Juvenile Colts Invade Maryland Turf for Epiphany Too
Many have referred to it as the Breeders Bowl after the Breeders Bowl. For the sixth straight year, the DelPenn residency has been generous enough to sponsor an incredible day of racing. Spanning five tracks, D.P.C.D. VI includes 22 open G1’s worth a total of $25 million in purses. With purses these high, all of the top Sim trainers have flown in from around the world to take part.
The focus of this article will be the juvenile turf colts as they ready themselves for the toughest test of their careers. The maintenance crew has been at work all week and the grass looks as good as ever. It features a high cut appearance which gives the turf the same classy look as the 14 that will take their place in the starting gates.
The Epiphany Too will be run at the
The newly minted star that wins this weekend will join an elite duo of past Epiphany Too winners. The race was first run in 2005 and was won by Hail Cesario. Trained by multiple Eclipse winner Texasace, the extraordinary colt has since won five graded races and has earned in excess of $2 million. Last year’s winner was Mambo Wildcat, the Jockeymax-trainee that has won five G1 races and has also earned in excess of $2 million. So if history is any indication, the winner this weekend can look forward to an extremely successful and profitable career. Also of note is that the top three finishers in both the 2006 and the 2007 renditions of the 2000
Based on history, there is every reason to believe that one of the horses from this weekend’s race will go on to capture Sim Classic glory in 2008!
Let’s take a look at the field, all 2yo colts:
1) Frizione, 17/1, Medaglia d’Oro x Nureyev x Buckpasser, ridden by R Clink (8%), trained by dixiedotco (member of Pastures of Green)
-Just like his daddy, this dark grey colt looks like he’s cut out of stone.
2) Woette’s Slipper, 8/1, Forest Wildcat x Kingmambo x Buckpasser, ridden by T Waters (9%), trained by woette1 (member of
-Arguably the class of the field, this gorgeous chestnut is by the same sire as last year’s winner. It could be two in a row for Forest Wildcat because this is one serious juvenile. After running respectably in sprints, he was stretched to a mile with tremendous results, crushing a mile stakes by 2 lengths with an 84 SF. He then showed his class by finishing 3rd in a G3 at 8.5f by a mere ¼-length. And most impressively, last time out he put in a huge effort to finish 2nd in the Breeders Bowl with a sick 91 SF. With two months off there’s no fear of him bouncing off that effort, and he should be right there at the finish.
3) Hoarfrost Hill, 8/1, Danehill Dancer x Fappiano x Caerleon, ridden by C Gehrke (20%), trained by given (member of GR Simsters)
-Another very classy customer, this smallish chestnut colt is by one of the top performing young sires in
4) The Stardust, 6/1, Generous x Shirley Heights x Vaguely Noble, ridden by V Elliot (20%), trained by ajm (member of
-The most battle-tested of this crew with 10 starts, this imposing brown colt has a really impressive resume. He won his first two routes, both 8f turf stakes, the latter by 2 lengths with an 88 SF. After that race he finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in G1’s at 8f and 8.5f. A subpar run in the Breeders Bowl followed, but he responded admirably last time out by running a career high 95 SF while finishing 4th in a G3 at 9f. He’s run behind a few in this field already and will need to reverse that form, but he’s talented enough where that looms a possibility.
5) Seattle Mambo, 8/1, Kingmambo x
-Already a stakes winner on the dirt, this royally-bred chestnut colt earned that distinction last time out on the turf as well. He won a mile stakes on the lawn by an easy 2 lengths with an 85 SF. However, he won so easily that the number probably could have been higher. He’s shown the ability to stalk behind the leaders on the dirt, and he may have to do that this weekend as he may lack the blazing speed to outbreak some of the burners in here. Although his lone graded race on the dirt was a disaster, there’s no reason to believe that he’ll repeat that disappointment on the turf. While I wouldn’t recommend backing him at 8/1, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he runs really well.
6) Fierce Heat, 14/1, Borrego x In Reality x Icecapade, ridden by B Brooks (8%), trained by qwikvett (member of Northwest Racing Circuit)
-A hard-knocking grey colt by the promising young stallion Borrego, this juvenile has really been improving of late. After running decently in turf sprints, he blew up in his first route, winning a 9f allowance by 3 lengths with an 83 SF. He followed up that victory with a 3rd in the 8.5f NWRC Cavalcade Cup and a 2nd in a listed mile stakes with a career best 89 SF. Although he lacks a stakes victory, that 89 SF would suggest that he belongs with this weekend’s company. He should be gaining ground in the stretch as some of the frontrunners burn out. I was able to catch up with his trainer who had the following to say:
“He may not have the blueblood of some of these other contenders, but I am not sure he knows that. He just made it into this race and I am so glad he did. He’s dying to run longer but this weekend he is going to make his mark as one to look out for in 2008. His SP has improved every race, and he came up to this race in perfect shape. He had an easy 6f workout on the turf in 1:12 breezing today and was super alert. He goes off at 14/1 as 3rd longest shot in field, but I am going to make this very bold statement, ‘Fierce Heat will have a top 3 finish!’ There is a ton of speed in the field so the plan is to stalk and stay just ahead of Saint Vivant then make the charge for the finish before that one gets going.”
So there you have it right from the trainer’s mouth! He has guaranteed a top three finish! Will this prediction come to fruition? Tune in Saturday to find out!
7)
-You’d be hard-pressed to design a better turf routing pedigree than that of this brown beauty. In addition, he’s based on Incinerator, who was a stakes winner on the lawn from 7f to 12f. So far, so good for this juvenile as he’s never been worse than 2nd on the turf. He made his first trip to the stakes winner’s circle last time out by conquering an 8.5f listed event by 2 lengths with a 92 SF. This being his first graded event, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he’s a bit outclassed. Then again, you never know with young colts, and it would be no surprise if he put in a big performance. Either way, expect this colt to make a lot of noise as a 3yo.
8) Spartiate, 12/1, Pivotal x Dubai Millennium x Caerleon, ridden by C Culpepper (11%), trained by daninja (member of GR Simsters)
-One of the more lightly-raced colts in the field, this chestnut son of the multiple-stakes winning mare Ytwodubai boasts an impressive record. After finishing 2nd in his MSW debut, daninja showed immense confidence by going straight to a stakes, and his charge didn’t disappoint, winning easily in a 6f event. He followed that up with two straight graded wins, the latter a 3-length G2 triumph at 8.5f with an 87 SF. Three weeks later he showed up in the Breeders Bowl, and probably short on rest, finished a dull 8th. Expect a much fresher horse for this weekend’s event, and he looms a major threat.
9) Onahigherplane, 11/1, Sadler’s Wells x Machiavellian x Dare And Go, ridden by C V Behr (10%), trained by willyam13 (member of GR Simsters)
-Another lightly-raced colt, this imposing brown juvenile is coming off two very impressive open stakes wins. After crushing his debut at 6f by 4 lengths he struggled in two straight turf sprints. Following those events, he was stretched out to an 8.5f stakes and responded with aplomb, winning for fun by 2 lengths with an 83 SF. In his most recent race he cruised to a mile stakes victory by an easy 1-1/2 length with an impressive 91 SF. He still needs to prove he can handle graded company, but the big time number he put up in his last start is a very strong indicator.
10) Saint Vivant, 8/1, Street Cry x Danehill x Roberto, ridden by T Dillin (11%), trained by super1 (member of DelPenn)
-Trained by the polarizing super conglomerate, this perfectly conformed chestnut colt already boasts two stakes wins. He started out his career on an impressive note, winning a 5f MSW followed by a 5.5f stakes, both with the utmost of ease. Those two wins were succeeded by an impressive 2nd in a 6.5f G3 and a nice 3rd in an 8f G3. A rough stretch followed as he finished off-the-board in G1’s at 8f and 8.5f, but he rebounded impressively last time out by thrashing a listed stakes at 8.5f by 2 lengths with an 88 SF. I’m not sure he’s as talented as the top ones in here, but there’s no telling what kind of confidence he could have gained in his last race.
11) Theater Count, 18/1, Fusaichi Pegasus x Theatrical x
-This strapping brown colt has seen firm turf twice and has come away with a perfect record. The first three times he went to the post were in sloppy conditions, and his first firm turf appearance was two races back as he easily won a mile MSW by 1-1/2 lengths with an 85 SF. That race instilled confidence in his trainer, who entered the promising colt in an 8.5f listed stakes. The FuPeg juvenile handled the class increase in encouraging manner, registering a hard-fought quarter-length victory with an 87 SF. He may be a little outclassed this weekend, but the sky’s the limit for this youngster.
12) Manatee Bad Boy, 12/1, Elusive Quality x Deputy Minister x Event Of The Year, ridden by F Chute (5%), trained by brstable (member of Great Plains Residency 2007)
-Everything was coming up roses for this flashy brown colt until he threw a head-scratcher last time out. He narrowly missed winning his career debut, but followed that up with consecutive MSW and ALW victories, both at 6f. He then finished 2nd and 1st in listed stakes at 6.5f and 7.5f respectively. Off of that solid base he was selected to represent his country in the inaugural Sim World Cup, and represent it he did, winning the 8f G1 by a thrilling quarter-length, posting a very nice 91 SF. To that point he had six starts, resulting in three wins, three places, and a heroic G1 victory. However, last time out in the Breeders Bowl, he finished a disappointing 8th with an 83 SF. Perhaps he couldn’t handle the 8.5f. Perhaps he bounced off his massive World Cup victory. Whatever the reason, he has a great chance to re-assert his prowess this weekend. If he can pull off the victory, an Eclipse may be in sight for this talented colt.
13) Tiger Hill Colt, 11/1, Tiger Hill x Run Softly x Mr. Prospector, ridden by
-After watching this massive chestnut colt won his debut easily, Reman12000 was so impressed that he purchased the colt via private sale. It proved to be a genius move as the powerful juvenile went on to win three straight races, culminating with a G3 at 8f by an impressive 2 lengths with an 84 SF. Last time out he dropped back to 7f and ran his eyeballs out, finishing 3rd in a G1 with a sick 95 SF. I had a chance to catch up with this impressive colt’s trainer, and he had some harsh words for the oddmaker at
“I am outraged by the lack of respect my colt has gotten in this race from the oddsmaker, he’s the 11/1 8th choice in odds. He’s got the co-highest SP in the race at 95, also won a G3 race in his only route try. Of course it wasn’t against the best of fields so maybe the oddsmaker is right, eh.”
So who is right, the oddsmaker, or the irate trainer? We’ll know Saturday for sure!
14) Washinsky, 9/1, George Washington x Gone West x Pleasant Colony, ridden by B Romberg (6%), trained by zeco (member of
-One of two multiple graded winners in the field, this regal brown colt has been in some real battles to this point in his career. After winning his MSW debut easily, he immediately captured a G3 victory going 4.5f against a full field. That right there tells you a lot about his tenacity. After a narrow 3rd-place finish in a G3 at 6.5f, he stretched out to a mile and impressively vanquished a G3 by 1-1/2 lengths with an 88 SF. Since that triumph he has put in two honest efforts in the two biggest juvenile turf races so far, finishing 5th in both the Sim World Cup and the Breeders Bowl. He’ll need to reverse form on horses that beat him in both those races, but he has a ton of talent and tenacity and it’s certainly a possibility.
What a great race we have in store! It’s such a tough field that it’s almost impossible to try and pick a winner. One prediction I feel comfortable making is that many of these awesome juveniles will go on to have a big impact on the 2008 English Classics!