Equinics 2020 – The Statue of Liberty
10 Furlongs / 2000 Metres
3YO Colts and Geldings
Welcome to Vermont for the running of this much anticipated edition of the 2020 Equinics.
Everything that possibly could go wrong this year around the world has gone wrong and now we just need you Americans to take away our fun and vote out Trump, our last bastion of relief from the oppression of Lockdown 2.0 (Well in Victoria at least) to complete the annus hornbills. The daily humour your man the Trumpster provides is keeping us sane…and believe me I know sane people. I know more about sane people than anyone. No one knows more about sane people than me…anyway, I digress.
Thirteen trainers from residencies around the Sim have sent their best 3yo Dirt Routers to contest the Statue of Liberty. Some fast facts about the field are listed below:
- There are 7 Graded Winners in the field, 2 G1, 4 G2 and 1 G3.
- 5 of the other runners have won a Stakes Race
- 1 runner has won at Allowance Level
- 1 has run in a Claim race
- Of the Graded winners, 1 has won an EOY Award
- 11 of the 13 Runners are Kentucky Bred and the two other runners are from Japan
- There are 3 Geldings
- The prize money won across the field ranges from $114,450 to a colossal $7,121,610
- The only Sire represented more than once is Tapit, with 2 runners
As you can see, there is quite a diverse range of horses ready to contest for their chance to etch their names into Equinics history. In no particular order, let’s take a closer look at each entrant.
GENERAL CROOK (carsoncity)
Wearing the No.1 Saddlecloth, and rightly so, is the magnificent son of Union Rags out of the brilliant mare First Degree Bern, the strapping colt General Crook. This beast, (there is no other word to describe him) has, over a 10 race career, amassed over $7 million in earnings and has a race record of 10:7:1:1. Four of these wins have been G1s and have included the Breeders Bowl Juvenile as a 2yo and also the Bluegrass Derby. That’s a pretty impressive resume!
The only time the General has missed the board was his last start where he was extended out to 12 Furlongs and although he got back in the field, as has been customary in all his runs to date, he didn’t flash home, finishing 5th over 11 lengths off the winner. Prior to this run, General Crook took out the G1 Middle Jewel Stakes, and it would be a brave trainer who was to think the General might be past his best. To be the best, you have to beat the best and this guy is the best.
GOTYOUONCAMERA (lenny2)
Next up we have a gelding who could be the best…well he did beat the best two starts back in the 12F New Yorker (even though he didn’t win himself), but ran a close 2nd. This son of Gun Runner had a modest start to his career before a visit to Doctor Snip saw his focus sharpen and he has won 4 from 5 in his 3yo season, culminating in a fantastic wire to wire win last start in the running a 114 SP and leaving the superstar General Crook in his dust. With earnings of almost $1.4 million this guy is the real deal and I believe it will take a real upset to see either him or General Crook not taking home the Equinics prize. This guy has mixed his running styles from all the way leader to swooper and performed well each time. However this goes down, we are in for a ding dong battle.
It never ceases to amaze me how these rookie trainers like lenny2 seem to fluke these good horses, I mean it takes the rest of us a lifetime to get one good one. I wonder what his secret is….?
DURAOIL (aussloth)
This 3YO Duramente Gelding snuck into the field on the quick back up from the G1 Eddie Haskell and almost completely stuffed up my article! This good looking grey by Duramente has an unusual racing pattern…he likes to get to the back and run on…(are you kidding me???) His last start 7th in the Eddie Haskell wasn’t a bad performance, however he looks to be crying out for the extra distance here and this is justified with his 5/1 second favourite quote with the bookmakers. Duraoil won 3 on the trot, graduating from Allowance, to Stakes to G2 before taking on back to back G1s. Like just about everyone else – look for him late!
RUNAWAY SONNY (jwsonnyc)
Third up we find a stunning grey colt by Medaglia D’oro. Runaway Sonny hasn’t saluted the judge since the 8th of March, when he won the G2 Felipe Alou over 8.5 Furlongs. Runaway Sonny is another horse in this field who likes to get back and storm home and with the exception of his last start; he has been doing just that. I have a feeling this guys could be looking for further than the 10 Furlongs, but don’t discount him running in the top 3.
OUTBACK DAPPER (outback4)
Coming out of the 4 gate is a son of Uncle Mo. Outback Dapper. He comes into this race off the back of a very good win over the 10 Furlongs in the G2 Princess Cup in Ontario. Outback Dapper, like those above, got back and hit the line hard, running a nice 110 SP. This guy just seems to get better with each start and I think he will relish the step up to G1 company.
SKID OFF THE ROAD (redhill3)
Our second gelding, this son of Liam’s Map never had the chance to be distracted by all those feisty young fillies parading around the racetracks of the world, with trainer redhill3 removing his prized assets before he ran his first race. Clearly this was the correct choice, as Skid Off The Road did the opposite and stayed in his lane, winning his debut easily with a nice 78 SP. He has gone on to record 4 wins from his 7 starts, including his last two, the most impressive being his last start win in the G2 Swamps Stakes with a 107 SP. He has improved with every start and my only concern with him, is the dip in SP figures in his only run above 9F, whole he still took the Stakes win, it was only a field of 4 and although he ran away with it by 4 lengths, his opponents weren’t highly credentialed. If one thing is certain, I’m not sure you are going to want to be a front runner in this race as there is going to be a tidal wave of horses coming over the top at the end.
BODES WELL B (muscles2)
Coming from the muscles2 yard is a young colt by Bodemeister. He hasn’t won since taking the G3 Giant Slayer Classic back on 25th of January and he also hasn’t broken the 100 SP mark since then. It appears like all of us, muscles2 was trying to get Bodes Well B into the Derby, but he didn’t run well in the Arkansas Derby Lock Prep and after two G1 runs, he has returned to Stakes class and hasn’t set the world on fire there either. He hasn’t raced since late May and I’m tipping muscles is hoping the freshen up will do the trick. This is going to be a tough race to win with the quality of the runners up near the top of the order, but as they say in the classic, you have to be in it to win it!
IMPERIAL ALCHEMY (mlafort2)
Our next runner is by Empire Maker, who we last saw running 3rd behind Outback Dapper in the G2 Princess Cup. In most of his races, Imperial Alchemy has gone to the front, an unusual phenomenon in this field. He is proven over the 10F distance, winning the Lenos Chin Dirt Route back in April. I think mlafort2 will be setting his charge to lead the field out and will be hoping he can build a big enough lead before the wave of horses comes crashing over.
BUGLE BARBICAN (jandicaper)
This guy is an interesting runner, while he hasn’t tasted the glory of some of his more fancied opponents; he has been steadily improving with each run. After debuting with a come for m behind win (yes another one) at his only 2yo start back in November 2019, he has steadily worked through the grades and distances, which has culminated in a last start win over 10F in the. Euro Road to Glory III, running a solid 106 SP. Bugle Barbican has amassed the least prize money of the field, however I f eel this guy has a lot of upside and if he can reel off a big speed in his first race since late May, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him sneak a place. Interestingly, this guy is out of a mare named Outback Barbican, who could possibly be from the same yard as Outback Dapper. Now there would be a story for the ages
HAACK’s WHITE BOY (stormhaack)
A regally bred colt, this striking white Tapit colt is yet to win anything greater than an Allowance. He’s had 7 Starts and hasn’t missed the board, racking up 4 wins, the most recent over 10F in Kentucky. He hasn’t set the world on fire with his speeds, however in this game; you can never take anything for granted. I can’t see him getting close to some of the others in this field, but I wish I had one with his breeding!
WATERLAND (asrtapit2)
Our second Tapit bred horse in the race and guess what…he likes to get to the back and run on. I’m starting to think every horse in this race is trying to social distance! Waterland has put together 2 from 2 on the dirt after trying his hand at the grass and seems to relish the step up in distance. His last start was over 11F in the Euro Road to Glory V and he handled it with ease running away with the win by 2.5L and a 108 SP. The second most experienced horse in the race with 11 starts, Waterland might be worth a sneaky place bet
QUALIFIER (dontbetonme16)
Somewhat of a bargain bred, out the relatively cheap Giant’s Causeway sire Protonico, this guy started his career in the claimers, before switching trainers after his second race. Since then he has been steadily improving his numbers and his three most recent starts have been in the ERC Derby series. He won the ERC Derby and ran 2nd in both the ERC Preakness and Belmont. While he won the 10F Derby, it was his run in the Preakness that has really grabbed my attention. In this race he ran an astonishing 110 SP. This is the second highest speed run by any of the other runners in this field. I think he could be a smoky in this field if he can stay in front of the swoopers.
ALLEGORY OF SPRING (lindsypark)
They say save the best for last, well he might not be the best, but he’s my best – yep, hailing from my own stables is this seasoned son of Cupid, Allegory of Spring. He took 8 races to break his maiden, but has since then taken me on a wild rollercoaster ride of up and down SPs, culminating in a win in both the URC Derby and Belmont races. I don’t know whether to be upset or excited by the fact that my guy is one of the only ones who is prepared to go out on a limb and face the breeze. His last start win over 12F in the Belmont, he went from wire to wire and gave no one else a chance. My only concern is that Allegory of Spring has had 14 starts – could he have peaked? His lineage is regal through the mares Stormy Jane and back to the legendary Amanda Jane who had 68 starts, many at Group level. I’m hoping the good Allegory turns up for this race, but it might be a bridge to far.
In summary, i think this is going to be a cracking race. I think we might see the King dethroned and replaced with a new monarch. My tip is the favourite, GOTYOUONCAMERA and in a boil over, I’m going to tip that GENERAL CROOK just misses a place. I’m going to take OUTBACK DAPPER for second and if he handles the quick back up, DURAOIL for third.
Good luck to all trainers and residencies
Mat – Lindsypark