LOTS OF BIG NAMES RUNNING IN THE GRADE I CALIFORNIA HANDICAP
While much of the current focus and fanfare in the sim racing world is currently geared up for the 3 year olds quest to make the Bluegrass Derby we must not forget the older handicap division which contains a very talented group of horses with many large purse events for the season. This weeks stop is The Grade I California Handicap in California where a field of 14 will be vying for the winner’s share of the $1,000,000 purse. The dirt track has been listed as fast for the 10 panel contest and a fantastic race is expected as one of 3 Graded races on the CA card this weekend.
Let’s take a look at today’s field:
1)PASSING STONE(KY)—7/1—jimcougar sends this 4 year old colt out of VINDICATION with a record of 15-6-4-2 and lifetime earnings of $2,413,740. This 4th divisional ranked colt races for Lenny’s The Evil Empire stables based at the GR Simsters. This colt was a late starter only racing once in December in his 2 year old season but that did not stop him from having an outstanding sophomore campaign. While he has only managed a pair of Graded wins those coming in The Grade II Arkansas Juvenile-a derby prep lock race that earned him a trip to last years Bluegrass Derby and then probably his bigest win of his career in The Grade I Travelers Stakes in New York last August. He has finished close in many other big races including a 2nd place finish in last years Bluegrass Derby and the season ending Grade I Topicount Special. He prepped for this race by running in The Grade II Toilet Scrubbers Annonymous Handicap 7 weeks ago where he tried to wire the field in the 9.5 furlong contest but tired last to end up in 3rd. His top speed rating of 116 earned in the World Cup last year buts him right here with any others in the field. He will probably press the early pace or sit tucked right behind the leaders if he does not take matters in his own hands and cut the fractions himself. The rider for today’s race will be Gossett (29.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—110.
2)KING OF THE WIND—9/1—topicount4 sends this 6 year old horse out of DEPUTY MINISTER with a record of 40-9-4-5 and lifetime earnings of $957,517. He is out of the he-mare FUAMATU MA’AFALA who was 2/21 at the track. This 24th divisional ranked horse races for the GR Simsters division of the Topicount stables. This veteran campaigner appears to be peaking as he gets older in his career with his speed numbers showing much improvement over the past year or so. He actually did not become a stakes winner until August of last year when he was an 11/1 longshot winner right her in California in the CA Classic in which he beat some heady opponents in ERMINGTON PEGUSUS, SOLAR SONG and the prerace favorite right her today MAMBO BONES. He posted his top speed rating of 114 in that race and while he did win an overnite stake in OK in the fall has yet to repeat that big performance from that day. Perhaps a return to the scene here in California will bring back a similar performance today. He is a stalker who sits just behind the early leaders and should be fairly close to the front of the field for this race here. This will be his second start of the year after also competing in a Michigan Grade II last time out where he tired in the second half of the race ending up in 9th place. The rider for today’s race will be Lewis (26.8%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—107.
3)ELUSIVE RIDGE(KY)—23/1—godsmack sends this 4 year old colt out of ELUSIVE QUALITY with a record of 14-5-3-4 and lifetime earnings of $123,136. He is out of the mare RIDGE CHURNING who was 2/9 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including this stakes winner. This 263rd divisional ranked colt races for the Ace stables based over in Ireland. While all races have favorites they also have longshots and the long odd punters will surely be looking at this as one of the two big odd entries in today’s race. That is not to say this colt does not have talent but he may be a bit shy on experience as he makes his first foray in the Graded Stakes division with this start today. He has been a steady and productive allowance campaigner and won his first added money event last time out in his 2008 debut by winning The Ferdiback Desert Stakes in South Korea over 10.5 furlongs where he pressed the frontrunner in a 5 horse field and took command in the stretch to win by 3 lengths posting his lifetime best 108 speed rating. Can he repeat the performance with the rise in class today, who knows? but if he does and you have him in your tickets you will be rewarded with a big return. The rider for today’s race will be Simcox (5.3%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.
4)ATAUN(KY)—10/1—palmisland sends this 4 year old colt out of GONE WEST with a record of 18-6-6-2 and lifetime earnings of $2,855,670. He is out of the he-mare AGUIRRE who was 2/17 at the track. This 5th divisional ranked colt races for the Minnesota Downs division of the Rafa stables. After a troubling 2 year old campaign trying to find the right conditions for this colt to run things turned around when he won the Grade I Corkscrew Stakes in Kentucky earning him a start in The Bluegrass Derby which he took advantge of by winning the first leg of the triple crown at 14/1 odds. He followed that remarkable late closing win with a pair of top 3 finishes in the other 2 legs of the triple crown making it a great spring for this talented colt. After another top 3 finish though he struggled in a pair of races in late summer early fall causing him to be layed off skipping the BB Classic race and more than likely ending his chance for the eclipse award last season. After regrouping for a 3 month rest he returned to run at his home base in The Minnesota Classic where he once again showed his dominant second half run crushing the field by more than 4 lengths posting his lifetime best 113 speed rating. He remained sharp for his 2008 debut finishing a charging 2nd in The Grade II Toilet Scrubbers in Michigan and with the extra half furlong in distance today is one of those who will challenge for the win here today. The rider for today’s race will be Turner (9.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—110.
5)IRON BOCK(KY)—7/1—ironmcc sends this 4 year old colt out of GRAND SLAM with a record of 14-6-3-3 and lifetime earnings of $371,332. This 43rd divisional ranked colt races out of the Iron Racing Stables based over at Del/Penn National. At first glance at this race it surprised me to see this colt as one of the favorites as he may not be as well know as some of the other competitors in the field but his recent performance make him one of those to keep an eye out in this race today. He did not make his stakes debut until last summer where he won his first pair of added money events and then closed the season with his first Graded start where he could not hold onto a big stretch lead in The Grade III Queen of The County Stakes settling for 2nd place. He would make up for that performance by capturing The Grade II Willing And Able stakes in his 2008 debut hanging on in a stretch duel but once again went back to losing the lead late in his last start in a Vermont Grade II. His performances make you wonder if 10 furlongs is the ideal distance for him and he will probably have to deal with others when he vies for the early lead here today so stamina may become an issue as the race progress to the stretch drive. His last 3 speed ratings have been top notch with a 116 sandwiched between a 115 and 113. The rider for today’s race will be Peeples (11.4%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—115.
6)THRILL RIDE(KY)—24/1—super30 sends this 4 year old colt out of EDDINGTON with a record of 20-5-3-2 and lifetime earnings of $281,665. He is out of the mare MISS SEVENTY SIX who was 8/27 at the track and who has 7 foals on record of which 6 are winners including 2 stakes winners. This 364th divisional ranked colt races for Super’s More Evil Than The Evil Empire stables based at Del/Penn National. It just would not feel like a stake race if there was not an entry from the Super stables in it and this is the colt running for the big outfit today. He is the longshot on the board but may be in some exotic tickets to enhance the exactor and triactor prices. This colt was a stake winner at 2 year old but faultered when he tied Graded company in his freshman season. Last year he won a pair of overnite added money events one of which was restricted and appears to have earned this start when he won last time out in a NW4X allowance race over an off track in NY where he matched his lifetime best speed rating of 105. This closer will wait for the second half of the race before making hitting his best stride buy may be way to far out of it by the time that comes around for him to have a shot at a top 3 finish here today. The rider for today’s race will be Lombard (22.2%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—101.
7)SINANJU—12/1—frosty sends this 6 year old horse out of RAHY with a record of 37-9-6-6 and lifetime earnings of $1,517,772. This 46th divisional ranked horse is a stable mate of #3 ELUSIVE RIDGE at the Ace stables based in Ireland. This horse likes going long as displayed by his 7th place rankings in the long dirt route division for older horses. He has 6 stake wins in his career including a pair of Graded wins in The 2006 Out Of The City Handicap in NY and last year in The 13 furlong Grade III Gallant Socks Handicap in Idaho. He has been racing mostly in longer dirt races of late and will be cutting back in distance for this start but he has won a Grade I at this distance before which should be kept in the back of everyones mind when they handicap this race. This closer has posted his top speed rating of 109 three times in his career including once in this very race in 2006 where he rallied from the back strongly to finish 2nd to LACONIA LIGHT. If he enjoys the cut in distance today he may be a factor late in the race. The rider for today’s race will be Bates (8.6%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—104.
8)OTTO CAUSES(IRE)—8/1—verona sends this 5 year old horse out of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY with a record of 24-7-5-7 and lifetime earnings of $1,353,315. This 76th divisional ranked horse races for the Pierchinski Stables based at the GR Simsters. This horse was a 2 time stake winner as a 3 year old when he captured a pair of overnite stakes races. Last year he only won one race, The Grade I Glenn Handicap in Florida but finished 3rd on five other occasions usually against Graded stake company. He continued that pattern with a 3rd place finish to start of the 2008 campaign in The Grade III Gallant Socks Handicap over 13 furlongs on the dirt. His top speed rating of 117 was posted in a (you guessed it) 3rd place finish in last years BB Classic where he cut all the early fractions but finished behind SOLAR SONG and AWEGUSTUS in the stretch duel. He cuts back to 10 furlongs here today but should have company on the front end here which may leave him vulnerable to one of the closers in the late stretch. The rider for today’s race will be Wood (0%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—109.
9)MAMBO BONES—6/1—jrogue5 sends this 6 year old horse out of KINGMAMBO with a record of 20-5-7-2 and lifetime earnings of $726,535. He is out of the mare DEM BONES who was 7/42 at the track and who has 4 foals on record of which 3 are winners including this Graded stake winning horse. This 15th divisional ranked horse races for the unafilliated Jrogue stables. Once thing of interest with this horse is that he did not make it to the track until his 4 year old season and that was for only 1 race on the turf in December. He switched to the dirt last year and has stayed on that surface ever since. He won 3 stake races last year, 2 of which were Graded events in The Grade II Brooke Lynne Stakes in OK and The Grade III Queen of The County Stakes in UT. His best Grade I finish came here in CA last August where he finished 2nd in The CA Classic. He has posted his top speed rating of 115 twice so far in his career, firstly in his Grade III win last fall and in his 2008 debut in NF where he rallied to finish 2nd in a Grade II event. In his last start in VT his rally came up short when he finished 5th five lengths behind. This late closer should have a lively pace to chase down which does enhance his chances at the win today. The rider for today’s race will be Snyder (7.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—110.
10)SPECIMEN X—9/1—peeps4 sends this 5 year old horse out of FUSAICHI PEGASUS with a record of 17-6-5-0 and lifetime earnings of $201.292. This 150th divisional ranked horse races for the Cobra Kai Racing Stables based at the GR Simsters. Winless as a 3 year old this horse found his mark in his 4 year old season last year and started off with a bang winning his first 5 starts in 2007. Unfortunately he would only win once more before the season ended albeit he did pick up some minor cheques in other events. He has a pair of overnite stake wins to his record but is 0/3 lifetime in Graded stake starts. He posted his top speed rating of 111 in his 2008 season opener finishing 4th in The Grade II Toilet Scrubbers against ERMINGTON PEGUSUS, but he will have to face two of the three foes that finished ahead of him in that race here again today. Look for him to run a stalking style of race sitting behind the early pace setting group and hope he can get the edge on the late closers by being closer to the front when the real running in the stretch begins. The rider for today’s race will be Nabbs (0%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—109.
11)A.P. GANGSTER(TX)—17/1—runabout sends this 4 year old colt out of A.P. VALENTINE with a record of 12-6-1-1 and lifetime earnings of $586,961. This 38th divisional ranked colt races for Stoner’s Support Our Military Stables that just recently moved to the RASH residency. This colt did not race as a 2 year old and started his career of quickly by winning his first 2 starts. He became a stakes winner in July while winning a dirt route overnite stake in EK and then went on to win The Grade I LA Derby in Louisiana, a 10 furlong dirt race where he rallied from the back of the pack to get up and beat a talented field of 13 fellow sophomores. He posted his lifetime best 109 speed rating in his 2007 final at DPCD where his rally came up well short in a 4th place finish. He prepped for this race in an 11 furlong PA overnite where he ran his typical last to first closing effort getting up in a photo finish at the wire for a nose win. As mentined earlier there should be an honest pace to target here today but there will be a few others challenging for running room to ensure a clear path for the stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Porter (20%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—106.
12)ANGELS FALL(KY)—18/1—bigmoose3 sends this 4 year old colt out of EMPIRE MAKER with a record of 18-3-5-2 and lifetime earnings of $124,769. This 323rd divsional ranked colt races for the GR Simsters division of the Squirrel stables. It took 9 races to get this colt to the winners circle but if his recent performances are any indication it may well end up being a worthwhile wait. He will be looking for his first added money event win here today but has managed 3 top three finished in 5 stake runs so far in his career. He earned a start here today with a 3rd place finish 4 weeks ago in The Grade III Warsaw Classic where he matched his lifetime best 110 speed rating over the 10 furlong race. His midpack style of racing may help him here today with being closer to the front at the top of the stretch than several other top contenders who will be coming from further back in the field. The only drawback will be his inexperience in Graded events and this test today should give an indication of just how good this colt can be. The rider for today’s race will be Brim (13.5%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—106.
13)MALACHI CONSTANT—9/1—ih8u sends this 5 year old horse out of COZZENE with a record of 24-7-3-6 and lifetime earnings of $472,085. This 27th divisional ranked horse races for the controversial if not outspoken Kaif stables based at the uniqe Great Plains Residency (2007 version). Another who was unraced as a 2 year old this colt started on the turf before switching to the dirt midway thru his 3 year old season. He was mostly an undestinguished runner until his big day at the track when he captured The Grade I Bob Woodward Memorial in NY last September as a 12/1 longshot. He settled for minor share cheques in 3 races after that win before dropping down to a NW2S allowance last time out where he won for fun setting himself up for this Grade I start today. He posted his top speed rating of 113 in that big Grade I win last year and if he was able to repeat that feat again today he would be right in the thick of things today. He will be joined by several other late closers in the race who should give the race fans a big time thrill in an exciting stretch drive. The rider for today’s race will be Vincent (0%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—107.
14)GRACEPOINTE PRAYER—7/1—pazfour sends this 5 year old horse out of CRYPTOCLEARANCE with a record of 27-9-5-4 and lifetime earnings of $544,003. This 7th divisonal ranked horse races for the Pazjazz Music City Stables owned by fellow BTB writer Pazjazz based in the backstretch over at Minnesota Downs. Another who did not race as a 2 year old and really had a uneventfull 3 year old campaign but found his stride last year as a 4 year old by winning 5 stake races including a pair of Graded events. The Graded wins came back to back in The Grade II Abraham Lincoln Handicap in IL and The Grade I The Farewell To CryptoZot Stakes which always draws sim interest with a Grade I race with only a $7,600 purse. He had disappointing runs in the BB Classic and DPCD Topicount Special to end the year last year but appeared to come alive last time out when he finished 2nd in The Grade III Maxxed Platinum Plate Cap in NY over 9 furlongs on the dirt, posting a 111 speed rating which was just 4 points shy from his Grade I win last year. He is expected to press the pace from right behind the frontrunners but both of his 2008 starts may be suggesting that 10 furlongs may be a bit long for this horse now but we must always remember he has won at this distance before. The rider for today’s race will be Staples (14.1%). PROJECTED SPEED RATING—107.
What a race to start the Handicap division Grade I season this year and there are so many who can win this race that it is tough to decide who to choose. We have pace, stalkers as well as midpack and late closers so really there will probably be no breathers in this race. I am going to go with #4 ATAUN for a couple of reason. Firstly the 10/1 price looks very appetizing and secondly his last 2 starts look like he is returning to the form that had him win the Bluegrass Derby last year and if he continues to improve could be very tough here today.
GOOD LUCK AND GOOD RACING
THEO