1 Donn Handicap winner, Mission Impazible, and the last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby runner up, Nehro.
The Pimlico Special will also renew the rivalry between Hymn Book and Mission Impazible, who both rallied tirelessly in the Donn Handicap, but in the end Hymn Book nosed out Mission Impazible to win the race.
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