Young Guns Seek Equinics Gold in Oldtimers

Sixteen sophomore colts, many with dreams of competing in the Derby in three months’ time, are set to compete in the Oldtimers-G1.  Will one of them capture both Olympic Gold to go with Derby roses?  Only time will tell.  Faced with a deep and contentious group, the handicappers have literally thrown up their hands, putting odds of 13/1 to 17/1 on the majority of the competition.  The majority of the colts will be competing at 9 ½ furlongs for the first time in their careers.  In addition to Olympic gold, the lion’s share of the rich $1 million purse awaits the winner.  Without further adieu, here are the sixteen hopefuls, in post position order:

PP1. Mission Changed, (Mission Impazible x Tale of Ekati), Vermont
The leggy grey son of Mission Impazible is a homebred campaigned by kallor.  He took a while to grow into himself, but has been unstoppable since being stretched out to routes.  Mission has won four straight, with improving speed figures, capped off by a 4 ½ length romp against open company at 1 1/16 miles (97 SF).  His speed figures are competitive, and he gives every indication that he will relish the additional distance.  Gets a class challenge on Saturday, but looks well equipped to take the step to the next level at odds of 13/1.

PP2. Petrol, (Curlin x A.P. Indy), East-West Connection
Bred and trained by horsechic7, this imposing copper colt is going to have to answer some class and distance questions here in this event.  Still, you have to like what you’ve seen so far of him.  He’s won three of four starts at a flat mile, and was a hard-charging second in the third.  With this guy’s running style, he should appreciate the extra distance, and his pedigree screams 1 ¼ miles.  Petrol took another step forward in his latest, improving his best speed figure to a 95.  If he can rise to the challenge, he will reward his backers with 15/1 odds.

PP3. Box of Trouble, (Bernardini x Montjeu), DelPenn
One colt who is already proven over a distance of ground is super27’s royally bred entry.  He won a listed stakes at 10 ½ furlongs under a handride, hitting the wire 4 lengths ahead of the runner up.  The speed figure wasn’t much, but he was previously a fast-closing fifth in the Ransom S-G2 at 9 furlongs, posting a 93 SF in the process. If anything, this distance may be a bit shorter than he wants to go.  His dam was a G2 winner at 9 furlongs, and she is a full sister to G1 Artemis and Apollo, who was a multiple G1 winner and did her best running from a mile to 9 furlongs. Offers some value at 15/1.

PP4. Hit N Miss, (Medaglia d’Oro x Deep Impact), Queensland
This pale grey son of Medaglia d’Oro has floated across the track like a ghost in his morning workouts.  The ditriot homebred is in the best form of his career, having gobbled up eight lengths in his last race to fall short of the win in the Mary Wanna Smoke Dirt Juvenile (96 SF).  That effort came at 1 1/16 miles, so there’s no question that this deep closer will benefit from the extra 1/8th of a mile.  In addition, the winner of that race, Closet Junkie, is no slouch, having won six of seven starts to date.  Like many in the field, Hit N Miss is on the improve and should appreciate the distance.  Hit N Miss is a half-brother to one of the top 3yos last year:  Ram N Raid, who won the Vermont Is 4 Lovers-G1 and was fifth in the Derby itself.  Their dam, Smash N Grab, took a while to hit her best stride, but ultimately became a G3 winner at 1 1/16 miles. Offers odds of 15/1.

PP5. Outback Curium, (Awesome Again x Kingmambo), Midas
Regally bred colt campaigns for outback5.  Lightly raced colt has only four starts under his belt, but has already shown talent to go with the pedigree.  Stretched out to 1 1/16 miles, he had a stylish ½ length win in the Rhibus Dirt Juvenile Stakes (93 SF), before putting forth a monster effort in the Club Stakes-G2, closing from 12th to 2nd, and finishing ¼ length behind Hymn of Winter.  That performance resulted in a 102 SF, and things should only go up from here.  Odds of 10/1 on this guy appear to be somewhat of a gift.

PP6. Gold Medal Round, (Stay Gold x A.P. Indy), Blazing Saddles
Signs of foreshadowing with the name?  His morning line odds are 9/1, but hunch bettors should drive the odds down by post time.  The depark homebred sports six wins from eight starts, including a victory in the Blazing Saddles Breeders Showdown Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles that resulted in a 98 SF.  Had an easy tune-up for this race with a wire to wire score in an open allowance with a 95 SF.  In a field full of deep closers, may have the edge with his front-running, free-wheeling style.   Lots to like at 9/1.

PP7.  Magnifique Mahe, (Distorted Humor x Tapit), City Race Rhein-Main Turf Club
This light dapple grey colt is campaigned by gaudi, and is one of the more experienced horses in this field, with 10 races already.  Like many of the others in this field, the colt has continued to improve with age and distance.  He won an N2L at 1 1/16 miles with a 92 SF, and made a late move to close from 12 ¼ lengths back to finish second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths by Offthechartssmarts in a 9 furlong allowance last time out with a 91 SF.  His dam was a stakes winner at 1 1/16 miles, and while Magnifique’s speed figures are a little lighter than some of his competition, but it wouldn’t take that much to put him in the thick of things late.  The bookies have set his odds at 17/1.

PP8. Maximum Overdose, (Street Cry x Awesome Again), EAAA Racing
This rugged colt’s pedigree screams Derby from top to bottom, and is the first foal out of the stellar racemare Terminal Velocity.  She won the California Oaks-G1 before finishing fourth in the Bluegrass Oaks-G1, and clearly, his connections are hoping for classic glory.  Owned and bred by tees, the massive bay showed promise in his first few starts, but kept running out of racetrack.  Once he got to 1 1/16 miles, the big colt was able to get rolling in time, and closed from the back of the pack to win by 1 ¾ lengths.  Since then, he won an N2L, and fell 1 ½ lengths short in the Invasor Stakes in mid-December, finishing behind Giant of Komarr.  With each start, his speed figures have continued to improve, with his current best a 99 SF.  His two best races have come over a sloppy track, but he has also won over a fast track, so the going isn’t as much of a concern as it otherwise might be.  Has every right to love the extra distance, and offers some value at 11/1.

PP9. Mark the Point, (Kitten’s Joy x Street Cry), GR Simsters
Surprisingly, despite being by Kitten’s Joy, this guy has yet to try the turf for lenny11.  That said, he’s been doing just fine on the main track, and that’s probably due to the influence of his dam, Fire Them Bones, who was a multiple graded stakes winner from a mile to 1 1/8 miles.  Mark’s granddam, Rapid Fire, also produced Wild Cat Tales, who earned almost $2 million and was a multiple G1 winner; Delta Delta Delta, a multiple graded stakes winner going 1 1/2 miles on the lawn, and Queue the Music, who was decent on the track, but is better known for producing Middle Jewel S-G1 and Breeders’ Bowl Classic-G1 winner Jeepster.   The eye-catching roan boasts the fastest speed figure of any horse in the race, a 106 SF, which he earned last time out when winning a listed stakes at 9 furlongs.  The way he won indicates the extra 1/16th should be no problem, and this guy has a tactical advantage here.  Most of the competition are deep closers, while this guy likes to stalk the early pace in midpack.  In a full field, that early jump may make a critical difference, especially in a big field where traffic problems can and do happen.  Hard to overlook, and the handicappers agree, listing him as the co-favorite at 7/1.

PP10. Una Aventura Mas, (Awesome Again x Seattle Slew), Sim Hispano
Yet another colt by Awesome Again in this field (and there are quite a few more with him as the dam-sire).  The diminuitive bay is full of attitude in the barn, and has backed it up on the racetrack for trainer triscay.  The main knock on this guy is that he has been soundly defeated in his two attempts in graded company; however, he has been improving with distance and age, and the third time may prove to be the charm here.  “Mas” coasted home after opening up a huge lead in a 9 furlong allowance prep for this race while posting a 104 SF, the second-best in this field.  The horse he defeated in that race?  Fellow Equinics hopeful Universal Empire.  In a field with not much early speed, this guy has plenty, and if he can shake loose early, the closers may never catch back up to him.  May be the value play at 9/1 if the pace scenario unfolds his way.

PP11. B.O. Western Gypsy, (Western Winter x Mogok), South African Racing Association
By top South African sire Western Winter, who sadly died this past September, B.O. Western Gypsy has acquitted himself well over both dirt and the polytrack for safbb4.  His dam, Gypsy’s Warning, was a stakes winner sprinting, but her son has adopted a come from the clouds running style, lagging last in 20 horse fields before starting to roll in the stretch.  In his most recent start on dirt, Gypsy rallied from 19th to finish second, missing by a head in the Sara Breeders Juvenile at 1 1/16 miles.  The 90 SF earned by the fawn colored bay is among the lighter in the field, but he is eligible to improve, and appears to want more distance, as shown by his improved SFs at a route.  The relative longshot in the field at 41/1.

PP12. Rotflmao, (Distorted Humor x Storm Cat), Comedy Central
Name is definitely a play on both the sire and the residency, but laugh at this horse at your peril.  Touched’s homebred is no joke, as he showed in winning a listed stakes at 1 1/16 miles last time out, with his best speed figure to date, a 93 SF, defeating Malibu Minister in the process.  Has continued to improve with experience and distance, and importantly, has raced well near the lead and stalking just behind the early leaders.  In a full field, that handiness may give him a bit of an edge.  Was pulling away in his latest, so again, there’s no reason to think the extra distance will be a problem.  If he pulls off the mild upset, his backers will be laughing all the way to the bank at 15/1.

PP13. Uno Dos Adios, (Awesome Again x Distorted Humor), Minnesota Testbarn
The third son of Awesome Again in this field, this guy has a strong female family to boot.  His dam competed successfully in stakes from 12 to 16 furlongs on both turf and dirt, and is a half-sister to Badbadstella, who won the 9 furlong Canada Stakes-G2.  Their dam, Bad Stella, was a solid marathoner, competing in stakes from 12-16 furlongs, and she was a half-sister to the brilliant turf mare Compelling Grace, who won over $900,000 in her career, capturing graded stakes from a flat mile to 10 furlongs, and popped an amazing 125 SF at a mile.  The singleall trainee has been facing some tough competition and has been knocking on the door.  He was second to Summer in July in the Charcoal Breeders’ Cup Stakes-G2 (92 SF); that rival subsequently ran third in the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile-G1.  More recently, he closed to finish third in a residency stakes, also at 1 1/16 miles.  The chocolate bay with a slash of a blaze tends to stalk just off the pace, and with this family, the farther the better.  Look for him in the longer races this summer, as he’s bred to go forever.  Still, he has a legitimate shot at Saturday’s “shorter” distance, and could reward his backers with 13/1 odds.

PP14. Universal Empire, (Empire Maker x Awesome Again), Universal Racing Club
Like fine wine, Universal Empire has been getting better with age and distance for metallinut.  The imposing golden bay colt towers above most of the field in height, and is steadily growing into that huge frame.  The colt was light enough on his feet to do well at shorter distances, but appears to be coming into his own, as shown by his determined second at 9 furlongs last time out with a 102 SF, losing to fellow Equinics hopeful Una Ventura Mas by 1 ½ lengths.  His dam was a G2 winner sprinting, and competed in the 2010 Equinics, finishing 11th.  Universal Empire looks to live up to his sire, and the extra distance should only be a bonus.  Getting good at the right time, and the oddsmakers are all over him, making him the second choice at 8/1.

PP15. Mob Wars, (War Front x Street Cry), Empire State Racing
No question this guy can fly, as evidenced by his 103 SF last time out.  The ecr trainee has won twice, and has been a bit unlucky in his two starts routing, having to settle for second both times.  He has the class and the talent; the only question mark for the Mobster is distance.  When Mob Wars took the lead at the head of the stretch in the 1 1/16 mile Sam’s Town Delta Jackpot-G3, he was ultimately passed in the stretch and lost by 2 ½ lengths to Bear Crossing, who wheeled back to win the Legoland-G3.  This race will give a better indication as to whether the compact bay is a router, or a very talented miler with a late kick.  His odds are 7/1.

PP16. Stupefying, (Bernardini x Awesome Again), All-Stars Racing
Another royally bred colt, and the second son of Bernardini in this field, this guy has the least amount of experience in the field, with only two races to date. Still, he has shown some serious ability for trainer teamasr.  The lanky dark bay was a determined half-length victor in his debut with a 90 SF for a flat mile, and was a fast-closing second in his stakes debut after cutting back to seven panels.  Bred for a distance, as his dam, My Sweet Lord, was a G3 winner going a marathon 16 furlongs, he’ll be flying in the end.  Appears to have the talent, but spots a lot of experience to his rivals.  Offers 15/1 odds.

Good luck to all of the horses and their connections!