Past Winners Clash in Cougar Bite Classic
Preview – Cougar Bite Classic
An even dozen have answered the call to the post for this year’s edition of the Cougar Bite Classic. The starters include the winners of four of the last five runnings of this race. Many in this field are confirmed front runners, which should make for a wicked early pace, and may give the edge to the stalkers and closers in this race. The field, by order of entry points, is as follows:
Brilliant Notation (Editor’s Note x Accelerator)
Mtkelite’s‘ gallant warrior is one of the most accomplished in the field, and loves this race. With a good showing here, the chocolate hued horse could top the half million mark in earnings. He began his career on the dirt, finishing third in the Bargain Classic three years ago, but found yet another gear when switched to the lawn. He won the Cougar Bite Classic two years ago, and skipped last years’ edition in favor of the Bargain Classic, where he finished fifth. Won the bargain bred Hunt Turf Cup earlier this year with a 102 SF, and prepped for this race with a third place effort and a 103 SF. Deep closer needs a lively pace to show his best, which he should get with Housefullofghosts and Al Centaine in the field, and definitely is still going strong at age six.
Housefullofghosts (Wharf x Wilde Rufo)
Lgbost4 made a good pickup with this guy three years ago. In his first start for his new connections, the leggy dark bay broke his maiden with a 90 SF, and has been a familiar sight on the bargain bred circuit ever since. The six year old has been knocking on the door in this particular race, having finished second, beaten a head by Brilliant Notation, two years ago, and then was third in last year’s edition. Unlike Brilliant Notation, this guy lives and dies on the lead, opening up big leads on the back side and more often than not, hanging on for a game victory. He’s won 12 of 41 races, and finished second another 10 times.
Ruleman (Deadly Storm x One Little Hustler)
This three year old takes on elders for the first time. Ruleman did some damage on the bargain bred circuit last year as a 2yo, winning the WInchester and finishing second in the Class Ack Juvenile. After faltering in the 100 Guineas, however, nwmktepsom gave his colt more than two months’ off. The colt responded with a win first time back with a 96 SF, and more recently, won a 9 furlong allowance with an 82 SF, and looked like he could go all day. The rangy chestnut will get the opportunity to prove just that this weekend. Several question marks, but no reason he can’t answer them positively.
Al Centaine (Al Samer x Centaine)
Last year’s winner is back to defend his title. Filou’s compact brown stallion broke sharply and never looked back. He has not seen the winner’s circle since. Part of that is due to a series of two month breaks, the first one in the summer, and another between his second place finish behind Ghost With A Heart in the Ten Lost Pyramids and his off the board showing in a 12 furlong stakes in October, and the third between that race and now. He does run well fresh, and his speed figures are competitive. The main knock against him is the presence of Housefullofghosts in the field, as this guy does his best when allowed to dictate the early pace. Still, he is capable of pulling off the repeat.
Ghost With A Heart (Sri Pekan x Wilde Rufo)
Plano8 has done well since acquiring this four year old. Stretched out to 11 furlongs, the colt posted a 94 SF in his first start, ran well in high priced claimers and starters before switching over to the Bargain Bred series. He won the Ten Lost Pyramids in August, won an allowance next out with a 103 SF, then faltered in the 12 furlong race two months ago. Runs well both on the lead and from a stalking position, which should serve him well in this race, and his speed figures are among the highest in the field. Lots to like about this guy, who will be making only his 20th start this weekend.
Key Address (Running Stag x Sri Pekan)
While many of his rivals faltered in the 12 furlong stakes back in October, this gunmetal grey thrived, winning by a decisive 2 3/4 lengths and posting a 103 SF in the process. He was a closing second in both the Ten Lost Pyramids and the Hunt Turf Cup this year, and posted a 106 SF in an unrestricted starter allowance in September. Lglong2oyy has a guy who positively loves 12 furlongs or longer, but is a deep closer, so is a bit more pace dependent at shorter distances. Either way, he’ll be flying late, and is a serious threat.
Ten Lost Pyramids (Tenpins x Pyramid Peak)
The grand daddy of them all, this nine year old is a hallmark of the Bargain Bred Series, running so long that there is a stakes named after him. While his best days are probably behind him, this game old campaigner is still competitive for curiostud. He won the Cougar Bite Classic in 2007 and 2008, was second in 2009, and third in 2010 before finishing off the board in last year’s edition. This year, he was third in the Ten Lost Pyramids, and isn’t quite ready to call it quits. In the course of his career, he has also won an open stakes and placed in several others. His earnings top $800,000, and he has been a familiar, and popular, sight in the Bargain Bred series. While he may not be bet down to favoritism, he is probably the crowd’s sentimental choice.
Celestial Key (Un Etendard x Key Pilgrim)
Knightstc sends his filly against the boys again. She is fresh off of an easy allowance score in Brazil over a short field. She is probably past her prime, which saw her finish third in this race back in 2009. The seven year old won the Vimes Turf Distaff two years ago. Her speed figures have been mostly in the high 80s of late, and that will need to change for her to challenge for a spot in the top three, but a game and classy campaigner on the Bargain Bred Circuit.
School Yard Prank (Pupil x Royal Anthem)
The second mare in the field, woftam3’s homebred won a cpu allowance in her first turf start of the year, posting a 94 SF in the process. She has not had much luck in two tries against these boys this year, finishing off the board in the Kings Thirteen and the Ten Lost Pyramids. She’s another who lives and dies on the lead, which, with several other frontrunners in the field, doesn’t set up a favorable pace scenario. If she could get back to that early season form, could be a threat, but this is probably a tall order, based on her last few races.
Sharp Quill (Dr Fong x Run Softly)
Colt has been knocking on the door in the Bargain Bred series, placing in two stakes as a juvenile, and in the 100 Guineas last year. In between, he’s been competitive in the allowance ranks, posting speed figures in the upper 90s, and even cracking the 100 SF mark. This year, he’s rallied for fifth in the Hunt Turf Cup and fourth in the Ten Lost Pyramids. This would have seemed to have set things up for the 12 furlong race back in October, as this guy looks like he is crying for longer, but he stumbled out of the gate and was never involved. Looks to make amends here, and should be flying late. The faster this field goes early, the better for hkbarfranc’s colt.
Silvano’s Bulsara (Silvano x Sportsworld)
Seal brown colt is another looking to improve after a disappointing effort in the October 12 furlong stakes. Marathoner has fit right in against allowance and claiming company, where he was first or second in five of six races. The misery trainee was fifth in the Kings Thirteen at 13 furlongs. Jockey needs to get him more involved early at this shorter distance.
Floor (Mon’s the Man x Dunbeath)
This light grey is the least experienced colt in the field. A recent acquisition by planobrgn2, the three year old won at first asking against claimers, then like many in this field, faltered in the 12 furlong stakes back in October. Lightly raced, and still capable of improvement, but like several others, he does his best running on the lead, which is going to lead to a fierce battle on the front end.
Good luck to all of the entrants and their connections!