Heroes light up three-quarters in powerhouse World Cup Turf Sprint
Texas– Gotta love it! Turf sprint fans, you’re in for a real treat on Sim World Cup day. Our favorite division hits the primetime in a gorgeous double-feature — we’ve got *TWO* seriously wicked sprint Grade 1s over 6f and 7f for our heroic green guzzlers. Both are absolutely fantastic fields and we lead off here of course with the three-quarters group in the Grade 1 $500,000 World Cup Turf Sprint.
In this battle, we got multi-champion and fan favorite General’s Chariot, fresh off of a well-deserved victory in the Battle Of Saratoga(G2). And don’t forget Golden Jamboree(G1) legend Digging The Grave, the old man who just won’t quit. We got newcomer A Saints Day, one explosively quick titan who positively whipped the Firey Hooves Sprint(G2).
And whoa nellie! Don’t miss that fiendishly fast handsome hunk Night’s Desire and furiously feisty troubadour Omerta Code. How ’bout that fascinating sophomore with a memorable name Credit Addiction? He’s really rounded into his own of late. We’ve got familiar graded faces like Known Sky and Givelovetheboot and fresh upstarts like Tete Drakon and Muadib. Longshots Jenna’s Deputy and World War III should make a show of it. Wow!
Bottom line, this group would make up a very swift graded contest any Sim Saturday, but, of course, this week ain’t just any Sim day at the races. It’s World Cup day and these horses represent their trainers’ respective teams. There are points to be won, so without further ado, let’s meet the teams:
TEAM NASA
- General’s Chariot (4/1)
- Night’s Desire (5/1)
- Digging The Grave (7/1)
- Omerta Code (8/1)
The North & South America Team got the goods at least on paper in this race. The Team brings a mighty quartet of our well-known sprint division stars. General’s Chariot of course trumpets the way as our slight racetime fave. He’s age 5 now and looks fondly back at his Sim Eclipse championships at age 2 and 3. But, ya know, the General ain’t no slouch in his elder years — he won the Battle Of Saratoga(G2) last month over longtime rival Digging The Grave with a handy dandy 108 SP#. That ain’t chicken feed, folks! Sure, the Gone West son didn’t start out the year anywhere in the ball park, but, boy, give him an easypeasy listed score and he’s back to his ole nasty self. Hey, Northern Pirate plain robbed the General of a glorious Smackdown win!
Well, at least my old man (yeah, I’m the proprietor of proudtruth stable!) came roaring back after that heartbreaking loss to win the Saratoga. The midpacker figures to get some likety-split speed up front — hopefully he still has the goods to run the banshees down. C’mon, General! Make the World Cup a Grade 1 win for 4 years in a row!
But, ya know, if the General can’t win the day Saturday, then I’d want Kbsweet’s Night’s Desire to capture the prize. Keely’s handsome hunk has yet to triumph in a Grade 1 event and I’d gladly trade General’s record to see Night’s Desire in the winner’s circle. He’s a streetcar of a hunk by Night Shift and he counts the years oh so casually. At age 6, Night’s Desire can still just explode on the racetrack. Remember him running the Mr Anderson(G3) earlier this season? My oh my, what a shot and what a rally to score a 108 SP# half-length trophy. Mmhmm. Bring on the ‘Night. He picked up his feet and ran a huge number in Mr Devious ethereal Rising Sun Spring Cup(G1) back in June — 6th place was none too shabby with a brite 107 in your back pocket.
I just plain adored how he just missed Digging The Grave — granted, I wanted to see ‘Desire win, but you gotta give props to such heart down the lane. Those were two great horses seperated by a half-length at the wire. And if you’re kind of worried about Night’s Desire’s subpar effort in the Sharon & Roys Gold Cup(G1) last month, don’t give it a second thought. Keely gave ‘Night a nice breather prior to the race. This horse doesn’t run swiftly after layoffs. I like him a lot here. Hopefully, he won’t sit too close to an expected hot pace.
Two great studs for Team NASA and we actually arrive now at the #1-ranked horse in the division, Digging The Grave! Whoa, did SDMF get caught working some voodoo on the oddsmakers or something, because, boy, DTG goes off as a bit of a longshot. We all know the 6yo Silver Ghost horse from our divisional stories. Even though he didn’t bag the Sim Eclipse, he was my pick last year as the best turf sprinter of ’06. And like his dreaded rival General’s Chariot, Digging The Grave also began this year in nowheresville, finishing up the track until June came around in the Rising Sun Spring Cup(G1). Famous for his wildly wicked pacesetting style, the ‘Grave got loose on the lead in that race and almost nailed it. Mr Devious got the victory, but DTG recorded a turnaround 112 SP#. What a season saver!
To prove that race was no fluke and that this old dog DTG still had a few tricks to run by, the horse won the Golden Jamboree(G1) in his next start. That was quite a pacestting feet over a flying Night’s Desire — Digging The Grave of course won the same race in 2006. Quite a fantastic victory. The horse however proceeded to lose a 6yo-only laugher and faded to 7th in the Battle Of Saratoga(G2) after having dueled on the early lead. DTG makes his 40th benchmark call to the post Saturday — is he over the hill or will he recover his old spirit on the big raceday? Always respect this horse!
Finally, the Supers finish out the Team NASA ticket with Omerta Code, winner of last year’s Japan Sprint(G1). At the Grade 1 level this year, Omerta Code’s been mixed. He finished a splendid 3rd by 3/4-length in DTG/Night’s Desire’s Golden Jamboree(G1), but was somewhere next to Jupiter in the Generals Pals Sprint Show II(G1) and KY Horsemen Elixir Sprint(G1). The Super subsequently slid Omerta Code down to the Grad 3 level and the 4yo colt by Sadler’s Wells won both the Full Speed Ahead(G3) and Otter Dash(G3) over 5.5f and 4.5f respectively. You’d think he’d have fared better in the Firey Hooves(G2) over 5f LTO but was well beaten by A Saints Day.
Bottom line, Omerta Code suffers from inconsistency and a kind of promise unfulfilled. Personally, I loked forward to this horse’s 4yo season and have been shocked at the way he hasn’t moved forward to claim his rightful place near the top of the division according to his talent. He’s a bit of a puzzle then, but 6f is defintely his cup of tea. As a midpacker, he’s gonna have to outrun General’s Chariot if the two get some fading speedsters up front. Will the real Omerta Code please step up? If so, watch out.
TEAM EURO
- A Saints Day (6/1)
- Tete Drakon(GB) (7/1)
- Givelovetheboot (9/1)
- Known Sky (14/1)
Team Europe/Scandinavia has an A-list stud and a few middle-type shots who might make a splash. Their heavy hitter is trainer Irt’s AP Indy 4yo named A Saints Day. I gotta say this colt’s quite a rising star in the division. He’s got a fresh 10-for-19 lifetime record. He’s got oodles of consistency with tons of listed level wins to boot. And A Saints Day is just loaded with mucho macho speed. The colt rides a two-race win streak with 104 and 107 SP#s respectively. The latter came over Omerta Code in the Firey Hooves(G2) over 5f. A Saints Day was never threatened in that race. Quite a fine victory.
But Saturday will be A Saints Day’s big test versus the big boys. Will he fold under fellow pacestting pressure? He’s got Digging The Grave here, Night’s Desire will be close up, and possibly a 3yo or two will go after a Saints Day early as well. What kind of grit is this colt made of? We shall see. He can handle this field if on target.
Team captain Sabbath enters Tete Drakon(GB), a 4yo son of Diesis(GB). Sabbath knows the Sim like the back of his hand. He switched Tete Drakon over from the dirt three starts ago and the colt responded with an ALW score and a couple of stakes placings. You gotta note the consistent 100+ SP#s with Tete Drakon. The downtown closer isn’t going to win every given Saturday, but he can snare his share. I think this colt’s a live sleeper in this spot. Imagine a speed duel up front gone wild and the old midpackers kind of stunned. Tete Drakon could pick up the pieces from far back. It would be a stunner, but possible for this wildcard.
We saw Dragnil’s Givelovetheboot in turf sprint graded action earlier this season. The veteran 5yo by Storm Boot didn’t make any waves though and re-entered the listed stakes ranks. He posted some honest and even surpreme there for a spell. Recently though, the stalker’s been a bit average and was pretty much outclassed in the Capital Spring Sprint(G3). If he brings his A-game to the table, then he might be able to snare a minor share. Honest little modest bred who’s won his value many times over through 42 starts.
Known Sky is another familiar face. The Sky Classic 4yo colt from karen stables surprised the Look To The Heavens(G1) very early in ’07. It was a player-sponsored 4yo-only turf sprint and Known Sky proved to be now slouch, finishing 5th with the same 102 SP# in April’s KY Horsemen Elixir Sprint(G1). Quite a little trooper of a colt — he hasn’t done a heckuva lot in six starts since then though. He did win a listed stakes and finished 3rd in one of Omerta Code’s Grade 3s. But that’s about it. I feel Known Sky will have antoher bad day if he gets himself into a duel with A Saints Day and Digging The Grave. Perhaps his best chance is to hope for a slow pace and hang on for some minor money. Good little horse, I like him. =)
TEAM FENZA
- Muadib (11/1)
- Credit Addiction(IRE) (12/1)
- Jenna’s Deputy(JPN) (26/1)
- World War III (26/1)
The Aussie/Kiwi/Far Easters have an eye-catching 3yo colt and a trio of modest longshots. And Deyoto’s Credit Addiction(IRE) is that sophomore star in the making. The High Chaparral son just adores one-turn and reeled off three straight stakes victories over the summertime versus his age group. The final victory in that string came with a 101 SP#. That time signaled a start in the Smackdown III(G1) turf sprint race for fellow sophomores and Credit Addiction ran a decent 3rd.
But just stop the presses right there, because Credit Addiction sure came into his own in his very next outing. The colt hit the tires and lit the fires in a full field listed contest at NoCal. The midpacker sailed to a dominant victory with a gorgeous 109 SP#. Wow! Could he be the next I Make Stuff Up? Will Saturday be Credit Addiction’s coming-out party? Ya gotta love those 3yos with the flashy numbers entering the Grade 1 older horses. Deyoto has a very live longshot at a fabulous price. Mmhmm.
Eddieboo is next up on the FENZA Team with an older horse longshot named Muadib. This guy’s a 5yo by War Chant and ranked #141 in the division. Muadib won at the listed level earlier in the year and snagged a 5th place cheque in the Simon & Simon Cap(G3). He’s been up and down since with a couple of stakes placings. Kind of a mixed bag of a runner who can vie for off the pace or sit up close to it if necessary. I don’t think he has much of any chance here at the board, but ya never know for some minor money.
Dowelly continues the Down Under lineup with Jenna’s Deputy(JPN), a French Deptuy sophomore colt. This little guy finished 4th in one of the two premier 3yo turf sprints: the After Shave Sprint(G2) back in May. Jenna’s Deputy hasn’t won a stakes race in a spell, but did pocket a nice ALW LTO. He also finished 6th in that Smackdown(G1) race after setting the early lead. He’s a speedball out of the gate and could match stride for stride with Digging The Grave and A Saints Day. Will he improve on those upper 90 speed figures in this spot? I don’t think he’s ready just yet, but should make a show of it.
World War III from Vettori’s stables rounds out the FENZA contingent. He’s a 4yo colt by Spinning World and brings a 6-for-32 lifetime record to the table. At best, this guy might battle for the early lead for a spell. He’s got some sprinter black type in his background. Not the greatest speed figures though and he doesn’t much of a hope for anything in this spot. Still, World War III proudly carries the colors of the FENZA team. =)
Snowchief’s Picks:
FENZA’s Credit Addiction and Team EURO’s A Saints Day are the ones to watch in this race. Tete Drakon will need his lifetime best, but is an interesting outsider. Bottom line though, the Team NASA has the goods on this race. On the down side though, those NASA horses are oldtimers so to speak. Could young blood like midpacker Credit Addiction outrally pacesetter A Saints Day and totally spoil the Team Americas hopes?
Highly possible. But I think General’s Chariot, Night’s Desire, and Omerta Code should mix it up on the board. Box them and toss in Credit Addiction for a spoiler. I think the pacesetters will get cooked.
Hate to jinx anyone by picking a winner — well, I’ll jinx the Supers, it’s their turn to receive the dreaded Snowchief BTB jinx! LOL! =)
Win: Omerta Code
Place: General’s Chariot
Show: Night’s Desire
Longshot: Credit Addiction
Celebrate the Sim’s internationality! Good luck to all on World Cup Day!