In sim racing, the smallest field you can have is four horses, and that is exactly what is on the card in the 14th race in Virginia this week. There is only one thing that is amazing about that….. it’s a Graded stakes race! Every one of these trainers has a 25 percent chance at taking home the biggest percent of that 100,000 purse. The Boon Turf Stakes features fillies and mares three years old and older going six furlongs on the firm turf. And now ladies and gents, let’s meet today’s field.
1. mav1763 sends this Kentucky bred out with O. Ridenour on her back. Esterhazy Castle is the favorite in today’s race, sitting at odds of 4/5. This five year old mare has had an outstanding career winning ten of thirty races while being in the money in twenty of the thirty races. She has been running great as of late and recently picked up her third graded win in her career. Her last three races have shown improved speed figures and she looks to top her best of 111 tied last time out. She had won a listed stakes race and a graded event two and three races back before faltering in a Grade II last time out, though she finished 3rd.
2. Ireland bred Life, a 9/2 shot, will look to earn his owner lozon4ever some money in today’s race. K. Laser will get the ride today on this girl. This four year old mare will be testing the graded waters for the fist time as she comes in on a two race winning streak. Her first stakes appearance came three races back where she finished 3rd in a field of 4 in a listed stakes event running a speed figure of 94. She then won back to back allowance races with improved speed figures of 104 each time. She will have to improve on those speeds today I feel to have a chance, but if she can, she will be looking at win number three in a row.
3. Another 9/2 shot in today’s race will be Awesome Colac. Owner alishan hopes that jockey T. Mudgett will ride this horse to the winners circle. This girl has been back and forth between listed stakes and graded stakes and it seems like every time she attempts the graded company, she does worse than before. Her career best speed figure came two races back when she ran a 104 speed figure while finishing second in a field of eight in a listed stakes race. Her last race she failed to mount a challenge in a Grade II field of 12 as she started in 6th before faltering to 8th. She will look to pick up her first ever graded win today.
4. The final horse in today’s field is a 9/5 shot and is the second favorite. Owner sheedy93 will send out Arcane Barrage, to run in today’s race. The jockey will be L. Creek. This four year old mare had been running great until her last race. She set a career best speed figure three races back where she ran a 108 speed figure and finished 3rd in a listed stakes field. She then ran a 107 speed figure and finished 4th in a Grade III. Her last race was a bit of a letdown as speed figures dropped to a 99 though she did earn a second place finish in a listed stakes event. She is no stranger to the graded ranks and even has a graded win back in April of last year.
Though this is a very small field of four horses, it will be a very competitive race. Any one of these girls could win it and it will be a race to watch to the wire. For some reason my gut is telling me to go with the 4 horse Arcane Barrage, but my heart tells me to stick with the 4/5 favorite Easterhazy Casthle. Either way, it will be a fantastic race. This has been the quickest pre-race write up and I want to thank you for reading and remind all of you to head on over to the BTB forum for all of your sim racing coverage. As from me I am Dylan and from all of us at the BTB, Thank you for reading.