The Grade 1 Penn Dash
TURF COURSE ABLAZE FOR THE GRADE 1 PENN DASH
Closure for the fourth running of DelPenn Champions Day comes in fitting fashion for both the Delaware and Penn circuits. At Delaware, the 16th and final race of the day is an absolutely stunning field that will line up for the two million dollar Delaware Mile. At Penn, the closing feature of a huge day of racing is the Sim’s richest turf sprint, the prestigious Grade 1, two million dollar Penn Dash. Unlike the Delaware Mile, the Penn Dash has to battle with the Grade 1 Japan Sprint for entrants. In past years, the fields have been equivalent to one another, sometimes superior in the Far East.
No more.
This year’s field for the Penn Dash is nothing short of spectacular. Clearly, the better turf sprinters have chosen Penn Raceway for their final bow of 2005. Perhaps it was the purse, perhaps it was the MB banter. Who knows. But whatever the attraction, this year’s Penn Dash sports perhaps the top turf sprint field assembled this season.
The Penn Dash is one of the two original staples of DelPenn Champions Day. Originally comprised of a bunch of owner restricted races and two Grade 1’s, the Penn Dash and the Delaware Mile, the Grade 1 offerings have increased incrementally each year. This year, 21 Grade 1’s offer a feast of racing for all different conditions and ages.
But the staples still remain, and have risen in prestige each and every year. Since it’s induction in 2002, the Delaware Mile has reigned supreme as the top dirt mile event in the Sim. The seven furlong Penn Dash, designed to be a testing distance for sprinters and middle distance runners alike, has been slow to garner the attention of its’ dirt counterpart. But, that appears to have come to an end this year, and now, the Penn Dash sits firmly at the pinnacle of turf sprints.
A brief thank you is in order, to Jerry (revelation) for making DelPenn what it is (the best place to race in the Sim), Fats, Topicount Whirlwind, and the rest of the DelPenn crew who put a lot of time and effort into making this day turn from a figment of my vivid imagination into reality each year. And of course, thanks to the BTB Staff for so generously providing such outstanding coverage to DPCD this year and in years gone by.
A brief history of the Penn Dash:
2002: Daneye ¾ Slingblade Edison ¼ Abstract Class 3-¾ 1:21 2/5. Multiple Grade 1 winner Daneye stalks a brisk pace, makes a strong move approaching the lane and holds off the furious late charge of Slingblade Edison to secure the inaugural running of the Penn Dash as the race favorite with a 117 figure.
2003: Slingblade Edison 2-¼ Calderazzo 3-¼ Ray of Pye 6-¾ 1:20 4/5 Slingblade Edison makes amends for his heartbreaking 2002 defeat. Utilizing a sharp change of tactics, the ‘Blade is never far off a torrid early pace, takes command leaving the far turn and storms home well clear of Calderazzo, returning 19.50 for his backers. Race favorite Ray of Pye manages no better than a non-threatening third. Slingblade Edison shatters the stakes and course record in a monster performance, earning a 124 figure, which is the highlight of his multiple Graded stakes winning career.
2004: Hayden and Langer 1-½ Pindi 1-¾ Danzing Cielo 1 1:21 3/5. davarto’s Hayden and Langer springs a mild upset, holding off the late challenge of second choice Pindi. Hayden and Langer, seventh early, but never more than three lengths off a tepid pace after breaking from the far outside, benefits from a heady ride by Ian Pollara, assumes command at the three furlong marker, and benefits from the troubled trip that leading rider Jay Piotrowski has on Pindi. By the time Piotrowski and Pindi finally shake loose at the furlong pole, Hayden and Langer is long gone. Race favorite Buddies Forever checks in fifth. Hayden and Langer records a sharp 115 figure.
This year, as in past runnings, the turf course is firm. It figures to be a little chewed up after a day of turf festivities that features the final race in the stellar career of Allied Assault. But if the course holds up, the track record could very well be threatened. Let’s meet the field for the 2005 edition of the Penn Dash.
PP1 E Street Band (E Dubai-Beau Genius) ML 9-1 Four year old from the chambered barn comes in off a solid win in a non-graded sprint. This late running colt clearly relished the off turf, which he won’t see today. Top recent fig of 108, he loves to mow the opposition down late, but has been a bit wanting in graded conditions recently. Seven furlongs seems to suit his late running style more than six, but coming from the rail under Yanqui Feese, he’s going to have to deal with some traffic trouble somewhere during the race, and deal with it well if he expects to take down the lion’s share of the bounty.
PP2 Proper Parade (Newsrag-El Gran Senor) ML 15-1 Oldtimer six year old has suffered some ups and downs this season, winning a few ungraded events and struggling home in others. This will be his first graded try in some time, and he couldn’t have picked a tougher spot. Front running sort is going to have to step up his game a bit if he wants a piece of the action for O/T twin hollow.
PP3 Stolen (Montjeu-Lure) ML 12-1 Grass pedigrees don’t get much better than this. By Classic winner Montjeu out of a BC two time Mile champion Lure mare, he comes in off a hard charging third in the Grade 3 Movieland Turf Express. Prior to that, he’s been respectable, but off the board in a few graded events, albeit all at shorter distances. Might just love the extra added ground tomorrow, and could easily liven up some exotic plays.
PP4 Jolie’s Song (Buddha-Belong to Me) ML 8-1 Four year old filly has been banging heads with the boys all year long, and has more than held her own. Just missed in the Grade 1 Golden Jamboree Sprint earlier in the year, and closed willingly to nab third in the Grade 1 Rising Sun Spring Cup earlier in the year. Late running leggy filly has had more trouble stacking up in routes, but could very well threaten the males here as she turns back to sprints, where she has an impressive seven wins from 16 starts. O/T catspaw has secured the services of the wily Quentin Miller for the ride.
PP5 Mirror Image (Mt. Livermore-Nureyev) ML 13-1 Three year old colt runs for O/T isittrue, and has really come to hand recently. Rattled off a string of six on the board stakes performances, including three wins in last eight. Another closer, he’s capable of a strong late run, but concerns loom over his lone Grade 1 try, where he got abused and never figured. Has yet to crack the 1:22 barrier, and going by the history of this race, he’s going to have to improve by at least three lengths, probably more, to figure prominently here.
PP6 Fusaichi Magpie (Fusaichi Pegasis-Danzig) ML 10-1 Four year old sports a sharp seven for 15 career mark. Has tailed off a bit since a monster effort in the Pharbomba Stakes, where he recorded a 112 figure. Downward figure trend in his last four, capped off by a lackluster effort in the Because I Said So (Grade 1) stakes where he never fired and finished a well beaten 11th. Not an encouraging pattern leading up to a race like this.
PP7 Otto O (Storm Cat-Seattle Slew) ML 10-1 Four year old has also had a bit of a fade in recent races, after stringing together an imposing run of four 104+ performances earlier in the year. Another late runner, he could be rounding back into form after showing his powerful late kick in the Because I Said So stakes, where he finished a menacing third after being some nine lengths back at the top of the lane. Gets another furlong today, and if he can maintain that momentum, he could make a lot of horses miserable in deep stretch.
PP8 General’s Chariot (Gone West-Storm Cat) ML 5-1 WOW! 13 for 13 in sprints? Are you kidding me??? Hasn’t exactly disgraced himself at routes either, the three year old was a solid second in the Grade 1 2000 Guineas as well as the Grade 1 Newmarket Rivalry. But put him in something less than a mile, where he seems to lose a bit of steam late, and watch out. Versatile, strapping son of Gone West can do it all. He can stalk, he can close, he can come from outside posts, inside posts, whatever has been tossed his way, he handles with aplomb. Comes in on a five race winning streak, including three Grade 1’s and two Grade 2’s, including among the Grade 1’s the aforementioned Because I Said So Stakes. Looks like seven furlongs is right up his alley, and he’s come perilously close to cracking 1:21 at the distance. When I first started playing, there was this place called Iago’s Forum, where you could go to ask for advice about your horses. I had a Gone West, and Iago told me “they seem to fare best in turf sprints.” Now, I have no idea where Iago is now- his Forum is long gone- but this horse makes him look like a genius. An imposing presence in the gate for this race, somebody’s going to have to run lights out to demote the General.
PP9 Niner Correction (Forty Niner-Danzig) ML 13-1 Sharp three year old got the best of General’s Chariot in the landmark 2000 Guineas, but he’s gone a completely different route since. In fact, that was his last win. Depsite running solid figures with stunning regularity, he’s been denied a trip to the winner’s circle in seven straight races. Seems to have really struggled after an awful time in the Grade 1 Mospe Cup, and he’s taken some serious beatings since then, failing to hit the board. It’s impossible to think he’s over the top already, but he’s going to have to reach back- way back- to challenge in here. If you think he can, you’ll get a great price.
PP10 Dubeye (Dubai Destination-Danehill) ML 18-1 The offspring of former Penn Dash champion Daneye has yet to live up to the lofty accomplishments of that horse, but talk about having the bar set very, very high….sports a solid four for six record in sprints, but hasn’t seen anything shorter than a mile in some seven starts, and that was a truly rotten performance in a Grade 3, where he was beaten better than 11 lengths. Turnback in distance may be just what the doctor ordered, but this guy, who does his best running from a stalking position, will have his hands very, very full indeed.
PP11 Xtremely A Fan (AP Indy-Kris S.) ML 5-1 Four year old is the co-favorite with General’s Chariot, and current O/T jpcrazy is the benefactor of the recent ejdstables dispersal, picking up this graded winner in a 35K claimer (we’re not going to go there- there was enough of this on the main MB to fill a month’s worth of complaints). He’s never sprinted, but he has shown a devastating late kick in routes, winning the Grade 1 Canada Mile and finishing a hard charging third in the Breeder’s Bowl Mile. There’s not telling what will happen here- will he run out of ground, or will he wield that devastating late kick in a distance he’s never before seen? Hard to know, but jpcrazy must know something, seeing as how he’s taken a pass on the Grade 1 Penn Mile to run in this spot. Must respect, big, big time.
PP12 Red Sky At Night (Red Ransom-Nureyev) ML 21-1 Old timer makes his 51st start here, and he’s showing some wear and tear. Figures to be at the mercy of the younger foes in here, as he hasn’t cracked the 100 figure mark in some four races. Also hasn’t faced company like this in some time. Adds up to a stay away, even a long odds.
PP13 House For Sale (Selkirk-Chester House) ML 17-1 Three year old has yet to demonstrate the consistency needed at this level. Capable of a sharp performance, as witnessed by the multiple stakes wins with figs in the 102-105 range. Stone closer shouldn’t be burdened by getting waylaid out wide in the gate, but is going to have to show a turn of foot he’s yet to find to run down the big horses in this race.
PP14 Flyphard’s Event (Event of the Year-Danzig) ML 7-1 Tough four year old campaigner comes in in fine form, with three straight stakes wins. All three have been facile, and it’s worth noting that he’s three for three at seven furlongs in his previous three races at today’s distance. He looks like he has more in the tank, as he’s not been seriously challenged recently, and he could provide serious danger to the favorites in here. Could have his stalking style compromised by the far outside post, and will need a heady ride from Anthony Jeffries to make things turn his way in deep stretch. Interesting choice.
Summary This shapes up to be a dynamite race with a nice mix of speed, stalkers and closers. But how do you pick against perfection? The pick is General’s Chariot with Flyphard’s Event and Jolie’s Song picking up the pieces.
Enjoy DPCD IV, everyone. Happy Holidays!