EQUINICS – I SEEK YOU

Vermont (VT)  Saturday, February 24, 2018 — 1:40PM EST | Race ID : 2049003

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Grade I / Group 1 – Sponsored – Purse : $1,250,000
4 Year Olds and Older    Owner Restricted
8   Furlongs | ~1600 Meters | One Mile       Fast Dirt
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A full field of fourteen older male milers will meet in the I Seek You event of the 2018 Equinics,  from the state fair grounds in Rutland,  Vermont.   This race will be contested at a flat mile (or ~1600 meters for the metric fans) over the mile dirt oval,  with the entries battling it out for the winner’s share of the $1,250,000 purse,  and for the glory and recognition that comes with a victory in one of these prestigious events.  All of the Equinics trophy presentation ceremonies are a blast,  and this should prove to be no exception.
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This race is named in honor of the only sim three year old dirt Triple Crown winner,  I Seek You.
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I  SEEK  U
2002 horse, (Gone West x Unfuwain x Mr. Prospector)
Owner/Trainer: indy            Record: 28-14-4-1; $5,116,580
Six time G1 winner,  Triple Crown winner,  placed in three other G1’s.
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The handicapper had a real tough time with this field.  Finally,  he just threw up all his papers into the air and rated a five horse group as the co-favorites at 7/1 on the morning line.   This is a solid group of milers,  with a good mix of front runners and late closers.  This should be an exciting race,  and the stretch run should be quite a sight.  Let’s take a closer look at the field in post position order and see what the figures may reveal.
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1
DANCE NOW                       Midas         KY     6G     scharenberg         F Gossett     8/1
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Leading the post parade is this light grey six year old gelding,  who closed well for 2nd last out in the G3 It’s All Your Fault stakes at this trip,  sizzling a 118 SP# from midpack.  Tiznow toughie,  out of the stakes placed sim mare Just Zoot (by Storm Cat),  was a dull 8th one back of that in the G2 Middle Ground Mile,  stabbing a 111 SP# while never a factor.  He just missed getting the money in his prior try in the G3 The Salvatore Mile,  slashing a 115 SP# from the middle of the pack.  Scharenberg trainee has four wins at this route,  will need smooth trip from the rail – his prior inside post assignments were not his best efforts.
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2
HALCON                                   Sim Hispano        KY     5M     argentino8         A Jolly         7/1
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Speedster from the argentino8 barn exits a hot race mile,   where he went wire to wire with a 119 SP# in his 2018 debut.  Scratch bred Uncle Mo master (by Forty Niner),  tired badly late to finish 11th in the G1 Sterile Mile one before that,  dropping a 109 SP# dueling on the lead.  He smoked an open allowance at this distance in his previous start,  drilling a 119 SP# making all the pace.  Looks like he can get to the front from inside barrier;  certainly eligible to clear them and not look back,  if he can avoid a speed duel with LUCKI DAN.  One of the five co-favorites on the handicapper’s early line.
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TAP SUZY                               Empire State        KY     5M     snag             H Harzheim     7/1
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Light grey five year old horse makes his 2018 debut.  He ended 2017 with a poor 13th place finish in the G1 Sterile Mile,  posting a 105 SP# while never in it.  Tapit tomcat,  out of the graded placed sim mare Suzyniner (by Forty Niner),  just failed to hold on when 2nd in the G1 Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile,  pasting a 112 SP# in a pace setting performance.  His prior try was a victory in the G2 Middle Ground Mile,  popping a huge 123 SP# from just off the pace.  Seven of his eight career wins were at this distance;  one of the five co-favorites should track HALCON and look to get the jump on the deep closers into the lane for owner/trainer snag.
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INSIDE PITCH                   Megalopolis        KY     4M     gallantbloom         S L Ledwith     28/1
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Hailing from the gallantbloom stable is this Street Sense strider,  out of the sim mare Fielder’s Choice (by Grand Slam),  who apparently disliked the sloppy surface last out when 11th in the G3 The Pal’s Hope at this route,  casting a 100 SP# while no factor.  Brown four year old colt came on for 3rd one before that in the G3 It’s All Your Fault Stakes,  also at a mile,  crashing a 117 SP# from the middle of the pack.  In his previous start he closed well for 2nd in the G2 South Bend Derby at 8.5 panels,  copping a 114 SP#.  Stretch runner looks to rebound off last,  should be part of the cavalry charge home;  will need top try to impact this group if the handicapper’s 28/1 rating is an indication.
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5
LUCKI DAN                           Minn. Testbarn        KY     5M     falcon12         N Ambrose     11/1
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Scratch bred Smart Strike stroller (by Danzig) seeks third straight win making his initial grade/group appearance.  He wired the MNTB Dirt Mile last time over,  zapping a 116 SP#.  One back of that he ran off with a restricted allowance at 8.5 furlongs,  zinging a 111 SP# leading at every call.  One before  that he failed to hold on in an open allowance at 6.5 panels,  zipping a 106 SP# making all the pace.  Runner from the falcon12 racing group will have to contend with HALCON on the front end,  gets serious class test trying for Equinics glory.  Handicapper gives him a decent shot at 11/1 on the morning line.
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DIVERGENT STREAMS     NWRC       KY     4G     hardhead     J Dawg             31/1
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Reformed claimer picks a tough spot to make his stakes debut,  after taking a NW1x allowance at this trip,  sticking a 109 SP# from just off the pace.  Light grey four year old gelding got caught late when 2nd in a NW4x allowance at 8.25 panels,  smacking a 112 SP# prompting the early pace.  War Front wrangler,  out of the stakes placed sim mare In The Books (by Tapit) was claimed for $60,000 in his prior start,  a wire to wire score,  slinging a 109 SP#.   Continues to improve for the hardhead barn,  but has never faced a field like this.  Handicapper holds him as the longest shot in the field at 31/1.
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READY INDEED                Elite Racing    AUS     4M     mightyforego26     R Pollard     18/1
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Roan four year old colt was a no factor 10th last out in the G3 Narrowly Missed Stakes at 7.5 furlongs,  kicking out a 109 SP# over a good surface he probably didn’t care for.  More Than Ready mister,  out of the sim mare Rare Indeed (by Unbridled’s Song),  flew home to take the Koorawatha listed stakes at this route,  killing a 119 SP# from back in the pack.  My rez’ representative is in town,  so I got to talking with mightyforego about his steed.  “I’m very happy to be participating in this year’s Equinics. This colt has taken some time to develop but seems to do his best running at a mile where he has run some very solid speed figures.  Although he hasn’t performed well in his two previous graded tries, I’m hoping that the third time is the charm.  I am especially proud of this horse because he is out of a mare I bred in my first year of playing the game. His dam was probably one of the first ‘expensive’ breedings I ever made. It was the last year of breeding for Unbridled’s Song and I wanted to have a one of his mares for breeding purposes. So far she has one graded and one listed winner out of 3 foals.”  Good luck Dave.
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8
FOREVER MALIBU        GR Simsters    KY     4G     fairhaven1         L Radzinski     13/1
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Malibu Moon mauler,  out of the graded placed stakes winner Forever Forty (by Medaglia D’Oro),  faltered to 6th in his seasonal debut in the G3 The Khartoum Challenge at a mile,  tossing a 111 SP# after being close early.  Bay four year old gelding was an excellent 2nd in the G1 Sterile Mile against others in here in his 2017 finale,  throwing a 115 SP# from just off the pace.  He was a tiring 6th one back of that in the Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Mile,  tabbing a 108 SP# with his usual trip.  Runner from the fairhaven1 racing operation should be tracking the pace setters,  should be fitter today in second start of the year – upset chance.
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9
POPPING OUT                    Blazing Saddles    IRE     5M     bsben5         D Givins     7/1
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Another of the five co-favorites,  this one from the bsben5 stable,  flew through the straight to get the money in his latest,  the G3 The Khartoum Challenge I at this trip,  blasting a 118 SP# from way back in the pack.  Bay five year old horse won a residency stakes one back of that at a mile,  banking a 117 SP# with another stretch running effort.  One before that he just missed when a late running 2nd in the Sundays Rule listed at this trip,  bashing a 117 SP# in a twenty horse field.  SP#’s have been impressive over the last 5 months,  look for the blur in the stretch as this guy flies home from far back,  as he should get a rapid pace to chase.
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10
KING OF JEU                      Universal Racing     IRE     5M     fernando         O A Haack     10/1
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Sea The Stars stepper,  out of the sim mare Reina Del Mambo (by Montjeu) smoked an open allowance at 8.25 furlongs in latest,  flashing a 119 SP# in a front running performance.  Bay five year old horse tired late to 3rd one back of that in the G3 The Christmas Stakes at this distance,  flinging a 111 SP# after setting all the pace.  He tired to 10th in his prior run in the G3 Save A Buck at 8.5 panels,  flipping a 106 SP# chasing a runaway winner.  Speedster from the fernando barn faces like minded foes  here,  will find it difficult to get to the top going  into the first turn;  may be a bounce candidate off career best effort last out.
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11
HAVE NEW DOUBTS      Racing HQ    AUS     5M     zia3             B Wu         10/1
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Bay five year old horse was an even 4th in his 2017 finale,  the G1 The I Believe In Christmas Stake at 9 furlongs,  grabbing a 114 SP# while 4th around the track.  Not A Single Doubt nipper,  out of the sim mare Apropos (by New Approach),  stalked the leaders and ran off in the stretch,  taking the G2 Lewis & Clarke stakes at 9 panels,  garnering a 120 SP#.  He won a residency stakes at a mile one before that,  gaining a 115 SP# tracking the leader.  Zia3 protege makes first start of 2018,  will get a swift pace to chase,  but is he fit enough to contend with some tough customers in this heat.
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12
TIZ SPECTACULAR       All Stars    KY     5M     desertdog         K Ledwith     7/1
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The fourth of our five co-favorites exits a late running 3rd in the G2 San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl Stakes at 8.5 furlongs,  nailing a 116 SP# in a mid pack run.  Five year old light grey horse won a restricted allowance at 8.5 panels one before that, nabbing a 117 SP# with the same tactics.  Scratch bred Tiznow tomcat’s (by Broad Brush) prior outing was a closing 3rd in the Kris Noia listed stakes at this route,  notching a 113 SP# moving from 13th of fourteen.  Runner from the desertdog racing group gets contested fractions up front to help his late kick,  must overcome outside post in large field.
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13
DONT BE SMART W ME         East West Conn    KY     6M     sheeba         T Small         7/1
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Our fifth and final co-favorite comes off a so-so 3rd in an open allowance at 8.25 furlongs,  landing a 108 SP# from just off the pace.  Brown six year old horse won in the same exact conditions one back of that,  lashing a 116 SP# in a five horse field.  Scratch bred Smart Strike senor (by Nureyev),   was 10th one before that against some in here in the G1 Sterile Mile,  lucking into a 110 SP#  from the middle of the pack.  Runner from the sheeba stable may have his best racing days behind him,  but could hit the board for a minor share on best effort.
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14
ROOKIE HAZING            Pastures Of Green    AUS     5M     xpansion8         J White     11/1
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Watching them all exit the paddock is this scratch bred Bernardini bubbala (by Wild Again),  who wired the G3 The Pal’s Hope at this trip over a sloppy track,  rocking a 117 SP# while never headed.  Brown five year old horse was an even 3rd one before that in the Fly For Buda listed stakes at a mile,  racking up a 108 SP# .  In his previous outing he failed to hold on in the Slither listed at a mile on a sloppy surface after leading by as many as 7-3/4 lengths,  settling for 2nd and rambling to a 122 SP#.  Xpansion8 trainee likes to be near the early lead,  but will have a tough time accomplishing that in this field from the far outside barrier.
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Good luck everybody,  and may they all come home fast,  safe and sound.