It Pays To Be Frugal

Back for another installment of the Bargain Bred Championship Day, series creator Knightmare has upped the ante by introducing more divisions and bigger purses to an already outstanding annual event in the SIM.  The 2006 installment has 10 races here in Ohio with a combined total of $1,875,000 in prize money.  The fact that these races are restricted to horses who were bred from scratch for less than 100 Breeding Points means that there’s hope for the ‘little guy’ in the racing world after all.  I look forward to this event every year and with 4 entrants (no favorites though) out of my 6 stables it promises to be exciting if not financially rewarding!

The 11^th race on the card is a big one, the Cougar Bite Classic at 10 furlongs on the Turf.  As with all the Bargain Bred Series races, this one is named for an outstanding low-budget pedigree performer of years past.  Cougar Bite was one of the best, a dominating winner of two important Grade I races at 10 furlongs on the turf en route to career bankroll of over $1.3 million.  His trainer pedroza doesn’t have any bargain breds in the stable at the moment, so one of these 9 entrants is going to have to carry the torch.  And there are more than a few who are capable…let’s take a look.

#1 is BUBBA JESS, owned by reems11 and ridden by M. Carrington (10%).  The three-year-old colt is a son of the Storm Cat sire Hubba Hubba and the very obscure pedigree influences Little Vagabond(GB) and It’s Fleetwood Mac.  The British sire Persian Gulf(GB) appears all over this ones papers which probably speaks to his turf abilities.  “Bubba” made only two racetrack appearances for his breeder alabaster, moving over to the stephany00 stable after running last of 4 in a 7500 claimer.  Whatever injury he suffered that day has not hampered him since, as he has racked up 5 stakes victories and almost $250,000 in earnings since.  Despite a turf win in his debut, he remained in competition on the main track until being picked up by his current owner earlier this year.  He’s 3 for 4 on the turf since, his only defeat a close second on a yielding course with a questionable ride by a mediocre jockey.  Today he gets the rail and a firm going which should bode well for his front-running chances.  Computer puts him at 4-1, very nice price!

#2 is ANKALINE, owned by jdoggtx and ridden by L. Ingersoll (10%).  A 4 year-old with a slightly more mainstream pedigree, he’s a son of the successful Danzig sire Anziyan , the Nearco(GB)-heavy damsire Kahyasi(IRE), and European stalwart High Line(GB).   The mixture of speed and stamina worked well as the battledmg homebred absolutely demolished the Bargain-restricted Arc de Mal Eleve last race at todays exact distance in France.  But Ankaline was not exactly the precocious sort.  His astute owner picked him up at the beginning of 2006 and was fortunate not to lose him for the 13500 price tag, where he ran off an hid at odds of 19-1.  Could it be that his stamina influences allowed him to improve seemingly overnight?  He’s only been out of the money once since then, all in allowance and stakes company, and consistently fires a speed number in the high 90’s.  Based on that last race it’s hard to see how he won’t be a factor, although a speed duel could materialize with the horse to his inside.  Much respect from the computer at 8/5.

#3 is M. DIVER, trained by lgbost7 and ridden today by Q. Redden(8%).  This veteran 4yo colt is a rare CPU-bred entrant to the contest, having run twice as filler for those infamous 4 horse fields before being snagged by high percentage trainer frontyard.  Most of his career was spent cleaning up marathon races in the starter allowance ranks, with the occasional foray into low claimers when the starter eligibility inevitably ran out.  The current owner is the 5^th human conditioner to put the simulated bridle on this classically American pedigreed son of Festive (Damascus), Antheus (Northern Dancer), and Sir Tristam (Sir Ivor).  The big thing that stands out is his 4 x 5 cross to Sir Gaylord and the conspicuous absence (in a good way) of Raise A Native blood.  He certainly can stay a route but may have been too close to the pace in his last race, the 2 mile Wombat Cup that hosted several of today’s participants (including winner Bubba Jess).  Can you believe this guy has 11 wins but never tried 10 furlongs on the turf?  A few question marks persist at 14-1 morning line odds.

#4 is DOWN UNDER IT(GB), trained by kiwihawkz and ridden by J. Elizondo(11%).  A bit of hometown pride present as this homebred has spent his entire 16 race career in the kiwihawkz barn.  The sire trio of Primo Dominie(GB) [Dominion(GB)], The Irish Lord (Bold Ruler), and Sexton Blake(IRE)[Blakely(GB)] have yet to produce a stakes-caliber horse, but in a 9 horse field you can’t blame anybody for taking a shot.  DOWN UNDER IT(GB) is more aptly “up against it” today as his lone victory came in the maiden claiming ranks in week 2909.  The course and distance is not a problem but speed is a reasonable concern in this group.  The computer was harsh with its’ 99-1 impost but with the ability to close ground Elizondo might get this guy a small check with some luck. 

#5  is CLEARANCE CLARENCE, trained by vimes and ridden by K. Wheeler(7%).  Another homebred who has never changed hands, he’s beautifully bred using Star of Indya (A.P. Indy), Northern Hal(IRE)[Sadler’s Wells], and Ask Clarence (Buckpasser) for a plethora of classic influences.  Even the Sires’ DamSires lean towards distance (Pleasant Colony, Arts and Letters, Herbager).  You might imagine he would need some time to mature, and indeed he made his first start when nearly 4 years old, progressing through the allowance ranks and achieving stakes success recently as a 5 yo in the 13 furlong Lord Era Bonanza.  He earns my special admiration for achieving success without being a reformed claimer…because of his humble (but subtly strong) lineage, he went off at 90-1 in an entry level allowance race and just missed shocking them, short by a nose.  And don’t call him Shirley.  He ran just behind Bubba Jess in his last start, but is better suited for todays distance.  Consider that he was 2^nd in last year’s installment of this race and you have a live price at 5-1.

#6  is GALLIC CHARM(FR), trained by his breeder alba1 and ridden here by R. Dawson(9%).  The successful 4yo has a turf-styled pedigree of Silic(FR)[Sillery], Sharastrani (Nijinsky II), and Icy Groom (Blushing Groom).  At first glance he is inbred 4 x 4 to Northern Dancer and 3 x 4 to Blushing Groom, and it seems to have worked quite nicely.  He won a turf sprint at 2 but has been most effective around this 2000meter distance, racking up almost $200k despite being N4L and not yet a stakes winner.  Don’t knock him for trying, though.  He’s charmed his way to several placings, including a solid second in the Grade III Femazzle Classic Cup.  A distant second to computer favorite ANKALINE in the Arc de Mal Eleve, he seems to step it up a bit when not facing open company.  If you’re looking for an improving horse who hasn’t plateaued it could be this one, as he’s only 3 and should still have some gas in the tank despite the arduous campaign (23 lifetime starts.)   Computer smiles favorably on his chances at 9/2.

#7 is JACOBITE ARC, a homebred from the ecosse barn, ridden by L. Gordon (7%).  The lightly raced 3yo’s pedigree also screams distance, with the effects of Beaudelaire (Nijinsky II), Effervescing (Le Fabuleux), and Native Charger (Native Dancer) for a turn of foot.  He was only so-so in the maiden special ranks before romping in a Mc50000 event just 12 weeks ago, earning a 76 speed figure for the victory.  No takers at the claim box that day, and ecosse offered him again for 50000 when running 3^rd at a longer distance.  The light came on two starts back when he cut back to 10 furlongs and scored an improbable 4^th at 61-1 in the Arc de Mal Eleve, which is probing to be an important prep race as well.  I doubt we’ll see him in a claimer anytime soon!  His last race is still a notch below the big boys today, but he’s improving rapidly and your guess is as good as mine as to how steep that curve (or should I say Arc?) will climb.  Computer underestimates his chances at 25-1.

#8  is SHADOWFIELDS(GB), trained by prosportza and ridden by M. Robertson (12%).  The pedigree of this 5yo horse has more of the usual SIM influences as he is by Medicean(GB)[Machiavellian], Authaal [Shergar(GB)], and Be My Guest (Northern Dancer).  Of course you would guess this one wants nothing but turf.  4 x 5 x 4 Northern Dancer will have that effect sometimes!  SHADOWFIELDS(GB) has an interesting history.  He was bred by mybabies, who won two races with him as a 3yo but failed miserably in the open claiming ranks at 4.  133 days later he ends up in a 3500 claimer for trainer theminstre, which leads me to believe he was returned to the CPU pool and included as an original horse in a new stable.  He’s been useful in the starter allowance marathon ranks since then for several owners, and was picked up by prosportza for a grand total of $1 at auction 4 weeks ago.  The bargain of the Bargain Breds, if you will.  If he were to pull off an upset today, it would be the biggest rags-to-riches story in the history of the SIM since DOWN THE JAZZ went from maiden claimer to Bluegrass Derby winner.  I’m not saying it WILL happen…but the computer says you get 32-1 on his chances.

#9 is the venerable PEPE’S PIPES, trained by dundey5 and ridden by M. Grunhard (21%).  The Grade I winning millionaire has a powerfully balanced pedigree of Singinintherain (Storm Cat), Iron (Mr. Prospector), and Slick Slew (Seattle Slew).  Future bargain breeders take notice!  The Pipemaster gets plenty of distance ability from Sires’ DamSires Blushing Groom, Buckpasser, and Prince John.  PEPE’S PIPES made his debut for dundey5 although he was bred in sister-stable dundey6 and was offered for 75000.  A mediocre effort on the dirt prompted the switch to the turf, and he responded with a 4 ½ length victory in the Mc10000 contest.  The horse that ran 2^nd to him that day is currently an 0-for-35 maiden.  Great game, isn’t it?  Thankfully I didn’t have a horse in the field that day, otherwise I would be pulling my hair out for not claiming him…but no one did, either!  Dundey took no chances after that as PEPE’S PIPES rolled through starter company right into a Grade III victory in his first stakes attempt.  He’s the poster boy for late-in-the-year 3yo breeding as he only raced once in his sophomore year (shhh….don’t tell the SIM’s Bruce Headly-like trainer tbgifted).  Last year he took down the B’Arc (renamed Arc de Mal Eleve) over CLEARENCE CLARENCE and followed it up with a win in the Cougar Bite at odds of 3/2.  CLEARENCE CLARENCE was a closer second that day and seems to have caught up with his rival in recent weeks, as PEPE’S PIPES has run consecutive thirds in the Arc de Mal Eleve and the Wombat.  Maybe dundey and crew are experimenting a little as the big horse was entered in a couple sprint races over the summer and has not yet returned to top form.  But make no mistake, this horse has been keeping superior company despite being winless on the year, and he is a threat to defend his title if he can regain some of that magic.  The computer must have a short memory (oh man, I’m hilarious today) because he’s listed at 4-1.

On paper the main contenders appear to be BUBBA JESS and ANKALINE but the pace scenario might play into the hands of stalker/closers like GALLIC CHARM(IRE) or CLEARANCE CLARENCE if he can handle the shorter-than-he-likes 10 furlongs.  PEPE’S PIPES has to be respected but if he runs like his last two he will not earn a second Cougar Bite trophy.  JACOBITE ARC is a wildcard as we have not seen his best effort yet.  M. DIVER looks more like a wet-track specialist but is also untried at the distance and would not be a complete surprise.  DOWN UNDER IT(GB) and SHADOWFIELDS(GB) will get a bit of exercise, an embroidered saddle towel, and the Bargain Bred Series Home Game as consolation prizes, although a 5^th place finish would more than pay for shipping expenses and looks mighty nice on the resume (CV in Europe).

Good luck, thanks again to Knightmare and the BTB staff – so keep breeding bargain babies and we’ll see you next year!