Hawthorne Race 3

Claiming

Prize Money: $19,594

GRAND ILLUSION (5) was prominent at the corner and finished half a length away from the winner in second last start at Hawthorne (Dirt) over 1673m. Has never been out of the money in three starts at this trip, including two wins. Has the gate speed to take up a forward position. Expecting a bold showing. TEXAS CYCLONE (2) finished out of the money two starts back then he was always well out of his ground and was beaten 8 lengths when fifth over 1673m at Hawthorne two weeks ago. Best figures measure up nicely. Sure to run well. LICENSE TO STEAL (6) missed the placings two runs back then improved last start but found a couple better over 1710m at Hawthorne, beaten 4.5 lengths after being in the firing line on the turn. Taking on a better line-up this time but he deserves plenty of thought. TOWERING STORM (3) was out of the money when resuming from a spell last start over 1609m at this track, beaten 6 lengths. Fitter so expect a better run this time.

Distance: 1609m
Track: Fast
Weather: Cloudy
Surface: Turf
Class: CLM

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Texas Cyclone (1) x053327105
Trainer: John Haran()
Jockey: E. T. Baird
Weight: 56kg
Prize Money: $83,766
Win / Place: 10% / 35%

4 yo Dark Bay/Brown Horse

Sire: VEKOMA (USA)

Dam: SWEET TEMPER (USA)

Dam's Sire: Stormy Atlantic

Rating

Stats

Career

20: 2-3-2

Distance

7: 1-1-0

Trk/Dst

1: 0-0-0

Track

2: 0-0-0

Season

9: 1-1-2

1st Up

3: 0-0-0

2nd Up

2: 0-1-0

3rd Up

2: 0-0-1

4th Up

2: 1-0-1

Metro

17: 2-3-2

Non-Metro

3: 0-0-0

Turf

8: 1-1-0

Good

4: 1-0-0

Dirt

12: 1-2-2

Fast

4: 0-1-0

Firm

13: 1-2-2

Anti-Clockwise

20: 2-3-2

Jockey Stats

Horse

1: 0-0-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1609m - 1710m

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Most recently ran second last in a small field at Hawthorne on June 21 over 1673m, 8 len behind Vino Couragio carrying 56kg at $3.50. The run before that ran second last of 12 at Horseshoe Indianapolis Turf on June 6 over 1609m, 6 len behind Professor Higgins with 54kg at $12.50. Another bold run is expected.

Expected Settling Position: Pace

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
5th of 6	21/6/26	Hawthorne	1673m	CLM 3U	5	E Baird	56kg	SP	1:46.03	56.8 km/h	8.0L	4-5	$3.50	15	$18,828	$565	1. Vino Couragio 2. Grand Illusion 3. Dattts Life
11th of 12	6/6/26	Indiana Downs	1609m	CLM 3U	12	Amir Mendoza	54kg	FM	1:34.12	61.5 km/h	6.6L	5-10	$13	18	$24,407	$121	1. Professor Higgins 2. Money War 3. Happy Happy Day
1st of 7	19/5/26	Indiana Downs	1609m	CLM 3U	5	Amir Mendoza	53kg	Fast	1:38.36	58.9 km/h	2.3L	1-1	$3.20f	23	$33,240	$14,665	1. Texas Cyclone 2. Great Sword 3. Purdy Darn Good
7th of 8	26/4/26	Oaklawn Park	1609m	CLM 4U	7	Walter De La Cruz	53kg	M	1:37.74	59.3 km/h	11.1L	1-7	$30	16	$81,514	$1,019	1. Black Powder 2. Machine Gun Man 3. Onthestage
2nd of 11	10/4/26	Oaklawn Park	1609m	CLM 3U	8	Walter De La Cruz	55.5kg	Fast	1:40.96	57.4 km/h	1.3L	3-2	$8.50	14	$46,579	$10,480	1. Holus Bolus 2. Texas Cyclone 3. Fast Joker
3rd of 10	27/3/26	Oaklawn Park	1710m	CLM 3U	1	Walter De La Cruz	56kg	Fast	1:46.69	57.7 km/h	5.5L	2-2	$6.90	14	$43,539	$4,635	1. Higginsville 2. Arky Road 3. Texas Cyclone

Mohtafil (2) 1325377x59
Trainer: Brian Cook()
Jockey: Olaf Hernandez
Weight: 56kg
Prize Money: $95,847
Win / Place: 11% / 61%

6 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: KITTEN'S JOY (USA)

Dam: FAWAAREK (USA)

Dam's Sire: Smart Strike

Rating

Stats

Career

18: 2-6-3

Season

2: 0-0-0

1st Up

4: 0-2-1

2nd Up

3: 0-1-0

3rd Up

2: 0-1-0

4th Up

2: 1-1-0

Metro

13: 2-4-3

Non-Metro

5: 0-2-0

Turf

1: 0-1-0

Synthetic

14: 2-5-3

Dirt

3: 0-0-0

Fast

1: 0-1-0

Firm

14: 0-5-3

Anti-Clockwise

18: 2-6-3

Jockey Stats

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1609m - 1673m

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. First-up tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 5th of 7 at Horseshoe Indianapolis on May 6 over 1609m, 6 len behind Hard Rye Guy carrying 55.5kg at $13.50. Second-up ran last of 9 at Horseshoe Indianapolis on June 3 over 1673m, 22 len behind Monumentaljustice with 55.5kg at $33.90. Hard to make much of a case.

Expected Settling Position: Off Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
9th of 9	3/6/26	Indiana Downs	1673m	CLM 3U	9	Mitchell Murrill	55.5kg	Fast	1:42.41	58.8 km/h	22.5L	5-8	$34	28	$19,526	$195	1. Monumentaljustice 2. Patronage 3. Mansfield Tiger
5th of 7	6/5/26	Indiana Downs	1609m	CLM 3U	5	Mitchell Murrill	55.5kg	Good	1:40.32	57.7 km/h	6.5L	2-3	$14	151	$19,553	$587	1. Hard Rye Guy 2. Vaccinator 3. Paynter's Canvas
151 Day Spell
7th of 8	6/12/25	Turfway Park	1609m	CLM 3U	6	Alexis Achard	55kg	Fast	1:37.04	59.7 km/h	12.5L	6-6	$9.59	23	$29,250	$322	1. Faster 2. Cow Creek Kid 3. Sticky Note
7th of 8	13/11/25	Indiana Downs	1673m	CLM 3U	6	Jose Ramos Gutierrez	52.5kg	Fast	1:42.50	58.8 km/h	16.8L	7-7	$3.90	22	$21,374	$214	1. Star Review 2. Black White N Gold 3. Vaccinator
3rd of 9	22/10/25	Presque Isle Downs	1673m	CLM 3U	7	Antonio A Gallardo	56kg	Fast	1:41.79	59.2 km/h	4.5L	9-4	$5.30	15	$25,875	$2,588	1. Grand Morning 2. River Of Time 3. Mohtafil
5th of 7	7/10/25	Presque Isle Downs	1673m	CLM 3U	2	Martina Rojas	56kg	Fast	1:42.55	58.7 km/h	4.5L	6-5	$2.10f	14	$25,994	$650	1. Streamsong 2. Vast Horizons 3. Hineni

Grand Illusion (3) 21211x5412
Trainer: Max Quinonez()
Jockey: Alexander Bendezu
Weight: 56kg
Prize Money: $92,292
Win / Place: 37% / 62%

Jockey / Horse Combo

Track Specialist

5 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: NOBLE MISSION (GB)

Dam: IT'SJUSTANILLUSION (USA)

Dam's Sire: Uncle Mo

100

Rating

Stats

Career

16: 6-4-0

Distance

3: 2-1-0

Trk/Dst

1: 1-0-0

Track

3: 2-1-0

Season

4: 1-1-0

1st Up

5: 1-0-0

2nd Up

2: 1-0-0

3rd Up

2: 1-0-0

4th Up

2: 0-2-0

Metro

2: 0-0-0

Non-Metro

14: 6-4-0

Turf

3: 2-1-0

Good

2: 1-1-0

Synthetic

1: 1-0-0

Dirt

12: 3-3-0

Fast

1: 1-0-0

Firm

8: 3-1-0

Anti-Clockwise

15: 6-3-0

Jockey Stats

Horse

9: 4-3-0

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1673m

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Form hard to fault. Last start 2nd in a small field at Hawthorne on June 21 over 1673m, 0.5 len behind Vino Couragio with 56kg at $3.30. The run before that won by 2.75 len at Hawthorne June 11 over 1673m defeating Lamplighter Jack with 56kg at $3.30. Rates highly after a strong run last time.

Expected Settling Position: Leader

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
2nd of 6	21/6/26	Hawthorne	1673m	CLM 3U	1	Alexander Bendezu	56kg	SP	1:46.03	56.8 km/h	0.5L	1-2	$3.30f	10	$18,828	$3,766	1. Vino Couragio 2. Grand Illusion 3. Dattts Life
1st of 6	11/6/26	Hawthorne	1673m	CLM 3U	2	Alexander Bendezu	56kg	SP	1:43.71	58.1 km/h	2.8L	1-1	$3.30	18	$16,736	$10,042	1. Grand Illusion 2. Lamplighter Jack 3. Vitale
4th of 6	24/5/26	Hawthorne	1673m	ALLOW 3U	6	Alexander Bendezu	56kg	Good	1:43.71	58.1 km/h	9.1L	3-4	$2.90	17	$20,251	$1,013	1. Vitale 2. Silver Quarters 3. Verrazano First
5th of 7	7/5/26	Hawthorne	1673m	HCP 3U	4	Alexander Bendezu	56kg	Fast	1:43.72	58.1 km/h	13.0L	2-5	$6.40	189	$20,251	$608	1. Silver Quarters 2. The Thunderer 3. Oliverio
189 Day Spell
1st of 9	30/10/25	Hawthorne	1609m	CLM 3U	1	Alexander Bendezu	55.5kg	FM	1:37.03	59.7 km/h	3.8L	1-1	$2.10f	21	$20,548	$12,329	1. Grand Illusion 2. Brit Blitz 3. New Year Surprise
1st of 11	9/10/25	Hawthorne	1509m	CLM 3U	3	Alexander Bendezu	55.5kg	Good	1:32.41	58.8 km/h	2.3L	2-1	$2.50f	18	$17,123	$10,274	1. Grand Illusion 2. Canyon Streak 3. New Year Surprise

Stefan's Title (4) 956146
Trainer: Mark Cristel(USA)
Jockey: Julio E. Felix
Weight: 53.5kg
Prize Money: $20,949
Win / Place: 16% / 16%

3 yo Bay Gelding

Sire: CLOUD COMPUTING (USA)

Dam: PERFECTION LADY (USA)

Dam's Sire: Majesticperfection

Rating

Stats

Career

6: 1-0-0

Season

6: 1-0-0

1st Up

1: 0-0-0

2nd Up

1: 0-0-0

3rd Up

1: 0-0-0

4th Up

1: 1-0-0

Metro

3: 1-0-0

Non-Metro

3: 0-0-0

Synthetic

3: 0-0-0

Dirt

3: 1-0-0

Firm

6: 1-0-0

Anti-Clockwise

6: 1-0-0

Jockey Stats

Trainer

W 0% P 0%

Distance

W 0% P 0%

Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Track

W 0% P 0%

Trainer/Distance

W 0% P 0%

Distance Range Last 6 months

1207m - 1609m

Gear Changes

Lasix

Comments

Returns from a 35-day let-up. Most recently ran second last of 7 at Churchill Downs on May 31 over 1609m, 22 len behind Il Cavallino with 53.5kg at $14.92. The run before that ran second last in a small field at Churchill Downs on May 17 over 1408m, 12 len behind Guardian carrying 53.5kg at $11.52. Better than that recent plain performance suggests.

Expected Settling Position: Midfield

Last Starts days since last start

Place	Date	Track	Distance	Class	Barrier	Jockey	Weight	Cond.	Race Time	Avg. Speed	Margin	800/400	SP	Days	Prize	Prize Won	Result
6th of 7	31/5/26	Churchill Downs	1609m	CLM 3U	3	Jose Ortiz	53.5kg	Fast	1:36.31	60.1 km/h	22.0L	6-6	$15	14	$50,209	$729	1. Il Cavallino 2. Bagg O Time 3. Romantic Lead
4th of 5	17/5/26	Churchill Downs	1408m	CLM 3U	2	Jose Ortiz	53.5kg	Fast	1:22.91	61.1 km/h	12.8L	2-5	$12	39	$50,279	$2,514	1. Guardian 2. War Munny 3. Dewy's Denali
39 Day Freshen-Up
1st of 6	8/4/26	Indiana Downs	1207m	MDN CLM 3U	4	Marcelino Pedroza	54.5kg	Fast	1:12.50	59.9 km/h	0.1L	3-4	$6.70	20	$25,473	$15,284	1. Stefan's Title 2. High As The Sky 3. Hurricane Express
6th of 12	19/3/26	Turfway Park	1207m	MDN CLM 3U	12	Edgar Morales	53.5kg	Fast	1:11.84	60.5 km/h	10.8L	1-6	$24	20	$32,303	$330	1. Imperial Ruler 2. Cocktails N Dreams 3. Cause Ima Boss
5th of 8	27/2/26	Turfway Park	1609m	MDN CLM 3	5	Edgar Morales	54.5kg	Fast	1:40.91	57.4 km/h	28.5L	6-5	$41	20	$53,067	$1,546	1. Petoskey Stones 2. No Hay Dos 3. Bourbon Rage
9th of 11	7/2/26	Turfway Park	1207m	MDN CLM 3U	1	Edgar Morales	53.5kg	Fast	1:13.21	59.4 km/h	14.9L	9-10	$32	-	$53,067	$546	1. Frosty Beer 2. Out Of The Fog 3. Bourbon Flight

Race Review Abbreviations

3WNC: Three wide no cover, Awk: Awkwardly away, Bk: Back, Blkd: Blocked, Btld: Battled, Chal: Challenged, Chkd: Checked, Cvr: Cover, Fdd: Faded, Fght: Fought, Fin: Finish, Hdd: Headed, Hld up: Held up, Hmprd: Hampered, Hndy: Handy, Kikd: Kicked, Kn: Keen, Ld: Led/Lead, Midf: Midfield, Mod pc: Moderate pace, Otf: On the Fence, ROS: Ran on strongly, Slow: Slow away, Snagd: Snagged, Stld: Settled, Tn: Turn, Trld: Trailed, Under pres: Under pressure, Under rd: Under riding, Urgd: Urged, Wd: Wide, Wdr: Wider, Weavd: Weaved, Wknd: Weakened, Wrkd: Worked

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