Elec-Tri-City!
Elec-Tri-City!
A maximum field go to post in the Grade 1 Sprint at
KING OF THE SLEWS – first attempt at six and a half and the only concern is whether this trip is a little on the sharp side. His best work is over seven and he likes to pick up the pieces when the speed merchants have given their all. Could turn the Sooner-Husker G2 form around when he was closing well on Atakachaw but ran out of track. He had three of today’s other contenders in behind that day but it’s a brave man who puts a line through any of the runners on that form alone.
BIG MAN’S BRIDGE – only defeat this year came in the Sand Castle Golden Sprint G1 when he had a few of these behind and only King of the Cats in front. That was the closest he has been to winning a group event and LTO won a small Allowance race after a lengthy layoff, taking the Deputy Loving Cap in between. The ‘old man’ of the race may still have something to show these young pretenders but will have to be at the very top of his game to take this.
VOMARRAMOV – he was probably finishing the best of the lot in the Sooner-Husker G2 and a reproduction of that gives him a chance here. Wasn’t at his best LTO over today’s trip but that race came with only a two week rest and it looks like he needs a little more as he enters the twilight of a distinguished career. Has two top grade races to his credit this year and can match the best of these on his day.
RUTHLESS YARD – might find one or two of these too good based on all efforts this year but has a couple of decent stakes wins against some nice types to his name, the most recent only four runs back in the Surely Bail. He followed that win up with a strong finishing runner up in the Busted Speech Memorial to record his season’s best figure. Last two efforts may not have been the best of times but on both occasions he was finishing well and a little luck in running could see him close again.
MINE BLUFF – outsider of the field and with the dubious honor of having the lowest figure in the field when running a 1, three races back. There was obviously something amiss that day and the run can be discounted. Came from a long way back LTO in the FANG G2 event, only to find one tracking his every move and shooting past in the final stretch. He had Group winner Hattori Hanzo behind that day but HH prefers a longer trip normally. There’s plenty of time for Mine Bluff to make his mark and if he runs to the top of his form today, he might just come up with a little prize money.
EMPIRE OF THE SUN – gate to wire win on his latest start over an extended seven, it is slightly surprising to see this one drop back a furlong. He ran a great race that day to record his best effort in winning the G2 Booker T. Handicap – a repeat of that run will surely see him in the frame again today. I’ll be looking forward to seeing this one over a mile or slightly further and will be putting him in my notebook whatever the outcome today.
THE TOOL MAN – fifth in this race last year, has finished in front of many of these and has finished behind them too! Looked a little one-paced in the Sooner-Husker and he may be finding the six furlong races a bit on the sharp side these days. The extra half furlong can only help this one and his G2 Astroturf Sprint win four back saw him lead home no less that eight Group winners. If he can run to that standard today, there will be precious few to take him on…but which Tool Man will turn up on the day?
PURSUER T – no stranger to the winner’s circle in Allowance and Stakes company, but yet to make the step up to Graded racing pay dividends. Rated in behind the frontrunners LTO in the Exciting Sal Challenge and ran past them in the final stretch. Previously had a gate to wire win in a lesser Allowance NW3s on good ground. If he is to take this event, the tactics will have to be just perfect and I won’t be taking any of the 12/1 on offer.
KING OF THE CATS – if the M/L price of 7/1 holds up, this could be the best bet of the day (valuewise). Well down the field when trying to run the legs off them last year, finishing in eighth but his recently adopted stalking role seemed to do the trick last time when taking the Middle of Nowhere G3 in good style with Atakachaw and Ruthless Yard in 3rd and 8th respectively. He is the highest earner in the field with over $2m and on his day can compete with anything, as shown when taking last year’s Breeders Bowl in an incredible 126! Five from eight and all graded races this season, I’ll have this one on ALL tickets!
DAN ON THE RUN – was beaten by the shortest of margins LTO in the Pasdequoit Special by Empire of the Sun. He had a few of the others behind that day and has earned his place in today’s race. Followed up relative disappointment in the Astroturf with back to back wins in the Bluegrass Sprint G2 and MD Breeders Bowl G3. He is meeting several ‘old friends’ again and, as with many others, he is capable of taking them on and getting a result.
HUGE GLACKEN – put his best foot forward when winning the Bold Fred Cap two back and that run inspired him to better things when finishing just a length behind Sly Cat in the Prince’s Knight G1 last time. It has taken him a while to find his best form this year but he must be on a high and 17/1 looks a huge price. A lot will depend on how much his G1 effort took out of him; that race was only a fortnight ago but if he improves on the run, he will almost certainly hit the board.
DIABOLICAL PRINCE – just got up to beat King of the Slews in the Si’ Amigo G2 a couple of starts ago and followed up with a fast finishing 2nd in the Nightly Touch Challenge Stakes. His one disappointment this year was the Bluegrass Sprint G2 where he didn’t look to be at his best off a ten week layoff. He will be fresher today and could turn the tables on a couple that finished ahead of him that day. He won’t be far behind at any stage of the race and if he can kick off the final turn, he may well see the winner’s circle again.
HIGH GAIN(IRE) – started the year with some stunning performances when taking the Florida BB Sprint Championship G2 and following up with a win in a decent Rock’s Texas Cooking Series Stakes race. He lost his way a little mid season as others improved past him whilst he seemed to continue at the same pace. His most recent outing in the Voluptuous Count Special was a great move forward when he finished a close second and he will be looking to get back to winning ways in short order; whether or not it is in this race remains to be seen.
ATAKACHAW – runner up to the now retired Crazy Horse Too in this race last year, he will be looking to go one better in this highly competitive renewal. Regularly swaps prize money in this class and has been winning Graded races his entire career. A repetition of his Sooner-Husker G2 race is likely to be enough to bring home the spoils but this race could be more about tactics than raw speed.
This is by far the most competitive race I have had the pleasure to preview (and I see why it was the last to be ‘claimed’ by the BTB staff!). I would not wish to pick one horse to carry my hopes and dreams, but would be proud to have a horse of this caliber in any of my meager stables.
The title of this piece was to be a ‘clever’ pun but I feel it sums up the race very nicely. The one thing that remains is will there be a shock?
Olwhisper reporting from