Breeder’s Bowl 2005 Recap

Another incredible day of Sim racing is in the books and there was nothing but excitement all day long. Several year end awards were probably secured this week and in some cases the vote just got a whole lot tougher.   

Race: 2657.0415 Breeders Bowl Classic – Grade I – $4,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt

Call of the Wild II put the finishing touches on one hell of a year. To be nearly three lengths better than these runners was extremely impressive. A couple of three year olds, Fly for Buda and Macho Niner, disputed the early pace. Call of the Wild II stalked comfortably about three lengths off the early pace. As the action heated up around the far turn Call of the Wild II moved up and quickly assumed the lead in early stretch drawing off to an impressive two and three quarter length win.

Wonderboy Cougar (IRE) has finished behind the winner in three of his last five races. Wonderboy Cougar (IRE) was well placed early next to Call of the Wild II but could not match strides with the winner in the stretch. Wonderboy Cougar (IRE) was second just ahead of third place Macho Niner. Macho Niner disputed the early pace and took over on the backside. He lead until early stretch and battled on pretty gamely finishing nearly three lengths better than the fourth place finisher.

The results mean Call of the Wild II has a very good chance at Horse of the Year and he probably wrapped up older dirt horse honors with this victory. Horse of the Year will be a tight vote in my opinion. Even though Call of the Wild II does not have the graded wins his competitors will have he has won the sim’s two richest races in the same year.

Race: 2657.0414 Breeders Bowl Turf – Grade I – $2,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

Horseshoe Bay conquered a field of future sim legends. After his last race lots of rumors swirled about his conditioning. His connections were even thinking of passing on this event. They stayed with the plan and it paid off in a huge way.

Rain God was forwardly placed early in second behind the head strong Militant. Sunnybank Memorial was toward the back about ten lengths off the pace. Horseshoe Bay was near the back keeping company with Allied Assault more than sixteen lengths back. At the half way point Rain God assumed the lead and the other big names started moving forward.

Horseshoe Bay looked strong at this point making up ground and at fairly quick and steady pace. In the stretch he picked up the pace even more blowing by runners one by one to win by three lengths. Rain God held his ground well against everyone but the winner holding second a length and a half in front of third place surprise A Rub of Irish. Sunnybank Memorial was fourth, Bristol Rovers, fifth and Allied Assault sixth.

Horseshoe Bay is probably the front runner for Horse of the Year, three year old, and turf horse honors. It also will put his trainer up for trainer of the year honors.    

Race: 2657.0413 Breeders Bowl Distaff – Grade I – $2,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance:  A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Swift Kick was indeed sitting on a big race as she ran the fastest speed figure of the day winning the Distaff by one length. Her 118 speed figure was huge and could not have come at a better time. The three year olds dominated this race capturing the first seven places, confirming that this class of three year old fillies may be one of the best in the sim history.

Empire Reef jumped out early throwing down a quick pace for the others to chase. Swift Kick stalked not too far off in third place early on while Storm Shaft was mid pack almost ten lengths back. Empire Reef held the lead until early stretch when Swift Kick took over. Swift Kick though was not in the clear as Storm Shaft was closing ground pretty quickly. Swift Kick was kept to the task at hand and held off Storm Shaft by one length under the wire. This was the fastest Breeders Bowl Distaff every run with a time of 1:46 2/5.

Storm Shaft was a fast closing second, Empire Reef held third. The best finish by an older mare was Squal is a Storm who finished eighth.

Swift Kick might have forced her was into Horse of the Year consideration with this win. She is clearly the best three year old dirt filly. The older filly and mare dirt champion could very well be Squal is a Storm despite her not running in the top three here.

Race: 2657.0412 Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three eighths on the Turf

Turning Japanese successfully defended her title. The older fillies and mares spanked the three year olds in this race.  A Gold City set the early pace but this was a day for the closers. Near the back of the pack you had Turning Japanese, Grand Caffreys (IRE) and Kirshna (IRE). These three runners closed nearly in tandem running down all front runners in the stretch. Turning Japanese was going the best and out closed Grand Caffreys (IRE) for the win.

Turning Japanese was a length and three quarters clear of Grand Caffreys and three and a half lengths clear of Krishna (IRE) who finished third. Devil’s Slide was the top placing three year old with a fourth place finish five and a half behind the winner.

Turning Japanese makes a strong case for older turf filly of the year. Three year old turf filly got more difficult with Devils Slide and La Pata Daisy your top candidates.

Race: 2657.0411 Breeders Bowl Sprint – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Six furlongs on the Dirt

Casterly Rock (IRE) looked great prior to the race and ran great today scoring a very impressive length and a quarter victory. This was a pretty good collection of sprinters making this win pretty special.

Atakachaw set a fast pace and determined pace with Casterly Rock (IRE) sitting if fifth position not too far back. Entering the stretch Atakachaw shook loose from the field but that was short lived as Casterly Rock (IRE) turned up the heat. Atakachaw lasted deep into the stretch before Casterly Rock (IRE) over took him. Casterly Rock had run left finishing up strong.

Atakachaw held second from The Tool Man who was moving up in the end. One in a Million II was fourth.

Casterly Rock (IRE) sis the likely front runner for top sprinter now even though Navy Man put together a very good streak in the early part of the year.

Race: 2657.0410 Breeders Bowl Mile – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

Mizzen Dizzie threw down the early pace and did not let up scoring a most impressive wire to wire victory. This was a pretty strong field of turf milers although the top runner over the summer Orange Swirl was not present.

Mizzen Dizzie was unchallenged early as she built up a near four length lead early. She drew away even more around the turn for home leading by nearly six lengths as she coasted home through the stretch never being threatened winning by two lengths. I Am Scheming put in a pretty impressive closing kick in the stretch closing up quite a bit of ground. Scheming found him self all out in the end to hold off Xtremely A Fan for the place. Xtremely A Fan was third Tern of the Wheel also closing well to get fourth.

Race: 2657.0409 Breeders Bowl Juvenile – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

Half a World Away broke the best and wired this field. With no real challenge to his early speed he was able to put enough distance between him and the closers to never really be threatened in the stretch. Black Clown stalked and moved up in the stretch to get second. Heaven’s Door closed from way down town to get the show in an impressive effort.

Race: 2657.0408 Breeders Bowl Juvenile Filly – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt

Pro Dubai closed from the clouds and just held off another deep closer by less than a length to score the win here. Sitting well back early Pro Dubai closed with a flourish. She got the lead near the top of the stretch but had to dig in to hold off No Apagues La Luz by three quarters of a length. Third went to Forty Red who closed from second last to get the show.    

Race: 2657.0407 Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf – Grade I – $750,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Turf

Always Improving lived up to his name scoring an impressive but slow victory. Always Improving did not have to go real fast to score a two and a quarter length victory with just an 88 speed figure. Very Silver closed from well back to get the place over the favored Pub Crawl (IRE). Pub Crawl (IRE) looked prominent at the top of the stretch but could not go with the winner and lost the place in deep stretch.

Race: 2657.0406 Breeders Bowl Juvenile Turf Filly – Grade I – $750,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance:  A mile and one sixteenth on the Turf

This was probably the closest race of the day. The favorite Super Gold just did not have it today and that left the door open for Jaca, Vindictive Force, and Carson Touch (NZ). Carson Touch (NZ) was uncontested on the early lead. She was nearly three lengths clear entering the stretch and held her ground stubbornly. Jaca was stalking near mid pack and needed that slight jump on the deep closer Vindictive Force. As Jaca reached pace setting Carson Touch (NZ) Vindictive Force was on her heels as these three finished within three quarters lengths of each other. Jaca got the win, Vindictive Force the place and Carson Touch (NZ) the show.