Movieland Turf Cup(G1) attracts tuff guys Strong Belwas, Ollie’s Gone, more
California– Hooray for Hollywood! They’re predicting the biggest weekend ever for Hollywood movies and, boy, they could make a blockbuster out of this year’s Grade 1 $400,000 Movieland Turf Cup(G1) field. Call it the “Magnificent Turfy Seven,” a race where any one contender can be a big star.
And they’re so darn young! Yup, all seven runners arrive here at the tender age of four. Some are green with 15 starts or so, while others have been around the block, pushing the 30 start mark. Hollywood loves youth and we’ve fittingly got our share of ruff-tuff bad boys going 10 mighty furlongs over the mean green………
And who is the strong man here? Strong Belwas (2/1), that’s who. Given sure has this Empire Maker rolling plenty. The speedster just needs to load up, then sizzle out the gate. No messing around from the back of the pack. “Gimme the lead and then I’ll show ya who’s boss.” Strong Belwas was one to watch on the graded trail last season. He gobbled up his share of late summertime grades and made a dent post-BB time in the Sim. The big boy threw a pair of bridesmaid efforts in the Eclipse(G1) and KY Horsemen Derby(G1), both over 10f and both heartbreakers after setting the pace.
But, in hindsight, those losses were just schooling efforts. They sure toughened Strong Belwas up according to his name. He’s 2 for 3 in 2007, sandwiching a bridesmaid effort to Horseshoe Bay (Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic(G1)) in between a listed and Grade 1 stakes victories. What a sensational monster capabple of rigourous speed figures. The Dubai Grade 1 LTO came over 11f — just love how he’s shortening up here. He may indeed be BB Turf quality yet, but, for now, give him the mighty and magnificent 10. Four weeks rest on schedule and he only has Unpredicatably T to battle for pacesetting honors. Read ’em and weep. Smooches, Dan! 🙂 🙂 🙂 : ):)
And let’s go to directly to hijacked’s Unpredictably T (5/1). He’s the veteran runner in this group with 29 starts in the bank. The Western Fame son stretches out to the mighty 10f. He’s mostly a miler with the occasional 9f test. Unpredictably T last run over this distance back in late 2006. Gosh, he really didn’t like the extended trip either, finishing yicky-icky in both classic distance efforts.
Good news is that Unpredicatbly T only has one foe to battle for the lead. If he can cruise along by Strong Belwas, they anything can happen if the favorite has an off afternoon. Also, ‘T has been going pretty good around nine panels of late and might be itching for some extra ground. He’s a nice listed miler, but perhaps this entry might be a bit of a prayer and taking advantage of the short field. Maybe minor money at best for this guy who’ll probably be fading late. Happy B-day again, Ted!
Ollie’s Gone (3/1) is in a similar boat. Rbokie stretches out the son of fabulous and popular racemare Fantastic Ollie. However, the Gone West colt looks like he can very well get this distance. He tried 9.5f early last season and finished a rallying 2nd. He went on to be a dual Grade 3 winner over 9f and, indeed, held his form well with a snazzy nine panel score in the Sanders(G2) this year.
I love how this colt can charge from the depths or rate somewhat in midpack. A splendid versatile running style makes him one to watch. At only 15 starts, Ollie’s Gone brings solid 100+ SP#s to the bank. Totally agree with Rbokie putting him in this race — well spotted. You better watch out Strong Belwas! Ollie’s Gone is due for a starpower performance. I like him a lot here, but hopefully he’s in shape on 8 weeks rest. High-fives, ‘Bokie!
Irish for the surname Maloney! Yeah, that’s what Maol Dhomhnaigh(IRE) (4/1) means. What a tongue twister and finger-typing BTBer reporter’s nightmare! Ha! Trainer Itch has heard it all from this reporter before though. *wink, wink* Those Irish — always raiding the editors’ secret whiskey-n-Baileys stash. They can forgive the Wild Turkey, but, boy, when they see a Scottish label, look out! You’ll get an earful of tense blarney before they lock themselves in the press room. You’d think they’d emerge a day later drunk as skunks singing songs about the Emerald Isle, but no! Instead, they’re tipsy whistling sweet Dixie tunes and “Devil Goes Down to Georgia.”
Sassy li’l unpredictable buggers. And, hey, they sure can talk up their ponies too. Itch mysteriously dropped me a line when I last checked into the press room. Ya see, he’s got Maol Dhom-typing-fiasco as sharp as a tack in this spot. He told me to overlook the Giant’s Causeway colt’s last race — that, yes, it was a shocking fall off in form, but that he’s made adjustments. Here’s the skinny: the colt’s gonna drop back because he doesn’t like to break too fast (which he’s been prone to do recently). His connections will cross their collective fingers, because the course came up firm and perhaps Maol Dhom-something-someting prefers softer going nowadays. Strong Belwas is a concern, but the colt’s in a great spot considering the short field. If all goes well, he’ll hit the board.
Nellie! I really like this colt and he seems so versatile from a flat mile to nine furlongs. He threw a 111 SP# over 9.5f two back. Itch takes this colt along so carefully…. but hard. In 2007, he’s had 4 races in 7 weeks. Now he wheels back here on 3 weeks rest. To me, that’s 5 races in 10 weeks — too much and that’s why he tanked in listed company LTO. Give him the Boogity Bear race to get back in shape, but IMO, you should’ve backed off after the Florida Turf. ‘Maol might yet prove me wrong, but I don’t like him at all in this spot. I just think graded horses need more rest. You cna run them in a 2 or 3 race series , maybe even a 4 series close together. But beyond — he’s running like a lesser level horse’s schedule.
Just my opinion! LOL! Oops, better check the press room’s liquor cabinet key. It’ll be gone for good after Itch read this! 🙁 Ha! All in good fun, kiddo. Luv ya! 🙂 Did I say that you’re the most successful reporter in the Sim history? Well, Knightmare might be around there too, but, you’re # 1! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Longtime player Peeps gets in on the action with his extremely talented Skills In Magic (5/1). This colt’s such a gorgeous hunk. The Denon son was a multiple Grade 1 winner last year, including a rocketing 110 SP# score in the Coxless(G1) (which is a late 10f post-BB grade). Skill s In Magic is exciting to watch — he charges from dead last and fans go whooping and hollering down the stretch. You can’t blame the colt for finishing just 3rd in the KY Horsemen Derby(G1) — he finished distant in that race, but, gosh, he just had heaps of ground to make up. That effort was a tesament to his class.
After a 12f experiment in his ’07 opener, I guess Brian couldn’t find a spot for Skills And Magic and just settled on the Sand Castle Fee Duty(G1) over 9f. ‘Magic never jumped up on the bit in that shortened race — he finished a fine 3rd in his followup though when given an extra sixteenth in the Hallelujah(G2). This colt’s overdue for a return trip to the winner’s circle. Great spot, but will Strong Belwas set a slow pace? Gooooooooooo, Brian!!!!!!!
Wow Phillipj, an old SRF reporter! Glad to see ya still in the Sim — gosh, I haven’t seen ya around. Hello!!!! 🙂 Phillipj brings Cozy Ghost (10/1), a Cozzene colt out of his okieslew stable. Like Unpredicatably T, CozyGhost also has 29 starts under wraps. This colt found his way to the stakes ranks solidly late last season. He’s yet to win a listed event though. Gosh, you like to see that here against this caliber of graded horses.
Cozy Ghost did win an ALW over 10f earlier this season with a 102 SP#. He’s a true blue closer but doesn’t like to come from behind too far. We’ll probably see him more in midpack here. Finishing in the money in 19 of 29 starts — very consistent little guy. But, in all honesty, he’s Cozy Ghost has his work cut out for him. These other horses just pull in much higher speed figures. With a little luck, he might rake in a minor share. Still, it was nice to see your name in the new “View Player” link, Phillipj! 🙂 Good luck!!
Oddsmakers didn’t like the recent speed figures of Creepshow(IRE) (12/1). Tons of backclass though in this Rock Of Gibraltar(IRE) son. He won his first three starts as a 3yo (including the Equinics) and was one to watch of course back then. However, the colt finished off the board in the Sydney Derby in April ’06 and that took him out of the limelight.
Gosh, this colt’s such a mystery! I can’t tell is he’s a classic case of “peaking” early on at age 3 (we see that all the time with 3yo dirt colts). Or if we should all be railing on Lenny for his training errors! Ha! 😉 Don’t get me wrong — Lenny is one of the sweetest guys in the Sim (he was kind enough to send me Black Middle Flower comments — only 1 of 2 players to do so last week — LOL). Would if that 12f Sydney Derby was just an off day? This horse’s PPs read like the trainer just doesn’t know his horse. I can see him going for the classic Guineas. But Creepshow ran devently somewhat to Skills In Magic in those summertime 10f races. Then it looks like Lenny kind of panicked and didn’t know what to do at the end of the year, entering his colt on the dirt and back in turf miler company.
Creepshow’s odds here reflect the 13 SP# in his ’07 opener — he’s dominated short fields over 10f since, albeit with lesser 90 numbers. It can go either way. And odds are the “other” way. But, you know, this colt’s a good one and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Creepshow in a major surprise down the lane. Sometimes, they fire a big one and this colt’s capable of that type of big SP# out of the blue score. At this point in his career, I bet that’s what Lenny’s counting on.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Well, this article was fun to write, folks — because I know everybody! Wow, how many times does that happen when you know wverybody in the race? 🙂 Let’s see — I’ve ripped on Lenny and Itch. Said Hello to long-lost Phillipj. Gave kisses to Dan. Whooped and hollered for ‘Bokie. B-day wishes for Ted. And cheered on Brian.
Ha! Good luck everyone! I’ll take fresh Ollie’s Gone over Skills In Magic and Strong Belwas. Creepshow might spoil. ‘Maol might play me for the fool.
Good luck!
Win: Ollie’s Gone
Place: Skills In Magic
Show: Strong Belwas