San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl Stakes

1 TORNADO OUTBREAK
Owner: mrxrayz25
Jockey: T Ace
Earnings: $267,270
Odds: 19/1

Ran a 112 speed rating in August last year over this distance for the win in Stake company and last time out in early December ran a fading 108 over 8 furlongs also in Stakes company.  Only 3 runs in 6 months so should be well rested!  My guess is he is right on the distance limit of what he can run – possibly just past it. Needs a good run and plenty of stamina to outlast these but he has proven before he can do it.  Will be a good result if he does.

2 CRAB GROUNDS 
Owner: mrxrayz61
Jockey: N Bonus
Earnings: $177,635
Odds: 16/1

This is mrxrayz’s second entrant in the race which is impressive in itself in having 2 horses running in this company.  Hailing from the GR Simsters residency this one is also of the same quality in running very consistent times over this distance with speeds well over the 100 mark.  Like Tornado Outbreak, of late has been finding it hard to run out the races with his last win at this distance being in August last year in Stakes company too. If he gets the length right can perform here – needs a good run.

3 RIVER OF DOUBT
Owner: bestturn
Jockey: D Givins
Earnings: $2,575,465
Odds: 5/2

Just reading his name gave me some doubt about this horse and whether he should even be in this race.  But then I looked at his race record so far and any doubt was immediately gone.  Favourite for today and his last race shows why.  G1 win over 8 furlongs with a speed rating of 118.  That was the Breeders Bowl Dirt Mile in November last year. 10 wins from 16 outings.  Earnings in excess of $2.5million. Serious quality this one.  No doubt at all – should have every chance here.

4 XU FU OF XUEN
Owner: tazdevil
Jockey: E Seifert 
Earnings: $269,780 
Odds: 10/1

Doesnt have the earnings of some of these but does definitely have the speed and really came of age last year in posting some huge speed races particularly in allowance and stakes company.  Is a stakes winner but has been unable to perform at graded level yet although hasnt disappointed either.  A 4th placed finish in a G3 in June was probably his best result in Graded company.  As long as he isnt over awed and can run like he did last time out he has a very good chance to trouble some of these.  Has a real chance of getting a place or better.

5 DEATH BY DRACARYS
Owner: given12
Jockey: F Gossett 
Earnings: $2,246,550
Odds: 5/1

One of the fastest speeds yet I have seen in the entrants today with a 120 speed rating last time in the 9 furlongs Japan Dirt Cup. That was a third place finish. Does have the results at G1 level over 9 furlongs with a win back in August last year.  So can definitely run this distance in graded company and get the results.  A little up and down in form of late.  Not sure where to place this one here – certainly has all the talent and record and pedigree to back for the win.  One of the favourites for sure regardless!

6 WHEREDIDEDGO
Owner: illbred
Jockey: P Wright
Earnings: $860,755
Odds: 10/1

Where DID Ed go? Could the trainer let us know maybe?  Id like to know who Ed is and where did he go? 🙂  Last race was a fast finishing and strong 3rd place in G1 company over 8 furlongs at 116 speed. Which just makes his run here even more exciting to look forward to as he will have just that little bit of extra distance to play with and get the win.  Looks strong, looks in form, looks impressive.  If the favourite slips up, this one will be past and in for the win before you know it.  Would expect a place finish at worst – a win very much in the cards.

7 ONE SPICY MEATBALL
Owner: bigarnie
Jockey: J Biagi
Earnings: $123,460 
Odds: 29/1

This horses name is seriously cool and catchy!!! plus I love meatballs and I love spicy.  All about me!  Not of ton of earnings and one of the longer shots of the race with odds of 29/1.  However one race in particular does stand out in his race record. 16 October last year he ran a speed of 119 over 9 furlongs in Stakes company for the win.  That is VERY fast. Has been pushed out a bit further in distance since then with not a lot of success so the trainer has wisely brought him back to 8.5 furlongs today.  Lets see if he can reproduce that run a lil while back. If he does he will be challenging.

8 SUNBREAKER
Owner: kingscourt17
Jockey: A Jolly
Earnings: $247,776
Odds: 13/1
 
Out of the famous GHOSTZAPPER!!!!  I do like that sires name a lot!  SunBreaker has been raced predominately at Allowance racing but with some great great speeds including a 114 speed over 8.5 furlongs in October last year.  Was tried last time out at Grade III level also over this distance and won easily with a speed of 118.  Trainer has been VERY patient in getting this one up and it is now paying off with some awesome runs on dirt. I know the odds are 13/1. I get the earnings are not as great as the favourite. But based on his last run – he could beat the favourite. Definitely. One of those quite unassuming horses that could blitz the field.  Keen to see how he runs today here.

9 LOOKIN AT STORMS
Owner: mtklazbps
Jockey: T Kelly
Earnings: $239,015 
Odds: 8/1

The name of this one reminded me of how powerful and awesome it is to be looking at storms that come through our countries no matter where we live.  This one out of Lookin at Lucky came like a storm in his last race with a 115 speed over this distance in Stakes company for the win. A good solid runner and making his debut today in Graded company which is a well rewarded feat for his runs of late.  Needs to impress and make a good performance to have further chances.  Well regarded here.

10 RETURN OF THE VETT
Owner: metallivett
Jockey: C Winter
Earnings: $241,537
Odds: 15/1

Out of Awesome Again.  Coming off 2 wins in a row at Stakes (115 speed) and then Allowance company (108 speed) over 8 and 8.25 furlongs respectively.   So is in excellent form here for todays G2 race.  This is his 2nd graded race for his career after a well run and still closing finish in a G1 in May last year.  Probably could run a lot further in distancE?  Looks like it to me.  Is being pushed out slightly longer here for 8.5.  See how he goes hey?  I think he will get even better the further he is pushed out in length.

11 ROAD TO THE WELL
Owner: juventus1
Jockey: L Radzinski
Earnings: $136,041
Odds: 54/1

At 54/1 this is the longshot of the race and whether it is the road to the well or the road to the end, time will tell.  Low earnings mainly maiden and allowance racing.  Failed last time out in Stakes racing finishing last in a field of 13 over 7 furlongs.  Doesnt make for strong results leading into this G2 race does it?  One could question as to why this one is even entered here?  And yet I can see why the trainer has entered him here and regardless of the result will probably try at least one or twice more yet.  Because his 2nd last time out he ran in a G1 race (14 runners) over 8 furlongs and finished a good and strong 3rd place.  And was closing not fading.  Definitely showed potential in that race.  Which is why he is racing here.  Will need to pick up the speed. And maybe some luck.  But could surprise. Its what racing is all about.

12 POWERFUL BREW
Owner: appower
Jockey: M Kelly
Earnings: $433,680
Odds: 12/1

Yet another runner that has shown a ton of promise. This will be his 3rd graded race after a win at G2 level over 8.5 furlongs in October.  That was followed by a strong finishing 4th at G1 level in the Japan Dirt Cup over 9 furlongs. Definitely wanted more distance that race.  As his name suggests – a powerful horse but there is a rumour that he drinks some strange brew the night before every race.  Nothing has been proven though and I really dont want to add to the controversy here.  Not that there is a controversy of course! or scandal 🙂  Ran 118 speed last time – has a huge chance to challenge the favourite here. His odds of 12/1 dont support how good this one actually is.
13 SKIDMORE D’ORO
Owner: jrogue
Jockey: N Gardner
Earnings: $325,682
Odds: 8/1

Most of these horses in this race are seriously well bred and this one is no different out of Medaglia D’Oro x A.P. Indy x Sadler’s Wells.  Consistent runner over the 9 furlongs with some good runs and speeds including a fast finishing 5th place in the G1 Bob Woodward Memorial in September 2016.  I do think he is going to be wanting a lot more than the 8.5 furlongs on offer here.  Watch for him coming through the field and fast in the run for the line.  Will need to start his windup early though to have a chance.
 
14 BLOODBOILING
Owner: final4tees2
Jockey: O A Haack 
Earnings: $1,714,660
Odds: 15/1

Has two Group 1 wins over 8 and 9 furlongs with impressive speeds of 113 and up to 116 in his 2nd last outing.  Last race the owner tried him again over the 10 furlongs after a few unsuccessful tries earlier. I get why they did though as BloodBoiling has been running out the 9 furlongs races very well. And still looked fresh in his stall afterwards!  And his last run he was still closing as if he wanted more distance so well tried by the owner.  Back in distance to what he has proven he can run before.  Another with an excellent chance of placing or better.