Equinics – Meydan
I had the privilege of visiting Meydan when it first opened. I had a friend going to get her MBA in international business in Dubai, and so I went out to visit her. The track, in a word, is simply amazing. Just the size and the scope of the track is impressive – it goes on and on and on – you cannot capture it in a single photograph, even with a panoramic view. Meydan means in Arabic “to gather and to race” and it certainly does. There were some small opening day goofs – when we were there for the breakfast two days before the big day, the workers were still furiously putting on the finishing touches, and the bathrooms, while working, lacked toilet paper (I brought some with me for the big day, just in case). I had thought to general admission it, just like I did in the States, but my friend, who was working for the track that day, quickly shot that idea down. As a single woman, that wasn’t a good idea, so I paid for a seat in the reserved section (you were guaranteed a seat, but were free to pick among the ones in that section), and met a bunch of people from all over the world. The two seats in front of us weren’t screwed in tight, and when some heavier people sat there, they promptly fell forward. Without people, though, they looked like they worked fine, and we had to warn several people before they made the mistake of sitting down. One drunk Irishman thought we were lying, after telling us what he thought of us, sat down. The seat promptly tipped him out, spilling his beer. He was much less belligerent when he walked off.
The races were crazy to handicap, with horses from the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong and local horses all in the same race. There was no betting – you fill out something that looks like a scantron and get entered in a contest, with the person who picks the most winners getting a good deal of money. I did not do very well. On the other hand, there was constant entertainment between the races (one of the less stellar ideas, in my opinion, were the fireworks before one of the big races), and Elton John and Santana performed afterwards. It had a very exotic feel to it, like you were somewhere special. Not your average racetrack experience and totally worth the trip.
Anyway, the Equinics is honoring this track with a race named in its honor. For 2yo fillies going 6 furlongs on the turf, this race boasts G1 credentials, Equinics glory and a rich $1million purse. 16 residencies have answered the call. In post position order:Testbarn’s Clingerincommand leads the field onto the track. The ghostly grey filly is by Commands out of Stage Five Clinger, a winning El Prado mare. Trained by dailyracin, Clinger has won two of three starts, taking a maiden second time out with a 79 SF, and then following that up with an allowance win with a 75 SF. Has done little wrong, and certainly capable of completing the hattrick.
Universal Racing Club has the undefeated Went Wooshka. Dansili x Storm Cat has been a good cross, and tazbred3 may have another example here. She has been on or near the lead in each start, with her times steadily improving. Went Wooshka most recently captured a listed stakes over an off track with a 74 SF.
Saltire’s representative is Sodas Selzer. Bred and trained by soda, the dark brown filly is by Oasis Dream out of an Awesome Again mare, and already boasts a G3 win to her name. Last time out, she captured the Capital S-G3 at this distance with a 79 SF. Is another who has run on or near the lead in each of her starts. Lots to like, and has generous odds of 14/1.
City-Race Rhein-Main Turf Club’s hopes ride with All You Need. The Falbrav miss is out of a Green Dancer mare, and while she looked good breaking her maiden, she has kicked it into another gear ever since for trainer abacus The petite filly won a listed stakes at this distance with an 80 SF, then fell just short in the Why You Buggin S-G2, finishing second in the five furlong affair. The filly likes to come from the back of the pack, so the return to six furlongs can only help. At 12/1, a lot to like from a betting aspect.
Mulaton represents Hispano Parlante. Pato2 bred and trains the Invisible Spirit filly, who is out of the Shakespeare mare Off With His Head, who won the Filly Grand Prix-G1 going a mile on the turf as a juvenile, but was also a G2 winner sprinting. If you follow the family tree, it goes back to Too Much Plus Bert, who won the NY Island Cap-G1 on the turf and was a listed stakes winner on the dirt in the early days of the game. Mulaton is bred to run, and is off to a promising start. The flashy chestnut won her debut over an off track, then kicked it up a notch in her first try in stakes competition, closing for third in a listed stakes with an 80 SF. She will probably want a mile or more, but has shown enough talent sprinting that I would not be surprised if she pulled out the win here. Should be sitting midpack in the early going, so has a bit of a tactical edge. One to pay attention to.
MIDAS sends the well-bred Never Ask Why as their entrant. By Montjeu out of the winning Empire Maker mare CK Making Green, the dark chestnut did not care for an off track in her debut, but stepped it up in her second start for eminc4, going wire to wire at 6 furlongs with a 74 SF. Capable of improvement, and fits in with this field.
Vermont has Walking on Fire as their contender. The Dansili filly is out of Blazing Wilderness, who was a two time G3 winner in shorter routes on the turf. Blazing Wilderness was in turn a son of Gold Inferno, who won four graded stakes going a mile on the turf, and was fifth in the 2006 Equinics (in a sprint, not his best distance). Correction has had this family for generations, and Walking on Fire hopes to add to their legacy. She won her second start before finishing third in her stakes debut, going 6 1/2 furlongs (70 SF). Looks like she’ll relish more distance, but capable of improvement.
Minnesota has a contender in The Seed Eman. The daughter of Mineshaft is out of Seed Miner, a Montjeu horse who won a G3 stakes going 9 furlongs on the turf as a juvenile. His dam and granddam were also stakes winners. Eman’s filly is unbeaten in two starts, winning an allowance last out with an 81 SF. Is proven at this distance, and is a definite threat here.
GR Simsters have an impressive filly of their own, Stealin’ Wheels, who is the morning line favorite at 7/1. The lanky grey is by Kitten’s Joy out of the Mineshaft horse Like A Hammer, who won the Desert Stamina Cup-G1. Lenny30 debuted his promising filly at 6 furlongs and she made it look easy, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths with an 81 SF. She’s had a month off to recover, and if she can repeat that, look out.
Yoss has Clear Cloudy, who is by Shamardal out of the stellar broodmare Edinaz Hollandia. Edinaz already has two millionaires to her credit, Maudlin Cup-G1 winner Veni Vidi Visa and St. James Tavern-G2 victor Ahead and Zillion. Two other foals are also stakes winners. Mgfarms sent Clear Cloudy to two hard fought victories before she disappointed in her graded stakes debut, tiring to finish fourth in late stretch. Is a fighter, and based on her pedigree should want farther. Has a chance here.
NWRC sends out Rock of Keeper, a daughter of Rock of Gibraltar out of Scapped Seattle, a winning daughter of Seattle Slew. Rock of Keeprite won second time out for keeprite with a 72 SF, then was a belated fourth in a listed stakes last out with a 78 SF. This late charging miss is crying out for more distance, but cuts back 1/2 a furlong, and will need an honest pace in order for her to show her best. Figure her to be closing fast in the final sixteenth.
Blazing Saddles’ contestant, Giant D’Orway is royally bred, by Giant’s Causeway out of the winning Streets D’Oro, by Street Cry. The bright chestnut won first time out with a solid 78 SF for israel, but couldn’t quite get there in her second start, having to settle for the place with a 74 SF. Gets a class test here, but has shown plenty of potential so far.
Queensland sends Zabeel of Fortune postward. By Zabeel out of the winning Hussonet mare Confirmed Hustler, Fortune has yet to taste defeat in three starts. The copper chestnut with a single white star already sports two stakes victories in racehorse time, an 81 SF and an 83 SF. She will go an extra 1/16th on Saturday, but the markbohy trainee’s racing style indicates that shouldn’t be a problem. A deserving second choice in the wagering.
Empire State Racing has Poa Annua. The second Giant’s Causeway filly in the field is out of the winning Kingmambo mare Botwisted, who has been spectacular as a broodmare, producing six graded stakes winners to date, including Poa Annua. The dark bay filly won the Why You Buggin S-G2 last time out with an 82 SF. The balata trainee is comfortable winning on the lead and from off the pace, and has already won at this distance. A definite contender.
EWC’s representative is Bulbous, a daughter of Hurricane Run out of Pacific Oil Field, a stakes winning son of Gone West. Bulbous has won half of her four starts for jakplummer, never finishing off the board. Last time out, she won a 6 1/2 furlong stakes going wire to wire with a 76 SF. Main concern with her is that she seems to live or die on the lead, but the distance should not be a problem.
On the outside post is the Kentucky Horsemen’s Computer Animation, who is the second filly by Zabeel in the field. She is out of the winning Kingmambo mare Ghost Image, and has raced only once, winning at 6 furlongs with a 72 SF. Showed no difficulty in that effort and looks to take another step forward for trainer/breeder greenapple.
Good luck to the contestants and their connections!