Big Apple, Big Time….
Four years ago, with ground zero still smoldering in the minds of New Yorkers, all Americans, and all SIM players world wide, New York was host to the SIM’s biggest day of racing.
The backdrop is quite different this time, however once again Mike Wallace’s Greatest Show on Earth, returns to New York to crown champions and future champions in what has become the SIM’s greatest day of racing.
The 2005 Breeders Bowl Championships has so many scenarios regarding the Horse of the Year title,it should provide several intriguing subplots as the afternoon and races progress.
But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, the most important task at hand is winning a Breeders Bowl Race, and not worrying about Horse of the Year implications. Most, if not all of the Divisional titles and honors will be up for grabs as the day unfolds.
Welcome to the mystery of horse races, better known as the 2005 Breeders Bowl Classic. Go ahead; just try to figure this one out. Actually, there are a few key questions, and all you have to do is answer each one correctly, and you’ll stand a fighting chance of solving this puzzle.
First, what to make of the older division handicapped horses? Clearly, Call of the Wild II stands atop the older horses dirt division. Can he decisively win against this field, and stake claim to Horse of the Year honors?
What about Wonderboy Cougar(IRE)? Will a victory in this spot, propel him into the mix?
How about some up and comers, like Obispo Town, Kissin Cousin II, and Year of the Vote? They are all tried and true hard-knockers.
Plus, you got the old steady ones in Silver Canuck, Danzig with Sal, and Leave the Reef. All very steady performers, and on their best day could take this field down.
Ok, got that part figured out? Now for the 3-year olds. First you got the Derby winner, Anticosti. Is he on the decline, over-rated, or just plainly been mishandled?
What about the other two 3-year old Classic winners, Fly for Buda and Macho Niner? Both have had more impressive years than Anticosti, and seem to be in great form.
Squal Me Halo, he certainly looks the part, and has been knocking on the door all summer long in the 3yo division.
Plus, throw in Tempest and Upper Management into the mix and you got a heck of a race.
One star will be shining brightly at the end of this pulsating, heart-throbbing, fastest 2 minutes in sport, known as the Breeders Bowl Classic. Who will it be?
Let’s take a look at the field!
PP 1
Macho Niner
Owner/Trainer: louisville
Odds: 10/1
Jockey: L Gunn
Profile: Macho Niner is a big strapping horse that stands 16.1 hands, he’s light grey in color and looks very similar to his sire Macho Uno, although he’s eerily similar to his grand sire Holy Bull. Macho Niner is the winner of 4 of 12 races in 2005 with earnings of $1,925,250, with 3 Grade I wins.
Likely, the best 3yo dirt horse in training currently. What is there not to like about Macho Niner? He’s battle tested and proved his mettle in just touching off Fly for Buda in the New Yorker. Follows that up with a smashing win over Anticosti in the Princess Cup, Canada’s premier dirt event for 3yo’s, and then takes a walk in the park in the Summer Classic, the Travelers Stakes, winning by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths.
Very effective horse at 1 1/4 mile race, show’s a tremendous ability to stalk, or lead if need be, versatility is an added bonus in these big races. Garners, L. Gunn in the irons for this big event, while not one of New York’s greatest jockeys, was aboard for the huge wins in the New Yorker and Travelers Stakes. Gunn was quoted earlier in the week saying, “It’s a tremendous honor to get 1st call on Macho Niner, boys I think I might have me a Breeders Bowl winner”
Pedigree Profile: Macho Niner Pedigree
Sire Stats: Macho Uno
Race Highlights: Travelers Stakes GI
Profile: Squal Me Halo is a small horse standing only 15.5 hands, but for what he lacks in size, he packs a power punch running style. This bay horse is out of the penultimate crop of Summer Squall, and has won 5 of 11 starts in 2005, with earnings of $1,680,450.
Squal Me Halo has had a terrific year, while he missed the Bluegrass Derby field, he did pick off the Chicago Derby-Grade I in front-running style the week after the Derby. He followed that huge win up with another rousing victory in the It’s My Birthday and I want to Cry-Grade I in Kentucky, and the prestigious Eddie Haskell-Grade I during the Summer. Showed great versatility in two huge wins during the Summer, however showed a disdain for the off-going in the Travelers Stakes finishing off the board.
This little guy has been knocking on the door all Summer long trying to take over the top of his division. P. Bangs makes the flight in from Australia to ride, and was quoted getting off the plane, “You think I flew for 22 hours for my health?” “I expect a huge showing from this guy,and hoping to do Australia proud!”
I was able to catch up with the owner binzaman earlier in the week, while watching Squal Me Halo being schooled in the paddock, binzaman leaned over and told me, “Squal Me Halo has had a bit of a freshen up over the last couple of weeks, but this race has been his target since his win in the Eddie Haskell Stakes-G1. He has been training well and it looks like we will get a firm track which will suit.
He has the tactical speed to lead if they jump out slow or if they ping out of the gates (as I expect them to) he can sit just off them and let down with his great sprint around the home turn. His two 110sp’s this year put him right amongst the best 3yo’s in the sim and I expect him to run well in this his penultimate test. Can win !!!”
Pedigree Profile: Squal Me Halo Pedigree
Profile: Obispo Town is a towering 4yo colt out of Kingmambo. Opispo Town stands 16.5 hands, and has a very effective late-running style that suits his size. Obispo Town has won 5 of 13 races in 2005 with earnings of $834,490 with 4 stakes wins, one of them being graded.
Obispo Town hails from the powerful dixiedotco stables. Dixiedotco is one of the games greatest trainers, and quietly goes about his business taking down some the games most prestigious races. While you’ll never find a more humble player in the game, I’m hear to tell you he has 7 stables that have surpassed the 200 win mark in the game. One of the true class acts in the game, and a real-life horseman to boot.
Obispo Town has really blossomed late in his 4yo year, as evident by talking to his trainer this past week, “Obispo Town is a bit of a late entry to the Classic division. Had him pegged as a marathoner early in his career, but after a decent marathon campaign, he started to struggle. Once shortened back in distance, he has really taken off. I guess he can be labeled as the “hot” horse in the group. He has little experience against this type of company, but his two tries against graded company at this distance yielded a win and a place. After his last win, he deserved a shot against this group” I’m hear to tell you, heck he deserves a shot, and could be a nice sleeper in the field, dixie is one of the games shrewdest players, and I wouldn’t doubt him one bit.
The win lto in the Grade I Jockey Guild Gold Cup was spectacular, and although the late-running style might concern some trainers, not this man, ” He obviously loves the track, and is in peak form. His lack of speed is a concern, but that’s just the way he runs. Nothing can be done about it. As for the jock selection, a lot of thought was put into it, but decided to go ahead and stick with the same rider that won a G1 on him. Low percentage rider, but did nothing wrong last time. No surprises as far as strategy. He’ll drop out of it, and try to pick up whatever horses he can late.”
Pedigree Profile: Obispo Town Pedigree
Profile: Kissin Cousin II is grand 4yo colt out of Sadler’s Wells. He’s won 5 of 9 races in 2005, for earnings of $859,000 with all 5 of those wins being stakes wins. Has fired in good company as of late, and picked off the Movieland Shiny Cup-Grade I during the summer.
Kissin Cousin II looked quite the phenom in winning the Movieland Shiny Cup, defeating quality company such as,Search and Conquer, Call of the Wild II, Estrogen, etc… That victory more than anything stamped him as one to watch over the late summer/early fall. Hasn’t quite lived up to that performance, but has been right in it in all of his subsequent runs.
Hails from the mighty Doc(Paul) empire. If you’ve been around the game for any length of time, you’ll know that Paul is one toughest and fiercest competitors in the SIM. Doc and his lovely wife Amy had triplets a couple of years back, and he’s not around quite as often as he used to be, wonder why? LOL However, he always seems to have nice runners, and some fashionably bred stock.
Looked for the trainer all week long here in New York to gather some quotes, but I would imagine the triplets are keeping him busy, and he’ll catch a late flight into New York to watch his big guy run.
Pedigree Profile: Kissin Cousin II Pedigree
Profile: This fashionably bred 4yo son of Danzig hails from the barn of the lovely lady of the SIM, topicount. Danzig with Sal has won 5 of 10 races in 2005 with earnings of $618,430. Among his 5 wins in 2005 are 4 stakes victories, with 2 of those graded, one being Grade I.
Danzig with Sal has done most of his damage cranking out wins around the flat mile. Absolutely destroyed a very nice Grade I field in the GSR Mile earlier in the year. Hasn’t really been tested that much going long, but don’t bet against topicount pulling a rabbit out of her hat and finding away to get this guy across the finish line ahead of everyone else.
For those of you keeping track at home, Laura sends 9 of her own personal entries into the Breeders Bowl, including 2 in this race. That has to be some type of record? Earlier in the week, I managed to catch up with topicount and got to visit with her about the powerful horses she’s leading into the Breeders Bowl, “It’s quite an honor to run in the SIM’s greatest day of racing, I’m just so excited about this wonderful day of racing, and thank Mike Wallace for such a great game!”
Laura, also gave us a little insight into Danzig with Sal and his chances this weekend, ” I’m not convinced he wants to go 10 furlongs – he may ultimately end up being a miler – but he’s run on jockey select up until now, so I’m taking him off the pace Saturday to see if that helps him finish stronger. Keryn is a member of DelPenn.”
Pedigree Profile: Danzig with Sal Pedigree
Profile: Tempest is an incredible looking physical specimen out of A.P. Indy. This very nice 3yo colt has won 4 out of 10 races in 2005, with earnings of $625,000. All 4 of those confident victory’s have been stakes wins, with 2 of those graded.
Tempest hails from the always popular chilcoat barn. Kendra(chilcoat) and Laura(topicount) are the two toughest female players in the game and both of these ladies know how to field a runner. Chilcoat if memory serves me correctly took down two Breeders Bowl wins in 2004, so don’t doubt this guy for anything. If she thinks he can run, then you better hit the windows and load up.
Tempest started the year in fine fashion winning a overnight stakes race, then followed that up with a rousing victory in the Grade II-Felipe Alou. Punched his ticket to the Bluegrass Derby with a very 2nd to Fly for Buda in the California Derby. Throw out the Bluegrass Derby, he had a little cough all week, and just didn’t have the punch that day.
Kendra had some gushing comments to say earlier in the week regarding Tempest, “Tempest came into my barn at a bad year for him. Any other year, I would’ve been gushing about him as my Derby colt. But I had ridiculous good luck this year and instead he was my “other” Derby colt, who tended to be overlooked in favor of last year’s Juvie champ, Cader Ydris….But look who made it to the Classic. This is Tempest’s time to shine.”
Pedigree Profile: Tempest Pedigree
PP 7
Call Of The Wild II
Owner/Trainer: gipper8
Odds: 5/1
Jockey: N Lawton
Profile: Call of the Wild II is an amazing looking 4yo colt sired by War Chant, standing 16.0 hands. What an incredible year Call of the Wild II has had, winning 4 out of 7 races with earnings of $5,170,000. All 4 of his wins in 2005 are graded, with 3 Grade I wins.
This thrilling 4yo colt out of War Chant has had an amazingly consistent record this year in top graded company. He started the year with a bang up race winning a Grade II at 9.5 furlongs, followed that up with a close 2nd in the Grade I California Hdcp. and then destroyed an accomplished field in the $4 million Sand Castle Derby.
After the Sand Castle Derby, he took some time off, and came back to beat a very good field on the undercard on “Middle Jewel Day” in the Grade II-Maryland Special Hdcp. Then it was on to California for a summer campaign, where he finished 3rd in the Movieland Shiny Cup to Kissin Cousin II, and then showed an authoritative win in the California Classic by 3 3/4 lengths.
Surprisingly, with this colts record,the trainer prefers to lurk in the backgrounds about his horse’s accomplishments. However, I did briefly get to speak with him trackside earlier in the week, and this is what he had to say. “I expect him to run a big race. I am still not sure why he ran so poorly last time, hopefully it was the cut back in distance. I believe that if he can defeat this top field, he deserves to be Horse of the Year despite the lack of respect his division has gotten this year.”
Pedigree Profile: Call of the Wild II Pedigree
Profile: Wonderboy Cougar(IRE) is sired by Barathea(IRE) and has won 3 of 5 races in 2005, with earnings of $1,050,000. All 3 of his wins are graded; with 2 of them in Grade I company.
Wonderboy Cougar(IRE) is the feel good story of the 2005 Breeders Bowl Classic as the trainer eluded to earlier in the week, “This horse is also a kind of a fairy tale story. He debuted with a 52 SP and he had to wait until his sixth race to break his maiden. Who would have expected him to be in the BB Classic two years later ? ” What a true fairy tale story for the SIM racing world.
In 2005, Wonderboy Cougar(IRE) has only had 5 starts, and each one of them has been spectacular. He started the season winning the Grade II Carden Special, finished 4th in the Sand Castle Classic, won the Grade I Out of the City Hdcp., and had a huge performance in the Grade I-Kindness of Hearts.
The trainer has been very patient with this horse and been rewarded in spades. “There is a story behind this horse. When he was younger he came back injured a few times. Every time he got some rest he came back stronger than ever before. So we decided even if he came back ok to give him enough space between races.” That patient approach has truly paid off, and should be a very fresh horse this Saturday.
The trainer hails from Belgium and this is his first Breeders Bowl entry. However that inexperience doesn’t show at all, when I met up with him earlier in the week down in the paddock. “We are aware this BB Classic is the toughest field he has ever faced. But he has beaten many of the top horses before … we’ll have to wait and see if he can beat them all together in one race. He likes to run close to the pace. But because the level of this race we’ll ask his jockey not to force him to the lead too early, I think the pace might be too hot to be in front early on. I think this kind of race should suit his running style quite well. At this stage we are still talking to a few jockeys. ” That type of approach is both refreshing and very well thought out.
The true fairy tale story!
Pedigree Profile: Wonderboy Cougar(IRE) Pedigree
Profile: Leave the Reef is the winner of 4 of 13 starts in 2005, with earnings of $735,430. He’s won 4 stakes races in 2005, with 2 of those being graded, with one Grade I this year.
Leave the Reef has competed at the highest level for most the year with various degrees of success. He made his mark on the scene in the springtime with a huge late-running effort to win the Oaktree Hdcp.-Grade I. That day marked his arrival as a colt to be feared later in the year.
Unfortunately since that day, he’s had some hit or miss runs along the way, however he looked remarkable once again, when putting up another huge effort in the Jersey Girl Hdcp.-Grade III.
His latest and greatest effort was a late-closing 2nd in the Grade I-Gotta Fix the Sprinklers Classic. That day he ran a huge 2nd to Parker, another late-closing horse owned by the one and only Roys.
CJ Anderson has the mount on Leave the Reef, and she mentioned earlier in the week her chances,” I just got to get him to relax early on, as long as we settle in we should be in great shape. I’m going to wait until the last possible moment, then unleash a furry to the line. This horse has a tremendous turn of foot, and the key is to get him to relax early.”
Pedigree Profile: Leave the Reef Pedigree
Profile: Fly for Buda is an incredible looking son of Sadler’s Wells and stands 16.1 hands high. Fly for Buda has won 5 of 10 races in 2005, with earnings of $2,437,500. 4 of his wins in 2005 are Grade I wins, and he bodes serious consideration for 3yo Colt honors.
Topicount started the year with Fly for Buda like most trainers in the game,with an eye on the Bluegrass Derby. Fly didn’t disappoint her remarkable trainer at all, in fact he finished a very nice 2nd in the Thousand Island Stakes-Grade III. After that race, Laura seriously started to feel her horse was a true Derby horse.
In his next start, he defeated a very solid field in the Florida Derby running 9 furlongs in 1:48 2/5. Then it was on to California for his final prep in the $750,000 California Derby.
Fly for Buda looked brilliant in taking down the California Derby, and in the eyes of many SIM players, he was considered the favorite in the Bluegrass Derby. Fly had run in the most difficult preps of any 3yo out there, didn’t take any easy preps to the Derby, and the trainer had him locked and loaded for the big race. Fly ran an admirable 3rd in the Bluegrass Derby, but saved his best running for the Middle Jewel, when he rewarded topicount with her 2nd Classic winner.
Then it was on to New York, for the final leg of the Triple Crown, where he lost narrowly to Macho Niner. What a tremendous Triple Crown campaign, and shows the true strength of the trainer. Laura danced all the dances with this horse, and that has pleased the SIM racing fans more than anything, to see a trainer lay it all on the line, and let the chips fall where they may.
I had a chance to visit with Laura earlier in the week on the backside and here’s what she had to say, “Fly has been absolutely solid this year, and I gave him an easy prep last time out – he came out of that race RTG and is sharp for the big day. Gets reunited with Gossett again in this race. It’s a tough group, so he’ll have to bring his running shoes, though. GG is a member of the GR”
Pedigree Profile: Fly for Buda Pedigree
Profile: Silver Canuck is a regally bred son of Silver Deputy, with 2 wins out of 7 starts in 2005. He’s earned $2,285,000 in 2005 with 2 graded wins, one of them being a Grade I.
Silver Canuck competed in the 2004 Breeders Bowl Classic, running an admirable 5th to the Champion Tuff Enuff.
Some of the more memorable highlights in 2005 for Silver Canuck have been in some huge races. He handily won the Grade II-Vermont is 4 Lovers Hdcp., beat a very accomplished field in the California Hdcp.-Grade I, then barely got touched off in the $million Sand Castle Classic by Call of the Wild II.
Things have been slow as of late for Silver Canuck, however I spoke with his trainer this past week and he indicated there might be a couple of reasons for that, ” We had Dubai as the big target this year and our dreams fell apart right at the end of the race. We wanted to give him some time off after that hard effort….. The main problem with his last three races is that we haven’t been able to have him sharp. Things are looking good for the BB as he is on his toes and looks to be back to the form from earlier this year.”
In speaking with his trainer he feels like they got exactly what they wanted lto, “He tends to do better with a little more rest and had a good prep race in the Windy City Gold Cup” In my opinion I would expect a huge effort from this guy this weekend.
Pedigree Profile: Silver Canuck Pedigree
Profile: Anticosti is a small ordinary looking horse out of Unbridled’s Song. Anticosti has won 5 out of 8 races in 2005 with earnings of $2,300,000. He’s won 4 Grade I races in 2005, with the Bluegrass Derby being his greatest feat.
Anticosti picked up in 2005 just like he left off in 2004, with an exciting win in the Grade I-SIM Racing Form Series. That race stamped him as one of the early Derby favorites.
The trainer of Anticosti, chose an unconventual route in prepping his charge for the Derby, choosing to run in the weaker prep races that were being offered up for 3yo’s. However unconvential that route was, the easy efforts paid off with a fresh horse in the Bluegrass Derby and possibly the difference in the race.
Once again, the trainer took the unconventual route, by-passing all the remaining Triple Crown events on his own accord. Anticosti made his return to the track in the Princess Cup-Grade I, and was promptly beaten by Macho Niner by 7 1/4 lengths, in what most consider a mild upset at the time. However, looking back that race showed how talented Macho Niner really was.
Next up, Anticosti took the Swaps Stakes-Grade I, in what most astute observers noted, to be only a 2 horse race. Anticosti won convincingly over Fly for Buda that day.
Last time out in the Louisiana Derby, Aniticosti finished an admirable 3rd, in what has to be considered a nice prep for the Classic, considering the rough summer this guy has had I would take that prep any day.
We tried to get in touch with the controversial trainer this past week for some inside scoop, however New York race officials, had his barn quarantined away from the other Breeders Bowl contenders for security reasons, so he was unavailable for comment.
The only thing we can gleem from the trainers past comments in public, are these comments he made publicly in the last couple of months: “I fully expect Anticosti to own the Breeders Bowl Cup….” and “Forget the noise about Anticosti, I know longer believe he’s the best 3yo dirt horse, much less anything else….”
I would imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and maybe the Bluegrass Derby winner can regain his form, I think he will, he’s too talented.
Pedigree Profile: Anticosti Pedigree
We tried to get in touch with the controversial trainer this past week for some inside scoop, however New York race officials, had his barn quarantined away from the other Breeders Bowl contenders for security reasons, so he was unavailable for comment.
The only thing we can gleem from the trainers past comments in public, are these comments he made publicly in the last couple of months: “I fully expect Anticosti to own the Breeders Bowl Cup….” and “Forget the noise about Anticosti, I know longer believe he’s the best 3yo dirt horse, much less anything else….”
I would imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and maybe the Bluegrass Derby winner can regain his form, I think he will, he’s too talented.
Pedigree Profile: Anticosti Pedigree
Profile: Upper Management is sired by the final crop of Miswaki, and has won 2 races out of 9 starts in 2005 for earnings of $117,180.
Upper Management was a precocious 2-year old, and scored a rousing Grade I victory in the Arizona Ruby 5th running last year in a very impressive time for a 2yo.
He followed that up with another exciting finish, this time running 2nd in the Arizona Diamond-Grade I as his last race for a 2-year old.
Good fortune hasn’t smiled upon Upper Management in 2005, they way it did to end 2004. However, I spoke with the trainer earlier this week to get his assessment on his chances. “He is coming into the race off his best career race. He won an allowance at a mile and earned a 105 SF. He did get a substantial layoff this year and might just be sneaking into form.”
One thing to be considered here, is the trainer. Great guy, fairly new to the game, and has already made a tremendous amount of noise with some very talented runners. He’s sending 3 to the post in the this year’s edition of the Breeders Bowl, not bad at all for a player with less than 2 years experience playing the game. I fully expect a bright future for this talented trainer.
Pedigree Profile: Upper Management Pedigree
Sire Stats: Miswaki
Race Highlights: The Arizona 5th Ruby GII
PP 14
Year of the Vote
Owner/Trainer: catahoula
Odds: 8/1
Jockey: R Harzheim
Race Highlights: The Arizona 5th Ruby GII
PP 14
Year of the Vote
Owner/Trainer: catahoula
Odds: 8/1
Jockey: R Harzheim
Profile: Year of the Vote is another small looking horse in the field. Year of the Vote has won 4 out 13 races in 2005, with earnings of $822,200. 3 of those wins are graded wins.
To be perfectly candid, Year of the Vote is owned and raced by me. However, when I first took this assignment, I wasn’t sure I was going to enter him. Now with that out the way, onward we go.
Year of the Vote, is basically a bottom-feeder in the division looking to do some big game hunting this weekend. He hasn’t been able to push through in the Grade I arena, and will be tough to do so this weekend. His best running is in the Grade II and Grade III races. However, I feel that 10 furlongs is his best game and he sit’s 7th in his division so he might give a good accounting of himself.
On the plus side, Year of the Vote does have the highest lto Speed Figure # at 10 furlongs with a SP #113 in winning the Windy City Cup-Grade II.
Only on his best day does he hit the line first.
Pedigree Profile: Year of the Vote Pedigree