Big Race Preview
Two really big G1 races are on tap this week. The first major G1 in the older handicap division has some familiar names and some newcomers. Sunnybank Memorial makes his annual debut in the Aslan Memorial against a very solid group of long distance turf runners. We will also touch on a couple of G2 races this week as three year fillies jockey for position in the run to the Oaks.
Race: 3126.0213 Glenn Handicap – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt
Quinncannon has been installed as the Glenn favorite in a race that has some familiar faces. The six year old Quinncannon is a deserving favorite in very good form. He has managed two win half his career races, an impressive seventeen wins. Only recently has he stepped up to the graded level and had success. He won back to back G2 races at this distance in front running fashin before just getting caught last time out at a mile in a G1. When he gets out there on the lead all along he is one tough runner and his inside post position helps.
Maybe one of the more intriguing runners in the field is Fly For Buda. After a big three year old year, and a down four year old year Fly for Buda has put together back to back wins. His last out was super impressive posting a 113-speed figure winning a G2. Buda will not get the lead in this race but can stalk pretty well and must be watched. Unprecedented is a well accomplished runner but like many others in here his consistency has fallen off a bit. His last few have been pretty solid speed figure wise and there was a nice tune up at the allowance level. He will be a danger off the pace that looks to be a quick one.
There are a couple of four year olds to watch. These are the type runners that could very easily rise to the top of their class. Magpie’s Bagger has seven wins in sixteen starts including his last two. He has been running at a little shorter distance but last out was a G2 win, and his speed figures are improving. The little extra difference should not matter keep an eye on this guy. Otto Causes (IRE) is another pace horse here. Two back he set the pace getting caught late in a G1 where he earned a 110 speed figure. His speed figures have not been as consistent but the cut back in distance coupled with the fact he already has proven he can put up big speed figures make him a danger.
Race: 3126.0314 The Aslan Memorial Turf Classic – Grade I – $500,000
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
Sunnybank Memorial has owned this race for three years straight. He has used this race to kick off his seasons with great success. He is back at age six with forty-seven career races and over ten million in earnings. Sunnybank may have lost a step, that is still debatable, but he looks like the one to beat once again. He was not on his game at the Breeder’s Bowl but since then he has finished second at the Japan Cup and just missed on Delpenn’s Champions day. By now everyone is familiar with his off the pace running style the as we look forward to seeing him charge down the lane once again.
There are some younger and familiar horses looking to knock Sunnybank into retirement. At the top of that list may be Cortez (IRE). The young gun took two of the early season big G1 races for three year olds winning the Sydney Derby and the Adelaide Derby. He also took the Irish Derby and beat Sunnybank Memorial in the Classic Turf stakes before the Breeder’s Bowl. Since his third place finish at the Breeder’s Bowl Cortez (IRE) tried the dirt and did not care for it. He will be looking to get back on track this week.
Confederacy (IRE) rebounded well last time out on Delpenn’s Champions day hanging on to beat Sunnybank Memorial. That came after a very disappointing run at the Breeder’s Bowl. He is a lightly raced five year old with some upside and is a real threat to the favorite. He likes to stalk the pace and unfortunately for him there is some real speed to his inside which may better set up the closers.
Kool Thing (IRE) is a bit of an unknown quality here. He is fresh off a G1 win at two miles by four lengths. In fact that was his fourth win in a row. The question is can he run a big enough speed figure against some very nice runners? He is a front runner and will get his chance to prove he belongs. Tenpin Gold may thwart Kool Thing as he brings his speed to this race as well. Tenpin Gold has the same speed figure question surrounding him as Kool Thing (IRE) can he run fast enough?
I briefly wanted to touch on a pair of G2 races with Oaks implications.
Race: 3126.0115 Los Vinegrette Stakes – Grade II – $200,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Dirt
The very impressive All The Riches is set to make her three year old debut. She should be a heavy favorite. Her breeding is unique in that she is Saint Liam who died after his first year in the breeding shed and by a dam sire Dubai Millennium who also passed during his first breeding season. She was awesome in her last two starts as a two year old posting a 95 speed figure taking a G2 in her last start. She has the fastest speed figures and the scary thing is she should improve.
You’re a Towel is the number two ranked filly and a G1 winner. She was a little disappointing at the Breeder’s Bowl where she only managed a sixth place finish. She rebounded after that in the Movieland Starlet missing by three quarters of a length. She is a deep closer and that can compromise her chances but she is one of the early horses to watch for the Oaks.
Race: 3126.0211 Davola Dane South – Grade II – $125,000
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: One mile on the Dirt
Spooky Wildcat is the big dog in this one. She has won three of her four lifetime starts. She has done it the old fashion way breaking her maiden, winning an allowance before scoring a listed stakes win last time out in impressive fashion. She is a stalker with impeccable breeding which will make her tough to beat.
Super brings along Pravda who has also won three of her four career starts. Her only blemish is a G2 try where she ran a very solid fourth. She won a listed race last time with a nice speed figure. She is bred to get better with age and will be stalking with the favorite making this a race you have to see on Saturday.