Equinics 2014 – The Best Horse I Ever Owned

Saturday’s Equinics celebrate many different aspects that make this game what it is.  The Best Horse I Ever Owned is a two mile turf race open to four year olds and older horses.  Celebrating each player’s best horse is a universal truth, whether you have been playing for years and that horse is in the Hall of Fame or you have been playing for weeks and that first winner hooked you.  Before we get to the field for this race, let’s take a look at some of the horses who have been mentioned by players as the best they’ve ever owned.

Veteran player Flagdown gives the nod to Georgie the Mooch, a winner at the last summer Equinics event where he took the A to Zia Park dirt mile.  Georgie earned over two million dollars in his career and was retired this year and bred to Tiznow.  Metallinut cites Talkin’ Baseball as his best.  Talkin’ Baseball was a grade one winning two year old who carried his form on as a three year old and older horse.  He did his best running in sprints (although he did win a major Derby prep at three routing) and earned over two million dollars.  Mightyforego is a young player in the game but his active filly Reins Supreme is one any simster would love to have in their stables.  The filly has won four of five starts and looks like a star in the making.  Atakachaw makes the grade for Platero.  The El Corredor colt won seventeen starts and almost two million dollars and was a multiple graded winner.  Five time grade one winner Green Bow tops the list for Mano.  The colt won nineteen times in his career and earned over three million dollars.  You See La has the best record of any filly taking on the boys in the Triple Crown races – she was second in the Bluegrass Derby, third in the New Yorker and a winner of the Middle Jewel Stakes for owner Nextbonus.  Ldyssecret picks Sea Jennah Sea for her best.  This active runner has won eight of thirteen starts and over two million dollars.  He was last seen on track running second in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile last November.  Mtk sends love to Mambo De Calle who won fifteen starts including three grade one races.

Four players chose horses who have received the sim’s biggest honor, a place in the Hall of Fame:  coolk’s Mr Devious, Given’s Casterly Rock, Dixiedotco’s Title Defense and Balata’s Volotile Nijinsky.  I would encourage all readers to visit the Hall of Fame’s website and read more about these amazing runners.  Mr Devious won seven grade ones including back to back runnings of the Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint and over five million dollars.  Casterly Rock was also a back to back Breeders Bowl Sprint winner, although he ran on dirt.  He won six grade ones and just under five million dollars.  Title Defense is the only one of the group who is still active.  He’s banked over fifteen million dollars (yes you read that correctly, fifteen!).  He has won eight grade ones and was a winner in the 2012 Summer Equinics running long on the turf.  Six time grade one winner Volotile Nijinsky was also an Equinics winner – he took the turf mile in the 2002 Winter Games.

Readers are encouraged to give a shout out to their “Best Ever” in the comments section.  Tell us the name of the horse and a little about them.  This writer is hoping her “Best Ever” is running on Saturday – wish me luck!

Sixteen runners will try to become their owners’ favorite horses in this year’s race.  Let’s take a look at the field.

#1 Dark Mandu                                                 Deeprock Stables                                             179/1

South African Racing Association Residency

Dark Mandu is the dark horse of this field.  He’s won both of his two starts, a maiden at a mile and five sixteenths and a non-winners of two other than allowance at two miles.  The first race he won by fourteen lengths, the latter by seven and three quarters lengths.  He did run a 95 speed in that two mile race, a handy 44 point jump up from his maiden score.  Doing that again would put him in the sim elites but possibly expecting a horse to improve 88 points in three starts is a tad unrealistic.  Unrealistic for some – but the SARA Residency has nicknamed this colt “The Freak” and rightly so.  At 179/1 you’ll get a great return on investment if he takes a medal and he doesn’t need to jump up 44 points to be competitive here, although if he did manage to pull it off it would make this an Equinics for the ages.  Dark Mandu is a scratchbred son of Mountain High x Scatmandu x Northern Guest.

 

#2 Dalakhani Dancer                       Daniel Stables                                                    13/1

Empire State Racing Residency

Dalakhani Dancer has done his best running at the two mile distance.  Six of his ten lifetime victories have come at that distance, including a listed stakes victory and a win in the Grade Three Royal Oak in November of 2012.  Last September he was beaten only one half length in the Grade Three Cannon Gold Cup, also at the two mile distance.  Dalakhani Dancer finished a solid second in a listed at a mile and three quarters in his only start of the year.  He is a scratchbred son of Dalakhani x Green Dancer x Sharpen Up.

 

#3 Hot and Wild                                                Selurnivek Stables                           13/1

Minnesota Testbarn Residency

Hot and Wild was a multiple graded winning two year old who has found new life in two mile races.  He’s started in two of them, winning an allowance with ridiculous ease and, in his most recent start, winning the Minnesota Testbarn Cup, a listed at the distance.  He hasn’t shown as much speed in those two races as others in the field have at the distance but he won the listed by five lengths and the allowance by over twenty so it’s tough to gauge how hard he had to run to win either of those starts.  Hot and Wild is a scratchbred son of Unusual Heat x Machiavellian x Wild Again.

 

#4 Montys Robber                                          Jacklad Stables                                  14/1

All-Stars Racing Residency

Montys Robber enters off the first stakes victory of his career.  He won a listed stakes at a mile and three quarters, beating fellow entrant Dalakhani Dancer handily with a 107 speed.  The lightly raced colt has hit the board in all ten of his career starts, including four victories.  He’s started twice at two miles, taking an allowance race and running second in another.  His listed stakes was his first start against older runners and he obviously handled that hurdle with aplomb.  Montys Robber is a scratchbred son of Montjeu x Nijinsky II x Roberto.

 

#5 Henze                                                             Platero Stables                                  11/1

City-Race Rhein-Main Turf Club Residency

Henze is another colt making his first at two miles.  He won the Grade Three Dutch St. Leger at a mile and three quarters last October to earn his first graded stakes score.  He followed that up with a lackluster fourth over a yielding surface in the Grade One Japanese Saint Legend after which trainer Platero gave the colt some time off.  He returned to the races on January 4^th and made his dirt debut in the Grade Three Socks Handicap.  He finished seventh in that start but a return to turf should help him rebound off that effort.  Henze is a son of Pivotal out of the stakes winning Jazil x Forestry mare Hegel.

 

#6 Forza                                                               Itch Stables                                         9/2

Comedy Central Residency

Forza may be a force to be reckoned with in this spot.  The grade two winner has banked over half a million dollars in long distance turf events but he has never tried the two mile distance before.  His two graded wins came at a mile and one half and a mile and three quarters.  He prepped for this start with a facile victory in a listed stakes race at the latter distance.  The son of Pulpit is one of two graded winners produced by the grade one winning millionaire mare River Nicole.  River Nicole did her best running between ten and twelve furlongs on the grass but she did win an allowance race at fourteen furlongs during her career.

 

#7 Dalakhani Mountain                                 Super1 Stables                                  13/1

DelPenn National Residency

Dalakhani Mountain enters this spot trying two miles for the first time and seeking his first stakes victory.  His best finish in a stakes up to this point was a second place finish in a listed at a mile and five sixteenths.  He did have a very nice looking prep in December where he took an allowance at a mile and three quarters wire to wire with a 105 speed.  Dalakhani Mountain is a son of Dalakhani out of the million dollar winner Nag of Notley, a daughter of Gone West x Sadler’s Wells.  She has already produced two graded winners.  Nag of Notley did her best running in middle distance races but lacked the stamina to compete at longer distances.  Dalakhani certainly adds extra stamina to a pedigree so there’s no reason this colt can’t compete at the distance.

 

#8 I Ben Scammed                                           Atthewire Stables                            14/1

East-West Connection Residency

I Ben Scammed is a player’s dream horse.  A beautifully bred scratchbred son of Montjeu x Dynaformer x Nureyev, I Ben Scammed was added to Atthewire Stables after failing to impress original owner Testcase.  He was dropped for a $50,000 tag prior to trying turf distance races which is where his new owner immediately put him.  Six starts and six wins later I Ben Scammed is a stakes winner and making his graded stakes debut in this spot.  His speeds are a touch below the top runners in this field but he’s won going the distance and he’s blown the field away in every one of those six starts, suggesting there may just be more in his tank.

 

#9 Montshaft                                                    Ladofmanor Stables                        24/1

GR Simsters Residency

Montshaft is riding a four race win streak heading into this spot.  The last three of those starts have all come at the two mile distance.  He won his first stakes race in his most recent start, running away from the field with a 103 speed.  That race on January Fourth was Montshaft’s first try versus older runners.  The son of Mineshaft is out of the Montjeu x Monsun mare Spiraling.  He is her only stakes winner from three foals but the other two are graded-placed and stakes-placed.

 

#10 Egg Nog Today                                          Dixiedotco Stables                           10/1

Pastures of Green Residency

Egg Nog Today is making a big jump in distance in this spot.  He has never been beyond a mile and one half but he does have some class, having won a listed stakes on the dirt last season.  He was switched to turf in October and has won three of his four starts on that surface, all allowance races.  The scratchbred son of Malibu Moon x Summer Squall x Woodman has a number of question marks surrounding him but he’s on a hot streak and sometimes that is enough to give a horse the confidence he needs to get the job done.

 

#11 Tinted Illusion                                           Coolk Stables                                     39/1

EAAA Racing Residency

Tinted Illusion is the longer shot of the two mares in this race.  She has an impressive nine victories from fourteen starts but is seeking her first stakes victory in this spot.  Six of those victories have come at two miles, including one start on the dirt.  She’s tried stakes company twice, finishing a dismal tenth on a yielding turf she obviously didn’t handle in the Grade One Japanese Saint Legend and most recently was a solid second in a listed at a mile and three quarters.  Tinted Illusion is a daughter of Pour Moi out of the Kingmambo x Mineshaft mare Sandtiger.

 

#12 Nine Two Five                           Magoo2912 Stables                                         31/1

Blazing Saddles Residency

Nine Two Five is making only his second graded stakes start in this spot but his first one was suberb .  In November he won the two mile Grade Two New Zealand Drinking Device by over four lengths with a 106 speed.  That was his third straight victory at the distance and fourth overall.  He followed that race up with an allowance run at a mile and one half in which he finished third of four starters.  This scratchbred son of Deep Impact x Monsun x Sadler’s Wells may well just need that added half mile to perform at his best.

 

#13 Outback Voyager                     VYZ Stables                                                         6/1

Midas Residency

Outback Voyager is one of two mares in the field.  She enters off three straight victories in graded stakes races versus males and this gal’s got the boys shaking in their shoes.  The scratchbred daughter of Montjeu x Kingmambo x Broad Brush has an impressive record of eight wins and three seconds from ten starts.  Her one weakness may be that she has not raced recently.  Her last start came on November 5^th 2013 when she won the Grade One Millwood Cup at the two mile distance.  This is will be the first break she’s had since she started racing in December of 2012.

 

#14 Registered Voter                     Tremguis Stables                                              6/1

Hispano Parlante Residency

Registered Voter is a lightly raced colt with only eleven starts.  He’s had exactly two stakes tries, a third in the Grade One Vicky Derby in November and a victory in a listed stakes in December (his most recent start).  Both of those races came at a mile and five eighths which is the longest distance he has ever traveled.  What Registered Voter lacks in experience he makes up for in speed.  He has run 100+ speeds in his last six starts, with his career best of 110 coming in the Vicky Derby.  Registered Voter is a scratchbred son of Galileo x Kris S. x Mr. Prospector.

#15 Empire Park                               Russrob2 Stables                                              9/1

Universal Racing Club Residency

Empire Park is one of two millionaires in the field.  He scored the biggest victory of his career in 2010 as a three year old when he took a grade two but he added a grade three score last May at the two mile distance.  Indeed he had a very solid year in 2013, hitting the board in four other graded races.  He prepped for this start with a third place finish in a listed stakes race at two miles in December.  Empire Park is by Walk in the Park and based on the stakes winning Empire Maker x Danehill horse Empire Hill.  Empire Hill scored his stakes victory at a mile and five sixteenths on the grass although he did run competitively at longer distances.

 

#16 Priced to Sell                              Deuce1 Stables                                                 11/1

Queensland Racecourse Residency

Priced to Sell has run only three times at two miles.  He finished second in an allowance, fourth in a grade two and, in his most recent start, broke through with his first listed stakes win.  He does his best running when he is in front by the first call and could very well be the early pace in this spot.  His speed of 100 in that listed score is perhaps a touch low but he won by over four lengths and has shown more speed in the past (albeit at shorter distances).  Priced to Sell is a scratchbred son of Repriced x Stage Door Johnny x Ela-Mana-Mou.

 

Good luck to all!