URC Sebring In Memoriam

The URC Sons of 2yo series this weekend also functions as an In Memoriam race for Sebring, the son of More Than Ready, who passed away earlier this year. Many in the SIM will be familiar with Sebring as the sire of Spiced Turtle, the all-time winningest horse in the game. On the race track, Sebring was an undefeated 5/5 in sprints his crowning achievement winning the G1 Golden Slipper. His only defeat was in a G1 mile race where he finished 2nd. His accolades were significant enough to earn him Champion 2yo in Australia. A success in the breeding shed, Sebring made an impact in the SIM as well producing 85.4% winners, 8.3% SW and 1.7% GW. 

More Than Ready is something of an outcross himself being free of Sadler’s Wells, A.P Indy, and Storm Cat blood and with Danehill being in Sebring’s 4th generation, Sebring offered URC breeders plenty of combinations to consider. Let’s see what everyone cooked up. 

My runner comes early and at long odds this race. Just an aside, I believe I get a filly almost every time in these races. I didn’t mind much here as I believe Freydis has strong broodmare potential. The oddsmaker tells Freydis to bug off with 12/1 odds. Freydis joins a prestigious bloodline her grandfather is G2 winner Ravenloft, her mom is G3 winner Night Whisperer. A Danehill Dancer x Theatrical backend, I have 3 fifth-generation lines of both Mr. Prospector and Northern Dancer and she is inbred 4×3 to Danehill.  Likely won’t find the winner’s circle but hoping for a promising future’s future that could leave a lasting legacy for Sebring. 

I wasn’t the only one thinking of Danehill Dancer as Danehill Spice is a scratch bred Medicean x Danehill Dancer. 4×4 to Danehill here and Medicean offers clever Halo inbreeding. Odds don’t like Danehill Dancer as much as we do however and have hung a heavy 18/1 hurdle here. 

Sebring is actually pretty cheap in the SIM so he is conducive to scratch-breeding. We have another attempt here with Irish Shenanigans Kris S x Irish River. Very old school pedigree here, I often looked to Kris S years ago. Bypassing Halo, this goes straight to deep Hail to Reason inbreeding. Apparently, Kris S carries some clout as the odds are a sinister looking 9/1 for this filly. 

I like the name Protect Rome was wondering if it came from a game but I see the mare is named Protect Nero. Summer Bird x Roman Ruler and now we see where all this SPQR influence comes from. That Roman Ruler influence is from G2 winner Praetorian Prefect who raced an astonishing 79 times. A deep longshot at 30/1 I believe Sebring elevates this bloodline and a Sebring x Summer Bird filly has some potential down the road. 

Amy Winehouse certainly wouldn’t agree with Sobering and odds concur with that assessment at 17/1. Why the dislike? Well, you know Amy’s view on rehab and it seems despite the classy Australian background of Sepoy x Redoute’s Choice the bettors aren’t impressed. First runner from allowance quality mare Choice Fore Kirby. I really would have thought these odds would be lower and I consider this one a great bet at this price. Unless you’re drinking this weekend at the track, in which case you may steer away. Unless you’re gunning for irony. 

Lord of Pain finally taps into that wide-open Storm Cat boulevard with a stout Giant’s Causeway x Oasis Dream backend. Distant 5×5 inbreeding to Danzig for this first runner from the mare My Giant Dreams who was retired early despite her graded placing and $300K in earnings. Viewed as a contender at 8/1 well worth your attention and one to watch in the post parade. 

Alright, Bring the Dragon is probably the best name in the field. Reminds of the line – Bring out the Kracken! Another first-time runner from an early retired mare Gray Dragon wasn’t great on the track winning only 3 of 22. She’s Graydar x Galileo (Mr. Prospector). It seems the oddsmakers feel Graydar pulled the pedigree down as they bring the Dragon a lukewarm 14/1 chance. 

District Five which I assume is a Hunger Games reference, is the 2nd favorite at 6/1. Can’t argue with the pedigree out of the extremely popular War Front x Smart Strike. Mom Triple Deke continues our running trend being a retired 4yo and this her first runner. Triple Deke only won one race (1/16) so this is all about pedigree. Odds seem a bit generous considering. I know many people (obviously) retire 4yos for breeding but if my memory serves me correctly I’ve only ever done it two or three times and that was many years ago (in a galaxy far, far away). 

So, it looks like some trainers were copying each other’s notes because Dania Happy Twin has the exact same pedigree as Irish Shenanigans. Was there collusion here? Surely two people can’t have both come up with Kris S. x Irish River can they? I mean War Front x Smart Strike? Maybe. Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector? Certainly. But Kris S x Irish River? Color me confused and if both are completely random, astonished. Yes, both are 9/1 if you were wondering. 

Bring Me a Beer is the co-favorite at 5/1. Kingmambo x Danehill is the main reason why. Mare Hairy McClary has extensive offspring and has produced 7 claimers our of 8 runners which would lead me to look elsewhere despite the blue blood pedigree chart. Nevertheless, if you bet your unraced 2yo based on pedigree this one is certainly worth looking at. 

Beach Balls is the second horse to be paired up with Storm Cat (no one went with Indy in the field). Both Storm Cat pairings were looked upon favorably, 7/1 here and 8/1 for Lord of Pain. I don’t love the name, but the foundation is strong with Kitten’s Joy x Storm Cat. Pedigree is nicely outcrossed upfront with 5×5 lines of Mr. P and ND in the back. Mare was the Fourth Horseman although wasn’t all that apocalyptic on the track winning twice from 21 chances. First runner for the 6yo who had care and chances to get good. 

Other co-favorite in the race is Imbil Neptunium. Frankel x Seattle Slew is the type of over the top pedigree you’ll find in a SIM horse although there isn’t one Frankel x Seattle Slew in existence or ever will be. Mare Outback Neptunium is something of a mixed bag getting decent but not great horses with a couple of claimers. Sheer pedigree power has a chance to overpower the field. First runner by Invincible Spirit was really good early before fading. Should be in the mix.

Our field is completed with Cozze Johnny a unique scratch bred pairing of Cozzene x Stage Door Johnny. That pairing on the mare’s side is a 4×4 to Prince John to add stamina to the 5×5 Sebring has to Mr. Prospector. These type of experiments either really work or end up really slow. Oddsmakers agree setting a reluctant 12/1 and waiting to see with the rest of us. 

As you know I don’t pick winners in these unraced events as we’ve time after time random madness ensues. That said, going forward if I could pick a horse who I’d watch in the future it would be Lord of Pain who has a cool name and a pedigree that should, in theory, work.