Grade 1 Sourball Mile at Kentucky

The Sourball Mile  – Kentucky – Saturday 3^rd October 2020 at 3.00pm EST.

Grade 1/Group 1 $750,000 Restricted to 3yo & Older.

8 Furlongs/1600m Turf.

We are off to Kentucky on Saturday for the running of the Sourball Mile a Grade 1 race worth a cool $750,000. The weather is fine and the surface is firm for todays event. We have a field of 13 runners for the race today and what a nice collection of horse flesh we have. Let’s take a look at the field.

1. 21385 – Assessthesituation  (Pivotal) Owned by wnrscircle. Jockey – R.Michaels. 5/1

This 4yo colt has a nice record, 13-4-3-3 all on turf. Has been racing well in graded company of late. Last time out he finished 5^th in the G2 Bernie Baruch over 9F coming from well back in the run and finishing off very hard to beaten 4.5 lengths running an SP of 115. Prior to that he was 8^th in the G1 Eddie O Cap again over 9F coming from well back and not really making an impression in the run home, running an 110SP. His last win came 4 starts back in the G3 The Marcy’s Fort over 8.5F stalking the pace in 4^th before rounding them up in the straight and winning very impressively by a widening 1.75 lengths and running a super SP 120. Think this may be his best distance as he has run some great race over 8F and he should be storming home at the end and is a big chance.

2. 51111 – Thenameoftheking  (Desert King) Owned by billzpaid2. Jockey A. Fairfield. 31/1

3yo colt taking on the older horses today. Has a nice record 10-6-1-0. All his wins have been on turf and he has won his past 4 starts in impressive fashion. Last time out he had his 1^st start in a stakes race winning the Ericas Well Turf Mile coming from well back to storm home and win by a widening 1 ¾ lengths running an impressive SP 111. Prior to that run he rattled of three straight allowance wins over the mile the latest in Arizona just stalking the pace before taking over in the straight for another impressive victory by 3 lengths running SP 106. This horse has been progressing nicely for the stable and he deserves his crack at the top grade after some nice performances at the lower level. Think he will be running on strongly and at huge odds is a decent chance of an upset.

3. 11115 – Upstanding Guy  (Frankel) Owned by rsb. Jockey – B. Ryan. 5/2

Here is our favourite for the race 6yo with a great record 21-12-3-2 and nearly $4million in the bank. Had won four on end before his last start 5^th in the G2 Dell Web Mile over 8F coming from well off the pace and running home well without threatening. He ran an SP of 110 that day. Prior to this he won the G1 Eddie O Cap again from well back before winding up strongly in the stretch for an ultra impressive 1 ¾ length win running a whopping 120. Prior to this was another impressive win in the G1 Cobbler Mile where again he was well back before unleashing that devastating sprint in the stretch to score by a widening 1 ½ lengths running another impressive SP 118. He won the G2 Frisco Mile the start prior and again was impressive from well back with an SP of 118. And he won the G1 Breeders Bowl Mile last year running 122SP wining comfortably in the end. This horse has been ultra impressive at his latest outings winning four Graded races. He is a formidable opponent and with his running style look for him to be storming home at the business end. Huge Chance.

4. 32211 – Khal Snitzel  (Snitzel) Owned by 24flat. Jockey – R. Dowell. 8/1

Another with an impressive record 13-4-4-2. This 4yo colt out of Snitzel has been tearing the track up lately. Scored an impressive win in the G3 The Desmond last time out over this route coming from well back to round them up in the straight to score by a widening 1 ½ lengths running an SP 118 in the process. That was his first foray into Graded racing and he took to it well. Prior to that he won two allowance races over 8.5F running 107 and 115SP on a shifting track coming from midfield both times and winning in impressive fashion. Looks like he has taken the next step and is real progressive type who has been impressive in his last few starts. Only needs a repeat of those efforts to be a winning chance here. Nice chance.

5. 11511 – Elves Among Us (Elvstroem) Owned by bukowski. Jockey – J. Ledwith. 52/1

Cracking 3yo gelding stepping out with the big boys for the first time. Has an imposing record 11-7-3-0. Massive odds for this race despite his record, although this is a giant leap for him and can respect that the stable need to know what they have here. Last time out he won the Allied Assault Turf Mile leading all the way to win by 1 ½ lengths running an SP 108 which is his best to date. This was also his first go at a route which is nice setup for this race. Prior to this he won an allowance over 6F with an SP of 100. Sat just off the pace that day and put them away in the straight. He won the Fleet Overture Turf Challenge over 5F the start before leading virtually all the way running a 91 SP. His sole effort over a route produced his best run to date. If he can get an easy lead and kick on in the stretch he will be there in the end, just maybe a little early for him but as he matures look out. Outside chance.

6. 11151 – Flagstriker (US Navy Flag) Owned by simsters7. Jockey – L. Radzinski. 16/1

Another 3yo colt tackling the big boys for the first time. Has a great record 12-8-3-0. Never finishing further back than 5^th in his lifetime. That 5^th was two starts back in the G1 The Jean Brat over 8F and although well held throughout did run a nice SP 106 making up a little ground in the straight beaten 8 lengths. Last start was very impressive winning the G1 2020 Equinics – Space Shuttle over this distance stalking the pace in 2^nd before taking over and just nabbing the leader on the line to win by a neck running an SP 115 (Best).  He won the G1 2000 Guineas over 8F  in Newmarket prior to that run again stalking the pace before charging late to win by a widening 2.5 lengths on the line running an SP 109. This horse has been super impressive to date winning 4 graded races and his last win in the Equinics was very impressive. He is the pick of the 3yo’s going into this and is well and truly up to this level. Great outside chance.

7. 00077– Star Incanto (Per Incanto) Owned by dicko7. Jockey – A. Levell. 85/1

7yo trying to wind back the clock and regain some form. He has been well below his best lately and would take a massive turn around to feature here but if he can recapture some of his early form then he is not without a chance. Last start ran 7^th in a 5F allowance race virtually staying in that position the whole race and making no impression in the straight running an SP 79. Start prior was again 7^th over 8F beaten 24 lengths running an SP 75. His run in the Meetball Turf Mile was probably his best for some time although running 13^th and beaten more than 23 lengths. Look you probably could not make a case for him today but as I said if he recaptures some old form then anything is possible.

8. 71173 – My Troubled Past (Chequer) Owned by acote3. Jockey – J. Caves. 13/1

Nice record 19-5-5-3. Last start ran 3^rd in the Jericho Judge Turf Route over 8.5F stalking from just off the pace and running on strongly in the straight to just miss beaten a head running an SP 104. Prior to that he ran in 3 allowance races, winning two over 8.5F with SP of 110 and 108 respectively again just stalking the pace and unleashing in the straight to win both easily by 2 lengths. Ran some really nice races last year and just struggling a little to recapture that form but his last last couple of wins in allowance races were good and if he can repeat those efforts then he has a chance. Will be thereabouts at the end.

9. 01923 – Holy Cornholio (More Than Ready) Owned by manzarek. Jockey – A. Rolling. 5/1

Record reads 16-7-2-2. Has been racing in the best company of late with 8 of his last 9 starts in G1 company. Last start ran 3^rd in the G1 Canada Mile coming from well back and running home hard in the straight going down by just under 6 lengths running an SP 109. Prior to that he was an impressive 2^nd in the G1 2020 Equinics – Machu Pichu over 8F coming from well back in the run and storming home to be beaten just under 2 lengths running an SP of 118 in the process. He won the G1 Locksmith 8F turf 4 start back again running on from well back to win running away by a widening 2 ¼ lenghts with an impressive 117 SP. He just has to repeat his run in the Locksmith to have a great winning chance in this. Has been racing really well and I’d expect him to be hitting the line hard. Big chance.

10. 83362 – Dezena (Novellist) Owned by empirehouse8. Jockey – J. Yount. 27/1

Nice 4yo colt with nice record 14-6-3-2. Has been racing in mainly allowance races so this is a big step up to a G1 however did run 3^rd in the G3 South Florida Mile 3 starts back starting strongly to sit 2^nd outside the leader before just fading late into 3^rd beaten just under 2 lengths running an SP of 109. In the last two allowance races he has finished 6^th and 2^nd respectively the last start 2^nd trying to lead all the way and opening up a huge 8 ¾ length lead before being run down the last furlong running an SP of 102. He would have to run a career best to be a winning chance in this but anything is possible and he is a lovely horse. Outside chance.

11. 14211 – VT Verbatim (Pioneer of the Nile) Owned by mightforego29. Jockey – F. Oxon. 10/1

Lovely 4yo colt who has been racing really well of late winning 3 of his past 5 starts. The latest being a win in the G3 Crimson Bank over 8F where he was mid pack before running on hard the last furlong to just get up by a head on the line running a 112 SP. Prior to that he won the Inside Strength Turf Sprint over 7.5F running on very strongly again to win running away by 1.5 lenghts with 115SP. He ran 2^nd in the Dynatango Field Turf Sprint over 6.5F the start prior running an SP of 109 when stalking the pace and running on in the straight. The last start win in the Crimson Bank was his first route win but first try on turf route. He ran a terrific race in that coming from mid pack and storming home and I expect we will see the same tactics here. If he repeats that effort he is in with a chance. Chance in open race.

12. 13891 – Monster Inside Me (Galileo) Owned by liam29. Jockey – B. Wu. 6/1

When the Monster is on he is on. Has been mixing his form of late but when he goes big look out, as was the case last start in the G2 Rennen Mile where he was a mile back in the run some 13 lengths before unleashing a powerful finish in the straight to win easily by 2 lengths running an SP 117. The two starts prior to this were average in the G3 Hess Mile 9^th 104SP and the G3 Aught Conn Cup 8.5F 8^th running 109SP. Prior to those runs he was 3rd in the G2 Arcade Handicap over 8F again a mile of them in the running before unleashing that super finishing burst beaten just under 2 lengths with an SP of 114. He won the Giantsbane Turf Memorial 8F turf 5 starts back with another amazing effort from well back in the field and unleashing in the straight with an SP of 119. If this horse is on look out as he is capable of some amazing sectionals. Given his racing pattern he will need some luck but will be storming home at the business end. Knockout chance.

13. 45215 – Not One Red Doubt (Not a Single Doubt) Owned by magnus. Jockey – Z. Ayya. 10/1

Has run some nice races of late and has been very impressive. He tried G1 company last start in the G1 Suffix 8F where he settled 2^nd in the run and just wilted late to finish 5^th beaten 4 ¼ lenghts with an SP of 110. The start prior was a very impressive victory in the Peintre Indyman Turf Mile where he stalked the pace before coming on strongly in the straight to win running away by 1.5 lenghts running a 118SP. He ran 2^nd in the Lobby Turf Mile again settling just off the pace in 2^nd and staying on strongly in the straight to finish just a length behind the winner running a 113SP. Enters this race in some nice form and his run in the G1 suffix was very good. If he runs up to his effort in the Peintre Indyman then he could win without surprising. Think he has a great chance just stalking the pace.

Picks.

Solid field for this G1. Many chances but see blow for the picks.

9. – Holy Cornholio 5/1. Think he will be flying down the stretch. Just hoping he doesn’t’ get to far back.

4.   – Khal Snitzel 8/1. Has been progressing nicely and his first start in Graded company was huge. Big chance to win this.

3.  – Upstanding Guy 5/2 Fav . Ultra impressive horse. Just hoping he doesn’t get to far back as he has a powerful finish and can run all over the top of them today.

Longshot: 2 31/1. Think the 3yo Inthenameoftheking has a big chance in this at huge odds. Won his past 4 starts in impressive fashion and can see him taking the leap here.