Equinics – Matacaballo
The Matacaballo, sponsored by the SIM HISPANO, brings out some of the best long-distance runners the sim has to offer.
residency: TESTBARN
#1 – IN JUNGLELAND(LA) – Trained by: kroth1 Ranked: 2999 Odds: 99/1
Co-longest shot on the board has yet to post a +100 SP in it’s 36 race career. However, 2 of his 8 wins have come at this distance. From claimer to equinics runner…makes for a good TV movie…
residency: QUEENSLAND
#2 – CLASH WITH REALITY(KY) – Trained by: picko Ranked: 22 Odds: 10/1
Top-25 ranked in the division has this horse sitting at 10-1 M/L, even without a win in 2012. 1 for 3 at this distance, with lone win coming with a 100SP in a stakes event nearly 20 months ago. Horse has been a jekyl and hide lately, a good race followed by bad race. If you use that as your measuring stick for this weekend, he’s due for a good race.
residency: COMEDY CENTRAL
#3 – MIRACLE MAX(CAN) – Trained by: cnn Ranked: 2483 Odds: 21/1
Better races recently for this Comedy Central runner have been on the turf. Overall he sports a nearly identical race record on both surfaces. 0 for 1 at this distance, which was on the turf. Current form doesn’t leave much to be desired as he couldn’t make 9f in past 2 outings.
residency: MIDAS
#4 – SCULPTURESQUE(KY) – Trained by: bluetaffy Ranked: 346 Odds: 29/1
An impressive 16-race winner will be amongst the leaders the 1st time under the wire. 8 races (2 wins) at today’s distance definately gives this MIDAS runner an advantage. However, with declining SP’s over the past year, you wonder if he has enough left in the tank to be around the 2nd time they pass under the wire. One positive sign is that he wired the field at 14f last out.
residency: DELPENN
#5 – HELLHOUND(KY) – Trained by: wistful0 Ranked: 31 Odds: 27/1
2010 Travelers entrant and 31st ranked DELPENN runner is currently in a tail-spin since winning a G2 at 14f in Oct 2011. On top of a 0 for 4 at this distance, expectations are low.
residency: GR SIMSTERS
#6 – DEVIL’S LAST WISH(GER) – Trained by: icbomber7 Ranked: 17 Odds: 5/1
Morning line favorite runners for GR Simsters (rez won this race in 2010). Currently has a streak of 9 races with a +100SP. 1 for 1 at today’s distance, which was a G3 back in May. Will be amongst the leaders both times into front-stretch of this 2 mile race, but will jockey A. Rolling leave enough in the tank the 2nd time around? Could lack of experience going the distance be an issue?
residency: CITY-RACE RHEIN-MAIN TURF CLUB
#7 – BUDDENBROOK(FL) – Trained by: bucephalus Ranked: 2362 Odds: 29/1
Never ran over 11f and hasn’t raced in a stakes race since Oct 2011 and hasn’t won a race since Aug 2011 and only two +100 SP’s since. Not in the cards today.
residency: HISPANO PARLANTE
#8 – NATURAL CHAMP(KY) – Trained by: ophipps Ranked: 2 Odds: 11/1
2011 BB Marathon and million dollar runner has 3-graded wins in the past year, including one at 16f. Last race was not his best efforts, but it is his only ugly blemish in 2 years so I think you can discount that. Have to think this HISPANO PARLANTE runner will be in it late in the stretch with his closing kick.
residency: SALTIRE
#9 – IGNITE THE BOMB(IRE) – Trained by: deanna Ranked: N/A Odds: 99/1
Lightest raced horse in the field with 7 races and comes in with only 1 win. Never been over 10f, although his only win was at that distance.
residency: EMPIRE STATE RACING (ESR)
#10 – ALBERTA AWESOME(KY) – Trained by: bertaal Ranked: 11 Odds: 10/1
11th ranked horse comes off a nice 3rd place finish in a G1 last out. However, he is 0 for 3 at the distance and only contended in one of those efforts. Sire is Awesome Again who’s runners can run forever, so if the cards fall in place…maybe this ESR runner will be in for a podium finish.
residency: VERMONT
#11 – MEETING ABANDONED(IRE)– Trained by: foxon Ranked: 97 Odds: 10/1
VERMONT runner has only a single low-level stakes dirt win to his record and was distanced in lone 16f effort. Is posting some nice recent SP’s with 9 of 10 +100. Best efforts vs. allowance runners, but super closing kick will give his backers hope as they turn for home.
residency: YOSS
#12 – LOCHGILPHEAD(KY) – Trained by: kilmory Ranked: 9 Odds: 7/1
9th ranked morning line 2nd favorite comes off a strong G1 effort last out. Long stretch of +100 SP’s has this horse looking like a serious contender. 4 races at 16f with one allowance win and two solid runner-up finishes. The only negative that sticks out is that he’s yet to cross 1st in a stakes/graded race. But he will be one of the first horses to get a shot when the speed horses start dropping. Will have to hold off the closers the last 1/16th.
residency: BLAZING SADDLES
#13 – MAINTAIN THE PAIN(KY) – Trained by: rtribbett Ranked: 10 Odds: 5/1
Co-morning line favorite comes in 10th ranked in his class. Winner of 3 of last 4 and posting high SP’s to boot. 2 for 2 at the distance with both wins being graded (G2 & G3). Arguably the hottest horse coming in but will need to get movin before the way-backers start there moves as I only see traffic being a reason this BLAZING SADDLES horse can’t cross first.
residency: UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB
#14 – HENRY THE VIIITH(KY) – Trained by: nyrangers Ranked: 10 Odds: 14/1
One of two fillies running today and is a rock solid dirt allowrance runner who has made a successful switch from turf to dirt. 4 for 4 since the switch including a win last out in his debut stakes/graded race (G1). How much did that effort take out of her? Posted back-to-back 108 SP’s and only had 2 weeks in between those 2 races and only 4 weeks to this race. Love the potential down the road, but verse the boys and a with tough recent workload this could be a bounce/hangover race.
residency: EAST-WEST CONNECTION (EWC)
#15 – PAPACY(KY) – Trained by: ck2stable Ranked: 21 Odds: 11/1
2nd female runner in the field scored a solid G3 win last out. Has beat the boys twice prior, but both were in Allowance races and has yet to run this distance. Nice mare, but not this time.
residency: MINNESOTA DOWNS
#16 – BEAT MY(KY) – Trained by: dundey6 Ranked: 2034 Odds: 31/1
Claimer to Equinics TV movie “part duex”!! No stakes or graded efforts on resume and only ran past 12f twice. However if both of our claimer to equinics runners ran a match race…my money would be on this runner.
residency: NORTHWEST RACING CIRCUIT (NWRC)
#17 – RISE AND STRIKE(AUS) – Trained by: magpies3 Ranked: 32 Odds: 7/1
One of the more consistent runners in the field having finished outside top-3 only three times since Dec 2010. Also a one-time claimer, but NWRC’er has gone on to some success recently with 3 stakes wins in the past year. Solid SP’s put this horse in the mix, but lack of graded experience could be hurtful. Will be amongst the leaders entering the final turn though.
My Selections:
If you’re looking to place a bet, you have to look at MAINTAIN THE PAIN(KY). Your won’t get much back on your win bet, but you could put him on top in exactas with CLASH WITH REALITY(KY), NATURAL CHAMP(KY) and you can add ALBERTA AWESOME(KY), LOCHGILPHEAD(KY), RISE AND STRIKE(AUS) in the triple.
Goodluck to everyone!!