TS Would Love This Race

TS Would Love This Race

Michigan – Saturday will feature the Grade II, Toilet Scrubbers Anonymous Handicap and it is for all horses four and up.  The race will be run over the main track at a distance of a mile and 3/16 and will have a purse of $250,000 up for grabs.  For those of you that do not know Dave Koury, he is quite a character.  A bar owner in this fine state he joined the Sim early on and was soon known only as TS (Toilet Scrubber),  because he claimed that was mostly what he did.  I don’t think this ex-submariner had many customers in the bar because he was always in the chat and always had everyone in hysterics with his self deprecating ways.  He wrote for the old SRF, was involved in a notorious race-fixing scandal, picked up cans along the highways in order to bet the ponies, and for spouting his favorite saying – “Loose lips sink ships”.  Unfortunately it was a saying he could never keep and his language was navy colorful.  He sold the bar, moved to Las Vegas, then to Arizona where I met him, and is now back in Las Vegas planning a world tour via military transport to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Russia, and other exotic places.  He still keeps in touch and there is a picture of him on the Sim home page if you happen to catch it on its way by.

But back to the race.  A fine field of eight older horses will parade to the post and breaking from the inside will be Set Me At Ease (6/1) a 6YO son of Intikhab.  Rawleycans trains this big bay horse and he has scored eight wins from 22 starts and could be considered lightly raced for an older guy.  He seems to have blossomed recently as he has cranked out 100 + speed figures in four of his last five starts.  He stumbled badly out of the gate two back and was eased to the wire with no chance by a savvy jock.  He comes into this race off a nice win in The Thunder Gleaming.

Post two will hold Powerslave (11/1) a compact, 4 YO son of Deputy Minister.  Lightly raced with only seven career starts, he has won three and is a solid allowance level horse who is trying to make the class jump.  He was a closing second last time out and Zwylde is the trainer of this promising bay colt.

Number three will be Count Of Endeavors (3/1) a fine looking chestnut horse by Theatrical.  Mep trains this outstanding horse who comes in to this race off a win in the Grade III, Grey Fox.  In fact, the 6 YO is on a roll having won his last four races (all stakes) by a combined total of over 10 lengths.  He can set the pace or sit off of it and the only question may be the distance – it may be too short.

Little Feat (7/2) is a rangy copper chestnut by Event Of The Year and out of the good mare, Broad Manila, a Grade I winner herself.  The 4Yo is trained by Glfstrmdoc and has four wins from 21 starts.  His last win was five back in a nine furlong allowance, but he is one that doesn’t do much wrong, although he seems to have a case of seconditis.  Can Doc shake him up?  I think it is a good possibility.

Ultimate will send out Wisdom Tooth (4/1), the second of the two Theatrical’s in the race.  He has not lost a race since his breaking his maiden seven back.  He moved steadily up meeting and beating all challenges presented to him.  He has captured The Joey Bag O’Donuts,  The Alice‘s Naskra, and The Storm Tickle.  The distance won’t be a problem and although this is first attempt in a graded race, I think the typy chestnut will meet the challenge.  This could be a good one.

Post six will hold Buck And a Quarter (7/2), a compact dark bay colt by Storm Cat.  The 6 YO has won seven of 35 and is ably trained by Bwarrick.  He comes into this race off a winning effort in a nine furlong allowance race and has some competitive speed figures but this is a big class jump.  His best recent stake finish was three back in The Assume the Point and he will need to give his best on Saturday.

White Wasp (23/1) is the morning line long shot and is a well bred 4 YO by High Chaparral.  Also lightly raced (3w/7 starts), trainer Nocalbred switched him to dirt after two uninspiring tries on the lawn and he became a new horse.  The elegant light grey horse responded by winning three of his last five, including the two mile Slewpiano.  He likes the front end and doesn’t try if he doesn’t get it, but he is young and learning to rate will come with time – maybe.

On the outside will be Old Pulpit (8/1).  Trained by Sunkitten, the muscular bay four year old, has won five of 17 and he does have graded stake experience.  He was a game second in the Grade III, A.R.S.E. is Unbelievable Stakes at 13 furlongs so distance won’t be a problem either.  He comes in off a closing second last time out in the nine furlong Old Lucus Lane but will need to be at the top of his game on Saturday.

The field is varied, the race is wide open and that would be the way TS would like it.  I am sure he is picking up cans somewhere along the Nevada roadway so he can make a wager. Good Luck to every one, and have fun on your vacation, Dave.