Sim Hall Of Fame Stakes(G1) attracts top-ranked turfers Seeking Sal, New Storm
New York– Ranked 1-2 in the Older Horse Turf Classic Division, Seeking Sal and New Storm knock heads as the heavy favorites in the Grade 1 $500,000 Simulated Sports Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes. Seven other turfers challenge in the 1 1/8 mile contest for 4 years olds and up honoring the Sim’s new Hall Of Fame inductees.
Keryn’s Seeking Sal presides as the 8/5 favorite and for good reason too. The 4YO son of Seeking The Gold is currently one of the hottest horses in the game, winning 6 of his last 8, all in graded company. Seeking Sal rides a 3-race win streak that has left his division reeling — the big boy sizzled in the Kentucky I’m Back Again for Good (G1) with 1:47 2/5 for the nine furlongs, and then bettered that mark by a fith of a second two starts later in the Eddie O Cap(G1). He likes to stalk the lead best of all, but can tweak his running style to battle on the pace or sit back around midpack. Top NY jockey N. ‘Nancy’ Lawton pilots the $2.7-million earner.
Presenting a stiff challenge to Seeking Sal, coolerk’s New Storm (5/2) faces the top-ranked turfer for the very first time. New Storm cuts back from 10f running of late. He was no slouch over the extra furlong too, finishing runner-up in the heavily stacked Windy City Turf Classic(G1-10fT) LTO. The 4YO Storm Cat colt won the Equinics’ Roy Higgins (G1-10fT) earlier this season. Most enticingly is New Storm’s 112 SP# victory in the nine furlong Confederate Stk(G2) this summer. From midpack, the colt ran away with the race over a yielding surface. Excellent jock B. ‘Benito’ Child guides the $2.2-million earner. Interestingly, both New Storm and Seeking Sal share similar records — both have blossomed at age 4, presenting an 11-for-27 lifetime record. New Storm, however, is a true-blue closer. What a duel!
As if the two top faves aren’t enough, ashworth’s Mannart Tornado is a complete overlay at 6/1. Another 4YO son of Storm Cat, Mannart Tornado began ’06 climbing out of the ALW ranks with a brazen 3-race win streak. The streak included a Grade 3 turf sprint. After a marathon clinker, ‘Tornado ripped off two straight scores over 9f in the King George(G3) and Turf Invaders(G1). The latter equaled Seeking Sal’s best time of 1:47 1/5. Three weeks ago, the colt missed the break in the one mile Jack The Man(G1), finishing well up the track. If he’s fit after that poor outing, this guy could shadow Seeking Sal behind the pace. Top jockey N. ‘Nate’ Painter gets the call.
Despite scoring a gorgeous 107 SP#, wfstables’ A Wholenuworld (6/1) still lost to Seeking Sal two starts back in the Prize Winner(G3). The Spinning World 4YO set the pace in that 9f contest and it was only his 2nd career start on the turf too. The 4YO colt has his share of ups and downs over the main track — he did hang on for 3rd after setting the early lead in the Smackdown II over 10f LTO. A winner of 4-of-18 lifetime starts, he’s an interesting wildcard. A Wholenuworld figures to be the sole pacesetter here and may only attract some longshot pace pressure. Possible to play the spoiler if the faves to have “off” days. A decent 11% jockey aboard in J. ‘Jacko’ Migliore.
Sam’s Sing Phyl Sing(GB) (8/1) breaks from post nine. By Opera House(GB), the 4YO colt finished 3rd to Mannart Tornado in the Turf Invaders(G1-9fT). Sing Phyl Sing(GB) also fared well in some miler grades this season, though he too threw a clinker in the Jack The Man(G1-8fT) LTO. Excellent jocky P. ‘Paulie’ Davis pilots the colt and the duo has an honest chance for at least some minor money. Look for them around midpack or so. ‘Sing makes his 37th trip to the post Saturday.
The rest of the field:
- The 5YO horse Bone Roaming (13/1) could factor into the pace mix. Ksparow’s veteran French Deputy son was a 10f stakes winner over the main track this summer. He finally tried the grass LTO in his 41st carer start and finished 2nd in a 4-horse field over 9.5f. Flip a coin whether or not he can fire his lifetime best (over any surface) at the G1 level. Maybe he can hang on for a minor cheque if a couple of the faves have bad days.
- Tom’s old boy Smoking Sal (13/1) currently running ALW speed figures. He’s been an awesome earner for tom stable with over $700k in the bank and 20 victories from 55 starts. His best days are behind him though. The 7YO Danzig horse doesn’t have a chance here.
- Trainer jonesz won the $50k claiming shake LTO for Ghost Hunter (25/1). A 4YO Silver Ghost colt, Ghost Hunter’s still chasing his NW1x. Great BP earner, but he’s totally outclassed at this level. Shall maybe provide some pace pressure.
- Finally, Always Demoney(SAF) (36/1) from cheyenne15 stable checks in at post 8. The 4YO son of Horse Chestnut(SAF) makes just his 15th lifetime start. He’s still eligible for a NW3L. Unplaced LTO in miler stakes company and he’s throwing 90 SP#s mostly. Stalker might be in the hunt early on, but, in all honesty, he’s outclassed in this group. Minor cheque at best.
Snowchief’s Picks:
With the exception of Mannart Tornado at 6/1, I think the oddsmakers got this one pegged. I can see A Wholenuworld jumping out to the lead with Bone Roaming and Ghost Hunter applying some mild pressure. Mannart Tornado won’t be too far behind and he’ll probably threaten A Wholenuworld by the three-quarter pole.
At this point, Seeking Sal will fire with New Storm threading his way from the back of the pack. Nearing the wire, it’ll go to who’s most fit. Seeking Sal on 5 weeks rest and New Storm on just two weeks rest (but cutting back in distance). If Mannart Tornado weakens Seeking Sal’s charge just enough, you might see New Storm slip on in there in a photo finish. I think Seeking Sal willl make it 4-in-a-row though — he’s red hot!
Win: Seeking Sal
Place: New Storm
Show: Mannart Tornado
Good luck to all! And thanks to Topicount for sponsoring this race and all her work on the Hall Of Fame! She did a spectacular job again on all the horse biographies — you can read them at the Hall Of Fame website. Discover a bit of Sim History there and read all about new inductees Allied Assault, Saddle Dedicate, I Seek U and more!