Group 2 Grey Fox draws ten to Belgium

Belgium (BEL) Sunday, December 20, 2015 — 2:30PM EST | Race ID : 1415264
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GREY  FOX
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Grade II / Group 2 – Purse : $375,000 – 3 Year Olds and Older    
13 Furlongs | ~2600 Meters | One Mile and Five Eighths    Fast Dirt
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We make our first visit to Belgium to bring you the Grey Fox,  a group 2  contest for three year olds and up on the dirt at ~2600 meters (or 13 furlongs stateside).  A field of ten has been drawn,  including a lone three year old and a sole lady taking on the guys.  The mile dirt oval here near Brussels in the forest of Soignes in Groenendael should be rated as fast as the mild weather is forecast well into next week.  After the race,  there will be a trophy presentation and the victory celebrations should go well on into the evening for the winning connections.  Let’s take a closer look at them in post position order and see how they compare.
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    UNSURE                                              GER     beng         J Wilson     10/1       
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Leading the post parade is this speedy brown five year old,  who seeks his fourth straight win making his first grade/group effort of 2015.  Last time over he ran off with a Local Championship listed stakes at 12 furlongs,  cashing a 103 SP# in a wire to wire run.  One before that,  scratch bred Monsun mister (by Unbridled) easily won a restricted allowance at 12 panels,  copping a 98 SP# leading from the start.  In his prior try he took a restricted allowance,  also at 12 furlongs,  casting a 99 SP# while setting all the fractions.  Runner from the beng racing group is in fine form,  but will have to battle Impacta on the front end;  could help to set up the deep closers.  
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    SPIRITUAL  WISDOM                KY     legionlurk     P Harzheim     7/1
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Owner/trainer legionlurk sends out a scratch bred Bodemeister buck (by Dubai Millenium) off a from-the-clouds win in a restricted allowance at 11 furlongs,  snaring a 109 SP#.  In his previous start,  this bay four year old couldn’t gain on the leaders late when 4th in the G3 Sing-a-Long listed stakes at 10 panels behind Solemn Storm,  snagging a 103 SP# moving from last of eleven.  His prior outing was a never in it 9th in the Poker In The Back listed at 8.5 furlongs, posting a 103 SP# while last most of the way.  Deep closer would benefit from the projected contested pace,  could get up on top try.  
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    CLOUD  FORMATION                 KY     chaos         T Brewer     13/1
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Consistent,  lightly raced brown six year old makes just his tenth career start seeking a fourth straight triumph.  Last out he got the money in the G2 The Hamburg Hall at 14 furlongs,  nailing a 111 SP# with a strong middle move to the front.  He won an open allowance with the same tactics one back of that,  notching a 110 SP#.  Son of Sky Mesa,  out of the graded placed sim-mare Proformer (by Dynaformer) took the two mile The Comedy Central Marathon listed stakes in prior run,  nabbing a 103 SP# running down the early leader.  Chaos trainee has hit the board in every start;  should sit a trip behind the dueling leaders and try to out jump the deep closers.
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    MINISTRY  OF  TEARS               KY     bbaffert2     M Scott     7/2
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Scratch bred Street Cry senor (by Deputy Minister) exits a fair 5th in a residency listed stakes at 10 panels,  garnering a 110 SP# in a 18 horse field.  Bay four year old wired the Mine Trader listed at 12 furlongs one before that,  grabbing a 106 SP#.  He closed well for 2nd one back of that in the Royalty Beer Belly listed at 11 furlongs,  gaining a 109 SP# from mid-pack.  Versatile runner from the bbafert2 racing operation will probably be in the second flight trying to beat the deep closers to the punch;  the handicapper likes his chances making him the 7/2 second choice on the morning line.  
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    SOLEMN  STORM                         KY     jaypeg99     T Loesch     9/1
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Another looking to extend a winning streak is our only three year old,  a brown colt coming off a victory in the G3 Sing-a-Long Classic at 10 furlongs,  banking a 109 SP# in his first run against older.  Awesome Again sophomore,  out of the G2 winning,  million dollar earning sim-mare Stormshaft (by Mineshaft) won the Nickle Bag listed stakes,  also at 10 panels,  in previous outing,  busting a 111 SP# from not far off the early leaders.  He made his last try on the weeds in one prior,  getting underway too late to impact the Toss The Dice listed at 8.5 furlongs,  earning a 101 SP# from last of 13.  Jaypeg99 trainee seeks 3rd straight since returning to the dirt,  but goes three furlongs further than he’s ever run;  could surprise his elders again.
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    GENEROUS  THEA                        IRE     fredjed         R Harzheim      8/1
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Our lone filly is this lovely bay four year old stretch runner,  who came on for 4th last out in the G3 The Harry Potter at 10 furlongs against males,  flipping a 106 SP#.  One before that this Teofilo lady,  out of the stakes placed sim-mare Generous Giant (by Generous) closed fast for 3rd in the G3 The Coney Island at 10.5 panels with her own kind,  flinging a 103 SP#.  Her previous start was a distant 10th in the G1 Vermillion Stakes at 12 furlongs,  getting a 97 SP#.  Runner from the fredjed stable has yet to recapture her excellent three year old form,  could get lucky in a contested pace scenario.       
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    IMPACTA                                            JPN     monologue     GD Mate     6/1
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The only G1 winner in the field may be getting a bit long in the tooth.  Brown siz year old faded to 4th last time over in the G1 The Monster Mash at 14 furlongs after a three month layoff,  lasting for a 105 SP# after setting the early fractions.  One back of that this scratch bred Deep Impact dude (by Montjeu) easily wired an open allowance at this route,  zipping a 105 SP#.  In his prior outing he was distanced in the G2 The Baltimore Special at two miles,  posting an 81 SP#.  Makes just his second start in six months for owner/trainer monologue;  he is four for four at this distance;  faces a battle on the front end,  but could capture past glory on top try with an uncontested lead.
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    OBNOXIOUSLY                              ENG     wtas02         R Whisper     3/1
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The handicapper’s top choice is this scratch bred Frankel fella (by Storm Cat),  who closed late for 7th in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Classic at 10 furlongs,  pegging a 110 SP# in a crowded field.  One before that,  bay four year old colt was a well beaten 11th in the G1 Jockey Guild Gold Cup,  also at 10 furlongs,  pasting a 105 SP# while never in contention.  One back of that he flew down the straight for 2nd in the G1 Western Ocean CA Classic,  also at 10 panels,  popping a 111 SP# from well back in the pack.  Wtas02 trainee has been keeping top company of late;  this is a much easier spot,  deserving favorite on class drop.
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    MARQUES  DE  RISCAL            IRE     xledwith5     S L Ledwith     9/1
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Speedster seeks his sixth straight victory after running off with an open allowance at 10 furlongs,  snatching a much improved 106 SP# in a stalking trip.  Scratch bred Montjeu mister (by Nijinsky 2nd),  prompted the pace before taking over in the same conditions at the same trip in previous outing,  snagging a 93 SP#.  Bay five year old won a hot race allowance in try before that,  snaring a 93 SP# with similar tactics.  Should be right there with the rest of the speedsters early,  but may find sticking around late a bit beyond his reach for owner/trainer xledwith5.
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    PIGEON  HUNTER  IV                 KY     bmr008     B Philp         12/1
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Protecting the rear guard down the straight is this bay four year old colt,  who just missed last out when 2nd in an open allowance at 14 furlongs on the weeds,  notching a 101 SP# from just off the pace.  Scratch bred Americain amateur (by El Gran Senor) closed from last of 12 for 5th in the G1 Coffeefields Cup at 12 panels on the green in one before that,  knocking down a 104 SP#.  He made his last dirt start one back of that in the Basque Doug listed stakes at this distance,  nabbing a 105 SP# while closing for 2nd from last of seven.  Runner from the bmr008 racing barn could benefit from a projected early pace battle,  but seems in a bit tough in this heat.  
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The selections squad is sunning itself in some undisclosed location,  so I’ll wish everyone good luck,  and may they all come home fast,  safe and sound.