Even field does battle for Grade II turf mile

Welcome to sunny California for the running of the Walnut BB mile on firm turf – a Grade II race worth a prize purse of $300,000.  The race has been run each year since 2000 and the record is held by the Storm Cat mare, Miss Ginger, who won in 2003 with an SP117.  Not sure if this field is up to running those sorts of speeds, but in what should be a hotly contested race with many of the contestants aiming for a forward position in running, a fast time would not be a surprise.  All runners stand a realistic chance of taking out this event, many of whom have not tasted success at this level in their careers to date.

PP1 BROCCOLI CARNAGE(IRE) FASLIYEV (IRE) x CONQUISTADOR CIELO x MINING) shawke 13/1
5yo horse who has been a little inconsistent of late, but back to his favourite surface and distance here.  Bred out of capable he-mare, Silver Mine, he struggled at the end of the race last time out when found the extra furlong and a half a little too far for him.  Before that he blew away a small field with an SP109 over this distance in the Super Band Stakes.  Prior to that he once again didn’t run the race right out over 8.5 furlongs, which is further indication that he should relish the mile here in California.  Starts the race as the outsider of the field, but on his best effort, would be capable of knocking this field over.  Is lightly raced, with just 11 starts so far in his career, and should be able to place mid pack in running from the inside gate.

PP2 DOODLEBUG CRYPTOCLEARANCE x CAERLEON x STAGE DOOR JOHNNY ajm 4/1
Since having over one year off at the end of 2005, this fellow has returned with a vengeance, only finishing out of the top two twice in 11 races.  He managed to hit an SP 111 for the third time in his career last time out, when well held in the stretch by the winner, RECOIL, but managing to finish well clear of the third place getter in the East For Trick Special.  Was given a try at the longer journey of 9.5 furlongs before that, and was found wanting late after leading from the gate to finish second.  Found the Grade I field a bit too slick three runs ago over this distance, but should find this slightly easier.  Is likely to push forward and is placed at graded level.  Looks a top chance.

PP3 DUBEYE DUBAI DESTINATION x DANEHILL x NUREYEV daedalus 8/1
Returns to the mile trip after seven starts in the sprinting division, but seems to have lost the spark that took him to victory in the Grade I Newmarket Rivalry as a 3yo, two years ago.  That was his last win in a race better than an Allowance class, although he has still been competitive without winning in stakes races recently, including a third place in a Grade II over 6 furlongs two starts ago.  Should be up in the first couple from the start of this and rarely runs a bad race, but this is tough and will need to be at his peak to figure in the prize getters.

PP4 SNEAKER FORESTRY x DANZIG x MISWAKI youlostha 7/1
The Robsscoobi stables have shown great patience with this up and comer, who jumps the ranks from Allowance straight to Graded level after having exploded at his last three starts.  Broke through with his first triple digit SP three starts ago in winning NW4L Allowance with a 106 – a rating he repeated at his next start defeat when he went down fighting against RECOIL, who then went on to win a stakes ahead of DOODLEBUG last time.  In an open Allowance last time out, this 4yo flew from the gates to lead from the outset, and was eased down to a comfortable win with an SP 108.  Had been competitive before that but seems to have found an extra gear.  A big jump in class will test him, but looks like he could be up to this and will take some running down.

PP5 IVOR’S BLUFF PINE BLUFF x SIR IVOR x TOM FOOL looney1 9/1
Was tested out over a mile and a quarter last time, the longest journey he’s faced in his career, but will be much better suited back to the mile here.  Previously, he took out the listed, Pearl Redhead Special, by the narrowest of margins, with a massive, SP107.  He went around the short priced favourite before that, when easily accounting for a restricted Allowance field, also over the mile.  In 35 starts, the trotter stables has not elevated him to Graded level until now, so he is unproven at the class, but a lot of this field is in a similar boat.  Has been raced sparingly this year with just five races so far, and has to be respected having not finished worse than 4th in 13 starts on turf.

PP6 BROAD STREET WAR EMBLEM x AFFIRMED x KINGMAMBO mmstable33 5/1    
His only try at Graded level ended in disaster, when he came back injured six starts ago, but returned to the track in style since, posting triple digit SPs in every race.  Was untroubled last time out, taking home the Matty’s Ride Stakes against a full field over 7.5 furlongs, and strolled home in the Edison In A Lord Special before that against a small field of 5.  His best results have been over slightly shorter distances, but having said that, he is still a multiple stakes place-getter over this distance, and his form suggests he is at the top of his game right now.  Will battle to hold a prominent position in the run with so many early speedsters, but he has a 20 7-5-4 record on turf, and looks well placed for a big run.

PP7 AWESOME SONG(KY) UNBRIDLED’S SONG x AWESOME AGAIN x STORM CAT goldcity 6/1      
Comes in here against the older horses for the first time, off a massive third in the Grade I Mospe Cup in Australia with an SP110.  He preceded that effort with a battling seventh in the Grade III Redalert Matchmaker Mile, after a series of top results, including a second in the 2007 Smackdown competition, a second place in the Grade I The St. James Tavern, and a win in the Grade III Roy Rogers Handicap.  Will be tested here against the older runners, but his times say he is right up to this, and seems to love the mile.  Has top jockey on board (F Gossett – 25%) and is another one who will be trying to place better than mid-field in the early running. 

PP8 ELUFLY’S GOLDIE ELUSIVE QUALITY x SEEKING THE GOLD x DANZIG shazfly 3/1
Despite not having won a race for over 6 months, this 4yo lines up favourite here today, coming off some consistent results in listed and graded stakes.  Last time out he went down to a winner who ran an SP119 on a yielding track, so his fourth place is no disgrace in a race that suited the leaders.  Before that, it took an SP115 to beat him in the King Wench (Braz) Memorial, when he made ground, but couldn’t reel in the leader, the pair finishing 17+ lengths ahead of the rest of the field.  Was third in a Grade II before that over the mile, and was pipped on the line after charging to the lead half way down the stretch four starts ago.  May find himself at the back of the field early on with so much speed in the race, but has a huge sprint home and will be eager to get back in the winner’s circle.

PP9 UNPREDICTABLY T WESTERN FAME x POINT GIVEN x STORM CAT xtchamps 7/1
Handy little galloper who has not been able to put it altogether on the big stage in Graded company so far in his career, his best result coming back in April when he was third in the Grade III Slowness Stakes.  He does manage to throw out the odd outstanding performance, most notably with three stakes wins in the last year, all with SPs of 107.  Can’t quite get that sort of a result consistently, and was even relegated to the show last time in a restricted Allowance.  Form suggests he could struggle, but can be very good on his day and if this is it then the others will have problems beating him.

Despite having not won for so long, I think the favourite, ELUFLY’S GOLDIE gets his chance to shine today, with so many who usually like to push forward of midfield, he should be able to sit behind them and finish over the top.  AWESOME SONG(KY) looks a real danger, as he is proven at this level and is on the up coming off a big Grade I last start.  BROAD STREET has been racing very consistently and looks ready to make the jump up to this class.