Star Athlete Handicap

Post Position

Horse

Trainer

Jockey

Odds

1

120271 AUTOMATION

simsters6

R Usoz

5/1

AUTOMATION (KINGMAMBO x NIJINSKY II x ROBERTO) is a beautifully bred 5yo winner of eight.  A representative of ‘the Evil Empire’ this winner of a smidgeon over 300k is one of the big threats here today.  Of his last five runs at todays distance (a mile and one sixteenth), he has a formidable return of four wins; the best of which being the G3 Gravestone Cap back in December of last year. On that day he led all the way in a race the bookies had considered him only a small chance. A disastrous grade two try in his first race of the new year threatened to derail his season, but signs have been promising in his last few that there are no lingering effects from that poor run in the G2 San Valenzuala Breeders Bowl Stakes. A solid stakes victory in his last run may turn out to be the perfect primer for this one.

2

117169 MALACHI CONSTANT

ih8u

C Puschel

4/1

MALACHI CONSTANT (COZZENE x STORM CAT x DANEHILL) comes to us as the narrow favorite here today, the bookies overlooking his recent lack of wins and giving credit to some solid efforts against some of the sim world’s elite. Owner ih8u, a member of the ‘Kaif Stables’ operation has seen fit to test his talented 5yo in some of the last years biggest races, a response surely to his eye-catching win in the G1 Bob Woodward Memorial last September. His late running style was perfectly on display for all to see that day as he bridged a seven length gap in the stretch to overcome the early leaders. Since then however his runs have constituted a bunch of ‘nearlies’ and a couple of ‘not quites’ with a distinct lack of drive in his stretch runs. But perhaps we are being too harsh, a third place effort in the G1 California Handicap and a 110 speed figure in the last time he ran at a mile and a sixteenth suggest he’s going to more than make up the numbers here. That, included with a drop down in class will ensure he figures, just don’t expect to know if he’ll win or come fourth until very late.

3

96272 CARNIVAL OF SOULS

super3

G Carter

9/1

CARNIVAL OF SOULS (CAPE TOWN x DEVIL HIS DUE x VICE REGENT) is an eight times winner of nearly 350k, coming to us from the ‘More Evil than the Evil Empire!’ who from what I can gather are somewhat evil. At least relatively speaking anyway. CARNIVAL OF SOULS is a one time stakes winner, whose main claim to fame is a flashy second place run in the G1 Count Fleet back at the end of 2006. Ever since his form has been consistent, if not spectacular, at differing levels of competition, plying the majority of his trade in sprints. Its been awhile (all the way back to his 3yo season) since he ran competitively in a string of two turn races, but some strong finishes to recent races have his owners stretching him out to see if he can pass another couple of horses late. May be a step below some here however.

4

130850 HORATIO NELSON(KY)

lopo34

T Monk

6/1

HORATION NELSON (TOUCH GOLD x A.P. INDY x DANZIG) is a one of the younger bunch here, a 4yo out of single stakes winning mare; MORE SURPASS.  MORE SURPASS one her one and only stakes at today’s distance so trainer lopo34 must be hoping she passed on some of those (admittedly very specific) genes that got her over the line that day. HORATION NELSON himself is a two time stakes winner, the most recently being the ALL UNDER SEATTLE Challenge in which he lead from first call to last. Since then he’s been there or thereabouts, but has managed to be passed late in a few of his tougher races. As the most inexperienced horse in the field, he can be forgiven these blemishes and one of these days he isn’t going to get caught. Will need a decent lead at the last call.

5

91476 DESERT ASSASSIN

chinobear

H Marshall

5/1

DESERT ASSASSIN (E DUBAI x SUNDAY SILENCE x DR. FAGER) is a 6yo war horse running in the best form of his life. His career had been on the slow-burner in the early years, with owner chinobear not able to celebrate an allowance victory until early on in his 4yo year. Even then, that proved to be somewhat of a false dawn as it has taken till the end of his 5yo and the beginning of his 6yo year to find the consistency expected at ‘the CVBear Racing Empire’ (who -strangely enough- make no boasts regarding their evilness in relation to others).  A trio of solid runs leading up to a last start falter (in unfavorable conditions) have given DESERT ASSASSIN’s owners the confidence to test him here and if he can reproduce something like his second place in the ENDLESS PENGUIN Challenge where he came up just short against our next featured horse then he’s every chance.

6

2649 REQUIEM’S BLADE

lionart

L Staysniak

9/2

REQUIEM’S BLADE (BRAHMS x KINGMAMBO x CRUSADER SWORD) is the aforementioned ‘next featured horse’ and is another 6yo finding some slashing form in what would be expected to be his waning years.  Although an effective performer throughout his long career, it has taken until march of this year for trainer lionart (running under the ‘Tequila Mockingbird’ banner) to taste the spoils of stakes success. That win in the ENDLESS PENGUIN Challenge came in a blistering time of 1:33 4/5 (113) over a mile. Since; he has narrowly missed out on a stakes and proven that he can at least handle the jump up in class in the G3 Fus Gonner Handicap where he was a respectable fourth. Owners are tipping he can go a couple better her today.

7

73832 CARAVANSIERI(IRE)

super28

A McDaniel

12/1

CARAVANSIERI (EL PRADO x CRYPTOCLEARANCE x STORM BIRD) is the first of three horses we’ll look at with double digit odds. CARAVANSIERI is a winner of four from his sixteen races and his yet to cross the line a winner in stakes company. He is owned and trained by super28 another one of the ‘More Evil than the Evil Empire’ runners and whose entry here would seemingly be an attempt to take advantage of the somewhat depleted field here today. His form recently has been solid, but he’s been running against some who are well below that of what he’ll face today. This makes it very hard to judge how he’ll fair. Despite the credentials of his owners and their nous in winning big races I think a few will be too tough for him in this field.

8

124931 BE AUROR SONG(KY)

auror

M Zeus

24/1

BE AUROR SONG (UNBRIDLED’S SONG x A.P. INDY x ALYDAR) is by far the best betting choice in the race, presenting some tremendous value at 24/1. Seemingly the odds-makers have short memories and have marked this auror trained 4yo harshly due to one poor run. He was pulled up early by jockey H Fernandez in a Louisiana grade three in march, with owners fearing the worst. Miraculously, less than three months later he fronts up here to the disbelief of the racing fraternity. Before this setback, BE AUROR SONG made his name in a 3yo campaign that returned two graded victories. The most recent (and best win to date) came in the G2 Captain Hook where he battled the early leader to the wire in a fabulous victory. Pickings since have been slim, but similar to MALACHI CONSTANT he has been facing tougher opponents than most here. Those worried about his injury may hesitate in betting him to win, but word out from ‘the Fernando Empire’ is he’s all clear and a sizeable each-way bet may be on the cards for all you punters.

9

85590 LETS GET LUCKIE(JPN)

hilofarms

M Bavaro

10/1

LETS GET LUCKIE (STRAVINSKY x A.P. INDY x NEARCTIC) has won four races in his short career and accumulated slightly over 100k to date. He recently broke his stakes duck in The ADMIRAL SICKLY Challenge, much to the delight of trainer hilofarms. Following this success he was pushed up a tier to try how he fared in elite company and was found a little wanting in the G3 Barkley Handicap. Word from his jockey was he received a race-ruining block in the stretch that run so connections are hoping for a better showing here. Considering his record he’ll appreciate the increase in distance over that run, but his best performances suggest he’d like a little more.

10

48805 WOODLAWN

topicount4

G McNabb

7/1

WOODLAWN (WOODMAN x UNFUWAIN x ELA-MANA-MOU) is another runner here taking advantage of a weak field. He runs for topicount4 and has shown a great affinity to a mile and one sixteenth in his career, winning five of his seven races at this distance. His best stakes attempt to date was back almost a year ago in the G2 Big D Park Handicap where he finished a deep closing fifth. Much like today he wasn’t considered a chance that day, with only allowance form to go on. But in the end he showed that he was well within his depth so don’t be surprised if he comes home with some money today.

Good luck to all involved.