Fourteen Hopefuls Attempt to Scale The Great Wall

It is my distinct pleasure to cover The Equinics Great Wall of China Marathon for the Black Type Bugler.  Unlike some of my colleagues whose races are named for more obscure “wonders,” everyone has heard of The Great Wall.

According to Wikipedia, The Great Wall of China is the collective name of a series of fortification systems generally built across the historical northern borders of China to protect and consolidate territories of Chinese states and empires against various nomadic groups of the steppe and their polities. Several walls were being built from as early as the 7th century BC by ancient Chinese states;^[2] selective stretches were later joined together by Qin Shi Huang (220–206 BC), the first emperor of China. Little of the Qin wall remains.^[3] Later on, many successive dynasties have built and maintained multiple stretches of border walls. The most well-known sections of the wall were built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644).

Apart from defense, other purposes of the Great Wall have included border controls, allowing the imposition of duties on goods transported along the Silk Road, regulation or encouragement of trade and the control of immigration and emigration.^[4] Furthermore, the defensive characteristics of the Great Wall were enhanced by the construction of watch towers, troop barracks, garrison stations, signaling capabilities through the means of smoke or fire, and the fact that the path of the Great Wall also served as a transportation corridor.

President Trump has vowed that, if he wins a second term, he will force China to extend the wall around the entire world at their expense.  If elected, Mr. Biden has pledged to ask China to demolish the wall in the name of global inclusion, as many find it offensive and a symbol of systemic oppression.  

Now to the business at hand.  14 long distance specialists traveling two grueling miles over the lush Japanese grass course.  Here are the marathoners in post position order:

Breaking from the hedge and representing the G R Simsters is Liam’s  speed ball Hy Kinsella.  It has been almost two years since the clever Liam plucked the son of Deep Impact and the stakes winning, half millionaire, Sadler’s  Wells mare Wexford County, out of a high end claimer.  Since then the big gelding has done nothing but good things.  He arrives here in peak form having won two of his last three stakes outings.  His lone defeat was in a G-2 contested over a wet track which won’t be an issue Sunday as the forecast calls for nothing but a rising sun. 

Post two goes to the host team’s Calico Kitten (Mastercraftsman x Kitten’s Joy x Diesis).  Trainer Legion has his URC based five year old gelding as sharp as can be.  Last time out the deep closer dropped from the clouds to earn a narrow victory over a very good G-3 field in The Irish Cup at 14 furlongs (SP 114).  Kitten is proven over the two mile trip having finished first and second in two attempts at the distance.  One of many with a realistic shot at gold.

Barrier three finds Minny’s entry, Super Harbor.  The four year old is by Harbinger from the well bred (Medaglia D’oro x Kingmambo x Sadler’s Wells) but modestly performed career claimer Mambo Superstar.  Selurnivek has done a fine job finding spots for him to display his versatility.  He’s raced well on both surfaces from a mile to 12 furlongs and won his last start in a mile and a half allowance race posting a respectable 108 speed figure.  Will be prominent early but needs to step up his game to still be around at the wire.

Ben Gowans is so far ahead of the pack in terms of stakes wins this year that he seems to be playing an entirely different game than the rest of us.  His local bred star, Reims, will try to add to his trainer’s already impressive win total.  The New York sired son of V.E. Day has won four consecutive local bred stakes including a pair at 16 furlongs, one on each surface.  Hard to tell how much faster he could have gone if pressed because he won them all by four or more lengths.  Blazing Saddles may have the sleeper here at 11-1.

Saint Nik TB will represent Elite Racing Club.  Newfydowns has had the son of Oklahoma based sire Nicholas (19 pts) for only three races but he has hit the board each time.  Nik’s only stakes win came on the dirt two and a half years ago in a local bred dirt marathon.  He finished 3rd in a dirt 16 furlong stake two back and last time out won a turf allowance at 11 furlongs.  Needs to step forward quite a bit to contend.

EWC sends out Atthewire’s 4YO Lonhro colt Structural for The Great Wall.  The son of G-1 winner Who Watches (Galileo x Kingmambo x Storm Cat) has not yet won a stake.  But he is graded placed in his last three starts.  Most recently he finished 2nd by a neck chasing Calico Kitten in the 14 furlong G-3 Irish Cup.  He is graded placed twice at 16 furlongs on the turf.  Former claimer does not seem entirely out of place here.  

The longest price on the board (27-1) belongs to the Venezuelan born filly Santa Eduviges (Zann x Night Shift x Mr. Prospector).  The good news is that the Latinos Del Mundo entry is undefeated (3 for 3) at the distance on the turf.  The not so good news is that the victories were in local bred stakes and a hot race.  Buena suerte Senor Haack!  

Co-favored at 6-1 is Bizall’s Courtyard LV  representing Only Stayers.  The big Camelot gelding crushed a stellar G-2 field at 11 furlongs two back.  He was a decent 5th in a G-1 last time out.  My biggest concern as a bettor is that he has never gone more than 12 furlongs.  The extra half mile can be a killer for some.  Certainly deserves respect but seems somewhat under laid at 6-1. 

Hoosier Racing will be represented by Jakematt’sMy Gal Barbara.  The Deep Impact mare has won a pair of graded stakes and, at her best, would be a formidable foe.  Problem is that she hasn’t raised a gallop since LAST August.  Five consecutive really bad races.  The worst one being her only try at 16 furlongs.  Her trainer is among the best in the world, a perennial top 10 stakes winning conditioner.  So maybe he can figure a way to resurrect her career in a  big hurry.  She’s been spelled for almost three months and that may be a big help.   Tune in Sunday to find out.

Cadet sends out his “now” horse for The Great Wall.  Last time out Corporal Snitzel won the G-1 Gold Glass by open lengths while posting an eye popping speed figure of 117 for the two mile journey.  The son of Snitzel crushed an excellent field in the process.  Needless to say, anything close to that effort brings home a medal for Empire State Racing.  Regular rider A Jolly will be back in the saddle.  His odds of 9-1 seem both generous and puzzling.  The one to beat if he doesn’t bounce.

Most trainers would love to have a horse that averages $10,000 per start for 33 races.  I sure would.  Private Rocks has done just that without the benefit of a stakes win.  The strikingly handsome gray by Rock of Gibraltar has made his money the old fashioned way, by knocking heads with upper level allowance and listed stakes company.  His occasional foray into graded stakes has netted checks every time including a GP badge which he earned for finishing 3rd in a G-2.  Always tries hard for Jubalrutledge and Northwest Racing Circuit.  

A very interesting long shot (17-1) is Hispano Parlante’s front running De Llano Adentro.  I’m guessing trainer Matarile is Ledwith in disguise, or one of his amigos, as the fleet footed Invincible Spirit colt was bred from Santiago’s Galileo mare K’s Bocado Y Brida.  This is that mare’s first foal.  She wasn’t bred last year but I bet she will be soon.  Her colt has not lost in five starts this year.  And his last win was at two miles.  This will be a huge test for class as this field is much more formidable than the allowance company he has been routinely destroying.  Will he spring the upset?

Dishonest Media is another former claimer seeking Equinics gold.  Tees  paid $40,000 for the son of Blame early last year.  Last time out Dishonest Media won a two mile G-2 by a block while posting a 111 speed number.  That was his third stakes win of 2020.  His crafty conditioner has spelled him since May so he should be fresh as a daisy.  Worked an impressive half in :47.23 on Wednesday under tight lines and couldn’t blow out a candle afterward.  Could it be podium time for All-Stars Racing?

Last but not least is the other co-favorite, Deyoto’s multiple G-1 winning Spartan Reef.  The impeccably bred (Galileo x Kingmambo x Dynaformer) five year old is hoping to bounce back after finishing a distant third last time out behind Corporal Snitzel.  The deadly stalker posted a 119 last year while winning the G-1 Longchamps Marathon so he definitely has the tools to bring back gold for Midas.