Big Race Preview 2671

Just three grade I races on tap this week. Victoria hosts all three of the long turf races that will see some top runners including a Breeder’s Bowl winner. The week may be short but does not lack for quality.

Race: 2671.5315 Coxless Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

Turning Japanese and Top Jimmy share favoritism in one of the premier mile and a quarter races in the sim. Turning Japanese is fresh off her second romp at the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Distaff. It has been just two weeks but she appears to be in the best form of her four year old season. Turning Japanese’s deep closing style could leave her vulnerable to runners that sit closer to the pace plus she is taking on the boys.

Top Jimmy loves this distance with two career wins including the grade I Windy City Turf Classic. Top Jimmy is a deep closer like his fellow co favorite so this could set up for a fantastic finish. The early pace here could be supplied by Causes Wood (IRE). He has shown the ability to set and hold onto the pace in these type events although he has not faced runners of this caliber before.

Golden Bridle is getting some respect despite the fact he is unproven at this distance. New Storm is a grade II winner at this distance, on a two race win streak and like the favorites he will be coming from off the pace. Doggie Walacki is coming in off a disappointing effort in the Ark but prior to that he was as fast as any runner in this field at this distance.

Like a Porcupine finally seemed to take a step forward last time out. He was the winner of the Bargain Bowl Juvenile Turf in 2004 and has yet to live up that potential. He looks like he might be putting things together after a tough three year old season.    

Race: 2671.5316 DUR VICTORIAN DERBY – 3rd Leg Triple Crown – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

Jupiter’s Moons (IRE) leads this solid field of three year old turf runners. Jupiter has been running in the shadow of stand out three year old Horseshoe Bay most of the year. Last time out he scored a huge win in the Canada Turf Cup going gate to wire against older runners in a big way. He skipped the Breeder’s Bowl Turf and aimed for this race. He looks like an almost lock in this spot whether he goes to the lead or not.

Careless is s late comer to the three year old turf scene. His last three races were on turf and are his first three career turf races. He has looked solid with a couple of allowance wins and a second in the GSR Derby. His running style and speed figures suggest he is a runner that can do well in this spot.

Rapid Grey is a three year old on the rise. He is fresh off a win in the grade I GSR Derby. He has come along nicely over the summer moving up through the ranks. He poses a real threat to Jupiter’s Moons if he is not on his game today.

Savage Frontier could have been eligible to run in the Bargain Bowl Turf but opted to give this grade I a try. He has earned checks at this level and has a grade III win at this distance but seems a notch below the favorites. 
 
Race: 2671.5314 DUR VICTORIAN OAKS – 3rd Leg Triple Tiara – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Victoria
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

La Pata Daisy leads this Oaks field. With top three year old turf filly still on the line La Pata Daisy needs to do well here. She is coming out of the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Distaff where she did not compete well. She is back to a distance that probably suits her best. Her speed figures are not eye popping but she has not had to be real flashy scoring all the wins she has scored this year.

Aragon Bull has been keeping company with La Pata Daisy over the summer and looks to be a threat here. She has been running solid speed figures and does not look all that far behind La Pata Daisy. I’m sure the connections here were hoping for an off surface but no such luck. Bonersaur is one of the favorites here but when you look at her past performances it looks as though she is clearly below the top two. The thing to like with Bonersaur is she won a stakes last time out at a little longer distance and could show some improvement cutting back a bit.

Two runners sit at 8/1 and 9/1 and they look like dangerous runners. Gone Off Sake has been running top notch speed figures for this division and is the winner of the second leg of this series. In her first start off a layoff last time out she was not up to speed but with that run under her belt she may be ready to get back to a top level that will put her in the hunt. Publik Enemy has been doing it on the front end and that makes her dangerous. She has run solid speed figures and been very close in her last two races both stakes tries.