Preview – Spring Cup
Preview – Spring Cup
Eleven marathoners are set to do battle in the Spring Cup-G1. The filed includes no less than five grade 1 winners, and five millionaires. As one might expect, the handicappers had a difficult time sorting this bunch out, with the favorite going off at 4/1, and the long shot a mere 13/1.
Cahskinggo’s Delta Clause was second last time out in the Ackland Cup-G1, unable to reel in the magnificent mare Magniforma, who opened up 8 3/4 lengths on the rest of the field and never looked back. Still, Delta Clause posted a 114 SF, and was clearly best of the rest. Magniforma is not here, much to the delight of this six year old’s connections. The son of Delta Blues won the Longchamp Marathon-G1 two starts back. The Ackland was his belated seasonal debut, and the big bay should move forward with that tightener under his belt.
Co-second choices are daniel6’s Opera Camazotz and super’s Parallel Line. Opera Camzotz is the youngster in the field, at only four years old, and has won six of 14 starts to date. The son of T.M. Opera O likes to go to the lead, and was most recently third in the Stayer’s Dash-G2 at this track. Winner of the Italian and Vicky Derbies-G1 at three, I’m not entirely sure he wants two miles, but if he can get loose on an easy lead, look out. His best efforts fit in well with this group. Parallel Line looked sharp last fall, reeling off three straight graded victories, but struggled a little at the beginning of this season. The five year old looked like his old self last out when a closing second in the South Australian Cup-G1, when he also was unable to reel in Magniforma. Has a 3-2-1-0 record over an off track, which should only help.
Next in the odds is Hannabaa, last seen in the Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic-G1. He rallied belatedly for fifth, but is best known as a slop specialist, where he has a record of 6-3-1-1, and bankrolled $1,006,680 of his $1,087,751. So, ignore this flurgen3 trainee over a wet surface at your peril.
Joysis is another four year old in the field, and is taking a step up in both distance and class for jellybeans. Still, the lightly raced colt sports a 7-5-0-1 record, and won a listed stakes with a 113 SF. The Kitten’s Joy grey has won at 12 furlongs, but whether he’ll get two miles against this group is a question mark. That said, he still has room to improve.
At 9/1 are zwhisper’s Fox of Westwood and fpv’s El Samurai. El Samurai was second behind Delta Clause in the Longchamp Marathon-G1, but has struggled since, finishing off the board in four starts. The King Kamehameha horse needs to turn things around here, and the off track may be just what the doctor ordered, as he is 3-2-0-1 over an off track. Fox of Westwood is another four year old in the field, and in his prior start, led most of the way before having to settle for second in the Nikki Show-G2 at 13 furlongs. He has been on the board in all three of his starts over an offtrack, and is a rapidly improving sort. The former claimer has strung together four straight efforts where he has broken the 104 SF barrier, and is going about things the right way. The son of Shamardal is dangerously sneaky here.
Top dirt marathoner Gato Del Lago returns to the turf in this race. The mattress trainee has bankrolled over $2 million in his career, and while bred for the turf, Encosta de Lago x Storm Cat, the seven year old has not seen the lawn since 2009. He broke his maiden over that surface with a solid speed figure. If he can match his prowess over the main track to here, watch out. Clean Sweep Er is also at 11/1. The son of Distorted Humor is a homebred for trainer erracing. Was third behind Delta Clause in the Ackland Cup-G1, and most recently was second in a listed stakes at 13 furlongs over an off-track. Seems to like the off going, but will have to step it up a notch against this bunch. Tough spot in which to seek his first graded stakes victory.
Shine On Through has been a constant in turf marathons over the last four years, winning this race in 2011, and finishing second in this race in 2010 and 2012. Last year, like this year, was over an off-track. Winner of more than $5 million, this veteran marathoner started to tale off at the end of last season and was given an extended break. In two starts his year, the son of Bel Esprit has struggled, and there is a concern that his best days may be behind him. If he can rally to his old form, it certainly would be a popular win by the fans, and a nice payday for anyone who backs him.
Lot Kapuaiwa is the relative outsider at 13/1, but he is still a nice horse in his own right. Winner of 7 of 17 starts, the second son of King Kamehameha in the field has won a listed stakes, and posted speed figures of 101 or better in his last three starts. Still, this is definitely a class test for the zarstc trainee, as he has not threatened in two prior graded stakes attempts.
Good luck to the horses and their connections!