Burden Buster(GB) Challenge @ Victoria
BURDEN BUSTER(GB) CHALLENGE WREAKS OF NOSTALGIA
Five evenly-matched females battle for $95,000 purse. 1 1/8 miles on the Victoria Turf Course.
I had the pleasure of owning one of the best BP earning mares on record, the resilient Burden Buster(GB). Sporting a pedigree that would make even Pye’s bargain breds’ blush (Emerald Point? Cool Victor?), she managed to rack up 16 wins and an astonishing 40 in-the-money finishes in 70 lifetime starts. Her intrinsic value is evident in the fact that no less than 13 stables counted her among their charges over her career, and three of those stables belonged to this writer. My first knowledge of “BB” started way back in week 753, when I was fortunate enough to score a starter allowance win with another old-time favorite, Four Bee(NZ). I noticed after Four Bee(NZ) rolled off a few more marathon wins that the last horse she lost to on the turf was this 4000 claimer named Burden Buster…so I figured, maybe that one is worth having, too. She showed up for a 5000 tag in Alabama in week 830, and the rest is history. While no world-beater, she defined the term ‘useful’ and took down seven wins under my care, including dirt, turf, claimers, starters, marathons, and allowances. I lost her and took her back a total of 4 times, finally retiring her after week 1999. She raced in 6 different seasons. I could use another horse like Burden Buster(GB)!!! Ah, the memories. Now, onto the race:
From the rail on out, we start with the 5-1 morning line “outsider”, Thexy Thong. The 4yo daughter of Not For Love out of AP Indy he-mare Taint recently joined the ranks of the black type winners by taking down an overnight handicap in her second to last start. Despite being a closer, she shows good tactical speed at times, but is not too familiar with this 9 furlong distance. Might be a bit vulnerable without much speed on the front end, but looks like a contender if she can reproduce her 101 SP lifetime best. Sentimental pick from the ancient deadman stable. Go, you thexy thing!
Next up is the co-favorite Norse Princess, a regally bred Sadler’s Wells x Miswaki filly from the ninerdust empire. The scratch bred distaffer is a true 1 1/8 mile turf specialist, content this year to take down high dollar open allowances to the tune of 5 wins in her last 6 starts at the distance. She’s never won a stakes event, so the only question is if she can tell the difference when they line up in the gate. Lifetime 10% jockey M. Zerr is having a rough year (3% winners in 2006), but a good showing here could turn his season around. Hard-knocking gamer with every right to win this one.
Top trainer turfsurf sends out legitimate stable star Gem Dandy, the field’s grand old dame with over $420,000 in lifetime earnings, including a Grade II victory at another Aussie track just a few starts back. Thirty-three lifetime starts don’t seem to be slowing her down, as she’s racked up 4 wins already this year and is in great form with a stakes win last out. 9 furlongs is obviously not the best distance for this daughter of Jade Hunter – much depends on the pace scenario to determine if her class and form can make up for the lack of ground. She’s the best horse in the race and gets the best jockey (D Evans 22%), but is a bit vulnerable today as the second co-favorite.
The true wildcard of the bunch is the quickly-improving Ole Lonesome(IRE), owned by calculating conditioner sirronny. Her pedigree screams turf (Domedriver over Silver Hawk), but in fact she is quite distinguished on the dirt, with three consecutive stakes placings leading up to this event. Today’s distance is perfectly suited for her, but she hasn’t faced this level of competition on the grass in her career. If she digs deep into the memory banks, maybe she’ll realize that she broke her maiden at this very course and distance before showing more promise on the brown stuff. Your guess is as good as mine as to her finish today, but she’s got the speed and the talent to do some damage. 3rd of your 5/2 co-favorites.
Last and definitely not least is the 5 horse, Honest Khan(IRE), another 9 furlong allowance specialist sent out by some guy named lenny, whoever that is. The best foal from the Graded Stakes winning Save The Dancer (Seattle Slew), she’s been playing the Norse Princess game by tackling open allowances in abundance. She was unsuccessful in her lone stakes try, but that was long ago, and she possesses that every-so-deadly early speed that the SIM seems to love in short fields. A little light in the speed figures, but she’ll be the one to catch and will take some catching if left all alone. 3/1 for the 4th favorite and second-longest shot on the board. Don’t see that too often, do ya?
I can’t split ‘em on this one, although I think Thexy Thong is primed for a big effort, Honest Khan(IRE) will set a dishonest pace and hold the place, while Ole Lonesome(IRE) will simply run out of real estate before doing her best work. It seems to be anybody’s race, and that’s the way Burden Buster(GB) would have liked it.