The Kergolay (Grade II)

The Kergolay (Grade II)

Some of the sim’s fastest long-running senior citizens have shipped to France for The Kergolay, a 14-furlong (1 ½ miles) Grade II stakes run on Deauville Racecourse’s turf track.

Deauville, France is home to some of Europe’s best horse racing. In fact, Deauville is sister cities with Lexington, Kentucky and Kildare, Ireland, which speaks for the quality of racing we’ll see this weekend.

CAPE ASSASSIN 9/1

This 6 year old by Cape Blanco (IRE) out of a Dubawi (IRE) x Sinndar (IRE) mare looks to get back to past form by dropping in both class and distance. Cape Assassin last won January 20, 2016 in a 16-furlong, $43,800, NW2n Allowance. His only stakes race comes over a year ago in The Greatwood Cup (Grade II) at 14-furlongs. Cape Assassin is going to need to reproduce triple-digit speed figures in order to hit the board Saturday, something the Kentucky-bred has only done 25% of his last 12 trips out.

IMPERIALISTA 7/2

This gowans2014 trainee was on quite the hot streak until he was stopped short in The Milan Grand Prix (Grade I) two months ago in Italy. While the drop in class looks like the smart move by Imperialista’s connections, his speed figures are trending back down, and the last time he was competitive in a stakes was May 2015.

TETE MATTIAS 2/1

In the 2015 Kergolay, Tete Mattias spotted the pace setter, Zabeel Appeal, 7 ½ furlongs and promptly blew through that en route to a 5 ½ furlong victory. Though he’s hit the board in graded stakes since then, that 2015 Kergolay victory was the last trip to the winner’s circle for this 5 year old by Rock of Gibraltar. The absence of a strong pace setter won’t force R. Gibson to call on Tete Mattias much past the 7 furlong mark.

BRUT CUVEE 23/1

Owner cjt6 enters this one-win, son of Dundeel (NZ) into his second stakes in three months, the first being The Italian Derby (Grade I) in May. That is one of two races Brut Cuvee has not hit the board, which means he’s been ITM 73% out. While the jump in class may stick out to most, this horse looks prime to succeed at the longer distance, and should be a consideration for some exoxtics.

INVINCIBLE KRIS S 9/5

Invincible Kris S has been ITM 67% out against some of the best route running competition in the sim. He’s trending upwards and could have used the two extra furlongs the Kergolay offers when he placed in The Dutchland (Grade II). If Invincible Kris S runs another race like that on Saturday, there is no doubt he’ll be in the winner’s circle.

POPCORN HERO 7/2

One of the younger entries, Popcorn Hero, a colt by Street Cry is a truly impressive runner. His career only began last year as a scratch bred, and since then he’s accumulated six trips to the winner’s circle. Despite his success, this horse seems destined for shorter distances. It will be up to D. Givins to hold the horse back out of the gate in order to compete down the stretch with the many closers in this race.

TULE SPRINGS 133/1

While this jasperluna trainee is a classy horse, he recently finished 23 ¼ lengths back in a $150,000 claiming race, and he may just simply be outclassed on Saturday. Keep an eye out for this horse, as he will certainly be dominant on the European turf circuit.

DARK IT HURTS 35/1

Dark It Hurts is certainly trending upwards, but it may not be enough to take on graded stakes placed talent like his Kergolay competition. Considering this horse showed in a $67,500 Allowance, this should definitely be a horse on your watch list.

$2 Trifecta – 3/5/6

$.50 Superfecta Box – 3/5/6/4