EQUINICS Race – “The Omaha” 12 Furlongs Dirt, 4yo and Up

The long wait is over… The Equinics have arrived!

This event, modeled after the Olympic Games, features 32 Grade 1 races of widely varying distances on both major racing surfaces; the dirt races at Vermont, the turf races at Brazil.  The one this article will cover is The Omaha, a 12-furlong dirt test for 4-year-olds and up. While the overall Equinics event is run by Vermont’s Pastures Of Green Residency, this particular race is sponsored by the residency I belong to, Minnesota Testbarn.

The race is named after the great Omaha, the Triple Crown-winning racehorse of 1935. A little about this relatively-forgotten champion:

 

Omaha is the only Triple Crown winner to be sired by a Triple Crown winner, that being Gallant Fox.

Foaled at Claiborne Farm, the same place where Secretariat’s all-too-short stud career occurred.

Won only one of ten starts at age 2 but was “right there” in several top stakes races, giving him a reputation as a “sucker horse” due to those near-misses.

3rd in the Wood Memorial, last start before the Derby… Same as Secretariat. Hmm…

In-between the Preakness and the Belmont, he finished 2nd in the Withers Stakes (all four races were two weeks apart at the time)

Raced four times in England stakes races as a 4-year-old, winning twice and finishing 2nd twice.

Overall record: 22 9 7 2 $154,755 (which I would guess would be several million with today’s purses)

 

So, back to this race… Let’s have a look at an intriguing bunch:

1) ROSSLARE (“Eh” Team – vkstables10, trainer)

This 4yo Henrythenavigator colt has a stakes win on the turf and is stakes-placed on the dirt. Both of these were at today’s distance, showing he likes to run long; but he’s taking a big jump up the class ladder here and will need a huge effort in order to reward backers with a 17/1 payoff.

 

2) KASH WINNER (Comedy Central – hotkash, trainer)

This 5yo son of New York sire Noonmark makes his graded-stakes debut here and gets 39/1 odds. He is a tough, consistent allowance runner who rarely fires a bad one, but he’ll need to have a huge day in order to have a shot in this one.

 

3) PRINCIPITO (Sim Hispano – argentino2, trainer)

A 4yo with only nine starts to his name, this Street Cry colt tipped his hand with a strong 2nd in a minor stakes last time out; the oddsmakers didn’t miss it, making him contender-level 10/1 on the board. Pedigree appears at first glance to be speed-heavy, but the presence of Le Fabuleux deep within that pedigree just might be enough to make this one a “stayer”.

 

4) CRYNAFORMER (Universal Racing Club – durkastan4, trainer)

Lightly-raced, this 4yo Street Cry colt is starting to find his best stride at just the right time. He got his first stakes win last time out and is on a roll. His speed numbers are a little short of the top runners in here and he gets 16/1 odds, but he could threaten with not all that much improvement.

 

5) SADLER’S COURT (Queensland – punter34, trainer)

This 5yo by Street Cry has two stakes wins, but has tried graded-stakes company four times with little success, just a single 3rd. Recently, he has been competitive in allowances without winning, and he may be on the downside of a fairly successful career. Goes at 19/1.

 

6) CHARLIE’S FLAME (Minnesota Testbarn – kiddfan, trainer)

A 4yo colt by rather obscure Louisiana sire My Pal Charlie, this guy was claimed for $150k back in November and looks to have proven worthy thus far. He returns to the dirt after a pair of solid performances in local-bred turf stakes, and stretches out 2 furlongs further than he’s tried previously. Lots of questions for this talented colt to answer; but he may outrun the 17/1 price.

 

7) GROOT (All-Stars Racing – primus, trainer)

Like many of those in here, this 5yo son of Unbridled’s Song has little experience with graded-stakes fields. However, his one try was a strong 3rd in the Grade 2 Crooklyn Handicap behind SLIP OF THE TONGUE and LUCKY AND GOOD. He has a slew of minor-stakes wins (six by my count) and is as consistent as they come. He gets the favorite’s role at 9/2.

 

8) APPROACH THE WIRE (East-West Connection – rubiano00, trainer)

Owner of a pair of stakes wins, this 4yo Dawn Approach colt is consistent and likes today’s distance. However, he has never tried graded-stakes company on dirt. His speed ratings are only a little bit short of the top contenders, and he might have a say in this. The 17/1 odds may be enticing to bettors.

 

9) GRAND BAIE (Elite Racing Club – lbcri58, trainer)

Filly taking on boys here, but she’s been there-done that, and successfully. That was in a Grade 3, though it was restricted to residency members. A major drawback for this Any Given Saturday filly is that arguably her three strongest performances, including that graded win, were on wet going which she won’t see here. Still, she’s not without a shot at 20/1 if she can deliver as strong a run on the fast track.

 

10) DADDY SLEW (Northwest Racing Circuit – crandyiii, trainer)

This 4yo Scat Daddy colt has only two stakes tries on record, both being stretch fades at shorter distances. Still, his speed numbers have picked up since then. It might be due to a change in strategy, laying further back than previously and closing willingly. Adds distance and gets 19/1 on the tote.

 

11) SUSPECT OF HERESY (Vermont Pastures Of Green – futurestar, trainer)

This versatile 4yo son of Galileo is a proven runner on dirt and turf, with graded-stakes wins on both surfaces. He faded badly in his most-recent dirt race, the Grade 1 Sand Castle Dirt Classic, but followed that with a pair of powerful turf wins, both also graded-stakes. Winner of the 2015 Grade 1 New Yorker and almost $4.8 million in purses, which is roughly equal to the total of the earnings of the rest of the field put together. This one has a ton of ability and has a strong chance to win this (and would have a strong chance if entered in the turf race, too; Vermont rez is apparently loaded with talent). He’s the 2nd-fave at 5/1, though his last three on dirt have been subpar.

 

12) SLIP OF THE TONGUE (Blazing Saddles – mtkfever, trainer)

This 4yo Unbridled’s Song colt made a huge splash with his dominant victory in the Grade 2 Crooklyn Handicap over a few of these, registering an insanely fast 120 on the speed gun. This appears to have topped the track and stakes record. That was 10 points higher than anything else he’s put up; fluke? Maybe, or maybe he’s just that good. 6/1 on the board to any punters who wanna find out…

 

13) LITTLE BIT WICKED (Midas Residency – bluefox, trainer)

Making his graded-stakes debut at 13/1, this 4yo Street Cry colt is getting better by the race. He made his stakes debut a winning one last time out in wire-to-wire fashion, posting a sporty 112 speed rating in the process. It’s clear this guy is talented, but how much so?

 

14) LUCKY AND GOOD (Empire State Racing – italst9, trainer)

This up-and-coming colt hasn’t won a graded stakes race thus far, but it’s likely the 4yo Lookin At Lucky colt will nab one of those coveted trophies sooner or later. In his last, he closed strongly to finish 2nd to SLIP OF THE TONGUE in the Grade 2 Crooklyn Handicap after being ignored by punters at 17/1. He’s getting a little bit more respect from the odds guys this time, being set at 11/1.

 

15) THERESNONEED (Irish And Nordic Racing Club – lidsnewone, trainer)

This 6yo by Conduit has raced only 15 times and just twice this year. He returned from a 6-month layoff to fire a best-ever 110 speed rating while finishing 5th in the Grade 2 Gotta Fix The Sprinklers Classic at just 9.5 furlongs. He normally races at distances more like today’s and could improve off the comebacker at 18/1, but this horse with a penchant for finishing 2nd (no matter what the level) will have to really be on his game.

 

16) DARK PALMETTO (Megalopolis – alimitos7, trainer)

This 4yo is the top earner by the obscure Aussie sire Face Value. He has tried graded-stakes company a few times without much success and has only managed triple digits in the speed department once. Will need a miracle to make those 59/1 odds pay off.

 

17) PENDRAGON II (GR Simsters – rohan, trainer)

This interesting 7yo son of Arch took over three years away from the races, then came back a totally new horse last year. Since his return, he has won five of nine, including a win in the Grade 3 Atlanta Cup three starts ago. The main question is the fact that his two Grade 1 tries have resulted in his only poor races since that comeback. Can he turn that around and make the 10/1 odds good?

 

I’ll try picking SLIP OF THE TONGUE to duplicate his last and get to the winner’s circle…

LUCKY AND GOOD is my choice for 2nd.

PRINCIPITO for show.

Good luck all!