Simhistory Week – INDY’S SUMMER SPRINT

This is a Mardi gras week of celebration for Simsters around the world with the 9th Anniversary of this amazingly addicting lifestyle… err –I mean game!  In celebration I decided to write a little song!  It goes something like this…

Down In The Bayou… Let’s take a little WALK up to the MILLVIEW and LISTEN to the frogs;  we’ll say a couple PRAYERS and sing a couple songs then we’ll head back down AGAIN to that easy Bourbon Street to watch the ponies run in this INDY SUMMER throng.

Haha!  Nope, ladies & gents, there was no liqueur used in the making of this great hit!  (*hiccup*) Haha  Hope you enjoyed my tribute to the Indy Summer Sprint now on to the show!!

This is a really tuff field to pick from.  I give you my analysis and thoughts of each horse so now it’s up to you to pick the top finishers!!  Good luck and have a great weekend!! 

Disclaimer: excuse in misspellings in the making of this article (*hiccup*) as I am not responsible (*hiccup*) for … for… (*hiccuppp*)…  ooh shoot!  I forgot what I was gonna sa-(*hiccup*) J

PP 1: LISTENING(KY), 2yoC by Eavesdropper x (Theatrical x Gone West)

Bred by: Tigereyes                 Jockey: T Campy (440: 53-59-61, 12%)

Trained by: Foxvbullet            

        Odds: 5/2                            Rank: N/A

This colt has started his career on a good foot.  Debuting over 5f on a small Rhode Island bushtrack, the burly son of Eavesdropper showed 6 other green colts how it’s done by barreling down on the outside to sweep past the leaders and take the win by ¾ length posting a hopeful 75sp. 

Encouraged by what he saw trainer Foxvbullet saddled his young horse for the Sir Crafty Stakes 5 weeks later just up the rode in New Hampshire.  The race was a ½ furlong longer in distance, but the trainer was confident – Listening had been drilling 6f’s in the mornings like it was nothing.  He went off at 7/1 against 10 others that afternoon.

As what appeared to be his normal style of running, the colt broke last, floating along in the rear bidding his time.  A hole opened on the rail and jockey M Collins gunned Listening through it.  They were homefree, gobbling up ground with every stride… until a tiring colt veered across the track into the rail.  Collins had to check the colt, swing him off the rail and then ask the colt to keep digging in.  When clear track opened up it was too late.  They ran under the wire 3^rd beaten by a mere ½ length with a 78sp.

Last time out was in the 6.5f Bare Within Wild Challenge Stakes… just 4 weeks ago.  The colt’s closing style would love the added furlong.  He went off as an early morning favorite at 9/2.  Like always Listening broke last.  But things wouldn’t go to his liking down in Alabama.  The colt ran into multiple traffic problems and not till too late in the race did he finally get racing room finishing a beaten 5^th, 4 ¾ lengths behind the winner.  Jockey A Lee was forbidden to ever ride the colt again.

PP 2: PREPARE TO WORSHIP(PA), 2yoC by Real Quiet x (Alysheba x Silver Buck)

        Bred by: Bucksend                 Jockey: F Oxon (571: 125-129-86, 22%)

        Trained by: Amish

        Odds: 7/2                            Rank: 76

The most experienced colt of the field & regally bred, Prepare To Worship looks like a clear winner.  Amish debuted the lanky bay in a Pennsylvania-bred maiden special weight going 5f where he shot straight for the lead and never looked back.  But it would not be a cakewalk… the colt had to fight every step of the way, never gaining more than a ½ length lead on his foes.  PTW won by a ¼ length with a 70sp.

He spent his next 3 races in New York and Virginia.  Each time out he broke on top, but was never handed an easy lead, always having to fight for what he wanted.  It proved to be too much in starts #2 & #3 where he finished 2^nd and 7^th respectively.  The 4^th start, however, he held game, fighting to the bitter end for a ½ length win with a 77sp.

Amish was satisfied with that race and felt that his colt was weathered enough to try stakes company.  Up in northern New York Amish found a good spot – the Wackin’ James Cap Stakes over 5 ½f’s.  The race drew 5 other colts.  Prepare To Worship was ready to bring his foes to their knees. 

He broke first and was able to open up a little bit of daylight between himself and the rest of the field.  Orza had been instructed to not let his mount use up too much too soon.  As they rounded the turn into the stretch Orza glanced back and saw a big colt barreling down on them.  He frantically started kneading his colt’s neck, flicking the reins.  Prepare To Worship dug down, lengthening his stride.  Orza glanced back again only to find that the closer was moving closer with every stride.  He didn’t like to use the whip, but now was not a time to question it.  He flicked his mount twice.  As he went to change hands the whip slipped out of his grip hitting the track.  Orza kneaded PTW’s neck more frantically.  The other colt was along side him.  The two horses flew past the wire as one.

The photo finish took 5 minutes to decipher.  In the end Prepare To Worship was declared the loser… by a nose.  Amish was still proud of his trainee.  The colt had posted an 81sp and had been hardened by the experience.  Next time he wouldn’t lose.

PP 3: MILLVIEW MISIL(KY), 2yoC by Golden Missile x (Bubble Gum Fellow x Deerhound)

        Bred & Trained by: Wyndaway1           Jockey: B Richard (136: 13-6-17, 10%)

        Odds: 32/1                                   Rank: N/A

Unfortunately, the bettors don’t give much love to “bargain-breds” thus the long odds for the unraced chestnut son of Golden Missile.  Wyndaway1’s trainee has a lot of hurdles to overcome on Saturday: (1) inexperience, (2) pedigree, and (3) jockey.  But I wouldn’t count him out.  I always like to see the colts work in the mornings up to a race atleast once when I’m scheduled to report on them… and,well, Millview Misil may be a surprise upset.

M&M as I’ve affectionately named him for this article has been all workhorse in the mornings.  He may be unraced, but it doesn’t show when he steps onto the training oval.  The colt has routinely been working 6f’s.  Monday, Wyndaway1 sent him out with 4 other colts and a filly to give him a good feel of what it would be like on Saturday.  They broke from the gate nicely, M&M settling 3^rd 2 lengths behind the filly and a big black colt.  Halfway around the exercise rider chirped in M&M’s ear and the chestnut accelerated up to the two frontrunners.  In two jumps he had split the colt and filly without batting an eye.  The rider flashed the whip and M&M cruised into the lead.  He finished the 6f work in 1:11 2/5.  Right on par.

Wednesday, M&M breezed 3f’s in 0:34-.  The colt has a long stride that flows effortlessly.  He may need a race or two to be on-par with stakes company, but if he brings his A-game he may have a say in the top 3.  Besides… with young babies odds really don’t have much weight … and 32 is my favorite number.

PP 4: THERE’N BACK AGAIN(KY), 2yoC by Songandaprayer x (Clever Trick x Conquistador Cielo)

        Bred & Trained by: Bfc            Jockey: M Bailey (78: 3-5-4, 4%)

        Odds: 7/2                            Rank: N/A

Speed Speed Speed.  There’n Back Again is built for speed.  His runner style looks like he may be a good miler, too.  This colt has game finishing top 2 in all 4 of his starts. 

Debuting in the swamps of Florida over 5f, There’n Back Again sat beautifully in the back just 4 ½ lengths behind the leaders.  The race was short so a move had to be made quick.  Right on cue jockey R Todd asked his mount to hit overdrive & that he did.  Quicker than you can say supercalifragalisticexbealadocious (or something like that) TBA had passed 12 horses, leaving them in his wake and was running down the lone leader.  Out of ground he finished 2^nd beaten by a ¼ length with a 73sp. 

His next 2 starts were maiden special weights over 5.5f’s over in Louisiana.  He finished 2^nd in both, losing by 1 ¼ lengths & ¾ length while posting another 73sp & a 75sp respectfully. 

Last time out was a 6f maiden special weight in Tennessee were the legendary jockey R Bokie resides.  R Bokie had heard about this southern colt and was eager to ride.  The pair went off at even money.  TBA replicated his running style, but this time he steam-rolled past the other 6 runners to a 2 ½ length win and a 67sp.  Easy as pie!

PP 5: WOETTE’S WALK(KY), 2yoC by A.P. Indy x (Fusaichi Pegasus x Danzig)

        Bred & Trained by: Katinka               Jockey: D Hogin (447: 72-77-72, 16%)

        Odds: Even                          Rank: 179

Okay.  Every field has to have a big shot and this is the one.  Woette’s Walk has the bluest blood of the 4 combined, he’s posted the fastest speed figure, and he’s had a go in graded competition.  But that doesn’t mean much unless he can dish it out on Saturday, right?

Woette’s Walk debuted in the Benelux Special-owner restricted maiden special weight against 14 other 2yos.  He broke quickly from the gate settling in ¾ length off the lead.  Jockey A Smith shifted forward in the saddle prior to turning for home and that’s all the encouragement Woette’s Walk needed – he shifted gears and easily sailed past the leaders to the wire, winning by 1 ½ lengths.

The next race, again over 6f’s, had a bit more speed.  Woette’s Walk broke first and quickly became rank, dragging himself and jockey F Gossett to the lead.  By the time they had turned for home WW had nothing left in the tank to hold off the closers.  He finshed 4^th beaten by 2 ½ lengths.

In his 3^rd start Katinka dropped his trainee down a half furlong in distance.  The field was small and Woette’s Walk (even money) easily had his way with the other 4 colts.  He won by 1 ½ lengths with a career best 83sp. 

Katinka now felt comfortable stepping up in class.  The race picked out was the G2 Faber College Juvenile.  Thirteen others would run.  The distance was 6f’s.  Woette’s Walk had had a brisk work two days prior going 4f’s in 0:45.3 so skeptics were saying he wouldn’t be much of a threat.  But the fans bet the colt down to 5/1 odds.

The gates opened and Woette’s Walker jumped for the lead.  He grabbed the bit and battled head and head with the colt to his outside for the first 4f’s.  Turning home, however, WW backed up like he had hit a fence post.  The colt was a beaten 7^th.

His now had 6 weeks of R&R and regrouping.  He will be a tuff cookie to beat if he keeps his composure and doesn’t lock up with Prepare To Worship on the lead.

MY THOUGHTS:

Prepare To Worship will break on top and take the lead.  Woette’s Walk will be nipping at his heels.  The two have the best speed figures in this race.  I think they will feed off one another pushing the other further and further to the breaking point.  The question is, who will break first?

There’n Back Again will be about 3 lengths behind the two frontrunners.  Millview Misil may possibly be keeping him company.  Listening will sit back in last, bidding his precious time in this short 5f event.  The fast pace on the front should set up perfect for the one horse & four horse.  It will be a matter of who makes their move first.  Millview Misil is a toss up as he is an unknown – if he goes to the front or if he drops to the back… I don’t know.  My guess is as good as yours.

I don’t think much distance will be separating the top 4 finishers.