I Make Stuff Up, General’s Chariot, Northern Pirate lead Smackdown III top guns

Texas–   Who’s says owner-restricted company is a cakewalk?   Definitely not easy as pie on Smackdown day, that’s for sure.   We’ve got a wonderful field here in the $500,000 older horse turf sprint — two Sim-wide champions, a couple of wondermares, a plethora of hot stakes winners, and (last but not least!) ’07 Grade 1 hero Northern Pirate, one of the leading grass monsters this season.

 

The GR Simsters, Northwest Racing Circuit, and Down Under Racing residencies send out a mighty crew to tackle the three-quarters.  Each residency presents a Top Gun too:   Northern Pirate (DUR), I Make Stuff Up (GR Simsters;  ’06 Sim Eclipse Turf Sprint champ) and General’s Chariot (NWRC;  ’05 Sim Eclipse Sprint champ) share co-fave status at 6/1 each.   All three have struggled a bit of late and they’re gonna have their hooves full again with plenty of classy horses waiting to make a huge splash.  Ends In Ski (7/1) is the big outsider who might make a name for himself here.   Let’s meet the lineup……… 

 

 

I Make Stuff Up (6/1) – lenny3

Despite not having won a graded race this year, Lenny’s wondercolt boasts # 1-ranking in the older horse turf sprint division.   He gains the ranking based on his victory in last fall’s inaugural BB Turf Sprint in addition to his one listed stakes victory and a 3rd-place Sydney Sprint(G1) finish in 2007.   

 

Yeah, yeah, ho-hum in a weak division.   But look again — I Make Stuff Up has a pair of close-up 4ths since in the Rising Sun(G1) and Golden Jamboree(G1).   Great 109 and 105 SP#s to boot really provide the power behind I Make Stuff Up’s ’07 punch.   The 4yo son of Mineshaft is just unlucky.   He needs to rekindle that over-the-top stretch drive of his.   Any way you look at it, this colt’s plain due.   Northern Pirate appears to be a little off.   General’s Chariot might be past it.   I really think I Make Stuff Up is the Top Gun to beat here — the rest of the field is gonna need a lot of luck to hold of this colt…. but watch out for Ends In Ski.  

 

Ends In Ski (7/1) – fairhaven2

Woogedy, woogedy, WOOGEDY!  This Numerous colt is quite a number.   8-for-13 lifetime, winning 5 of his last 6.   Mhhmm.   Gorgeous 105, 107, and 111 SP#s in 3 straight stakes victories (G2 in his last).    Patiently handled, climbing the ladder in textbook fashion.    Stop the presses!

 

I Make Stuff Up may be the Top Gun to beat, but Ends In Ski is that one outsider right at his throat.   Fairhaven drew a lousy jockey, but the 4yo youngster appears versatile on the pace or from about midpack.  Wow, one to watch.   Polish pride all the way, baby.   GR Simsters brings majorly double-trouble.   

 

Starfall(IRE) (13/1) – given3

I still like Dan’s Giant’s Causeway up-and-comer a lot.  Beautiful royal bred who finished up last year dominating the listed stakes ranks.  Then Dan brought Starfall out earlier this season in that G1 Look To Heavens for 4yos only.  It was a lite field, but the colt ran big for the runnerup spot.    In hindsight, those 4yo-only races were decent, bringing out top divisional contenders like Borracho, Cronus, and more.  Definitely count Starfall as one of ’em.  

 

However, Starfall just couldn’t continue to climb the ladder.  He threw a clinker in May’s KY Horsemen Elixir Sprint(G1) and ran a bit dully in the Golden Jamboree(G1) LTO.   The colt did garner a listed score in between.   The stalker just needs to put it all together and finally throw one of those big 105+ speed figures.   I would be surprised to not see this guy at least a closeup 4th or 5th.   He’ll really have to dig deep and show up square-n-narrow for the victory though.   Quite possible however — very talented.   

 

My favorite name in the Sim.  🙂  Brego tried to storm the Helm’s Deep (errrr, Grade 1 KY Horsemen Elixir) gates three back and kind of missed the glorious charge, finishing a well beaten 9th.  The Rainbow Quest 4yo had previously tossed some nice speed figs around one-turn and was a stakes winner too.   the closer bafgged a nice ALW around 5.5f LTO.  

 

Good chance for a minor share in this spot.   He might even better that since he’s coming a confidence-boosting victory.   I really think you should try to string together some victories after this.   He just won his NW4x — try to string together some listed and ALW scores with strong speed figrues.  He’s only got 17 starts, so you’re gonna have a good horse next year too.   We’re gonna hear more from Brego down the divisional road.

 

Speightful (16/1) – reman12000

Woo!   Reman’s been hiding this Speightstown 4yo here, there, anywhere except the turf sprint ranks!   That is, until three starts ago when Speightful found himself in a 6.5f turf sprint allowance.   He was a decent grass miler before and can run about equal over the main track.   But around one-turn on the turf, look out!  The colt won 3 straight for Reman including a pair of listed level stakes purses. 

 

At first glance, 98 SP#s aren’t a big bowl of hooey, but hey! This guy can find the winner’s circle from off pace.   He’s 10-for-22 lifetime, and has a recent graded start which wans’t too shabby over a flat mile.   Gotta call this colt a live sleeper.  Granted, he faces the big boys now, so it can go either way.   But he’s the kind of entry that might sneak in there for the board.   

 

 

 

Northern Pirate (6/1) – jockeymax

Max-factor times two!    Jockeymax enters his two “Northerns” — and, of course, everybody’s eyes are on the big hoss, Northern Pirate, son of ubermare Crimson Pirate.    Northern Pirate upset the Penn Dash(G1) late last year on DelPenn Champions Day.   He then overwhelmed the Generals Pals Sprint Show II(G1).   That was an awesome and ‘Pirate crushed ’em with a huge 114 SP#, one of the fastest turf sprints at any level this season.   The earlybird running for the Sim Eclispe turf sprint championship looked like his for the taking.  

 

But, alas, Northern Pirate has hit a wall of late.  Don’t get me wrong, he ran an excellent 4th from downtown in the KY Horsemen(G1) after the Generals Pals.   That was to be expected as kind of a “bounce race.”  But he ran kind of even steven in the Rising Sun(G1) — the race was better than it looks though on paper — ‘Pirate suffered from big traffic woes in a freak race.   I’d forgive him that effort, but then he ran a crummy 4th place at the listed level.   I expected him to outclass the short field — maybe Max just had ‘Pirate on .9 effort. 

 

Regadless, the Belong To Me colt must be respected.   He can turn things around on a dime and figures to get solid (but not superior which is good for him!) speed up front.   I would be shocked if he did not hit the board.   From way, way downtown.

 

Sadler’s Wood (14/1) – snappa7 

Sanppa snapped up this Woodman royual bred for $20k in a claiming race several starts back.  The 4yo colt wnet on to win a few Starters for Snappa at a flat mile.   Great claim!   Wow.   =)

 

However, this is kind of puzzling.   The colt was a sprinter before Snappa won the shake, placing him in short routes with great success.   Now Sadler’s Wood returns to his old ways around one-turn — granted he was 10-for-18 sprint ITM prior to Snappa’s claim.  Speedster steps way up in class.   Sometimes they run like gangbusters, but most of the time, they tank.   Still, Sadler’s Wood carries the DUR flag with an outside dark horse shot.   We’ll see what happens. 

 

Loneon(AUS) (15/1) – scout4

Lohnro 4yo colt ran a runnerup 102 SP# around 7.5f a few starts back.   It was versus stakes company too.   The colt mostly tackles short routes but can earn some dough around one-turn too when necessary.  

 

Loneon joins the closers.   You gotta like his black type experience — he’s been around a block or two with a 4-for-24 lifetime record.  Just hasn’t won much though and unfortunately draws into an exceptional turf sprint field here.    Solid money earner hopes for a piece of the purse at best, but needs to bring his as-yet-unknown A+-game.   

 

Northern Chant (21/1) – jockeymax1

Jockeymax’s “B” horse was a man one-two punch.   Northern Chant was a graded winner last year on the 3yo turf sprint circuit.   He actually outshined Northern Pirate for a moment there too!   But the speedy Northern Chant didn’t move onwards as a 4yo.   The War Chant colt has won a couple minor races, but nothing big.   And when he’s tested the graded level, he’s been up the track, hot-n-dirty.   He’s cracked the 100 SP# barrier only once this season and faded versus ALW company LTO.  

 

A tough nut to crack.   Just what has gotten into Northern Chant?   With 11-for-29 lifetime record, he sure has had a ton of starts even for a 4yo.   Needs to wake up and in a hurry to be much of a factor for DUR.   Speedster faces some fit pacesetters too.    Cross your fingers!

 

Thirty Two Magic (30/1) – silks2912

King Cugat 6yo horse specializes around a grassy one-turn.   ‘Magic hasn’t won in a spell, but he punches the clock decent enough in ALWs and minor stakes.   The old man brings a 9-for-46 lifetime record and has been in the moeny in nearly half of those lifetime calls to the post.  

 

Thirty Two Magic comes in here after a couple of up-the-track performances at the listed stakes level.   He’s the longest shot on the board and this will likely be his biggest race ever.   Hey, ya never know what the stalker will be thinking.   Will ‘Magic cast a spell over the field?   Will he charm the heck out of railbirds, betting him down to 1/2?  Or will he feistiness win over the crowd as he proudly parades the DUR’s retired colors, huffing, stamping, and puffing to the starting gate as if to boast, “Look at you Sim fan, bet me to ‘Thirty-Two’ and I’ll come home a winner!  Guaranteed!”   Ha!      

 

 

 

General’s Chariot (6/1) – proudtruth

The old man finally picked up a victory LTO at the listed level.   Poor General, one too many grades for him ealrier this season — he hadn’t done much at all for me in ’07 and I just should’ve dropped him a level sooner.   Short field LTO and he was the odds-on fave.    Does the 102 SP# look better on paper or did he indeed just need a victory to get back on track? 

 

Litmus test and draws the dreaded 15-hole.  Blah.  But the defending 2006 NWRC Horse of The Year, proudly carries the Circuit’s colors to the post.   =)     

 

A.P. Geisha (10/1) – sera

What a lovely AP Indy grand dame!   She’s finished in the money in 29 of 36 and positively adores the grassy one-turn.   And don’t think that the 5yo aims to slip silently into the retired sunset either — AP Geisha has won 2 of his last 3 stakes starts with 106 and 102 SP#s, very respectable times.  

 

This speedster’s still competitive in the grades and, doggone it, she’s got a good shot here at garnering a piece of the prize money.   Yeah, she’ll face some heavy competition for the pace, but she can tuff stuff out on her best days.   Seven panles might be more to her liking, but no worries.   The ‘Geisha Gal is all about beauty and poetry in motion.    Look for her blazing out front, smooth as a a sweet sip of brandy — preferably from the winner’s circle trophy!      

 

Six Guns Blazing (10/1) – murray2

Yeah!   Murray has a live sleeper in this experienced 4yo son of Pine Bluff.    The colt’s been at the top of his game of late, slipshot style from midpack.  Three straight 100+s in stakes and ALW company around one turn sure see him a contender for a minor share.  

 

Six Guns Blazing doesn’t win often with a 6-for-28 lifetime record, but he earns his dues at the listed level.   He’s the kind of longshot that can sneak up on ya if you’re not careful with your trifectas.    Could he jump up another level in the graded-quality company here?   Does he need the pace to run at all along?   Possible. 

 

The Seeker (12/1) – kobras 

I was heady on The Seeker’s chances earlier this season.   The Seeking The Gold 4yo was a late-blooming speedster last year who ran a spendid 4th in the Everclear Handicap(G2) back in January.  He set the pace in that one and later followed that huge effort up with a 105 SP# score at the listed level.  

 

But, alas, The Seeker seemed to be just a shooting star.   The colt plunged back to the earth in the KY Horsemen(G1) and Rising Sun(G1) — both poor races on his part, well up the track.    Granted, he couldn’t garner a solo or at least semi-early lead in those races, running into buzzsaw pacesetters.   The colt dueled again in the King’s Fall(G2) around 5f LTO.    He hung on for a minor share, but it was still a decline in form.   Bottom line, The Seeker faces difficult fields and with a 4-for-19 lifetime record, you gotta wonder whther he needs to string together some victories at the lesser level.   Beware though — this colt reeks of talent.   He just needs to put it all together.  

 

Follow The Path (13/1) – woodhead 

Another grand old mare who brings a 9-for-34 lifetime record.   Follow The Path races hard and races often.  And that suits her to a “T” too — she’s been very consistent, earning many a cheque at the listed level.   She’s bagged some triumphs too with a 106 SP# score earlier this year.   Additionally, the mare is no stranger to racing versus the boys — she finished 3rd in the very swift Simon & Simon Cap(G3) earlier this season after setting the early lead.   A big 107 SP# in that one. 

 

Follow The Path took to closing LTO in a shot field stakes and she didn’t run well scoring only an 88 SP# for the 3rd place finish.   Perhaps that was an “off” race for the Sadler’s Wells 5yo mare.   She enters here on 3 weeks rest.   Loads of talent in this gal — gotta question her vigorous race shcedule, then testing these top-tier boys.  You never know though — she seems like an “on and off again” type, and it looks like an “on again” race at least on paper.     

 

Snowchief’s Picks:

 

Awesome field!   I think GR Simsters has it here with Ends In Ski over I Make Stuff Up.   Northern Pirate over General’s Chariot, Speightful, and Starfall.   Good luck everyone!   And thanks to all involved for a great Smackdown Day!   Goooooo NWRC!  =)

 

Win:    Ends In Ski

Place:  I Make Stuff Up

Show:  Northern Pirate

Longshot:  Six Guns Blazing