Speedy Turf Sprinters Cap Breeders’ Bowl Day 1

Stories abound in the 2014 Breeders’ Bowl Turf Sprint.  Last year’s winner and runner up are both in the field this year, along with some very talented three year olds taking on the elders.  Ten of the fourteen runners are millionaires and we have the same number of grade one winners (although they are not all the same horses).  The Turf Sprint is the final race of the Friday Breeders’ Bowl card.  It is run at six and one half furlongs on a firm turf course and the purse is a cool million dollars.  Let’s take a look at the field.

 

#1 Totalitariansim                                            9/1

Totalitariansim is a four year old son of Smart Strike out of the stakes winning Sadler’s Wells x A.P. Indy mare Orwellian.  Orwellian did her best running in turf sprints and was a multiple stakes winner and was graded placed.  Totalitariansim is her first foal, the other two have yet to reach stakes level.  Totalitariansim himself was slow to develop; he didn’t start in his first stakes race until September of his three year old season but won two listed stakes races by the end of the season.  2014 has been even better for Totalitarianism.  He began with a listed stakes win, followed by a close beat in the Grade One Sand Castle Turf Sprint.  He won his first graded stakes in his next start, taking the Grade Two All Ages at seven furlongs.  He ran that distance again in June when he won the Grade One Strand Broke in a photo finish.  He has been unplaced in his two subsequent starts but is capable of throwing a big race in.  He will likely be coming from the back of the pack and hoping to mow down the field in the stretch.

 

#2 Kwin Doubt                                  10/1

Kwin Doubt is a four year old scratchbred son of Redoute’s Choice x Gone West x Kris.  He has been ultra-consistent this year only running off the board twice from nine starts.  His biggest victory came in the Grade One Cup of July Stakes at six furlongs where he ran a 110 speed.  He also has a win in the Grade Three Desert Airport Trophy at five furlongs as well as a listed stakes win.  In his most recent start Kwin Doubt finished a solid second in the Grade Two Sprinter Stakes at six furlongs where he ran a 107 speed.  What’s interesting about this colt is, in his first six starts of the year he was a confirmed pacemaker, never behind at the first call in any of those starts.  That included his win in the Cup of July.  Since that race he has never been on the lead at first call, although he did engage for the lead in the Desert Airport Trophy and was only about two lengths off the pace in his most recent start.

 

#3 Shamardancer                                             9/1

Shamardancer is a four year old son of Shamardal out of the Danehill Dancer x Caerwent mare What Do I Caer.  What do I Caer was winless in four starts and Shamardancer is the first of her three foals to race (he is also by far the best).  This lightly raced four year old didn’t start until December of his two year old season but he broke his maiden in his debut and immediately jumped up to listed stakes races.  He made one graded start at three (finishing third) but ended the season as a multiple listed winner.  2014 has been a very good year for Shamardancer.  He started the year off with a win in the Grade One Equinics – Old Maidens race at six furlongs on the grass.  He ran a 110 speed that day.  He finished off the board in a grade one in his next start but followed that up with a head loss in the Grade Two Sydney Sprint at six furlongs.  He again tried a grade one and was off the board resulting in a layoff from June through September.  He returned in the Grade Three Hundred Tower Stakes at six furlongs and simply dominated the field, leading from start to finish while running a 112 speed, a career best.  Interestingly Shamardancer has only ever run in turf sprints – and most of those were at six furlongs or less.  His one try at six and one half furlongs came in his second start as a two year old where he finished second in a listed stakes race.

 

#4 Oleander                                       18/1

Oleander is a three year old son of Medicean out of the grade one winning Danehill Dancer x Miswaki mare Bitterblooms.  Bitterblooms was an excellent racer on the grass who did her best running around a mile.  She has produced four foals of which Oleander is the third.  The first two were both stakes winners.  Oleander has nine wins from thirteen starts, including his last five races.  His last defeat came at the hands of Quarter Water in the Equinics in February.   In his win streak he has claimed three listed stakes races an allowance and, most recently, the Grade One Blooming Onion at five and one half furlongs.  Unlike several of the other three year olds in the field, Oleander is making his first start against older rivals.  He has also not run this far so far this year, although he ran the six and one half furlong distance three times as a two year old resulting in two wins and a second place finish.  His career best speed is a 108 which he ran in both the Blooming Onion and his listed win prior to that race.  With so many questions surrounding this colt punters may find extra value in the odds, especially considering how much he likes to win.

Trainer Given had this to say about his colt “Oleander was named after the somewhat toxic evergreen shrub of the same name. Her dam is the G1 winner Bitterblooms, so I have tried to name the offspring after flowers – and they’re all stakes winners to this point excluding the 2yo, so it seems to be working. Oleander is the best of the bunch. He’s won eight of his last ten starts, although I didn’t really know how classy he was until his last effort, in which he flew home from last to win a G1 against some stiff competition, including five G2 winners. I still have some question marks as to if he is up to tackle the best of the best turf sprinters. He ran 4th in the Equinics, his only loss in his last nine, and he will be taking on some of those that beat him that day, including Quarter Water, who I would rate the race favorite. But he is in absolute sparkling form, and as long as he beats Beaver Captain and his obnoxious owners home, it will be a win!!”

 

#5 Mayfair                                          6/1

Mayfair is a six year old son of More Than Ready based on the Kingmambo x Sadler’s Wells hemare Salsa Party.  Salsa Party was only a maiden winner but gives credence to the notion that a good pedigree can overcome a poor race record for a mare/hemare.  Mayfair has only five starts this season but he has won three of them.  He started the year with a victory in the Grade Three Sumo Sprint at seven furlongs with a whopping 119 speed.  He followed that race up with a victory in the six furlong Grade One New Market Handicap with a 110 speed.  Running back just two weeks later he understandably struggled in the Grade One Sand Castle Turf Sprint.  He was given two months off and returned with another off the board performance in a grade one.  That was on June 7^th.  He would not race again until October 12^th when he absolutely dominated a seven furlong listed event winning with a 111 speed.  This colt is capable of running superfast numbers and has not been racing hard all season long.  He’ll be a big threat in this event.

 

#6 Man Of God                                 16/1

Man of God is a three year old scratchbred son of Speightstown x Pulpit x Deputy Minister.  He spent his two year old season underperforming on the dirt.  He was switched to the lawn in his 2014 debut and won an allowance with authority.  He won his first stakes race in August when he took a listed against fellow three year olds.  Man of God went next to the Grade One Blooming Onion (again against three year olds) and ran a closing second behind Oleander, losing but just one length.  Facing his elders for the first time, Man of God showed some gutsiness winning the Grade Two Near Tic at six furlongs by ¼ length.  He ran a career best 108 speed that day, perhaps a touch lower than some of the others in this field but as an improving three year old who has been getting better with each start the chances are high that he can best that number again in this spot.  Man of God tends to sit off the pace but usually not too far off and has a wicked closing kick.

No one has enjoyed this run more than trainer Cvbear who reported on his colt “Man of God is a surprise entrant. He got in based on a Grade II win against older and a Grade I  placing. I was sweating it out because I figured he’d get bumped, but I’ll take it.

“Breeding: Well, with some sire shares, you know what you’re getting into. I had a Speightstown, and wanted to pair it up with a back end that I thought would make for a good sprinter. I’ve grown to LOVE Deputy Minister, and Pulpit I knew added some class. But I didn’t count on the combo adding some grass ability to the mix, even though both DS and DDS gave out some good grass runners.

“The name: just one from my bag of tricks, and it worked because of the “religious” back end. I try to name a classy horse with a classy name, and it just fit. I like it now, but was a little worried then.

“When I had a good runner: on the surface switch. His dirt races were pretty good, but I gave him a grace race to start the year as a training tool. I find giving a dirt horse a chance to run once on the grass usually gives them a boost going forward. When he won with his then-highest SP# ever, I figured I had something. So I started playing. And from there, he starting improving in bits and pieces. He got better because of the usual tricks I have: stretch him out, then turn him back if it doesn’t work out. Then, try softer ground, and then see if he improves on firmer going. And that’s what led to his improvement in the fall.

“Fave races: Well, obviously it’s the gradeds, because the allowances were good but not great. The Grade I race was a bit of a fluke, I thought. I entered him because I could draw in, and I thought that even if he failed, he’d give a decent enough account of himself that maybe he takes a share. When he came up just a length short, though, it was a pleasant surprise. And that led to trying another graded, in Canada. It was a race loaded with 3YO’s and some hard-knocking veterans, but no standouts, and I thought this would be a great place to steal a win…which he did, most nicely. It was a rewarding risk.

“My chances: I actually think I have a decent shot to run well, but I also know that at 16-1, he’s got a lot to do to beat these talented veterans. His age works in his favor, as a 3YO against elders has a better shot to improve via the experience and the learning curve. But he needs to improve by about 5-8 SP# to even play a role in the outcome. Getting into the field is the win, I think. But I haven’t been here in this race since Stock Market finished 11th in 2011. Maybe now is the time to shock the world…again.

“I wasn’t expecting to be here with 2 starters. I thought Calloway in the Dirt Mile was my only hope for this year’s BB. But I’ll take what I can get. I don’t expect to finish last, but I know there’s too much talent here to expect more. I do like Kwin Doubt, he seems to have more consistency lately that just about anyone here…present company excluded. My horse will stick to his stalker’s role here, with not a lot of variation in his tactics. I expect a fast early pace, and I think he’ll be watching it from a safe distance to make a good late run. I just don’t want to finish last. That’s a low bar to clear, but it’s a tricky one!”

 

#7 Macpherson                                                12/1

Macpherson is a five year old son of Curlin out of the Medaglia D’oro x Seattle Slew mare Proactor.  He is the first of that mare’s four foals and the only one to take a stakes race so far.  Proactor was a solid allowance runner who was best on dirt at middle distances.  Macpherson struggled early in his sim career, trying dirt and turf routes before he was entered in an allowance at six and one half furlongs on the grass in September of his three year old season.  To say the colt blossomed is an understatement.  He became a consistent allowance runner before tackling stakes races in August of 2013 – winning the first listed stakes he was entered in.  He added two more listed wins before capturing in the Grade Three Japan Sprint last December with a 113 speed (a career best).  He began 2014 with a facile listed win before tackling the Equinics, where he was off the board.  He dropped back to listed and won again but then was off the board in two grade two efforts.  In June he nearly broke through at the grade one level, finishing second by only ¼ length in the Strand Broke at seven furlongs.  Since that race he has been off the board in three straight graded efforts.  When Macpherson is on his game he is capable of great things.  He tends to drop towards the back of the pack and make a bold move in the latter stages of a race.

From trainer Tops “Macpherson is named after my Scottish clan when doing family history I discovered this so that is where the inspiration comes from.  I have yet to win a GI so it would be pretty cool to get my first GI victory in a big race like this, but I’m not sure if Macpherson is up to the challenge.  Sometimes he looks amazing in his races other times he just fails to show up.  I feel like I am definitely on the tail end of his career now so if he doesn’t flash again pretty soon, I will have to consider retiring him.  This is my first appearance in the Breeders Bowl races and I think I will have two draw in, (I’m) also in the Breeders Bowl Sprint.  I have started getting into some of the bigger races, such as this year’s Derby, but have yet to feel like I have an actual challenger for winning a big one.  For now I will have to stick with my mantra “A chip and a chair.”

 

#8 Whiffed                                         11/1

Whiffed is a five year old son of Dynaformer out of the Hall of Fame Kingmambo x Sadler’s Wells mare Botwisted.  Botwisted was one of the first mares inducted into the Hall of Fame strictly for her production record.  As a runner she was a flop, winning three of twenty one but in the shed she has produced twelve foals to race, seven of which are graded winners.  In addition to Whiffed her stakes winning two year old filly Fastnet Twist will also be competing in the Breeders’ Bowl; she’s in the starting gate for the Juvy Filly Turf.  Many of Botwisted’s foals have matured early.  Not so for Whiffed who didn’t win his first stakes race until midway through his four year old season.  He moved straight into graded company and won the Grade Two Len Knocks at seven furlongs with a 116 speed and later added the Grade Two Challenger, also at seven furlongs with a 114 speed and then took the Grade Two Because I Said So Stakes at six furlongs with a 109.  This season his best race came in March when he was a hard charging second in the Grade One Sand Castle Turf Sprint at six furlongs.  He was beaten only ¼ length in that race but only ran a 105 speed.  That remains the fastest he has run all year.  If he wins in this spot it will be his first time visiting the winner’s circle all year.  Whiffed will likely be at or near the back of the pack early but watch for him late, when he’s on he is one of the fastest horses in the race and his closing kick is pretty powerful.

 

#9 Cavallo Verde                                              11/1

Cavallo Verde is a four year old son of Medaglia D’oro out of the Storm Cat x Bering mare Pale Green Rider.  The stakes placed runner was a confirmed sprinter on the dirt.  She has produced eight foals to race including grade one winner Motion Dismissed (by Lawyer Ron) who did his best running over a mile.  He was quite talented and actually ran second in the 2010 Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile.  Pale Green Rider has also produced grade three winner Clever Outlaw (by Smart Strike) who was also a dirt sprinter.  Cavallo Verde made his first six starts on the dirt with moderate success but he has really turned it on since being switched to the lawn.  Last season he won this event smartly with a 115 speed.  He also won the Grade One Longchamp Sprint in his prep that year.  This year he has a win in the Grade Two Rising Sun Spring Cup at seven furlongs where he ran a 111 speed.  That was back in May.  Since then he was third in the Grade One King’s Fall at five furlongs and second in a listed stakes race but off the board in his two other grade one attempts.

Trainer Dixiedotco had this to say “He’s the defending champ so he certainly deserves a chance to defend his crown.  This year hasn’t gone exactly as I would have liked with him.  He’s been up and down, and his last few races have been “down”.  But he obviously has the ability to jump up and run a sizzler when he’s in the mood.  6.5f is definitely a good distance for him, so that works.  Really wish the track would be off, but I suppose asking for rain in October in California isn’t too realistic!  He’s going to drop back and make his one run, and with a little luck he can do it again.”

 

#10 Berlusconi                                   11/1

Berlusconi is a five year old scratchbred son of Galileo x Danehill x Nijinsky II.  A late starter, Berlusconi didn’t begin his career until August of his three year old season – and when he did finally make it to the races he ran in turf routes, going as far as a mile and one half at one point.  He didn’t sprint until his 2013 debut, but immediately came alive as a racer.  He won five straight races to being 2013, including a listed in March and the Grade Three CBC Sprint in June.  He would go on to win another grade three that year and be multiple graded placed.  Berlusconi started 2014 off with a wire to wire drubbing of a listed stakes field at six and one half furlongs.  He followed that with a disappointing Equinics effort but returned to win the Grade Two Powerful Sun at six furlongs with a 108 speed.  He added the Grade Two Golden Jamboree in June, again running six furlongs with a 108 speed.  He was given a short break before returning to the races in an allowance where he ran second.  In his most recent start he was never comfortable on a good turf course in the Grade One Sprint Cup and finished towards the back of the pack.  In Berlusconi’s biggest wins he’s been on the lead from the start and rationed that speed the whole way around the track.

 

#11 Pica Sour                                     10/1

Pica Sour is a four year old son of Makfi out of the Ghostzapper x Nijinsky II mare Woette’s Picaso.  Woette’s Picaso was a stakes placed runner going short on the lawn.  Pica Sour is her first foal, her second is also a stakes winner on the grass but his speed can hold for a mile (probably due to his stamina-laden sire Sea the Stars).  Pica Sour enters off eleven straight grade one races.  He actually finished second in this race last year, beaten only a length by Cavallo Verde.  This season his form has been hit or miss.  He scored the biggest win of his career in the Grade One Sand Castle Turf Sprint at six furlongs.  He was also second in the Grade One Cup of July but has been off the board in his two most recent starts.  Interestingly in this race last year he battled for the lead early and took over at the stretch call before being run down late.  In the rest of his races he has been midpack early so one wonders what tactics he will use in this spot.

 

#12 Beaver Captain                                         9/1

Beaver Captain is a four year old son of Captain Al out of the grade one winning millionaire mare Lake Bemidji who is Miswaki x Danzig.  Lake Bemidji was best in turf sprints and won her grade one going seven and one half furlongs on the lawn.  From five foals to race Beaver Captain is her only graded winning offspring but her three year old by Friesan Fire is a graded placed stakes winner.  Interestingly he has never been tried on turf but has done well sprinting on the dirt.  Beaver Captain was a solid two year old and earlier in the season he was entered in the South African Classic races where he was generally outdistanced.  He dropped back to sprints in a listed South African bred stakes and was a facile winner.  After two more easy wins against local bred stakes company he was the representative of the SARA residency in the Equinics where he finished a fantastic second against open company.  He was given a rest after the Equinics and came back in a local bred allowance race before going back to open graded company.  He was second, beaten only a neck in the Grade Two Golden Jamboree behind Berlusconi and then was third in the Grade One MGD Special behind Call For A Priest.  His most impressive race was his most recent, a win in the Grade One Sprint Cup.  This colt should sit midpack and make a bold move in the stretch.

Co-trainer Cadet had this to say about the Captain – “Trainer cadet writes this about the colt – Beaver Captain was named after the proud tribe of beavers that inhabit lake Bemidji in northern Minnesota.

The Captain is the best sim racing son of super talented SAF sire Captain Al. Sire share was purchased on the cheap, but has jumped in price to 3x the previous going rate based on Beaver Captains success.

A late 2 yr old breeding to help support the emerging SARA residency the Captain Al colt won his first three races in good fashion. Stretching out to two turns the SAF bred found the distance a bit two far losing four straight before being cut back in distance.

Once cut back to sprinting Beaver Captain really blossomed winning SAF sprinter of the year award after three straight local stakes wins against older SAF sprinters.

As the best sprinter in all of South African the peaking young colt was selected to represent the upstart residency SARA in the Equinics in February of this year. And represent he did, despite many Nah-Sayers the Captain Al colt represented his country proud by closing strongly for a respectful silver medal. The performance had his ownership jumping for joy as they plotted out a championship campaign. Given three months to freshen up Beaver Captain won a local alw under very little urging. The race proved to be a near perfect prep for his Royal Ascot debut, finishing a scant neck behind in his second consecutive graded placing. From Royal Ascot Beaver Captain moved into his second g1 attempt where he finished a brave third. With much urging from co-owner Frankster Beaver Captain was once again entered in a G1, this time taking home the glory in his third 108 speed fig of the year.

All in all this colt has proven to be a top class sprinter, giving his all and competing against some of the best sprinting field SIM has to offer in the Equinics, Ascot, and MGD special. The colt has yet to finish off the board in a sprint and with a win puts himself right in the hunt for an Eclipse Award, which would be utterly amazing. In 15 years of playing sim I think it would be just fitting that cadet has part ownership of a local bred residency he started up. Cadet’s first win in sim was a turf sprint stakes with a maiden… possibly a foreshadowing to his first BB win, first Eclipse winner, with a lil ol SAF bred from a 10 point sire… “Its a shame some owners/trainers are more worried about everyone else and how they come into a race. Steve Colborn and Given are perfect examples of that.  Racing is quickly becoming an international industry with quality runners from all over the globe, we are just happy our little SAF bred will get an opportunity to compete on the game’s greatest stage”

 

#13 Call For A Priest                                        9/1

Call For a Priest is a three year old son of Daiwa Major out of the Pivotal x Gone West mare Forcing a Smile.  He is the first foal for the mare who was produced by grade one winner and millionaire Gone Wylde.  This colt is riding a three race winning streak and he defeated older runners in all three runs.  His biggest victory came in the Grade One MGD Special at six and one half furlongs.  He followed that up with a win in the Grade Two Hawkz Challenge at seven furlongs and then the Grade Two Drummer Boy at six furlongs.  A versatile colt when it comes to distance, his running style is to fly home late from the back of the pack.

#14 Quarter Water                                          7/1

Quarter Water is a three year old scratchbred son of Unbridled’s Song x Storm Cat x Capote.  A winner of eleven starts from sixteen races and over a million dollars,  this colt enters off a dominating victory in his first start against older horses.  That win came in the Grade Three Blue Pin at seven furlongs where he ran a 115 speed.  Quarter Water was a grade three winner on the dirt and a grade one winner on the turf last season.  He opened the year by winning the six furlong Grade One Equinics – Residency Helpers with a 105 speed.  He also added a victory in the Grade Three Green Ham Stakes at seven furlongs with a 113 speed back in March – a huge run from such a young horse.  He tried a mile in the Grade One Prix Jean Brat and was found wanting but has won two straight (the race prior to the Blue Pin was a listed stakes).  This colt will be in a crowd of runners who like to sit midpack early before making their moves late.  His last race indicates that he is not intimidated by the older runners he will face in this field and with an impressive win percentage this colt obviously does not like to lose.

 

Good luck to all!