Bustin Chops Dominates In Ark, Sets Up Rematch With Asterism

REVIEW:   

 

ARK DE COMICDOG            Groupe 1 / Grade 1

 

Paris (FR)

Purse:   $4,000,000

Distance:    ~2,400 metres, or 12 furlongs, or 1 and 1/2 miles.

 

 

The early fractions on the front end of the 2014 Group 1 Ark de ComicDog weren’t particularly fast, and usually that would have spelled trouble for the heavily favored deep closer Bustin Chops in Paris on Monday.

But the four year old son of Malibu Moon managed to do, somehow, what he has done quite a bit in his career thus far, and that would be winning races no matter what else is going on around him.

In this particular $4,000,000 race, the 12-furlong Ark, the focused Bustin Chops lived up to the betting public’s expectations and collared 24/1 long shot K’s Fallibilism about 100 metres out from the finish to score a thrilling one-length victory on Monday.

In one of the biggest–and richest–races on the world’s fall turf racing calendar, the 2,400-metre Ark, Bustin Chops had his owner, Mike of Pointblank Racing, in shock.

“Simply put, over the moon, no pun intended,” said Mike, when he was asked after the race how he felt about winning the big $4,000,000 headliner on the huge Paris graded stakes card Monday.

Mike was just about the only one in shock, after the betting public sent his colt off as the 7/2 favorite to capture his fifth group 1 victory, when he won the 2014 Ark.

“I wasn’t really sure what to expect,” said Mike. “He’s done his best at ten furlongs, but there were two reasons to give the Ark another try.  One, he ran really well in this race last year.  Two, to run a race away from Asterism.”

Asterism, who also won his fifth group 1 win when he defended his title successfully in the $1.5 million Osmonds Memorial at 10 furlongs in New Zealand on Saturday, is quite a beast himself, as he scored his fifth group 1 win when he shipped down under this weekend.

And, according to Mike, it looks like Bustin Chops and Asterism, who have met twice with each scoring a win over the other, might be meeting again very soon in a race that some are saying will probably have Horse Of The Year implications written all over it.

“I think the Breeders’ Bowl would be too quick of a turnaround, but then again, you never know,” said Mike, when asked where Bustin Chops would run next.  “I’m also looking at the Group 1 Fall Tent Show.  I noticed Asterism is pre-entered and would love another shot at him after this confidence booster.  One thing is for sure.  Bustin Chops will end his year defending his win in the (2013) King Kong Cup.”

So, it looks like Mike and Bustin Chops aren’t so hesitant, after all, to meet Asterism, owned by Tony of AFC Racing.

The two turf titans finished 1-2 in the Grade 1 Windy City Turf Classic in America in August, with Asterism coming out on top there. And, the pair also finished 1-2 in the Group 1 King Kong Cup in Hong Kong last season, where Bustin Chops asserted his dominance.

Wherever–and whenever–these two horses meet, it’ll be a big deal. That much is certain.

In Saturday’s Ark, Bustin Chops tracked near the back of the pack early, as he is prone to do, having beaten only two horses, Ah Tabai Teo and Weekend Romance, early.

Meanwhile, Overindulgence and Haven Of Vice were dueling on the front end.  That pair wasn’t setting the world on fire with their front end fractions (:47.47, 1:11.80, 1:36.29), and for a while it looked like either of those two might have enough left at the end of Monday’s Ark to break up Bustin Chops’ party in the winner’s circle.

But Bustin Chops proved he was more than up to the task at hand on Monday in Paris.  About 1400 metres, or seven furlongs, into the race, Bustin Chops began to make his big move, swerving in and out from the rail and picking off horses.

By the time he headed into the far turn he was laying in about seventh place, and that’s when he made his winning move.  It was an impressive move that would see him pick off everyone but the leader, K’s Fallibilism, who looked like he was going to be a run-away long shot winner of one of the world’s biggest turf races after that one tracked Overindulgence and Haven Of Vice early.

But 100 metres out, Bustin Chops was just digging down and getting ready to dash the Ark dreams of K’s Fallibilism and his owner, Ledwith.  He moved even with Led’s horse before drawing off for the one-length score.  K’s Fallibilism put up a pretty valiant effort to stave off the late charge of Bustin Chops, but the late push of the winning son of Malibu Moon was just too much to withstand.

“Just for a moment, I thought my horse was going to win my favorite race of…” said Ledwith, ever gracious in defeat, as his thoughts trailed off  while dreaming what might have been. “What a cruel moment.  And, of course, congratulations to the connections of Bustin Chops.”

It was a pretty huge race for both the first and second place finishers in the 2014 Ark de ComicDog.  With his effort, Bustin Chops avenged his second place finish in last year’s Ark. And, it was a huge effort, as well, from K’s Fallibillism, the four year old son of Dubawi who was running in only his third group 1 race of his career.

The three year old Pleasant Walk, a 15/1 long shot owned by Super 1 Racing Stables, was also near the back of the pack early, just ahead of Bustin Chops most of the way.  That one ran a big race, as well, to finish third, 3 ½ lengths behind Bustin Chops.

One of Pleasant Walk’s three owners, J.C. of Super1 Stables, was one of many to congratulate Mike in the forum on Bustin Chops’ big Ark score, and he put Bustin Chops’ Ark win in perspective.

“Congratz on your Ark win,“ said J.C. “Enjoy the moment.  It’s the race the rest of the world wants to win.  For just a moment, I thought Pleasant Walk had a chance, but it wasn‘t meant to be.”

It was without a doubt the biggest victory of Bustin Chops’ five group 1 wins thus far.  And, his share of the monster $4,000,000 Ark purse boosted his winnings to just under $10 million, at $9,925,720.

The Elements ran a very game fourth, while the longest shot of the race, Rio Rainbow (31/1) ran on late to pick up the fifth place check.

After the top five, it was Ah Tabai Teo, K’s Fiscal Cliffs, Haven Of Vice, Tete Albert, Overindulgence, Weekend Romance, Asador Etxebarri and Henze rounding out the 13-horse Ark field.

Bustin Chop ran the 12 furlongs in a time of 2:29.70, with a 108 speed figure–only his second sub-110 speed figure in his last nine starts. It wasn’t a particularly flashy winning time for the 2,400-metre Ark.

But a win is a win is a win, particularly when it‘s a $4,000,000 win.

“Bustin Chops is a special horse, by far the best I‘ve ever had” said Mike, whose Pointblank Racing operation also had Weekend Romance in Monday’s Ark.

Mike said it all started for Bustin Chops in his 8.5-furlong Sand Castle Duty Free win, which kicked off the big 2014 campaign earlier this season in Dubai.  Mike said it was a win that really caught him by surprise.

“I tried to get him into the Turf Classic but didn’t have enough points to make the field.  As a result, I entered (the Sand Castle Duty Free) at a much shorter distance.  I would have been thrilled to hit a top three finish there, but when he won I was totally shocked.  As with anything else, enjoy the ride as long as you can, because you never know when it’s going to end.”

The Ark win means Bustin Chops has group 1 wins this year at 8.5 furlongs, 10 furlongs and now 12 furlongs in 2014.  The Ark was his first group 1 win at 12 furlongs.  That versatility and ability to win at such a wide range of distances means pretty much any door Mike wants to open for Bustin Chops in the future could be a winning one.

Tony. of AFC racing, who owns Asterism, the arch-rival of Bustin Chops, noted in the forum, “That’s some sort of beast you’ve got there. Versatile in distance, always fires big, super consistent and just a money-gobbling machine.  Congratz on the Ark win.”

All in all, it was a pretty huge weekend for Pointblank Racing and Mike, who also had two other group 1 winners this weekend and on Monday.

He congratulated his filly, Noogy Nooch, on her win in the Prix Marcel Boss on Monday in Paris.  The group 1 win vaulted the stable mate of Bustin Chops firmly into the #1 spot in her turf miler division.

And, a three year old who Mike says “just may be one to watch” in the future, Weekend Joy, won his third career start in nine tries, when the 29/1 long shot son of Tapit beat his elders in the 12-furlong Group 1 Coalminers Cup down under in Victoria. Notably, Weekend Joy ran the same speed figure (108) as Bustin Chops did in his Ark victory.