Japan Sprint Attracts Battle Dream, 11 Others
Big-money racing is no stranger to Japan’s race course, and this Saturday is no exception, with a trio of huge-money graded stakes races heading the card. One of these is the Japan Sprint, a Grade 3 race with a purse of $750k. Run at 6 furlongs on the turf, the race has attracted three BB Turf Sprint runners looking to make amends for their poor efforts in that race, including top-ranked BATTLE DREAM.
Three quarters of a million… Nice little “consolation prize”, huh?
In addition to the BB Turf runners, nine others are here after that big money. Should be a good one; let’s have a look at this bunch.
SHEIK DJIBOUTI traveled halfway around the world last time out to try the best in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Sprint last time out after a pair of Grade 1 wins, but flopped pretty badly. So what does goofball owner rackme32 do? He sends his 4th-ranked turf sprinter across the Pacific to do battle with top sprinters again! Going off as the 5/1 2nd choice in the betting, the Rock Of Gibraltar runner needs to prove whether that BB Turf failure was a fluke or not.
GENERAL’S SON is a 4yo Danehill Dancer colt from “she-mare” General’s Chariot, winner of over $5 million in the Sim racing wars. He’s won a Grade 3 and almost $700k himself, and looks for the big payday here for proudtruth at 8/1. His closing rush will need to be reckoned with if he can fire his best shot.
MINED was seen in a $30k claimer back in April, but not claimed from digginin. Good thing for him… His 3yo Came Home colt has won 4 of 6 since, including a small stakes win in his most recent effort. Now he takes on the big boys, and will have to run the race of his life to beat those 22/1 odds.
TOPSTOP is an interesting one… The Husson colt has only raced in a sprint once, and that was in 2010. He did run 2nd that day, and it was a Grade 2. Since then, the arthurs trainee has been fed a solid 2-turn diet, mostly graded stakes and often with good results. Who knows? He may get outrun by a furlong or he might win at friendly 10/1 odds…
MY REDEMPTION is a semi-veteran of the claim-race wars, being run for a tag twice last year and claimed both times. Since the last claim (by doombie) the Dylan Thomas runner has been a solid allowance runner, winning several times at that level. He has tried stakes races, being somewhat competitive in minor stakes but falling well short in a couple of graded-stakes efforts. He goes off at 13/1 here and will need a superlative effort to have a shot vs. these.
BATTLE DREAM needs little introduction to Sim fans, but just in case… This 4yo Dansili colt is currently ranked #1 in the Turf Sprint division and possesses a closing rush that is hard to deny. Trained by tigereyes, he seems to prefer 7 furlongs but he has shown a few strong runs at this distance in the past, including a strong 2nd in this race last year. Hopes to make amends for his 5th-place run as the favorite in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Sprint last time out and tries to go over the $4-million mark. He’s the favorite again, at 7/2.
ATOMIC STORM has been right in the hunt in almost every race he’s tried since he was brought back to sprinting by trainer monologue. A 4yo son of Teofilo out of a stakes-winning Storm Cat sim-mare, this guy could very well win here at 10/1 if he can repeat the effort he did in winning the Grade 3 Orange Tree Stakes in July.
PIONEER PARK makes the trip across the pond from a poor outing in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Sprint and tries to return to the form that got him a pair of Graded wins in his two previous runs for socalman. His just-off-the-leaders running style might work well for him at 8/1.
STOCK MARKET came up huge when he won the Grade 3 Mr. Salinger Stakes last time out, and ashado hopes he can cash in big again with his After Market 5-year-old. This guy is a bit inconsistent, but gets some respect from the CPU with 8/1 odds. Watch out for a huge run down the lane if this guy decides to fire.
INVINCIBLEKINDNESS is a 5yo son of Invincible Spirit trained by hkrclebow. He has a strong allowance run over this course a couple starts back, but has rarely been competitive with graded-stakes company and the 15/1 longshot will need to have a great day to deal with these.
S R GIANTS has one graded-stakes win on his record, but his four starts since that win have left a bit to be desired. A 4yo son of little-used Irish sire Key Of Luck trained by lordpye3, he’ll need a turnaround to contend with this bunch at 13/1; his last pair of allowance tries were encouraging, however.
QUITE A CHUCKLE has had a lot of close misses with strong speed figures lately, and needs to find that extra oomph needed to pull off wins at this level. The Bernardini colt, trained by ck2stable, is versatile in running style and has a good shot at this if things fall his way. He’s the 7/1 third choice in the wagering.
Well, well, well… After carefully looking at the PP’s, consulting my shrink, having my palm read, I have decided that the race is most likely to fall this way… I think, maybe, kinda…
SHEIK DJIBOUTI seems primed to make amends for his BB Turf failure and is my top choice… Of course, he’s also the star of my own stables… Take this pick with a grain of salt.
Top-ranked BATTLE DREAM is capable of starting his rush a bit earlier, and could very well catch my top choice.
PIONEER PARK should be close to the pace early on, and should be able to get part of the big money.
Good luck to everyone entered!