Longchamp Sprint(G2) set for Nine Under, Flushing Waters, Drunken Lullabies, more
Longchamp– Last call for Week 3385’s Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint! Several “on the BB bubble” horses go in today’s Grade 2 $275,000 Longchamp Sprint. It’s gonna be a mad scramble over five grassy furlongs for those Grade 2 stakes points. We got old faces, new faces, and some wily longshots in our most favorite Sim division. Let’s load ’em up and hold onto our hats!
Once A Deputy (Soon To Be Sheriff!)
Boy, this reporter sure looked like a horse’s patoot, not thinking too highly of Jenna’s Deputy(JPN) (12/1) in the World Cup Turf Sprint(G1) a couple weeks ago. Dowelly’s itty-bitty French Deputy sophomore didn’t look like a heap of dough on paper. Sure, he had a nice 4th place finish in the premier sophomore After Shave Sprint(G2) in the late springtime and prepped for the WC with a nice ALW sprint score. However, the colt hadn’t broken through the 100 SP# barrier yet and, worse, had to face some strong speed in the WC versus the likes of divisional leader Digging The Grave.
But what goes around, comes around I guess — Jenna’s Deputy plain lived up to his improving talent, outdueling the WC speed for a 106 SP# photo finish score. The colt was a huge $25+ longshot for the FENZA Team, but got the job done in quite a surprising performance.
Gotta adore Jenna’s Deputy’s last race — it was on two weeks rest and he wheels back on the short two here. I guess Dowelly wants to get the Deputy for sure into the BB (he’s right on the bubble for the 14th spot). It would be quite an assignment if he could pull off this race (or at least a board finish!) and then tackle the BB three weeks from now. But, hey, this colt’s all about shocking the field. On or near the lead and shoot ’em up!
Gushing Over Versatile Flushing
Talk about red-hot and smokin’! Former graded-placed router Flushing Waters(IRE) (4/1) sure has come into his own around our nasty one turn. Gotta hand it to trainer Pm — I wonder if Pm thought that ALW sprint three starts ago was just a training experiment or indeed a fully intended return to the sprint ranks. Because, wow, this 4yo High Chaparral colt has gone from ALW score to Grade 2-placing to Grade 1-missed-it-by-a-whisker heartbreaker in the turf sprint division.
What a shooting star! Stalker Flushing Waters absolutely adored the World Cup Long Turf Sprint(G1) and just missed the head-bob for the winners circle to Legendary Lemon in that race two weeks ago. Oh, did I tell ya the speed figure was 113? Totally ker-POW! At 5-for-18 starts, this colt reeks of talent and has plenty of starts left to hit the stratosphere.
Just how good is Flushing Waters? It’s gonna be shocking if this Grade 1-placed 10fer wins over 5f here. One to most definitely watch.
Nine New Tricks For This Old Fella
He’s no stranger to our favorite division! Megaman42 parades the old man Nine Under (4/1) to the post for another shot at graded glory. We all know Nine Under on the graded turf sprint circuit — he was a late-bloomer last summer who specialized in these Grade 2 and 3’s. He finished 4th in last year’s Longchamp Sprint. However, Nine Under didn’t do to well in the BB though and the graded ranks this year haven’t been too good to him either. He played also-ran early on this season before picking back up his speed figs over the summer.
In August, Megaman decided to race Nine Under down in Florida and the 5yo son of Pulpit positively soaked up the heat. The midpacker ripped off two straight listed scores over 6.5f with 106 and 113 speed figures respectively. Mmhmm, Nine Under still has a lot of tricky-tricks up his sleeve and thensome. Could he indeed be back in graded-style form? It would be awesome if he wins for Megaman! Go Mighty Nine!
And The Saints Go Marching
On the rail, we got the Firey Hooves(G2) winner A Saints Day (9/2). This guy also wheels back from the World Cup Turf Sprint(G1) where he ran a bit off, finishing 7th. The impressive 4yo son of AP Indy apparently failed to grab a solo lead and just didn’t get a hold of the Texas track. This season, A Saints Day has won several listed stakes in fast time and of course really turned some heads with a gorgeous 107 SP# in the Firey Hooves(G2).
If you’re a big speed stats fan, you gotta love this colt in this spot. He’s very consistent numbers-wise and of course proven over the ultra-short distance. The only thing I’d be worried about is the fact that’s he’s wheeling back on two weeks rest. He’s had real cushy breathers between his races this year. So, A Saints Day has to tough this one out for trainer Irt. Won’t get the lead on his own this time around either, so we’ll see in he can rebound from World Cup day.
A Jingo, A Jango, A Pocketful O’ Lullabies To Tango
I tell ya, ya gotta watch out for Drunken Lullabies(IRE) (9/2). Sure, trainer Blinkers hasn’t gotten a win out of this guy this year, but, gosh, do not discount him. Turf sprint circuit fans know Drunken Lullabies of course from his Because I Said So(G1) victory late last year. Drunken Lullabies was one of the heavy faves in the ’06 BB Turf Sprint, but just plain missed the break in all appearances, finishing dead last in the field if I recall correctly. We were all puzzled seeing him entered back so soon in the Because I Said So(G1), but by the time that race was all over, kazoom! ‘Lullabies returned to his ol’ super self, winning by a 1/4 length in herculean style.
Blinkers then gave Drunken Lullabies a breather till Janaury of this season. All eyes were upon the 5yo son of Daylami(IRE) — fans expected big things from this rising star. But, it just wasn’t meant to be I guess — Drunken Lullabies really coughed it up in the first half of ’07, with his best finish a 4th in the Generals Pals(G1), but that was about it. Blinkers then brought ‘Lullabies back to the lesser grades and the horse ran pretty good before missing a 111 SP# sizzler in the 6f Cane Toad(G2).
Drunken Lullabies is a lot like Nine Under here. Is he indeed back with his A-game? Both have similar running styles and threw huge numbers LTO — could they finish one-two? We’ll see if ‘Lullabies’ ready to tango!
Write On! Fight The Paper Power!
Here we go googling just what in the heck Paper Jesus’ (6/1) name means! At first glance, it sure sounds 1960’s-like, with images of flower power, rolling papers, and that rather risque Superstar musical. Just what in the heck is a nice girl like Kbsweet naming horses after our favorite method of rolling some alfalfa-n-timothy weed? Never fear, Sim gamers, no hemp struggle here. It turns out that Paper Jesus is a song title of course. Some kind of anti-establishment post-grunge dittie that I have really no idea how to interpret, except to say, “Yeah! Right on, baby! Fight the Power!”
And back to Paper Jesus the Sim star of course — I really love him in this race. The sophomore son of Quinton’s Gold finished 3rd to Jenna’s Deputy’s 4th in the After Shave Sprint(G2) over the springtime. The colt had previously won the Alec And Stephen(G3) turf sprint to kick off his 3yo campaign.
Paper Jesus went winless over the summer but it was not for lack of effort. The colt lost a positive heartbreaker in July’s Never Ready Sprint(G1). He rallied from a good spell off the apce to lose by a nose with a 105 SP#. Lots of heart and haracter displayed by Paper Jesus in that race. The colt continued to move forward after a breather, finishing 3rd to none other than Nine Under and other older horses in a very fast Florida listed stakes. Paper Jesus ran a 109 SP# to Nine Under’s 113.
Bottom line, this colt’s better than Jenna’s Deputy on paper. I’m a little concerned that he might be due to throw a clinker. But, boy, Paper Jesus keeps on improving. We’ll see if he can rally in time for Keely over the 5f.
Breaking Those Unperfect Rules
Lgbost’s Pleasantly Perfect 4yo Perfect Presence (7/1) is quite a puzzle. The colt finally won his NW2x in his 26th career start earlier this year. The colt’s not like a misplaced marathoner either — he’s a career sprinter who I guess just needed that victory because wow! Lgbost boldly entered this colt in the King’s Fall(G2) following that score and finished 4th with a 101 sP#. Not too shabby indeed and he went on to finish 3rd twice in the Cane Toad(G2) and Firey Hooves(G2). The former was with a 106 SP#.
Hmm…. the midpacker has as good a shot as any Saturday. We’ll see what happens — might be a stretch to win all the marbles, but anything can go in these 5f races!
Know Thee Who Aims For The Skies
We got a familiar face here in karen’s Known Sky (9/1). The Sky Classic 4yo brokje out onto the turf sprint scene very early this season in one of those 4yo-only player-carded grades. The colt proceeeded to fare honestly in the graded ranks and finished 3rd in the Full Speed Ahead(G3) over 5.5f. The colt won a listed level prize over the summer and most recently finished a decent 6th in the World Cup Turf Sprint(G1), only a couple lengths behind Jenna’s Deputy.
Bottom line with Known Sky is that he’s a tough-luck colt. Tries his best near each time out — it could very well be just the ticket if he jumps out to the lead here and holds on over 5f. One of these grades is gonna break his way sooner or later. Tough race in his last, so he might be on an upswing in form. Let’s cross our fingers Saturday for Known Sky to ring in the prize.
Splitting Hairs Or Gambling Dares?
Trainer Andycap gives Carfullo’bluehairs (28/1) another shot at the highest level. The veteran 5yo son of Metfield picked up some nice cheques in the Otter Dash(G3) and King’s Fall(G2) over 4.5f and 5f respectively over the summer. He’s a bit up and down when squared off against class — however, he’s a closer and won’t fire all the time if there’s no speed up front.
Carfullobluehairs should get some pace up front this time around and also the cushy 6-hole helps. Hopefully he’s in shape after mystery saddle-slip LTO. Factor for a minor share.
What Happens In Vegas (Should Stay There)
Syn City(WA) (39/1) tries to pull off a Jenna’s Deputy here. The sophomore colt by You And I also raced in the After Shave Sprint(G2), but, unlike ‘Jenna, Syn City was pretty much nowheresville in that race. Trainer Xxxstable has since kept Syn City in the alowance ranks versus his age group where he won 2 of 4 contests. The frontrunner’s highest speed figure so far though is just 92.
Anything can and will happen in these ultra-short 5f races, so count out any horse at your own peril. But this race is a bit of reach for Syn City. At least Jenna’s Deputy had recent stakes victories versus his own age group. Should be in the pace hunt and hopefully hangs on for a piece of it at best.
Usurp The Longchamp Turf?
Bigtate03’s extreme longshot The Usurper(KY) (55/1) doesn’t have much of a chance. He’s a 2-for-19 lifetime sophomore by Distorted Humor. doens’t have recent turf sprint experience and best SP# so far is 91. Needs the faves to fall and the race of his life from off pace.
Snowchief’s Picks:
I love it! Awesome Grade 2 contest. We’ve got frontrunners & stalkers with Known Sky, A Saints Day, Drunken Lullabies, Jenna’s Deputy, Flushing Waters, and Syn City. Closers & midpackers with Perfect Presence, Paper Jesus, Carfullo’bluehairs, and The Usurper.
Again, anything can happen over 5f. We could get a surprise slow final time or an lightning-fast rocket blast. Drunken Lullabies and Nine Under are riding great form and they’re both fresh hroses too. Super talented A Saints Day needs to recover off his last — he joins impressive Flushing Waters and that eye-popper Jenna’s Deputy as the World Cup runners on two weeks rest. Kind of wonder how the wheelback will work out for them — can go either way easily.
Perfect Presence and Known Sky might grab a piece of the purse if those World Cup hotties fall. Longshots Carfullo’bluehairs, Syn City, and The Usurper will probably have trouble, but Syn City may surprse for a minor cheque.
Hate to jinx Keely (LOL!), but I’m putting my goods on sophomore Paper Jesus — a fresh horse on an upswing and should get pace up front too! Ha! I’ll also be rooting for old faves Nine Under and Drunken Lullabies. 🙂
Win: Paper Jesus
Place: Nine Under or Drunken Lullabies
Show: A Saints Day
Good luck!