This race has been named by Blazing Saddles in honour of the charity which supports men and women of the military and their families, funded entirely by donations from the public.
This race was run over 9.5f last time out as THE CLINTON POTTS and was won by Peacenik from the oaklawn66 stable with Sam Pellegrino from super12 in second. In 2004 it was over todays trip as THE LONDON FOG and was won by Parker from the be1stfarms stable with Strike A Boundary from the arsprize stable in second. In 2002 it was run over 9f as THE SILVER CHARM CHALLENGE and was won by Tower Storm from the lonespeed stable with Regal Deputy out of the larksfarms stable in second. It was not run for 3 Year Olds in the first Equinics.
Lets take a look at this years entrants, in no particular order-
KISSIN STREETCRY(KY)
(STREET CRY x SADLERS WELLS x GONE WEST)
OWNER- sherwood RESIDENCY- VERMONT
This son of STREET CRY has three graded wins to his name, including two Grade I's and has a best speed figure of 109 over both 9.5f and 12f. His last run over 12f is best ignored since it came on a wet track and he clearly didn't like it. He has been progressively stepped up in trip and the biggest question mark over him today must be whether this 10f trip is now too short, especially as he has had to be stepped up in trip after every win before he has won again. The 12f trip will probably be his best and he has never ran on turf- I'd love to see how he'd handle it.
He likes to come from off the pace in his races so look for him to be closing late on. He should reach the top five at least and if the trip isn't too short he could go even better.
STINK ONE(KY)
(HARLAN'S HOLIDAY x CHARISMATIC x MR. PROSPECTOR)
OWNER- inzy4 RESIDENCY- THE CR RACERS
Started out on the dirt before changing to turf after four races and seemingly improving for the switch. Has only won one stakes race and bombed in his only Graded try but that was over 12f which looks too far. Even so a 77sp was a bit of a disaster. Ran better last time out over 9f in a stakes to get second with a 104sp.
He has some nice speds but is basically untested at this level and has run all his best races on turf. He should still handle the dirt but there has to be a doubt about him running against some of these. Looks set to struggle and will do well to reach the top five.
NUTRIDINHA(IRE)
(SHAMARDAL x SEEKING THE GOLD x MT. LIVERMORE)
OWNER- mgfarms RESIDENCY- BENELUX
The Benelux runner has yet to try a stakes never mind a Graded race and has only won his maiden and two allowances so he's taking a big step up in class today. That said he gets the trip as proven by his latest run over todays 10f when coming third in an allowance with a 101sp.
Having said that although he gets the trip does not mean it's his best- in both his 10f races he's been in a better position at the three quarter mark than at the finsh. He's either not really got the stamina to really get home or he's not got the finishing speed over this trip and wants further. There's a lot of stamina in that pedigree so I'm leaning towards the latter. Expect to see him up at the front early but with this being his first try at this grade and perhaps him wanting further I don't expect to see him there at the finish. He'll struggle to hold on to a top five.
DANCE STEPS(KY)
(SEEKING THE GOLD x NUREYEV x ALYDAR)
OWNER-twoofus2 RESIDENCY- GR SIMSTERS
Here's your likely favourite from the GR SIMSTERS, he's won two Grade I's in his last three races and been second in the other over 11f and 12f. In both his wins though he's taken the lead after the 9f mark and before the 10f mark which suggests he should have no problem with the drop in trip.
That last win came with a 111sp and another performance like that will make him hard to beat, especially as the race should be run to suit. There are a couple of front runners here and he'll sit a few lengths behind them until they start to tire and then pounce. He's really imporoved for his racing and the step up in trip and looks to be bang in form. It will be a major surprise if he can't reach the top three- at worst.
MAMBO TIL TEN(KY)
(ROCK HARD TEN x KINGMAMBO x NIJINSKY)
OWNER-layof RESIDENCY- MINNESOTA
From the MINNESOTA residency comes this son of Rock Hard Ten, who has two recent stakes wins to his name but both were over 12f. He�s struggled in both his tries in graded company and that has to be a major concern today. As has to be his improvement for the step up to 12f, a full two furlongs more than todays trip � which was also around the distances of his failed graded tries. He did run a 102sp in his last win but that was his only sp over the 100 mark.
Overall the profile suggests he could struggle today, especially with the drop in trip really looking against him, even more so when you consider he runs best when coming off the pace. The best he can hope for is a top five but even that may be beyond him.
GREATO SCOTTO(JPN)
(FANTASTIC LIGHT x INDIAN RIDGE(IRE) x NIJINSKY)
OWNER-gael5 RESIDENCY- RASH
The RASH entry is a son of FANTASTIC LIGHT and won his last race, an allowance over 9f with an sp of 101. This looks to be his trip and he�s clearly got some improvement left. Having said that this was his only run with an sp over 100 and he�s yet to race in a stakes race never mind a graded race.
So he has his trip but the step up in class may prove too much. If he can run another 101 he could reach the top five but if he wants to make the top three I think he�ll have to run a 106 at least. He has improved so that�s not out of the question. That said I think a top five is about the best he can hope for.
WELL GROOMED(KY)
(SEEKING THE GOLD x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) x RIVERMAN)
OWNER-super3 RESIDENCY- DELPENN
Another of the likely favourites following his 108sp in winning his last run, a stakes over todays trip. He�s only won two stakes races but has a second in a grade I and a third in a grade II to his name so he has experience at this level. He clearly gets the trip and has five runs over the 100 sp mark.
He�s another who comes from way off the pace and is going to be part of a mad rush in the last two furlongs. A repeat of his last run would get him in the top three bur he�s got a potential 111 sp to beat. He�s run few enough races to suggest there may be some improvement left and he may be able to reach that 111. Even if he doesn�t a top three should be his lowest expectation and he must have a solid chance of getting the win.
HUECO MUNDO(NY)
(MIDAS EYES x KINGMAMBO x RAHY)
OWNER-ace3 RESIDENCY- IRELAND
The Irish runner has managed two runs over the 100 sp mark, to get second in a stakes and third in a grade III over 9.5 and 9f respectively. He also won his last race easily by more than four lengths but only with an 83sp. He hasn�t run over this trip yet but looks as though he should get it no problem.
A hard one to get a read on here, his best two runs may be enough to get a top five place and there should still be some improvement left but that last run is a worry. Even if he was just doing enough, it normally wouldn�t be enough to win a 20k claimer never mind a graded race. He likes to run near the front so that could give a clue- if he starts to get behind early he could be in trouble.
LISTENING(KY)
(EAVESDROPPER x THEATRICAL(IRE) x GONE WEST)
OWNER-foxvbullet RESIDENCY- QUEENSLAND
The Antipodean entry has only two wins to his name and nothing better than an allowance, although he does have to runs with sp�s over the 100 mark. Those got him a second in a grade II and a third in a grade III respectively and were over 8.5 and 9f. He also has a second and third in grade III�s and a third in a grade I so there is plenty of graded experience there. The last three runs over trips of 11f plus look as though they were too far so the drop in trip looks in his favour.
That said his best sp is only a 102 and that would only get him into the top five at best. He should improve for the drop in drip but as another who comes from well off the pace he�ll be starting his run at the same time as the two favourites and that could cause him a problem. Looks as though a top five is the best he can do.
GRIND HIGH(KY)
(GRINDSTONE x HIGH YIELD x FORTY NINER)
OWNER-dalegend RESINDENCY- OHIO
The OHIO entry looks to be facing an uphill task today, one stakes run in which he finished second over 9f and an allowance and maiden win do not add up to much in this company. Still there should be some improvement left as he relatively lightly raced and that last race did bring his best sp to date, 99.
He likes to sit just off the pace and make his run after halfway but he is going to have to improve by around 12-15 sp points if he�s to reach the top three. Overall he up against it today although at least he will see out the trip.
ASK THE REAPER(NM)
(GEN STORMIN�NORMAN x PULPIT x ALYDAR)
OWNER-pye RESINDENCY- EWC
Another who looks set to struggle I�m afraid. He took twelve runs to break his maiden and hasn�t competed outside allowance company. I have to say I have never heard of the sire, although he is out of Storm Cat. That last run produced his best sp of 99 but that was over 11f and it�s doubtful there will be much improvement left after taking so long to break his maiden.
Overall common sense says he�s bound to struggle and he looks a long way out of his depth. For me he�ll struggle to make the top half never mind the top five I�m afraid.
INVINCIBLE HAACK(IRE)
(INVINCIBLE SPIRIT(IRE) x AFFIRMED x GRAUSTARK)
OWNER-haackotto RESINDENCY- HISPANO PARLANTE
Another who has yet to break the 100 sp barrier but with only seven runs under his belt there must be plenty room for improvement. He has run in graded company and won a stakes but as a 91 sp as a two year old over 8f confirms, even todays 10f looks to be way too short. There is a lot of stamina in that pedigree and I would suggest that 12f now looks the minimum.
For one who sits mid pack, he will have to start his run from the six or seven furlong mark and he simply does not look to have the speed for that. He looks to have talent and improvement but not over todays trip. He will struggle to get into the top five but I do expect a decent run and maybe he can break 100 for the first time.
BAD S. EMPIRE(KY)
(EMPIRE MAKER x KRIS S. x NORTHERN DANCER)
OWNER-bluegrass RESIDENCY- KENTUCKY HORSEMEN
The Bluegrass entry is another who has no stakes experience never mind graded experience and in fact he has only a maiden win to his name. His best sp was 95 when winning that maiden but stepped up to 10f for an allowance next up (I�m discounting his turf races as he�s clearly better on dirt) he could only manage second and a 92sp.
He has a great pedigree and is lightly raced but he�s going to have to improve his best sp by 15 points to even have a chance of the top five. That�s asking an awful lot even in an allowance never mind a graded race. Overall then he looks set to struggle today but he does have prospects for the future, at least at stakes level as he should improve at least a little.
MATE SPAWN AND DIE(JPN)
(DEEP IMPACT x NORTHERN DANCER. x RAISE A NATIVE)
OWNER-kaif013 RESIDENCY- GREAT PLAINS
Two allowance wins for the unusually named Great Plains runner including a best sp of 100 over todays trip but he bombed in his only graded try only producing an 83sp. His next run at 8f confirmed that 10f is his trip but that then means that graded run can be taken at face value.
Therefore if this was an allowance he should be able to run a 100 or even up to a 105 as he is lightly enough raced to still have some improvement but it�s not an allowance and unless he was injured in that graded run he should be up against it today. On most of his runs he won�t make the top five but if can can produce another 100 he may sneak some money.
EXTERMINATE(ENG)
(RED RANSOM x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x RAISE A NATIVE)
OWNER-younggroup RESINDENCY- EAAA RACING
Now here�s an interesting runner, five runs with an sp in excess of the magic 100 including a best of 108 over 11f. He has two stakes wins to his name and a second in a grade I over 9f. In his latest run he was still six lengths ahead at the mile pole and finished almost three lengths clear which suggests todays trip should be right up his street. That 108 puts him right up with the best here and a repeat of that would get him a top three at least.
He ran his best race going hard from the off and if he does that again today it will give for an interesting race. The other front runners are not really good enough and all his closest challengers are going to be coming from miles off the pace. That means there must be a strong chance he can hold on up front and he has a chance of getting the win today.
SHAMALANGADINGDONG(KY)
(FORESTRY x SEEKING THE GOLD x A.P. INDY)
OWNER-stormcat55 RESINDENCY- ALPINE TURF CLUB
Two runs with exactly 100sp, a stakes win and a grade II second for the ATC runner but the last run over 11f only produced a 93 sp in a stakes. The teo best runs were over 9f so the big question has to be whether or not this is the right trip. It�s hard to say as he didn�t obviously not stay the 11f but he did look one paced. Only has nine runs under his belt so there should be improvement to come.
His best runs have been when sitting near the front (which he didn�t manage on that last run) and if he can do that he should be able to at least match that 100 and could be in for a top five place. I can�t see mutch better than that though as his sp�s aren�t good enough.
GIDEON'S TRUMPET(KY)
(AWESOME AGAIN x FORTY NINER x SECRETARIAT)
OWNER-floralpark RESIDENCY- N.W.R.C.
Four runs with an sp greater than the 100 for the NWRC runner, with a stakes and grade III win and a gradeII second. His best sp of 106 came last time out and that would put him right in the picture here, however that was over 8.5f and in his only run at over 9f he bombed with an 85sp. He did run a 105 over 9f but didn�t seem to be getting any nearer at the finish and there has to be a serious doubt about him getting todays 10f trip.
That said even if he does not get home he should still be good enough to reach the top five as there are plenty of weaker opposition here than he�s used to. So a top five at best for me but will struggle to get anything more than that.
LEGENDARY STUD(KY)
(AFLEET ALEX x MONTJEU(IRE) x MISWAKI)
OWNER-desimster4 RESIDENCY- BLAZNG SADDLES
This one has graded experience, early in the season with two runs which gave up a fifth and sixth place, however he�s won nothing above an allowance and ran only a 95 over todays trip two runs ago, also in an allowance.
He has not broken the 100sp mark and hasn�t looked likely to recently and basically does not look good enough for this. He is another who will have to improve by some 15 sp points to get into the top five and that has not looked likely in has last few runs. Overall you have to conclude that he will struggle today.
OVERALL
This looks to be a three horse race and I can see EXTERMINATE proving extremely hard to catch but possibly just being caught on the line by DANCE STEPS
