Competitive Field Goes To Post In The Hall Of Fame Bowl

2014 EQUINICS: HALL OF FAME MEMBERS

4+ Year Old males / 10 Furlongs / Turf

 

This race pays tribute to those horses elected/selected to the SIM Hall Of Fame

 

DEEPSEEKER   (Deep Impact (JPN) x Seeking The Gold x Seattle Dancer)

Residency:  VERMONT

Owner:  sharood

This four year old son of Deep Impact (JPN) comes into this event under a cloud of suspicion as he was uncharacteristically distanced in his last race.  Was it injury? If so is he recovered? All great questions without any answers at this point but we’ll find out soon enough!  He had a monster three year old season with multiple Grade 1 wins in The Big Red Stakes and The Champion Stakes as well as wins in a Grade 2 and Grade 3 race respectively.  He’s been freshened and is coming back after two months on the shelf.  Training regularly he’s been kicking the door down back in the barn and that’s always a great sign!

 

BUSTIN CHOPS   (Malibu Moon x Dynaformer x Sadler’s Wells⁾

Residency:  GR SIMSTERS

Owner:  blankpoin4

Having been freshened this four year old son of Malibu Moon comes in to this race having doubled up winning both a Grade 2 The McKinnon Stakes and the Grade 1 King Kong Cup to conclude his three year old campaign.  Most recently in the King Kong he took on seven Grade 1 winners and disposed of them all as he swept past down the stretch to erase a nine length disadvantage to win going away by two.  He hung up a 117 in doing so and rewarded his backers at better than 12-1!  This race is right in his wheelhouse and he just keeps better with experience.  He’s primed for a big effort today!

 

SILVADELAGO   (Silvano (GER) x Encosta De Lago (AUS) x Elliodor (FR))

Residency:  SOUTH AFRICAN RACING ASSOCIATION (SARA)

Owner:  dragnil

Running in restricted races for the most part this son of Silvano (GER) has put up some good figures in winning minor Stakes to date but has struggled against better.  In his most recent start and racing on just three weeks rest he showed up to do battle in the Grade 3 Northern Beer Cap facing Grade 1 winner SKY FORCE and several other Graded Placed horses.  He ran hard on the front end with another as a speed duel ensued but faltered on the far turn and was eased up to finish a well beaten eighth.  He has enjoyed success in minor affairs but will have to take his game to another level to compete with this group today.

 

OCEAN OF CHOICE   (Redoute’s Choice x Gone West x Dynaformer)

Residency:  EMPIRE STATE RACING

Owner:  muchalucha

This five year old son of Redoute’s Choice comes into this race firing on all cylinders having won his last in the Grade 3 Galaxian Stakes at today’s distance.  In that race he stalked the early pacesetter lying in wait just five away as jockey D. Evans calculated his move.  Shaking the reins he cut him loose as they turned for home and found a lane to charge past and win by two lengths.  He put up a career best 112 while beating two Grade 1 winners and several Graded Placers.  A solid contender in this spot!

 

JUGGLING BOMBS   (Mineshaft x Danehill x Mr. Prospector)

Residency:  EAAA RACING

Owner:  muninn

Like several others coming into this race this son of Mineshaft is riding a win streak.  Two starts back in the Grade 3 The Harry Potter he aggressively pursued the lead and wrestled it away at the top of the lane only to widen his advantage through the stretch.  Similarly in his latest the Grade 3 The Nikkan Sport he decided to lay just off the pace and timed his run through the lane to win by just enough.  He put up solid ratings in both with a 110 and 112 respectively.  He loves a mile and a quarter and his connections are hoping for a repeat today which would put him squarely in the mix.

 

BOUNTY LIST   (Daiwa Major (JPN) x Galileo x Giant’s Causeway)

Residency:  COMEDY CENTRAL

Owner:  bernardini

This four year old son of Daiwa Major (JPN) finished off his three year old campaign with a bang by destroying a solid group in the Grade 2 The Los Angeles Derby.  Starting slowly he bided his time near the rear of the field almost sixteen lengths in arrears at the mid-point only to finish with a terrific flurry as he caught them all with two lengths to spare.  He put up a monster 116 in doing so but that was over nine weeks ago as he’s been rested since.  He’s clearly good enough to tackle this group but it begs the question is he fit and ready?

 

K’S FISCAL CLIFF   (Dynaformer x Sadler’s Wells x Alydar)

Residency:  SIM HISPANO

Owner:  supreme

This strapping five year old son of Dynaformer has been somewhat of an in and outer of late.  Back in July he won the Grade 2 The Princess of Whales over a mile and half with a beautifully timed ride by jockey Harzheim.  Since then he has won a few allowance races which were no more than paid workouts and ran poorly in the Grade 1 Coalminer Cup over the same twelve furlongs.  Most recently he competed in the Grade 3 The Nikkan Sport over today’s distance and found himself in need of more yardage which is no surprise given his success this past summer over longer.  He’ll need to stay closer and pick up the pace if he hopes to hit the board here in this spot.

 

MICHAEL OHER   (Shirocco (GER) x Pleasant Colony x Caro)

Residency:  UNIVERSAL RACING CLUB (URC)

Owner:  granderby

The only six year old in the field this son of Shirocco (GER) has been lightly raced but enjoyed a successful five year old campaign.  Like many in here he comes to the dance riding a two race win streak at the non-Graded Stakes level in which he won comfortably while putting up ratings of 105 and 104 respectively.  The distance won’t be an issue for him but he’ll need to elevate his game in view of the step up in class against these.  This will be his first foray into the Graded Stakes pool and he’s looking to make his connections proud as he represents the URC Residency.

 

LIBERTANGO   (Montjeu x Dixie Union x Unbridled’s Song)

Residency:  CITY RACE RHEIN-MAIN TURF CLUB

Owner:  trapper37

This four year old son of Montjeu is making his second start in 2014 and his marked improvement in that non-Graded Stakes affair to post a 102 was significant yet unsuccessful at a pricy 42-1.  In that race he simply could not keep up and only beat one horse who was a longer price than he.  This group today is better still and it would take a tremendous leap of faith to open your wallet for him.  I see a brighter future for him as he matures but I’ll pass on him in this spot.

 

DISTORTED DESTINY   (Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Dynaformer x Distorted Humor)

Residency:  QUEENSLAND

Owner:  cheapbutfast

Now here’s a stallion you don’t see every day as this four year old son of Canford Cliffs (IRE) is tackling Graded company for the first time and has chosen a difficult spot to do so facing a quality group.  In his latest he came from well off the pace to make it interesting as he finished second in a less distinguished field.  Prior to that one he won two consecutive allowance races in which he was able to stalk and pounce.  This group is much tougher and he’ll need to elevate his game if he hopes to make an impact in this spot.

 

COME AROUND   (Redoute’s Choice x Montjeu x Fusaichi Pegasus)

Residency:  NORTH WEST RACING CIRCUIT (NWRC)

Owner:  jdawg06

This five year son of Redoute’s Choice is a former Claimer who has clawed his way up the ranks to compete with some success at the allowance level.  He comes into this race on the heels of two second place finishes at the allowance level while putting up consecutive 102’s.  It’s hard to say what we can expect from him in the spot but one thing’s for sure … he’ll leave it all on the track today!

 

FLIBBERTYGIBBET   (Sea The Stars (IRE) x Maria’s Mon x The Minstrel)

Residency:  MINNESOTA TESTBARN

Owner:  waradmiral

This four year old Sea The Stars (IRE) colt opens his 2014 campaign here in this spot fresh off a minor Stakes win in which he did enough to win at today’s distance.  Prior to that last one he had been in a funk which saw him run without success in three consecutive Graded races.  You have to go back to his June effort in the Grade 2 The Jefferson Davis Stakes which saw him narrowly miss to finish second.  This last effort may have signaled a return to form for him and I have a hunch that better days are ahead for him once again!  My dark horse play.

 

THE BULB RULES ALL   (Smart Strike x Seattle Slew x Danzig)

Residency:  EAST-WEST CONNECTION (EWC)

Owner:  cozzene99

This Smart Strike son comes into this race wheeling a hot hand as he comes off of five consecutive victories of which the last four have come in minor Stakes events.  In each of these races he’s claimed victory at the expense of a Graded winner while using an off the pace approach.  A high percentage sort he’s in great shape at the moment and looks to take the next step here against a tougher group.  He would be a mild surprise but these are within reach for him on his best day … plus a notch!

 

SENOR MOU   (Danehill Dancer x Ela-Mana-Mou x El Gran Senor)

Residency:  MIDAS

Owner:  brayden

This lightly raced five year son of Danehill Dancer comes into this race off of a monster effort in the Grade 2 Sanders Stakes in which he beat several Graded winners and hung up a memorable 117.  Prior to that one he won three in a row of which two were of the minor Stakes variety but all strong performances none the less.  He’ll be a force in the event given his current form and is a must include on all exotic tickets.

 

PREDICTABILITY   (Oasis Dream (GB) x Ela-Mana-Mou x Kris S.)

Residency:  BLAZING SADDLES

Owner:  tapit

The only thing predictable about this son of Oasis Dream (GB) is that he’s a serious young runner with a very bright future ahead of him.  Three starts back in the Grade 3 The Furstenberg Stakes he ran a powerful race to win by four while hanging a 116 up on the board.  He then followed that up with a huge effort to win the Grade 1 Eclipse Stakes in similar fashion while replicating the rating.  In his last in the Grade 1 King Kong Cup he inexplicably ran up the track and just wasn’t himself that day.  His connections are looking for a rebound here and begin his 2014 campaign with a bang.

 

OF PRINCE ALBERT   (Empire Maker x Theatrical x Nijinsky 2nd)

Residency:  ALL-STARS RACING

Owner:  newastin3

A four year old son of Empire Maker he comes into this race on a high note having closed out his three year old campaign with a strong performance in a minor Stakes while posting a career high 112.  This effort came on the heels of two consecutive victories earlier as he ran through his conditions with ever increasing ratings.  This horse has a positive future and though he may not graduate today I predict he’ll make his mark before the seasons out.

 

 

HLADUN’S Selections …

1.   BUSTIN CHOPS   (GR Simsters)   blankpoin4

2.   DEEPSEEKER  (Vermont)  sharood

3.   PREDICTABILITY  (Blazing Saddles)   tapit 

4.   SENOR MOU   (Midas)  brayden  30