The Real Deal: Rain God delivers seventh Grade 1 for Kevoman
Ascot– Move over, Sunnybank Memorial and Allied Assault for kevoman3’s Rain God. This colt has plain had enough of playing second fiddle in the shadows. He’s beat you before, but now he wants to steal your ultimate prize. Look out Sim gamers — for there’s a horse race in the Older Horse Turf Division…….
And the gorgeous Rainbow Quest hunk delivered lucky # 7 in the Grade 1 $500,000 Royally Modest Cup. Fresh off of his rousing victory over Sunnybank Memorial in the Lots Of Luck(G1) at Ireland, Rain God was pure on a mission of respect. Could the rising star belt out another display of consistency as the true mark of a champion?
Jockey P. Harzheim felt the pressure astride the Royally Modest’s odds-on fave. Rain God’s main rival appeared to be foxon’s Hey Zeus, the distant 3rd place finisher in the Lots of Luck and fellow bridesmaid to the division’s top stars. Closers Title Duke (johnno1) and Miswaki Approval (manni169) also warranted mild threats.
But Harzheim would not fail Rain God. First, he curbed the 4YO colt from joining the early nose-to-nose pace fray, letting the inside speed go at it while floating his charge on the outside. Next, he asked Rain God for run just when turfsurf’s Woodly (fresh off of a listed class drop score) showed signs of tiring after having won the pacesetters battle. Finally, Harzheim kept Rain God in straight order to the wire — saver’s surprise late-closer At The Chateau(IRE) barrelled down the stretch, but Harzheim judged the distance perfectly, enabling a better-than-it-looked 3/4-length winning margin at the wire.
Miswaki Approval nudged out a shuffling Hey Zeus (who had to make up a lot of ground) for third place. Title Duke ran evenly for fifth over a tired Woodly in the field of 12 older horses.
Final time for the 11 furlongs over the firm turf was 2:15 2/5, a 108 SP# for Rain God.
It was his seventh career Grade 1 victory. This colt’s the real deal with 14 wins from 21 starts and over $5.2-million in earnings. Ranked #1 in the Classic Turf Division, he’s also ranked # 3 in the Long category…. but only 100 points or so behind ‘Memo and ‘Assault. The run to the Breeders Bowl Turf will be something special.
Looking ahead:
Allied Assault and Sunnybank Memorial may run in:
Week 2580
Race : Sword Swallower Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track : New York
Restrictions : All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance : A mile and one half on the Turf
Track : New York
Restrictions : All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance : A mile and one half on the Turf
Doubtful Rain God will show up for this race on two weeks rest. Instead, perhaps a six week breather is in order in preparation for:
Week 2608
Race : Man Of War Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track : New York
Restrictions : All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance : A mile and three eighths on the Turf
Race : Man Of War Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track : New York
Restrictions : All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance : A mile and three eighths on the Turf
What a race if September’s Man Of War(G1) draws all three stars together!