Equinics: Thales of Miletus Sprint

Thales of Miletus was a Greek philosopher born around 625 BC at Miletus, Asia Minor.  In mathematics, Thales’s theorem states that if A, B and C are distinct points on a circle where the line AC is the diameter, then the angle ABC is a right angle.  In other words, if you draw a triangle joining a line across the diameter to any other point on the circumference of a circle, it will be right-angled.  Try it!

The Equinics race named after him is a sprint over six and a half furlongs, open to all horses aged four years and over.  The prize money is $1,250,000 in total, for which fourteen runners will compete.  The race is due off at 3.30 p.m. EST and will be run on the fast dirt.

1          MIGHT AND THUNDER (KY)       4 b g   CHIVALROUS x THUNDER GULCH x EL PRADO

Owner:  dkyoung10                                                                                        

Breeder:  dkyoung

Representing Universal Racing Club

Out of the mare Thundering Outside, who was an Allowance winner, this gelding has won eight of his nineteen career starts, including several at Graded level. Although he won his only Turf race, he has been campaigned on the Dirt for the rest of his career.  He has run consistently over six to seven furlongs, last time out putting up a speed figure of 115 in a Grade One race over seven furlongs, when he finished fourth, beaten two an three-quarter lengths. Previously he recorded a speed figure of 118 when winning a Grade Two over the same distance. His only disappointing results have been when tried over a longer distance or on an off track. He has been granted an End-Of-Year Award and has earned over a million dollars in prize money.

2          TAPIT PRIME (KY)  4 ro c  TAPIT x DEPUTY MINISTER x SECRETARIAT

Owner/Breeder:  harrylanlow37

Representing Elite Racing Club

This consistent roan colt has won six of his twelve races, been second in two and third once.  He only once finished out of the money, when running in his first Allowance NW2L race over this course and distance.  He took some time to gain that NW2L win, but upon doing so he proceeded to run up a four-timer over today’s distance, graduating through the Allowance ranks and finishing with a Stakes win, when he recorded his highest speed figure of 117. In a Grade Two race over the same trip next time out he finished third, then returned to winning ways last time in a Stakes race, also over this distance.  Still improving.

3          FIRE ROAD (KY)     6 gr h  SPEIGHTSTOWN x UNBRIDLED’S SONG x NORTHERN DANCER

Owner/Breeder:  toreup

Representing Blazing Saddles

Out of the mare Racinginthestreet, who was placed at Graded level, this light grey horse shows no sign of slowing down at the age of six.  His latest two races have been over seven and a half furlongs on the fast dirt, resulting in wins at Allowance and Stakes level, both with a speed figure of 117, his best to date.  Previously he had finished second, beaten half a length, in an Allowance race of today’s distance.  This was on returning from a twenty-one month absence, as he did not run as a five-year-old. He has also won half of twelve races, finished second twice and third once, but that third was on the Turf.

4          OUTBACK BARBET (KY)  5 br g  WAR FRONT x A.P. INDY x DEPUTY MINISTER

Owner:  yozgeld01

Breeder:  outback4

Representing MIDAS

The winner of nine from twenty races, gelding him resulted in a significant improvement.  His current trainer also returned him to sprints., which might have been a flash of inspiration as there was nothing to suggest that he had not been running over the right distance.  He rose through the ranks to become the winner of last year’s Grade One Breeders’ Bowl Sprint.  His best speed figure of 117 came when winning the Grade One TheForegone over seven furlongs, and also when winning a Stakes race over today’s distance, both last season.  He won an End-Of-Year Award for his successes. Last time out, he finished third in the Grade One The Three Bender over seven furlongs, finishing just ahead of Might And Thunder.  Previously he won the Grade One Sand Castle Golden Sprint over six furlongs in Dubai, also just beating Might And Thunder.  Regular jockey M Scott has the ride.

5          K’S HOPE ‘N DREAMS (IRE)        6 b h    EXCEED AND EXCEL x GULCH x NORTHERN DANCER

Owner:  vertigo2

Breeder:  ledwith

Representing Hispano Parlente

Out of the Grade One winning mare K’s Addiktion, he has won thirteen of his twenty-eight races, also finishing second in nine of them.  After five races on Turf, where he enjoyed some success, winning three times and finishing a close second in a Grade One event, he was switched to Dirt, where he has remained ever since.  His sole win in a Stakes race was over today’s distance in Brazil, when he recorded a speed figure of 111.  His best speed figure of 113 was gained when finishing a close second in an Allowance race over six furlongs as a four-year-old, which he equaled when winning an Allowance race over seven furlongs last October.   Recently he has been running in Allowance races with speed figures of up to 110, which he recorded last time out when beaten half a length In second over six furlongs.  He will need to be back to his best here.

6          LAVA DRAGON (KY)          5 b h    UNCLE MO x DEPUTY MINISTER x DANEHILL

Owner/Breeder:  dragonrider5

Representing GR Simsters

Out of the Stakes winning mare Dream Dragon, he is the winner of a Grade One race over six furlongs.  Subsequently he was outclassed in the Grade One Breeders’ Bowl Sprint, but returned to winning ways when dropped to Allowance level next time and proceeded to achieve a hat-trick, including two Grade Two victories over seven furlongs.   Last time out he disappointed in a Grade Two race over six furlongs, but might have just had an off day.  His best speed figure was recorded when winning a Grade Two race over seven furlongs and he would have a good chance here if returning to that form.

7          GROOVE WITH ME (AUS)            5 b h    SEBRING x NOT FOR LOVE x A.P. INDY

Owner:  6ward2

Breeder:  6ward3

Representing North West Racing Circuit

Out of the mare Well I’ll Be Damn, who was placed at Graded level, this five-year-old has won five races to date, four of which have been on the Dirt.  A winner at Stakes level and placed in Grade Two company, he ran a good race in the winter Equinics two years ago, when he finished fifth in a race over a mile on the Turf.  His last few races have been on the Dirt track, his nest speed figure being 110 when winning an Allowance NW5L over seven and a half furlongs. Last time out he finished fifth in a Grade Two race over six furlongs and needs to improve here.

8          SNOOZING SNITZEL (AUS)         5 b g    SNITZEL x FORTY NINER x DANZIG

Owner:  cothill

Breeder:  jockeymax18

Representing Minnesota Testbarn Residency

His dam Fiesty Lass ran only four times before being retired as a three-year-old, but she had some success as a broodmare, producing three Stakes winners, including this one, her last foal.  The winner of nine of his twenty-five races to date, he has also finished second in five and third in six.  Last time out, he finished third in a Grade Two race over seven furlongs, recording speed figure of 114.  By far his best race was when just beaten into second in a Grade Three race over the same distance on good Dirt, when he recorded a speed figure of 120.   His next best speed figure was 116, gained the time before that when he won an Allowance race, also over seven furlongs. He is capable, but will not have the softer ground that he prefers. 

9          ASSASSIN’S GRIN (KY)   4 b c    UNCLE MO x GIANT’S CAUSEWAY x MR. PROSPECTOR

Owner/Breeder:  teestime

Representing All-Stars Racing

Another one by Uncle Mo, out of Gassin Laugh, who was placed at Stakes level, this colt has won seven races to date.  Having won at Maiden Special Weights at the second time of asking, he took several attempts to gain his second victory, eventually being dropped into a $100,000 Claiming NW2L race for the win.  He continued to run in high-end Claiming races and Starter Allowances until, having won a $150,000 Claiming NW4L race over today’s distance, he stepped up in class to win an Allowance NW2x race, also over this distance.  He won two unrestricted Allowance races to complete a four-timer, then last time out ran his best speed figure of 114 to finish second, beaten a length, in a Stakes race over today’s distance.  Looks capable of further improvement.

10        BEDSIDE BOURBON (KY)            5 br g   SPEIGHTSTER x MINESHAFT x HALO

Owner:  jetchamp

Breeder:  sdmf

Representing Empire State Racing

Despite her name, his dam Disasterpiece was a Grade One winner and won an End-Of-Year award.  This brown gelding has won eleven out of twenty-one races to date, also finishing second in three and third in one.  All his races have been on the Dirt track.  Last time out, he recorded a his best speed figure of 115 when finishing second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in a Grade Two race over six furlongs. The previous time, he won a Grade Three race over the same distance.  He is capable of running well here, but needs to find a bit more.

11        TURN N BERN (KY)  4 br c   BERNARDINI x DANZIG x KRIS S.

Owner:  highcountry

Breeder:  francua4

Representing Only Stayers

His dam Rapid Fire never won a race despite ten attempts and was unable to put up a better speed figure than 72; however she has been a successful broodmare, producing a Grade One winner and two Grade Two winners.  This colt, her last foal, has yet to reach that level, but has won a Stakes race over seven furlongs.  He took several attempts to win at Maiden Special Weights and needed the drop in distance to gain that first victory.  Having changed hands towards the end of last year, he achieved a four-timer, proceeding through the Allowance ranks and culminating in a Stakes race over seven furlongs, when he equaled his best speed figure of 114. Last time out he finished sixth, beaten four and a quarter lengths, in the Grade One The Three Bender, when he was not far behind Outback Barbet and Might And Thunder.

12        SIFRINITO (KY)      4 br c   HARD SPUN x STREET CRY x A.P. INDY

Owner/Breeder:  aphaack

Representing Latinos Del Mundo

Out of the Stakes winning mare Sifrina, this colt has won eight of his thirteen races, also finishing second in two and third in two.  His only time out of the money was when tenth in a Grade Two race over seven furlongs, although he was beaten only five and three-quarter lengths.  Last time out he won a Stakes race over today’s distance, putting up a speed figure of 111, his equal best.  He would need to improve to trouble the judge here, but is going the right way.

13        BARB’S EXPRESS (KY)     5 ch h  DOMINUS x JOHANNESBURG x CARSON CITY

Owner/Breeder:  jamkematt0

Representing Hoosier Racing

His dam Rider Kristen was a winner at Stakes level and placed in Graded company. He has won nine out of twenty-six races to date and has finished second in six and third in four.  All his races have been on the Dirt track.  Last time out he was second in the Grade Three The Artist Isleover six furlongs, when Snoozing Snitzel and Groove With Me finished third and fifth respectively. His best speed figure of 112 was achieved when winning a Stakes race over today’s distance.

14        IWASBORNAWINNER (KY)          4 b g    AWESOME AGAIN x MR. PROSPECTOR x SECRETARIAT

Owner/Breeder:  sjmeola

Representing East-West Connection

This bay gelding has won seven out of thirteen races and finished second in four. All his races have been on the Dirt. Last time out, he posted his best speed figure to date of 118 when winning a Grade Three race over six furlongs. Previously, he finished second, beaten three quarters of a length, in a Grade Two event over today’s distance, putting up a speed figure of 117.  This was a significant improvement on his previous races and he looks to have found his ideal trip.