Graded Stakes and Track Records 2017 Recap

As we wrap up the 2017 racing year, it’s always fun to take a brief look back at some of the fun racing facts of the sim year.  And what better way to do that than by looking at the best of the best and seeing what they managed to do?

The Graded Stakes Records list can be found here: http://denovo.we.bs/sim/shag/StakesRecords.htm

The Track Records list can be found here: http://denovo.we.bs/sim/shag/TrackRecords.htm

So without further ado, now that the year is over and the Sim Eclipse Awards have all been handed out, it’s time to take a look back at the Graded Stakes Records and Track Records from 2017.

Graded Stakes Records:

⦁    A total of 251 records were set in Graded Stakes races in 2017, out of a maximum 1,134* races, for a total of 22.1% (for reference, in 2016 approximately 28.2% of records fell, and in 2015 approximately 19.5% of records fell).

⦁    Of the 251 records set, 58 (23.1%) were in Grade 1 Stakes, 94 (37.5%) were in Grade 2 Stakes, and 99 (39.4%) were in Grade 3 Stakes.

⦁    The most graded stakes records set in 2017 by any one horse is 3, a feat accomplished by 3 different horses:

⦁    Angel’s Trumpets, owned by koza, who set records in: G1 The Nutcracker (NY 7F, F-3yo+) in 1:20-3/5, G2 The Honored Miss (NY 6F, F-3yo+) in 1:08-3/5, and G2 The Virginia Madison (KY 7F, F-4yo+) in 1:20-4/5.

⦁    Holes In My Pants, owned by krustyk, who set records in: G1 King Kong Sprint (HK 6F-T, 3yo+) in 1:08-2/5, G1 The Cup of July (NEW 6F-T, 3yo+) in 1:08-1/5, and G2 The Oak Lee Plate (VIC 5.5F-T, 3yo+) in 1:02-2/5

⦁    Pirogue, owned by turbo1, who set records in: G1 The Strand Broke (VIC 7F-T, 3yo+) in 1:20-2/5, G2 Central Park Stakes (SUR 7F-T, 3yo+) in 1:21, and G2 The Challenger (NEW 7F-T, 3yo+) in 1:20-3/5

⦁    There were 6 stables that had more than one horse set a graded stakes record this year: blankpoin4 (Wartime Manner and Raye), clokey (Opposite of Down and Soldiers Staff), deyoto7 (Cape De Monte (2) and The Judgement), fairhaven4 (I’m Buying Tat and Cidaris (2)), golddog (Deadly De Lago and Flash To The Fox), and mattyw2 (Run Through Fire and Glorious Diamond).

⦁    In a further sign that speed figures in the Sim have been ballooning to epic proportions over the past 2 years, there were 31(!) records set with speed figures of over 120 in JUST 2017.  For trend purposes, below are the number of records set in each year dating back to the Great Graded Stakes Overhaul of 2009 where the record was set with a speed figure of over 120:

• 2017 – 31(!!)
• 2016 – 26(!)
• 2015 – 4
• 2014 – 5
• 2013 – 5
• 2012 – 6
• 2011 – 3
• 2010 – 3
• 2009 – 2

So if anyone else was wondering “Why is my 100 SP horse not even able to win a cheap claimer”, the above numbers show a concerning future. Also, note that 2012 was the start of the “New Sim” (side note: the “new sim” has already been around for 5.5 years…how crazy is that?!), and you can see a “sizable” jump there as well (the number increased by 100%), which would be more significant if this year’s total wasn’t an 775% over 2015.  My take?  The breeding system in the new sim needs to be fixed.  But there could be other explanations as well.

⦁    The fastest record set in 2017, based on speed figures, was Tap Suzy‘s win in the G2 Middle Ground Mile (ON – 8F, 3yo+), which was set with a 123.844 SP.  The time was a ridiculous 1:32-3/5, crushing the record set in 2016 by 2/5 of a second. Tap Suzy is owned by snag.  Unsurprisingly, this is also the single fastest race of 2017.

⦁    The slowest speed set in 2017, based on speed figures, was CK Mosh Sense‘s win in G3 The Schoolerville (NY – 6F, F-2yo), which was set with a 90.487 SP.  This is not all that surprising, as the slowest records are almost always in 2yo races.  The time was 1:10-3/5, edging the previous record (set in 2014) by five-hundredths of a second (0.05).  CK Mosh Sense is owend by docoz5.

⦁    The biggest “blowout” of a stakes record, based on speed figures, was The Devil Decides‘ win in G3 The Wilshire Boulevard (CA – 8F-T, F-3yo+), which was set with a 121.186 SP and a time of 1:33.  The previous record, set by Atop The Wall in 2015, was 1:34 with a SP of 113.023.  The Devil Decides is owned by shadyrest3.  Interestingly enough, this race is named for my current address.

⦁    The narrowest setting of a stakes record**, based on speed figures, was Houlihan‘s win the in G3 Port Marshua Handicap (TUR – 8.5F-T, 3yo+), which was set with a 116.423 SP.  The previous record, set by Tete Dagobert in 2014, was a 116.415 SP.

⦁    There are 5 horses that have cracked the 120 SP barrier more than once to hold different graded stakes records: (i) Outback Quantong, owned by outback7, both set in 2016 in G3 The Day of Dominion (ON 10F-, 3yo+) and G3 The Premier (BC 11F, 3yo+); (ii) River of Doubt, owned by bestturn, in G3 The Salvatore Mile (NJ 8F, 3yo+) in 2016 and the G2 San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl Stakes (CA 8.5F, 4yo+) in 2017; (iii) Roxy Epoxy, owned by skunkman2, both set in 2014 in G1 The Woody Ford (KY 9F-T, 3yo+) and the G3 Strange Brew Turf Handicap (LA 9F-T, 4yo+); (iv) Streets of Sin, owned by simsters5, in G1 The Singapore Cup (CHN 11F-T, 3yo+) in 2016 and G3 The Good Day (PAR 10.5F-T, 4yo+) in 2017; and (v) Tap Suzy, owned by snag, both set in 2017 in the G2 Middle Ground Mile (ON – 8F, 3yo+) and G3 The Pal’s Hope (FL 8F, 4yo+).

⦁    There remains 1 graded stakes record from the Sim’s origins in 1999 that still stands as an active race today.  That race is the G2 Pablo Verces Handicap (CA 6F, 4yo+), which was won by Mr. Prospect in 1:08-1/5.  Mr. Prospect was campaigned by beanerstab.

⦁    The maximum number of records held in races that were active in 2017 is 4, and there are two horses that hold 4 records in those races.  Ripping Star, campaigned by phantom, holds records from 2015 in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf (Set at KY, 6F-T, 2yo), G1 The Futurity (JPN 8F-T, 2yo), G2 The Vintage (NEW 7F-T, 2yo), and from 2016 in the G2 The Ascot Vail (QLD 6F-T, 3yo). Streets of Sin, campaigned by simsters5, holds records from 2016 in the G1 Manha Manha Challenge (SAF 10F-T, 3yo+) and G1 The Singapore Cup (CHN 11F-T, 3yo+), and from 2017 in G1 The Jai Alai Park Turf (FL 11F-T, 4yo+) and G1 The Good Day (PAR 10.5F-T, 4yo+).

⦁    30 of the 1134 graded stakes that were active in 2017 have records held by current Sim Hall of Famers.  The most records held by a single hall of famer is 3, held by Swapsco Kitty, all set in 2015 during her 2yo season: (i) The G1 Dell Computer Debutante (CA 7F, F-2yo); (ii) the G1 Walnut Tree Stakes (CA 8.5F, F-2yo); and (iii) the G1 Movieland Futurity (8.5F, 2yo).  The longest standing record of the Sim HOF horses belongs to Organic Project, who set the record in the G3 Blueberry Stakes (ON 7F, F-3yo+) back in 2000, and the record has yet to be surpassed.

Footnotes:

* A total of 1,717 races are shown on the Graded Stakes Records list, but only 1,134 of those were able to be set in 2017, either because (a) the specific Graded Stakes was not run in 2017 (e.g. the Equinics, or a handful of races that look like they may have been accidentally omitted from the calendar around the weekend of 8/5/2017), or (b) the specific Graded Stakes are part of Sim History but are no longer active (e.g. the G2 Fantasy Stakes, eliminated in the Great Graded Stakes Overhaul of 2009, G3 The London Lady, added in the Great Graded Stakes Overhaul of 2009 but eliminated in the Great Graded Stakes Purge of 2011, and the Black Gold Stakes, downgraded from a G1 to an ungraded stakes in the Great Graded Stakes Overhaul of 2009 and then eliminated from the calendar entirely in the Great Graded Stakes Purge of 2011, as well as many others).

** The Graded Stakes Records list is based on time of the race, not speed figure of the race; speed figure is used to break ties when times are equal.  Mike has confirmed that SP is directly tied to race time, but every once in a while there is an anomaly that arises.  This year, 2 races saw new record times, while the SP was technically lower than the previous recordholder.  They were (i) the G3 Japan Sprint (JPN 6F-T, 3yo+), where the new recordholder, Snowy Cyclone, put up a time of 1:08-2/5, which equated to a 115.829 SP, while the previous recordholder, Shatter Zone(AUS), clocked in at 1:08-3/5 but earned a 116.931 back in 2011; and (ii) the G3 Air Line Handicap (NY 8F, F-3yo+), where the new recordholder, First Order, put up a time of 1:33-2/5 earning a 116.488 SP, while the previous recordholder, Carol of the Bells, finished in 1:33-3/5 but earned a 116.533 SP back in 2007.  Snowy Cyclone is owned by estrapade and First Order is owned by jyc.

Track Records:

⦁    A total of 1,016 track records were set in 2017, out of a possible 4,608* track/surface/distance combinations (22.0%).  For reference, in 2016 there were 1,119 track records set (24.3%), in 2015 there were approximately 780 track records set (16.9%). and in 2014 there were approximately 920 track records set (20.0%).

⦁    Of the 1,016 records set in 2017, only 54 of them (5.3%) were at a track/surface/distance combination that had not previously seen a race prior to 2017.  The remaining 963 (94.7%) broke a record that someone else had previously held.

⦁    There remain 626 active track/surface/distance combinations that have never seen a race in the Sim (13.6%), of which 468 (74.8%) are on the Polytrack, and 515 (82.3%) are at 12 furlongs or longer.  So if you want to see your horse’s name up in lights, at least for a little while, buying a 12F+ Polytrack race is a pretty good way to ensure that you set a track record.  In fact, of the 576 Polytrack combos at 12F or longer, only 217 (37.7%) have current records.

⦁    On the other hand, if you still want to set an easy track record on the dirt or turf (where one doesn’t already exist), your options are pretty limited.  There are only 158 of those left, and they’re all (unsurprisingly) at distances that either didn’t exist in the Old Sim (12.5f, 13.5f, 14.5f and 15.5f) or were rare (11.5f).

⦁    As noted above, the fastest race of 2017 (by speed figure) was Tap Suzy‘s win in the G2 Middle Ground Mile (ON – 8F, 3yo+), which was set with a 123.844 SP.  But the single fastest race in sim history belongs to a record holder that will never be broken: Rats To Rich, owned by dundey4, put up a 125.44 speed figure to set the track record at 8 furlongs on a sloppy dirt track in Mississippi (the horse LOVED the slop).  Why will that record never be broken?  Because Mississippi was one of the 31 tracks that “closed down” when the New Sim started in 2012.  The record was set on June 23, 2012 (just 2 months before the migration to the New Sim) in an open allowance.

⦁    On the other end of the spectrum, the slowest race (by speed figure) to set a track record in 2017 (and the slowest track record currently on the books) belongs to Sexy Smile, owned by stackedcards3.  The record was set in a *150 HOT Allowance race for 4yo+, at 15.5f on the turf in Delaware.  The speed figure was a rousing 29.65 (the time of the race was 3:38), and the record was set on August 28.  If you’re wondering “how slow WAS that race”, the answer is VERY.  There is only ONE track record at 16 furlongs with a slower time (that record belongs to Bossy Cadet, who put up a speed figure of 46.09 and a time of 3:42 to finish the 16 furlong polytrack race in Queensland in a 3yo allowance, back in 2013).

⦁    The most track records set in 2017 is 4, accomplished by mightyforego9‘s Fortifica.  The 4yo filly loved those local Florida polytrack races, setting the track records at 11f (speed figure of 98.67 in a F-3yo+ Local-bred Starter Allowance on April 12), 12f (speed figure of 98.10 in a F-3yo+ Local-bred Starter Allowance on August 6), 14f (speed figure of 81.10 in a F-3yo+ Local-bred Allowance on December 7) and 16f (speed figure of 91.53 in a F-3yo+ Local-bred Allowance on December 31) .

⦁    The most track records set in 2017 by one stable, meanwhile, is 7, done by lenny27 with three different horses.  By Starlight holds the track record at 11.5f-T in Hong Kong, set in the ungraded Hidious From Fresh Turf Stayer on March 18 with a 113.82 speed figure.  Drakon’s Bazooka set 3 track records, in the ungraded Fluminense Turf Route (FL 10.5F-T, 4yo+, 113.32 SP) on January 29, the G1 Windy City Turf Classic (IL 10F-T, 3yo+, 122.14 SP) on August 13, and the G1 Eclipse Stakes (NEW 10F-T, 3yo+, 119.84 SP) on October 21.  The Broken Master also set 3 track records, all at 10.5F-T in ungraded stakes: the Mellow Redhead Turf Route (KS, 4yo+, 116.56) on January 21, the Can Bud Turf Special (CHN, 4yo+, 115.12 SP) on May 13, and the Tete The Undead Turf Memorial (IA, 3yo+, 114.59 SP) on August 19.

⦁    The oldest track record still standing is actually one that, 18 years later, COULD be broken but never has.  Much like the graded stakes records, the “oldest” track record also belongs to Mr. Prospect, who set the track record on the 6F dirt in Louisiana back on February 27, 1999 in the ungraded Taylor’s Fireworks Special (4yo+).  The speed figure earned (in current Sim terms) was a 116.55.  For those curious, Mr. Prospect, owned by beanerstab (who is no longer an active owner) won 7 of 26 career races and $519,920 in total, racing on almost a weekly basis.  There are also two other track records that still stand from 1999: Duke West, owned by capsized, set the track record at 4.5f on the dirt in Indiana in the G2 Blink and Ya Miss It (3yo+) on June 19, 1999 (106.53 SP); and Sim Hall of Famer Saddle Dedicate, owned by daics, set the track record at 16f on the dirt in Illinois (yes, Illinois) in the G3 KY Cup Marathon (3yo+) on September 11, 1999.  Both of those graded stakes were only run one time, back in 1999.

⦁    One last stat…I hold one track record, set at a track (Puerto Rico) that no longer has races in the Sim.  That about sums up my Sim racing career.

Footnotes:

* A total of 6,840 track/surface/distance combinations are shown on the Track Records list, but 31 tracks that previously existed in the Old Sim were eliminated when the conversion was made to the New Sim, so only 4,608 of those combinations are still able to see new records set.  Also note that due to a coding issue and its non-existence in the Old Sim, 8.25 furlong races are not currently included in the Track Records list.  That will hopefully be added in the future.

There are an almost infinite number of stats that can be run from the Graded Stakes and Track Records lists.  Are there any stats you want to see?  How many records do you hold?  Sound off on those and more in the comments below or on the Sim Message Board.