Classic Smackdown Challenge

The GR Simsters, KY Horsemen, and the team from Pastures of Green in Vermont will battle for supremacy on the track in Smackdown II. The 10f dirt race for older horses attracted a stellar field of classic horses for each team.

Team GR Simsters

Solar Song  from the squirrel4 stable leads the GR Simsters team. The sim legend, a winner of over 5.6 million dollars has already won the Sand Castle Classic and Equinics Gold in 2006 and looks to add the Smackdown title. His distinctive late running style has led him to win four races this year and he continues his conquest for Horse of the Year with top jockey W McClendon in the stirrups.

Vae Victis, trained by waremblem5 is a solid horse who always seems to sneak on the board. The American classic distance has yet to prove a strong suit for the Tabasco Cat colt, but in true Smackdown style, the talented colt will give his all for the GR Simsters team. His speed numbers rank with the best, so his stamina in the final furlong will determine his placing.

Slither is a millionaire performer for his trainer peeps6, who recently won the Grade Two Brooke Lynn Stakes at nine furlongs. An amazing talented performer over a variety of distances, Slither won the DelPenn classic on Del Penn day, so he has used to stakes of this type. Slither will be running hard late and has a great chance of hitting the board.

Reservoir Dog drops in distance from his preferred twelve furlongs for the GR team and his trainer rohirrim. An outstanding performer in allowance races, Reservoir Dog is in great form as of now, so the test for him will be speed at the ten furlong distance. He has been first or second in more than half of his career races and is a solid addition to the GR team.

A Wholenuworld out of the wfstables barn, is the final entry for GR Simsters. A Wholenuworld is likely to be the pace setter in here, as he seeks to bottom out the field. That tactic worked three back in the unlisted Chief Bag Challenge, in which A Wholenuworld won by 3 ¾ furlongs. A sneaky play in here, depending on the pace scenario.

Team Vermont

Laconia Light may represent the best chance for Team Vermont. Trained by Whitehall, the beautiful bred A.P. Indy four year old won the Grade One California Handicap earlier this year but the millionaire is sometimes a bit inconsistent. This distance is right and the home track advantage may prove beneficial.

At The Chateau (GB) is a versatile performer from the saver stable of dixiedotco. At the Chateau takes a run at the main track today, even though most of his recent successes come on the turf. He has shown dirt ability in the past and any horse trained by Dixie must strongly be considered.

Humboldt Station is a high class allowance horse from the roys stable. When roys is not editing the BTB, she is training this colt who loves to finish second. He ran a strong race in his most recent outing at this distance, but has yet to be tested by some of the horses of this caliber. Still, Humboldt Station is a horse that everyone would love to own, who will likely give his best for Team Vermont.

Forty Ninth Storm, trained by dundey3, is bred for speed, by Forty Niner out of the Storm Cat mare Overpass Kitty, but has had a great career routing, including two straight placings at this distance. Forty Ninth Storm’s speed figures may not appear to be as high as some of the other contenders, but he is a classy horse who is great form, and it would be a huge mistake for anyone to doubt his ability to capture this one.

Diamond Head is another versatile performer, this one trained by south40 for Team Vermont. Diamond Head has not been able to find the winners circle lately, but he usually is around the wire towards the end of the mile and that is what Vermont will be hoping for now.

Team Kentucky

Titan Moon is an outstanding four year old trained by bulletwork. The Dynaformer son has been in the money in more than 2/3 of his career starts, but his has not been able to score a victory in the last six months while racing in stakes company. If the distance is not a problem, Titan Moon could hit the board for Team Kentucky.

Lightbringer is another solid horse from the Kentucky team, who loves the ten furlong distance. Recently third in the Grade One Out of the City Handicap, the Touch Gold colt may represent the best hope for team Kentucky in this race. This colt loves finding the winners circle, but has yet to been able to beat a horse like Solar Song. The Kentucky team will be hoping he gets it done today.

Royal Forty Indy is a Royal Academy colt who will represent Kentucky for trainer Julie. Royal Forty Indy was a strong second in the Planets G2 in Kentucky earlier this year, but has had a downturn in form in his last two starts. Royal Forty Indy’s odds are a bit inflated due to those last two starts, but if he can return to his earlier, he can be competitive here.

Cruel Dude is a very talented five year old trained by wrecks2 for Team Kentucky. A winner of an incredible nine of sixteen races, Cruel Dude has yet to compete in a Graded race, so he will be tested a bit for class here. A colt of his speed and ability is one that no one wishes to face and 14/1 odds offer a tremendous value here.

Hustlin Hoosier is a top bargain bred trained by kk1039, who recently took the Bargain Summer Classic.  Hustlin Hoosier is in great form as of now, and is another horse that has a strong late run. A career winner of over a half of a million, Hustlin Hoosier has the ability to compete with most of these, but may be a bit short of the top few.