This is the penultimate race on the Equinics Vermont dirt card, an open race for horses 4 and up going a mile and a half on dirt. It is sort of The Belmont for older horses and it is certainly fair to call it the test of champions in its own right. The race benefits the Starlight foundation. The group sounds like angels of mercy, who make life more tolerable for children in need. Do yourself a favor follow the link and make a donation to one or several of the outstanding charities that are sponsoring these incredible races. It has made an impact on me reading about all of the phenomenal work these groups do and choosing one to donate too may be even harder than trying to pick a winner in this race. No matter which you choose the good thing about charity is how great it feels to give, don�t cheat yourself, and check it out.

THE FIELD-

GRSimsters- PINE SPIRIT Tr Topicount4

This horse is looking to carry the GRS banner with pride again after carrying it for the rez two years in a row on Smackdown day. The 4 year old son of Arch x Seeking the Gold x AP Indy has had a career most owners could only dream about. In the money in 11 of 16 lifetime starts on dirt with career earnings well over a million dollars and a multiple Grade 1 winner. He is a scary opponent for all who look at the past performance chart, as he is putting up sprinters spf�s at 12 furlongs. On his best game he sits a few lengths off of the leaders and makes one powerful sustained run. He looks to be in top form coming into this race and one would think a spot in the GRS hall of fame is waiting for him, especially if he adds an Equinics gold medal to his two smackdown trophies. You can�t help but like a horse that has run all his best races in all his biggest spots. BEWARE.

Del Penn- RAMA Tr Super 11

This one is wheeling back in here off an impressive score on 7/19 in a 13f Grade 2 event. The 4 year old son of Kingmambo x Pleasant Colony x Nijinsky II loves to go long and some of his spf�s jump off the page like his last, a 114 at 13f. Rama really came into his own about a year ago when he tried over 10f for the first time and he has taken off ever since. He has run off 9 straight 100 plus spf�s at the marathon lengths of 11f or more. At his best he likes to breath down the neck of the leaders until pouncing time when he makes his move. Expect Rama to be right alongside Pine Spirit and you�ll know the real race has begun when these two make their move.

Benelux- THE FIGUREHEAD Tr Kristoff

16 of his 21 starts have seen The Figurehead in the money. The 4 year old son of Elusive Quality x Saint Ballado x Graustark spent much of his early career as a bridesmaid before finding that more ground meant more wins. Since November of last year he has been another triple figure machine going long. He lacks some of the shinier hardware that some in this race have but he does not lack the speed and if he runs back to his performance in a listed stakes in May he will be more than a handful for anyone. He is a deep closer who will need a perfect trip to get it done here, but he has the talent to upset the applecart if he doesn�t get lost in the back early.

Great Plains- SHALLOW WATER Tr. Aces1211

As best as I can figure this one appears to have been bought at a going out of business sale by the Bdog stables and what a buy he has been! Since arriving at his new home the 4 year old son of Daylami x The Minstrel x Sir Ivor has won stakes at 3 different distances and a 10f G1 in his last outing. His speed figures are about as good as anyone�s at the distance and is trained up for this one as well as he can possibly be. The only think I will wonder is can he find a way home from his preferred rear running placement? If he gets a trip he will have the folks at Great Plains on their feet and screaming at the end.

EAAA Racing- SANDBANK Tr Shamran2

13 of 17 on the board for the very consistent 4 year old son of Sakhee x Kris S. x Val D�Lorne. Sandbank has been terrific since being claimed last year winning 6 of his first 8 for his new connections with two seconds. Most of those wins came against softer fields than the diamond hard one he faces today. Sandbank likes to be right on the pace and could lead this one for a few panels. His last three races (all over 105 spf�s) say this one may just be hitting his best stride. If the pace is soft he could hang on for a piece. Shamran will need to channel a little Nick Zito here to get it done but stranger things have happened.

Northwest Racing Circuit- ELUSIVE SAINT Tr Camry

This horse has really developed lately and not too many could have foreseen an Equinics run for him back when he was two. The 5 year old son of Elusive Quality x Strike The Gold x Saint Ballado is in the best streak of his upward climbing career. His first 100 spf came in November of his 4 year old campaign but he has been clicking them off like clock work ever since. His last three numbers have been excellent 112, 112, 108 but this field is much tougher than what he has faced recently. If Elusive Saint got loose on the lead, or if he is sitting on career best race, (neither is that tough to see) than NWRC could have a new hero.

Alpine Racing Association- HOPE FOR THE ARK Tr. Antagonist

Hope for the Ark may need some racing luck in this field. The last win for this 4 year old son of Pine Bluff x Blushing Groom x Roberto came in a 14f stakes back in March. He has run up and down lately and even his best days of the past may not get him in medal contention here. A career best 105 earned him a show spot in a stakes, but I think 105 will be out of the money here. Not meaning to antagonize Antagonist but this one will need everything to fall his way to run with the top ones in this race.

Vermont- DWELL ON IT Tr. Flagdown2

Tough to come into this one with your last win coming in 2007 but that is what this 5 year old son of Contemplate x Kayf Tara x Shareef Dancer is doing. Dwell On It has run some nice spf�s at the longer distances but not the kind that it appears will be needed to get in the top 5 here. The late charge that has been his hallmark may be too little too late on Saturday. Tough to say toss but he was beaten 35.5 lengths in his last so choose at your own risk

Blazing Saddles SATISFACTION Tr Coltsblue

The hopes of the Rock Ridge clan are pinned to a 5 year old son of Birdstone x Scatter the Gold x AP Indy whose last out was a daylight score in a 16f stakes race. His speed figures in his biggest wins don�t figure here but the margin of victory leaves open a window of hope for better. Satisfaction is a multiple stakes winner since his claim, which has shown versatility in his running style. Even though I am an unabashed homer, I can�t pick him, but will be pulling for him.

Ireland- BAD SIN Tr Borden

Lately this one has been turning in some real nice spf�s without winning. The 4 year old son of Sindar x Final Straw x Guilty Conscience has taken to the dust and seems to have convinced his connections that is where he belongs. Most of his top efforts have come a bit shorter than 12 and against lesser competition, but his form reads to be at or near its lifetime peak. Will his late kick get him up into contention late, or will Bad Sin be caught in traffic? Someone is going to get the garden trip and have a chance to swoop in for a piece late and you can�t rule this ones chances out based on that.

Minnesota- ATAUN Tr Palmisland

One of the bigger enigmas in this race is the 4 year old son of Gone West x Sadler�s Wells x Blushing Groom. He has only run more than 10f only once before this race but has been throwing up a bunch of 110+ spfs. He comes in off a successful run in Smackdown at 10f that must have the buttons popping off his connections. Certainly the 2007 Bluegrass Derby winner knows how to make his connections proud and this one may give them a rare trifecta of BG Derby, Smackdown and Equinics glory. He likes to make a long sustained run starting around the 6f marker and he may not stop that move before the wire. Another one to watch closely when the calvary charge begins.

Hispano Parlante- FUSILY JERRY Tr Wrecked

This one was on a quite a roll until March this year when the wagon wheels seem to have come off. The 5 year old son of Rahy x Dixieland Band x Secretariat was winning allowances at the distance by open lengths before moving up to stakes company and hitting a wall. This field is tougher than any of those so while the talent is there, the form seems to be missing. Possessing an explosive late move won�t hurt but again this is a huge field that hurts closers chances. He can hope for a career best along with a bucket of luck.

The CR Racers- CASH MONEY KID Tr looney1

Comes in off three awfully impressive allowance scores in which he trounced fields, but this is no allowance race. Three consecutive career bests are eye opening and all of those spfs are deceptive due to the ease of the victories. Very clever training has this lightly raced, 4 year old son of Newfoundland x Nijinsky II x Mr. Prospector brimming with confidence at the ultimate moment of his career. Yet another one in this field which possesses a big late kick that could be sitting on a lifetime best or a bounce. Should give his connections quite a thrill on Saturday. Ignore at your own peril.

Rash- BLUFF ON STAGE Tr Chicks

3-30 lifetime is not the best looking record when eyeing Equincs medals, but this 5 year old son of Pine Bluff x Theatrical x Trempolino arrives on his biggest stage unfurling a large bluff. He enters off two career best races at or near the distance and while they were not wins they were nice second places. The jump in speed seems correlated with a switch of racing strategy. The last two races he has been gunned for the top to very positive effect. I am not sure if he has the gate speed to do it here but if he does he might be trouble for a long time in this race.

Kentucky Horsemen- MAMBO COLOR Tr Cyberex

Comes in with a dance card that does not lead you to believe he has more than a punchers chance in this one. His recent form is OK but does not match up with the top half of this field. The 4 year old son of Le Vie Dei Colorie has improved greatly since being switched to dirt full time. Unfortunately I don�t think the improvement is great enough to make him fit into the big picture surrounding this race. He may hang around for 6 panels stalking but I fear he will be swallowed up when the real running begins.

Queensland- ULTRRANDOM Tr Hawkz

First thing you want to do when you see this one is draw a line through the 6 year old son of Jallad x Youth x Elocutionist. Then you see he is running for a top rez and top sim trainer and you pause. After taking a moment to reflect on those two facts, then you draw a line through him. Sorry but a dance card that does not show a win at comparable spf�s, proper distance or in the past year just leaves me thinking he is overmatched here. Could be a pace consideration for awhile.

Ohio- DARKNESS COMES Tr. Liddleski

Another top residency/trainer combo sends out another horse that on first blush does not look the part of a contender in this race. The 6 year old son of Desert King x Jade Hunter x Bold Bidder has only one lifetime race of over 100 spf and it came while finishing a distant third two races back in a listed stakes. When in his best form he likes the lead or just off of it. Early on may have his neck and beak near the lead but around the 6f marker Darkness Comes in the form of the shadows of a herd of faster better qualified horses making their move. Not sure if he can hold on for a piece.

EWC- Enam Tr Denovo

One of the true resident genius� of the sim sends out this 4 year old son of Fasilyev x Silver Hawk x Slip Anchor. But what can you say about a horse in this field of superstars that is a lifetime maiden on dirt. I am sure Denovo can train circles around most of us, but it will take some major magic for this one to do anything after the gates open.

Final Analysis

Before I give my pick I once again would like to say how great it feels to give to a charitable cause and helping kids in need has to be at the top of charts in this arena. Please check the link and at least think about doing something.

Now for the choices, it is a field full of talent and once the gate opens anything can happen. However a few of these horses do seem to have superior resumes. The pace looks like it will be healthy but not overwhelming and I think that will favor the stalkers and the more versatile horses in the race. I can�t seem to come up with a winner but I do feel a three horse exacta box featuring Pine Spirit, Shallow Water and Ataun should pay the sim rent next month so plunk a few bucks down and enjoy.