G1, The Road Kill Mile: Break Away Dunk is back to defend his title.
| California (CA) Saturday, February 18, 2023 — 3:00:00 PM EST | Race ID : 3012637 | |
| The Road Kill Mile | |
| Grade I / Group 1*CPU – Purse : $750,000 | |
| Restricted to 4 Year Olds and Older | |
| 8 Furlongs | ~1600 Meters | One Mile | Firm Turf |
This week we are headed to California where we will see the G1, The Road Kill Mile as a headlining race on the card this Saturday. The race is restricted to 4 year old and older horses and will be at the distance of 8 furlongs on what should be a firm turf track at post time. The race has drawn a full field of fourteen horse of which all have a graded win or placing to their credit. The race is now carded, and the morning line odds have been released. The post positions have been drawn for this race so let’s not take a quick preview of the fourteen horses that will be running in this year’s G1, The Road Kill Mile in California.
| 1 | FANCY LIKE | IRE | 4G | beerkeg | J Hornibrook | 11 | 4 | 64% | $820,470 | 208.00 | 19/1 |
First out we will see this Bay Gelding who is a scratch bred (GALILEO (IRE) x KINGMAMBO x A.P. INDY). Two starts back this horse ran a nice race to place third in the G1, New Zealand 2000 Dark Beers. He was then sent back out for his most recent start here in California on 12/24/2022 when he went 9 furlongs in the G1, Nines Are Wild. He seemed to be running a little flat in this race and was never a factor when he crossed under the wire well back in sixth with a 111 speed rating. He has a familiar jockey back in the saddle this time out and will make his way over to the turf representing the Drunken Jockeys Club residency.
| 2 | ANCHORING BIAS | IRE | 5M | mtkgrs3 | M Kelly | 15 | 4 | 73% | $707,640 | 196.00 | 6/1 |
Next, we have this Bay Horse that was sired by Galileo (GALILEO (IRE) x SMART STRIKE x BROAD BRUSH). This horse has multiple graded placing but is still in the hunt to pick up a win at the graded level and get to the winner’s circle. Two starts back he showed up second in the G1, Canada Mile. He then returned for his most recent start here in California on 11/20/2022 when he went 8.5 furlongs in the G1, The Parking Ticket. He ran a big race here to finish second with a 121 speed rating. With two second place finishes in a G1 he seems to be in the hunt to find his first G1 win. The owner hopes that will happen this weekend when he sends his horse out in the post parade representing the GR Simsters residency.
| 3 | FOR END | IRE | 4M | nwo4life50 | R Zombie | 24 | 5 | 50% | $240,325 | 21.00 | 44/1 |
This is a Bay Colt that was sired by Sea The Stars (SEA THE STARS x FORTY NINER x SEATTLE SLEW). This horse has been running on both the turf and dirt surfaces. His two most recent starts have both been on the turf and at the Allowance level here in California. Last time out we saw him run on 01/20/2023 going 9 furlongs in a $78000 Allowance. He ran flat in this race and was never a factor when he crossed under the wire way back in fifth with a 96 speed rating. The owner remains confident in his horse and is looking for him to show some improved effort. He will go off as the longest choice in the morning line and needs to bring his best footwork when he comes out to represent The Minnesota Testbarn Residency.
| 4 | GALILARYAS | IRE | 5M | mightyforego5 | J Sands | 18 | 7 | 78% | $1,196,383 | 90.00 | 7/1 |
This is a Bay Horse that was sired by Galileo (GALILEO (IRE) x DANSILI (GB) x STORM CAT). He has run very well for the owner during his 2022 campaign only missing the boards one time. Two starts back he would finish second in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Turf Sprint. His most recent start then came on 12/24/2022 in Newmarket where he would go 8 furlongs in an Owner Restricted Listed Stakes, ASR Championship Day. He would again cross the wire in second with a 117 speed rating. This prior G2 winner is looking for his first G1 win, and the owner is in hope he will get it here in California when his horse makes his way out of the paddock representing the All-Stars Racing residency.
| 5 | CLAYDERMAN | KY | 5M | thehaack | J Selden | 19 | 8 | 68% | $428,040 | 28.00 | 6/1 |
Next, we have this Bay Horse that was sired by Bernardini (BERNARDINI x DANSILI (GB) x GHOSTZAPPER). One of his biggest wins of the 2022 came back in January of 2022 when he won a Local Championship Stakes in Kentucky. Two starts back he ran in an Owner Restricted Listed Stakes, Breeders Latinas La Milla en Grama. He would get the win with a nice 122 speed rating. He then returned to the tack for his most recent start in Texas on 01/01/2023 going 8 furlongs in a $46800 Allowance of which he picked up the win with a 110 speed rating. The horse will be moving back up in class and is seeking his third win in a row when he come out in the post parade representing the Latinos Del Mundo residency.
| 6 | LAGRIMAS DE LUNA | KY | 4G | valesa1 | F Duffy | 12 | 3 | 67% | $326,050 | 14.00 | 14/1 |
Here we have a Brown Gelding that was sired by Laoban (LAOBAN x STORM CAT x SEATTLE SLEW). During his 2022 season he ran most all his races on the dirt and picked up a G3 win in the process in the G3, The Uncle Mo. His last race of the 2022 season he was sent out to run on the turf in a Listed Stakes, Equestrian Order Turf Mile of which he finished in second. His most recent start was also on the turf in New York on 01/21/2022 when he went 8 furlongs in an Owner Restricted Listed Stakes, The ESR 13 Years Celebration Series. He would again close late in this race down the stretch and picked off quite a few horses to make his way to the front to get the win with a 114 speed rating. The owner feels she has a nice horse that can compete here in California, and she will be bringing her late closer to start this weekend seeking a win when her horse breaks from the gate representing the Empire State Racing residency.
| 7 | URC INVINCIBLE | IRE | 5M | houseonfire | A Rolling | 20 | 6 | 60% | $750,674 | 220.00 | 8/1 |
Next out we will see this Bay Horse that was sired by Invincible Spirit (INVINCIBLE SPIRIT (IRE) x DEEP IMPACT x CAERLEON). Two starts back this horse had a big win in the G1, The Deep Impact going gate to wire with a 120 speed rating. His most recent start came here in California on 11/20/2022 when he would go 8.5 furlongs in the G1, The Parking Ticket. After the third called he must have been pulled over as he went quickly from third to ninth in his stretch run with a 110 speed rating. This horse is a competitor but has a few consistency issues. Will he show up here in California ready to roll is the question? If he comes out of his gate and fires, he could be dangerous when he come out to represent the Down Under Racing residency.
| 8 | BRINLEY JOKE | KY | 4M | gunners6 | E Seifert | 13 | 5 | 77% | $440,100 | 96.00 | 22/1 |
This is a Bay Colt that was sired by Practical Joke (PRACTICAL JOKE x STREET CRY x SADLER’S WELLS). Two starts back he hit the jackpot when he got up for the win in the G2, The Usain Bolt with a nice 117 speed rating. He was then sent back out for his most recent start on 12/24/2022 here in California going 9 furlongs in the G1, Nines Are Wild. He put up some effort in his stretch run to move up to fifth place when he crossed the wire with a 114 speed rating. This horse is going off at some longer odds in the morning line, but he has shown up well in his most recent starts. The owner remains confident with his four year old colt that he will continue to improve. He gets the call this Saturday to come back out here in California this weekend to represent the GR Simsters residency.
| 9 | MOON SHINE PIRATE | IRE | 4M | pirateslair | L Heart | 14 | 6 | 57% | $447,891 | 92.00 | 22/1 |
Here we have a Light Grey Colt who is a scratch bred (DARK ANGEL (IRE) x IFFRAAJ (GB) x CAERLEON). Back in August of 2022 he would get up for the win in the G2, The Hall Of Fame. He closed sharply down the lane to get the win with a 110 speed rating. After that race he had his share of struggles until his most recent start on 01/01/2023 in Louisiana where he would drop in class to go 8 furlongs in a $70200 Allowance. He would make another nice closing effort down the stretch to pick up the win by two and a half strides with a 115 speed rating. The owner liked what he saw in that race and is again moving him back up in class for Saturday’s start. He will be going off at longer odds in the morning line and needs to come out and show his best of efforts when he heads over to the turf representing the All-Stars Racing residency.
| 10 | ROCKY PASS | IRE | 6M | shamrock | D Chimo | 21 | 8 | 67% | $686,466 | 116.00 | 10/1 |
Next out we will see this Bay Horse who is a scratch bred (FASTNET ROCK (AUS) x MISWAKI x BLUSHING GROOM). Two starts back this horse picked up the win in a Listed Stakes, Listen To The Lion Turf Mile. He then came out for his most recent start on 12/17/2022 in British Columbia where he would drop down to run one turn going 6.5 furlongs in a Listed Stakes, Pleasant Vice Turf Dash. This late closer seemed to run out of track in this race and ended up finishing eighth with a 102 speed rating. It appears moving back up to 8 furlongs will be more in his wheelhouse and I expect to see a much better performance out of this horse when he breaks from his gate to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 11 | DARK SPINNER | ENG | 5M | rac1 | E C Doyle | 17 | 8 | 82% | $2,007,595 | 384.00 | 6/1 |
This is a Light Grey Horse that was sired by Sepoy (SEPOY x DARK ANGEL (IRE) x SADLER’S WELLS). Three starts back he took the G1, The Suffix and then followed that up with another win in the G1, The Queen Liz Stakes. Then came his most recent start on 11/05/2022 in Kentucky where he would go 8 furlongs in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Mile. He put up a fight in this race but would miss the boards as he crossed under the wire in fourth with a 115 speed rating. He gets his favored jockey in the saddle for Saturday’s race as he makes his first start in 2023 representing the Elite Racing Club residency.
| 12 | BREAK AWAY DUNK | ENG | 5M | dochman | R Wisniewski | 19 | 5 | 58% | $2,583,600 | 192.00 | 10/1 |
Here we have a Bay Horse that was sired by Frankel (FRANKEL (GB) x STREET CRY x DANZIG). He is back to defend his title as he was the winner of the G1, The Road Kill Mile last year with a 120 speed rating. Since that race he has had his share of struggles but did find a second place finish in the G1, The Cobbler Mile. Last time out he ran in Kentucky on 11/05/2022 going 8 furlongs in the G1, Breeders’ Bowl Mile where he would not be a factor as he crossed the wire in eighth. The owner has given this horse a nice layoff and looks to get him back into the winner’s circle when he shows up this Saturday to defend his title in front of cheering crowd.
| 13 | OASIS ON THE SEA | ENG | 6M | stockswami0 | D Givins | 21 | 7 | 52% | $3,015,610 | 256.00 | 8/1 |
Coming out next, we have this Bay Horse that was sired by Oasis Dream (OASIS DREAM (GB) x SEA THE STARS x DANEHILL). Last season he picked up back-to-back wins in the G1, Sydney Mile and the G1, The Queen Sam. His next three starts he would find some difficulties which includes his most recent start on 12/03/2022 in Hong Kong. He would go 8 furlongs in this race and had another flat performance as he crossed the wire in ninth with a 110 speed rating. The owner is looking for his horse to find that spark and fire in his legs this weekend and wants to see some improved effort this season when he makes his way out in the post parade to the cheers of an excited crowd.
| 14 | TWIST AND SNITZ | AUS | 5G | ginntonic | R Hansen | 20 | 7 | 75% | $1,395,449 | 222.00 | 8/1 |
Coming out of the far outside gate we have this Bay Gelding that was sired by Snitzel (SNITZEL x DUBAWI (IRE) x MONSUN). It appears that this horse was claimed back in April of 2022 at a premium price. But the new owner had a good eye and brought this horse to his stables and his performance has been very much improved. Three starts back he got his first graded win in the G2, The Big Europe Mile. He got out of the gate quick and headed to the front. Once he found the lead, he would never give it up and picked up a nice win with a 116 speed rating. He would have struggles going 9 furlongs in the G1, The Deep Impact. His most recent start then came in Hong Kong on 12/03/2022 where he would go 8 furlongs in the G1, King Kong Mile. Again, this horse bolted out of the gate and grabbed the lead and never looked back as he made a gate to wire trip picking up the win by one and a half strides with a 120 speed rating. This horse has proven to be a competitor at the graded level of racing. The owner hopes to see another big win out of his horse this weekend when he makes his way out of the paddock representing the Drunken Jockeys Club residency.
Good luck to all owners and horses!
Skippy’s Watch List
2-Anchoring Bias: Second in both of his recent G1 starts. Can he find the winners circle this time?
11-Dark Spinner: Has a nice looking résumé. Does he add another big race to it?
14-Twist And Snitz: Rebounded nicely in most recent start. Does he keep up the good work?
Tarton’s Long Shot
6-Lagrimas De Luna: This horse ran almost exclusively on the dirt last season and even picked up a G3 win at 7.5 furlongs. He was moved to the turf for his last start in 2022 He had a nice second place finish in a Listed Stakes. He ran his most recent race on the turf and picked up the win in an Owner Restricted Listed Stakes. This four year old maybe coming into his own and continues to show up a contender on the turf in his two most recent starts. Going off at 14/1 in the morning line he could be a money maker if he can show up well in this race. He gets the call this weekend as my long shot choice at the betting windows.
Thanks for the write up Skippy! Hoping he can replicated his last run!