Sand Castle Turf Sprint
Showers are expected in Dubai this weekend and that means that off-track conditions will be prevalent for the G1 Sand Castle Turf Sprint race. The race is open to all horses age 4 and up and will be contested on the turf at a distance of 6 furlongs. A one million dollar purse is up for grabs and a full field of 14 will go to post. Three horses that have entered are already have earned over $1 million and there are two fillies entered, both are included in the millionaire club.
1. Boismyhero 7-1
Three of Boismyhero’s last four races in 2012 notched speeds of 113 or higher, coming in the Hungry Ford (G3, finished 2nd) and wins in the Central Park Stakes (G2) and The Challenger (G2). However, things came apart in the G1 King Kong Spirit where he finished in the rear of the field and the speed number dropping to 100. In January, a third place finish was scored in the non-grade Grand Design Turf. Boismyhero, the son from Pulpit, has been resting in the barn for the past two months and makes the return to the grade level with hopes of boosting the speed after the rest. Still, may need a start to tone things up.
2. Nicholas the Great 6-1
From September 2012 to January 2013, Nicholas the Great won 5 consecutive races on the turf and saw the streak come to an end last month when switching to the dirt. The dirt run was a good fourth with an even better speed of 111. This son from Lake George returns to the turf to make his first grade level start. His win streak included wins in the non-grade Terrant Turf Sprint (116 speed) , Spaz Attack Turf Special (115 SP), Elk Siefert Turf Spirnt (108 SP) and Rock River Green Turf Sprint (110 SP). The speed numbers are solid and will be competive in this field. Nicholas the Great loves to run on the lead and will be fighting right to the wire.
3. Kaze Star 11-1
Sired by Sea The Stars, Kaze Star is a two time grade winner. The two wins came at the age of two in the Jimcrack (G2) and the Stubenville (G3). Kaze Star has had a long drought in the win column as the Stubenville win came in November 2011 and it wasn’t until this past February, at the age of four, that he would revisit the winner’s circle. That win came in the non-grade level Super Jack Turf Challenge where he claimed the victory by producing a career best speed of 113. Performance has been on the improve for Kaze Star since December with a win and two seconds and an elevation in the speed numbers. Returns to grade level for first time since September and is ready to be a STAR again.
4. Skylusive 24-1
Skylusive is out of Elusive Quality and has strong bloodlines with Storm Cat and Unbridled as DS and DSS. He has won four out of 21 career starts but has been winless in stake company. Skylusive will be making his first appearance in the graded level and this comes after charting a career high speed of 105 which came in the Shuhei Turf Sprint where he charged hard late and missed the win by a mere head. He is an outsider and hitting speeds at 100 or higher aren’t consistent. However, he has performed well on a wet track and that could work to his advantage.
5. Author of Pain 7-1
Author of Pain has started an interesting racing pattern of late. Starting in October, 2012, he has recorded speeds of 110 or more every other start. In February, he won the G2 Cool Lightning, his first grade win, with a speed of 110. Last month, in the G1 New Market Handicap, he brought the lead into the stretch but was overtaken and faltered back into fifth resolving to a speed of 104. Sired by Authorized, this brown horse likes to run on the front end and if the current race pattern continues into this race, there could be a new career best speed number produced for this five year old.
6. Angel’s From Above 17-1
This will be Antel’s From Above second grade race appearance. The first came last November in the Ascot Vail where he was closing hard late and finished fourth, equaling his best speed of 107. He has a pair of wins on the wet track which includes one in the non-grade Out of Control Turf Sprint. Angel’s From Above had an easy win in his last start, an allowance race winning by two strides. With six wins and four places in thirteen starts, this child from Lemon Drop Kid is usually in the money but will have a tougher task in this race and will need to be in peak form with this group.
7. Esterhazy Castle 9-1
Esterhazy Castle is one of two mares in this race and is one of three horses that have exceeded in $1 million in earnings. She is a four-time grade winner with victories in the Boon Turf (G3), Scuzzy South (G3), Chasing Carl (G3) and the MGD Special (G1). After picking up the G1 win last August, Esterhazy Castle has not earned another win despite a career best of 113 speed which came in the prestigious Breeders’ Bowl Turf Sprint and a solid second. This daughter of Giants’ Causeway usually puts in a strong late run, however, does have a tendency to disappoint. She has finished in the back of the field in two of her last three, but it’s been a long time since she’s had a bad streak longer than this.
8. Duncan Street 25-1
Duncan Street is a four year colt out of Afleet Alex. He is making his debut at the graded level and has one non-grade stake win which came last October in the Galileo Seeking Turf Memorial. In this race, he wired a small field and fought off the favorite to win by half a stride and a career best speed of 107. This was the last race that Duncan Street won and he finds a tough field to face in his first attempt at capturing a grade win. Hard to see this one getting the job done unless he finds the expressway.
9. Horse Ball And Run 9-1
Since November, Horse Ball and Run has won two grade level races. The first came in the G2 Because I Said So which he won by a length and an echoing 116 speed. Last month, he picked up his first G1 victory by thundering home with a late rush in the New Market Handiap with a 109 speed being recorded. Horse Ball and Run is sired by Kitten’s Joy and has won eight out of 18 starts. L. Radzinski will be aboard for the third consecutive race and has done incredibly well with this horse. This million dollar purse winner is capable of making this a second straight G1 level win.
10. Fuzzy Sweater 16-1
The four year old Fuzzy Sweater makes his first start in graded company since being a 2-year old. Last June, he won the non-grade Rain Burst Turf Dash by three strides and a speed of 104, his only career stake win. In four of his last five starts, all non-grade stakes, he finished second four times and averaged a speed of 104 over the duration. The son of Oasis Dream likes to be near the front and his chances increase the closer he can stay ahead of others. Speed numbers are competitive in non-grade company and he could notch things up a bit with this group and may be a surprise factor.
11. Days To Come 19-1
This five time stake winner will be taking his second shot at the graded level. Just shy of a year ago, Days to Come ran in the Vic-20 Sprint (G3) and finished last after an uncompetitive outing. He enters this race after going to the dirt for the first time and picking up a respectful third. The swing back to the turf could spark this Giant’s Causeway son as he was on the board in three of four prior grass outings, including his most recent win in December which came in the Cronus Turf Sprint. He is capable of hitting speeds up to 110, which is his career best that was delivered in January, 2012 in the Five Grouse Turf Challenge, one of his five stake wins. If he can pull off a race like that again, an upset could go his way.
12. Arnoldtown 8-1
Arnoldtown is the only offspring out of U S Ranger to win a grade level event. He has a high win percentage with 16 trips to the winner’s circle in the 27 races this five-year old has competed within. He’s only appeared three times with grade company and his sole win was in the G3 Umbria last November, charting a 107 speed. He repeated this speed number in the G1 King Kong Sprint, where he was third and again in January in an allowance race he won. In February, he equaled a personal best with a 109 and another win at the allowance level. This front running speedster has a valid opportunity to gain a G1 win here as he is in great form.
13. Midnight Strike 8-1
2012 was a very good year for Midnight Strike who earned a pair of graded wins in the Las Vegas Handicap (G3, SP 112) and the CVBear’s Hometown Turf (G2) where she hit a career mark of 115. She is one of two mares in this race and has in excess of $1 million in earnings. She wrapped up 2012 on a good note finishing second in a pair of G1 races, the Fujimoto Turf Sprint and King Kong Sprint, both speeds of 110. After taking time off in the winter, she has been flashing good form in a pair of non-grade stakes, a second in the Silver Pump Turf Mare Sprint (SP 105) and a win in the Highland Fling Turf Mare (SP 108). Midnight Strike is the daughter of Smart Strike and is a gal who likes to be on the front end and should not be taken lightly.
14. Kitten Mitten 10-1
A stunning effort was put in by Kitten Mitten as he broke through the 100-speed barrier in grand style this past August, winning a mile allowance race with an eye popping 113 speed. He was immediately put to the test to see if he could hold this level of speed by running in the G2 Big Europe Mile. He proved himself finishing second and a SP of 112. While this child out of Hussonet still seeks a grade level win, he did pick up his first stake victory in the Rock of Normandy Turf Challenge (SP 112) which was followed with a second in the Barbs Blue Jaimie Turf Sprint (SP 109). Lots of promise in this guy and he’ll be waiting in mid-field ready to strike.
There’s quite a bit of speed in this race and I think one of them will fend off the stalkers and closers. So I’m looking at Nicholas the Great. Arnoldtown another speedster who I think will be battling to the end is my second selection. Horse Ball and Run is a very nice closer and has good track record of being on the board, third choice.