BB Mile-placed I Am Scheming, specialist Preferred Power in Eclipse(G1)
Newmarket– Last week, ruby7’s Causes Wood(IRE) won the first half of the “twin” million-dollar 10f turf classics. Causes Wood(IRE) won the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Coxless Stakes from gate-to-post, upsetting Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff heroine Turning Japanese and Windy City Turf(G1) hero Top Jimmy.
This time around, we don’t have any big winners, but lots of spice, spunk, and rain, rain, rain! It’s the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Eclipse Stakes over a mighty 10 furlongs and the skies sure opened up — we have a yielding turf course…. yicky icky, rub-a-dub DUB!
Have no fear though! Plenty of heroes shall make up for the suds. We got BB Mile runner-up I Am Scheming and specialist Preferred Power who adores the mighty 10. It’s a full field to tackle the other half of the “twin” millions…….
Before we begin, here’s some Eclipse Stakes Trivia:
- New Blood Rules: Two sophomores have made this race the crown jewel of their seasons, Cougar Bite (2002) and Lizard’s Halo (2004)
- Hit The Snooze Button: Eclipse fields pretty much lack quality (except 2003)
- Richest Racehorse: Prospector Spend ($5.2m) struggled home as a 2003 also-ran
- Love Those Win Streakers: Horses coming off of confidence-boosting win(s) enjoy the Grade 1 step-up
- Only Champion: Western Groom, 2002 Sim Eclipse Champion Older Horse, missed the ’03 photo
- Curse Or Not? Alas, this race might be the winner’s only great achievement as is evidenced in past winners’ histories 🙁
Who shall add their name to the winner’s circle list? Let’s take a look at this year’s competitors……..
The Faves:
9/2 – I Am Scheming – kaif011: He chased Mizzen Dixie home in the Breeders Bowl Mile(G1). Greg had this Dixie Union 4YO like a whirlybird for that Mile runner-up effort. Gorgeous flat mile stalker-style finish after competing 9f to 11f for most of the summer (including 2nd in the Doomben(G1- 10T)). In the fall, the colt was a Grade 2 winner over 8.5f. Superbly talented and at the top of his game. Like all these other BB starters now making their follow-ups, the ‘Scheme must fire on 3 weeks rest after majorly difficult races. Hopefully he won’t bounce all over the board too. Loves the soggy stuff! *Knock on wood* with top jockey J Bradley aboard.
5/1 – Preferred Power – dshock: He’s earned over $1.2 million from 28 trips and really specializes in the classic-type distance. Sired by Pulpit, ‘Power’s been on his mark again this season, winning the Judgemont(G1) over 10.5f and he even finished 2nd to Sunnybank Memorial in the 11f Man O’War(G1). We saw him in action last month in Grade 3 company at Victoria and the big guy fuddled a bit, finishing out of the money. Very rare and puzzling effort by ‘Power. Let’s not write him off too soon — he’s serious class and can take down I Am Scheming — they’re pretty even. Should be in the thick of things or so lengths from the lead. Ranked th in the division, he’s gotta fire.
7/1 – A.P. Poll – n2racing: Back in his element after two straight schlackings versus miler company. Almost a crying shame — the Danzig son had won 4 straight prior to those mile races, including the Brown Fields(G3) over 9f. 😉 Well, ‘Poll makes his 30th start Saturday and he can get this distance. Good jockey in the irons hopes to steer ‘Poll from the back of the pack. Worthy of the spoiler role, but will need to rebound. As good a shot as any if he brings his A-game. Loves the rain.
In The Wings:
9/1 – Red Theatre(IRE) – phillipj: Another big-time closer in this Montjeu(IRE) son. The 4YO colt is a very good miler with some superb SP#s. He’s been in and out of the graded ranks without much luck though. This looks like a “shake-the-dice-in-the-can” kind of entry. He’s specializes in mile events, but got beat over 8.5f at the ALW level LTO. Can he handle the distance according to pedigree? Flip a coin or just pass.
9/1 – Horde Run A Foul(IRE) – pickindim: Nice to see a good Northern Spur(IRE)! This 4YO’s been hitting a pretty good groove of late, winning 3 of last 4. Zippy speedster has some guts too, withstanding early pace crunch. Laughed his way to a 108 SP# Grade 3 victroy earlier in the season. Effective 9f to 9.5f, but can he extend to 10? No reason not to. So-so jockey aboard and will have to run the frontrunner gauntlet. Live sleeper might throw the race of his life if he can do so. Must overcome post 13 too. Outside, but decent chance.
9/1 – Otto You Do It – gallorette: The solo filly in the field. By War Chant, we’ll call her mighty Eowyn! LOL. 🙂 and she can take down these Witch Kings too — very good between 9f and 10f. Fresh off of a GR Simsters-restricted score and can handle the boys with her late-closing kick. Probably best when she settles stalker-style though. Still green at 16 starts. Good spot for the gal. I don’t know if she can pull off the win, but maybe the board and that’d be very admirable. Outsider, but one to keep an eye on.
10/1 – Scoobis Zig – illrunbyu2: Sophomore speedster still green, but presents pure talent so far from 10 outings. Jump Start son out of a Danzig mare earned his ALW stripes over a mile in zippy time. He then proceeded to stakes ranks. Loads of class when winning over 8.5f black type company two back — he beat up a short field versus older horses wire-to-wire with a 106 SP#. Galloped strong, but weakened a spell down the lane in the Cherry Limb(G2) over 9f LTO. It was his 2nd try a graded company. Wil he enjoy the extra furlong, stretching his speed? One to watch at a great price.
10/1 – Nocandance – grammy198: Veteran El Corredor 5YO leaps wildly from ALW miler running. Stalker/midpacker did manage an 8.5f stakes score several back, but hasn’t won since. Odd entry and appears well over-matched. Have no idea about the distance either. Should be no factor. Pass.
The Longshots:
11/1 – Fluminese – miltinho: Deputy Minister 4YO climbed out of the ALW ranks for good at 13 starts. He’s since gone 2-for-5 in listed company, very much in the hunt from 10f-11f. Speedster can settle behind pacesetters when asked. He doesn’t have the flashy 105+SP#s, but can’t fault his entry here. Would prefer to see him try a lesser grade first, but, hey, if he can take down the big boys…. Unfortunately, he won’t get away to an easy solo lead. Odds are, he’ll struggle in this graded attempt. Pass, but mabe a minor cheque.
17/1 – Mambo Rock ‘N Roll(IRE) – dcmambo: Rock Of Gibraltar(IRE) 4YO steps up in class. Enjoyed cutback to 9.5f LTO, making up heaps of ground to just fall short a tad. Previously, ‘Mambo went 1-for-3 in marathons, but displayed classy stuff over 10f this summer at the ALW level. A bigtime closer, he’ll have to find his very best to take down the top dogs in this group. Still, he’s an outsider and not without a chance for a minor share at least. Interesting.
22/1 – Lucus Augusti(IRE) – galicia: I like these next two 3YOs… one of them is gonna knock our socks off! This guy’s got the goods too in his Saint Ledge(G3) victory versus 10f sophomores. Theatrical(IRE) son was once upon a time on the Bluegrass Derby trail, then switched to a fairytale Horseshoe Bay. No going there over 12f a couple times, nay! Eventually he made it to that 10f Saint Ledge and what a photo finish! Could that indeed be this colt’s best distance? Mighty 10, oh my! Six weeks breather sees him “on the fly.” Must close from way back or catch some flack. Decent jockey. I like Lucus Augusti!!! 🙂
22/1 – Rivado(IRE) – paceman2: On paper, this El Prado(IRE) sophomore looks like he’s struggling, but look again! Especially to his trainer (Sim legend, Theatrical). 🙂 Yeah, this colt’s tried turf sprints, the big boys at a mile, even 12f, etc. But he’s got a pair of 10f ALW scores and if he can duplicate such, he’s got a chance with this group. At least the board. Excellent jockey an added plus. Look for Rivado to break fairly, maybe 7th or 8th. Late run shall be in order — don’t know if he’s good enough at this point for the upset, but if anyone can pull diamonds from the ruff, TA can!!! Beware.
22/1 – Razor Robots(GB) – stoneface: In it for the post parade. Grandson of Rainbow Quest is an overmatched ALWer. No chance.
28/1 – Swampy Sturm – tmica: Woohoo! What a live sleeper! 4YO son of Dynaformer hasn’t raced much — only 6 lifetime starts, but what a recent career. He’s unbeaten around a grassy two-turns, reeling off 4 straight, including the Victoria Crown(G3) LTO over 10f. Was a humungous longshot there and so goes it again this time around. How exciting. Can he beat the Grade 1 levelers at just 7 starts? Boy, I love the 3YOs, but this one’s ferocious. He’s gonna hit the board if not upset the faves. Gotta handle the off course though!Read ’em and weep.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Nothing like the aroma of an upset! Ha! I love the sophomores Lucus Augusti and Rivado. But this Swampy Sturm 4YO is one to watch. At 28/1, yow!
Major props to I Am Scheming and Preferred Power — they’ll run well, but I’ll go with the fresher horses here. A lot to ask I Am Scheming, going from the mile to 10f in less than a month. He loves the off courses though, so hmm…… ‘Power has to recover from awful last race.
Scoobis Zig should jump out to lead, and duke it out with Fluminese and Horde Run A Foul. This should set up maybe a midpack effort by one of the 3YOs or Swampy Sturm could outclass them all. A.P. Poll and Otto You Can Do It makes late moves to contest for minor money positions.
I can’t pick a clear winner though, because the yeilding surface might throw them all willynilly. Oh, the perils of BTBsville! Ha! Swampy Sturm (with the karma name!) somewhere at the wire.
Win: Swampy Sturm or Lucus Augusti(IRE) or Rivado(IRE)
Place: Swampy Sturm or I Am Scheming
Show: Swampy Sturm or Preferred Power
Good luck to all.
Grade 1 Eclipse Stakes History:
5th installment this year, first run in 2001. All runnings at track E5 (Newmarket), over 10 furlongs on turf. All firm turf. Purse: $1,000,000. Stakes Record: 2:00 4/5 (His Knees, 2001).
2001: Won by His Knees (derbyking), [final time unknown; 119 SP# = approx. 2:00 4/5]. $12.00 stalker wrapped up pacesetter down the lane, 3 3/4 lengths much the best. His Knees and runner-up millionaire Erica’s Well finished some 15 lengths ahead of the rest of the field too. Tired also-rans included Black Air(IRE) ($1.7m), Sydney Mile(G1) winner Lucky Light (25 career wins, $1.8m) and Prospector Rizzo ($3m).
Sired by Peterhof, His Knees extended his 3-race listed stakes win streak into the Eclipse. In 2002, he would go on to win a few more black type events as well as compete in the Equinics. The 2001 Eclipse still remains as his only graded victory. Active at age 8, with $1.2 million in earnings from 49 starts.
2002: Won by Cougar Bite (pedroza), 2:01 2/5 (113 “old” SP#). Never seriously threatened in gate-to-post romp. That year’s BB Turf Distaff heroine Deadly Con ($2.2m) didn’t want anything to do with boys, well beaten over 20 lengths. Runner-up Believable Tie(IRE) led rest of forgettable field.
By the summer of 2002, the sophomore Cougar Bite was one promising individual. The modestly bred Half Term colt had climbed successfully out of the ALW ranks and entered the Eclipse off of a beautiful score in the Panhandle Derby(G3, 9fT). Cougar Bite suffered highs and lows the following year though. He won the NY Island Cap(G1, 10fT), but fizzled horribly in the BB Classic on dirt. The 4YO also was unplaced defending his Eclipse title, missing the break enroute to a 22 length drubbing in the 2003 edition. He would never run in another stakes race and retired soon after. Retired B-rank, with $1.3m bankroll. “Dam” of average (but dual stakes-winning) A.P. Indy filly whom pedroza let go for $10k claim. Good luck, A.P. Poll! 😉
2003: Won by West With Act (coug), 2:01 1/5. Thrilling 3/4-length victory over pacesetter Western Groom (2002 Sim Eclipse Champion Older Horse; $4.6m). Major graded winner Loup Garou (3rd in ’03 BB Turf), racemare Kiki’s Moon Dancer (3rd in ’03 BB Turf Distaff) and the amazing Prospector Spend ($5.2m; 10-time graded winner) among also-rans in a darn good match-up.
Already a veteran of 4 racing seasons, West With Act was an old man at age 6 when he beat the “other old boy” (champion Western Groom) in the Eclipse. The Known Fact son was an extremely versatile turf runner and competed with the best sprinters and milers (he finished a close-up 3rd in the Fujimoto(G2, 8fT) prior to his Eclipse victory). The iron horse could just as easily switch to 12f running — in 2002, West With Act ran an honorable 4th to the great Joe Cayenne in the star-studded Japan Classic(G1, 12fT). Retired B-rank at age 7, with $1.5m in earnings. “Dam” of 3-for-13 Gone West colt.
2004: Won by Lizard’s Halo (lizzie), 2:01 3/5. Pace presser gutted out photo finish score by one length. Major stakes winners Gonzalo, A Gold City, Black Hank also running.
Fresh off of a reeling speedster romp in the Cherry Limb(G2, 9fT), sophomore Lizard’s Halo clearly reveled in the Eclipse distance. The St. Jovite youngster had *only* tested a mile or less just two starts prior. The colt closed out his 3YO campaign with yet another 10f Grade 1 thrashing and entered this year as one to watch. However, Lizard’s Halo couldn’t stretch his speed versus the very best over 12f early in 2005. He floundered over the summer and even tried dirt, trying to regain his old form. Active at 33 starts, $1.5m bankroll.