btbsa Equinics 2008-

1�� A Saints Day, 5yo horse by�AP Indy��

Team:�� Kentucky Horsemen

Trainer:� Iant�(irt)

Last Race:�� 3rd in�Listed Stakes�over 6fT��

Biggest '08 Victory:�� Simon and Simon Cap(G3)��

Odds:� 10/1

Iant's multiple graded stakes winner A Saints Day is no stranger to grand marquee events.�� The big boy raced last year in the Breeders Bowl and World Cup.�� The speedball duelled up front in both the BB and WC, giving his best efforts against the best turf sprinters of '07.�� This year he's been just as furious at the graded level, springing a handy gate-to-wire surprise in the Simon And Simon(G3) back in April.�

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After throwing a moderate clinker in June's King's Fall(G2), A Saints Day shifted back to the listed level in mid-July, earning a cheque after setting early fractions.� The 5yo must've felt lonely all by himself out front -- he's usually in an all-out battle for the lead and instead faltered following an uncharacteristic�solo pace.�� Perhaps the colt just burned himself out too early and "needed a race."� Bottom line, A Saints Day has�the speed figures and back class�to play the spoiler role�any day of the week.�� But he faces plenty of classy speed including Mr Devious -- let's see if he's at a smoking red-hot fitness level.��

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2�� He's Crafty(KY), 4yo colt by Crafty Prospector��

Team:�� Ireland

Trainer:� Ace (browns)

Last Race:�� 3rd in Otter Dash(G3)�over 4.5fT��

Odds:� 23/1

He's Crafty began his career according to pedigree over the main track.�� The colt competed admirably if not exceptional on the earlybird Derby trail for Ace.��But by June though, Ace switched this puppy over to the lawn and kept him on the surface for good by late summer.�� He's Craft's speed figures�soared over the 100 SP# barrier.�� He was a stakes winner by November and ran a gorgeous 108 SP3 3rd in the EAAA/ATC/Queensland Inter-Res Competition in January.� �

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A very nice and up and comer for Ace.�� He's Crafty had a little bad stetch there in late springtime, but most recently ran a decent 3rd in the Otter Dash(G3).�� I'm struck how versatile this colt is in running style.�� He could play the closer this week.�� I don't know if he's at MR Devious' level just yet and would like to see him strign together some consistency.�� But he's a live longshot.� Don't let the odds fool ya.��

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3�� General's Chariot, 6yo horse by Gone West��

Team:�� Northest Racing Circuit

Trainer:�� Snowchief (proudtruth)

Last Race:�� 1st in King's Fall(G2)�over 5fT��

Odds:�� 9/1

Old man honors in the field definitely go to my General's Chariot -- LOL.� This is his 3rd Equinics.�� In 2004, he won at age 2�for the defunct Terrapin Jockey Club.�� He finished 2nd at age 4 in 2006 for the NWRC.�� And now he makes his 3rd Equinics appearance again carrying the NWRC banner.�� It will be�the former 2-time Sim Eclipse champ's�49th career start.

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Despite showing signs of his youth when winning the King's Fall(G2) in June, I don't expect him to do well here.�� He's only ready to go after a layoff -- just a total disaster in conditioning.� =(�� Even if he's at the "high" ready to go, he'll have to have a race under 110 SP#.� Possible if the speedsters burn themselves to a crisp and the other closers turn out to be�way off form, but that's a longshot.�� Regardless, you'll see him proudly carrying the NWRC colors to the post.��

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4�� Haloatrical(IRE), 5yo�horse by Theatrical(IRE)��

Team:�� EWC

Trainer:�� Sjmeola4

Last Race:��1st in�Listed Stakes�over 6fT��

Odds:� 12/1

Haloatrical took his merry old time climbing to the graded ranks for Sjmeola.��The Theatrical 5yo finally hit his stride when approaching 20 starts last summer and indeed racked up several listed turf sprint stakes.�� However, one must also note his splendid main track ability too.� In fact, when Haloatrical finally made his graded debut this March, it was over the dirt surface where he finished an eye-catching 3rd in the Count Fingers Sprint(G3).��

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Sjmeola then asked Haloatrical to switch back to the lawn in�A Saint's Day's Simon And Simon(G3).��The horse ran decently, but nowhere near the main track effort.� He's since switched back and forth over the surfaces, proving sucessfully in a listed stakes over the grass LTO.� Sjmeola has a genuine speedball here who is gonna be in the thick of things early on.� He can throw another big 114 SP# and bowl over the�speed opposition too, then he's a ripe candiate for the upset.�

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5�� Sands Point, 6yo horse by War Chant��

Team:� The CR Racers�

Trainer:� Trotter1 (saga28)

Last Race:��3rd in�Listed Stakes�over 7fT��

Odds:�� 24/1

Sands Point makes his 2nd lifetime start in the Equinics.� The old boy�finished 4th to General's Chariot as a�2yo�in the Lillehammer, part of the 2004 Equinics.� Gosh,�Sand Point�has had a strange career.�� He was a Grade 2 winner�as a 2yo, but really flopped at age 3.�� So much so that he was entered in a $25k claimer early in his 4yo season.� Nobody took Sands Point so he remained in the saga28 stable, racing on in the ALW ranks.��

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Luckily though, Sands Point turned his career around late last autumn.�� The 6yo horse was asked to shorten up to a turf sprint for the first time in over two years.�� Sands Point responded tremendously well, reeling off three straight time-restricted ALWs and�a stakes race early this season.� The downtown closer has sure turned over a new leaf since returning to his sprint roots.�� I'd toss out the Rising Sun(G1) debacle and his race LTO�came versus a short field with likely little to run at.�� Very sweet sleeper worthy of Equinics starting gate.

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6�� Red Light Run It(ENG),� 4yo colt by Dansili��

Team:�� Great Plains�

Trainer:� jimdscott�

Last Race:�� 4th in Deeproute Turf Stakes(G3)�over 7fT��

Biggest '08 Victory:� Golden Jamboree(G1)��

Odds:�� 13/1�

I just adore this up and comer.�� Kaif took his time finding this late foal's groove last year, but Red Light Run It finished the�season as a turf sprint stakes winner.� The win assured the colt's promising future around one-turn.�� He eventually won again in April and persevered in the grades to a splendid score in�June's Golden Jamboree(G1).�

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Red Light Run It upset Mr Devious in the Jamboree.�� It wasn't like�some closer spoiled Mr Devious outing either.�� On the contrary, Red Light Run It is a stalker/pace presser too and just plain toughed out the front end duel to win by a�whisker.� He's since finished a closeup 4th in the DeepRoute(G3) over 7f, posting yet another solid speed figure.

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With only 16 starts in the bank, Red Light Run It's best days are still ahead of him.�� But I look at his recent performances and�say, "Wow, this guy's positively peaking in talent."�� He'll get into antoher pace battle�Saturday, but he's got the goods to run back to the Jamboree score.�� One to watch.� Mmhmm.��

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7�� Tiger's Eye(KY), 4yo colt by Gulch��

Team:�� Vermont

Trainer:�� tigertrack�

Last Race:�� 2nd in�Listed Stakes�over 6.5fT��

Odds:�� 15/1

Lots of back class in Tiger's Eye, a fresh face from Pastures of Green.� The Gulch colt was a multiple stakes winner at age 2 around one-turn.�� However, he just could not keep going forward at age 3.� His speed figures kind of flattened out for a spell and he spent most of his 2007 sophomore season in and out of the listed ranks.�� Good news is that he earned some honest money and patience was rewarded this season with his numbers improving up over the century mark.

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If you like solid consistency regardless of level, then Tiger's Eye might be your ticket.�� He won or placed a heap of times as a 4yo and posted a gritty 111 SP# runnerup effort LTO.��That kind of number will see him in the hunt�with this group.� Very interesting dark horse and the oddsmakers didn't dismiss him either at 15/1.�� Not without a shot for at least a minor share.�

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8�� Indiscretion, 6yo horse by Danzig��

Team:�� RASH�

Trainer:��Taffy (babycolt)�

Last Race:��1st in�Allowance�over 6fT��

Odds:� 13/1

Up until a year and a half ago, Indiscretion never set foot on a turf course.�� Indiscretion had carved out a Grade 1-winning career over the dirt as a 2, 3, and 4yo for trainer Taffy (Stoddard).�� Indiscretion even finished 4th in the celebrated Sterile Mile(G1) in 2006.��

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But in December of that year, Taffy sent Indiscretion for a fun romp over the lawn and the colt wound up soaking in the green stuff.� He spent the better part of 2007 at the listed level around one-turn and finished up the season with a surprising 2nd-place finish in the Japan Sprint(G1).�� It was the horse's 36th career start and he ran like a youngblood.�

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Indiscretion rides a two-ALW race win streak into Saturday.�� The speedster needed some sharpening and the six furlong romps in fine time proved just the ticket.�� This old boy could be the key factor Saturday, messing up frontrunners like Mr Devious and Red Light Run It.�� I can very well see this colt hanging on for a minor share of the rich purse and what a fitting effort that would be for Taffy's millionaire who still loves to run.��

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9�� Be Sharp ER, 5yo horse by Came Home��

Team:�� Minnesota

Trainer:�� Cothill (erracing)

Last Race:��3rd in Smackdown 4 (Owner-Restricted)�over 6fT��

Odds:�� 16/1�

Be Sharp ER went into the very deep Smackdown last month as a decent longshot.�� But, boy, did this horse run superbly for Cothill.� Be Sharp ER finished 3rd with a 108 SP# to Libertine, beaten barely a length.�� The rich effort�was his 5th straight�century mark number.�� This horse has the look of�a runner finally hitting his best stride after 20 starts.��

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If Be Sharp ER runs back to that effort, then I can see him making a big dent in the pace hunt and turn for home.�� The stalker/pace presser would have to relax a bit though -- he can't burn himself out in the throes of a�front-end battle-royale.� I like how Be Sharp ER is peaking at the right moment.�� Will it be more than enough to play the spoiler?�� Factor for minor share definitely.��

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10�� Credit Addiction(IRE), 4yo colt by High Chaparral(IRE)��

Team:�� Queensland

Trainer:�� deyoto4

Last Race:�� 7th in Golden Jamboree(G1)�over 6fT��

Odds:�� 11/1

Credit Addiction positively boiled red-hot in the Because I Said So(G1) last November.�� This colt was a catchy stakes-wining 3yo around one-turn last year who really looked he had the goods.�� I thought so anyway -- the colt ran fabulous if not a winner in the World Cup and Smackdown last year.�� He just put it all together in the Because I Said So.�� A perfect midpack stalking trip translating into a rollicking stretch drive score.��

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But we haven't really seen Credit Addiction in the turf sprint graded ranks this year.�� Deyoto stepped down his colt after Credit Addiction went unplaced in the Japan Sprint, opting for�listed level seasonings in 2008.� The colt won 2 of the 5 stakes attempts (some with explosive numbers).�� Everything seemed so perfect for re-entry into the graded ranks.�� However, Credit Addiction stumbled in�Red Light Run It's Golden Jamboree(G1).�� The colt just missed the break and I bet Deyoto had to be quite disappointed.� Let's toss that last race out.� This colt is better than that.� I wouldn't be surprised at all to see the 'Addiction in the winner's circle.�� At least the board for him.��

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11�� Captain Amazing(KY), 4yo colt by Rock Hard Ten��

Team:�� GR Simsters

Trainer:�� Waremblem

Last Race:�� 13th in Smackdown 4 (Owner-Restricted)�over 6fT

Biggest '08 Victory:�� Mr Anderson Special(G3)��

Odds:�� 13/1

Beware the ides of�July Smackdown!�� Todd (Waremblem) had to be pulling his hair out after Captain Amazing ran a dull and dismal 13th in Libertine's Smackdown.� Yilch!� Captain�Amazing had previously stormed onto the turf sprint circuit in March with a rousing victory in the Mr�Anderson Special(G3).�� The victory came out at�long odds and was a good surprise since Captain Mazing hadn't yet won at stakes level much less the grades.��

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In hindsight, his speed figures and conditioning prepared him perfectly for the Mr Anderson score.��Additionally, the colt continued to race forwards, finishing 4th and 2nd respectively in the Rising Sun(G1) and Golden Jamboree(G1), beaten barely a length in total.� A major splash then by this youngster -- only to see his form stalled on Smackdown day.� Granted, he raced in the Smackdown on two weeks rest.� He's since had 6 weeks rest and I expect him to rebound Saturday.� �He also figures to get a great pace up front to run at too.�� I expect this colt to hit the board.��

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12�� Dane's Folly(IRE), 5yo horse by Theatrical(IRE)��

Team:�� Ohio

Trainer:�� Bigkev & Bjbandit Farms

Last Race:�� 3rd in�Listed Stakes�over 6fT��

Odds:�� 10/1

Tough to beat Dane's Folly's form going into Saturday.� Bigkev & Bjbandit have this 5yo winning 4 of 6 starts in 2008.� Dane's Folly has spent most of his 30 start career in and out of the stakes ranks, but, boy, he's sure has been on a roll of�late.� Two�back he scored with a sizzling 114 SP# from gate to wire.� I thought Indiscretion might be the real foil in this field, but now I'm not so sure.� Dane's Folly could�fulfill that bill.��

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Dane's Folly had a soft prep lost�month for Saturday and I suspect should be 100% effort this time around.�� Anyway you look at it, he's a live sleeper.�� Sure, he hasn't faced the likes of the faves here yet and anything can and will go when stepping up to the highest level.�� But oddsmakers like Dane's Folly at 10/1.�� You should too.�� Keep an eye on this dark horse.�

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13�� Wonderboy Da Vinci(IRE), 6yo horse by Theatrical(IRE)��

Team:�� Benelux

Trainer:�� Zeco (wonder4)

Last Race:�� 2nd in�Allowance�over 5.5fT��

Odds:�� 19/1

Wonderboy Da Vinci has had a long and quite successful career for Zeco.�� The 6yo was a multiple stakes winner at ages 2 and 3 and competed in many of the top 3yo miler grades back in 2006.�� The colt became himself a graded winner later on in his 4yo season.�� We've seen him on the graded turf sprinter circuit ever since, though he's since dropped back to the ALW ranks recently.�

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Wonderboy Da Vinci should factor into the stalkers/midpackers strategy.� He threw a decent 106 SP# two back at the stakes level.�� He makes his 40th career call to the post this week and hover around the $600k lifetime earnings mark.�� I don't think he's capable of playing the spoiler in this spot -- he would need his�best speed figure in at least a couple years in order to garner the win.�� But he should be competitive for a minor share.��

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14�� Brego, 5yo horse by Rainbow Quest��

Team:�� Blazing Saddles

Trainer:�� Galileo (claymore)

Last Race:��1st in�Listed Stakes�over 6fT��

Odds:�� 14/1�

Brego's no stranger to the turf sprint scene.�� We saw him in several grades last year and he was a multiple stakes winner at the listed level as well.� Though he's floundered in the grades this season, Brego does present to excellent stakes victories in 109 and 110 SP#s respectively.�� The latter came just last month when the closer swept up over 6f to win well in command 1 3/4 lengths on top.��

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Bottom line with Brego is that although he is very talented, he just can't break on through to the big leagues.� I like his speed figures of late.�� He's at the peak of his career.�� Just how many more losses can this poor guy take?�� Very overdue for an at long last graded score.�� I would like to see him do well here especially if a speed fuel develops and some of the faves fall.�

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15�� Phidias, 5yo mare by Smokester��

Team:�� Alpine Turf Club

Trainer:� Deltatiger� (reallycute)

Last Race:��13th in�Allowance�over 7.5fT��

Odds:�� 99/1�

Alpine Turf Club's probably the smallest residency in the game.�� Deltatiger had to volunteer a starter when no one else had a turf sprinter and thus Phidias makes her greatest lifetime start.�� The Smokester daughter tries hard and still enjoys running after 23 career calls to the post.��

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Phidias will defintely adore the strong South China wind in her mane.�� She'll revel in all the pomp and circumstance of the post parade.�� And then she'll flip the bird (can a horse do that?) to the bravado boys and load into the starting gate with every intention of running the race of her life.�� The ATC fans will roar, "Go, Phidias!� Go Alpine Turf Club, GO!"��

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16�� Mr Devious, 5yo horse by Crafty Prospector��

Team:�� EAAA Racing

Trainer:� Kevoman (coolk/londoner)�

Last Race:��1st in�Allowance�over 6.5fT��

Biggest '08 Victories:�� Sydney Sprint(G1)��

Odds:�� 8/1

The one to beat.� He's # 1 ranked in the division for a very good reason.� Mr Devious has just been so impressive for the past year and a half.�� He's dominated the division and won just about every major turf sprint grade.��He won the Rising Sun, Japan Sprint,�and Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint last year in his Sim Eclispe championship season.�� This year, he added the Sydney Sprint in April.� Just�the DPCD Penn Dash and an Equinics race eludes him.� A totally amazing career who actually raced average-like through his�2yo and 3yo seasons (and didn't hit his stride till age 4).��

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Granted he went down to a stunning defeat in Red Light Run It's Golden Jamboree.� ��But trainer Kevoman is one of the masters of the Sim.�� He can get his horses to fire on the big days.� Mr Devious prepped for Saturday with a fine ALW score.�� This follows the pattern of many of his great victories.�� Is he indeed primed for a huge effort?� A victory here will place him near all alone at the top of the greatest turf sprinters this game has produced.� Mr devious faces a determined pacesetter ounslaught.�� Can he overcome�it?�� No doubt, it's�all within his grasp and more!��

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17�� The King's Son(IRE), 4yo colt by Azamour(IRE)��

Team:�� Hispano Parlante

Trainer:�� ottox

Last Race:��4th in�Listed Stakes�over 6.5fT��

Odds:�� 18/1

Woo!�� Ottox�picked up this very interesting Azamour colt from the auction early last year.�� Then a sophomore, The King's Son was Grade 3 placed at the time.� He was running rather slow speed figures though.�� However, Ottox kept on going with the colt.�� The King's Son benefitted from the patient training and won 3 straight ALWs to conclude his 2nd season at the races.��

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In 2008, The King's Son posted a 108 SP# ALW score and most recently just missed the board at the level.�� The race came in fine time though.�� Bottom line, this colt's still learning the ropes.�� He hasn't reached his peak, but he's getting�close.�� We'll see what he's got Saturday.

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18�� Libertine(IRE), 5yo colt by El Prado(IRE)��

Team:�� DelPenn National�

Trainer:�� Supers (super14)

Last Race:�� 1st in Smackdown 4 (Owner-Restricted)�over 6fT

Odds:�� 8/1

Fresh off of his authoritative victory on Smackdown day, Libertine is defintely one to watch in this group.� This guy's very experienced for the Supers.� He was on and off the turf course through his first three seasons, kind of a hardluck case.�� That is, until last July of 2007.�� The colt won a pair of ALWs around oneturn on the turf and he's since just taken off.��

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Libertine closed out his 4yo campaign with a win in DelPenn-restricted company on DPCD day in December.�� That victory was a true vindication.�� The Supers entered him confidently afterwards at the stakes level and he just missed a heartbreaking photo in the Rising Sun(G1).� He's in his 35th career start this week, but, bottom line, this horse is to be respected.� He can stalk the pace or sit about midpack.�� Even close way off the front.�� Tremendously versatile horse at the top of his game.��The favorites gotta pay�attention to this horse's stretch run or ignore it at their own peril.�� Dangerous.��

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Snowchief's Picks:

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Credit Addiction, Libertine, Mr Devious, Captain Amazing, Red Light Run It, and A Saints Day are all major threats.� Brego or Dane's Folly could surprise.� Be Sharp ER ran big LTO.� Indiscretion, Tiger's Eye, and Haloartical are interesting sleepers.�� I'll go with horses who need to rebound.�

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Win:�� Credit Addiction (Queensland)

Place:�� Captain Amazing (GR Simsters)

Show:�� Mr Devious (EAAA)

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Good luck everyone!�� Go, Sim Equinics, GO!