Smackdown 3yr old Dirt Sprint

The pride of the DUR, GR Simsters, and NWRC residencies are lined up to contest Smackdown III. A field of 15 go to post to in the six furlong dirt sprint for three old colts, featuring rising stars, stakes winners, and live longshots. Let’s meet the field.

1. Separated at Birth – sportoking – M Staples – NWRC

            The son of Distorted Humor is already a stakes winner thanks to a wire to wire performance in the Time To Fly Pye Handicap. Trainer stevemunoz has added a top jock in M Staples and hopes his colt can handle the 6f distance. Though his most recent effort at the distance was a disappointment, he is a stakes winner at six furlongs and has the class to get it done here.

2. Daytona Beach – lenny271 – O Brim – GR Simsters

            Top trainer Lenny brings in this blue blood son of Storm Cat into the race in good form, fresh of a solid 4^th in graded company last time out. He was a stakes winner two back at six furlongs and has the credentials to get it done today. He has a stalking style that could play well in a full field such as this and is running at his best distance.

3. A.P. Storm – barn25dog – N Bonus – NWRC

            Another blue blood, this one hailing from the barndog empire. It does not take much to figure out his breeding from his name and he is relegated to longshot status today. He appears to prefer a slightly longer distance, and may not have the class of some of these. Barndog smartly is trying to counter act that with a turf to dirt angle here, and that, if it yields the improvement often seen, could make A.P. Storm a live horse here.

4. NWRC Devil – wbrv – S Webb – NWRC

            This satanic colt should be among the early leaders, with a blasting out style for trainer wbrv. His aggressive running style has allowed him to hit the board in stakes efforts recently, including a 2^nd place, 101 speed figure effort at the distance. Jockey S Webb will have to rate the speed today though, in a full field of 15, some of which have a class advantage here. NWRC Devil will be battling early, but will need his speed to capture this one.

5. Miracle of Light – snappa2 – E Land –  DUR

            A colt who is running contrary to his breeding, this son of an Epsom Derby winner has found a home on the main track. He has done his best running in routes, but did run a solid second in a stakes at 7f two back. It is a question of speed with Miracle Of Light, as he may not have what it takes to win this race. However, his running style suits the race well and he will have a chance to mow down the leaders in the stretch.

6. Early Peak – stupor8 – B Peeples – GR Simsters

            This GR Simsters rep comes into the race ranked 5^th in the division after a terrific performance in the G2 Pea Shooters Handicap two back. He is a bit of an inconsistent performer, but trainer PadreBri will have no one to blame but himself, as he is the trainer and jockey today. He needs to be closer to the pace, but not too close, pick up the pieces late. He has a class advantage over some, but his inconsistency is a huge concern.

7. Clever Magpie – phantom3 – C Ginzo – NWRC

            This rapidly improving colt looms as a huge contender, with class as the only obstacle. He has only run once in a stake – his last start, a solid 3^rd, with a career best speed. A regression is a concern, but he is sharp, having hit the board in all 8 of his career sprint starts. His speed is sufficient to win the race, and you have to like backing an improving colt. Still, the step up is what limits him to 10/1 odds.

8. Blastshaft – fittler – R Lombard – DUR

            Do not let the odds fool you on Blastshaft, they are influenced by an injury two back. That injured start was the only time he was off the board in a sprinting race, and he is a high class horse, with four stakes wins in nine career starts. He is at his best when he can get to the front, which may be a problem in a big field here. Still, the Mineshaft colt should not be slept on, despite his high odds.

9. Grand Arbiter – lender2 – F Gossett – GR Simsters

            Certainly the one to beat, Grand Arbiter is the sole graded winner in the field, and he excels in sprint races. Top jockey F Gossett completes the picture, as he should be able to stay close to the pack and explode late. He ran a solid race last time out, 2^nd in the G3 Oyster Pub Sprint, and comes into the race on a good rest schedule. The only concern is that his only poor efforts have come in recent races, but trainer Deadinthelane appears to have him primed here.

10. Acura Cake – elysium – T Bates – GR Simsters

            Acura Cake is a lightly raced colt with a world of speed. In just six career efforts, Acura Cake has 4 wins and a graded placing. His last effort was a 2^nd from the clouds in the Dallas BB Stakes, running a 106 speed figure. However that was at seven furlongs and now he drops to six furlongs, a distance Acura Cake has never ran. Added to the concern is that the Forestry colt has been off for ten weeks. There is little doubt that Acura Cake has a bright future, but rather or not he is primed his best effort is up in the air.

11. Hunter Creek – rocket25 – R Simcox – GR Simsters

            Another speedy representative from the GR Simsters, Hunter Creek has put up two straight career best performances, including an encouraging 3^rd place finish in the Oyster Pub Sprint at this distance. He has never won at six furlongs, performing slightly further, but he has the class to go with these and is a likely on the board finisher.

12. El Banshi – wabred2 – M Billig – DUR

            El Banshi h as demonstrated speed, but he is taking a big step up in class here, after only succeeding in allowance races. His 100 effort at 6.5 furlongs two starts back gives trainer Snappa some confidence. He also does not the lead, which should benefit him greatly here. He regressed in his first start in stakes company last out, running an 88 speed. He will need to improve to be a factor today.

13. Merric – danmancan – P Incay – NWRC

            This colt’s name should be Speedy, as he has moved successfully from claiming to starter to allowance company, posting a 105 speed in his last effort. He loves the lead and will be one of those contending early in the race today. He has only been off the board once in 9 dirt tries, but this is by far the toughest field he has faced. Merric would be a Cinderella story if he could get it done here.

14. Cool Bluff – toplight – J Straw –  DUR

            A seven time career winner, Cool Bluff has won 5 of his last 7, including three stakes wins. He is listed at 10/1 here for trainer toplight and his form and class suggest a better chance than that. The concern is that his success mainly has come between 6.5 and 7.5, like many in the race, and may need some time to adjust to the specialized 6f distance. Still, Cool Bluff is a top contender.

15. Hypothermia – peter12 – J Dekeyser – DUR

            Breaking from the outside, Hypothermia is another who will be battling for the early lead. He is taking a step up from allowance company but he has hit the board 9 of 13 career starts and owns a win at this distance. However, his career top speed of 99 fails to measure up to some in the field. Still, the Pedro Empire has to think Hypothermia can make some noise in here.