EVENLY MATCHED RACE FEATURED IN WORLD CUP LONG SPRINT
The innaugural World Cup headlines the world of sim racing this week and Kentucky is the host of the older male divisions of the series. This race is developing to be a tough match as all 3 teams have a good shot at the win here today. 12 of the best will be running 7 furlongs on the Main Track and while a $500,000 purse is up for grabs this series is all about racing for country and honor to see which division can have bragging rights to be World Cup champion.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)LINDAHLS CHOICE—EUROPEAN TEAM—9/1—kronp sends this 4 year old colt out of STORM CAT with a record of 28-5-8-1 and lifetime earnings of $141,755. He is out of the he mare KING OF SWEDEN who was 4/44 at the track. This colt’s sire has a 90.4% winners rate with a 19.4% stakes winner rate and a 5.2% Graded stakes winner rate. This 621st divisional ranked colt races for the Kronprinse Stables that is a member of the Ireland residency. The trainer has a 14.5% winning rate with a 40.9% in the money rate for his 4 stables. This horse won his MSW race on the dirt in his 3 year old debut after racing 3 times on the turf as a 2 year old. He has been a reliable allowance race runner and will be making his stakes debut here today in The Grade I World Cup. He posted his lifetime best 110 speed rating 2 starts back while finishing 2nd in a NW4Y allowance and then came back to win last time out in a NW2S allowance with a 106 speed rating, both of those races being 7.5 furlong long sprints. He usually races with early speed and is either cutting the early fractions or pressing the pace and is expected to be one of those out early when the gate opens today. While this colt has posted triple digit speed ratings in his last 3 straight outings this could be a difficult spot to make your stakes debut. The rider for today’s race will be Caves (23.2%) who has come over from Eastern Kentucky to ride in the World Cup races here today.
2)DEATH ALLEY DRIVER—NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN TEAM—8/1—sdmf5 sends this 4 year old colt out of GONE WEST with a record of 25-5-4-4 and lifetime earnings of $438,980. The colt’s sire has a 84.6% winners rate with a 16.2% stakes winners rate and a 3.7% Graded stakes winners rate. This 9th divisional ranked colt races for the Black Label Stables that is a memeber of the Del/Penn National residency. The trainer has a 17.1% winning rate with a 45.2% in the money rate for his 23 stables. This horse was aggresively placed in his first 3 lifetime races, by running in overnite stakes races and while he did finish in the top 3 in 2/3 of those starts he was dropped down to a MSW race in order to get his debut win. He picked up a couple of allowance wins in his 3 year old season and then became a stakes winner in Novermber 06 after taking an overnite 7 furlong sprint in Nebraska. Since that win he has only won once more so far but what a win it was. He took the Grade I The Billy and Jimmy Stakes in New York as a 16/1 longshot by pulling off his patented last to first move down the stretch. He posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating in that 7 furlong contest. While he has continued to show his closing style of racing he has had to settle for minor share checks in his last several races. If the pace is quick enough here today though he may just be the one to pick up the pieces with his running style. The jockey for today’s race will be Lawton (23.2%) who has come over from New York to race in the World Cup races today.
3)WESTERN ROMP TED(KY)—NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN TEAM—14/1—apacolypse sends this 3 year old colt out of GONE WEST with a record of 18-5-3-3 and lifetime earnings of $406,992. The colt’s sire has a 84.6% winners rate with a 16.2% stakes winners rate and a 3.7% Graded stakes winners rate. This 22nd divisional ranked colt races for the Tsyndicate Stables that are a member of the Del/Penn National residency. The trainer has a 9% winning rate with a 28.5% in the money rate for his 10 stables. This colt began his career in races against winners and broke his maiden by winning a NW1X allowance race. That was in his 2nd lifetime start and he has raced exclusively in stake races since. His first added money event win came in an overnite stake sprint in South Dakota as a 2 year old. This year he won the 8.5 furlong Grade II Sleepy Fan Stakes in California this spring on an off track. He then proceded to run in route stake events where he was usually unable to carry his speed, tiring in the latter parts of the race. His trainer changed tactics 2 starts back by trying him in 7 furlong sprint stakes and he has responded with back to back wins. He comes into this race off his lifetime best 109 speed rating posted while winning The Duke Trick Bonanza stakes in Eastern Kentucky over 7 furlongs on the dirt. He has stalked the early pace in those last 2 races and may have finally found his preferred distance by the results of those starts. The rider for today’s race will be Giant (25%) who has come in from Maine to ride in the Word Cup races today.
4)KETCH(KY)—NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN TEAM—8/1—bigskyfarm sends this 3 year old colt out of AWESOME AGAIN with a record of 15-7-5-1 and lifetime earnings of $342,628. He is out of the mare IRONHORSE AWARD who was 9/38 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including this colt who is a Graded stakes winner. This colt’s sire has a 80.9% winners rate with a 14.5% stakes winners rate and a 2.1% Graded stakes winners rate. This 6th divisional ranked colt races for Libitfarm Stables that is a member of the Pastures of Green residency in Vermont. The trainer has a 14.7% winners rate with a 43.1% in the money rate for his 34 stables. This colt won his lifetime debut MSW race and was a 2 time stakes winner in his 2 year old campaign. Both of those wins last year came in overnite stake sprint dirt races. This year he has develope a case of seconditus by finishing 2nd in 5 of 9 starts all stakes events. He has managed to win 3 of his last 4 and became a Graded Stakes winner last start when he won The Grade III Conan The Barbarian Stakes in Upper New York over 6.5 furlongs in the slop. He has posted 4 straight triple digit speed ratings including a lifetime best 109 in that last race, proving that he is in peak form for this big race today. While he did win a race in wire to wire fashion last year he has been racing as a closer of late and that style has proved to be very succesfull for him. He usually starts his move in the far turn and sets up for his big run down the stretch. While there may have been some concern as to whether 7 furlongs would be long enough for him to get up first at the wire his win last time over 6.5 furlongs seems to have silenced those worries. The rider for today’s race will be Osborne (26.9%) who has made it in form Vermont for today’s race.
5)JUMPING SAL—AUSTRALIAN/FAR EAST TEAM—5/1—thebandit sends this 4 year old colt out of DAYJUR with a record of 24-10-4-3 and lifetime earnings of $590,521. He is out of the mare BEAU’S ROO who was 3/6 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 4 are winners including this colt who is a Graded stakes winner. This colt’s sire has a 68.7% winners rate with a 7.8% stakes winners rate and a 2.3% Graded stakes winners rate. This 10th divisional ranked colt races for the Bigkev and Bjbandit Farms that are a member of the Ohio Thouroughbred Racing residency. The trainer has a 14.8% winners rate with a 38.7% in the money rate with his 14 stables. This colt broke his maiden in his 2nd lifetime start and became a stakes winner as a 2 year old when he won The Pro Garth Special Stakes in France in September of 2005. He picked up 2 more overnite stake wins early in his 3 year old season but then hit a dry spot which prompted a try on the turf last year. While he did not perform that well on the grass he came back to go on a 5 race winning streak when he returned to the dirt surface. That streak included 2 Graded stakes wins including The Grade II Florida BB Sprint Championship II where he posted his lifetime best 113 speed rating this past winter. While he has not managed a win in his last 4 starts against the top notch company in the division he has managed a pair of top 3 finishes in that time. He usually races as a closer who sits in midpack early in races and then makes his move in the final turn for the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Proehl (28.9%) who has come east from Oregon to race in the World Cup races today.
6)CATSKI BIDDER—EUROPEAN TEAM—11/1—cwhisper sends this 4 year old colt out of CAT THIEF with a record of 21-6-3-4 and lifetime earnings of $126,939. The colt’s sire has a 79% winners rate with a 9.9% stakes winners rate and a 2.2% Graded stakes winners rate. This 286th divisional ranked colt races for the Whisper stables that are a member of the EAAA Racing residency. The trainer has a 11.6% winners rate with a 34.3% in the money rate with his 25 stables. This colt won his MSW race in the slop as a 2 year old and was flip flopping between dirt and turf races until May of his 3 year old season when he has raced exclusively on the dirt since. He won 3 allowance races as a 3 year old and has added 2 more allowance victories to his record this year. He made his Graded stakes debut 2 starts back after he posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating in the previous allowance start. In that Graded stakes debut he finished 3rd in the 6 furlong Grade III Cracked Peanuts Sprint and then returned last time to finish 5th in The Grade II Booker T. Handicap Stakes over 7.5 furlongs. He is another late closer in this race who will be vying for postion in what is expected to be a wild run down the stretch. The jockey for today’s race will be Coates (23.9%) who comes in from Kansas for today’s Word Cup races.
7)LOWLANDS MYSTIC—EUROPEAN TEAM—7/1—wonder1 sends this 4 year old colt out of THUNDER GULCH with a record of 21-7-4-4 and lifetime earnings of $244,420. He is out of the mare TRIANGULAR BEER who was 8/50 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 4 are winners including 3 stakes winners. The colt’s sire has a 75.2% winners rate with a 8.3% stakes winners rate and a 1.4% Graded stakes winners rate. The 76th divisional ranked colt races for the Zeco Stables Belgium who are a member of the Benelux residency. The trainer has a 13.3% winners rate with a 38.6% in the money rate with his 22 stables. This colt broke his maiden in his 3rd lifetime start as a 2 year old and came right back that year to win an overnite stakes in The A Bout De Souffle(IRE) Challenge Stakes in Oklahoma. He tried the turf at the end of his 2 year old season but has been back exclusivly on the dirt since his 3 year old campaign began. He picked up 3 allowance wins in his 3 year old season and has added 2 more allowance victories this year. He has started in 3 stakes races this year and has picked up a cheque in each. In his last start he finished 2nd in The Grade II Booker T. Handicap Stakes where he posted his lifetime best 112 speed rating over the 7.5 furlong sprint. It should be noted that he finished ahead of several others who are racing in today’s race off of that Grade II event. This colt races primarily as a mid pack closer sitting around 5th or 6th early and then steadily closing in the second half of the race. The rider for today’s race will be Knott (18.7%) who has come in today to race in the World Cup races.
8)LITTLE DUKE—AUSTRALIAN/FAR EAST TEAM—8/1—johnno sends this 5 year old horse out of BLUE MOONOFALASKA with a record of 28-8-4-4 and lifetime earnings of $280,837. This horse’s sire has a 41.7% winners rate with a 4.2% stakes winners rate and a 4.2% Graded stakes winners rate. This 408th divisional ranked horse races for Johnno Stables who is a member of the CR Racers residency as well as being a member of the management team at the Minnesota Downs residency. The trainer has a 10.8% winners rate with a 32.8% in the money rate with his 16 stables. This horse was unraced as a 2 year old and broke his maiden in his 2nd start in a turf MSW race. He went on to win 2 dirt allowance races that year and finished 2nd in The Minnesota Derby that year as well. He has picked up 5 allowance wins in the last 2 years and has picked up a pair of minor cheques in stakes starts this year. He posted his lifetime best 110 speed rating earlier this year in an allowance win and was just 1 point of that mark 2 starts ago when winning another dirt sprint allowance start. This colt will be looking for his first stakes victory in today’s Grade I Word Cup Long Sprint today. He is another closer in this field who will have to fight for postion in the far turn to have a chance at a clear path in the stretch drive. The jockey for today’s race will be Gardner (22.6%) who comes up from Florida to race here in the Word Cup today.
9)WYVERN(IRE)—AUSTRALIAN/FAR EAST TEAM—13/1—thepontif sends this 4 year old colt out of EL PRADO(IRE) with a record of 21-6-5-3 and lifetime earnings of $166,920. This colt’s sire has a 78.9% winners rate with a 11.4% stakes winners rate and a 2.2% Graded stakes winners rate. This 251st divisional ranked colt races for an unafilliated independent stable. The trainer has a 9.8% winners rate with a 31.8% in the money rate with his stable. This colt won his MSW race in his second lifetime race on the dirt in his 3 year old debut after racing one on the turf as a 2 year old. He added 2 more allowance wins in his 3 year old season before being dropped to the $30,000 claiming ranks. He was picked up by his current owner in that race for the tag and went on to win a stakes race in his second start for his new connections. He won the Deputy Cap Stakes in Ireland, a 6 furlong overnite stakes and has picked up a pair of starter allowance wins since. He posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating over 6.5 furlongs in the 2nd of those starter allowance victories. He has picked up minor cheques in his last 2 starts, both overnite stakes races. He will be making his Graded stakes debut in today’s World Cup race. He joins the ranks of many in this race who are closers and he should be charging hard from the back of the field late in this race today. The rider for today’s race will be Ball (26.3%) who crosses the pond from China to race in the World Cup races here today.
10)K’S STATE OF MIND—NORTH AND SOUTH AMERICAN TEAM—5/1—vertigo2 sends this 5 year old horse out of STORM CAT with a record of 30-13-4-4 and lifetime earnings of $658,176. This horse’s sire has a 90.4% winners rate with a 19.4% stakes winners rate and a 5.2% Graded stakes winners rate. This 14th divisional ranked horse races for Ledwith’s Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing Corporation that is a member of the Hispano Parlante residency. The trainer has a 23.1% winners rate and a 54.9% in the money rate with his 30 stables. This horse won his second lifetime start and picked won 2/3 starts as a 2 year old. He picked up 3 more allowance win in his 3 year old season. He picked up 4 wins in his 4 year old campaign, 2 allowance races and 2 overnite stake sprints, of which both came on off tracks at the 7 furlong distance. He had a big 4 race stakes winning streak this year hilited by his win in The Grade II Pinto Handicap in California where he posted his lifetime best 114 speed rating over the 7 furlong dirt sprint. He bounced in his last start failing to fire in a Grade II long sprint in North Carolina as the 5/1 favorite. He will take the co-favorite roll in today’s race as he tries to rebound off that effort and get back on the winning track today. This horse has plenty of early speed and can cut the early fractions as well as press the pace and with most of the main challengers being closers today should be the one to catch in the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Craig (25.6%) who has flown in from the UK for today’s World Cup races.
11)SESTRIERE(KY)—EUROPEAN TEAM—13/1—sansebas sends this 3 year old colt out of AWESOME AGAIN with a record of 14-6-2-2 and lifetime earnings of $480,555. This colt’s sire has a 80.9% winners rate with a 14.5% stakes winners rate and a 2.1% Graded stakes winners rate. This 3rd divisional ranked colt races for the Rafa stables who is a member of Minnesota Downs residency, as well as The Northwest Racing Circuit residency, and the Hispano Parlante residency. The trainer has a 14% winners rate and a 40.7% in the money rate with his 31 stables and he was the trainer of this years Bluegrass Derby with his colt Autaun(KY). This colt broke his maiden in his 2nd lifetime start and added another allowance win in his 2 year old season. He has picked up 4 stakes wins so far this year and shocked everyone last time out by winning The Grade I Kingab Sprint Cup, a part of the Sim History Day Festival of racing, at 24/1 in the 5 furlong race. He posted his lifetime best 106 speed rating in that race. He is a speedy colt that should ensure an honest pace here today but this one does tend to be tiring late in the stretch and while he has won at the 7 furlong distance before may be better suited to the shorter sprints like he has ran and won in his last 2 starts. He handled the older horses well in his first start in the 3YO+ classification. The rider for today’s race will be Bangs (23.1%) who comes up from the land down under to ride in today’s World Cup races.
12)POWER IS RISING(KY)—AUSTRALIAN/FAR EAST TEAM—11/1—austar sends this 3 year old colt out of ROYAL ACADEMY with a record of 18-6-4-1 and lifetime earnings of $378,600. He is out of the he mare SARUMAN AGAIN who was 2/39 at the track. This colt’s sire has a 69% winners rate with a 6% stakes winners rate and a 1.8% Graded stakes winners rate. This 2nd divisional ranked colt races for Vettori’s unafilliated Son Carby Lodge stables. The trainer has a 9.9% winners rate and a 30.2% in the money rate with his 7 stables. This colt broke his maiden in his 2nd lifetime start after debuting on an off track in his first race and he added another allowance victory in his 2 year old season. After experimenting on the turf earlier this year he has gone on to win 4 stakes races on the dirt so far this year. In his last he won the 7 furlong Grade I Prince’s Knight Stakes in Texas where he posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating. This will be the first time in this colt’s career that he will be racing against older foes. This colt is a closer who sits well back early and will have to adjust from the outside post to ensure a good trip in order to have a shot at displaying his late kick in the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Labreche (26.9%) who comes over from Italy to ride in today’s Word Cup races.
A great field in the long sprint today and while many are most capable of getting the win I am going to lean to #10 K’S STATE OF MIND to rebound today and settle in to a comfortable pace and hold of the late charges of the many closers here today.
Good luck to all the participants in today’s World Cup Races.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO