3 World Teams , 4 Team Members … There can be only 1 winner

          Hello race fans and welcome to beautiful Vermont for World Cup 2007 action . The World Cup begins it’s inaugural year hosted by America and is sure to be a supreme hit amongst trainers big and small . The stakes are high and most agree that the winners today will set a weathervane for the favorites in this years Breeders Bowl  . 

 

          Some of the Sim’s bigwigs have spared no expense to travel in preparation for today’s races . Last week the vans were rolling in and Millions of dollars worth of horseflesh made the turn of destiny , fate awaiting them and the precious cargo within . 

   

          The Juvenile Sprint Division has come to a boiling point and tension is high .  Accolades await the best of today’s contenders .  Affirmation of worthiness , all those 4 AM workouts and long days of preparation has come down to this very day .  Only 6 furlongs and 11 worthy contenders stand in the way of greatness for today’s winner . 

 

          The World Cup Juvenile Dirt Sprint G I is set to go off at 2:30 PM Eastern . The purse is a hefty $ 500,000 and 6 furlongs of fast dirt await our competitors .  Among the worthy runners is this year’s Hoserhead Juvenile – G I winner Pyralis , and this years Closest Friends Stakes G III winner Swift Sure .  Both of these colts have a similar running styles and should be fighting heartily when the field turns for home .

 

    The Fernando Empire has sent their top contender Fernando Hero (KY) 8 / 1  (  Dehere x Seeking the Gold x Danehill   ) to break from post 1 .  A member of team  Europe / Scandinavia  , this colt is ranked # 46 in the Dirt Sprint Division . A charge of stable FERNANDO , connections have arranged for  D. Givins to take up the riding assignment today .

 

               R    W    P    S    EARNINGS

Career     5    2     0     1     $ 92,340

Dirt          5    2     0     1     $ 92,340

 

          In 5 career starts , Fernando Hero has taken on class in 4 of them . His latest win by way of Germany’s The KAIBAB Memorial – STk  August 25 th where he mercilessly punished an 8 horse field going 5.5 furlongs in  1:04:00   88 Spf effort .  His penchant for front running has been his Achilles heel when in Graded company to date but I can’t see the leopard changing his spots for the World Cup . Look for him to challenge for the lead early and battle hard down to the wire .

 

    Snappa Racing Syndicate sends # 84 Ranked NINE CARAT GOLD(KY)  7 / 1  ( Rock Hard Ten x Seeking the Gold x Danehill ) to break from post 2 as a member of Austrailia / New Zealand / Far East . This youngster represents the SNAPPA7 stable and has talented veteran O Parker aboard .

 

          In 5 career starts , 4 have been in Stakes + company . His last victory came in May over North Korea’s main track in  The Tricky Trick Special – STk going 6.5 furlongs in 1:18:2/5  75 SPf .  Winless in his last 3 , his love for the front running has cost him dearly recently going longer distances and fading late . The turn back to 6 panels should be a revitalization for a budding career .  Look for him to battle early for the lead and gamely take on all challengers late in the stretch . 

 

  

   Chief Stable Enterprises sends SUNSETSONROME(KY) 10 / 1  ( Roman Ruler x Summer Squall x Broad Brush ) as a North / South America representative to break from post 3 . Ranked # 21 in the Dirt Sprint Division , this member of the SWEETNAN stable is ridden by B. Schardein for today’s festivities .

 

          Always in the mix , this colt is a tenacious competitor .  His classic stalking running style is exciting to behold , bringing crowds to their feet whenever he runs .  Well traveled for a juvenile , the jet set lifestyle is no stranger to him . His last win came by an Arizona listed Stakes victory August 4th in The Admiral Sea Cap – STk going 6 furlongs in 1:11:1/5  83 SPf .  With 2 wins in 3 Stakes attempts , Graded company was definitely the next career step .  Improving at every start , it will be very interesting to see how he handles Graded competitors in what is for sure the most important race of his budding career .

 

    Nickesyd Racing Club sends TALK OF FICTION(SWE) 17 / 1  (  Blue Talk (SWE) x Street Cry (IRE) x Silver Deputy )  across the pond to represent the Europe / Scandinavia team .  Breaking from post 4 , this charge of stable LOUISE  will be ridden by phenomenal youngster O A Haack .

 

          A non winner in Stakes company , he is ranked # 70 in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division and is looking to make his mark in a big way .  It’s difficult to tell what he has to offer as he has primarily been running on off tracks and narrowly missing wins .  His last start on fast dirt was in Irelands Young Dirter Festival – STk going 6 furlongs in 1:11:1/5  79 SPf  taking the Show and losing by 1 length . No lack of early speed will put this colt in his sweet spot and only time will tell if he has the heart to finish like a champion .

 

    Keely’s Stables will be sending odds on favorite and G I winner PYRALIS(KY)  5 / 1  (  Bandini x Forest Wildcat x Wild Again ) to break from post 5 representing team North / South America . Ridden by future Hall of Fame jockey A Su , he is ranked #  1 in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division and comes ready to defend his lofty status .

 

          The third foal of Grade I winning mare Hollywood Catfight , he looks to be living up to his Dams legacy in a big way coming into today’s divisional showdown on a 2 race win streak . His race July 28 th was a milestone for this youngster winning the Hosehead Juvenile – G I  in British Columbia going 7 furlongs 1:23:1/5  91 SPf .  His latest victory was in Oklahoma’s  The Amiflying Memorial – STk going 7.5 furlongs in 1:30:3/5  89 SPf .  Today connections turn back the distance and put his status on the line to take on the Divisions best in G I competition where he shines . Trainer KBSWEET has high hopes for this colt and rumor has it she has been flying in his favorite oats to keep some normalcy in his training regimen .

 

    Volcano Lodge proudly sends it’s favorite son ATTENTION(KY)  11 / 1 (  Albert the Great x Saint Ballado x Danzig ) to represent trainer  VEEMAN4 and team Australia / New Zealand / Far East .  Connections have brought in H Desitter today in hopes that he will make that extra difference . 

 

 

    The SAF connection sends post 7 contender and longshot  GONEFLY’S KEEPER(SAF) 23 / 1  (  Gold Keeper x Officer x Gone West )  via trainer  MISERY stable .  The $ 23 million dollar man V Jennings has been hired for jockey duties today aboard this unranked Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division colt who is representing team Europe / Scandinavia .

 

          With one win under his belt , this colt ventured into the Stakes arena undaunted and had been improving with each start .  This is a huge jump up in class for a youngster that hasn’t won his first Stakes race and has been given the task of taking on the divisions best .  It’s my belief that he will like a longer race and today is just a warm up for things to come . I like to stay positive when writing up Juveniles so I’ll leave you with best wishes to this trainer in the upcoming event .

 

     Tees Stables is sending Europe / Scandinavian representative FULL FORCE(KY)  6 / 1  ( Smarty Jones x Storm Cat x Seattle Slew  ) into the mix via stable ZBORO  to challenge for juvenile supremacy .  This colt is unranked in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division and is ridden today by crafty veteran jockey  S. Tate .

 

          This first foal of Stakes winning mare The Cat in the Hat is coming off his first victory in just 2 starts . Improving at every start , connections throw all caution to the wind and boldly take on the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Divisions  best .  He broke his maiden in an Eastern Kentucky MSW August 4th going 6.5 furlongs in 1:17:4/5    81 SPf  and is looking to make a winning streak happen in the inaugural World Cup event .

 

 

    Winterfell Racing sends post 9 starter CYAN BLOODBANE(KY)  9 / 1  (  A.P. Warrior x Storm Cat x Woodman ) to Vermont in anticipation of yet another victory . Stable  WAREMBLEM4 has arranged for the great F Duffy to ride in this colt’s most important race to date and is eager for the race to get underway .

 

 

          The latest representative of multiple Stakes winning producing mare  ARAGON STORM , this colt has been improving off each start and is looking good in training .  Win or place , all 4 starts for this colt have been an exciting event .  Ranked # 32 in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division , he is a real threat to reigning runners and has the capacity to make a big splash today .  His penchant for front running has served him well in the past and will be among the speedsters vying for the lead going into turn one . His last race was a close place in California’s Closest Friend’s Stakes – G III  going 6.5 furlongs in 1:17:1/5  85  SPf and losing by  1  3/4 .

 

 

    Bigkev and Bjbandit Farms proudly send their # 15 ranked Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division colt SWIFTSURE(KY)  6 / 1  ( Dehere x Forty Niner x Danzig ) to represent team Australia / New Zealand / Far East via stable SANCHEZ . Connections have contracted the services of the superb journeyman P Harzheim for this event and are feeling confident about their chances today . This colt is the second foal of multiple Graded winner   VANGUARD and is certainly living up to his genetic potential going undefeated in his last 3 starts .

 

          Greatness is defined by our actions and this colt is on a tear of late . He won 2 starts back on this very same track going 6 furlongs in 1:11:00  84 SPf in  The Admiral Tejano Special – STk  July 7 th  .  His last race was August 18 th over a fast California track in the Closest Friend Stakes – G III going 6.5 furlongs in 1:15:1/5  88 SPf winning convincingly .  This is the type of winning attitude you want to see in a colt vying for Division dominance , it’s textbook handling of a rising star .  Look for him to break strong from post 10 and stalk all the early speed making his patented strong move at the top of the lane to create a lot of noise at the wire .

 

   Team CK sends it’s favorite son CK NUTRITIONIST(KY)  8 / 1  (  Bellamy Road x Wild Again x Turn To )  into post 11 proudly representing team North and South America in today’s World Cup Event .  The Legendary D Evans has agreed to take up the irons in this colts behalf and is causing quite the stir in the betting lines .  Ranked # 40 in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division , he is greatly underestimated by the oddsmakers and should be throwing plenty of egg about to cover faces today running in the colors of stable  CKSTABLE .

 

          A bit of hit-n-miss this season best describes this colts career . Early on he was running like his tail was on fire and burning up too much energy early . A switch to stalking saw a turn around in this colts game including his last win in Alabama July 14 th The Exalted from Shag Bonanza – STk going 6.5 furlongs in 1:17:1/5  87  SPf .  The mile distance ended up too far for this youngster in Kentucky’s Pea Patch Juvenile – G III  August 11 th where he ran strong early but faded down the backside .  Rewinding to 6 furlongs seems a great move for this classy colt and hopefully he will stick with his stalking ways for today’s race .

 

 

 

    On the far outside from the Magoo Lodge via   ZZZ2912 stable is MEGS THE CAT(KY)  7 / 1  ( Hennessy x Ferdinand x Seattle Slew ) representing team Australia / New Zealand / Far East with the ever reliable veteran jockey M Scott aboard . 

 

          The latest addition of Stakes winning / Grade winning producing mare   RETURN SEATTLE , he is yet another front runner that will be vying for the lead when the bell rings .  A winner first asking , this classy colt has a smooth break and breathtaking movement . Ranked # 29 in the Juvenile Dirt Sprint Division ; his love for the lead has been his downfall going past 7 panels but today is definitely in his wheelhouse and might just end up a homerun hit for Magoo Lodge .  His last win came 3 back in Hong Kongs May addition of the DUR Showcase Stakes Restricted – STk going 6 furlongs in 1:11:2/5  80 SPf . A narrow loss in Irelands Irish Futurity – G II set up for his fading finish in British Columbia’s 2007 edition of  the Hoserhead Juvenile – G I  July 28 th . Plenty of rest and training has lead to today’s race and revenge is on his mind as he faces his nemesis PYRALIS(KY) once again in G I company .