Buck Dharma Handicap

When the band Blue Oyster Cult began in the mid 1960’s, they thought it would be a good idea to adopt individual names as outrageous as the band’s.  Lead guitarist Donald Roeser adopted the name Buck Dharma, and the name stuck.

Flash forward a few years and we come to the Buck Dharma Handicap, one of the oldest graded stakes in the Sim.  Now in its tenth running, the 11 furlong turf race has attracted a typical field where, history says anything can happen.

The race has been won by longshots and favorites; it’s been won wire to wire and by last-to-first late runners.  The highlight in its history came in 2002 when the incomparable Joe Cayenne thrashed a field and set the stake record in the midst of a six race turf graded stakes winning streak.

There are few strangers in this field – most have faced at least one other in here before, and the trainers are well known: Lenny is here, the Supers have a couple runners, Pye  is here, Kyogle, and OKDavid among others.  It should be fun.

The weatherman predicts a dry track.  In honor of Buck Dharma, the third floor concession stand will offer raw oysters on a blue dish for five dollars.  They tried the same offering last year without much success, but the customers they did attract were so enthusiastic management decided to present the treat again.

Here is a look at the field:

PP 1  ROSENTHAL(IRE)  (ROCK OF GIBRALTAR (IRE) x CAERLEON x MILL REEF) bred and trained by simsters8 (The Evil Empire, 19%)  Odds: 3-1

The deserving favorite comes in off a lifetime best race as he handily beat a strong field that included Harrison’s Clocks and Darkdoun.  We love horses that know how to win both on the lead and from well off the pace.  He now has been in the money in seven of his eleven graded starts.  So much to like: his earnings per start are the highest in the race; he is the only runner ranked in the top twenty; and jockey Oxon is off to a tremendous start in 2008.

PP 2  SEMI CHARMED PYE(IRE)  (THEATRICAL(IRE) x RAHY x COZZENE) bred and trained by lordpye4 (The Big Oil Conglomerate, 12%), Odds: 12-1

No one needs to put words into Pye’s mouth, but I think it’s safe to say one of his proudest moments came when one of his mares upset a field of boys that included Ermington Pegasus just when that one looked invincible.  Pye tries again with one of the two distaff entries in the race.  Semi upset a top-five mare in Cache in her last race, and she owns a stakes win at this distance.  She wins a third of her races, but she’s never been able to win two in a row and she’s winless in three tries against males.  An upset here is not expected, but that’s why you get 12-1.

PP 3  AMERICAN ELECTRIC  (TREMPOLINO x WOODMAN x GREEN DANCER) bred by greendancer, trained by bewitched (Ajm Racing, 17%)  Odds: 11-1

With only 17 lifetime starts, this six-year-old is still improving.  He’s earned checks in all four lifetime graded starts, including his upset win, at odds similar to today’s, in the Grade II Bluegrass Cup Turf.  He’s been climbing the ratings and is now ranked in the top fifty long turf runners.  He’ll come from well off the pace and has every reason to expect another check today.  This is a well managed horse.

PP 4  LEAPED CLEAR  (JUMP START x KRIS S. x GENERAL ASSEMBLY) bred by bigscoobi,  trained by bayourace (Robsscoobi Stables, 20%)  Odds: 6-1

He recently ran off a string of five straight allowance wins, favored in each, and finally made his stakes debut last time.  The field he faced had three graded winners in it – an unusually strong list stakes field.  Leaped stuck his head in front at the top of the lane and held on for second.  High percentage barn was encouraged enough to step up to graded company.  Horse is unquestionable hot right now and he showed he could compete at this level last time.  Sure, he has a chance, but I want a bigger price on a five-year-old making his graded debut in his 27^th start.

PP 5  HARRISON’S CLOCKS  (DYNAFORMER x SADLER’S WELLS x HABITAT)  bred and trained by tulloch (Tulloch Stables, 11%)  Odds: 8-1

On November 18^th, you would have loved this horse. He had just won three of his last four, including a smashing victory in the Grade II Flying Carpet, where he prevailed over American Electric, The Gas Guzzler, Elusive Riley and others.  The Flying Carpet race was especially impressive: he’d always been an early speed horse, yet he came flying from near the back of the pack to win by almost three lengths.  Horses that can adapt to the race are the best bets in horse racing.  Unfortunately, between November 18^th and January 19^th, he ran a race that throws everything in doubt.  That DelPenn race was horrible.  Rosenthal’s jockey was already getting his weight checked and Dardoun was well into his cooldown by the time this one crossed the finish line.  Forgive that race, and 8-1 is a good value.  Focus on that race and he’s an easy toss-out.  I asked the 8-Ball and it said “Ask again later.”  Thanks a lot, 8-Ball.

PP 6  SILENCERS(KY)  (KINGMAMBO x DANEHILL x PLEASANT COLONY)  bred by ridersup, trained by super1 (More Evil Than the Evil Empire, 18%)  Odds: 6-1

As bad as the DelPenn race were for Harrison’s Clocks, it was a great day for Silencers.  He handily beat a field as strong as the one that Rosenthal beat.  Sure, at the same distance on the same day at the same track, Rosenthal ran about two lengths faster, but when you win by over four lengths, it’s hard to complain you didn’t win by over six lengths.  On the downside, if you believe in bounces, Silencers makes a classic candidate.  His speed figure last race was some seven points higher than he’d ever run before, and he has been mostly staying in owner-restricted races lately.

PP 7  ROADHOUSE BLUES  (JAVA GOLD x UNBRIDLED x TURN-TO) bred and trained by twinoaks (More Evil Than the Evil Empire, 10%)  Odds: 5-1

Owner restricted stakes wins are usually less impressive than the first seem, but DelPenn always attract quality fields.  All three wins in his current streak have come against very tough fields, and he’s made them look easy.  His last speed figure was overshadowed by stable mate Silencers and by Rosenthal’s big figures, but he’s “Super” sharp right now.  Closer will be happy to see several early speed take off in front.

PP 8  SILIANE(IRE)  (MANNDAR (IRE) x STRAVINSKY x JADE HUNTER) bred and trained by planoaxius (Planoaxia Stables, 13%)  Odds: 17-1

Four-year-old filly has a four race win streak and seven wins in her last eight starts.  She’s beaten boys twice during that stretch, but she’s never faced a graded field before, and she’s never faced a field this tough.  Last two speed figures are her best, but they’re on the light side compared to some others.  The good news is that she’s still improving.  A good showing here makes her one to really watch this year.

PP 9  THE GAS GUZZLER  (FANTASTIC LIGHT x MAJESTIC LIGHT x RAINBOW QUEST)  bred and trained by daisymasha (Daisymasha Stables, 10%)  Odds: 37-1

It took 12 races and then finally finding a four horse field to break his maiden, but he was cashing checks and more than paying his vet bills all the while.  He still hasn’t cracked a triple digit speed figure and is still eligible for n2x allowance races, which explains the long odds.  Two races back, at 68-1, he excited the crowd by sticking his nose in the lead at the top of the stretch in the Grade II Flying Carpet.  Continued improvement from that and someone could be sitting with a $75 win ticket.

PP 10  ELUSIVE RILEY(KY)  (ELUSIVE QUALITY x HALO x RAISE A NATIVE)  bred and trained by okdavid196  (Red Dirt Runners, 8%), Odds: 9-1

Last May, he handily won a listed stakes and tried the Grade III Fernazzle Classic, finishing out of the money.  Then in September he followed a handy allowance win with a poor showing in the Grade II Jockey Club.  Then in October, after another easy allowance win, he tried the Flying Carpet and finished fifth behind Harrison’s Clocks and American Electric (but just ahead of The Gas Guzzler).  Now he tries graded stakes for the fourth time, coming in off a big win in a listed stakes.  There is no doubt in my mind that some horses can be as fast as they come in allowance and listed company, but are programmed to run below their ability in graded stakes.  That may not be the case here – he’s a fast horse – but I’ll delay backing him until he proves he can handle the class.

PP 11  SUSHI  (SAKHEE x SUNDAY SILENCE x ROBERTO)  bred by zeco3, trained by black3car2 (Black3car Stables, 8%) Odds: 52-1

After watching their claim crack into the low 90’s in speed figures and picking up a win in a $7500 claiming race in his four starts, the barn decides make this ambitious jump in class.  He must be showing something in his workouts that he’s not shown in a race.  He’s never come close to trying this level in 26 starts. 

PP 12  DARKDOUN(IRE)  (GALILEO (IRE) x PEINTRE CELEBRE (IRE) x CAERLEON)  bred and trained by peepsclaim  (Cobra Kai Racing Stables, 14%)  Odds: 6-1

He won a Grade II stakes his three year old season, and he’s picked up a couple listed wins and over $750,000 in earnings since.  All of his wins have been wire to wire, so he’ll be sure to try to steal this on the front end.  There is other good early speed, and recently he’s been fading badly when challenged.  For pace handicappers, Darkdoun’s trip and pace may be the key to this race.

Summary.  It’s tough to pick against the favorite here.  Rosenthal is a solid horse, and if he runs his race, he should win.  The hope for others is that he’s about to descend the form cycle.  We’ll pick Harrison’s Clock for the second best chance, and the hard closing Roadhouse Blues as the third choice.  Semi Charmed Pye is the longshot with the biggest chance.