Echoes, Back In Your Arms, more in Monster Penn Mile
Pennsylvania– It’s been a see-saw year for the Sim’s Monster Turf Milers.
On the older male & female front, earlybird faves Orange Swirl and that gallopin’ mare Jolie’s Song eventually gave way to autumn’s hot horses: Mizzen Dixie was spectacular in the Breeders Bowl Mile, filly Back In Your Arms strung together some triumphs, and recently Echoes turned some heads with a gorgeous Kingab Mile(G1) score.
The sophomores were equally up-and-down. 2,000 Guineas champ Niner Connection seized the classic, but could only remain competitive afterwards. Giant’s Banjo, Your Desert(IRE), Dubeye, Gingobell and other 3YOs traded win after win. Among them, talented Manifest Destiny bagged his own trophy, but could only close to within three lengths on Breeders Bowl day. Jacky Hollandia surprised us all recently as a true dark horse in the Fujimoto. Fillies like 1,000 Guineas victoress Mumbai were equally inconsistent. Otto Elusive and Alberta Gold garnered their share of miler glories.
And it all boils down to Saturday’s final Monster Mile of 2005: The $1,000,000 Penn Mile. Part of spectacular DelPenn Champions Day, this year’s Penn Mile renewal gathers those left standing after a long ’05 season.
Fourteen horses head to the post and fillies & mares, colts & horses from all age groups are represented. Let’s meet this awesome lineup……….
Older Horses:
6/1 – Friendofthefamily – pedroza: Todd’s Niner Connection chalanges rival General’s Chariot on the PA card, but ‘Friend is a worthy replacement over a mile. The 4YO Rahy son is a multiple stakes winner this year and graded placed too. His best race recently though came in the NWRC’s owner-restricted Cavalcade Cup and the fellow plain sizzled with a 109 SP# score over a mile. Seemed primed for a breakout run in the Kingab(G1), but alas, he fell flat as an also-ran. Can he recover? Up in the air, but trainer can get the job done.
6/1 – Congo – steff: Unplaced on BB day, Congo got a good breather and makes first start since late October. Arazi 4YO has been extremely consistent in ’05, placing in grades left and right. He was a G3 winner twice over 9f too and his stalker style factors in well into this group. Great chance if he can recover from the BB. this colt’s overdue for a win. Big threat!
10/1 – Abe Hollandia(IRE) – hollandia3: The bookies rate this Black Tie Affiar(IRE) 5YO higher than Echoes and you better believe it. Granted, ‘Abe’s not a real graded stakes firebrand and he’s more effective in the lesser black type ranks…. but fact is, he’s the lone consistent speedster in this group. Congo’s been rating of late behind the lead and likewise with Recoil. So, ‘Abe has a legit chance to wire this race if he can pull off the performance of his life. That might be a stretch though and prefer to predict a minor-paying finish. Still, keep an eye on him. I think this race is setting up well for a horse that could bide thier time behind ‘Abe’s lead.
11/1 – Echoes – gallorette: Top PA jockey selected the recent Kingab Mile(G1) winner right off the bat. The E Dubai 4YO scored a blazing 111 SP# over Mizzen Dixie and the like in that star-studded contest. Gorgeous off pace rally vindicated his G1 victory earlier in the year over a mile. So keep this boy at a Mosnter Mile, dan! Ha! He’s not gonna win ’em all coming way, way back. But he’ll win his share if he has something to run at. Mizzen Dixie made all the pace in the BB…. nobody was gonna catch him that day. The scenario for that race was just perfect for that horse. And that same scenario might compromise Echoes’ chances Saturday — not a lot pace with this group. 🙁 So, I’m gonna pass on Echoes this time.
11/1 – Ed’s Blueview Chn – funnyfello: Modestly bred Bluebird 4YO reeks of talent over the flat mile. Alas, his trainer sandwiches in middle distance routes and the colt coughs up. Still, when he’s correctly entered at the mile, he’s like a tiger. He can throw major SP#s from midpack when he wants to. Comes off a sprint tightener and this guy should be sharp as a tack. Hasn’t raced much this year, but outside chance if he’s finally back to racing fitness. Live sleeper.
15/1 – Golden Bridle – varsitytwo: Gold Fever son closer well three back in that Harey Carey Memorial(G2). Twice Told Tale won that race in swift time. ‘Bridle shows major talent over a flat mile and even enjoys both surfaces seemingly equally too. Hmmm…… misentered in his last two races and you can possibly imagine a huge race with the return to his optimum distance. Sleepr capable of big numbers. Testament to the depth of this field. This guy’s got a shot from off pace… but joins a herd flying far back (and unfortunately not too many up front). Very interesting.
Older Mares:
6/1 – Back In Your Arms – iant4: Late summer and autumn were extremely good to Back In Your Arms. Kingmambo royal bred strung together a 4-race win streak, including the Queen Ascot(G1-8fT) versus fillies and the Walnut BB(G2) versus males. Closer was odds on for the Mrs Cleaver(G2), but flattened out in the final sixteenth. A fabulous filly at the top of her game at a distance she adores. Will hit the bigtime if she can pull off a win here. Major threat but must overcome poor pace, outclosing tough male come-from-behinders.
22/1 – Apple Carbon – corza6: Old gal shocked the heck out of everyone when winning the Mrs Cleaver(G2) over 8.5f LTO….. probably her trainer most of all! Longshot 7YO granddaughter of Vice Regent ran the race of her life to win from off pace. She hadn’t done much recently except win a couple at the ALW level. Much more difficult group this time around and it’s pretty doubtful she’d be able to duplicate the victory. Worthy entrant though — gotta give her a shot at G1 glory. 🙂 Highly unlikely she’ll pick up $$$ here though.
3YO Colts:
7/1 – Manifest Destiny – tigerman: One of my favorite horses! Trained by Nextbonus, Storm Cat son is so talented. Been off and on this year, amazing over 8.5f to 9f. At a mile, he won the Mospe Cup(G1) in super fashion in late summer. However, he couldn’t get the job done in the BB and finished 5th again in the Kingab(G1). Certainly capable of defeating this field, but there are good ones again along with Echoes. Love his running style with this group, but he’s a true midpacker. Top jockey aboard helps. Should run his race.
9/1 – Jacky Hollandia – tote: Sahkee son won the Fujimoto asaa true dark horse and wow! It was one fine photo finish with a 110 SP# to boot. Mercy. Big guy didn’t take to the extra sixteenth LTO at the listed level. Back in his Monster Mile element but has to outrun a heap of other closers. If he fires…. kick the tires and watch this bad boy go!
11/1 – Recoil – londoner: Taking a step up in class after bagging his stakes debut. On a right march as well, winning 3 straight, climbing out of ALW ranks. Gorgeous 110 SP# LTO to nearly match Echoes. Miswaki son can sit chilly behind the lead and I think that’s the way to go Saturday! In his 17th start, looks picture perfect. Must scale the class leap hurdle. He’s ready though….. your mild longshot pick!
53/1 – West Of The Dance – wistful: Gone West x Northern Dancer royal bred 2-for-2 lifetime impressively, winning MSW and ALW NW1x. Closer’s perfect so far with low 90 SP#s, but that’s all he needed. Bit of a dicey gamble throw….. 9 out of 10 times this goes south in a hurry and you gotta regroup afterwards. Interesting dark horse. Personally, I just don’t agree with it — this is a very difficult group and the colt would have to run a 105+ to win. Pass.
3YO Fillies:
10/1 – Alberta Gold – bertaal: Glorious Alberta has had a long graded year. The Forty Niner daughter has knocked heads with the very best sophomore filly milers and gained her own G1 score in the Sun State Cup over the summer. Additionally, the gal ran versus males in autmn — finishing 2nd to fellow female Back In Your Arms in the Walnut BB(G2) and was unplaced to Jacky Hollandia in the Fujimoto(G2). Alberta Gold returned to racing versus females in her last start and was rewarded with a fine victory over a yielding surface in the Trash Can Mile(G2). If she can run her best again from behind the pace…. look out. Two weeks rest only though… eek.
22/1 – Otto Elusive – verona: Elusive Quality lassie won the Cremation(G1) in springtime and finished 2nd to Mumbai in the 1,000 Guineas(G1). Unfortunately, she hasn’t regained that superior form, floundering here and there in middle routes and sprinter company. Best at around midpack or so. Outside chance but a classy gal she is!
Snowchief’s Picks:
My sentimental pick of course is Manifest Destiny, but I like this upstart 3YO Recoil to pull off an upset. Congo should recover nicely after the layoff. Jacky Hollandia’s one to watch too. Ditto for Golden Bridle.
Still, this is such a deep field and just abut any one of these horses could step up for the win. Another 105 SP#+ is in order. Who will claim this gorgeous purse?
Enjoy the race, Sim gamers, as we close out the 2005 Monster Miler season!
Win: Recoil
Place: Congo
Show: Manifest Destiny or Jacky Hollandia
Good luck to all and Happy Holidays! A big thank you to the DelPenn crew for a great day of racing!