Equinics 2010 BTB Articles




Written by: Goody

Untitled Document

Race : The Reclamation - Grade I - $1,000,000
Track : British Columbia (CAN)
Restrictions : All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance : A mile and five eighths on the Turf


POST 1

MINNESOTA DOWNS

Trained by pazthree 11%
Jockey B Bauder 16.5%
12-1
SADLER'S PRAYER(IRE)
Making his 5yo debut off a seven week break, the winner of the Grade 3 DeltaBurke just three starts back, he has not yet been able to make a dent in toughercompetition. Since he has been 4th in the Grade 2 Flying Carpet and 6th in theGrade 1 Allied Assault. He hasn't been disgraced but will need to do more. Interestinglyenough, SADLER'S PRAYER ran his best speed number, 112 at this distance in thelisted Meguro Handicap. If indeed he has improved as a newly turned 5yo, we shouldsee him make first run on the front running Proud Souls. Nice long shot of achance to pick up a medal here in Equinics.
5yo Horse
Sadler's Wells
38-7-12-7
$1 million
Grade 3 Winner

POST 2

Vermont
Trained by futurestar 31%
Jockey F Gossett 26%
6-1
TITLE DEFENSE(KY)
3YO CHAMPION TURF HORSE
Started 4yo campaign with a very nice win in the Grade 2 Buck Dharma where hemade up 8+ lengths in the stretch and earned a number of 109. Has never gone13 furlongs but has 3 wins at 12. Trying to add an Equinics Gold Medal to hisalready impressive resume. Logical Contender.
4yo Colt
Awesome Again
19-9-5-2
$5.4 Million
Grade 1 Wins
B.B. Turf
Jap 2000 Guineas
Owners Stakes

POST 3

Queensland
Trained by holyghost 13%
Jockey A Sparky 18.2%
29-1
ZZ ZZAR
Old timer is looking for a final chance at glory. He has seen better days buteven then never contended in Graded company. His last Stakes win came in 2006.ZZ ZZAR had a couple Allowance wins as an 8yo and now is coming off a layoffof 2+ months. Maybe the freshening will do him some good but even then this fieldis just way too tough
9yo Horse
Zalazl
73-20-15-9
$800k
Stakes Winner

POST 4

Comedy Central
Trained By goldsmith 11%
Jockey M Wallace 34%
16-1
GALIESIS(IRE)
Veteran runner has not won a Grade 1 race since the summer of 2008 when he won the Harbour City and Irish Derby back to back. At the time, he was viewed upon by many as one of the premier turfers in the world but he never was able to move forward from that point. It took him almost exactly a year spanning 14 races before he would return to Ireland and win the Grade 3 Bally Roan. He ended his 4yo season looking to get back on track with back to back powerful wins including destroying his rivals in the Comedy Central Turf. He prepped for this in the Grade 3 Ferdichenko Cup but just was dull. He must do better to make any kind of impact in this world class field.
5yo Horse
Galileo
34-8-8-3
$1.1 Million
Grade 1 Wins
Irish Derby
Harbour City Stks

POST 5

Del Penn
Trained by super15 15%
Jockey F Duffy 33.3%
7-1
CARNIVAL OF LOVE(KY)
No match for TITLE DEFENSE in the Breeders Bowl but this 4yo had a fantastic3yo season in his own right. Ark De Comicdog winner just looked like he ran outof gas for the BB. Started his 4yo campaign by destroying a good field in theGrade 3 Ferdichenko Cup. He ran off by 5+ lengths and earned a speed number of113. Carnival Of Love is looking primed for the rematch and has every right toturn the tables on his rival. Like his rival, he has also not tried this demandingdistance of 13 furlongs.
Would consider him the horse to beat here.
4yo Colt
Giants Causeway
15-6-3-1
$4.6 Million
Grade 1 Wins
Ark De Comicdog
The Queens Dish

POST 6

EAAA
Trained by supapogs8 19%
Jockey C Shoemaker 23.5%
15-1
PRETTY PLEASED(IRE)
A true stayer here as he has won the Cannon Gold Cup Grade 3 over 2 miles. Healso is twice Grade 1 placed with 2nd place finishes in the South AustralianCup and Longchamp Marathon both over the 2 mile distance. He finished a strong2nd in his Allowance prep to start his season closing from 18+ lengths for theplace behind a loose on the lead type. PRETTY PLEASED may not yet be runninghis best at only 13 furlongs but for sure, he wont be tiring. He has the abilityto be plodding along at the right time which makes a minor award a possibility.
6yo Horse
Refuse To Bend
37-9-10-3
$800k
Grade 3 Winner

POST 7

MIDAS
Trained by hoofhearts 13%
Jockey O Osbourne 33.3%
7-1
I DON'T STUTTER(KY)
Ended his 5yo season by blasting home in the Grade1 Winter Cup at this 13 furlong distance by over 3 lengths and earning a monster figure of 117 for the effort. Previously had finished right behind TITLE DEFENSE in the Canada Cup. Comes into Equinics fresh as the Winter Cup was held 6 weeks ago. The question will remain if this 6yo has another monster effort in him. It will be very hard to duplicate his latest effort as the dreaded "BOUNCE" looms large. Either way,I DON'T STUTTER has to be labeled a major contender for Equinics Gold.
6yo Horse
Kingmambo
28-8-4-6
$3.8 Million
Grade 1 Wins
Winter Cup
Milan Grand Prix

POST 8

East-West Connection
Trained by tao 11%
Jockey F Feller 0%
16-1
THE OIL RULES ALL(KY)
Multiple Grade 1 winning horse has seen better days as he is riding an elevenrace losing streak. He ran 16 races last year and is preparing for his 3rd ofthis year so we can not talk about how lightly raced he is. He shows up and raceswhile others are resting. THE OIL RULES ALL was an odds on beaten favorite inan Allowance on the dirt in his previous try. Going from that spot to this isa mighty big jump. Remember he has won 3 Grade 1's and the only previous timehe went Dirt to Turf he came away with a win. Food for thought. Will need a careerbest to crack the money spots here.
5yo Horse
Unbridled's Song
22-7-4-3
$4.5 Million
Grade 1 Wins
"Queen Spring Cup "
The 5 Series
Jai Alai Park Turf

POST 9

Sim Hispano
Trained by supreme 32%
Jockey J Caves 25%
38-1
K'S STAGFLATION(KY)
Very sharp form as he has won 6 straight races. Ended his 3yo year with his Stakesdebut and came away with a Grade 1 victory. Started his year prepping for thiswith an easy score in the listed Huge Tale Stakes as a 1/5 favorite. Only earneda 77 that day but did not need to do any more than that. His 111 in Japan makeshim a serious threat to upset this field at a BOXCAR payoffs. Cant fault hisbackers with his ultra sharp form.
4yo Colt
Smart Strike
14-8-0-2
$1.6 Million
Grade 1 Wins
Jap Saint Legend

POST 10

Hong Kong Racing Club
Trained by dirtranch3 9%
Jockey L Steele 20%
17-1
ELVIS VICTORY(AUS)
Coming off a very disappointing season in which he lost all 8 starts. Did managethree seconds including the Grade 2 Longstickgoboom Stakes. Started this yearin the listed Mean Joe Green Classic but just did not fare well finishing 7thand beaten soundly. Faces much tougher here and he just does not look up to thetask with his current form
6yo Horse
Elvstroem
30-8-6-1
$630k
Gr 2 Winner

POST 11

GR Simsters
Trained by buffy5 17%
Jockey D Fendlay Jr 26.7%
14-1
MAX CALIFORNIA(KY)
6yo has earned over 5 1/2 million in winnings. Besides his 3 Grade 1 wins hewas also 2nd in the 2008 BB Turf. While he did tail off at the end of his 09season he started this year off on the right foot. While it was just an allowancerace that he won, he did it the right way. He drew off by 3+ lengths, beat 2stakes winners in the process and earned a figure of 100. His best days may bebehind him but he is looking to make some noise here. Max California is improvingand has shown an affinity for this distance which his rivals have not yet tested.
6yo Horse
Rock Hard Ten
38-14-6-9
$5.6 Million
Grade 1 Wins
Reading Is Fun
John Scott Appr.
Coalminer Cup

POST 12

IRELAND
Trained by 19%
Jockey J Brewer 21.4 %
22-1
KINGULEO(IRE)
Only has a listed Stakes win to his credit but it did come last out in the Joe Cayenne when he drew off by 2 1/2 in the 4 horse field. This colt is in great form having won three of his last four all at 11 or 12 furlongs. He also looks to be ready to improve as he has run speed ratings of 103 in his last 2 starts. The only real question here will be, Is he good enough? His 3 recent wins all have come in short fields against much less than he will take on here. He has never run fast enough to contend with this kind and will be hard pressed to crack the top half of the field.
4yo Colt
Ivan Denisovich
14-6-1-1
$114k
Stakes Winner

POST 13

Blazing Saddles
Trained by desperado3 19%
Jockey W McClendon 32.4%
6-1
PROUD SOULS(KY)
Very fast and very classy 5yo who is very lightly raced with only 15 starts.In addition to his 2 Grade 1 wins, Proud Souls was 2nd in the King Kong Vaseand Arc De Comicdog and 3rd in the BB Turf. He danced all the dances and ranhard every time out. Proud Souls prepared for this race by dominating a verystrong field in the Mean Joe Green Classic 4 weeks ago. In that effort he wonby over 2 lengths against 5 other Graded Stakes winners and 3 listed winners.Proud Souls has never run this demanding distance of 13 furlongs and really helooks his best at 11. He is a confirmed front runner and if able to set a comfortablepace he is more than good enough to take this field wire to wire. Must be respectedeven with the distance question mark.
5yo Horse
Awesome Again
15-8-4-1
$4.3 Million
Grade 1 Wins
"King and Queen Emerald Stakes"
Kakarazuka Cup

POST 14

Great Plains Residency
Trained by amist 12%
Jockey A Stewart 12.5%
23-1
GIANT HABITAT(KY)
Rapidly improving 4yo has won three straight and four of last five races. Wonstakes debut impressively last out when romping home by 4+ lengths in the PaperSt Soap Co Special. Has yet to face graded company or go this long but with anyfurther improvement a strong showing is not out of the question. High numberof 111 fits nicely just not sure if he is ready to tackle this type

4yo Colt
Giant's Causeway
14-5-2-1
$150k
Stakes Winner

POST 15

BENELUX
Trained by ceclaim21 16%
Jockey U Greenleaf 36.4%
14-1
GORMENGHAST(IRE)
Just 3 1/2 months ago, this 5yo was rated as one of the top turfers in the world. He looked to have tons of potential after winning the Grade 2 Pretty Boy and the Grade 1 Coffeefields Cup. He had run a 108 or better in four of five races and was heading into the Japan Cup as one of the top choices. But then something went wrong. He finished 12th beaten 20 lengths and hasn't yet recovered. Last time out he was beaten at 6-5 in an open Allowance. If GORMENGHAST is able to regain his previous form he will be dangerous in this spot but judging by his last three races he will have a tough time competing here.
5yo Horse
Danehill Dancer
24-10-5-4
$1.6 Million
Grade 1 Win
Coffeefields Cup

POST 16

NWRC
Trained by phantom3 18%
Jockey N Armstrong 27.1%
15-1
ROCKWELLS KING(KY)
The 2009 Calvacade Cup Turf winner has yet to win a Graded Stakes but last outhe did manage to become Grade 2 placed with a solid 3rd place finish in the AtNight Cap. He has very sharp form, winning five of his last seven starts andhas a career best speed figure of 112 which would certainly be good enough tocontend here. His big number however came in an Allowance race and this is muchtougher than the Grade 2 he ran in last out. ROCKWELLS KING is coming off a 7week layoff which should have him rested but that will probably just not be enoughto contend here.
5yo Horse
Rock Hard Ten
32-9-8-5
$590k
Stakes Winner

POST 17

URC
Trained by cbrady 14%
Jockey O Ridenour 24.8 %
21-1
THE CHUNNEL(KY)
Has been crying for extra ground to run and has really responded well when itwas given to him. Only an allowance winner but is rapidly improving. Matchedcareer high 107 speed in last for stakes debut and ran a very good 3rd. Catchesa very tough field here but is improving.
4yo Colt
Shakepeare
18-5-1-1
$81k
Stakes Placed

POST 18

Alpine Turf Club
Trained by stormcat55 23%
Jockey L Jenkins 26.2%
47-1
PULLIN' OVERTIME(KY)
Stopped badly when last seen seven weeks ago in the Woodley Special. Previouslyhe had won the Grade 3 Narrow Land and finished third in the Grade 2 Dawn toDusk Cup. There are distance questions here as to whether he can go this long.Also his last two wins came in wire to wire fashion and he will not get the leadhere. PULLIN' OVERTIME will need a career best performance here and that maynot be good enough to beat even half of this field.
5yo Horse
Point Given
36-12-10-6
$420k
Grade 3 Winner







Back to BTB Articles
Back to Equinics 2010