This year I have the pleasure of covering the Grade 1 �Barbaro Memorial� a 6.5 Furlong race for fillies and mares 4 years old and up on dirt.� This race is sponsored by the Barbaro Memorial Fund which donates to the research for the cure of Laminitis.� Those of you who don�t know who Barbaro was, he was a race horse who won the 2006 Kentucky Derby, but shattered his leg two weeks later in the 2006 Preakness Stakes ending his racing career and eventually leading to his death.� Barbaro ran in the Preakness Stakes as a heavy favorite but, after he broke through the gate, he fractured three bones in and around the ankle of his right hind leg. The injury ended his racing career. The next day, he underwent surgery at the New Bolton Center at the University of Pennsylvania for his injuries. In July he developed laminitis in his left rear leg. He had an additional five surgeries, and his prognosis varied as he remained for an extraordinarily long period of time in the equine Intensive Care Unit. While his right leg eventually healed, a final risky surgery on it proved futile because the colt soon developed further laminitis in both front legs. Millions of get well letters poured in from people across the globe.� Never has a horse captured the hearts and minds of so many as did Barbaro.� His recovery was covered nationally by countless news media, and the country felt the ups and downs as he set down for the stretch run, only this time it wasn�t for the glory of the roses but for his life.� Sadly on January 29th of 2007, his veterinarians and owners concluded that he could not be saved, Barbaro could not win that one last race and was euthanized that day.� He was a third-generation descendant of Mr. Prospector, and as such Barbaro was related to many recent Triple Crown hopefuls including Big Brown, Eight Belles, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and Fusaichi Pegasus.� Though Barbaro may be gone his spirit lives on in many of the Equinics hopefuls here today. Coming into this race we have some of the top ranked older female sprinters in this race.� Many of the horses are making the jump to a Graded Stakes for the first time.� Every entrant is eager to represent their respective Residency with Pride, Determination and Perseverance.� For some this race will be the pinnacle of their fantastic racing career, for others this race may just be a start of greater things to come.� 17 beautiful Fillies and Mares come to the post for a shot at �Equinics Gold� on the sims biggest racing day of the year, the 3rd running of the Summer Equinics.� Let�s take a look at our field one by one.�
PP 1 we have HOLY EXERTION who is out of tabascomet stables and is representing RASH residency.� This 5 year old mare is out of Exert x Holy Bull x Hawaii.� She is the 486th ranked sprinter in her division.� This mare has had a very nice career so far with 9 wins in 27 career starts earning $171,766.� She has only been out of the money 9 times in her career.� She has posted triple digit speed figures in her last 5 races.� While she is a great looking mare, she does lack Graded Stakes experience with this being her first ever graded try.� She is a pretty versatile mare who can run from off the pace or be on the pace.� She is going off at 13/1 odds and is going to be up against it in this race.
PP 2 we have CLARK COUNTY who is running out of simsters3 stables and is representing GR SIMSTERS residency.� This 4 year old filly is out of Seeking the Gold x Nijinsky II x Hail to Reason. She is ranked 144 in the division and has won 7 out of 19 career starts.� She has only been out of the money 6 times in her career and has earned $227,256.� Since returning to the dirt from the turf 5 races ago she has settled into a groove posting 5 straight triple digit Speed Figures and winning 3 of the 5 races.� She runs her best races coming from the back of the pack and should have an honest pace to close into in this race.� The knock on her is her class.� While she has shown she can run in open stakes this is going to be her first career Graded try.� If she can handle the class jump she should be in the thick of it right at the end.
PP 3 is MASPERO the representative from OHIO residency running out of ausracing stables.� She is a 4 year old filly out of Zabeel x Danehill x Lypheor.� She has 7 wins in 21 career starts earning $338,760 and ranking 96th in her division. She has run in 4 Sprints on the dirt winning 2 and running out of the money in the other 2.� The 2 out of the money have been graded tries.� She is another one who likes to come from the back and make a late run.� She has graded experience and has posted a triple digit speed figure in a G1 sprint but it seems that she likes the longer races a bit more then the sprints.� Still a big race is not out of the question.
PP 4 is STRIKE THE BEAT running for meguire6th stables and is representing good ole BLAZING SADDLES residency.� She is a 4 year old filly out of Strike the Gold x Miswaki x Green Forest.� She holds 5 wins out of in 21 career starts with earnings of $78,376.� She has really matured at the end of her 3 year old year and has been leap and bounds better this year.� She has posted a triple digit Speed Figure in every race this year but 2 of them.� In both those races you can make a fact that one was in the slop and the other she ran totally against her preferred style.� She is another horse who loves to sit mid pack and make a late run.� She has run in 2 Graded stakes and finished out of the money in both.� This is a tough spot for her but she is peaking at the right time and could light up the tote board at 16/1.� Can�t logically pick but a lot of upside and I�ll be rooting on my fellow residency owner�
PP 5 we have our 8/1 favorite LA VINOTINTO trained by venezolano stable and is representing HISPANO PARLANTE residency.� This 5 year old mare is out of Mineshaft x Kingmambo x Storm cat.� She has won 13 times in 33 Career stars and has earned over a half a million dollars in her career and is also ranked 8th in the division.� Her best race came 3 back in a Grade 2 Sprint where she ran a close 2nd and posted a 113 Speed Figure.� She also won a Grade 2 Sprint last time out with a 110 Speed Figure.� She does her best running setting the pace or sitting close to the pace.� Race strategy is going to play a big role in this race and she is definitely one of the major contenders.
PP 6 is our second choice 9/1 FLEETWOOD MIA trained by fleetwood stables and is representing NORTHWEST RACING CIRCUIT residency.� This 4 year old filly is out of Strike the Gold x Seattle Slew x His Majesty.� She has won 12 out of 29 career starts and has earned just over one million dollars in her career.� She is ranked number 2 in the division. How the odds makers didn�t make her the favorite is beyond me.� She loves to sit back and let the race develop in front of her before she makes her killer closing kick. She has posted multiple triple digit speed figures with a 114 being her best in a Grade 1. She is a multiple Graded winner and has never been out of the money in any Grade 1 event she has been in.� Despite the odds maker, she is the one to beat.
PP 7 we have 12/1 MT. FEVER trained by isittrue and is representing the home track VERMONT residency.� She is a 4 year old filly out of Stormin Fever x Mt. Livermore x Danzig.� She has won 7 races in 24 career starts and has earned $121, 490. She holds the 128th ranking in the division.� She is a very consistent horse posting Triple digit Speed Figures in 10 of her last 12 races.� She lacks Graded stakes experience with this being her first time in one.� While running in open stakes company she seems to have run her best when she can make the lead, but has also shown she can rate and close.� While she is a very fine looking horse and might be peaking at the moment I think there might be too much competition for her to finish in the money.
PP 8 is our next Equinics medal hopeful DEVIL IN MRS JONES owned by sera stables and representing GREAT PLAINS residency.� She is a 4 year old filly out of Smarty Jones x Danzig x Secretariat.� She has won 11 races in 32 career starts while earning over $600,000 in prize money.� She has run in multiple Graded stakes races and is ranked 391st in the division.� She likes to press the early lead when running her best race.� Her best ever Speed Figure was a 116, it came last year in the only Grade 1 she ever ran in (which she won).� She has shown that she can run her best race in the biggest race of her career.� This race is now the biggest event she has ever taken part in and she has the class, pedigree and talent to make a pretty big upset at 15/1. Threatening!
PP 9 we have ALL OUR LOVE owned by iant5 and is representing KENTUCKY HORSEMEN residency.� She is the oldest horse in the field, a 6 year old mare out of Singspiel x Nashwan x Troy.� She has 10 wins in 41 career starts and has earned $197,399 in prize money.� She is ranked 232nd in her division.� She has had a nice racing career that mainly seen her in Allowance company.� She has tried to step up to open Stakes Company a couple times, and while she did not run poorly she didn�t run lights out either.� I do want to point out she has run her fastest speed figures this year since turning 6.� She likes to be just off the pace in her best races and may strike early from the gate in this one. It just appears that her best to date isn�t good enough to put her on par with some others in here.� Still stranger things have happen and this is why the races are run and not judged by what is seen on paper.
PP 10 is 9/1 STORMY PEG owned by dundey7 and is representing MINNESOTA residency. This lightly raced 4 year old filly is out of Storm Cat x Fusaichi Pegasus x Common Grounds.� She only has 12 career starts but has won 6 of them and has only been out of the money 3 times.� She has earned $288,709 in her career and is ranked 18th in the division.� This horse has run in 3 Graded Stakes so far, and is a Grade 2 winner while also posting triple digit Speed Figures in her last 8 races.� She has run some big races so far in her young career and just missed in the Smackdown event last time out.� She loves to be on the lead and she will be the one all these closers are trying to catch.� She has yet to run her best race in my opinion and might have been saving it for this event. There is a reason she is co-second favorite.� She�s the one to catch.
PP 11 we have 18/1 ROMANTIC TONE owned by donut and is representing EAAA RACING residency.� She is a 4 year old filly out of Woodman x Nijinsky II x Mill Reef.� She boasts a record of 6 wins in 19 career starts with earnings of $102,956 and is ranked 427th in the division.� This filly has been coming into her own in her past 4 starts returning to sprints after being tried at a mile.� She only has 2 stakes tries in her career and was out of the money in both of them.� Even though she lacks the class she still has shown she can post Triple digit Speed Figures in Stakes Company.� She likes to press the pace early and could give Stormy Peg some early pressure.� She would have to run better than she ever has to win in this spot.
PP 12 we have 13/1 FETISH owned by super26 and is representing DELPENN residency.� This 4 year old filly is out of Cryptoclearence x Danzig x Storm Cat.� She has 7 wins in 27 career starts and has only been out of the money 7 times.� She has earned $478,274 and is ranked 9th in the division.� She has run in multiple Graded stakes but has never scored a victory in one.� Her Speed Figures are spot on.� She had 13 straight races where she posted triple digits before she was injured 3 races back.� She looks to have bounced back well form that injury as she almost scored her first Graded Victory last time out.� She runs her best races sitting mid pack and making her move just before the top of the stretch.� I would have to say she was the most consistent horse in this field before her injury and that definitely makes her a factor in this race.� Contender
PP 13 we have SJ�S GHOST DANCE trained by factorx and is representing EWC residency.� She is a 4 year old filly out of Silver Ghost x Northern Dancer x Turn-to.� She boasts an impressive 10 wins in 19 career starts while earning $378,940.� She currently holds the number 12 ranking in the division.� She has 4 Career Graded stakes tries which 3 of them have been sprinting.� In those 3 sprint Graded Stakes she has finished no worse than 4th.� Before her last race she had posted 5 straight triple digit Speed Figures in Stakes Company all while sprinting.� If you throw out her last race going a mile (where she tired badly) all her sprint efforts have been pretty great.� She loves to be on the lead and will be one of the horses fighting for that early lead.� She adds to the pace and if she is allowed to sit on the lead unchallenged she could wire the field.� Dangerous contender.
PP 14 we have 12/1 KATIE�S SONG going out for crracers stables and is representing CR RACERS residency.� She is a 5 year old mare out of Unbridled�s Song x In Reality x First Landing.� In her career she has won 9 of 22 starts and has earned $283,990 in prize money.� She has been very impressive in sprint races with 8 wins out of 15 starts.� It�s seems that she is starting to find her best strides coming into this race.� The knock on her would be she is facing the toughest field she ever faced and that she has never run in a Graded Stakes before.� Still she has posted 5 straight triple digit Speed Figures, in which 3 have come at the stakes level.� She also has not been out of the money in her last 5 starts as well.� Her preferred running style is from the back of the pack and she will want to make a huge run around the far turn.� It seems if she can overcome the class jump she will be one of many horse flying down the lane near the end.� Long shot but not out of the question.
PP 15 is 10/1 CHEYENNE GOLD trained by ozioziozi and is representing IRELAND residency.� This 5 year old mare is out of Seeking the Gold x A.P. Indy x Storm Cat and is one of the top bred horses in this race.� She has won 15 of her 36 career starts earning over a million dollars prize money while claiming the number 11 ranking in the division.� Some may say her best days are behind her but I beg to differ.� She is one of the classiest horses in the race with 13 career Graded Stakes starts with 5 wins to her credit. She has posted triple digit speed figures in 9 of her last 11 starts.� She likes to be on or near the lead.� Her jockey is going to have to see how the pace develops and if he will want to send her or let her sit just off the leaders.� Either way she adds to the pace of the race and at 10/1 could pay a nice price if she gets a perfect trip. She has the class and the experience to win.
PP 16 we have NUMBER RUNNER who is representing BENELUX residency as is trained by ceclaim8 at odds of 25/1.� This 4 year old filly is out of Afleet x Zafonic x Polish Numbers.� She has 7 wins in 22 career stars and has won $131,785 in prize money.� She holds the 156th rank in the division.� This horse was a very shrewd claim last year for 25k.� Since the claim she has proven to be a very good Allowance runner but hasn�t been able to bring that same style of run into her stakes starts.� To say she is up against it in this field is an understatement.� She seems to have run her best on an off track.� If the track had come up off she might have moved up.� She just faces faster horses and will have to dig down deep for the run of her life.
PP 17 we have FALSE PEACE representing ALPINE TRUF CLUB residency and is trained by caerleon at odds of 11/1.� This 4 year old filly is out of Peace Rules x Vice Regent x In Reality.� She has 6 wins in 25 career starts while earning $223,425 in prize money and obtaining the 40th rank in the division.� She has posted triple digit Speed Figures in 6 out of 8 Career stakes starts.� Her lone Graded Stakes effort came 2 back where she posted a 108 and just missed the victory.� She has proved that she has the ability to run in Graded Company, but the problem could be she is prone to let down races.� She likes to come from off the pace in her races, which puts her in a prime spot in this field with at least 4 horses fighting for the early lead.� She has the talent and class to win this race but she is a tale of 2 horses and it all depends on which horse decides to show up on Saturday.
Final thoughts:
I have never had to handicap such an open field before.� There are a lot of horses in this field who have the ability to win depending on how the race unfolds.� Some horses are at their peak while other horses are coming into this race just hitting their peak.� This is going to be a very interesting race to watch.� There is probably going to see (La Vinotinto, Stormy Peg, SJ�s Ghost Dance, and Cheyenne Gold) fighting to get the early lead. I�d say there all within 1 length of each other at the start.� This most likely is going to setup the race for one of the many closers.� It�s tough to pick against Fleetwood Mia in this race but I am going out on a Limb and going to pick 13/1 Fetish to nab this race at the wire Followed by Stormy Peg for 2nd and Fleetwood Mia for 3rd.� So many great horses and so many proud owners, I hope your horses represent you and your residencies with pride and the spirit of goodwill in which the Equinics games were founded upon.� Good luck to you all and may your horse be with you� Citius, Altius, Fortius
