Big Race Preview BB Turf Races

Four turf races are on the Breeders Bowl card. These races have really shaped some of the all time greats in the Sim. Epic battles have taken place with runners like Allied Assault, Sunnybank Memorial, Horseshoe Bay, Rain God, two time Turf Distaff winner Turning Japanese, and the thrilling runs of the mare Storm Dog winning back to back years in the Mile against the boys. Legends of the Turf are made here so lets stop reminiscing and get to this year’s races.

Race: 3385.0914 Breeders Bowl Turf – Grade I – $2,000,000
Track: New Jersey
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf

Horseshoe Bay leads a pretty salty group of mile and a half turf runners. Horseshoe Bay is the morning line favorite and why not he has won this race for the last two years. The race has an interesting mix. There are several old timers that really do not look to offer much of a challenge mixed with some really good runners and a few three year olds that could hold some promise. There looks to be at least three speed horses maybe four and that could compromise each of those front runners.

Horseshoe Bay has made a Breeder’s Bowl appearance in four straight years now. The old veteran really has not slowed down so much as he is not racing as often. He has two grade one wins this year including a win at the Sand Castle Golden Turf. His race two back was his real prep for this event where he won the grade two Shimko Classic with a 115 speed figure. Throw out his last race it was really more of an exercise run or work out if you will. He was there simple because his trainer did not want to bring him into the race off a long layoff. The pace looks to be very quick so the old timer will be tough to hold off in the stretch.

Lex Luthor is the second choice on the morning line and he does appear to be one of the more serious threats to Horseshoe Bay. Lex is a front runner and when Horseshoe does not win it is usually to a good front runner. He has won six of his last seven races this year. He is a very strong front runner coming off a very impressive win in the Ark De Triumph. He has earned nice speed figures while winning comfortably during this recent run. He will probably have a bit of pressure on the lead but if not he is a threat to take them wire to wire.

Rural Law looks like a pretty good three year old. He is a three time grade one winner so far this year. He took the Adelaide Derby back in the spring, would run second in the Derby de English before growing up over the summer to win the Owners Stakes and the World Cup race at this distance. His most recent loss came to Horseshoe Bay where he was smoked. He may have matured a bit more since then and had a very nice race last time out. He could be in the mix in the stretch.

Max California is another three year old to look at. Only his most recent start would lead you to believe he is a contender in this race. He won the grade one Coalminer Cup last time out against older rivals by a nose earning a 113 speed figure. It was his second race against older rivals and his second win against them. He really has moved forward late in the year here. His running style puts him mid pack but most likely more than ten lengths off the early pace. As long as he is the type of horse he showed last time out he could be one that contends in the stretch.

Galactic Bomber is yet another three year old in this race. He like his fellow three year olds in this race has only recently really stepped up and shown he might have this level of ability. Last time out he won the grade one Man of War earning a nice 111 speed figure. He did not have a prep race so comes into this even off a longer layoff than many here. He too will likely be mid pack to the back of the pack early and closing into a pace that looks strong.

 
Race: 3385.0912 Breeders Bowl Turf Distaff – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New Jersey
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and three eighths on the Turf

We have co favorites in the Turf Distaff both veterans with thirty plus starts. These older ladies look tough but is there a young gun waiting in the wings set to take down her older rivals?

Norse Princess has the look of a mare really on top of her game. She has won five of her last six. She has won her last three races coming into this race the grade one Flounder, the grade one Yorkshire and the grade one Yellow Submarine. She is at the top of her game now so it is very tough to see her not winning this race. If you just want to get really, really picky you might find a couple of chinks in the armor. One she has never run this far. She has been running a furlong shorter mostly a half a furlong in the Flounder. Her speed figures are good but not dominating. She looks really strong.

Magical Mia ran second to Norse Princess in the grade one Flounder. Magical Mia had a race two back that likely would win this event. She ran second that day but earned a 111 speed figure at a mile and a half. In her last start she dominated at the two mile marathon on the World Cup card. I like the cut back in distance angle, and with her running style that will likely keep her close to the pace she should be full of run at the top of the stretch. This may not be her best distance but she looks pretty good coming into the race.

Cache is a mare that has been knocking on the door of late. She never seems to be out of a race and has hit the board in seven straight races. Last time she ran a very solid third in the Ark De Triumph against the boys. She was nine lengths behind one of the favorites in the Turf Lex Luthor. She has some nice speed figures mixed in her only negative really is that she has not won a race since March. She hails from the SAF Connection , Dragnil has done a nice job getting her here.

Nerf Herder is coming off a solid second place effort in the World Cup at a mile and a half. The race prior to that she blazed on the front end earning a 113 speed figure. It is that ability to run the big figure that makes her a player in this race. She has not shortened up to this distance for over a year and I generally like the cut back angle in a race like this. She will be close to the pace or stalking and she could very well be a player in this race.    

 
Race: 3385.0910 Breeders Bowl Mile – Grade I – $1,000,000
Track: New Jersey
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: One mile on the Turf

We have three co favorites at seven to one, another four horses at eight to one or nine to one. So nearly half the field is within two points of each other, telling you how wide open the race is according to the track handicapper. I think he is right if you look through this field you can easily make a case for thirteen of the fourteen runners entered.

Last year’s champ Seeking Sal returns to defend his title. He has not had as many 110+ speed figures coming into the race as he did last year but his 114 last time out should be an indicator he has not lost a step just yet. During the year he competes at a mile and an eighth mostly so he has not run at a mile since last year’s Breeders Bowl Mile. He has five graded stakes wins this year and looks ready to defend his title. He will likely be mid pack but not too far off the pace in the early going definitely a horse to watch.

Hail Cesario might be one of the more impressive runners in the field speed figure wise. He does not have the fastest but he consistently puts up the 110+ speed figures. He has 116 and 114 speed figures recently. He fizzled last time out at the World Cup but I would not worry too much about that effort. He was forwardly placed more than likely on purpose. One way to keep or get your closer to close a little better is to send them toward the front in a race. Next time out they tend to sit a little closer to the pace and fire pretty well. Look for that from Hail Cesario on Saturday.

Three year old filly Torch the Flame has been pretty impressive in her last three starts. She has won each of her last three all at this distance with two 113 speed figures in the last three starts. She has won with room to spare in each of her last three races and that is one of the reasons I liker her against the boys. She is running as fast if not faster than many of the boys here and her stalking style means she will be in the mix at the top of the stretch. She will likely dig in and be tough in the stretch a lot to like with her.

Sip of Saki is a crafty veteran that is still running pretty well. He has five 110+ speed figures speed figures this year and four grade one wins. Last time out at the World Cup at a mile and an eighth he did not run well. He probably needed the race and it was probably a little too long for him. He turns back to his distance and from a fitness stand point that race probably did him a lot of good. He will likely be toward the back early in the race and will be closing in the stretch.

If this race where over an off surface Perfect Karma would probably be the favorite. He is coming off one of the fastest speed figures in a long time last time out. He posted a 119 speed figure last time out winning a grade two on yielding turf. He posted a 113 over yielding turf earlier this year bit has not fared as well on firm turf. On the firm going his best recent speed figure is a 103 but a horse that can run a 119 on any surface must be respected. He is a stalker so should be close to the early pace.
 

Race: 3385.0905 Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint – Grade I – $750,000
Track: New Jersey
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: Six furlongs on the Turf

The turf sprint is a fairly wide open race. Because there are not many six furlong turf races it is sometimes hard to get a feel for a race like this. With top sprinters there does seem to be a difference when you compare six furlong races to seven furlong races and with that in mind we take a look at the field.

We have co favorites with Mr Devious and Tree Guest House. Mr Devious has two graded wins this year including a very impressive win in the grade one Rising Sun Spring Cup. He was third last time out in the World Cup at seven furlongs but I think he is better suited to this distance. Mr Devious is a stalker type that could prompt the pace if the pace turns out to be soft. He is consistent so should be right in the thick of things late.

Tree Guest House has had three straight 110+ speed figure races. He won his last race in the grade one The Liars Poker by a nose. He was second the time before that and won the race before that so he is in good form and running good speed figures. I think he is another that will do better at the six furlong distance than he has at seven furlongs. He tends to come from the back half of the field so look for him late.

Generals Chariot has been one of the more well known turf sprinters in the sim. He is getting a bit long in the tooth at age five about to make his fortieth career start. He is still putting up good speed figures and with his class he is a danger. His last three races have been at this distance and he has been right there in each of those races. He gets a much better draw this time around in this race and with his stalking style he should get a good trip. His form looks great for one final run for Breeders Bowl glory.

Digging the Grave is a long shot in this race but this race does not have much speed. That means despite the outside post Digging the Grave will likely get the lead and have a good trip. He is another that is older and will make his forty first career start Saturday. He has the speed to take this field wire to wire. Last time out was a pretty good effort in the World Cup and if he is alone on the lead again he might be a tough horse to pass in the stretch.