NY Island Cap Grade I
NY Island Cap
Grade I
A mile and one quarter
Firm Turf
$500,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
1 95989 MERRY MEX gradeone R Foster 8/1
2 103564 ASLAN’S MANE(IRE) eddieboo A Rolling 5/1
3 87412 FRIENDOFTHEFAMILY pedroza T Bates 4/1
4 85469 RUN WAHBIT RUN stormbound O A Haack 7/1
5 12022 A RUB OF IRISH mitenpower V Jennings 6/1
6 85429 SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL sunnybank D Givins 3/1
7 86818 NEW STORM coolerk V Gardner 2/1
As the sun goes down, behind the tall stoney fingers of the big apple, it’s time to take a look at the first of tommorrows big Grade I races from New York. Only a small field of seven for the NY Island Cap over 10f on the turf course. Another fine sunny day is expected tommorrow and the track is in tip top shape- so no excuses accepted.
MERRY MEX (DEPUTY MINISTER x GONE WEST x NIJINSKY II)
A nice start to his career for this four year old with some nicwe allowance and a stakes victory. In both his last two runs over 9f and 10f he’s been at or near the fron by the three quarter pole but has then faded. His best runs have been at 8-8.5f and that looks his best trip to . It’s asking a lot for him to beat some of these experienced Grade I runners and I just can’t see it today.
ASLAN’S MANE(IRE) (THEATRICAL(IRE) x MR. PROSPECTOR x SADLER’S WELLS)
Some big numebers this year in winning three stakes and a Grade III, all at around this trip. The last two wins in particular were impressive but here’s the catch- his two Grade I runs have produced stinkers. Clearly has talent and if he could translate his Grade III form to this level he would be a threat but the Grade I flops just put me off. Can’t see a win today.
FRIENDOFTHEFAMILY (RAHY x SPINNING WORLD x MISWAKI)
A wily old veteran now with a bit of a mixed bag this year. An impressive stakes wins two runs back but that was over 8.5f as have most of his best runs. Last race over 9f did produce a second in a stakes (closing at the end) but only a 99sp. That would not be good enough to win this and the horses behind him that day have been struggling in allowances. I think this will be too far at this grade and can’t see a win.
RUN WAHBIT RUN (SADLER’S WELLS x NUREYEV x NORTHERN DANCER)
Interesting. Came back from almost two years off,having run in graded races as a three year old. Has won three form four since he came back, including a stakes latest and still looks to have improvement left. Bare form syas he won’t gey close but i think with a bit of improvement he can reach the money. Decent run expected, if not better. Dangerous.
A RUB OF IRISH (RUBLOFF x FOUR SEASONS(GB) x IRISH RIVER(FR))
Another veteran and another whose form this year has a strange look to it. Some very nice runs mixed with some dross. Looks as though he’s one who only does enough to win and may have more in the locker. The only question for me here is the distance. He managed a win over 11f latest but his best has been at 12f plus. That 11f win was in an allowance too, can he cope at this level at this distance. Not for me, he can still make the top three but I don’t see a win.
SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL (A.P. INDY x SADLER’S WELLS x BUCKPASSER)
What can you say about a sim star such as this. His presence lends weight and worth to any race and he must always rate a danger. However he hasn’t run at a distance this short since he was a three year old and whilst his class would normally be enough I wonder if he has the kick at this short a trip against a real 10f specialist in New Storm, todays morning line favourite. He’s too good not to make the top two and will push New Storm all the way but I think it’s going to be a second place finish.
NEW STORM (STORM CAT x NUREYEV x DAMASCUS)
The favourite based on some sparkling runs at around this trip this year, including his two latest wins in Grade II and III’s with 110 and 112 sp’s. Another run like those and he wins this too and at four theres no reason to doubt his winning run won’t continue. The winner for me and possibly the next sim superstar will be crowned.
There you have it folks, i’m off to the bar to down a few before heading for the track nice and early tommorrow (ahem !!), get your money on NEW STORM, with SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL taking second. They will finish 5-6 lengths in front of A RUB OF IRISH. Make sure you at least have a boxed exacta on this one, and bet the bank as the first two looked nailed on (they will have to be nailed down to not finish 1-2).