Graded Stakes Review – 4th February 2023
No Grade I or Grade II races in simworld last weekend, but we had a dozen Grade III events spread out around the globe. We start the review in California where 13 hopeful sprinters started in THE RED CARPET over six furlongs on the turf track. The race was open to three year old fillies only and we were treated to a thrilling finish when pirateracing’s A BILLION WINDS held on by a neck to take the first place prize money. The winner, who is by Satono Ares, now has eight victories from ten starts and just missed out on a three figure speed rating under the drive of F. Duffy. Keeping on strongly for second place was ASGARD’S DOOM. Icbomber10’s daughter of Sea The Stars so unlucky in her attempt to win five in a row. Plunk’s SHADY SELECT was sent off the favourite and was a further neck behind in third. Early pacesetter NEVER SEA held on to fourth.
Florida hosted two GIII races, both on the dirt track. The first was THE OLD CAP over 6.5 furlongs and open to fillies of three years old. Another tight finish saw pinebluf99’s sprinter WAR TOLL swoop late to win by a neck at the line. The daughter of Mitole gained a speed of 96 and completed her four timer with a timely finishing kick under jockey D. Medusa. SCRIPT FOR PILLS was just denied keeping her unbeaten record on dirt. Streetboss’ improving filly was unlucky not to make it six from six on the main track but still took runner up in a close photo finish with cwk0’s VIOLENT JAZZ in third. Favourite LORNE COPPER was only fourth of the nine starters.
The DAVOLA DANE SOUTH was also for three year old fillies and had 13 go to the start over a mile. After tracking the leader for much of the race, CORONA PREMIER took over a furlong out and kept on right to the line. A much improved performance for hoosier23’s filly after fading into seventh in the GIII Reflection Futurity in her previous run. She posted a speed of 104 in the length and a half victory. Superman99’s HOLIER THAN BULB comfortably held second place after setting the pace. The daughter of Medaglia D’Oro easily running her best race to date. Making eyecatching late progress into third was carryall’s RYANS MUSIC and may need a little further to get her head back in front. LEFTY GROVE kept on to take fourth.
Over in Louisiana there were four Grade III races and it all started with four horses passing the winning line almost together in the 8.5 furlong RISEN STAR STAKES on the dirt. Just getting the verdict after a photo finish was uscsteve5’s STORMIN DEEP. The three year old son of Curlin again made every inch of the running and just held off the persistent challenge of TIZ A GUN. Eternity33’s colt just failing to follow up on his allowance win and, like the winner, posted a 102 speed rating. Finishing fast on his return to dirt was cocobella8’s BK FOG OF MAMBO, beaten only a neck at the line. WAR FRONT JAMZ was finishing even faster in fourth and was only half a length off the winner.
In THE PINESHAFT HANDICAP over 8.5 furlongs VENEZOLANISIMO took over inside the final furlong and posted a two length win. Xhaack’s four year old son of Tapit was sent off a longshot for this but improved again to complete a hat trick of victories. recording a speed of 118. Harrylans’s consistent five year old ELUSIVE GROUNDS held second place down the stretch after grabbing the lead off the final bend. Half a length behind him in third was owenstable’s WILD WILL SPEIGHT who just held off SAFFRON TOUCANET in fourth.
The STRANGE BREW TURF HANDICAP over nine furlongs produced another winner at big odds when ALL WAITING FOR YA took the lead before the final bend and wasn’t stopping when in front. Sremel9’s Galileo four year old ran a 118 speed figure which is his best run to date with the two length victory. Ksparow’s gelding KANGABONE KING plugged on to take second place and record another graded race placing. GRISTMILL RIVER for trainer phillipj2 faded late into third but comfortably held former GI winner KIVAX who finished fourth.
Ten runners went to the start in THE SILVERBULLETBEER for three year old fillies over 8.5 furlongs on the dirt track. The win went to shaiiko’s FREAKFIRE who took over at halfway and stayed on strongly to be over two lengths clear at the line. The scratch bred daughter of War Front is now six from seven starts and posted a 102 speed number. Oldasr’s WARQUIST took the runners up prize for the second race in a row. LATE REGISTRATION was four lengths off the winner in third and atthewire’s fast finisher may need further. Former GI winner SPRING MELT was fourth.
The first of two GIII races in Dubai was THE KHARTOUM CHALLENGE II over nine furlongs on dirt. Waterloo’s five year old TYRANT OVERLORD bounced back to form with a two length victory. The son of Ghostzapper has been inconsistent of late but gained his first graded race win with a speed rating of 116. Padrebri21’s BLOOD SCYTHE followed up on his recent allowance victory with a good second place finish in his toughest race to date. Seven year old SIMULACRO kept on for third for trainer lucia11. Early leader TRUNK ASHES faded into fourth.
Only seven starters made it to THE DUBAI 1000 GUINEAS over a mile for three year old fillies. The contest on dirt was won by bighef8’s daughter of Street Sense PRINCESS SENSE. Jockey S.L. Ledwith timed the run to perfection to run down front runner VEGA LAKE BED inside the final furlong. Erracing’s filly had gone clear at halfway but that took it’s toll late in the race. Nohopenag’s GHOSTED BARBARA was a further length behind in third, just in front of MISS AUSSY AUSSY.
New Zealand hosted the final three Grade III races on their turf track. The NATIONAL STAKES was for three year olds and up over ten furlongs. One of only two mares in the line up took the win when ROCKS ANN led down the stretch to complete a hat trick of GIII victories in her last three starts. Lemmy’s daughter of Wooton Bassett winnning by two lengths in her first run against the males. Finishing strongly to claim second was hamptonspa’s gelding JABUK LARRIMAH just in front of kevoman3’s consistent pace setter RANK ONE. Late finishers SCREWED THE POOCH and ALL ROADS battled it out for fourth and fifth.
The TRISTAN FILLIES attracted a full field of 14 over ten furlongs. Givenheroes’ I LOVE RICK JAMES finished well from midfield to lead inside the final furlong and power away to win by two lengths. The I Am Invincible filly seems to be better the further she goes, so she may improve again. BANDIMERE took the lead on the final bend but pwong01’s filly had no answer to the winner’s finishing kick. Padrebargain’s SCREAMS OF CIRI plugged on to take third, beaten a further two lengths. ONE WHO GOT AWAY was fourth.
And finally we get to the SUMO SPRINT over seven furlongs which was won by front runner NATHANIEL HAWTHORN. 59flat’s four year old gaining compensation for getting caught late in the GIII Japan Sprint recently. Jockey J. Cox was at his best keeping the colt in front and recording a career best 117 speed figure. Favourite VILDEBEAST settled in rear early and came with his usual late finish, only to be denied by less than a length. Givenhot9’s five year old gelding unlucky not to catch the winner and get that tenth career victory. Karie2’s RYANS KEEPING lost that second place on the line but this was an improved run. CASTEL QUALITY was doing his best work late in the race to get fourth.