A TON OF SPEED IN NEW YORK GRADE I MILE RACE

The boys will be going a mile in today’s New York Grade I feature and while many of them may not like the name of the race they all will be trying to capture top share of the $450,000 purse offered in The Grade I Sterile Mile. A full field of 14 have passed the entry box in this the 15th race on the Saturday afternoon card.

Let’s take a look at today’s field:

1)FLY FOR BUDA—11/1—gg sends this 5 year old horse out of SADLER’S WELLS with a record of 39-14-7-3 and lifetime earnings of $3,828,994. This 5th divisional ranked horse races for the GR Simsters division of the Topicount stables. This horse actually broke his maiden on the turf before winning a pair of dirt races in his 2 year old season including an overnite stakes race. He was on the bluegrass derby trail as a 3 year old and 5 stakes races that year including The Grade I Florida, The Grade I California, The Grade I Middle Jewel Stakes and The Grade I Citation Cup. He was also 3rd in The Bluegrass and 2nd in The New Yorker that year. Not surprisingly he was unable to duplicate that magical season last year where he won 3 races including 1 stakes win in The Grade II Jerzey City Handicap in New Jersey. He has added 3 more Graded stakes wins this year in The Grade II Willing And Able Stakes in N Florida, The Grade II Statewide Pinhead Guild Stakes in Illinois and The Grade II Iowa Cornhusker BB Classic in Iowa. He has found the going very tough in his last 3 starts and perhaps his age is finally catching up to him and he will be dropping back to the mile distance for the first time since April of 2006. While this stalker is used to running 9 furlongs or longer you can never count him out should he revert to his previous form and throw in a big race today. The rider for today’s race will be Lawton (23.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100.

2)SKELETON KEYMAKER—10/1—scoobzilla sends this 4 year old colt out of KINGMAMBO with a record of 21-9-6-1 and lifetime earnings of $345,231. This 46th divisional ranked colt races for the Robscoobi stables based at the CR Racers. This colt raced only once as a 2 year old and broke his maiden in his 2nd start in his 3 year old campaign. He added 4 more allowance wins last year and has picked up 4 overnite stakes race victories so far this year. He has posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating in 2 of those wins with the most recent being 3 starts back in The Sweet Cozzene stakes in Louisiana over 8 furlongs on the dirt. This speedy colt is expected to challenge for the early lead in today’s race and has posted triple digit speed rating in his last 8 starts. He has a 2nd place finish in 2 previous Graded stake starts to date and will be making his Grade I race debut today. The rider for today’s race will be Gibson (3.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—106.

3)WHO DO YOU LOVE(KY)—9/1—lenny9 sends this 3 year old colt out of AWESOME AGAIN with a record of 10-5-3-1 and lifetime earnings of $559,530. This 17th divisonal ranked horse races for Lenny’s Evil Empire based at the GR Simsters. This colt was unraced last year as a 2 year old and has won 2 ovenite stakes races so far in his career. He does have 2 second place finishes in Grade I events so far including a Smackdown III race and his last race in The Grade I The Bad To The Bone Mile in California where he posted his lifetime best 117 speed rating. It was the 2nd time in a row he posted a 110+ rating. This speedster will be out of the gate quickly and will have to be at the top of his game to ensure he is not caught in the late stretch as he was last time out. The rider for today’s race will be Davis (13.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—114.

4)EDDIE RU KIDN(KY)—13/1—rrlogan sends this 3 year old colt out of EDDINGTON with a record of 16-3-4-4 and lifetime earnings of $309,735. This 31st divisional ranked colt races for Randy’s Oneworld stables based over at Minnesota Downs. This colt won his last 2 starts, both allowance races as a 2 year old. He has added an overnite stakes win this year and has cashed some minor share cheques in Graded stakes action this season. He posted a 3rd place finish in The Grade I Smackdowns added feature race but was outrun last time out in a California Grade I mile race. He posted his lifetime best 113 speed rating 2 starts back also in California in an overnite mile stakes. He is another who likes to race up front and my find the front end a bit crowded today with other speed horses lining up along side him in the starting gate. The rider for today’s race will be Michaels (11.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—105.

5)ADHESIVE(KY)—24/1—thebaker2 sends this 3 year old colt out of COZZENE with a record of 19-6-2-0 and lifetime earnings of $399,140. He is out of the he-mare DAILY DREAMER who was 2/26 at the track. This 48th divisional ranked colt races for the Corza stables based at Queensland Racecourse. This colt won 4 races including 3 stakes hilited by The Grade II North Fork Stakes as a 2 year old last year. This year he has won 2 stakes races including The Grade III Supertoys Raceout Classic where he posted his lifetime best 113 speed rating in the 8 furlong race in Louisiana. In his only start against older rivals to date he finished 10th after showing some early speed in The Grade I World Cup Mile. This colt has shown a little versatility in his racing styles that could benefit him as today’s race unfolds and his race in Louisiana has shown that he can throw out a stellar race at any given time. The rider for today’s race will be Gunn (8.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—101.

6)MUSICALITY—16/1—kevoman4 sends this 4 year old colt out of SADLER’S WELLS with a record of 30-10-8-1 and lifetime earnings of $449,360. This 44th divisonal ranked colt races for the Coolk stables who have 2 starters in this race and are the managers of the EAAA racing residency. This colt picked up his MSW win in one of 5 starts in his 2 year old season. He had 2 overnite stakes wins in 5 starts last year and added 3 stakes wins including a pair of Grade III events in his 4 victories so far this season. He posted back to back 108 speed rating earlier this year which is his lifetime best but did not look good in his last two stakes starts prompting his running in some allowance races lately. He did win an allowance last time out and hopefully the confidence booster helps him out in looking for his first Grade I win in this race today. He is a closer who should have plenty of speed to chase down in the stretch in this race. The rider for today’s race will be Dishman (11%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—100.

7)HALO ME DOWN—7/1—sdmf4 sends this 4 year old colt out of MINESHAFT with a record of 14-7-3-1 and lifetime earnings of $309,435. This 31st divisional ranked colt races for the Black Label stables based over at Del/Penn National and is one of 2 entries by this barn here today. This colt was unraced as a 2 year old and won both of his starts last year in his 3 year old season, all allowance races. This year he has won 5 races, 2 allowance races and his most recent 3 starts, all stakes races. Included in that streak was his last race where he won The Grade II Black Label Mile in France. He posted his lifetime best 115 speed rating 2 starts back in winning The Leo Peters Stakes, also in France and he has posted 110+ speed ratings in each of his last 3 starts. He is another front running colt who will have quite a bit of company in trying to cut the early fractions today. The rider for today’s race will be Israel (11.8%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—112.

8)KING OF DANCE—7/1—coolk sends this 5 year old horse out of KINGMAMBO with a record of 36-12-9-4 and lifetime earnings of $449,238. This 30th divisional ranked horse is the second of two entries for the EAAA based coolk stables. This horse was unraced as a 2 year old and broke his maiden against winners in his lifetime debut on of 4 allowance wins in his 3 year old season. He picked up a pair of overnite stakes wins last year and has added 3 allowance wins plus a win in The Grade III Lil’ Leprechaun Mile in Ireland this year where he posted his lifetime best 110 speed rating. In his first Grade I start 2 races back at the World Cup he cut all the fractions before giving way in the stretch and ended up in third place. He enters this race today being another of the many speedsters which should make for quite a cavalry charge to the first quarter poll after the gate opens today. The rider for today’s race will be Dirks (12%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—107.

9)WOODEN MINISTER(KY)—9/1—pogs1 sends this 3 year old colt out of HENNESSY with a record of 9-4-3-2 and lifetime earnings of $286,576. He is out of the he-mare ZULFAGAR who was 7/37 at the track. This 26th divisional ranked colt races for Pogo Racing based at the EAAA residency. This colt was unraced as a 2 year old and broke his maiden in his 2nd lifetime start this year. He has added an allowance and an overnite stakes victory to his record since. He has raced in Graded stakes in each of his last 3 starts and while still searching for a Graded win has finished in the top 3 in each of those starts. He posted his lifetime best 115 speed rating 2 starts back in The Grade I World Cup Mile in Kentucky. This late closer will be sure to have a quick pace to catch in the stretch drive today. The rider for today’s race will be Foster (9.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—112.

10)NORTHERN BULLET(FL)—13/1—wabred1 sends this 3 year old colt out of RED BULLET with a record of 16-6-1-1 and lifetime earnings of $258,065. He is out of the mare A.P. NORTH who was 3/16 at the track and who has 6 foals on record, all winners including 3 stakes winners. This 55th divisional ranked colt races for the unafilliated Snappa Racing Syndicate. This colt won his first 2 starts on the dirt after debuting on the turf in his 2 year old season and added a pair of top 3 finishes in Graded stakes last year. This year he has won 4 overnite stakes races including his last start in The I See Live People Memorial Stakes in New York where he posted his lifetime best 114 speed rating over the 8.5 furlong race in the slop. This stalker should sit just behind the large group gunning for the front today and wait for the stretch to run them down. This will be the first race since February that he will be running 8 furlongs as he is being cut back in distance from his recent starts here today. The rider for today’s race will be Manning (10.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—102.

11)ZYGOTE—6/1—isisbabe sends this 5 year old horse out of A.P. INDY with a record of 27-10-6-5 and lifetime earnings of $994,290. He is out of the he-mare CHROMOSOME who was 5/25 at the track. This 25th divisional ranked horse races for the Pastures of Green division of Doctahg’s Dentition stables. This colt broke his maiden in his lifetime debut as a 2 year old and added 3 more allowance wins in his 3 year old campaign. He won 5 stakes races last year hilited by The Grade II Breeder’s Bowl Prep in Kentucky. His only win so far this year has been in The Grade III Winchester Cap right here in New York but he has had several top 3 placings in Graded stakes as well this year. He posted his lifetime best 114 speed rating in February of 2006 and has also posted a 113 mark 5 times since, the latest coming 3 starts back in The Grade III Teeny Weenie Stakes in Upper New York over 8 furlongs on the dirt. This closer sits midpack early and could have the race set up for him if the pace is as quick as expected here today. He is looking ot become a millionaire with a good finish in today’s race. The rider for today’s race will be Haffner (7.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—109.

12)OTTO HISTORY—9/1—capsized sends this 5 year old mare out of DEPUTY MINISTER with a record of 23-11-6-0 and lifetime earnings of $4,083,760. This 1st divisional ranked mare races out of the GR Simsters racing residency. This mare was unraced as a 2 year old and won her first 3 lifetime starts in her 3 year old season. All of those races were allowance races and she then added 6 stakes races that year including 4 Grade I events in The KFC Special in Kentucky, The Bumblebee Classic in New Jersey, The KYH Mint Julep Distaff in Kentucky and The Grade I The Deleware Mile where she beat the boys which is a feat she will have to duplicate to be succesfull here today. After winning a turf allowance race to start this season off her only other win came in The Grade I Go For The Gold Stakes in New York where she wired a field in the 9 furlong race in the slop posting her lifetime best 113 speed rating. She has posted back to back 2nd place finishes in her last 2 starts both in The World Cup Ladies Mile and the BB Distaff. She will be another of many who prefer to run on the front end and will also have the disadvantage of running against the boys in this race, but as recent events in the sim this year have shown sometimes that angle does not work as many of the fillies and mares have been holding their own against the boys in big races this season. The rider for today’s race will be Child (13.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—108.

13)UNWILLING—9/1—lender4 sends this 4 year old colt out of ORIENTATE with a record of 23-8-5-1 and lifetime earnings of $529,126. He is out of the mare YOSHI who was 3/19 at the track and who has 5 foals on record of which 4 are winners including this colt who is a stakes winner. This 59th divisional ranked colt races for the Deadinthelane stables based over at the GR Simsters. This colt broke his maiden in his lifetime debut, one of 2 races as a 2 year old. Last year he won 4 races including 1 overnite stakes race in his 2006 finale. This season he has added 3 more stakes races to his record and will be looking for his first Graded stakes win here today. He posted his lifetime best 112 speed rating last time out while winning The GR Simsters Resident restricted dirt mile over 8 furlongs in the slop. He is a closer who sits midpack early and had a 4th place finish in his only other lifetime Grade I start earlier this year. The rider for today’s race will be Painter (10.8%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.

13)ONE WILD CAT—12/1—sdmf5 sends this 5 year old horse out of WILD AGAIN with a record of 41-13-9-3 and lifetime earnings of $1,201,159. He is out of the mare GRAND DESIGNS who was 7/44 at the track and who has 4 foals on record, all winners including this horse who is a Graded winner. This 11th divisional ranked horse is the second entry out of the Black Label stables in this race today. This horse was a $35,000 claim pickup by his current conections in July of 2005. Up to that point this horse only had a pair of allowance race wins under his belt. From the claim thru the end of the 2006 season he picked up 7 wins including 3 ungraded stakes victories. This year he has picked up 3 Graded wins in The Grade II The Saint Pats Legacy in Ireland, The Grade II Astroturf spring in Kentucky and The Grade II Prims Memorial in Sweden. He appeared to injure himself in the slop in a race in Upper New York in August and was clearly not fit when he tried to run in the BB Classic last time out. Those 2nd off a layoff players will be eyeing this one today. He posted a lifetime best 116 speed rating while finishing 2nd in The Colonel Prospector Challenge Stakes in Malaysia in June of this year. His front running style and outside post may hinder him in this race today and we will have to see if he regains his top form after the bad race in the slop 2 starts back. The rider for today’s race will be Williams (12.9%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.

Well speed is going to be the name of this game and with the wild chase to the first quarter I am going to take a shot at #9 WOODEN MINISTER to take advantage of his late kick and set up nicely with the quick early pace.

GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING

THEO