No Sideshow Act Here: Sunnybank Memorial and Allied Assault Clash in GI Sword Swallower
Maybe the only constant in the SIM has been the love affair between the SIM community and its turf stars. There was Enough Knock, Huge Tale, and Dusty Dance, as well as Stormy Prospector, Cecil Roo, and the great one, Joe Cayenne, whose record for most GI wins over a career is in serious danger these days. There always is a turf star, and everyone knows their name. Never before, however, have there been no less than four horses who in any other year would probably have an easy claim to the top spot in the division. And so, on the march towards what may be the most anticipated Breeders’ Bowl event in SIM history, the SIM community will focus their attention this week on
The Sword Swallower Stakes, a GI race over 12 furlongs of firm turf, renews the well-documented rivalry between Allied Assault and Sunnybank Memorial, the first time these two titans of the turf have made it to the starting gate together since week 2419. The older rival, Allied Assault, has been pegged the slim 3/2 choice, while Sunnybank Memorial is a close 8/5 on the morning line. Lets take a look at the entire field in detail:
Allied Assault, under the watchful eye of trainer masterab, comes into this race almost assured of leaving with more than $9,000,000 in earnings; he is a mere $17,000 short of that milestone. He’s also riding a win streak, having taken three straight by a combined margin of almost 12 lengths. This son of War Chant is in the habit of winning, and winning big. Since last year’s Breeders’ Bowl Turf where he finished 2nd to Sunnybank Memorial, Allied Assault has lost only twice, once to his rival and once in what most consider a fluke to a relative divisional flyweight in Bright Sunset. Routinely making his move from more than 15 lengths off the pace, its safe to assume that he’ll take up position at the rear of the field again today for the first half of the contest. After that, however, look for jockey N Lawton to put the pedal to the medal, crouch down in his saddle, and hang on for dear life: those that saw War Chant’s devastating move down the stretch to win the Breeders’ Cup Mile swore that that kind of closing kick would never be duplicated, but his son has duplicated it and then some. It will take something special to beat him today, but for once nothing is being conceded.
Sunnybank Memorial will certainly see to that. Trainer sunnybank is in a unique situation with his horse lately. Popular opinion has him matched against Allied Assault for control of the top spot in the turf division, and he certainly seemed to have a claim to that spot after taking two of three contests from Allied Assault between the Breeders’ Bowl of last year and early March of 2005, but unlike Allied Assault, Sunnybank Memorial comes into this race with questions: Is the son of A.P. Indy quite the horse he was last year, when he was put through a brutal 14 race campaign? It may seem ludicrous to suggest that a horse who has gone 8: 5-3-0 in his last eight starts (all in GI company) could possibly be running at a level below his best, but if he has indeed been at the top of his game, is he the equal of Rain God, an absent divisional rival who accounts for two of those recent defeats (including one in Sunnybank Memorial’s most recent outing)? Can he rebound and avoid stringing together consecutive losses for the first time since the first two races of his three year old season? Is jockey B Child capable of orchestrating the type of ride necessary to beat Allied Assault, despite a win percentage no less than 9% below Lawton’s? Make no mistake, Sunnybank Memorial is one of the top three horses in training today. But will that be enough?
Unfortunately for the rest of the field, its extraordinarily difficult to see anyone other than the two favorites vying for the win, but purse money is distributed all the way to fifth place, and anything can happen in horse racing, so four others have shown up, led by 3/1 chance Deputy Drop, a lbailey trainee who has amassed slightly over 3% of the earnings that Allied Assault has managed over the course of his career. The speedball has never been on the lawn before, and stretches out a full 3 furlongs further than he’s been in this calendar year, but his sire Lemon Drop Kid did win the Belmont Stakes at 1 ½ miles.
At 7/1 is cleverdoc’s Rainbow Moonshell, a son of Rainbow Quest looking to go over the $1,000,000 milestone in earnings today. He’s another speed type, but at least having been on the lawn we know what to expect from him. He did top Bristol Rovers last time out while coming home 2nd in the United Countries Handicap over just one furlong less while experimenting with a mid-pack running style, but his record pales in comparison to the big two, and would need a miracle to win or place in this race, though he seems the most likely candidate for third place money.
The adventurous among you readers can get 9/1 on the Storm Cat colt Are You Surprised, who is bred similarly to former top European miler and sire Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat out of a Rahy mare), who looks to be capable of getting the distance but just a notch below this company. Having kept to himself in ungraded stsakes most of the year, he’s ready to test the big boys but may find the going too tough.
Finally, we get to Tow Biter, who was probably an entrant back when the race only had a handful of starters. Perhaps the only sure thing about the race is that this maiden from trainer rich21 will trail in last, though this novice trainer could do well with him if he were placed in some maiden races on the dirt in the near future.