Top 2014 Horses, 4 Year Olds and Up, Dirt Division

This is the second of articles featuring the top 2014 horses based on the rating system that can be viewed under the Ratings heading (top tool bar) and selecting EOY Award Points on the left side under the Horse Ratings heading.

 

The standings can change as trainers still have opportunity to earn precious points as we head into the home stretch and final month and a half of the racing season.  This section features the top 4 year olds and up in the Dirt category.  The following reflects the top-3 horses in each division.  Please note that the females can also appear within the open category and that the Dirt category also includes Poly surface races.

 

Articles for other age divisions and track surfaces will be published in near future.

 

 

 

 

4-year olds and older, Dirt, Sprint,  Open

 

Za Ah Tabai 3,178.02-has not been running his best lately, but sizzled at the beginning of the year and built up comfortable lead in this division.  Won first five starts of the year, making a 6-race win streak when including end of 2013 win.  G1 wins came in Equinics Creators, Sand Castle Golden Sprint and Three Bender.  G2 win in Bluegrass Sprint and remaining win was in listed stake.

 

Oristano 2,231.15-This guy also has five wins during the year.  Two came at the beginning in listed stakes.  Remaining three are part of current 3-race win streak which includes another listed race and pair of G1 wins in Iceberg and Breeders’ Bowl Sprint.   Also has a third in a listed event.

 

Wanderlust II 1,180.75-Six starts this season and no worse than third which came in listed event in March.   Finished second in listed stake, Whiskey River (G3) and Breeders’ Bowl Sprint (G1).  Two wins came in listed event and G1 Foregone.

 

 

4-year olds and older, Dirt, Sprint,  Fillies and Mares

 

Go Verduga Go  797.16-Top female in category won 7 straight before beings topped with dismal effort in Breeders’ Bowl Sprint.   Wins include a pair of allowance races (one being a Hot race), pair of listed stakes, G2 victories in Real Danger Handicap and Honored Miss and G1 Princes Looney.

 

Crossover Hit 531.44-Sharpest at start of year taking trips to winners circle in G1 Everclear Handicap and Davey Jones Handicap.  This six-year old also finished third recently in G1 Breeder’s Bowl F&M Sprint only other time on board during 2014.

 

Strikestar 400.95-has narrow 20 point advantage for third spot and could be debated as to being in this spot with only a pair of top-three finishes this year.  She finished second in the G2 Long Island Sprint and only season win was in the G1 Humane Distaff.

 

4-year olds and older, Dirt, Route,  Open

 

Lepe 3,283.79-has been in the money four times this year, all in graded competition at distance from 9f to 10f.  One win is included in this total which was in the Sand Castle Classic (G1) .  Finished second in G1 CA Classic with a pair of thirds picked up in the Charles Town Classic (G1) and the Gotta Fix the Sprinklers Classic (G2)

 

Touch the Devil 2,755.60-A four time winner who won a listed stakes to kick of the year with grade wins following in the Equinics Residency Managers (G1), Billy Donald (G3) and Bob Woodward Memorial (G1).   Collected second place finish in the Hit Me Handicap (G1) and all races at distances of 9 to 10f.  Looks like better candidate for top spot to me and could still get there.

 

K’s Gorgo 2,477.87- Horse that has run a mile all year and amassed 7 wins and is on current 5-race win streak.  Three wins in allowance company and includes Hot race.  Two listed stake wins and a pair of grade wins with G1 Comsopolitan Handicap and Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile.  Could also be in top spot.

 

 

4-year olds and older, Dirt, Route,  Fillies & Mares

 

SwanseaTriumph 1,118.74-Takes a narrow 63 point lead into the end of the racing season.   This 5 year old had a streak of five races where she finished first or second.  Three were wins with one in a listed event and a pair of G1’s in the Go For the Gold and the Bra Snap.  The second place finishes came in the G2 MD Distaff and G1 Steadhemp Handicap.

 

Supah Quality 955.86-Four year old hopes to catch leader and has six wins this year.   She started the year with five straight, which made a win streak of 6 when including 2013 end of year victory.  She won pair of allowance which was followed by a listed stake win.  Completing the streak were first place finishes in the G3 Cubic Zirconia Path and G1 Steadhemp Handicap.   A third was achieved in the G1 Go For The Gold and one more win in the G1 Superfilly Handicap.  In position to chase leader in this category.

 

 

Distorted Sunlight-670.23-A less than 6-point lead over the fourth place horse in this category may be a bit too far back right now to catch the leader.  She hit the board only twice during 2014 but fortunately they were both early season wins in grade level competition.  She picked up a residency G2 win in the BBRS Presents The Slave to Tradition Mile and G1 Orange Blossom.

 

 

4-year olds and older, Dirt, Long Route,  Open

 

Zyr 3,376.68-Leads this category by 200 points and got to the top spot with 5 wins this year.  Those came in the Gallant Socks Handicap (G3), Old Man (G2), Desert Stamina Cup (G1), Razorback Route (G1) and Geaux Saints (G1).  He also finished second in the Jacksonville Jog (G3) and just missed in the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Marathon (G1).

 

Cloak and Daggers 3,176.81-Pursues the leader and this experienced 5 year old won his first three races of the year with G1 Equinics Mike Wallace Tribute, G1 Cayuga Lake Special followed by listed stake.  Followed that with second in G1 Razorback Route where he missed by stride.  Came back with pair of wins in Jacksonville Jog (G3) and Seattle Stayer (G1).

 

Loco Colony 1,951.54-Quite a ways off the leader in this category, this four year old leads in the filly division for Long Routes on the dirt.  Please see following section for her review.

 

 

4-year olds and older, Dirt, Long Route,  Fillies & Mares

 

Loco Colony 1,951.54-This lady is running away with this category with four wins and two seconds all at the graded level.  The wins came in the Pittsburgh Stayer (G2), Nacogdoches Handicap (G1), Turtle Bridge (G2) and in her last start, the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Marathon (an open race with males).   She was second in a pair of G1 races, the Little Rock Stayer and Scottsdale Stayer.

 

Seattle in Summer 886.15-Started 2014 on fire going to the Equinics and winning the HOF Committee (G1).  Followed this with another G1 victory in the Desert Lady Stayer.  The season caved in thereafter with the only top-3 finish being a win in Allowance Hot race.

 

Splitting Aces  697.58-While in the money 7 times this year, this one has only one win which came in the Thumb Route (G1).  She missed the top spot four times coming in second in the Equinics Hof Committee (G1), Turtle Bridge (G2), Saint Paul (G3) and an allowance race.  She finished third in the G1 Little Rock Stayer and an allowance race.