Big Race Preview 2594

Now that we have all the turf runners out of the way are you ready for the dirt? The three year olds battle in the Travelers Stakes at a mile and a quarter this week. These three year olds should soon be ready to take on the older runners. The older runners are set to race this week in California and some of the bigger names are there with only a couple of months to go until the Breeder’s Bowl.

Delaware hosts another solid field of classic dirt runners, as well as a race for three year old fillies on the dirt. California also hosts a group of filly turf runners, Sprinters go in Texas, and a solid group of older turf runners have assembled in Florida. Seven grade I races in all with lots of positioning going on in preparation for the Breeder’s Bowl

Race: 2594.0415 Travelers Stakes – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New York
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt

The Summer Classic is upon us and the number one ranked three year old colt, Anitcosti, is absent from another big three year old race. He was scratched do to the off surface. That leaves the door wide open for Squal Me Halo to take over as the top three year old dirt colt.

This late blooming three year old by Summer Squall dominated many of these same runners last time out in the Eddie Haskell. That was his second consecutive big speed figure and grade I win. He did not do very well last time he ran on a sloppy track but he has learned to rate since then. He looks like a solid favorite and should give a good account of himself this weekend. You have to worry a little about the short rest between starts

Taking Risks is another late bloomer. He ran second to Squal Me Halo two races back and skipped the Eddie Haskell coming into this race fresh. He has run second to Squal Me Halo a couple of times this year and could turn the tables on him today. One Bold Brush ran second to Squal Me Halo last time out in the Eddie Haskell. He has the look of a runner continuing to improve each time out plus goes for one of the hottest barns in the sim.

Macho Niner, the winner of the New Yorker, is flying into the race a little under the radar. A win here could launch him to the front of this division. There are two mudders worth paying attention to in this race. Sterotypical Cat may not quite be in the same class as some of these runners but on the mud that Broad Brush influence could launch him to an upset. Six Pulpit’s has back to back grade II wins but has never run on an off surface. His pedigree says he is more capable than most to handle the mud so look out.    

Race: 2594.0114 CA Classic – Grade I – $1,000,000

Track: California
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Dirt

This race has a very interesting set up. Most of the runners are coming into the race off five or more weeks rest including the favorites. If these runners are not fully ready to run their best we will see an upset. Regardless the number one older handicap dirt horse Call of the Wild II will be pretty tough to beat. He won the Sand Castle Classic in the spring and followed that up with a Maryland Special Handicap won. Off an extended break he was third in the Movieland Shiny Cup.

Kissin Cousin II and Search and Conquer also come out of the Movieland Shiny Cup. Kissin Cousin II won that race with Search and Conquer second. Kissing Cousin II probably will handle the little extra time between races better than Search and Conquer.

The two horses in the far outside posts are interesting. Slither has run some big races. He comes into the race in solid form off a second place finish in a Delpen vs GR Simsters and runners over the last couple of weeks that raced in this event have done very well. Parker came out of some longer distance races to grab a grade I win last time out at nine and a half furlongs. He will need to step up his game a bit but looks very solid here.

We do have a three year old taking on older in Rock Cutter (IRE). He might be a hand full for these older horses. We also have the very classy four year old filly Estrogen. She has been good against the boys all summer and her speed is good enough to wire the field.  

Race: 2594.2216 Delaware Handicap– Grade I – $500,000
Track: Delaware
Restrictions: All horses, 4 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

Year of the Vote leads this field of older handicap runners. He was a winner on Delpen vs GR Simsters day and looks like a heavy favorite here. He has won several graded stakes races but has yet to score the grade I victory. He looks to be well on his way this weekend.

Ethan Hollandia has been a dead on miler in his career. If he can stretch his speed the extra furlong he might be a danger to the favorite. Seattle Delta is a hard trying colt that got his first grade I win last time out. He has won two stakes in a row now and seems to be improving.

Tower Storm is a Bluegrass Derby winner but that was a long time ago. He looks to be back in solid form but might be compromised by other speed horses in this race. Leave the Reef is a serious threat and appears to be on top of his game. He is a deep closer and could benefit from a fast pace. 

Race: 2594.2215 Grace Kelly Memorial– Grade I – $500,000
Track: Delaware
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Dirt

An interesting group of young fillies are set to battle it out. Caddilac Moon finished third in the Black Middle Flower. She tried older runners after that without any success but last time out against three year olds again she ran a great race just missing in the Sister Hen stakes. She has been away from the track for a while but if she is ready to run she will be tough.

Seeking Perfection (IRE) came out of the Delpen vs GR Simsters race day a winner and looks like a real threat in this race. She has won two in a row. Corzaffair (IRE) is a speedy horse that has stuck around in a couple of big races. This distance may do her in. Black Plague has been running very well in allowance company. If she continues to run that well she is a long shot to watch.  

Race: 2594.0115 Del Webb Oaks – Grade I – $350,000
Track: California
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf

King Snake leads a solid group of turf fillies here in the Del Webb Oaks. King Snake has been very good all year long and stepped it up to another level last time out despite finishing second. She fits the distance very well and her running style is one that keeps her closer to the pace and makes her tough to beat.

Sharp Ivor (GB) kind of came from no where last time out beating King Snake. That was her third stakes win in a row and she might be one that gets better with distance. She is a great betting value here and could work her way into the upper echelon of her division. Compensation is another runner coming out of the Delpen vs GR Simsters day of racing. She won that day pretty easy and if she can handle the extra furlong look out.

Race: 2594.0215 The Crazy Horse Classic – Grade I – $500,000
Track: Florida
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf

A very evenly matched field of eleven runners has come together in Florida. United Countries Handicap winner Dancin in Seattle is one of four co favorites. The race really starts with him. He has solid speed capable of setting the pace or sitting just off the pace. He has been very solid lately and might be the ever so slight favorite. Hey Zeus has been knocking on the door lately against some pretty big time runners. He gets a chance here to show his stuff against some runners that are pretty much in the same boat he has been.

Swingshift Sal has been very busy of late. He just raced a couple of weeks ago and comes right back as one of our favorites. He has been closing pretty well of late although coming up short. He may be in a groove and ready for a big one. Honour My Name (IRE) has won two in a row after dropping back to allowance company. He has been better at shorter distances but his allowance tries have been at or near this distance.

Race: 2594.1015 Prince’s Knight Stakes – Grade I – $300,000
Track: Texas
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old
Distance: Seven furlongs on the Dirt

Lots of young sprinters seek their glory in Texas this week. In the Evening has been amazing this year winning on turf and dirt. Lifetime he has won eleven of fourteen sprint races. Dirt could be his weaker surface if he has a vulnerability. Freedom Hall has won three of his last four all stakes races on dirt. He has a lot of speed and that makes him dangerous.

Final Thoughts is a graded sprint winner already and coming out of that key series of races the Delpen vs GR Simsters Smackdown. He has the ability to stalk the pace and take over in the stretch and this race has plenty of pace. Huge Glacken woke up last time out after sleeping through a few graded tries. If he can do what he did last time out he could do well in this race. Dixie Glow is one of the few closers in this race and could really benefit from all the speed. Sadlfly’s Bingo is an off the pace runner who could also benefit from a quick early pace.