Interesting field tests distance in Virginia’s Mizzen Dizzie Turf Endurance

 

NEW KENT, Virginia — When the calendar turns over we tend to focus on the new, but at Colonial Downs in Virginia on Saturday older horses will have their time to shine as well, as they take to the turf over a long 14 furlongs to challenge for the Mizzen Dizzie Turf Endurance and its $100,000 purse.

Which of these eight runners — all four years old and up — has what it takes to best the field over a mile and three quarters? Here’s a quick look at the challengers.

 

 

1) Starry Wells                                    SEA THE STARS X BERNARDINI X SADLER’S WELLS

Resume: 23-10-9-2                   P Munoz                        gcphantom3                                8/5

 

There appear to be a number of legitimate challengers in this field, but the odds-makers have made Starry Wells — out of the Gcphantom3 stable — their favorite. The 6-year-old (the product of million-dollar earner Sardini) has finished in the money 91% of the time across 23 races — the best percentage in the field. His handlers took the foot off the accelerator in 2014, running him just four times, with a lengthy summer/fall hiatus. In the process he picked up two wins — including April’s Coominya Dudst Turf Stayer stakes — as well as finished third in the Grade III Golden Bridge and second, by a neck, last time out in December’s Roan Around Savage Turf Memorial. In 2013 he won finished in the top two in three listed stakes races. The biggest question is how well he’ll handle the 14 furlongs right now. Last year he didn’t run longer than 12, and his career long is 13 (though he performed well at that distance in 2013). A natural stalker.

 

2) Pharagua                             EXCELEBRATION X RAINBOW QUEST X IRISH RIVER

Resume: 18-2-7-5                     Ma Nay                         maruxa                                      9/2

 

Unlike his opponent in Post 1, Pharagua was very busy in 2014, running 14 races. Throughout that period though, he won only once — just the second career victory for the 4-year-old son of Excelebration. He has split his career between dirt and turf, but performed well on turf in the latter portion of 2014, including back-to-back runner’s-up finishes in listed stakes in the last two months of the year. He posted 109 and 104 speed figures, respectively, in those two performances. Pharagua has proved he can be in the mix, the question is whether he can do better than that. There’s also the question of distance. Traditionally Pharagua has run shorter routes. Tends to be a mid-pack runner.

 

3) Pass Punt and Kick               RAVEN’S PASS X KINGMAMBO X ELA-MANA-MOU

Resume 29-15-4-0                    J Caves                          lgbost9b                                                9/1

 

Pass Punt and Kick is second to none in this field when it comes to earnings — his career mark of $40,074 leads the way. He has, however, racked up those earnings as a very impressive allowance horse. In fact, in the course of 12 races in 2014 he, at one point, pieced together an allowance winning streak of six straight races, many by lengthy margins. The 5-year-old son of Raven’s Pass has, in fact, faced stakes competition only twice in his career. A while back in a non-factor graded run, and last time out, finishing more than 14 lengths back in the Caustic Ant Turf Special over two miles. Therein lies one of this horse’s strong points — no one in the field boasts a better endurance resume than Pass Punt and Kick. His steady diet of 15- and 16-furlong runs means it’s unknown how well he’ll take to 14, but he certainly won’t lose due to fatigue. He’ll provide speed in the field.

 

4) Asuan                                 PIVOTAL X AUTHORIZED X LIBRETTIST

Resume: 29-7-11-4                   B Hogin                                    zalduendo                                   12/1

 

Asuan has had a fine career, but it appears he may be on the downslide. Although he’s failed to ever win a stakes race, he has been highly competitive in them; but it’s been a little while since he’s proven that. Out of 13 races in 2014, the 5-year-old son of Pivotal faced listed competition five times. In the first half of the year that went well, with three top-three finishes at that level before the midway point of the calendar. He also started the year off with back-to-bck victories against allowance competition. But with the dog days of summer came a bit of a decline. Although he had strong finishes against open allowance competition, his speed figures declined. When he ran in the 16-furlong Rapid Grey Turf Stayer stakes in November, he only managed an 86 and finished over 24 lengths out. His last run was a runner-up finish against open allowance with an 85 speed figure — his lowest number of the year. Asuan has proven to be an excellent allowance horse and competitive in listed stakes. He has to prove, however, that he’s not beginning to slow down. Traditionally runs at or behind the lead.

 

5) Buckston                             BIRDSTONE X UNBRIDLED X BUCKPASSER

Resume: 26-15-4-1                   O Cash                          jockeymax1                                6/1

 

One of two  horses in the field to change owners in 2014, Buckston was snatched up by Jockeymax1 Stables in late 2014 in the midst of a seven-race win streak. Most of those came in abolishing hot-race fields, but when his current handlers took over they sent him against much more competitive open allowance fields. The results were strong, with two victories and three top-two finishes. Last time out, in December, the 6-year-old son of Birdstone clobbered a six-horse open field. Buckston has stakes wins and graded placed finishes to prove his quality, but how will he transition to his 6-year-old year? The last time he ran against listed stakes competition was in a pair of races to open 2014, when he was very competitive. Since then he’s simply beat up on lesser competition. Jockeymax has been ramping up for this effort though, stretching him to 14 furlongs, which he took to like a fish to water. Does he have enough left in the tank? His prep has been strong, but now comes the true test.

 

6) Bes Be Good                       ZAMINDAR X IN THE WINGS X POLAR FALCON

Resume: 34-12-7-5                   R Bokie                         gowans2014                               16/1

 

The most heavily run horse in the field, Bes Be Good is also the longest shot. At 16/1, the 5-year-old son of Zamindar — from modest dam Unukalhai, who never won a race — has a lot to prove. For a long time, Bes Be Good followed in his mother’s footsteps as a claimer, and has been very successful at it. But after a 2014 filled by mostly dominating claimer efforts, owner Gowans decided to see if his horse was made of something more. In November he stepped up to allowance competition and won going away. A month later he tested himself in the Pete Around Steel Turf Endurance stakes, and finished 11 ½ lengths out in third place. His high speed figure of the year was 98 over 16 furlongs in July. Bes Be Good has not shown consistent results against high competition tot his point, but he has shown he can handle the distance as well as any horse in the race. A mid-pack stalker.

 

7) Diaspora                              CANFORD CLIFFS X GALILEO X RAINBOW QUEST

Resume 17-2-4-3                      K Bowen                       derekcarlson5                              7/1

 

It would be hard to say that any horse in this race is in better form than Diaspora. The 4-year-old son of Canford Cliffs — who has shown a propensity for late-blooming progeny — is coming off the three best speed figures of his career and the three best results of his career. Although he is the lightest-raced horse in the group, Diaspora appears to be hitting his stride as owner derekcarlson has begun to throw him in against tougher competition. In December he made his stakes debut in a second-place finish in the Kris is Well Turf Endurance, and then placed second in back-to-back graded efforts — including the Grade I Los Angeles Turf Cup — to round out the year. All of those came at a mile and a half. Diaspora is far from proven but is in as good form as any in the race. Can he win at 14 furlongs? Should run near the back of the pack and close.

 

8) Berri Tara                            COMMANDS X GENEROUS X GALILEO

Resume: 22-7-3-5                     A Scott                          Tulloch                                     7/2

 

Berri Tara may be the second favorite according to the bettor’s line, but no one in the field has tested themselves at a higher level over the last year. The only female in the field is clearly not afraid of all takers, and in 10 races in 2014 faced graded competition six times. The 5-year-old daughter of Commands finished in the top-3 three times in those races, most recently three and a half lengths back in the Grade III Narrow Land over 12 furlongs on turf in November. She closed out the year with a NW1s allowance win in which no one in the five-horse field could touch her. For all that, though, she didn’t beat stakes competition in 2014. Will she change that to start 2015? Will the heavy load pay off against lesser foes or did it take too much out of her as she turns a year older? She appears to have the goods and the distance in her, the only question is whether she’s in the right form. Possibly a mid-pack starter.

 

This is a strong, wide-open field in which I could honestly see three or four horses as worthy winners. My gut tells me Diaspora can continue his wonderful form from late 2014 and carry it over, so I’ll pick him as a slight upset winner. In order of finish, I will go with Diaspora, Buckston, Starry Wells and Berri Tara.