Will Swansea Be Triumphant In The Equinics Sim Wide Contest

The Sim Wide Contest Equinics Race 

By Smokeglack

The very first SIM wide contest was conducted by Flstables, and consisted of a year long handicapping contest.

Since then many players have donated their time (and in many cases their money) to run contests open to the general SIM public. Thank you, this tribute race is donated to you.

 

 

Good afternoon ladies and gents! Welcome to the greatest day in Sim land. Today’s the day we get together to showcase some of the best horses in the land, have some laughs and collectively root for our Residency to put its best competitive foot forward. Today’s race being covered is the Sim Wide Contest Race.  It’s open to fillies and mares and will be run on Vermont’s fast dirt track at a distance of 8f. We have some sprinters trying to stretch their speed and longer types trying to time their run earlier to get the respective job done. A star studded field is assembled and the crowd is in a frenzy; let’s look at the horses, owners and Residencies they will be representing.

 

SWANSEA TRIUMPH–  Bristol Red Stables –  Empire State Racing Residency

Swansea Triumph comes into this race with the highest ranked points. The 9 wins in 16 start mare is coming off a very useful allowance prep. In an open allowance race at the measured 8f, she turned the clocker’s heads as she reeled off the 8f in an impressive 1:33 ¾. She won by an extending 1 ¾ lengths. The bred in the purple daughter of Montjeu, this mare has unbelievably had only 16 starts. After starting her career on the turf, this mare turned her barn around when she hit the dirt running. She has run in 6 graded races; won 3 and placed in the other 3. Her career best efforts were in Sept in NY when she attempted her 1^st Gr1 race in the Superfilly Handicap. She beat 3 other Gr1 winners by 2 ½ lengths and 8 other graded winners. Her speed number of 113 told Bristol Red that she was mature and ready for the big lights. Her next daunting task was the BB Filly/mare Dirt at 9f. Going off at 2^nd choice, she closed hard down the stretch and finished a great 3^rd against the best in the world. Today Swansea is her to stamp her authority on this division and the older gal will be bullying some of the under seasoned 4 yr old girls. Likes distance, comes into race perfectly and she looks to get Empire State Residency a coveted win.  Dangerous horse here and merits much respect.

 

FREESTYLE RAP –  Psyduck  –  Comedy Central Residency

Freestyle Rap comes in with the jokesters from the Comedy Central Residency. This 4 yr old filly is also very lightly raced, but supports a 7 win in 12 start career record. The Distorted Humor daughter is already a 3 time graded winner, with her best race being the Gr 2 Clemente at 8 ½ f. In that race, Freestyle Rap bounded out of the gate and never turned back. She went wire to wire with a blitzing 112 speed and a 1 ½ win. Going off at 16-1 in that race, Freestlye Rap beat 4 other Gr. 1 winners. She returned in October to win another Gr 2 in the Barbacoa Stakes. She pressured the pace in that one and again held off late challengers as she hit the wire a ¼ length to the good. For today’s event, Freestyle Rap must use her deadly speed wisely. If she can run sensible fractions up front, she may not look back today. Her experience and speed will be tested here today, but this gal has a deadly running style and might just wave bye bye to the field. Merits respect with deadly speed and ability.

 

LUCKY’S NEGLECT–  Mr Lucky Racing –  Universal Racing Club Residency

Mr. Lucky brings the 4 yr old English bred filly down the lane for the Universal Racing Club residency. Lucky’s Neglect is a million dollar earner, having run in some very prestigious races. Back in August and September, Lucky’s Neglect reeled off the Gr 3 Jersey Oaks by ¼ of a length, and followed that up with a Gr 2 win in the Cotton Handicap. Her last big effort and race came in the BB Filly/mare Distaff race. In that race, Lucky’s Neglect came home strongly and finished 5^th, beaten by only 5 ½ lengths. She’s had a tough campaign as of late, having run in 7 graded stakes in a row. In her last race, Lucky’s Neglect seemed to throw a shoe and was pulled up in the race. That race may play the key for today’s race however. She may have needed a break and now will look to bounce back to her graded winning form. If she reverses the last race and is in good training, Lucky’s Neglect definitely has the capability to hit the wire first in this one. She will probably be slightly overlooked from the bettors based off last race speed number, but has the earmarks of a horse coming of a single digit speed number to a 113 speed number. Must respect this gal and her ability to perform in graded waters.

 

FELINE FINE-  Tees- EAAA Racing Residency

Tees walks down the barn with Feline Fine, a 4 yr old filly by Big Brown. The crew at EAAA Racing hopes this filly can run a similar effort as her Oct 10^th Gr 1 race in the Three Smokestacks. In that race, Feline Fine, the then 3 yr old filly, beat elder fillies and mares by ¾ of a length driving past much of the field in the stretch. Feline Fine can sometimes be a head scratcher for Tees I think. When she’s on her game, she shows signs of a dangerous filly in the making. She then can make you wonder as 2 of her poorest efforts were sub 100 runs. She is now 4 yrs old, comes into today’s race with a resounding stakes win in which she ran the 2^nd best speed number of her career and Tees is hoping she can continue that momentum. She has a remarkable turn of foot late, and today’s 2 speed runners should surely set her up with something to run at late.  She has taken her time to mature to this status race, but today may be the day she puts it all together for the gang at EAAA Racing. Tough read on this filly, but with this trainer and her last race sign I can’t discount this girl flying home late to upset some of the more seasoned Gr 1 winners. Chance if she can put it all together.

 

FALLING STARS-  Tisjuliet-  All Stars Racing Residency

Tisjuliet brings the 9 win, half million dollar earner Falling Stars to the track for the gang at All Stars Racing.  The 4 yr old daughter of Medaglia D’oro has taken some time to develop into the mature horse she is today. Her career turn around race came in August in the Gr 3 Lil Evil Handicap at this very track. In that race against 11 others, Fallen Stars showed signs that she can compete on the big stage. Going off at 5-1, Fallen Stars tracked the field in mid pack, and then unleashed a fury around the turn to win with a resounding 114 speed number. It was her second straight speed number over 110.  2 months later she jumped up a class to the Gr 2 Jump Town Handicap. In that race, she pressured the pace more, sitting 2^nd most of the way. At the top of the stretch, she again took control and won by a measured 1 ¾ lengths.  The then 3 yr old showed signs that she was ready to tackle the elders. In her last prep for today, Fallen Stars ran in the Gods Fury Dirt Mile Stakes at today’s distance. In that race, she ran a steadied 3^rd, beaten by only 2 ½ lengths. Tisjuliet may have gotten exactly what she wanted for Fallen Stars to set her up today. Today she faces a much tougher collective field then she has ever faced, but the upswing to this filly is bright. She has the capability to fire a 114-116 speed number today if all the “stars” line up for her. She’s won 2x at 8f, albeit only allowance races, but she has the ability to sit close or run late. If the jockey can get her into good rhythm early, and she’s ready to run today, she may be the 114 speed number winner today.

 

KASH ON TAP-  Kashbarn Racing-  East West Connection Residency

Kashbarn loads up the 4 yr old Japanese bred filly Kash On Tap for the crew at East West Connection. The 19 start filly has earned over a half million dollars already. A major player in the 3 yr old summer races for fillies, Kash On Tap has had some big runs in her career. Her 1^st big career run propelled her into the prestigious Bluegrass Oaks race. In the California Oaks in March, Kash On Tap ran a solid closing 3^rd to solidify her spot in the starting gate. A month later, she would line up against the best dirt 3 yr old fillies in the land. In the 20 horse field in the Bluegrass Oaks, she would break 12^th and stay there for a better part of the race. As the neared the top of the stretch, Kash On Tap was in full flight bearing down on the leaders. She would come flying through the stretch to just miss the wire by a shortening ½ length.  Since then, Kash On Tap has run in 7 straight graded races; a tough task for any horse. Her best effort came in the 6f sprint race the Victorious Ride. Kash On Tap displayed her class, being able to revert back to sprinting and win the Gr 3 by a head. For today, Kash On Tap will have to dig back on her past performances as a 3 yr old. She has a tough task here today, but it’s hard to discount a horse who has the collective graded runs as she has had and discount. She will look to revert back to early form and if she can, still a threat here today for Kashbarn and the East West Connection.

 

PUBLIK OPINION –  Wreckagees – Hispano Parlante Residency

The lightly seasoned Publik Opinion comes down the tunnel for the peeps at Hispano Parlante. The only 12 start filly has severe upside potential and looks to unveil that start today. A winner of 8 races already, Publik Opinion is the horse that scares bettors. After her 1^st 4 races on turf, the daughter of Oasis dream switched over to the dirt. Since that time, she has won 7 of 8 races and only lost in her 1^st attempt at a graded race. She has been brought along by one of the masters, and she looks like she can be primed to make a splash in the Gr 1 today. Her biggest race to date came in the Gr 2 Hunted By Lions Stakes in Ny where she lined up against 13 other competitors. In that race, Publik Opinion broke 9^th and then displayed an amazing turn of foot through the stretch, where she drew off under a hand ride by 1 ¾ lengths. She has run back to back post 113 speed numbers, is still very fresh in her career and has a very dangerous running style for today’s race. She has won at this distance 3 times already and the only question for her to answer today is can she take on class gr 1 runners in the same race. To me, one of the scariest horses in the field if she can make that jump.  A huge threat here today for the Hispano Parlante Residency with this seemingly star in the making.

 

BUY THE MOON-  Flagdown- Pastures Of Green Residency

Buy The Moon is handled by Flagdown and represents the host track today in Pastures Of Green Residency. The lightly raced 13 start filly has won 3 races, but has hit the board in 9 starts. Her biggest race of her career came as a 3 yr old in the Gr 1 Los Vinagrette Stakes at 8f. In that race, Buy The Moon came closing strongly to finish 2^nd by a 3 ¾ lengths. 3 months later, she followed that up with a victory in the Gr 3 Great Fiddle Sticks Handicap. In that run, she tied her best career speed number with a 107. Today, she is back at what seems to be her best running distance and has much upswing potential. Her last series of preps for today was 3 stakes races and a 10f allowance race to get some bottom and conditioning for today’s race. Has a lot of questions here today to answer, but she may surprise many in here today. Likes the distance, seems fresh and is possibly ready to fire her biggest bullet number of her career. She must answer the class bell today, but seems like she can be comfortable to get her racing career back to her early form as a young 3 yr old. She came 2^nd in a stakes run at this very track, and should benefit today from the speedier types up front.

 

SHOWPIECE – Desperado- Blazing Saddles

Desperado brings the 5 yr old mare Showpiece to the ring for the gang at Blazing Saddles. In 23 races, this mare has earned over a half million dollars. Her biggest win in her career came last June when she won the Gr 2  Golfer’s Wager Handicap. In that race, she sat mid-pack and came soaring through the stretch to win by 1 ¾ lengths with a career high 114 speed number. The daughter of Galileo comes into the race with a couple of useful preps. In her last, Showpiece ran in an allowance race nw of 2 in 6. She ran a solid closing 3^rd in that race with a 108 speed number. Showpiece has a couple of questions here today, but if she can revert back to last summer’s form, she can be more formidable than the punters have her. She is capable of a 4-5 point jump from last race efforts and that could possibly have her hitting the board. Her class and recent conditioning will tested here today, but she can be a wiseguy type horse here today to spring the mild upset.

 

OUR FAVORITE PLACE – Pointblank-  GR Simsters

Pointblank leads the German bred daughter of Monsun, Our Favorite Place to the paddock for the crew of Gr Simsters. This lightly raced filly comes into today with some very dangerous warning signs. After taking 9 tries to break her allowance nw3l condition, this filly has matured quickly and now seems to understand the game. She has a beautiful mid pack closing kick that will serve her useful today. In her last race at 8 ½ f in the Gr3 Exit Stage Left, this filly fired her first warning shot to the division. Going off at 13-1, Our Favorite place sat 4^th down the backside, and flew past the leaders turning for home. She had now beaten 4 Gr 1 winners in the same race. Her speed number of 111 was the 2^nd speed number in a row above 110. In her prior race to that, Our Favorite Place tried her 1^st attempt in a stakes race. Off at 9-1, she toyed with the field and crossed the wire in front by 2 lengths with a solid 113 speed number. Today, she will have a few questions however. Can she keep going off her last efforts and beat many Gr 1 winners with only 11 lifetime starts? Is she ready for the bright lights after only 2 attempts in stakes races? Her running style and fitness right now tells me absolutely. If she doesn’t get intimated, keeps her progression that she is on, here’s your $26 dollar winner. A tiny bit skeptical, but she may wind up being the best horse in the division after today. Big threat today.

 

CRY TO THE ANGELS–  Super Stables- Del Penn National Residency

The Del Penn residency and the Super Stables bring 5 yr old mare Cry To The Angels to the party today. This will be Cry To The Angels 2^nd time in an Equinics race. Cry To The Angels comes into today’s race with a uneventful allowance race which can be tossed in the garbage. Seems like it may either have been by design, or Cry To The Angels wanted to get a bad one out of the way to be prepped for today. Cry To The Angels was one of the solid 3 yr old fillies and has had some big races in her career. Last year, Cry To The Angels became a black type winner, by winning the Gr 2 East Coast Mile. For today’s race, Cry must call back on some of her older form. She is a consistent horse to own, getting many paychecks but today she wants the big one. She should like the exact 8f distance better than some in here today and beware of horses that come in with 88 speed numbers as prep races. Will have to be absolutely perfect today to win, but she can possibly get a board spot with a well timed run and trip.

 

ALWAYS PERFECT– Davarto- Midas Residency

Long time simmer Davarto leads Always Perfect to the post for the crew of the Midas Residency. This 4 yr old filly by Looking At Lucky has 11 career starts and improving at the right time in her career. In her last 7 races, she’s only been off the board once. In her last, an allowance 3x race at 8f, Always Perfect strolled to a 2 ¼ length victory. Her 104 speed number was the 2^nd highest in her career. Her highest career speed came in a stakes race where she finished a solid 3^rd while running a 108 speed number. For today, Always Perfect has a few questions to answer. Can she make the leap into Gr 1 company so quickly? Will the 8f seem a tad short for her with speedier types up front? She’s ready to mature and improve, and Davarto is hoping that today is the day she puts it all together. She will bide her time early and wait for her jock’s cue and we’ll see if this filly can fire that career 114 or better speed number. In Sim racing, horses can seem to develop overnight, and this one seems to have the ear markings to do so.

 

HARD SECRET-  Crandy- Northwest Racing Circuit Residency

The NWRC gang and Crandy bring the veteran of the race in Hard Secret to the post today. With 31 career starts, there’s not much that Hard Secret hasn’t already seen. The half million dollar earner has captured a Gr 2 in her career and ran in some of the biggest filly and mare dirt races. Her Gr 2 win came when she was a late 2 yr old in the Motherly Love Stakes. Her biggest career races were in the Gr 1 Original Margarita, Bluegrass Oaks and the Orange Blossom. So graded racing for this long in the tooth mare is anything new. Her best career race may have been the in the Gr 1 Orange Blossom 2 years ago. Facing a stellar group, Hard Secret threw the gauntlet down early and blistered the pace and just got caught deep stretch in finishing 3^rd with a 110 speed number. Her other big race was last year in the Gr 1 Original Margarita where again she led late and just got caught at the wire. For today, I think here’s everyone’s cue horse. All jocks will be watching this one as I expect her to throw it down early. She has class speed and at a mile distance can be very dangerous. She must try to get those fractions easily though, or some deep closer will be coming at her. She will be fun to watch early today, and if anyone is napping she may take them all to the bank. Threat with speed.

 

MEANDRO– Platero- City-Race Rhein- Main Turf Club

Platero brings 5 yr old Meandro down the aisle for the City Race Rhein Main Turf Club today. This daughter of Corinthian has had 27 starts with 10 victories. Her dirt career has had only 8 races however and she’s earned 3 victories from those.  In her last 3 races, all allowance conditioned races; Meandro has put forth some nice runs. She has come a closing 2^nd twice earning speeds of 102 and 103 respectively. Meandro sure has her work cut out for her today, but her running style make make her more purposeful than the bettors are saying. She has a patented timed move over the 8f distance and that can possibly set her up to get some awards. She definitely will be tested today class wise, but if she puts in a slightly better than average run, her closing power may have her jump a few more class tested opponents. Her Gr 1 winning mommy will be rooting for the girl to follow her footsteps today.

 

QUEEN DEUCE-  Deuce 1-  Queensland Racecourse Residency

Deuce and the Queensland folks proudly walk down the lane with Queen Deuce. She is a 5 yr old daughter of Smart Strike. Queen Duece comes into today’s race with 21 lifetime starts and 3 victories. The good news is that 2 of her last 3 races were the ones responsible for 2 of those victories. She comes into today a little behind the class ball, but she seems to be finding her best career form on the dirt right now. In a non-conditioned allowance race 2 starts back, Queen Deuce made up 9 ¼ lengths in the stretch to win by a good 1 ¼ lengths. Her speed number of 104 (which she has fired 4 times) tied her best career effort. Two starts back, she came flying late to miss a nw2y condition by a closing 2 ¼ lengths. Her last race and prep for today was a nw3l allowance condition. Facing 11 horses, she strolled home a full 3 length winner. For today’s race Queen must continue to improve and fire the absolute best race of her life. From many angles, she can certainly be capable of doing so. She has a very sexy closing kick that should serve her well today. Her speed number must improve in the neighborhood of 8 pts off her career best, but she seems to be a late mature and possibly could be rounding into her best form right now. Will be coming from the mid to back late with the best charge she can muster up; maybe a board spot if all works well.

 

SAILING DEPUTY   – Dragnil – South African Racing Association Residency

Dragnil and the crew at South African Residency send Sailing Deputy for their torch run. The 19 start, 5 yr old mare is coming into the race after firing a nice local allowance win with a 103 speed number. Before that, we have to go back to March of last year to find a dirt race for her. In that March dirt race, Sailing Deputy ran a very nice closing 1nd at 8f, running a 102 speed number. Sailing Deputy will find things a bit tougher today with facing black type winners, but she’s always given honest and hard efforts. Because there’s not a whole lot of recent dirt form to go off of, we’ll take the optimistic side and say that this gal may be competitive with most in here today. To get a placing today, Sailing Deputy will have to use her speed wisely as I don’t think she will get the lead with a few of the more fleet footed horses in here. She should be sitting 3-5^th down the backside and then give it everything she’s got to hold off the back closers. Solid honest horse with a lot of questions to answer, but not impossible.

 

DULUTH FLOODS  – Cothill- Minnesota Testbarn Residency

The gang and Minny Testbarn bring Duluth Floods to the gate today. Cothill’s young filly with only 13 career starts looks to do battle with the elders of the Mile Division. Duluth Floods has shown nice signs lately of improving. In her last race, a nw of 2 in 6 condition, the daughter of Mineshaft put forth a very nice effort with a runner-up finish and a 107 speed number. In her final race of 2012, in the Minnesota Testbarn Oaks, the filly ran lights out with a ¼ length closing win and a 111 speed number. This horse has a lot of potential. If not today definitely in the future. Lots of positive indicators for tomorrow. She loves the flat out 8f distance. She has run 2 times at the 111 speed number mark, and she’s maturing to be better. She has run 3 times in graded company as a 3 yr old and not performed terribly well. However, she’s showing signs now that she has grown up and matured and ready to put forth a solid effort. If she can improve tomorrow and prove her current form is true, she can be a contender for a medal if not the main one. Capable and dangerous type horse.

 

Smoke’s Useless Top 4 Picks:

I hope everyone has a fantastic day of racing and congrats to all representing your residencies. Good luck to all trainers and residencies!

1)      SWANSEA TRIUMPH –  Empire State – Looks very dangerous off last effort and if can put something similar today, she wins the gold.

2)    OUR FAVORITE PLACE–  Gr Simsters- Won last 3 for fun with deadly closing kick late

3)    FALLING STARS–  All Star Racing–  Hard to pinpoint exactly where here, but can fire a big number

4)      DULUTH FLOODS- Minnesota Testbarn– Just have sneaky suspicion she can run big today

Anyway, best of luck to all, and may the horse be with you!