13 G1-Wins: Sunnybank Memorial on Sim History precipice
New York– Sim history may be made this Saturday by arguably the current ‘best’ horse in the game: Sunnybank Memorial attempts to equal Joe Cayenne’s 13 Grade 1 Wins Record in the $500,000 Man Of War Stakes(G1).
He got # 12 last time around, beating old rival Allied Assault in a rousing Sword Swallower(G1) stretch drive. Mercy. Lilbitfarms’ son of A.P. Indy claims all the drama and momentum marching towards that record. With 5 of 7 Grade 1 wins this year in the bag, ‘Memo aims for his slice of penultimate Sim History.
Can he match Joe Cayenne (a turf superstar, Horse Of The Year, and multiple champion of days gone by)? And, if accomplished, will the Sim accept his transcendence to the title of “greatest horse ever in the game?” Despite all the sophomore hoopla, ‘Memo’s still known as the best horse currently racing in the Sim. What a story in progress!
But, hold onto your hats, railbirds. Eleven feisty challengers mean to upset the big horse…. and…… the Man Of War Stakes itself too. It’s 11 furlongs….. one furlong short of ‘Memo’s 12f speciality.
Hmmm…. the bookies like the big horse at an overwhelming 5/2. And Sunnybank Memorial attracts the Big Apple’s legendary jockey, Nancy Lawton. Keen bettors though might look for a ‘6/1’ or more longshot in this race — if ‘Memo’s gonna get beat, it’ll be this race.
In all fairness, the challengers will have to put forth their career best performances. Let’s meet them…….
Legitimate “Longshots”:
Judgemont International(G1) Winner: 6/1 – Preferred Power (dshock):
Trainer doesn’t like to place this guy beyond 10f, but the Pulpit son won handily over the 10.5f Judgemont LTO. Sometimes, the extra sixteenth can make all the difference though…. but worthy of a try here. Has the form, and certainly keeps top company (lost to Bristol Rovers earlier in the season). Hard to fault the stalker — if he can save some ground… it’s jsut a question of whther or not there are better horses at this distance in this group. Don’t discount, but fairly questionable.
Windy City Turf Classic(G1) Smackdown(Owner-Restr.) Winner: 7/1 – Top Jimmy (sdmf2):
Pure fire. That’s how you can describe this Peintre Celebre late-bloomer. He’s red-hot with two straight 10f scores and has well earned this shot at taking down the best in the division. ‘Jimmy’s pretty green with only 16 outings underwraps, but specifically only 7 of those races were on the grass. Since the switch of surface, he’s found new life — the only black mark on his turf resume though came as a dusty-n-dirty also-ran in Dancin Seattle’s United Countries(G1 – 11f). Can he get the distance then? Heckuva spot to be experimenting — but gotta try sometime. Big-time closer like ‘Memo breaks from 12-hole too. I get a shaky vibe from him, because he’s just as good over short routes. Has to pass the 10f+ stamina test. One to watch.
United Countries Handicap(G1), Louisiana Turf Classic(G1) Winner: 8/1 – Dancin In Seattle (eliza):
Likely pacesetter in this Danzig royal bred. If memory serves correct, I think he upset Allied Assault back in springtime (Louisiana Turf(G1)). Can get the distance and, doggone it, he’s the solo legitimate speed as well. Problem is, ‘Seattle has in the past bounded out to easy early leads, then floundered down the lane. Definitely factor for the board, but would need his career best (and closers to flop) to pull off the win. Not without a chance. Sleeper!!!
Royally Modest Cup(G1) Runner-up: 9/1 – At The Chateau(GB) (saver):
Second to talented Rain God in the Royally Modest(G1- 11f), the 4YO Beat Hollow(GB) son ran here, there, and everywhere this past summer in Vermont’s Versatility Challenge Series (owner-restr.). Seemed to be a legitimate shot for the Windy City Turf(G1) winner’s circle over 10f, but threw a dull effort. Could rebound here, and, if so, dangerous. Wouldn’t be such a stretch. Good colt, but needs his best effort. Not without a chance if he can break in midpack, save ground, gain postion, then outlast the driving closers.
Derby De English(G1) Runner-up: 11/1 – Jupiter’s Moons(IRE) (coolk):
Poor, Jupiter’s Moons. He keeps finishing bridesmaid to sophomore phenom Horseshoe Bay! Desperate for a win elsewhere, he just plain has no luck, ‘coz POW! Another prospective right hook from a heavyweight…. but, this time, from Sunnybank Memorial himself. Sure, the Galileo(IRE) son has over $1.2 million in the bank, but, boy, brother can ya spare a dime? ‘Moons needs a win to show that he’s just as good a colt as the starpowers. He’ll give all his Sim $$$ for a winner’s circle photo. And, if the stalker can somehow find himself out front at the top of the lane, outlasting ‘Memo’s furious charge to the wire… grrrrrrrrrr!!! He *still* wouldn’t get the spotlight, because the Sim would just be abuzz with talk of “Horseshoe Bay’s bridesmaid” upsetting the best older turf horse (it would suggest how even more legitimate the ‘Bay’s win streak is!). Get my drift?!!? Ha! Not without a chance for a board placing and his SP#s certainly fit in with these.
In The Wings:
King Of California(G1), NY Island Cap(G1) Winner: 9/1 – Bright Sunset (pilot747):
Stalker/pace presser had a heckuva springtime when he strung together graded wins over 10f and 11f. The Barkerville 4YO went on a skid his 32nd outing — his trainer followed that effort up with 9f and 14f tests. Hmmm…. has to break out of his unfunky groove…. LOL. Should stalk Dancin In Seattle’s pressure-cooker pace. There’s something to be said about a horse experiencing a “downside”…. and tries to exit that downside in a seriously deep race. Odds are against him them to suddenly wake up — it is possible though. I’ll pass though — there are more lightly raced horses that are at the top of their games right now.
Kakarazuka Tinen(G2) Winner: 14/1 – Cephas(IRE) (iamprofit):
Decent ALW colt who seriously blossomed when stretched out to grassy middle routes. Rock of Gibraltar(IRE) son gamely picked up the win over the Kakarazuka Tinen’s 10f, but then stumbled when asked to test 11f in the Royally Modest. Would really prefer to see him win over 11f lesser graded stakes field first. Outside chance to rebound.
Windy City Turf Classic(G1), Smackdown(Owner-Restr.) placed: 10/1 – Arkansas Traveler (lenny10):
Pine Bluff colt made up a ton of ground to finish third to Top Jimmy in both the Windy City(G1- 10f) and Smackdown. ‘Traveler’s not exclusive to 10f too — he won over 12f several back albeit in an owner-restricted environment. Talented colt…. but just seems to be a step or two behind the faves. At the top of his game and fits in here well enough — but faces a deep field again. More importantly, he faces other top-notch closers that could outrace him to wire. Would need his absolute best effort — factor for board.
Fort Marcy(G1), Royally Modest(G1) placed: 10/1 – Title Duke (johnno1):
Keeps knocking on the big boy door. Obscurely sired Green Desert grandson is an old boy at age 6, but makes only 19th trip to the post though. Won a Grade 3 a ways back over 11f and the closer finished second to ‘Memo in the Fort Marcy(G1). Hmmm…. maybe doesn’t have the stuff at this point to beat the big faves, but certainly deserving of another chance here. Fair to say he’s an outsider since he hasn’t beaten Grade 1 company. Outside chance and faces a deep group of fellow closers.
Fusahoochie Turf(G3) Winner: 13/1 – Gerfly’s Deed (tomsfly):
Big upside to this lightly raced Geri colt because he only makes his 14th trip to the post. Beat up some short fields over 10.5f in the listed ranks…. but the closer lost his fair share too. I thought this pedigree screams milerishness and maybe even sprinter too (‘Deed’s never ran in a sprint yet). Honestly beat a short field over off track in the 11f Fusahoochie(G3). This guy deserves to be here with a shot at upsetting the big star. However, he doesn’t boast the huge G1-power SP#s. Talented, and has a shot. We’ll see how good he is.
Out For Post Parade:
30/1 – Bullocks(GB) (gosome):
Kayf Tara(GB) veteran overmatched at the Grade 1 level. Doesn’t belong — would earn more BP in ALW company.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Can ‘Memo be beat over 11f? Not likely — this horse is just one of the best ever. However, this is a deep field. At The Chateau(GB) just missed versus Rain God over this distance. And you gotta love the solo pacesetter Dancin In Seattle too. Title Duke might factor for minor piece of purse. Gerfly’s Deed has to prove that he belongs.
The real wildcards are Top Jimmy and Preferred Power who both have distance questions. I like the former over the latter.
And then there’s the 3YO! Yeah, Jupiter’s Moons didn’t throw a big # LTO and I would really like to have seen him try a lesser grade versus older horses first before tackling the big cheeses. But he’s a stalker and he’s capable of the faves SP#s. I’m gonna go with him. 😉
Win: Jupiter’s Moons
Place: Sunnybank Memorial (but I really want to see him tie the record!!!) 🙂 🙂 :):)
Show: At The Chateau(GB) or Dancin In Seattle
Mark race 2608.0414 down and (maybe) enjoy Sim History in the making! Good luck to all.