I don’t know what it is.  Maybe it hit me after studying the contestants in the Berzerk A.P. Stakes or maybe it was because I was listening to The Cure while writing this race preview.  For some reason this race does not inspire sim greatness.  Don’t get me wrong, both White Flag and Cayman Cape are fine sim racers, but the rest of the field is more ‘allowance’ than ‘stakes’ class.  But what I really think is that I need to start listening to different music when I write these articles.

The Berzerk A.P. Stakes will be run at 6.5 furlongs on the fast Kentucky dirt track.  It carries a purse of $85,000.  The field is listed below in post position order with the horse name, owner/trainer, jockey, and odds.

Proprietary, racingqueen, T Belser, 6-1

A confirmed sprinter, Proprietary continues to delve into the stakes ranks this week.  In her last start she finished fourth in the Cindy Lou Who Stakes in Puerto Rico in week 2776.  Though she finished fourth her speed rating was just an 89.  Proprietary may have hit the infamous maturity spike this year.  Her first race this year was a tenth place finish in an allowance race with a speed rating of 88.  Her second race this year was the stakes in Puerto Rico.  She has compiled a fine record of 8 wins in 31 starts.  However, after consistently running speed ratings over 100 toward the end of last year, the maturity spike seems to be the only explanation for her recent form.

Tess(AUS), strategy8, T Naber, 9-1

This daughter of Australian sire Viscount has primarily run in route races in her career.  Though stakes placed, she has yet to win a stakes race in her career.  Also running in a stakes race in Puerto Rico last time out (the T. Champ(ARG) Memorial in week 2755), she finished with a speed rating of 86.  In her two starts so far this year, Tess(AUS) has finished 5^th by over 13 lengths and 12^th by 13 lengths.  She has thrown some very good races in the last year, such as the second place finish in the 6 furlong Mighty Buster Special in week 2664.  She will need to run a similar race to make some noise this week.

White Flag, ryantoga, R Staples, 5-1

White Flag enters the Berzerk on a roll.  She has won her last three starts, including a win last time out in the Old Sadie(IRE) Special in week 2776.  She has also run over a greater than 100 speed rating her last three races.  This mare is certainly on a roll!  More amazing is that she is peaking in performance not long after being claimed by the current owner, ryantoga.  A $20,000 claim in week 2713, ryantoga immediately threw her to the wolves in her next start, the Grade 3 Remember Stakes at 9 furlongs on the turf.  Not deterred by her last place finish, White Flag then began her string of three straight victories.  Expect White Flag to be a main contender in this race.

Barb’s Super Duper, jakematt, K Stabler, 2-1

The race favorite, Barb’s Super Duper, also comes into this race after a win last time out.  That victory, the 6 furlong Mine Manta Stakes, was her 7^th win in 15 career starts.  The graded stakes placed daughter of Woodman has run in dirt sprints for each of her 15 starts.  Six furlongs has been the distance of choice lately, but owner/trainer should see Barb’s Super Duper have no trouble getting the extra one-half furlong, as she has won at that distance previously.  The resume for Barb’s Super Duper makes her the one to beat in the Berzerk.

Claire Forlani, waremblem4, P Cadigan, 9-1

For those wondering, Claire Forlani is a British actress and a sim racehorse.  Though they haven’t been seen in the same room together, it is safe to say that they are entirely different.  For now, I’ll only focus on the Claire Forlani sim racehorse…Anyway, her previous race was a disappointing sixth place finish in the Hollow Prospector Stakes at Oregon.  That was her only start this year and first career start against horses older than 3 years old.  To be a factor in today’s race she will need to improve her speed ratings dramatically.  She has yet to post a speed rating over 100 in her fourteen race career.  Her experience in the last race will help her in this race, but big improvement is still needed for her to be a factor.  Now, back to Claire Forlani the actress…

Black Avenue, buzzsaw, D Sherman, 7-1

If this race has a White Flag, then there is no reason for there not to be a Black Avenue.  Black Avenue comes into the Berzerk with a second place and a third place finish in allowance races so far this year.  Similar to rival Claire Forlani, Black Avenue has one race with a speed rating of 100 (it was an allowance win).  She will also need to step it up to contend in the race today.  However, her two races this year, both at 6 furlongs, will go a long way in preparing her for this race.  Improvement is certainly a possibility for Black Avenue in this week’s race.

Suicide Solution, zwango1, D Givins, 6-1

After running with the graded stakes crowd, Suicide Solution returned to allowance company last time out and disappointed owner/trainer zwango1 with a dull 8^th place finish and a 76 speed rating.  Early in 2005 Suicide Solution was wowing the stakes competition with consistent speed ratings over 100 and several wins.  She will need to return to that form in order to be competitive in the Berzerk.

Cayman Cape, hornedfrog, M Margolf, 4-1

Hornedfrog’s Cayman Cape comes into the Berzerk as another hot horse.  A winner in 5 of 10 career starts she has posted a speed rating over 100 in four of her last five starts.  A three race winning streak was broken when she tried stakes company for the first time in the Boneheights Special in week 2755 in Pennsylvania.  She finished second in that race and finished third last time out in the Critical Acclaim Bonanza, also at Pennsylvania.  Cayman Cape’s front running style and excellent current form could mean that this is the weak she breaks through and wins a stakes race.  And with only 10 career starts, a win this week could be the beginning of bigger and better success to come.