One of the hardest races to compete in is the Green Mountain Memorial.� The distance is the reason for this, a long 2 miles on the dirt.� There are a total of 19 entered into this G1 Equinics race where each residence went through their own nomination and selection processes to pick out their choice of a 4-year old or older to compete in this field.� So�let�s see who the chosen ones are:
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1.� FIRST CLASS CAT��� 18-1
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First Class Cat has earnings of just a hair under $300k for his career.� This Storm Cat x Kingmambo x Blushing Groom horse has won halve of his 22 route starts and has a career record of 11-3-2.� The Great Plains Recedency has high hopes in their 5-year entrant.
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In allowance racing, First Class Cat rarely misses hitting the board.� At the non-graded racing level, he rarely misses hitting the board.� But at the graded level is where the problems roll in, running off the board in 4 career starts.
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First Class Cat has a 3-1-0 record in 5 starts at the 2-mile distance.� His speeds have been in the mid-90 range making him an outsider in this race.� He is capable of running over 100, with a career best of 109 which occurred in the G3 TV Stakes (12f), which shows he can put up the big numbers in the big races.
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2� BOLD SEASONING� 40-1�
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Bold Seasoning has won an incredible 2/3rds of his turf starts with a record of 10-1-1 in 15 tries.� The Comedy Central residence has chosen this winner of just over $250,000 to go the marathon distance.�
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With a breeding line of Eddington x Forty Niner x Alydar this 4-year old shows a liking towards distance running.� He has won 7 of his last 9 starts, which include two wins at 16 furlongs.� In his last outing, he won by over 10 lengths going the 2-mile distance against a tiny allowance field.� His other start at this distance was in July, winning by over 13 again facing a tiny field.� His speeds were not awe inspiring, charted at 81 and 90 respectfully.
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Bold�s speeds at two miles aren�t competive, however, he had such huge leads, he had no reason to pump up the numbers.� He is capable of recording speeds in the 100-range, as he has done a few months ago hitting 102 for 12f and 104 for 13f.� It�s hard to tell his capability here.� For virtually all of 2009, he has raced almost entirely in Nevada in allowance races.� The only off-the-board races that Bold shows occurred in non-stakes races.� He faces a tough bunch and could be the surprise.
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3 REGAL PRINCE� 13-1
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A winner of over $928k, Regal Prince will be the representative from the Midas residence.� Regal is a Mineshaft x Cozzene x El Gran Senor horse who has a record of 9-4-2 in 30 starts.
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Since December �08, Regal Prince has raced in 10 consecutive graded events.� He started off with a win in the Kelso Cup (G1, 16f) winning by over 7 lengths in a speed of 102 on a good track.� Since then, he has gone winless and through his 10 starts, has recorded a respectful graded record of 1-2-2.
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At 2-miles, Regal has posted a record of 2-2-2 in 9 races.� Over his last 5 starts at two-miles, he has averaged a speed of 99, which looks a little low for the race.� But Regal Prince does find ways to get on the board.
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4� FROZEN FOUR� 22-1
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The Vermont Residence Entry for this race is a horse by the name of Frozen Four.�� Frozen four is a 7 year old mare out of Pleasantly Perfect x Mr. Prospector x Secretariat.� She sports a record of 19-11-9 in 52 career route races with over $1.6 million in career winnings.
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Frozen Four could be past her prime and has raced 10 of her last 11 starts at the United Arab Emerates track, appearing in conditional allowance long distance races.� She comes off an allowance win at 16f, winning easily by 7 as the 2-5 favorite, recording a speed of 95 in the process.� Frozen Four has won four of her last seven starts, all with speeds in the mid 90�s, at distances primarily in the 13 to 14 furlong range.
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A graded win has been elusive throughout Frozen Four�s career.� She has tried 18 times coming close several times, but shutout with a record of 0-6-4.� Her age may be catching up to her and she hasn�t broken the 100-speed level since June.� She has definitely had an admirable career and deserves another shot at a graded win, but facing the boys just adds to the challenge.
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5� HAACK ATTACK� 11-1
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A well-bred Sadler�s Wells x Cat Thief x Seattle Slew 6 year old horse, has won over $750k in earnings while sporting a record of 13-10-2 in routes with 30 starts.� Haack Attack will be representing the Benelux residence and looks to be competitive.
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In 11 starts at 16f, Haack has an impressive record of 6-2-2 which includes a recent G3 win in the Kegstand (speed of 105) and a second back in August of 2008 in the G1 Breast Cancer Research Foundation (speed of 109).�� The later race is worth noting as he ran this on the Vermont track against a huge field of 18.
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The majority of Haack Attack�s races have been against small or moderate sized fields, however, he can handle larger fields.� He loves to set the pace and no doubt will try to do that here.� He hasn�t raced since November and will be well rested coming in.� He could steal this race.
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6� JOLLY DM HOUSE� 12-1
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�With over $1.9 million in career earnings, Jolly DM House is the chosen marathoner for the EAAA residence.� Running in 34 routes, Jolly has amassed a record of 14-4-4.
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Jolly DM House won the G1 Kelso Handicap (16f) by an easy 7+ lengths and a speed of 106.� He has appeared in 13 stakes and graded races at the 16 furlong distance, which have resulted in a 7-1-0 and includes four 4th place finishes.
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Jolly DM House is loaded with speed that can last the distance.� He has shown he can finish the 2 miles with a good sized lead too. You cannot discount this Jolly Jouster x Deputy Minister x Habitat horse�s chance of putting in a good race.�
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7�� OL SUKIE JONES� 11-1
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Dell Penn sends the young 4 year old Ol Sukie Jones as their representative for this race.� The Empire Maker x Halo x Deputy Minister bred horse has won just over three-quarters of a million dollars through his career with a 5-2-1 record in 13 route starts.�
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Ol Sukie comes off a second place finish in the G2 Buckeye Stayer, her only 16f start to date, missing by 5 lengths and showed an impressive speed of 105.� In six graded starts, Ol Sukie has a record of 1-1-1 with his sole win in the G1 Their Law stakes (10f).
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Over his last six starts, Ol Sukie Jones has averaged a speed of over 103.� He�s going to try the two miles once again and could put in a decent race.� However, a word of caution�Ol Sukie Jones is a hit or miss type of horse.� Between his G1 win and his last start, he has a pair of top stake races and a non-graded stakes race where he missed the board considerably.
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8�� MANILA ICEICE BABY� 21-1
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This young Quintons Gold x Manila x Icecapade 4 year old will be making his first graded start for the Hong Kong Racing Club residence.� Manila Iceice Baby has just made his first $100,000 and in 15 route starts has a 4-2-3 record.
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Manila has only two non-graded starts that he appeared in during 2009 and finished fifth in both races, going distances of 9 and 10.5 furlongs.� He�s broken through the 100 speed level four times, each in allowance races at distances up to 12 furlongs
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Manila will be adding distances, a half mile to be exact from his longest career race.� He has performed well at the allowance level but the performances in his non-graded starts don�t give one a �warm and fuzzy� feeling on his chances in this race.
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9� RABID ANTIDENTITE�� 11-1
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Rabid Antientite is a last minute replacement and the residents at Sim Hispano will nob be hurt with this solid.� Out of Smarty Jones x Thunder Gulch x Roberto, this 6 year old route runner has a distance record of 12-8-2 in 27 starts and is eager to break the million dollar mark in earnings as current sits at $990k.
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Rabid Antidentite had an amazing race in his last start, The Barely Spin Stakes (16f, non-graded).� In this Race, Rabid fell more than 20 lengths behind by the midway point of the race.� He then set the dirt ablaze, moving up to third by the � mark (13 behind) and ripped his way to the win in a speed of 107.�� In eight starts at 16f, Rabid has a record of 3-3-0 which includes a win in the Seattle Stayer (G1, 16f) that he won in a speed of 102.
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Rabid Antidentite won the Seattle Stayer in impressive style, going from 17 back at the half and winning by 4, beating the likes of Cumbre Toureg and Bold Bandit.� He loves the distance and if you hear thunder during the race, don�t worry, it�s probably Rabid Antidentite.
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10� AION�� 15-1
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The Alpine Turf Club residency has chosen the 5-year old Aion to make a run in this demanding 2-mile event. �Aion has $184k in career earnings and has a respectful route record of 8-3-4 in 24 starts.
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Aion will be making his first career start against the graded level.� He�s been racing distances of 11 to 13 furlongs and will also be making his first start in a 16 furlong race.�� Aion likes to be at the front end and looks suited to make an effort to be there in this race.� He is capable of soaring through the 100-speed level, with a career best of 110 back in August where he won a 12f allowance race by over 4 lengths.
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Aion has raced here once before, finishing 5th in the Secrete Capote Cap (12f) last year in a speed of 104.�� He undeniably has a tough task ahead of him, but did put in a game speed over this track already.� Be nice if he could do that again.
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11� BOLD �BANDIT� 14-1
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The residents at Blazing Saddles are sending Bold Bandit into the race as their representative.� Bold Bandit has winnings over just over a quarter million dollars and in routes and with 32 route starts and a record of 6-7-5.�
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This Dynaformer x A.P. Indy x Danzig horse has two places in four graded starts, most recently finishing second in the Grey Fox with a speed of 98.� He has one start at 2-miles, that happened in September where he finished fifth in the G1 Seattle Stayer with a speed of 96.
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Bold Bandit�s speeds tend to range in the upper 90�s to lower 100�s on the dry dirt track.� Where Bold Bandit is most dangerous is on the off-track.�� He�s averaged a speed of about 104 on the sloppy surface.� On wet tracks (including turf racing) he has a record of 2-3-1 in 6 starts.� One to consider if the weather goes his way.
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12�� CALLISON�� 9-1
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Out of Siver Deputy x A. P. Indy x Storm Cat comes this 6 year old horse Callison who will represent the NWRC residence.�� Callison has accumulated $577k in earnings and has a route record of 11-13-4 in 39 starts.
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All one has to do is look at Callison�s 2009 race season to get a feel of his career.� In non-stakes racing, Callison is very competitive, with a record of 3-3-0 in 7 starts (the only one off the board was an off-track race).� In graded stakes, he struggles as is indicated by his 5 starts, missing the board each time.�
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As stated above, 2009 is reflective of his career�he is great in non-graded stakes, struggles at the graded level, frustrating no doubt for Trainer Capetown.�� However, looking at his last four starts at 2-miles Callison has an average speed of about 102 which might be just enough to finally get on the board in a graded event.
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13� LUCKY�S WESCHESTER� 12-1
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The Ohio residence will be sending Lucky�s Weschester in to this marathon race.� Lucky has started in 21 route races and has an 8-3-2 record and earned just over $300k.� However, it should be noted, virtually all of his route races has been in the 8f to 9f distance range.
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Lucky was very active during 2009, running in 20 races including 4 graded stakes.� He hasn�t fared too well in the graded company, but showed promise in the G2 The Liar (8.5f) with a speed of 105, finishing forth by less than a length.
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While Lucky�s Weschester�s breeding line of Storm Cat x Sadler�s Wells x Kingmambo leans towards distance running, he is unproven at any great distances.� Ten furlongs is the farthest he has run (a win in short allowance field, speed 99) he will be stretching out quite a ways.� His chances seem diminished considering his winless graded record and the grueling distance he will need to run for the first time.� But, this could also prove to be the ideal distance for Lucky.
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14� CUMBRE TOUREG� 14-1
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Representing the URC Residence is Cumbre Toureg.� Cumbre shows a decent breeding line of Kitten�s Joy x Seattle Slew x Secretariat.� This ghostly white looking five year old has posted a record of 4-3-4 in 21 starts going route distances with just under $300k in earnings.
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Cumbre Toureg has a record of 0-1-2 in 4 graded races in his career to date.� He last ran in the G1 The Hit Man (16f), finishing second in a speed of 95 over a good track surface.�
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He will be facing a tough field and recent speeds have been in the mid to upper 90�s.� He has run most of 2009 with speeds over 100 and will need to return to those levels to pull off the win.� Cumbre is capable of just doing that.
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15�� DANCE FOR THE LORD�� 45-1
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The 5 year old Dance for the Lord, out of Robyn Dancer x Storm Cat x Sir Ivor will give it his best for the East-West Connection residency.� He has a 5-5-4 route record in 22 starts and has under $100k in earnings to date.�
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Dance for the Lord has gone the 2 mile route 4 times, with a win and a place.� The place came recently in a non-graded stakes where Dance gained the lead late in the race only to be run down in the final furlong in a speed of 95.� His last race was terrible, as Dance was obviously off his best game.
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Dance for the Lord doesn�t have the best speed numbers in this field, surpassing 100 only once.� He does like an off-track (where he ran 102) and any moisture could give him the edge he needs.
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16�� CASTROVALVA� 19-1
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Minnesota Downs residency sends Castrovalva into this big race who sports a 10-6-3 record over 44 route starts.� Castrovalva has a relatively unknown breeding line of Red Bullet x Alwuhush x Plugged Nickle. Despite the breeding line, Castrvalva has won over $184k primarily in allowance races.
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Castrovalva has shown ability at 16 furlongs, with a record of 2-2-0 in five starts.� His only start that wasn�t on the board was a promising forth place finish in the G3 The Jacksonville Jog in a speed of 98, finishing just behind the highly ranked Regal Prince and Salt and Light.
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Castrovalva has hit the 100 level twice at this marathon distance and looks like an outsider.� But his finish in the Jacksonville Jog was honorable and if he can pick it up a notch or two, he could grab a decent chunk of the purse money.
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17� JIBE�� 41-1�
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The 6 year old Jibe will be wearing the colors of the Ireland residence in this marathon race.� Jibe has loaded his savings account with over $629,000 in career purse winnings and has a 7-5-2 record in route races with 37 starts.
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Rough times have hit the Dehere x Carson City x Mt. Livermore horse, as 2009 was not his year.� After winning the Swift Cut Memorial (12f, nongraded) with a strong win by 4 in a speed of 104 in January, things went south fast.� Jibe would not hit the 100-level for the remainder of the year and finished 2009 with a record of 1-1-0 in 10 starts.
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But could things be turning around in 2010 for Jibe?� He has one race in 2010, a third in an allowance race going 14 furlongs where he finished the race strongly, 4 lengths behind the winner but making up a good 8 strides in the final quarter of the race.� Perhaps this could be a sign of a turn around?
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18� DEAD ZONE�� 5-1
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Dead Zone is a scratch bred horse that has put up results and has been tagged as the favorite..� Bred out of the obscure line of Dayami x Darshaan x Sir Ivor, this five year old represents the GR Simsters residence.� A winner of over $1.1 million thus far, Dead Zone has also won over half of his route races, with a record of 12-5-0 in 23 starts.
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Dead Zone has had a terrific 2009 campaign, with a record of 6-2-0 in 10 races.� During the year, he picked up wins in three consecutive graded events, which included The Olympic Torch (G3, 16f), The Dying Breath (G3, 14f), and The Big Show (G2, 16f).� He followed these races up with a second in The Europe Stayer (G3, 14f) and a win in the G1 The Monster Mash (14f).
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2010 could be another good year as he has already won The Buckeye Stayer (G2, 16f), rallying from 15 back at the mid-marker to win by 5 in a speed of 109.� Dead Zone is a slow starter but his competition needs to watch his late move.� His speeds have been top notch, averaging over 107.� He�s in great form and is a contender.
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19� STEEL KNIGHT� 14-1
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Steel Knight is a diversified horse that has done well on both the grass and dirt.� The nicely bred A. P. Indy x Sadler�s Wells x Buckpasser will run for the Queensland residence and has won $141,000 to date.� His record in route races has been excellent, 6-4-5 hitting the board in all 15 starts.�
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Steel Knight enters the race with off of a third going 16 furlongs against an allowance field, with a speed of 98.� He has only one graded race, a third in the Carlton Fisk (G2, 12f) where he finished a well-back third and a speed of 100 on the turf.
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Steel Knight has a definitive class disadvantage, with next to nothing in stake racing.� He has a handful of races with speeds over 100 which shows capability.� He could be a surprise, but will have to work for it.
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Yoss Tipsheet� 18-9-6-7
Trackman��� 18-12-5,7,9
My Picks�� 9-18-5-12
