General’s Chariot, Digging The Grave, more kick off KY Horsemen’s Spirits Series
California– So, there’s these two Sim gamers waxing poetic about what the Sim means to them.
The first gamer sighs (all warm and fuzzy!): “Ya know, the Sim is like Chicken Soup for us restless horse racing fans’ souls. From week’s beginning to week’s end, always a sweet comfort food feast.”
The second gamer though shakes his head, disagreeing: “Nahh, the Sim is the before-and-after of a drinkin’ night out on the town. It’s the phone call rounds to your friends on the message boards, the dress-up and musky cologne of stats-hunting and the BTB. Partytime commences on Saturday afternoon with grades, stakes, allowances, and claimers standing in for liquor, beer, coffee, and pop. Finally, once all your nags run backwards, it’s the bad hangover on Sunday aftenoon…. and it all sets up for another party week!”
Ha! No doubt the latter line of thought follows the good-n-wily folks at the Kentucky Horsemen website. Their inaugural Spirits Series kicks off this week showcasing the best sprinters on both turf and dirt here at California and Kentucky. And the Series promises to be a whopper akin to the GSR Series: it consists of 16 Grade 1 races spread out from now till late December (Week 3077).
From 6 furlongs to two miles, most of the races are named after “spirits”: there’s the Moonshine Mile (don’t want to drink too much of that!) and the marathon Bourbon Cup (hopefully top-notch bourbon over the rocks). And of course the “twin Elixirs” for the rocketin’ sprinters, twin-tonic dashes between Sim immortals and we’ll profile here the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Elixir Turf Sprint……….
THE HERO AND THE CHAMP
What a story! You got one of the new heroes of the Sim, Digging The Grave (that horse with such a memorable name!), matched again with the amazing General’s Chariot, 2004 2YO Turf Colt and 2005 Sprint champion. That speedster Digging The Grave all alone out front, daring the late-closing ‘General to track him on down.
And that was the scenario in February’s Equinics Walter Swinburn(G1)….. this reporter has to say that NO ONE was gonna beat the ‘Grave that afternoon. Zewango2’s Silver Ghost son was just so on the money, it was like “See ya, ‘General who?!!?” Wow, coming-out party for the colt who positively blossomed late last season, winning the Japan Sprint(G1) in December. General’s Chariot wound up 4th in another race that same December afternoon, but he still had the record to win the Sprint championship.
Still, Digging The Grave (9/2) was the one to watch ever since — he reeled off three straight ’06 victories including the Equinics as a ferocious turf sprint pacesetter. Sdmf (zewango2) brought his 5YO horse’s right stuff into Sand Castle day three weeks ago and tested the dirt for the first time. Unfortunately, ‘Grave got pressured into a speed duel and weakened a spell down the lane. Did that race take anything out of him? Always beware of the ol’ turf-to-dirt switcheroo — the Sim’s very forgiving and even turbocharges horses when placed back on their best surface and distance.
Instead, I’d be more keen on the ‘Grave getting into a speed duel. Kiki’s Solid Rock upset General’s Chariot LTO and he can provide challenging speed pressure. Kiki’s got question marks though (more on that later), but suffice to say, that this is gonna be a huge test for Digging The Grave. If he gets outgunned and weakens late, he’s got some excuses. But if he rockets out there… watch out!!!
As for General’s Chariot (3/1), he’s my own horse (LOL!), so not necessary to yammer on. 🙂 I’ll say though that I was a bit disappointed in his last race — it was a good effort and only his 2nd start of the year. Shortening up here to 4 weeks rest should help him fire a higher SP#. *Knock on wood* hopefully he hasn’t lost a step this season, but I intended to race him lite earlier in ’06 because he’s getting up there in starts for a Gone West x Storm Cat and stuff. LOL. Hopefully, the two speedsters will hook up in a duel, thus providing ‘General with a perfect scenario for his late kick.
SOLID RESPECT
And to the “other” pacesetter ready to convince the doubters: Kiki’s Solid Rock (11/1). OK, first this Forty Niner 5YO positively walloped the Generals Pals Sprint Show(G1). Talk about guts! The ‘Rock chippered on through there, duking it out on the lead enroute to a furious 3/4 length score with a 107 SP#. Gorgeous upseting the General’s own race! Ha! Superb 8-for-15 sprint lifetime record adds plenty of merit to this “longshot.” And tons of back class too — this guy hit the board in the million-dollar Canada Mile(G1) last year in fine time.
So, whats up with the odds? Well, the bookies didn’t like that “distanced” 65 SP# marathon effort LTO. 16 furlongs on the dirt after becoming a Grade 1 winner in turf sprints?!!? Talk about unorthodox. 🙂 But Gdfarms’ tried this before recently and the colt sharpened up well when cutback in distance (albeit he didn’t like the off track in that Buddy Boy Mile last year).
Hmmm… this smacks of yesteryear Sim training styles. Problem is that you can only go so many times to the well — the Sim’s forgiving, but the numbers, deviations, and algorithms catch up to ya eventually. Will Kiki’s Solid Rock’s last race (only two weeks ago!) catch up with him? Lots of question marks!
NEW PUNK IN TOWN
And, boy, is he a punk! Scandalous (5/1) is his name only recently returned to the turf sprints. And he’s been on an assaulting terror too with a 4-straight win streak in allowances and listed stakes. Mouth-watering SP#s topped with a determined 109 midpack rush LTO. Gattaca’s got this Fusaichi Pegasus royal bred finally running to his bloodlines.
He’s ready and I agree opting for the Grade 1 here instead of those 5.5 furlong Grade 3’s elsewhere this week. Danger, danger, danger….. optimum 4 weeks rest, but the wolves are at the gate. Gotta try ’em sometime though. Good gutsy entry — great shot. Hopefully the pace sets up for him and he’ll have to outrun a number of fellow fine top notch closers. Does this punk have the goods to take down the ‘General? Ha! Great chance. 🙂
UNDERDOG IS HERE
I believe Once Haunted (8/1) is one of the most underrated horses in the game…. and especially by his own trainer! Ha! Loubrown aka Vegasjef from the Northwest Racing Circuit opted Once Haunted out of the Equinics and I’m eternally grateful (General’s Chariot represented the NWRC in his place). This Silver Ghost colt was wonderful last year — he won 7 listed stakes last season in a tough schedule. Jef races him hard and often.
But Once Haunted delivers. Ten lifetime stakes wins is nothing to sneeze at (that’s only two less than champion General!) — and this horse’s been at the stakes level his entire career too. He’s a classic stalker. Probably shocked the heck out of his trainer with a sweet runnerup performance in the Generals Pals Sprint Show(G1). Just missed that race too! 🙂
There’s something to be said about the “due” factor. This guy’s overdue for his first graded stakes victory. If the pacesetters take it easy, but weaken due to their erratic schedules, then keep an eye on stalker-n-underdog Once Haunted to overpower and outlast them all as fresh as a fiddle at the wire.
MARVELOUS MARES
Three fillies and mares tackle the boys for the rich purse and honors……..
Texasace’s exciting Red Tejas (6/1) overwhelmingly specializes in turf sprints. The 5YO Red Ransom mare upset champion Elsinore late last season and presents a classy record, earning over $2-million dollars. She’s ranked #2 in the Filly & Mare Turf Sprint division and I believe Elsinore opted for some other spot this week.
An eternal closer, Red Tejas missed the photo in her ’06 opener before fuddling over the yielding surface on Equinics day. She’s been a fast-closing bridesmaid in two starts since. Her running style from way back compromises her chances every now and then and it looks like she also suffers from soundness problems. Fit this year though — she makes her 37th lifetime start and, gosh, this would be a gorgeous tiara to crown a wonderful career. Can’t dismiss her nor her Sim Eclipse winning champion trainer. Classy gal — only two weeks rest though.
Another female $2-million earner breaks from post 1. Jolie’s Song (7/1) was the token tomboy on last year’s turf miler circuit. She competed admirably with every now and then success versus the boys. The 5YO daughter of Buddha boasts a fun pedigree for mid-level Sim breeders — she presents very modest Buddha x Belong To Me x Jolie’s Halo lines.
Trainer catspaw sends their prized mare to her 35th call to the post. Winless with average SP#s this year, Jolie’s Song is an interesting “longshot.” She earned near half of her career bankroll in sprints, winning or hitting the board in 11 of 17 starts. Could the cutback in distance be just the ticket for this ol’ tomboy? Possible and maybe you can discount her sprint on DelPenn day to the long season …. she needed a break. 🙂 I’d say that’s a bit of a longshot though and wager that she’s slowing down at least enough for her not to be much of a closing factor here.
Bigtate02 sends out a 25/1 longshot filly in Storming Tate. The 4YO bargain baby doesn’t have much of a chance versus this group. She’s hit the board at the listed level versus males and might figure into the minor share mix from off pace. Still eligible for a NW3L — this is a bit of a stretch.
THE REST OF THE FIELD
Playshack sends out recently Grade 3-placed PJ Nordic Dawn(FR) (8/1). He was sencond to Digging The Grave himself in that G3 race! The 5YO son of Val Royal(FR) has since won at the listed level. A solid turf sprint closer who keeps knocking on the door. Hard to gauge whether or not he’ll fire big at this level, but certainly possible. Matter of fact, he’s a closer and you can certainly argue that he just needs the right race scenario set up for him to fire big.
Good threat, but lousy winless jockey doesn’t help. 🙁 Outside chance on 5 weeks rest.
In post 9, the Selkirk 4YO colt House For Sale (11/1) paid his dues a few times, finishing behind General’s Chariot in turf sprint grades last year. Another solid runner, but he couldn’t manage to beat listed stakes level this season. Competitive big time closer. His SP#s though kind of turn you off in hopes of an upset. Maybe in the hunt for a minor piece of purse at best.
Snowchief’s Picks:
10 colts, horses, fillies and mares. Excellent lineup and I think it all boils down to what the pacesetters do (Digging The Grave and Kiki’s Solid Rock). They’re the only speed with Once Haunted stalking them. General’s Chariot might find himself a bit closer than recently to the lead. Red Tejas and Jolie’s Song too. But I like the newcomer Scandalous a lot to tread a tad behind Once Haunted.
Feel uncomfortable choosing a winner (LOL!), but I’ll give my heartstrings picks:
Win: Once Haunted (stalker holding off closer in career best run!)
Place: General’s Chariot (great SP#s but just misses!)
Show: Red Tejas (closes for a beautiful trip, nudging out Digging The Grave at the wire)
Good luck to all and thanks to the good folks at the Kentucky Horsemen Website! What a awesome series for the Sim!!! Don’t drink too much. ;^)