Eclipse Stakes-G1
Eclipse Stakes
Grade I
A mile and one quarter
Firm Turf
$1,000,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
A full field has gathered today for this year’s running of the Eclipse Stakes-G1. Leading the way is the #2 ranked New Storm who passed on the Breeder’s Bowl Mile-G1 to race here today. Sounds of racing’s past glory are also present with Bristol Rovers along with the best of the three year old division many of whom are taking on older horses for the first time. The race is setting up nicely as a classic fox and hare pace and it looks like it will be an interesting finish.
PP 1
10/1 STRONG BELWAS
(EMPIRE MAKER x CAERLEON x WOODMAN)
Trainer: asoiaf
The inside gate starts one of several aspiring three year olds competing in today’s race with Strong Belwas. This Empire Maker colt may be poised to take on the older division next year after a 109 SR rating in the Saint Ledge Stakes-G3 two races back and a win the race before that in the California Turf Classic-G1. He didn’t show much last time out after a five week layoff and perhaps he ready to show more today. He gains an advantage in gate position as he should have an easy time challenging for the early lead as he likes to do. This race marks his first attempt against older horses so we’ll have to see if he’s ready to make the move up.
PP 2
20/1 ROSENTHAL(IRE)
(ROCK OF
Trainer: simsters8
Rosenthal(IRE) is another three year old taking on older horse for the first time. He grabs the honor of being the longest shot on the board but is fresh off a career best 104 SR last time out in the Early Months Stakes-G2 where he finished a very close 2nd. He seems to excel at this distance and if he can capitalize on the momentum he found in his last race he’s likely to surprise more than a handful at the track today. He should shoot right out of the gate along with Strong Belwas but will have to show that he can keep up with the expected fast opening ½ mile.
PP 3
19/1 KISS OF BETRAYL(IRE)
(ROCK OF
Trainer: pm
It just seems that none of the three year olds are getting much respect today. Kiss Of Betrayal(IRE) not only takes on older horses again but once again is out to prove she can do it against the boys. This filly is currently ranked #1 in the 3YO turf long division and might be the dark horse of the race. She’s fresh off a nice run last time out in the Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff-G1 where she finished 2nd to the #1 ranked older filly Cold Storage. She has already proven that she can take on the older males when she won the Canada Turf-G1 two races back. Her disadvantage might be the distance as she is use to going 11-12 furlongs and she may wish for the extra track considering her late kick.
PP 4
11/1 SWINGSHIFT SAL
(NIGHT SHIFT x ROBERTO x FAPPIANO)
Trainer: click
Most things get better with age but Swingshift Sal hasn’t been one of them this year. This horse just has had a rough time of things lately and has lost his tough that he saw in 2004 and 2005. With eight stake victories to his record and several other close calls, he’s certainly built up a nice legacy. However, there’s no denying that this just isn’t the same horse as last year. His lone win this season was an Alw-35200NW1s but did run a close second to Ale N’ Skittles in the Kinsho Kho Classic-G2 in late May. I think he’ll make a good trip but it’s hard for me to jump on his band wagon with five consecutive races rated in the 90’s. He’ll need a return to glory to make the trip to the winner’s circle.
PP 5
14/1
(PINE BLUFF x
Trainer: lenny10
Arkansas Traveler is another horse that has found his five year old season extremely disappointing. This Pine Bluff Horse is a winner of three previous stake events and just when you thought the fire was out of him, he pulled out a surprise win in the Judgemont International-G1. However, out of the 11 races this year that he has ran that on race is the only one where he broke the 100+ SR rating. He again drops back down in distance which seems like the smart move as the Judgemont was ran at 10.5 furlongs. Still, I’ll have to go with the pattern and stay away from a bet here. I sincerely hope that one race wasn’t a fluke and that he can show a return but I’m afraid his top class racing days are behind him now.
PP 6
8/1 ALE N’ SKITTLES
(JADE HUNTER x THEATRICAL(IRE) x CAVEAT)
Trainer: bigtime
Ale N’ Skittles really made a name for himself the later part of last year into the early part of this season when he ran off a string of six stake wins in seven tries. He followed that up a few races later to notch his first graded win in the Kinsho Kho Classic-G2. He makes his return to graded company after a successful run of minor stake events but seems off form lately. He has still gathered enough attention from the betting public though as his race record proves his ability at this level. If he’s back in shape, he’ll need to find a spot right at the lead. Although he doesn’t have to lead the pack he can’ let Mizzen Dizzie get too far out in front if he’s to win.
PP 7
9/1
(RAHY x
Trainer: swampy
Trainer swampy is here to make a statement. That statement is: “Bristol Rovers is back!” He was one of the elite of the marathon division in 2004 and 2005 but at six years of age he seems to have lost a step or two. We’ve about lost count as to how many graded stake wins he’s notched but after suffering most of the season with SR’s in the 90’s he returned last time out with a graded win in the Big City Handicap-G2. It was his first win of any type since February when he won the Lester Pigott-G1. He makes a drastic drop in distance today as perhaps his trainer thinks that the longer races are getting too tough for him now. Will we see Bristo Rovers back next year? We hope so but if not, my hats off to this horse. He’s left nothing to ponder about as he has been one of the Sims best ever.
PP 8
5/1 NEW STORM
(STORM CAT x NUREYEV x
Trainer: coolerk
Our first of two race co-favorites is the #2 ranked New Storm trained by coolerk. His entry here is a good sign as he passed on the chance to race in the Breeders Bowl Mile-G1 two weeks ago. More than likely he just wasn’t ready to go as he had a horrible outing in his last race in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile Prep-G1 where it seems like the off track just did him in. Other than that race he’s had a tremendous season as he has notched six stake victories including two G-1 wins. He has a very late closing kick and perhaps his connections prefer an extra furlong or two as they have gained here. He’ll make a tough one to beat.
PP 9
10/1 BARB’S COMFORT(IRE)
(THEATRICAL(IRE) x SEEKING THE GOLD x A.P. INDY)
Trainer: marybarn
Breaking out of the #9 post is marybarn’s Barb Comfort(IRE). This four year old colt has certainly cashed his share of paychecks over the last two seasons as he is a winner of nine stake event including the Posh Purse Stakes-G2 last year. He’s found the going a little rougher this year though as he doesn’t seem to have the consistency that he was use to in 2005. This will be his fourth graded race this year and marybarn hopes for better results as he hasn’t contended in any of the other tries. He’s a late closer and I think the he’ll like the extra room to build his momentum.
PP 10
12/1 DRACO
(SADLER’S WELLS x A.P. INDY x UNBRIDLED)
Trainer: spqr
LONG SHOT OF THE DAY!!! The very nicely bred three year old Draco enters today with a 50% winning percentage on the turf. Granted he’s only had four starts on the grass he none the less has shown a tremendous liking to it. He’s fresh off an awesome win last time out in the Haw Haw Derby-G3 where he posted a 110 SR! I’m a little concerned about his inconsistency but I think you can chalk that up to inexperience. Hopefully, now that he’s had the chance to shine against his peers, he’s ready to bring his A-Game to the table. This is my pick and at 14/1 I’ll hopefully have a winning ticket with an “Across the board” bet.
PP 11
5/1 MIZZEN DIZZIE
(MIZZEN MAST x RAHY x RAMBO DANCER)
Trainer: spain
Our other co-favorite, Mizzen Dizzie, makes his second start after a long layoff and hopes to improve after his last race in the Breeders’ Bowl Mile-G1. That last race saw him leading the entire race until the stretch where he just gave way to the cavalry charge. However, he does have the raw speed that is needed to win here and still can boast that he is the 2005 Breeders’ Bowl Mile-G1 winner. He hasn’t seen a lot of action this year with a limited racing schedule but
PP 12
9/1 GERFLY’S DEED
(GERI x SHADEED x NASKRA)
Trainer: tomsfly
Gerfly’s Deed drop down in distance after a disappointing try in the 12 furlong Breeders Bowl Turf-G1 where he took on last year’s Eclipse Award winner
PP 13
19/1 SWAMPY STURM
(DYNAFORMER x ROBERTO x GRAUSTARK)
Trainer: tmica
At 19/1 Swampy Strum hopes to grab a share of the purse. He’s remained competitive through most of the year despite lackluster performances. Actually, they haven’t been that bad but it’s just not what you expect at this level. He does have one good performance this year however in The Black Dread Awakens-G1 with a second place finish. Although I think that a win is out of the question, he should be there to spoil the day for more than a few.
PP 14
13/1 OTTO OH NO
(MINESHAFT x IRISH RIVER(FR) x KRIS S.)
Trainer: freeky
Starting at the extreme outside is the very lightly raced three year old Otto Oh No. This Mineshaft colt has came out with guns blazing as he won at first asking to break his maiden and ran his first five races on the main track. He was entered last time out in the Cherry Limb Stakes-G2 for his first try on the turf and responded tremendously with a surprising win while rating a 104 SR. He seems a good fit in this division as he has that classic back of the pack running style and I’m eager to see how he’ll do with his second race on the grass. For a three year old with such limited experience he certainly has my curiosity up.