The Story about Cougar Bite Classic: Chapter 9: Proven fighters, ends and new beginnings

Zabaca is a newbie to bargain racing. He is very unexperienced horse, but claimed from last race by very experienced bargain trainer Lgbost. Lino definitely has a big talent of finding bargain series racing material. It happened many times, that we could watch horse with very high odds, who did a great job in bargain race. Usually Lino was standing behind such kind of success. On good example is his filly Champion Two Miler, currently ready for BB John’s Call. Zabaca could very easily follow her example. It seems distance is not an issue. He is fresh and ready for promising bargain career. Problem is, that after four starts in claim races, he is probably not ready right now. This is his baptism by fire. If he would be better than 5th, we should probably remember his name and look forward. Nevertheless, this is horse for the future and it is very nice to see young blood in this race. And it is always pleasant, not to know what to expect (at least in horse racing, including the simulated 🙂 ).

Another representative of new generation is called Arcano Opera. Young colt with more than $300,000 earnings was strong even as a 2yo, when winning The Winchester and finishing 2nd in BB Class Ack Juvenile. Fortunately, he was one of those, who could improve at 3. He was very competitive between 3yos even on shorter distances like 6 or 8F, but his true domain became 10F+ races. He had dealt with other 3yos with ease in Bargain Turf Derby and finished 2nd behind Ghost With a Heart in Bargain Arc. So, he was able to beat all other older horses and successfully enter the division. He proved it in the Pearl Cup, where he handled easier competition of older horses over 9F. Now he has these experiences behind and could continue improvement and be even stronger. Also he is 3yo and stability of his performances is not a problem. From my point of view, second favorite of the race.

Winner of this race from 2011 is very mysterious participant this year and it is very difficult to read in him. He is very unstable in his performances. He has quite easy win from The Hunt Turf Cup this year, but very disappointing results from Bargain Arc as well as from the Pearl Cup. The distance could be the problem in Arc, but the last spot in Pearl Cup is a surprise. But without any doubts, 10F is his favourite distance and thus he should improve and leave behind those two last dreadful races. After all, Al Centaine is six years old and occasional bad mood could be excused. On the other hand, even if he is planning something great, it is probably not the way to victory. In the case of good day he could fight for 3rd spot. If he has a bad day, he could be far behind as in previous races.

Currently probably the strongest competitor on this distance and surface is called Ghost With a Heart. Bred by gorytus player, but in last two years competing for my stables. He finished 4th last year, which was slight disappointment for me. In last two years, he was able to achieve three bargain stakes wins – this year’s Arc as well as both editions of Ten Lost Pyramids’ memorial. In the beginning of this year, he was probably in his lifetime best form stably getting over 100 speed mark. But for whole year, he keeps good results. I don’t like speaking about my horses as about favorites. Maybe I’m bit superstitious. But if Ghost with a Heart won’t return to the results’ inconsistency, which was present in his earlier days – he has to be bear the role of first favorite.

Veteran of bargain racing, 10yo Ten Lost Pyramids, is still the most successful horse in the history of this race. Winner of 2007 and 2008 edition, 2nd from 2009 and 3rd from 2010. Since that time, he was stagnating with only light moments in his favourite race The Hunt Turf Cup (4th in 2011, 3rd in 2012). Last year, he finished on the last spot in this race. This year, it will be his 7th start in Cougar Bite Classic…7th and last. It was long 7 years of bargain racing. During his career, he had met great amount of horses. He is witness of past times. His presence here is a link between old and new times of bargain racing. Among his rivals we can see names of Pepe’s Pipes, Clearance Clarence, Ankaline, extraordinary filly Shoaib Akhtar, magnificent Far Beyond the Sun, Recon Shop, tough fillies Celestial Key and Brigerand, probably immortal mare Lot at Steak, Concotelli, Ante Meridiem, all current personalities Brilliant Notation, Housefullofghosts, Al Centaine and many others. Today in his last race, he will connect also new young rising star Arcano Opera with all those names. Ten Lost Pyramids is going to this race with no ambition. He is here as an outsider. But I’m glad, he could have been here for such a long time. Every his race was fun, even those which ended with his defeat. Now, it’s time to go.

7yo Housefullofghosts is regular bargain runner, with second biggest amount of starts of all runners. This horse is competing in bargain series for long 4 years. He was able to win Bargain Arc as well as Hunt Turf Cup during his career. In Cougar Bite Classic, he was always a bit out of luck. Like Clearance Clarence, mentioned in the introduction, Housefullofghosts has never won this race. In remarkable fight with Brilliant Notation and Ten Lost Pyramids in 2010, he ended 2nd just a head behind winning Brilliant Notation. He also has 2nd spot from last year edition and 3rd from 2011. If he gets between top three this year, he would be only one of three horses, who were able to repeat it four times. Nevertheless, he should do the best of him or maybe better to reach this goal. A sad hero of bargain racing is slowing down significantly and was competing mainly in local bred races this year. His trainer usually gives him tough seasons with many starts, so wear and tear is a factor here. He is really the one, who deserves significant success. But some are not as lucky as others. I believe, it’s the case here as well.

Another 7yo colt Brilliant Notation is the only horse in this race, who has at least low real chance to become three times winner of Cougar Bite Classic. Something what no bargie before hasn’t done. I’m now wondering if horse’s trainer doesn’t regret the 2011 edition. That time, he decided to enter Bargain Bowl Classic (as Brilliant Notation is very capable on dirt too) and refused the chance to defend his title from 2010. If he had been in Cougar Bite instead… Well, but these are ifs and ifs has nothing in common with reality.
Mighty brown horse from mtk stables, the regular bargain racing trainer, had only 6 starts this season, saving his powers for seasonal top. Nevertheless, all the six races were stakes races and pretty tough. In the beginning of season, he also participated in regular stakes race, finished 5th, but far from the winner. The rest of the races was part of bargain series. There he showed the best effort in Silenus Mile (close 5th place) and was nicely 2nd in Ten Lost Pyramids memorial. Last time, he was 7th in Arc de Maleleve, but distance of the race was changed from 10F to 12F last year and that was maybe a bit longer for Brilliant Notation. Now he’s back on 10F which should suits him better. Also the size of the field could be his advantage. But, he is slowing down. No doubts about it. If he wants to be triple Cougar Bite Classic winner, he has to do it today. From my point of view, it’s 3rd favorite of the race. Good luck, mtk!