The Cosmopolitan Handicap, an 8f Grade 1 over New York’s magnificent track, has a rich history in the Sim. The first incarnation of the race came in 1999, where it was won by a horse named Slew Collecting. The purse, a mere $500,000, was representative of the times. The sim was going through a financial crisis in the early days, and looked for sponsors wherever it could find one. Unfortunately, corporate sponsors were not to be for this race. Businesses were scared off by the New York track. Back in 1999, the track was under disrepair. The “New York” sign on the entrance of the track was hanging on by thread (literally), and the “turf” track, if you could call it that, looked more like a dirt track than the dirt track itself. Therefore, Bob Nenimen, track supervisor of New York back in 1999, went to a secondary source. A friend of his over in Japan had apparently heard of the Sim, and was willing to sponsor the race. He got a group of people from around the world to pitch in, contributing to the purse. The race did not have a name yet, and Nenimen decided to name the race after the group that was gracious enough to donate to it. Therefore, they came up with the Cosmopolitan Handicap, meaning an environment in which the people come from many cultures.
This did not last long, however. In the middle of August, one horse running over the New York “turf” track dug in a little too deep. They thought the horse was injured, but it was not blood that was pouring out from the horse…it was oil coming from the ground. The track was rich! They used the money to completely refurbish the track, putting down a new turf course next to the oil field. Sadly, the oil dried up, but lasted just long enough to get the sim out of debt. It also managed to convince corporate sponsors to begin donating to the sim. Absolut was one of these companies. After holding an outing at the New York track, they agreed to add $250,000 to a purse for a race. However, they had to choose the name. Therefore, the 2000 version of the race, with a $750,000 purse, was won by Ray You(IRE). Absolut decided to name the race after one of the most popular drinks that uses it’s supply. They named the race the Cosmopolitan Handicap.
This went on until 2004, when Absolut got into some trouble with free alcohol giveaways during the race. New York was losing a lot of money on these days, and Jeff Klesser, Bob Nenimen’s successor as New York track manager, filed a protest with Sim leader Mike Wallace. Mike got Absolut out of the Sim, but New York was worried that the purse would have to be decreased, without another sponsor. They began advertising in magazines, looking for a sponsor. The Hearst Corporation ran one of these magazines. They decided that rather than run the ads in their magazine, they would instead sponsor the race. The thought behind the move was that people at the track would see that the magazine sponsored the race, and would therefore subscribe to the magazine. They agreed to commit the same amount of money to the race that it was run at in previous years. Therefore, the purse remained $750,000 in 2004, which was won by Kiki’s Storm Opera. The demand by the Hearst Corporation to name the race was reluctantly met by the New York track. They decided on naming the race the Cosmopolitan Handicap.
14 horses make up the full field for the 2006 running of the Cosmopolitan Handicap, over the mile dirt track at New York. Mile races have always been thought of as the hardest race to win, because it is too short for classic runners, but too long for sprinters. That looks to also be the case in today’s race. The oddsmaker has given favoritism to kiri’s Journeyman at 5/1, but the race may be led in the fan’s books by #3 Classic/#2 Long horse Macho Niner and #5 Classic horse Taking Risks. Here is a look at the full field.
Indispensable – stretch sends out this 4yo son of Aptitude for the race. This is the first of many here today that shrink from the classic distances to a mile, to compete in this one. He has run 5 of his 28 career races at either 8 or 8.5 furlongs, but most of these tries were low speed figures. He will almost definitely try to stalk the pace in this race, laying fairly close to the leaders. However, his best distances look to be a little farther than this. He hasn’t won in a little over 7 months, and he has only been in the top 3 once in his last 8 tries. It looks like B Cecil is in over his head on this 21/1 shot; avoid.
Spank The Monkey – This politically-incorrect 4yo by Dynaformer comes from the vegasjef stable. This 19th ranked dirt sprinter comes into this race off a very game 2nd in the Gary Carter Handicap, 3 weeks ago at this track. He closed like a banshee in the stretch in that race, which was at 7 furlongs. The added furlong looks like it should only improve his chances. The race was the fastest of his career, and he has been at the top of his game in his last four. May bounce here, but picks up a much better jockey in J White. At 8/1, he offers good value in his quest for his first Grade 1 win; major player.
Pequin Cat – The 9/1 #15 ranked dirt sprinter comes from the quietly stable. A 4yo son of Tabasco Cat, he comes into this race off a fourth place finish in the Gary Carter Handicap. Prior to that, however, he ran a blistering race in the Billy and Jimmy Stakes at this track, over 7 furlongs. He earned a 111 speed figure while coming from 13th to take the race. He has only tried this distance on the dirt once in the last year, however. The attempt, a 7th place finish in the Sterile Mile, did not go so well. It was much worse than his previous two tries at shorter distances. He may be a closer, but he looks like 7f may be his optimal distance; may be in the running for smaller prizes
Taking Risks – The 2nd choice at 6/1, this 4yo son of Forty Niner gets sent out by bliss. Ranked #29/5/19 (sprint/classic/long) on dirt, he has a lot of experience at this distance. 5 of his last 7 have been at this exact distance (as well as 1 more at 8.5f), and his record in those is 5:2-2-0. He capped off 2005 with a win in the 8f Delaware Mile, part of the DelPenn Champions Day. His first race this year looked like a bounce race, but he has rebounded with 4 good runs. His last race, the G2 Galt House Mile in New Jersey, gave him a 108 SP in his 1-1/2 length win. He went for the lead in that race, which was not his normal running style. He usually stalks, although I don’t know what jockey H McCoy will decide to do this time; one of the ones to beat
Time Earl – slewsback picked a tough spot to try and get this 7yo son of Capitol South his first Graded Stakes win. This horse is also experienced at a mile, but that may not be enough to put this one over the top. His last race came in the Grade 2 Mansur LeRoys Handicap in California, on a good track. He ran 7th with a 95 speed figure for the 8.5f race. While the race was on an off-track and his run should improve slightly, he has never shown the speed necessary to win a race like this one. He has a high SP of 104.7, which he ran last June. Although he has been fairly consistent with his mile races recently, he does not seem to be fast enough to compete in this field. V Jefferson, who has a 2.4% win percentage this year, rides this 20/1 shot; look elsewhere
Biting Insects – This 5yo son of Fusaichi Pegasus will be sent out by mcjonny4. The #49 ranked dirt sprinter, he is coming off a win in the Grade 2 Astroturf Sprint, a 7 furlong race in Kentucky. There, he flew from 8-1/4 back at the halfway point to win by 3/4, posting a 110 SP. He ran a very similar race in his previous race, a 6.5f listed stakes, rallying from 8-1/2 back to win by ¾ with a 110 SP. He hasn’t run a mile race in over 2 years, however, and this could be a problem for him. He sometimes shows signs of distance limitations, and other times does not. He has yet to win a route race though, and a mile is technically a route race. He has the speed to win, and if there is one route distance where he can pull it off, this would be the place for this 7/1 third choice; possible, but exotics are more likely
Upper Management – slowhand’s 4yo son of Miswaki goes off at 8/1 in this race. He may be the most experienced at this distance, as his last 7 races have all come at a mile. He has only won 1 of those 7, which was an Allowance NW4x in New Jersey. His last try at this track, in the Grade 3 Winchester Cap 3 starts ago, ended in a second place finish, a mere ½ length behind the winner. He is a stalker who certainly has shown enough in the past to get the job done. 4 starts back, he ran a 113 SP at this distance, but that was by far his best run ever. He will probably need an incredibly hot pace here to pull off a figure like that again, and I don’t think that he’ll get that. He has the experience, but may be in too tough here; exotics seem possible
A Wholenuworld – wfstables sends out this 4yo son of Spinning World. He falls into the classic distance group, having not raced in a race less than 9 furlongs in almost a year. He is the least stakes experienced horse in the field, having only run in 4 listed stakes in his 15 race career. In those 4, his record is 1-1-0, with the win coming in his last start, the Chief Bag Challenge, in North Florida. The race was at 10 furlongs, and he ran a career high 105 SP. In that race, he drew out to a clear lead and opened up, leading by 8-1/2 at the 8f mark, before going under a hand ride and winning by 3-3/4. He should try to do that again in this race, and he will probably get to the lead. However, he doesn’t look like he has the speed to keep the lead for that long. The distance may help, as his one try at this distance was a good one, and the 20/1 odds offer some value; improving, but not quite there yet
Sinanju – Back in February, I covered frosty’s 4yo son of Rahy for the BTB in the Equinics’ 10f dirt race. I said that 10f might be too short for him, and that longer would be better. He ran 5th in that race, and has since tried 10f two more times, and 9f once. His last race, the G2 Eviscerator Stakes here at New York, did not go too well. His deep closing style kicked in too late, and his finished in 5th, 7-1/4 lengths behind the winner. His best recent try came 3 back in the G1 California Derby, where he came flying with a vengeance at the end, and narrowly missed getting up for the win. He tries a mile here for the first time ever, although he had one poor run at 8.5f. His recent form has given him 11/1 odds, but his last two were not great races. The Sand Castle Classic may have been a bounce, but he clearly needs more distance. This race is way too short for him; prefer others
Fact Of The Matter(IRE) – quickcall’s 4yo son of Giant’s Causeway(IRE) comes into this race at 9/1 in he morning line. His last 10 have been at either 8f or 8.5f, and 6 of his last 7 were at a mile exactly. The #28 ranked dirt Classic horse hasn’t been great in his last 4, finishing on the board only once, a 2nd place finish in his last race, the Galt House Mile (won by PP4 Taking Risks). That race earned him a 106 SP, which was the highest of the 4. It may be the 5th race back, however, that is the most important. In the G2 Orangeton Handicap, here in New York at 8f, he ran the best race of his career, stalking the pace and moving at the end to pull away, winning by 2-3/4, earning a 112 Speed Figure. If he likes this track as much as that race shows, he may be one of the top contenders. His usual stalking trip may be upstaged by the lack of pace in the race, and he may very well be one of the front few. He also picks up jockey A Rolling, who has 60% ITM this year; live longshot.
Macho Niner – The #23/#2/#3 (sprint/classic/route) ranked colt is sent out by louisville. The 4yo son of Macho Uno comes into this race at 9/1, despite his ranking and history. Winner of the 2005 New York Stakes, as well as the 2005 Travellers Stakes, this guy clearly loves the New York track. His last try at this distance came almost 6 months ago, and it was not pretty. A fourth place finish in the Delaware Mile (won by PP4 Taking Risks) with a 104 SP did not show very much. Furthermore, his recent for has not been great, winning only 1 of his past 5 (the G2 Pennsylvania Power Stakes, 10f, 110 SP). Only that win had a speed figure over 105. He is 1 for 3 against PP4 Taking Risks, winning the Travellers but losing to him in the Delaware Mile and the It’s My Birthday and I’ll Cry If I Want To Stakes. He may actually be on the lead in this race, and that might help him a little. He may have prestige and ability on this track, as well as a good jockey in N Lawton, but his recent form looks as though these may be cancelled out; experience says keep him on your ticket, form says keep him on the bottom
Cat Of The Tail – A 4yo son of Tale of the Cat, graywolf3 sends out this 11/1 shot. His last race came at this distance in the U. Bull Stakes at the Ohio track. He won that in a stalking trip by 1 length, earning a 108 Speed Figure. Prior to that, he has been all over the distance chart, racing at any distance between 6f and 10f. There is no real indication of what his best distance is, although his two best all-time speed figures come at a mile. A scary note for backing this horse is that he has raced in 12 Graded Stakes races throughout his 33 race career; he has finished on the board in one of them. That race, the G2 Chief Snow Handicap, came early in his 3yo career. He has squared off against many of the horses in today’s race, but has rarely, if ever, beaten any of them. Furthermore, he usually races every other week. However, this time, he gets even less rest, having run last week (2860) in the U. Bull Stakes. All these factors combined say that this stalking horse should be near the back at the end, not the front; money pit
Super Coverup – This 30/1 longshot is sent out by taleofcat9. A 3yo son of Squirtle Squirt, his age may be a factor in this race. He is the #20 ranked 3yo dirt sprinter, coming off a huge race in the G2 Tubby Smith Special, a 7f affair at Kentucky 3 weeks ago. He made a big move at the end of the race to get up by 3/4, earning a 105 SP. However, the race was against only 3yos. This colt is lightly raced, but only because of his age. He has never tried this distance on the fast dirt, but his turf run and recent races show that this could be an optimal distance for him. While he looks like he has a lot of potential (6 wins in 12 career starts), it is very early in the year for a 3yo to be facing older horses. Will come from midpack, but the older horses may intimidate him; May be worth a bet at 30/1, but in reality his chances are slim
Journeyman – Coming out of the outside post is kiri’s 5/1 favorite. A 6yo son of Seeking The Gold, he has the best form of any horse coming into this one. He appears to have bounced in his last race, the Gary Carter Handicap, as he finished 9th with a 102 Speed Figure. He was, however, closing at the end of that race, and that figures to be exactly what he will do here. His career best race came 2 back in the Grade 3 Barkley Handicap in Northern California. In that mile-long contest, he rallied from 11 back on the backstretch to take the race by 2, posting a 113 SP. His owner has taken some time off during his racing career, and it caused him to lose a year from August of his 3yo year to May of his 4yo year, and cost him a year and a half from that May until November of his 5yo year. Since the return, he has gone 8:5-2-0, and he will try to further that record here. Picks up a very good jock in W McClendon, but the pace may not be as hot as what he would hope for. Still, he’s looking very promising in the one; the one to beat
Race Preview: Here is a quick breakdown of what is expected to happen. A Wholenuworld should get out to the lead, although there is a chance that Macho Niner and Taking Risks will change their usual style and will fight for the lead. The pace will not be very fast, which should help these front runners. Here is what I predict the final results will be:
1 – Taking Risks
2 – Journeyman
3 – Macho Niner
“Absolut” Longshot: Super Coverup