Big Race Preview

Big name runners Sunnybank Memorial and Horseshoe Bay face off, a very competitive field of milers are set to go in Canada, and some big runners show up for he Tri-City Sprint.

Race: 2972.0414 Man Of War Stakes – Grade I – $500,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three eighths on the Turf

The Man of War brings out a match up of top turf horses. Sunnybank Memorial versus Horseshoe Bay. These two have faced each other four times now. They have split there meetings with each runner finishing ahead of the other twice. The race really looks like a battle between these two.

Sunnybank Memorial is the slight favorite on the morning line. He ran huge last time out turning the tables on another rival of his Rain God. His form is very good right now although he does turn around on just two weeks rest. With forty-two career races you have to wonder if he can keep giving top performances with short rest. He will need a top performance here fending off his younger rival.

Horseshoe Bay has five wins from seven starts this year. His only blemishes come from the Equinics on a yielding surface he is not fond of and at the Sand Castle Golden turf where Puppet Regime ran a big race. He took a break for a few months in the early part of the summer and he has come backs as strong as ever. This is his third start off that layoff and he looks very sharp.

There are other horses entered in the race and any one of this could step up if either of the top two falter. Arkansas Traveler made a nice move last out taking the G1 Judgemont. Gerfly’s Deed has been a consistent performer at this level most of the year. 

Race: 2972.2814 Canada Mile – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: Ontario
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

At least nine of the twelve runners entered here appear capable of winning this race. Urko’s Danzig is the slight favorite here. He has run the most consistent of this bunch speed figure wise and won a grade III two races back. He is a stalker type so is always in the race but others appear to have the ability to run better speed figures despite not being as consistent.

Gold Inferno is a deep closer that screamed home last time out scoring a 112 speed figure. That type of run here probably wins this but this four year old needs to prove he can run back to back big races. We might just be seeing a star maturing. Last Groom T has been very good recently but bombed out last time out. He has a couple of graded wins at this distance recently but has raced an awful lot lately.

Congo, Forbidden Treasure, Manifest Destiny, and Echoes are all similar in that each could win this race however their speed figures would suggest each might have problems if any other runner steps up this week. A.P. Rizz Kid is a filly that lordpye has boldly placed. She has not run a route race this year but has really matured running big races in sprints and against the boys. She has run over a mile in the past so the distance should not be a problem.

One last interesting runner here is Skills in Magic. This three year old colt comes off a grade I win and out of longer route races. He gets a chance here to prove he is quick enough to run a mile with this top field and that could be where he is headed come Breeder’s Bowl.

Race: 2972.0114 Demona Handicap – Grade I – $450,000
Track: California
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

Just ten runners entered and they are led by Spooky Ballet. He has been running at longer distances and has a grade III win a few races back. The cut back in distance could be just what the doctor ordered. She was really good at this distance as a three year old.

Lily Mansfield could be the up and comer that seizes the moment. She is a lightly raced four year old that has run some nice speed figures already. She does stretch out to this distance for the first time and still needs to prove she is capable. Adagio Fragrance has been running in longer races as well. She has a touch of seconditis finishing second in her last two and eleven times in her career. She could really step up with the cut back in distance and lesser competition.

The three year old Alma (IRE) could be the wild card. She really stepped it up last time running strong to win a grade II race at a mile after running in longer distances. I think this distance is right in her wheel house and if she can run that 105 speed figure again she will be right in the thick of things. 

Race: 2972.2915 Tri-City Sprint – Grade I – $500,000
Track: N. California
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Six and one half furlongs on the Dirt

The top two favorites were both sired by Giant’s Causeway. Casterly Rock (IRE) is last year’s Breeder’s Bowl Sprint winner. You almost get the feeling he has struggled since that win but he has only made six starts this year. This light campaign has scene him win two and just miss at the Sand Castle Sprint. He took some time off this summer and has come back very well winning a grade III last time out. This will be his third start off the layoff and his stalking style always keeps him in races. He could be ready to dominate the sprinters once again.

Sulpher (IRE) has won two in a row and three of his last four races all with good speed figures. He has really matured this year with six wins and improving speed figures. Biting Insects has won three of four this year and is putting together the kind of year so far that puts a runner into consideration for a year end award. He still needs to win a couple of more races before you can talk about that and this is the type of race he needs to win. He has had good success at longer sprints so this seems a good chance for the closer.