NWRC’s best dirt classic horses star in the Cavalcade Cup
The NWRC’s annual championship raceday is upon us. I had the pleasure of previewing the Cavalcade Cup Classic, and was mightily impressed by the sheer talent residing at the NWRC. One of the sim’s oldest residencies, the NWRC has been called home by several of the sim’s top horses over the years, and many horses have used the Cavalcade as a springboard to bigger exploits. The group of nine colts and horses gathered in California to challenge this 10f stake is a testament to the training talents of the many residents of theNWRC. The $250k purse at stake makes the race even more a juicy prize for trainers.
The Cavalcade Cup is in its fourth year. It began in 2002, was on hiatus for a couple of years, but has been run annually since 2005. The 2006 winner, Mark M’s Tread Pattern took the rae by three lengths with a great final time of 2:01.3 Solar Song (my horse) won in 2005 by just under three in a time of 2:01.2. The 2002 winner, Ken’s Duke Wooden, holds the record for largest winning margin at 3 1/3 lengths. His final time was 2:02.1.
Today’s race favorite at 3-1 is Open The Gate. Owned by Ken (owner of previous racewinner Duke Wooden), the 5yo Jump Start son has spent a lot of time this year in graded company. Dropping down into a restricted stake should pose no problem for the almost-a-millionaire twice-graded winner. The horse loves to take a race gate to wire, but he’s been known to stalk the pace in a deadly manner. Should be sitting on a big race.
Steve’s Pass The Candy is 9-1 on the morning line. The 4yo Candy Ride colt has only tried 10f once, but what a beauty of a race that was. Candy won that allowance by over five lengths for a 107SP. Very impressive indeed. He took that race stalking, but can also close from way way back. Love to see this guy try graded company again, especially at 10f. Really a strong candidate for the win.
Fabman has the other 9-2 horse, I Come To Play. The Catcher In The Rye 5yo just won two 9.5f allowances with 100+ SPs. ICTP has some major back class with a G2 and a bunch of stakes wins on his record. He prefers to run from within two to four lengths of the lead when possible. After 38 starts, he is starting to slow down a bit, but this race could be child’s play for the 13-time winner.
Chris K picked Wandering Star up in a $15k claimer, won a few races, then last start got the 4yo King Of Kings colt stakes-placed. The Star has tried ten twice, winning a claimer once and running eighth in an allowance once. The mixed record isn’t encouraging. However, Star closed very nicely to place in that stake at 9f last out by just a nose, suggestingthat as he matures he’s able to handle more ground. A solid horse, and an excellent claim. 5-1 odds.
Head Start doesn’t really want one, as Terrel’s colt prefers to stalk the pace. The 4yo son of Jump Start just won a 10f stake by four lengths with a career-high 108SP. Not bad for a horse claimed for $5k in January. He’s really turned it around the last few races, and the 7-1 odds make him look very bettable.
Also 7-1 is my own entrant, Second Sight. He’s a perfect 2-for-2 at 10f, but in two stakes attempts not so good. Beat elders two back at 10f for a very good 107SP, but his moron of a trainer threw him into the 9f G2 Bluegrass Cup Classic last out and the 3yo T. M. Opera O colt struggled mightily. Dropping down in class and going back up in distance can only help.
Pincay’s Vegas Hotshot has been on a hot streak of late winning three 10f allowances in a row. The 6yo son of Point Given has been stakes-placed a few times, but has yet to get that stakes W. Has some good natural speed but can sit back a bit if needed. Big concern is the lack of recent 100+ speed figures. Can’t see this race going in under 103, but the Hotshot hasn’t posted a triple-digit in over a year. 9-1 odds.
Mark M is looking to win his second straight Cavalcade Classic with his 3yo Footstepsinthesand colt. It’s a tall order for Sand Miner, 12-1 on the morning line, but the colt has a solid 4:2-0-2 record at 10f. One of those placings was in the NWRC Derby back in May. He’s capable of coming from off the pace, which can only help in a race with this many horses that need to be close to the front.
The final horse in the field, Sum Abs, has been stuck with 12-1 odds and the far outside (ninth) post. Bryan H’s 3yo Aldebaran colt reminds me of a horse still looking for his sim niche. He was a hard-closing second in the NWRC Derby, won the NWRC’s equivalent of the Middle Jewel, then placed third again closing hard in the final NWRC Triple Crown race at 12f. Closing strongly but not winning has become something of a hallmark for the colt as he’s picked up four wins and six placings from 15 starts. The 10f distance is one he’s solid at, and he’s stakes-placed against elders at 10. Has just one 100 SP on his record so speed is a concern, but that doesn’t mean he should be counted out. He loves coming from way way back. Given the likely charge up front, he should be in perfect position to run them all down in the stretch. Keep a close eye on this colt.
Good luck to the horses and their connections in this fourth edition of the NWRC’s Cavalcade Cup Classic. Simmers interested in joining the fun in the 2008 Cavalcade are invited to visit the NWRC web site and consider joining a great residency.