BB Mile and Memories of Storm Dog
Breeders Bowl Mile
Grade I
One mile
Firm Turf
$2,000,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
Perhaps stealing the drama from the other races of the day, the Breeders Bowl Mile-G1 has one story on top of another on top of another. With memories of Storm Dog the biggest story of the day is the head to head match between the #1 ranked Filly Thirteenth Date and the #1 Male horse Seeking Sal. Not since Storm Dog captured back to back BB Mile wins in 2002 and 2003 on her way to Horse of the Year and eventual Hall of Fame inductee has this much drama been present. Each horse represents the elite of their respective division and press box can’t seem to get enough of them. Can a filly win here? It’s been done before.
Adding to that is the fight between the three Harzhiem brothers who rumor has it have a $1,000,000 side bet on the outcome of the race. Their story comes from one of humble beginnings as they each rose to the top of their class at their respective tracks and wouldn’t it be awesome to see them finish
We also have a trio of young upstart three year olds, in Spare T(IRE), Hail Cesario and Third Offer(IRE), who are all taking on older horses for the first time. At least two have a legitimate chance at winning as they have shown marked improvement recently and at least one of them should have a break out race.
Finally, we have a host of others waiting to make their story heard. Included in the pack is last year’s winner Mizzen Dizzie whose trainer spain is giving a relative unknown jockey with only two wins this year a shot at the title. Also, we have many that have proven their worth on the track this year including top name such as Urko’s
In all, it is shaping up to be a great battle if not the race of the day. I’m not even going to attempt to handicap this one as it seems like a wide open race but I’ll be pulling for one of the three year olds or perhaps Thirteenth Date to show the boys that she has what it takes.
by–
PP 1
9/1 MIZZEN DIZZIE
(MIZZEN MAST x RAHY x RAMBO DANCER)
Jockey: G Lambert ( 104 – 2 – 12 – 6 – 2% )
Turf Classic Rank : 12
Earnings: $2,511,036
Trainer: spain
Breaking from the inside post is the defending Breeders Bowl Mile champion Mizzen Dizzie. Much like last year, trainer
PP 2 
11/1 SPARE T(IRE)
(THEATRICAL(IRE) x DANEHILL x MACHIAVELLIAN)
Jockey: D Evans ( 729 – 187 – 118 – 100 – 26% )
3YO Turf Classic Rank : 3
Earnings: $1,123,620
Trainer: super28
Leading our trio of three year old entries is the Super Stables’ Spare T(IRE) who continues with the tradition of _(IRE) names. Somehow, I thought we’d used them all up. Kind of reminds of Star Trek where all the Vulcan names started with the letter S. You’d have to think they would run out of names eventually. Enough about the name and back to the horse. If you’re would like for you horse to hit his career best then the prep race leading up to Breeder Bowl would be a great place for it and that’s exactly what Spare T(IRE) has accomplished. He’s coming off a huge win in the Coalmine Mile Cup-G2 where he posted a career best 110 SR and made a statement to his older counter parts. Add to that, wins in the Chantily Lace Cap-G3, The St. James Tavern-G1 and the Try The Wine-G3 and you’ve got one great up and comer. He’ll take on older horses for the first time today though but he’s sure to get more than his share of looks from the betting public. He prefers to just off the pace a bit but has shown some signs of versatility as he can press the pace as well. It may just be better for veteran jockey D Evans to let the race develop as it will and use his experience to adjust the running style of his mount. That game plan seemed to work out well as he was the jockey of choice in Spare T(IRE)’s huge win in the Coalmine Mile. You’ve just got to love this combination again and this might just be the long shot of the day.
PP 3 
7/1 URKO’S
(
Jockey: K Ledwith ( 729 – 187 – 151 – 93 – 26% )
Turf Classic Rank : 6
Earnings: $1,296,493
Trainer: urko
With all the buzz surrounding #1 vs #1, trainer urko is shouting out “Hey, look over here!” and look we did. Urko’s Danzig has certainly been a competitor in the division this year with wins in the Lone Star Mile-G2, the High Lady Cup-G3 and two races back in the Canada Mile-G1. After a successful season last year as a developing four year old, he really has started to show his veteranship and has lost that tag of inconsistency he was known for last year. He’s only missed the board once in his last eight starts and with the way that he’s been running lately, you can’t rule him out. His lack of Grade 1 wins may be his only fault but if he isn’t challenged very hard for the lead he might just have a chance to wire the field but more than likely, Seeking Sal and others will be setting just off his hind quarters. However, this day seems to bring out the best in horses in this position, third or fourth choice. He doesn’t need to get the lead in order to win but he’ll have to be within a couple lengths to remain competitive. You need to find a way to wheel him on your trifecta ticket somehow.
PP 4 
11/1 ECHOES
(
Jockey: T Loesch ( 715 – 188 – 130 – 111 – 26% )
Turf Classic Rank : 9
Earnings: $2,288,636
Trainer: gallorette
Making his second Breeders Bowl Mile start, Echoes and trainer gallorette are hoping to fare better than their 8th place finish last year. Echoes looked very good last year with back to back wins in both the G.S.R. Mile-G1 and the Sydney Mile-G1 and looked prepared to take the division #1 ranking. However in an unexpected move, gallorette entered Echoes in two consecutive sprint races including the 4.5 furlong Otter Dash-G3 and followed that up with a race on the dirt where Echoes came up lame forcing him into a 12 week layoff going into the BB Mile. The layoff really hurt his chances as he went of at 32/1 odds and he ran flat. Vengeance would be his though in his next start as he returned to form in The KINGAB MILE-G1 where he would beat BB Mile winner Mizzen Dizzie and a host of others in a full field. However, that win would be his last as he hasn’t found the winners circle since then. He has ran some bang up race this year and has several close call including his last start in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile Prep-G1 where he finished a very close second to Thirteenth Date. His year has been tagged as “Good but not good enough” but this might just be his break out race and the expected fast opening quarter might just set up nicely for his back of the pack running style.
PP 5 
11/1 MANIFEST DESTINY
(STORM CAT x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x ACK ACK)
Jockey: N Bonus ( 385 – 49 – 42 – 51 – 13% )
Turf Classic Rank : 4
Earnings: $2,234,060
Trainer: tigerman
Manifest Destiny is also making his second consecutive Breeders Bowl Mile start today. This Storm Cat colt, currently ranked 4th, has four graded wins to his record including the Crock Of Gold-G1 earlier this year. His run last year was noteworthy as he stayed competitive throughout but couldn’t seem to find that final gear that was need and finished 5th but only three lengths back. His only other win this season was his first start in The E. GRADE Challenge-Stk but was worth noting that he finished with a career high 113 SR and would continue the year by finishing on the board in seven of his total starts. Most of his races have been much like his BB Mile run last year. Trainer tigerman seems to find the right races to keep him competitive but questions are starting to arise around stamina especially since some of his races this year have been sub par with SR’s in the 90’s. Those runs however, have been sporadic so he could be back to form this race and gets N Bonus in the irons who was aboard for the 113 SR win in The E. GRADE Challenge. If this is you leaving slightly perplexed then you’re not alone. For every reason you can find to not like his chance you find just as many in his favor. What will be left to be seen is what he has left in him as they make the call for home.
PP 6 
13/1 HAIL CESARIO
(SEEKING THE GOLD x NORTHERN DANCER x SECRETARIAT)
Jockey: P Harzheim ( 734 – 183 – 147 – 120 – 25% )
3YO Turf Classic Rank : 2
Earnings: $1,215,980
Trainer: catahoula
Young and full of fire is a good way to describe our #6 entry Hail Cesario. As our second best choice among the three year olds competing here he has certainly enjoyed his last few months of racing. This Seeking The Gold colt has hit his best stride at the right time. He comes in here today as a winner of three out of his last four race including the Tette Mile Classic-G2, the Sussex Stakes-G2 and most importantly his last race in the Mospe Cup-G1. That last race found him charging from the back in usual style while cruising past the finish line under a hand ride and utterly destroyed the field including Spare T(IRE) who gets a slight edge by the track handicapper. This colt has been full of promise going back to last year in his two year old season where he finished the year with a graded win on DelPenn Champions Day in the Epiphany Too Handicap-G1. He would finish the year undefeated going a perfect five for five but the start of 2006 wouldn’t be so kind. His first three starts for the year found him in off form as trainer Catahoula played around a bit in distance but the colt not only looked bad, he looked really bad and a try on dirt in the next race didn’t fare any better. However, he did have enough points to find a spot in much heralded The 2000 Guineas-G1 where he came up just short and finished second but returned to form and broke the triple digit mark in Speed Rating for the first time. His run after that is what catapulted him up in rankings and certainly warrants a try in this race. He’ll have to prove what he’s made of as he’s taken on older company for the first time but picks up jockey P Harzheim for the fourth time this year and is competing against his brother H Harzheim onboard Thirteenth Date.
PP 7 
13/1 LAST GROOM T
(GONE WEST x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) x CREME DELA CREME)
Jockey: L Goodburn ( 176 – 13 – 15 – 11 – 7% )
Turf Classic Rank : 15
Earnings: $989,335
Trainer: eastecho99
Perhaps feeling that the old guy has just one more race in him, trainer eastecho has entered his prize turf horse Last Groom T. This Gone West offspring got a late start in his career and didn’t make it to the track until the end of his three year old season. After a few decent starts on the dirt he was placed on the grass and hasn’t looked back since. His first ever start in a stake event was his best as he posted a career best 113 SR in The ERICA’S WELL Stakes-Stk last year and stayed in form throughout the year on way to winning three stake events including the Merced Stakes-G2. He was noted as a very solid performer but either didn’t have the needed points to enter last year’s BB Mile or eastecho99 didn’t think his colt was ready. His best race of the year though was just following BB day as he was nipped at the wire by Echoes in The KINGAB MILE-G1. In all, everything seemed prepared for an incredible run in 2006. The Sim gods had other things in mind. After racing 9 out of 10 races with SR’s over 100, he raced the next four with speeds in the nineties and couldn’t manage a better finish than 5th. It took a NW2Y allowance race to finally get that first win of the year but it was enough to jump start him back to form as he won in two of his next three races including the Philly Cheese Steak Turf-G3 and the Jack The Man Stakes-G1 where he topped Urko’s Danzig, Echoes and Mizzen Dizzie. That magic has been short lived as he has lost his stride in his last three races and hasn’t broken the century mark in SR’s. If he can find that magic that he had in July and August then he’s a contender but if he come to the table with what he has had in his last few starts then it’s over before the first turn.
PP 8
9/2 SEEKING SAL
(SEEKING THE GOLD x KRIS S. x MAGESTERIAL)
Jockey: F Gossett ( 701 – 159 – 120 – 116 – 23% )
Turf Classic Rank : 1
Earnings: $3,141,455
Trainer: keryn
What a difference a year makes. Our morning line favorite and #1ranked Older Male Turf Classic horse Seeking Sal has taken this division by storm this season and has absolutely dominated his peers. Led by his trainer keryn, he is a prime example of perseverance and patience. It took seven tries in his two year old season to finally break his maiden with his first win finally coming in his last race of 2004. Keryn almost sealed Seeking Sal’s fate in that first year by continuing to run him on the dirt and an average run his first time on the grass was no early indication of what this colt was capable of. He was tried three more times on the dirt with speed ratings in the high 60’s and low 70’s before keryn decided to let Seeking Sal try the grass one more time. Suddenly the colt woke up. That fateful day he broke his maiden and cruised to victory in his next two allowance prep races. He won his first ever stake event the following race in the 11 furlong DUR AJC Derby – (1st Leg Triple Crown)-G1 but failed to fire in his next few starts as keryn continued to stretch Seeking Sal out in distance. That race was to be his only stake win for 2005 but he continued to show improvement in the later half of the year after he was moved back down in distance. Enter 2006 where he would make his name known. Starting in January in the Strange Brew Turf Handicap-G3 he began an 8 for 10 run in Graded wins and would have made it 9 for 10 but was nipped at the wire in the Simulated Sports Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes-G1 by #2 ranked New Storm who is missing day suffering from an injury in a prep race to this event. He is worthy of the #1 ranking but as we know all to well, BB day is where favorites go to die as he faces his toughest field ever including the #1 ranked filly Thirteenth Date. He draws top jock F Gossett and this duo hooked up earlier this year for a win in the Eddie O Cap-G1.
PP 9
10/1 TEE JAY ‘S GREAT
(KRIS KIN x KAHYASI(IRE) x DIXIELAND BAND)
Jockey: A Craig ( 729 – 179 – 134 – 109 – 25% )
Turf Classic Rank : 13
Earnings: $820,840
Trainer: les333
Breaking from the gate #9 is the les333 entry Tee Jay’s Great. He drops in distance today from his usual 10 furlongs so we’ll have to see how he reacts to the shortened race. What has me perplexed a bit is his lack of graded attempts this year. His record is outstanding with six wins in his seven starts but five of those six wins were in non-graded stake races. He does have one graded win though in The Prince of Whales-G1 where he defeated #3 ranked Causes Wood and raced a very game third in the Windy City Turf Classic-G1 where he stayed right up there with both Rapid Grey and New Storm. Unlike many others who try to make the jump up to graded company, he seems to take on the challenge head on and it surprises me that he hasn’t raced in more of them this year. Perhaps les33 was just nursing him along with long term plans in store. With they type of numbers he’s ran recently I can see no fault in his entry here and it wouldn’t surprise me to find him fighting it out right down to the end. He seems to be really finding his mark recently and even if he doesn’t win you will find his name mentioned many times in the future. With the lack of graded races I find it a little hard to accept the 10/1 odds but that shouldn’t deter you from betting on him.
PP 10
12/1
(ARAZI x MARI’S BOOK x KNOWN FACT)
Jockey: D Givins ( 728 – 185 – 130 – 89 – 25% )
Turf Classic Rank : 10
Earnings: $1,577,765
Trainer: steff
Another returnee to the Breeders Bowl Mile,
PP 11 
6/1 THIRTEENTH DATE
(GONE WEST x DYNAFORMER x STORM CAT)
Jockey: H Harzheim ( 711 – 152 – 144 – 120 – 21% )
Older Female Turf Classic Rank : 1
Earnings: $2,120,802
Trainer: congie5
Turning her back on her division, Thirteenth Date and trainer congie5 have chosen to pass on the Breeders Bowl Distaff put #1 versus #1 against the boys. The rumors have been circulating around the track for three weeks now after her win in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile Prep-G1 where she took on her male counter parts for the first time including fellow starters Echoes and Congo and the #2 ranked New Storm who as previously mentioned will not start after an apparent injury in that race. Much like Seeking Sal, she didn’t really start to develop until late last year but has created a big stir this season. What has the press box perplexed is why? I say, why not? She has already proven herself against her peers and she showed in her last race that she can compete with the boys. Her entry here is sure to steal the thunder from the BB Classic and the BB turf. Who wants to her about Memo taking on Rain God and
PP 12
15/1 CANNON IN D
(SADLER’S WELLS x BLUSHING GROOM(FR) x SECRETARIAT)
Jockey: P Bangs ( 720 – 171 – 120 – 97 – 24% )
Turf Classic Rank : 19
Earnings: $745,585
Trainer: cream
“However, it’s hard to ignore the fact that this horse has shown the speed capable of taking down this field including the #1 ranked horse in the division.” That’s what I wrote about our next entry Cannon In D this past May in the Afleet Alex Overrated Stakes-G1 and that exactly what he did. At the time, the #1 ranked horse was Xtremely A Fan who has all but faded from memory and has fallen to #22 overall while finding it difficult to win an allowance race. Once again, I’m prepared to say the exact same thing. That one race seemed to be his shining moment and was his third consecutive stake win but only his first graded win. Before that race, he had yet to prove that he was capable of running at that level. Unfortunately he has found the going very tough and hasn’t really showed much until his last start in the Utah BB Mile-G2 where lost in a photo finish while posting a 102 SR. Is he back in form? Can he stand even tougher competition than before? These are all questions that many of the sport writers are asking the public. Again, he has the talent but it seems to come out when you least expect to. Even at 15/1 you can’t rule out his chances and if you’re brave enough to put him on top you could be looking at a huge return at the ticket window. I’m not quite ready to go that far yet but I’ll certainly have one eye peeled on his colors the whole way.
PP 13 
11/1 RISE TO KLP
(CAPOTE x NUREYEV x FAPPIANO)
Jockey: R Harzheim ( 715 – 162 – 119 – 108 – 23% )
Turf Classic Rank : 8
Earnings: $1,471,406
Trainer: mccoy
Like a thorn in the side, Rise To KLP and trainer mccoy have been the trifecta killer all year. Almost never the clear favorite in any graded race this year, this horse seems to find a way to hit the board at medium odds. This probably has more to do with mccoy’s ability to eye the correct race as this Capote offspring has a lifetime win record of 20 out of 44 races for an amazing 45%. In all he’s racked up 17 total stake wins but it wasn’t until this year that he finally cracked that graded win that mccoy has been looking for. His fame shot up this year with a surprise win in the Keg Of Guinness-G1and later in the Fivestarnick Handicap-G2. He’s coming off another good run last time out in the Premium Jockey Guild Stakes-G3 simply ran out of track and lost a very close race to Causes Wood(IRE). What worries me is his late running style. And when I say late I mean very late. He doesn’t seem to take off until the stretch and has often come up short such as his last race. Add to this the fact that he drops in distance from his usual 9-11 furlongs to a flat mile that he hasn’t attempted since he was a two year old and you have to wonder how he’ll perform. However, he has won at 8.5 furlongs in the previous mentioned Fivestarnick Handicap-G2 so it’s not completely out of the question. Perhaps his lack of race at this distance have come from his ability to dominate at 1 ¼ mile and not so much to his ability. Just to add more to the drama, R Harzheim rounds out our battle of three brothers as he gets the run atop Rise To KLP. This duo has hooked once before which was last year in the The SHADEED’S RULER Memorial-Stk which he won with little effort. Personally, I like his chances. It may be a bit hard to reach with such stiff competition but this is the day for heartbreaks and he could be the one breaking them.
PP 14
34/1 THIRD OFFER(IRE)
(GENEROUS(IRE) x ROLL ON ROBERTO x RICH CREAM)
Jockey:
3YO Turf Classic Rank : 7
Earnings: $695,489
Trainer: bewitch
Rounding out of trio of three year olds and with the longest odd of the pack at 34/1 is bewitch’s Third Offer(IRE). He carries his 7th place ranking into the big race with high aspirations but will need a lot of help if he’s to even glimpse the winner’s circle. As a winner of five previous stake events, he certainly has proven himself against his peers but like the other two takes on older horses for the first time. He has graded win this year in both the All Your Base Are Belong To Us Cup-G1 and the Craven Stakes-G3 but it wasn’t until his final race coming into today that he finally was able to crack the 100+ SR barrier in the Cherry Limb Stakes-G2 where he was caught from behind in the final 1/8th. Still you have to admire his resolve especially when you consider his modest breeding with a mediocre sire and a bargain bred mare. His chances here are probably non-existent but he may be one of those late developing colts. You need look no further than most of the favorites in this field to prove that point. Most of them didn’t start to shine until they were four so don’t be surprised to see him here as one of the favorites next year.