Grade II – The King’s Fall
The King’s Fall
Grade II
Five furlongs
Firm Turf
$300,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
A very nice field for this Grade II – especially as most of the top ranked horses are at
K’OMENDATORE
Trainer: kronus
(Storm Cat x Kingmambo x Mr. Prospector)
Odds: 13/1 Earnings: 727,008 Runs/Wins: 36/12
Rank: 435
A 6yo scratch bred horse from Pompeya Thoroughbred Racing Corporation.
A nice horse who has managed a number of stakes race in the past, though more recently he has been restricted to allowance wins. He’s a fast starter so this sharp 5f course may suit him more than some of the others who are more fancied so expect him to produce a few fireworks in the early stages.
A SAINTS DAY
Trainer: irt
(A.P. Indy x Daylami (IRE) x Saint Ballado)
Odds: 5/1 Earnings: 802,940 Runs/Wins: 28/13
Rank: 6
A 5yo horse from Iant Stables based on an F class horse.
Graded Wins: G2-Firey Hooves Sprint (3yo+)
G2-Longchamp Sprint
G3-Simon and Simon Cap
Has cleverly avoided the Newmarket Grade 1 race in favour of this 5f sprint, a distance that has brought him a lot of success in the past. He would have had great chances in that one and here is a well backed favourite who is in good form and will be contesting the lead right from the off. Recently lost to Drunken Lullabies and will be trying hard to reverse that result here.
DRUNKEN LULLABIES(IRE)
Trainer: blinkers
(Daylami (IRE) x Blushing John x
Odds: 7/1 Earnings: 1,255,545 Runs/Wins: 32/10
Rank: 33
A 6yo horse from Sipe Stables bred from an F class mare.
Graded Wins: G3-Alec and Stephen Stakes (3yo)
G3-Otter Dash (3yo+)
G2-Longchamp Sprint (3yo+)
G1-Because I Said So Stakes (3yo+)
G3-Full Speed Ahead Stakes (3yo+)
Another in-form sprinter who is in excellent form just now, and who has also netted $1.2m in earnings so far. Only 3 races in 2008 so far but his last run was a G3 win, where he beat A Saints Day, so he has to have good chances of following that up here. In that race he tracked today’s favourite for the whole race before sweeping past him in the last quarter so expect similar tactics here.
PERFECT PRESENCE
Trainer: lgbost9a
(Pleasantly Perfect x
Odds: 8/1 Earnings: 399,809 Runs/Wins: 37/7
Rank: 15
A 5yo horse from lgbost Stables bred from an H class mare by need2speed.
Graded Wins: G2-Everclear Handicap (4yo+)
Claimed for just $3500 as a disappointing 3yo and looked in danger of justifying that level until waking up after being given plenty of chances by his new owner. 2008 produced his only graded win and whilst he hasn’t managed to follow that victory up with any further wins he has looked fairly sharp on good tracks and may like this short 5f race here.
DRASTICLY REVEAL
Trainer: graywolf33
(Wolfhound x S.S. Hot Sauce x Soviet Lad)
Odds: 52/1 Earnings: 30,603 Runs/Wins: 14/2
Rank: N/A
A 6yo scratch bred horse from Wolf’s Den.
A system created cheap horse that presumably replaced a retired horse in a dormant stable, who didn’t have his first race until a 5yo. Been pretty consistently placed at his level but this is a huge step up in class and unless he has something magical up his sleeve his odds look about right for this race.
LOOKOFEAGLESMYARSE(KY)
Trainer: baracoon
(Forestry x Kris S. x Northern Dancer)
Odds: 8/1 Earnings: 166,622 Runs/Wins: 19/5
Rank: 79
A 6yo scratch bred horse from Pierchinski Stables
An up-and-coming 4yo who was unfortunate to run up against an off track in his first graded race last time out. Until then he’d been building up a lot of momentum and if he can recover his composure on today’s good ground he could trouble some of the more fancied runners here. On his day he has a very fast finishing speed so look for fireworks late on.
MYJOCKSDOINGDAYS
Trainer: thefred
(Mr. Greeley x Danehill x Halo)
Odds: 14/1 Earnings: 96,474 Runs/Wins: 20/5
Rank: 5381
A 6yo scratch bred horse from Fred & Vienna Stables bred by thebigm.
Bought from the auction as a maiden after 9 failed attempts to win he came good immediately winning 3 of his fist 4 starts for his new owner. He’s looked pretty good this year with some consistent runs and his 5th place in the G3-Kentucky BB will have given him some confidence, though he will need to improve to be any danger to the big hitters here.
GENERAL’S CHARIOT
Trainer: proudtruth
(Gone West x Storm Cat x Fappiano)
Odds: 6/1 Earnings: 4,800,260 Runs/Wins: 47/20
Rank: 27
A 5yo horse from ‘Chef Stable Enterprises based on an H class horse.
Graded Wins: G3-Belgian Tike Stakes (2yo)
G3-Dalesbark Cup (2yo)
G1-The
G1-Four More Years (2yo)
G3-Booty Call Stakes (3yo)
G1-Never Ready Sprint (3yo)
G2-Cane Toad Stakes (3yo)
G2-SnowPhantom Appreciation (3yo)
G1-The Scrape The Barnacles You Alky Special (3yo+)
G1-Because I Said So Stakes (3yo+)
G1-The KyH Elixir Sprint (4yo+)
G2-Cane Toad Stakes (3yo+)
G2-Battle of
One of the games stars with well over $4m of career earnings, he was very successful as a 2yo and 3yo and is one of the few who has managed to carry some of his ability through to his later years. He still looks consistent enough to get some money from this one although he is perhaps not quite as sharp as he once was to beat the favourites here today. On his day he will track the early leaders closely and it will soon be apparent whether he still has the legs.
GONE SHARP TED
Trainer: tcopyright
(Gone West x Sharpen Up(GB) x Formidable)
Odds: 15/1 Earnings: 142,804 Runs/Wins: 38/5
Rank: 115
A 6yo scratch bred horse from Tcopyright Stables.
Only recently stepped up to graded level with mixed results after a terrible performance last time where he was soundly beaten by both Drunken Lullabies and A Saints Day. A good allowance performer and handy stakes runner but it’s hard to see him getting lucky here.
SLAY THE BARBARIAN(KY)
Trainer: snakebite
(Mineshaft x Deputy Minister x Unbridled)
Odds: 5/1 Earnings: 486,725 Runs/Wins: 21/7
Rank: 187
A 4yo scratch bred horse from Blackhawk.
A first graded run on turf after a less than successful campaign as a 3yo but his last race on an off-track was a revelation despite only finishing 2nd. 2008 has been a good year so far as he has consistently landed in the money so he’ll maybe fancy his chances of providing an upset – it may all depend upon whether he can grab an early lead and dominate the opposition.
Trainer: exit12farm
(
Odds: 11/1 Earnings: 597,831 Runs/Wins: 47/10
Rank: 23
A 6yo horse from Exit12farm Stables bred from a G class mare by runabout.
Bought via the auction early last year despite having had a reasonable career he’s started to mature pretty well this year, especially on off tracks it seems, where he has been placed in two grade I races. I’m not sure he will adapt so well in this race which may be a little too short for him, though again his fast running style may prove to be his biggest asset.
FANTASTIC KRIS
Trainer: 3rdtry
(Fantastic Light x Flag Down x Kris S.)
Odds: 7/1 Earnings: 508,419 Runs/Wins: 39/14
Rank: 42
A 6yo scratch bred horse from Clement-Migliore Stables.
Still to win his first graded race this consistent 6yo has a brilliant record on off-tracks – but unfortunately that won’t help him here. He’s still a good all-round performer on this type of track and this being his first run over this short a distance could prove to be a thorn in some of his oppositions sides. Certainly a horse that should not be underestimated.
FAITH PLUS ONE(KY)
Trainer: watershed
(Lemon Drop Kid x Danehill x Caerleon)
Odds: 27/1 Earnings: 107,044 Runs/Wins: 18/3
Rank: 746
A 4yo horse from Rvd Stables bred from a D class mare.
An inexperienced colt at stakes level never mind graded level, so he will really be under the cosh in this one. Simply doesn’t seem to win enough at allowance level to give me much conviction that he will make much of an appearance but it will certainly be a good learning experience for him.
Summary
A Saints Day and Drunken Lullabies(IRE) renew their acquaintance in this short sprint and The latter horse really seemed to have got his number in their first outing. I believe he may well repeat that performance.