Undefeated Megapixal Tested In Behind The Scenes

2014 EQUINICS: BEHIND THE SCENES

3 Year Old Males / 8 Furlongs / Turf

 

So many players have helped the game out financially over the years that using that would open up a can of worms. So I’m primarily sticking with a list of people that have helped keep the game running, offered assistance on the back end, or offered an amazing level of assistance when the game was in need (in alphabetical order, of course). I’m sure I’ve forgotten someone, and I’m going to feel horrible about it when I remember… Mike

 

INVISIBLE MIST   (After Market x Kingmambo x Galileo)

Residency:  VERMONT

Owner:  flagdown2

After a busy two year old campaign this After Market colt comes in riding a three race win streak.  His last two starts came in minor Stakes races in which he dominated the competition over a mile of ground.  Two starts back in the Land Of Light Turf Juvenile he wired the field while being pulled up at the end and hung up an impressive career high 102.  He’s looking to validate himself by taking the next step here in his first attempt at Graded company .

 

MEGAPIXAL   (Commands (AUS) x Mr. Prospector x Nijinsky 2^nd )

Residency:  GR SIMSTERS

Owner:  sender3

GR SIMSTERS have put this undefeated son of Commands (AUS) forward to represent their Residency in this prestigious race.  Having won all four of his races to date he comes out of the Grade 2 Race Series for grracers where he faced Grade 3 Placed PRIME CHOICE and WAYWARD STAR the latter of which he meets again here.   In that one he stalked the early pace and pounce from five lengths back at the top of the stretch to win going away by two and posting an excellent 104.  He certainly is good enough for this group but will he be able to duplicate the energy of his last effort?

 

MOMBOVANO   (Silvano (GER) x Kingmambo x Green Desert)

Residency:  SOUTH AFRICAN RACING ASSOCIATION (SARA)

Owner:  misery

Having run exclusively in breeding restricted races to date this son of Silvano (GER) comes into this race on the heels of two hard fought races at the minor Stakes level.  Steady progress is the best way to describe this horse’s resume as he’s improved with each outing in spite of increasing competition and looks to be knocking on the door to break through the 100+ rating barrier.  In his last two he’s won and lost in photos after having a short lead at the head of the stretch.  These races may well have taken something out of him but he’ll come into this race on five weeks rest.  I expect him to sit a stalking trip and attempt to strike late but that’s just a hunch I have so we’ll simply have to take a wait and see approach to the strategy employed as his connections prepare to do battle to launch his 2014 campaign.

 

CLIFFS OF DOONEEN   (Henrythenavigator x Red Ransom x Mr. Prospector)

Residency:  EMPIRE STATE RACING

Owner:  stoopsslew

This lightly raced bay son of Henrythenavigator comes into this race having been well rested as he launches his three year old season on two months rest.  Two starts back in the Grade 2 The Royal Dodge he got the acid test over a mile and it was too much for him on that day as several Graded horses passed him late including 2013 2 Year Old Eclipse Turf Colt Nominee El GRAND HAACK.  In his most recent race he won a minor Stake at a mile over a non-descript group and will have to take a major step forward to compete with this group.

 

MELWAS   (Giant’s Causeway x Danehill x Nureyev)

Residency:  EAAA RACING

Owner:  odin

A lightly raced son of Giant’s Causeway discovered the turf just two starts back after a disappointing result in his dirt debut.  In that race he controlled the pace and had command late only to relinquish it to a fast closing group at a mile and a sixteenth.  Two starts back and trying the lawn for the first time he employed the same running style only this time managing to maintain his advantage to the wire.  Working through his conditions he won his last outing in similar fashion while hanging up a strong 95 rating just three weeks ago.  We don’t have much to go on except his Sire was a speedy type himself and he oozes quality on both sides.  His improvement from the outset is apparent and his upside unlimited so there’s much to like about him for the future.

 

WHISTLER   (Giant’s Causeway x Kingmambo x Nijinsky 2^nd)

Residency:  COMEDY CENTRAL

Owner:  grouchy

Another son by the excellent Stallion Giant’s Causeway he’s been slow to develop but has started to figure it all out of late.  In October he broke his maiden over a mile of turf in his sixth start and that one being three starts back.  Two starts ago in a NW2L he ran evenly to raise his rating by five points while finishing a close third.  He comes into this race out a non-Graded affair in which he closed willingly to finish second while posting a career best 99.  I’m tabbing him for later as he has much upside and a long career ahead of him.

 

K’S TEAHUPOO   (Dansili (GB) x Sadler’s Wells x Seattle Slew)

Residency:  SIM HISPANO

Owner:  bacchus

This speedy son of Dansili (GB) has much going for him at this point in his career as he launches his three year old campaign in this spot.  Three starts back in the Grade 3 The Stubenville he ran evenly to finish third just nosed out of the placing.  He took a large step forward in his next start a non-Graded race in which he hung up a 101 in winning it wire-to-wire.  Similarly in his lastest he took the same approach with a similar result and improved further to post a 104 while doubling up.  He is a quality sort and will take some beating here as I expect him to be a major player with an eye to the winners circle.

 

PONIATOWSKI   (Acclamation (GB) x Danzig x Habitat⁾

Residency:  UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB (URC)

Owner:  laxe

Boom or bust seems to be the order of the day for this son of Acclamation (GB) as he has been quite the in and outer of late.  Just two starts back in the seven furlong Grade 1 Dewtoburst Stakes he sat nine lengths off at the mid-point but closed with a furious rush to gain the victory in his first graded attempt.  In that one he left several Graded winners in his wake to post a stellar 101 which in itself was an eighteen point improvement.  Sandwiched around this herculean effort were two disappointing efforts in Grades 1 in which he was beaten by a combined seventeen lengths.  His connections are as puzzled as we and there’s no telling which version will be on hand when they go to the post.  All we can do is watch with interest.

 

FRANKEL AT SEA   (Frankel (GB) x Sea The Stars (IRE) x Librettist)

Residency:  CITY RACE RHEIN-MAIN TURF CLUB

Owner:  gotdot

This improving Bay colt is by the up and coming 2^nd crop Stallion Frankel who was among the tops in the SIM in 2013.  He had a three race win streak snapped in his latest the Grade 3 Adam George Cap over a mile of New Zealand turf.  In that race he stalked from just off the pace and pounced at the top of the lane only to be passed in deep stretch to finish second.  He posted a career best 102 in that one and looks poised to take another step in his development here.   A strong contender today!

 

BLACK WINTER KID   (Blackfriars (AUS) x Western Prince x Awesome Again)

Residency:  QUEENSLAND

Owner:  boreanaz

This one time claimer has progressed rapidly through the ranks to find himself in graded company today as he looks to take the next logical step.  He came into his latest off two consecutive minor Stake wins at the Queensland course in which he improved his speed with each effort.  His last race however was confusing as he got away slowly and could never catch up although he was valiant in defeat closing to finish third beaten just two.  He may just start to get rolling as they hit the wire and thus a case of too little too late but he could make it interesting none the less.

 

INTERNET BARB   (Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Giant’s Causeway x Seattle Slew)

Residency:  DELPENN

Owner:  sandybarn

This son of Fastnet Rock (AUS) is launching his three year old campaign in this spot as he looks to rebound from a disappointing performance last time out in the Grade 1 The Futurity Stakes.  In that one he sat a stalking trip to be four off as they turned for home but had nothing when called upon.  Three starts back in the one mile Grade 3 The Winter Favorite he wired the field and then tried the same tactic in the Grade 2 The International Stakes only to be caught by a fast closer to finish second.  He comes here well rested and may prove up to the task when all is said and done.

 

ENCHANTED DANCER   (Medicean (GB) x Danehill Dancer x War Chant⁾

Residency:  NORTH WEST RACING CIRCUIT (NWRC)

Owner:  kobras2

After a two month freshening this son of Medicean (GB) went into an allowance affair last time out looking to get untracked after several uninspired efforts as a two year old.  To that end he was successful as he began his three year old campaign in winning style while improving with a competitive 98.  Allowed to set a leisurely pace in that one he’ll likely not be afforded the same opportunity here so he’ll need to be on his toes and ready to take the next step.

 

BLURRY VISIONS   (Distorted Humor x Rahy x Storm Cat)

Residency:  MINNESOTA TESTBARN

Owner:  dundey4

This son of Distorted Humor has done a bit of everything in his young career.  Prior to his latest he won two consecutive Graded races in the G1 High Flyer and the G2 Nationwide Stakes.  In both of those he came from just off the pace to win going away while improving with each outing.  He comes into this race off a solid effort over a mile of turf in the Grade 1 The Futurity in which he was passed late finishing third with a career high 101.  That was seven weeks ago now and he should be primed for a huge effort today!

 

MACULANI   (Galileo x Street Sense x Distorted Humor)

Residency:  EAST-WEST CONNECTION (EWC)

Owner:  atw4

A son of Galileo he comes into this race riding a hot hand having reeled off a three race Allowance level win streak all of which achieved at the mile distance range.  He has risen to all challenges so far in his career with ever increasing speed ratings so one never knows with such young horses what they’re capable of.  He’ll need to improve one more time to get into the mix in this spot at the wire but his speed style may just be the trick here.

 

BRONN   (Curlin x Kingmambo x Storm Cat)

Residency:  MIDAS

Owner:  gopies

Curlin is not known for producing turf offspring but has an improving one in this spot here today.  He comes into this race out of a recent allowance affair in which he failed to menace when positioned to strike at the top of the lane.  In that one he did lose to a Graded Placed horse who was just a little better on that day.  Three starts back in the Grade 2 Knick Knack Juvenile Stakes he did have the lead entering the stretch but could not hold it as the cavalry charge ensued.  He’s still maturing and in these eyes has a bright future but I prefer others in here today.

 

REALLY READY   (More Than Ready x Gone West x Deputy Minister)

Residency:  BLAZING SADDLES

Owner:  desimster5

This son of More Than Ready was on a roll having won consecutive outings going into his latest the Grade 2 Race Series for grracers.  In that race he didn’t appear to be himself and raced like it too getting away uncharacteristically slow and never getting untracked finishing a well beaten ninth.  Two starts back in a non-Graded Stake race he tracked the speed and pounced once they entered to stretch to run down a tiring leader while posting a career best 101.  Your guess is as good as mine!

 

WAYWARD STAR   (Sea The Stars (IRE) x Dynaformer x Storm Cat)

Residency:  ALL-STARS RACING

Owner:  easygoer1

Like another in here this son of Sea The Stars (IRE) was a big disappointment in his first start of 2014 in the Grade 2 Race Series for ggracers.  Particularly in view of two dominating performances in non-Graded Stake races going into that one where he came from off the pace to win going away against Graded types.  Hard to tell which horse will show up but his connection report that he’s been devouring his feed all week and that’s always a good sign.

 

Hladun’s Selections …

1.   K’S TEAHUPOO … (SIM HISPANO)  bacchus

2.   BLURRY VISIONS … (MINNESOTA TESTBARN)  dundey4

3.   FRANKEL AT SEA … (CITY RACE RHEIN-MAIN TURF CLUB)  gotdot    

LONGSHOT PLAY:   MEGAPIXAL … (GR SIMSTERS)  misery