Equinics – The Curragh
Six furlongs
Firm Turf
$1,000,000
All horses, 2 years old
1 119735 FANSYMBOL(JPN) reminder P Wright 18/1
2 58923 WINTER FROST(ENG) super25 T Small 7/1
3 25351 SALTIRE GOTH(IRE) bluerfc J Sumpter 63/1
4 4498 ARTISANAL(ENG) shagfarms7 J Piotrowski 11/1
5 75510 NEVER BEEN AWARE(IRE) eminc3 K Ledwith 16/1
6 182557 EL DE HAACK(IRE) haackslew B Tate 11/1
7 130742 KASH IS KING(KY) lenny15 L Buchta 17/1
8 37514 STRIKETIF(LA) adschus07 S L Ledwith 24/1
9 139759 NEXTCROSS(IRE) simarticle D Evans 10/1
10 47915 SUSHI SUSHI(AUS) tazbred H Harzheim 6/1
11 114375 YARDBIRD(ENG) atcgift J Ackland 14/1
12 172631 OIL COMES FIRST(KY) tao J Stivers 14/1
13 1706 DEATHS DOMINION(IRE) potlimit J Benisz 16/1
14 134954 SLICK NICK(IRE) kyclocker4 T Schulthess 20/1
15 45937 STARRING THE SKUNK(IRE) beenskunkd P Harzheim 10/1
16 116623 STORM POUR(IRE) ladyssecre B Child 21/1
17 76559 MR POSTMAN(JPN) lamia T Loesch 19/1
18 132275 ELITE DIMAGGIO(IRE) eliteracng G Harmon 11/1
Last, but not least on this Equinics card is the Curragh for juveniles and it brings a wonderful betting opportunity. Run at six furlongs on turf, there are only two colts that are in the single digit odds, with the lowest being 6/1. For the most part, these youngsters are evenly matched so trying to pick out a definite winner is going to be tough. And as juvenile races go, anything can happen. Here’s a look at the field:
1. Fansymbol(JPN) – Symboli Kris S x Dixieland Band x Lear Fan
Representing Minnesota Downs, this colt is a stakes winner out of a dam that is a Grade 1 winner on dirt. In the Railway (GIII), he was in with some tough company and couldn’t hit the board, but hopefully that was a learning experience and can progress back to his stakes winning form from two races back. He should be running around the middle of the pack and this should bode well for him considering there is a lot of speed in this race.
2. Winter Frost(ENG) – Dansili x Kingmambo x Seattle Slew
This colt, representing DelPenn, is an allowance winner with some nice speed figures. Last time out he got a career high 85 which puts him with the leaders of this group in terms of speed figures. It seems he does his best when stalking the leaders so that’s where I would expect him to be.
3. Saltire Goth(IRE) – Manduro x Cacique X Rahy
The longest shot on the board, this hope of the Saltire Racing is a maiden winner. He is coming off a long layoff so maybe this is all he needs to spring an upset. If the race falls apart on the front end, I can see this juvenile possibly picking up the pieces late in the exotics.
4. Artisanal(ENG) – Oasis Dream x Rahy x Machiavellian
The only maiden in the field, he had a strong debut last time out. Comedy Central’s runner does have the speed figures up there with the top runners in this race and his dam is a stakes winner on dirt. There is a lot of upside to Artisanal, but his lack of experience and front running style might prove too much.
5. Never Been Aware(IRE) – Sea The Stars x Red Ransom x Capote
Midas’s runner is already a graded winner and out of stakes winner mare. His speed figures keep improving and he is a fresh horse coming off a layoff. He has done nothing wrong so far and seems to do his best running on the front end. The question is, can he hold on?
6. El De Haack(IRE) – Sea The Stars x Kingmambo x Nijinsky II
Hispano Parlante’s runner is a maiden winner coming off a second place in an allowance. His dam was a turf sprinter. His running style should suit this race well and I’m expecting him to come from behind.
7. Kash Is King(KY) – Arch x Silver Ghost x Seattle Slew
Representing GR Simsters, this colt is half-brother to a graded winner and two other winners. He improved in his graded stakes debut last time out and has gotten a breather since. He should be running with the leaders.
8. Striketif(LA) – Interactif x Smart Strike x Rainbow Quest
The lone local bred in the field, this Testbarn Residency entry is stakes placed. In his stakes debut, he stalked the pace and was a good second to Fansymbol(JPN), only losing by a quarter length. Coming off a two month layoff, hopefully he can fire back to his previous form.
9. Nextcross(IRE) – Cape Cross x Curlin x Storm Cat
Nextcross is coming into this race on a hot three race win streak, including two stakes wins. This Yoss representative in each of his races has faced small fields where he’s raced mid pack so this full field of 18 will be a big test for him. His speed figures keep on improving and he’s right up there in terms of speed figures.
10. Sushi Sushi(AUS) – Redoute’s Choice x Kingmambo x Seattle Slew
The favorite in the field, has won two consecutive stakes races with speed figures of 84 each. What makes this Universal Racing Club’s colt special is he went from a third place in his debut maiden race, to a stakes win in his next start. His running style dictates he should be stalking the leaders so hopefully his talent can overcome the traffic jam that may be looming up front.
11. Yardbird(ENG) – Makfi x Any Given Saturday x Danehill
This son of Makfi is maiden winner out of a stakes winning dam. In his debut two races out, the track came up on good and he finished second. In next start the Queensland entrant caught firm turf and sure liked it because he improved significantly. I think his running style is perfect for this race and I am expecting him to be running mid pack and waiting to pick up the pieces late.
12. Oil Comes First(KY) – First Samurai x Unbridled’s Song x Seattle Slew
East-West Connection’s hopeful is an allowance winner and he’s two for two since switching to turf. He’s based on The Oil Rules All(KY) who is a multiple Grade 1 winner on turf who participated in Equinics in 2010. He draws outside of a lot of speed so he’ll have plenty of room to settle back in the rear, relax, and close.
13. Deaths Dominion(IRE) – Dylan Thomas x Kingmambo x Unbridled’s Song
Empire State Racing’s entry is maiden winner on dirt and stakes placed on turf. He had a good effort in the Triple P (GIII) and only lost by a quarter length coming from behind. Keeps getting better in every race and this race sets up good for closers.
14. Slick Nick(IRE) – Rip Van Winkle x Theatrical x Gone West
Slick Nick is maiden winner from Kentucky Horsemen. Development wise, he has some catching up to compared to much of the field. He’ll have to be quicker than the other stalkers if he doesn’t want to be shuffled back. Interestingly, his dam Stage Coach Slew(IRE) won a silver medal in the 2006 Equinics. Can he bring home another medal for the family?
15. Starring The Skunk(IRE) – Sea The Stars x Kingmambo x Seattle Slew
Sea The Stars’s third runner in the race is a stakes winner from Blazing Saddles. His dam participated in Equinics in 2010. He has a tough task ahead of him though. This speedster will have to fire from the gate and cross the field in order to get to the lead and have enough stamina to hold on.
16. Storm Pour(IRE) – Pour Moi x Storm Cat x Southern Halo
Representing Vermont, Storm Pour is coming off a maiden win and two month layoff. His speed figures put him at the bottom of this field, but he looks like a colt who would appreciate some time to mature considering his dam was a better runner later in her career. Hopefully the time off and his running style will help him.
17. Mr Postman(JPN) – King Kamehameha x War Emblem x Freud
Mr Postman comes of a grade III win in The Triple P and a career best speed figure. He’s tracked the leaders in each of races and has never been off the board. This City-Race Rhein-Main Turf Club runner has the most experienced in terms of races. He’s already run five times this year and if he’s not burnt out, he should have an edge over the less seasoned runners.
18. Elite Dimaggio(IRE) – Rock of Gibraltar x Sadler’s Wells x Dynaformer
Northwest Racing Circuit’s maiden winning colt rounds out the field. This frontrunner is coming off a win and has been ultra-consistent with his times. He does have a lot to overcome coming from the 18 hole and will have to make a quick, clean break for the front in order to not get stuck in traffic.
Good luck to all!