Sim Sponsors – Equinics

Future Distaffers will be clashing in this year’s edition of the Sim Sponsors, which will be run at an 8 Furlong distance as part of the Equinics, one of the main events if not the Main event that everyone looks upon every two years in the Sim. A field of 17 fillies will be entering the gate, carrying the hopes of their residencies and owners. Let’s take a closer look at each and every one of them:

Game Night – Vermont – MEDAGLIA D’ORO x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x STORM CAT – This beautiful roan filly led at almost every call in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile Filly, only to be caught close to the wire. His trainer, xpansion2, has given her a rest since that solid effort, and has put on works that show she is ready to roll on the turnback to one mile. She has improved her SFs with each subsequent race, and there is no reason to think she will not do the same this Saturday. If she gets loose on the lead, watch out, as she can take them wire to wire.

Wild Review – GR Simsters – TAPIT x MR. GREELEY x WILD AGAIN – Trainer blankpoin5 sends out this speedy daughter of Tapit, and she was extremely close to score in the G1 Bayou Cup before being passed two jumps before the mirror. Her running style has been at or close to the lead, and if her jockey can teach her how to rate a lil better, she can be extremely dangerous. Information from the GR Simsters camp is that she is training lights out for this important commitment, and her SFs tell us she is one of the most talented fillies in this stellar field. At the right price, she can be a very enticing betting proposition, and I expect a big performance from her.

Beautiful Candice – South African Racing Association – DYNASTY (SAF) x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x ROCK OF GIBRALTAR – This is a lightly raced filly that started her career in the grass, and trainer mrlucky220 switched her to the main track after her fourth race, and the improvement in SFs has been notable, although has not been able to win yet on the dirt. Her last race, her first stakes experience, was her best effort so far, placing at 20-1 odds. She likes to sit in the garden spot and make her move from the three eighths pole on. No doubt she will have to improve to have a chance in this spot, but this is not totally out of the question, and she seems to be getting better as the distances increase.

Strikingly Sassy – Empire State Racing – SMART STRIKE x WILD AGAIN x HALO – Trainer italst3 sends this brown daughter of the great sire Smart Strike. On her last race, she broke the Triple Digit SF mark, getting bold type in the Santa Ysabel against the #3 rated 3 year old filly in the Sim. That was her first stakes experience, and she passed the test with flying colors. Four weeks later she appears in this very tough spot, but she has already prove she belongs with these, and maybe she has a lil bit of an advantage, being more in racing shape than other fillies in this race. Word from the ESR is that she has been impressive in the mornings and the cutback can be what the doctor ordered for her. Not without a chance for an upset.

Hellawes – EAAA Racing – GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x STORM CAT x A.P. INDY – Royally bred brown filly that shows only one tiny blemish in her stellar resume. Trainer and breeder munnin paid the big bucs for her, and apparently he will get the filly he was hoping for. She has shown brilliance and dominance over her rivals with a display of speed and talent that often translates into Eclipse Awards. Undefeated since she began routing, and the 8 furlong distance is maybe the best for her running style. The question here is: can she sit in the pocket while other fillies go in a speed duel, taking advantage of her natural talent? Or she is just a glorified speedster that needs to be on the lead to be more effective. Her 104 SF, achieved before she turned three, and only in her fifth race, tells me that this filly is destined for greatness, and will be extremely tough to beat in this race. Definitely one of the favorites.

Crusty Cork – Comedy Central – TAPIZAR x FORTY NINER x DEPUTY MINISTER – Lightly raced filly from the first crop of sire Tapizar. She broke her maiden going 7.5 furlongs, showing signs of improvement as the distances increased. Her last race was a solid effort in a restricted stakes in Texas, a group that does not compare with these she is facing on Saturday. Her SFs fall extremely short against the best from this group, and no doubt she will have to improve dramatically to have a chance in here. However we cannot say she can’t put it together when all the marbles are in stake, as she has run only four times. Maybe right now she is overmatched, but minor awards are not out of the question.

Nothing Available – Sim Hispano – TIZNOW x A.P. INDY x ALYDAR – Trainer ledwith2 sends this light grey daughter of Two Time Horse of the Year Tiznow. Has shown great versatility, winning races from off the pace and also wiring the field if necessary. She just missed in the G1 Bayou Cup, falling short by just half a length, and it looks like she will enjoy the Classic Distances. Eight furlongs might be a little by short for her, but if there is a pace meltdown (and it may very well be the case), she will be flying on the stretch. She is well rested for her 2014 debut and it will not be surprised that this filly will be among the leaders of her division when year’s end comes. For today, at a mile, I will look for others.

Naiguata – Universal Racing Club – MALIBU MOON x PLEASANT COLONY x SECRETO – Already a Graded winner, she took the G3 Reflection Futurity on her last start, coming from the middle of the pack to score at 10-1 odds. Since she began routing, she is 3 for 3, and with every new race, SFs increase dramatically. Can she continue that trend? Or will she bounce? Trainer magnier assures she will keep on her winning ways, and he loves the way the race sets up for his filly, with all that early pace signed on. Look for her to come rolling late in the middle of the track and her seasoning is one of her strong points against these fillies, which for the most part are just scratching the surface in Graded Company. Great chance for her first G1 win.

Safinaz – City Race Rhein-Main Turf Club – MATSURIDA GOGH (JPN) x AUTHORIZED x AWESOME AGAIN – She looks like a pretty decent filly, having victories in both turf and dirt. In her first experience at a route distance, she was second, gaining ground with every stride, but against much lesser competition. This will be her stakes debut, and trainer trapperjpn is extremely confident that his filly will improve enough to be a factor in a very strong G1. I think the most she can do is to pick up the pieces in the stretch, if a pace duel develops, as I expect. I prefer to pass on her, wishing his trainer and owner the best of lucks on Saturday.

Life Is So Good – Queensland – PINE BLUFF x HANSEL x ENCOSTA DE LAGO (AUS) – Stakes winner already, and at the distance of today’s race. She likes to be forwardly placed, and there is a lot of speed here. On her last race, when climbing up the ladder to a G1, she was decisively beaten, although she was not that far off the winner. Maybe she needed that experience and trainer kiwilad4 tells us she is to be reserved in the middle of the pack and then make her run, trying to maximize her speed and not get caught in the impending speed fight.  This filly will need to step up somewhat in her SFs, but at this stage, early in the three year old campaign, is not totally overheard of. Outside chance.

Babs Raven – DelPenn – DANCE WITH RAVENS x GILDED TIME x ALYDAR – This is my residency’s representative. She is a three time stakes winner and graded placed. The vast majority of her resume is running at sprints, and her best distances seem to be between 6 and 7.5 furlongs. When she tried the route distance, flopped noticeably, although the group was much tougher also, recovering later with two listed stakes wins. She returns to the route, looking to erase the memory of that first bad effort. My good friend, trainer lasagna, told me in our War Room that I should put a line over that G3, and that we should expect a much improved race from the filly. All DelPenn residents are hoping for the same, but, responsibly, I have to side with others first. She needs to show some affinity for the mile distance.

Daddy’s Thunder – North West Racing Circuit – SCAT DADDY x THUNDER GULCH x A.P. INDY – Stakes winner at 5.5 furlongs, and almost all of her races have been at distances between 5 and 6 panels. Her last race was a big jump in both class and distance, and I have to say she didn’t disgrace herself, coming in fourth after leading up to the top of the stretch. The problem with her is the same as many others here; the overwhelming presence of speed, which will ensure a swift and honest pace. Will she be able to rate? At least so far she has not shown that ability. Her pedigree is one for a miler up to 10 furlongs, but so far she has been a sprinter. And her SFs also lag behind the best, so she will need to improve to be considered a top notch contender.

When U Die – Minnesota Testbarn – MINESHAFT x DISTORTED HUMOR x STORM CAT – Royally bred bay filly, extremely experienced in comparison with the other participants in this race. She has hit the board in 8 of 11, but her two wins have been on the lawn, and in groups that do not stack up with this one. Trainer dundey3 understands that if she does not improve dramatically, his filly is up against it. Another factor that does not help either is that she prefers to be at or near the lead. She is an honest filly, but she will light up the toteboard with a win, and I just don’t see it. Good Luck.

Holy Bulb – East-West Connection – STREET CRY x STORM CAT x SIR IVOR – She is already a Graded Winner, taking the G3 Mistaken Soda Identity at Arizona. Of her four wins, three have been leading from start to finish, and has been showing improvement in her SFs. Talking to her trainer manofsteal, he tells me that, because she has run 9 times already, he is working his filly extremely lightly, just cantering her, letting her feel the breeze of the Vermont race track. If she is able to overcome the effects of what is already a very taxing campaign, she can hit the board. Right now, I prefer others first.

Vodka Thief – MIDAS – SHAMARDAL x MONTJEU x A.P. INDY – If you look at her pedigree, it suggests turf on both the sire and the dam sire side. However, her best races so far have been over the main track, with a nice 6-4-0-1 record. She was slowly climbing up the ladder up to her last race, in which her trainer, babyfilly, send her two weeks ago in a Hot Race, winning very handily. I just got off the phone with her trainer, and she indicates that the Hot Race was the last part of her preparation for this Grade 1, and she feels that her filly didn’t do much in the race, so it will not affect her. She will not be one of the favorites, but the filly likes to win, and that is a desirable trait in a race horse. Outside chance for a big upset.

Jackpot Winner – Blazing Saddles – CONGRATS x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x GONE WEST – This is a filly that has shown nice versatility in her young career, winning on both surfaces and winning both sprinting and routing. On her last race, she closed with a flourish to win The Radical T Dirt Juvenile at Idaho. It is true that those fillies do not compare with the best ones in here, but this filly is improving, and the farther the distance, the better for her. That can be her main problem, the 8 furlongs. Maybe can be a tad short for her liking, but we cannot deny her of a chance to win, if she keeps on that improvement pattern. Her trainer, despholdin, is more than happy of the way she is coming into this race, outworking all of her stable mates during the last month or so.

Tale of the Kitten – All-Stars Racing – TALE OF THE CAT x SAKHEE x KINGMAMBO – Another filly who hopes for a quick pace scenario to display her late kick. She will have three weeks rest from her last race, in which she ran out of track in the Fame or Fortune Dirt Filly Mile. If she is recovered from that effort, she can be very dangerous at the late stages of the race. Trainer bigcoleman1 is bringing her up the ladder very patiently, and with light jogs as preparation for this Grade 1, he is looking for his filly to bring him the Equinics Gold with a lifetime best performance. Can she do it after a 103 in her last race? Maybe a bounce is in order.

Well folks, there you have it. A betting nightmare is this Sim Sponsors Race. I am not a great handicapper, but if you ask me for my Top 3 it will be:

Naiguata, Hellawes, Wild Review

Good Luck to all trainers!