BBRS Bargie Awards
This year’s awards needed an intermission. When you get these guys together in a room they will only sit still for so long. Part two of the Bargies features the Turf Mile, older horse sprint honors, as well as the classic distance divisions on dirt and turf.
Turf Mile Division
The Silenus Mile is run in May, the Kamikaze Mile in late October and the Bargain Bowl Kaif Mile in late November make up the Turf Mile Division. The Silenus Mile proved to be a really good race producing some nice speed figures setting the table for this division. Rampant Ego would blast out of the gates to the lead building a five length lead entering the stretch. Brilliant Notation and Mimbo Hall were ten lengths off the pace when Rampant Ego hit the stretch and both closed furiously Brilliant Notation would have a little more but neither threatened Rampant Ego who won by two and a quarter lengths earning a 103 speed figure. Brilliant Notation settle for second and Mimbo Hall third.
The Kamikaze was up next on the schedule and newcomer Nzed Thrill took over pace setting duty in the absence of Rampant Ego. Nzed Thrill is a mare with a quick turn of foot, she set a clear pace and held that lead all the way home earning a 105 speed figure. Critical Sabbath stalked that pace and finished second with Mimbo Hall finishing third. Misallocation was fourth, she had beaten Nzed Thrill in the prior race the Bargain Princess.
The stage was set for the Bargain Bowl Kaif Mile with four amazing and fast fillies in Nzed Thrill, Critical Sabbath, Misallocation and Mimbo Hall. That’s right in open company the fillies were dominating the males. Rampant Ego was back for the Kaif Mile and the colts best chance but he was over matched and after setting a fast pace ended up 8th and the 7 horses in front of him were all fillies or mares. Nzed Thrill sat off the pace this time in tandem with Misallocation about five lengths off the early pace. Nzed Thrill had a slight advantage on Misallocation at the top of the stretch and these two would duel the entire length with Nzed Thrill getting the half length win over the sensational three year old filly Misallocation. The gutty Critical Sabbath could not keep pace with the top two but held third. Nzed Thrill earned a 105 speed figure. The previous Kaif Mile record time was beaten by a full second. The top five finishers earned a higher speed figures than the previous record.
Nzed Thrill ran in BBRS races as a two year old, she ran in a couple as a three year old but really blossomed late as a four year old earning top honors in this division. Congrats to Lgbost for winning the Bargie and being patient with this fabulous mare.
Filly and Mare Dirt Sprint
This division has a tradition of some of the best bargain rivalries. The ladies compete in the Sugar & Spice in July at six furlongs, the Paint Brush in September at six and a half furlongs and the Bargain Bowl Chance for Delta at six furlongs. Gypsy’s Warning and Wariuz Corp butted heads all last year. Gypsy’s Warning, last year’s winner, reminded everyone she was not done by over powering the pace runner and holding off newcomer Cry Babies and veteran Slave to Tradion to win by a length and a quarter. In the Paint Brush a different rivalry developed as Slave to Traditon showed her versatility holding off her old rival Meat Cleaver for a two length win. Gypsy’s Warning settled for third ahead of Wariuz Corp.
The Bargain Bowl Delta Tiger Sprint would come down to Gypsy’s Warning, Wariuz Corp and Cry Babies. The race turned out to be a battle between stable mates between Wariuz Corp and Cry Babies. Three year old filly Forty Ounce had matured nicely setting the pace and looking strong at the top of the stretch. Wariuz Corp took first run at the pace setter with Cry Babies closing fast. It would be Cry Babies getting by in deep stretch beating stable mate Wariuz Corp by a length with Forty Ounce finishing two lengths back for third. Gypsy’s Warning never fired the big run but was only three and a quarter lengths from the winner.
While the rivalry existed it turned out to be newcomer Cry Babies earning the Bargie. Hawkz was able to turn the tables on Dragnil but he did it with a different runner from last year. Congrats to the Hawks stables.
Colt Dirt Sprint
The boys start the year off in May with the Broadway Sprint at six and a half furlongs then move to the Bargain Dash in July at six furlongs and finally the Bargain Bowl in the Tale of Two Places at six furlongs. Roaring Hawkz was last year’s winner and trying to make an impact for the third year in a row in this division. He got the season started off well winning the Broadway Sprint by a half-length over the hard charging Hrtv is Better. Perfect Straw set the pace and finished third. The Bargain Dash saw the renewal of the 2010 Tale of Two Places with Runvus Out setting the pace. Roaring Hawkz was all out trying to close but came up short. Runvus Out won with Roaring Hawks second and Unspoken Demands third.
Going into the Tale of Two Places Roaring Hawkz was in control of the division. Runvus Out was also in with a chance off his Bargain Dash win. The three year olds though looked tough in Ultimate Betrayal and Eagle View. When the gates opened Eagle View set the pace while Runvus Out did not get a good break and was no factor. Ultimate Betrayal had a perfect stalking position ahead of Roaring Hawkz and when the field entered the stretch Eagle View held the lead with Ultimate Betrayal second and Roaring Hawkz third. Ultimate Betrayal just proved too much holding off Roaring Hawkz in the stretch who got by Eagle View late for second.
Roaring Hawkz had to settle for second in the Bargain Bowl for the second year in a row after winning it three years ago. His win and two places in the divisional races locked up the Bargie for the second year in a row. Congrats to Hawkz on another Bargie.
Turf Filly Division
This division is always full of surprises. The first race in the division was the Bluebonnet in April at a mile and a sixteenth, then the Bargain Princess in August at a mile and an eighth and finally the Bargain Bowl Vimes Turf distaff a mile and three sixteenths. The Bluebonnet had some familiar filly turf runners in Mimbo Hall and Critical Sabbath. Mimbo Hall put her closing kick on display kicking home past Critical Sabbath to win by a length. National Risk also closed from the back to get third. The Bargain Princess saw Misallocation and Nzed Thrill lock horns. Nzed Thrill took a two length lead into the stretch only to be run down by Misallocation with Cuvee Power a distant third.
With the top two runners from the first two races going in the turf mile that left the door wide open for the Bargain Bowl Vimes Turf Distaff. Lot at Steak the 2008 Vimes Distaff winner became the favorite in what was a wide open race. Sweet Talk was trying the turf and set the pace in a race where closers were on their game. At the top of the stretch last year’s winner Celestial Key took the lead briefly before the onslaught of closers. Tin Buck Slew and Lot at Steak took the lead with Exalted Warrior closing fast. Tin Buck Slew could not keep pace and it took almost the length of the stretch but Exalted Warrior got to the wire first winning by a half-length over Lot at Steak.
The win gave Exalted Warrior enough points to win the division and earn the Bargie. The four year old mare hails from the Hawkz stables who finished one two in another Bargain Bowl event. Congrats Hawkz on another fine winner.
Dirt Filly Division
The ladies race in the Death Valley Distaff, the Bargain Summer Distaff and at the Bargain Bowl in the Cemetery Winter Distaff at a mile and an eighth. Slave to Tradition was last year’s top runner in this division and got the year off on the right foot with a win in the Death Valley Distaff. She did however meet for the first time a new rival in Sullivan’s Rainbow. Sullivan’s Rainbow took the lead at the top of the stretch but Slave to Tradition closed right on past her for a length and a half win. Sullivan’s Rainbow was second with Cuvee Power third. Although outside this division Slave to Tradition would beat Sullivan’s Rainbow in the Big City Mile before meeting up in the Bargain Summer Distaff. They also had to deal with three year old filly You Me and Them. Sullivan’s Rainbow would turn the tables on Slave to Tradition making her lead in the stretch stand up to the closing You Me and Them. Slave to Tradition had to settle for third.
A great race was setting up for the Bargain Bowl Cemtery Winter Distaff. Sullivan’s Rainbow held a slight points advantage but Slave to Tradition was looking for three in a row at the Bargain Bowl. You Me and Them skipped the Bargain Bowl and the top two kept many from entering. Sullivan’s Rainbow did her thing and took control at the top of the stretch. Slave to Tradition just could not keep up and Sullivan’s Rainbow went on to win by four and three quarter lengths. Slave to Tradtion settled for second and will likely be a competitor in 2012 as she nears the million dollar mark in earnings.
Sullivan’s Rainbow earned top honors and the Bargie in this division. Congrats to the Gajan stables.
Turf Colt Division
The Hunt Turf Cup in May at a mile and three sixteenths, the Arc de Maleleve at a mile and a quarter, the Wombat Cup at two miles and the Bargain Bowl Cougar Bite Classic at a mile and a quarter make up the turf colt division. HousefullofGhosts and Al Centaine started their rivalry this year in the Hunt Turf Cup. Housefullofghosts is a strong pace runner and he made every pole a winning on in the Hunt Turf Cup but had to battle Al Centaine the entire stretch to get the quarter length win. Brilliant Notation closed for third. In the Arc it was Housefullofghosts once again setting the pace with Al Centaine chasing from second. The stretch battled ensued again with Housefullofghosts holding on by a nose over Al Centaine and Brilliant Notation again finished third. The Wombat generally draws a different set of runners and this year was no different. Feisty Dragon proved much the best winning by five and three quarter lengths over River Rake and Champion Two Miler.
Going into the Bargain Bowl Cougar Bite Classic Housefullofghosts held the advantage. Al Centaine did not wait this time he took the early lead putting Housefullofghosts in a stalking position. The strategy worked as Housfullofghosts started to lose ground before the stretch and Al Centaine drew away. Housfullofghosts could not hold second as Yellow Giallo snuck by at the wire to get second.
In this game of inches this division literally came down to inches between two runners that butted heads all year long. Points wise Al Centaine earned 27 but would have been behind Housefullofghosts had Yellow Giallo not snuck by at the very end of the Cougar Bite. Housefullofghosts finished with 26 points in the division. These two could barely be separated and in the end they are both Bargie winners.
We have co Turf Colt Bargie winners. Congrats to Al Centaine and the Hawkz stables for one of many great runners in those stables. Also congrats to Lgbost who has some nice long turf runners and Housefullofghosts among his best.
Dirt Colt Division
With no dominate horse in the division one could say a very competitive group of runners produced another close points race for the title. The colts run in the Death Valley Classic a mile and sixteenth, the Bargain Summer Classic a mile and an eighth and the Bargain Bowl Bargain Classic a mile and three sixteenths.
The one two finishers from the 2010 Bargain Classic asserted themselves in the first race of the 2011 season, the Death Valley Classic. Textbook Case turned the tables on Slewpent getting his season off to a good start with a win. Textbook Case set the pace and was more than seven lengths clear at the top of the stretch. Slewpent closed from well back to be best of the rest finishing second two and a half lengths back. CT’s Rocket finished third. The Bargain Summer Classic saw an assortment of new comers. Back In Bodog stretched out a bit and won the mile and an eighth contest over turf runner Brilliant Notation. Keirstad finished third with Slewpent fourth.
So the Bargain Classic setup up for another up for grabs affair. Brilliant Notation was the favorite but it was not his day. Textbook Case once again set the pace in the Bargain Bowl and carried a five length lead to the top of the stretch. African Porcupine picked up the chase but it was longshot Woftam Star who closed with a rush. He blew by the front runners mid-stretch and pulled away to a three and a quarter length win. African Porcupine finished second and last year’s Bargain Bowl Classic winner Slewpent closed to be third. No one separated themselves during the year and Woftam Star swooped in and grabbed the Bargie.
Woftam Star won the Bronx as a three year old and really had not competed that well in bargain company since. He showed up on the big day this time earning Hawkz yet another Bargie to add to his collection this year.
Wrap Up
The Bargain Bred Racing Series is open to the entire sim. Although it’s hard to get a good bargain and compete with the likes of Hawkz, lgbost, desperado and mtk but they welcome the challenge. We announce nominations on the BBRS message board. Join us if you like we have many two year old maidens for those that might want to get started on the ground level, and you can even nominate your older bargains as long as they fit into what the series considers to be a bargain. To all the trainers that competed in 2011 thank you for making the series competitive and fun and good luck in 2012.