Windy City Turf Classic

Windy City Turf Classic
Grade I
A mile and one quarter
Firm Turf
$2,000,000
All horses, 3 years old and up

Welcome to the windy city folks where one the years biggest turf event loads up this Saturday. 14 horses will go to post with a shot at doing what Rapid Grey has done two years running, take home a million dollar plus first prize. Some of the best turfers in the history of the sim have won this event; names like School Kris, Prospector Rizzo, Joe Cayenne and Top Jimmy. None have won here twice but now a horse will try for an unprecedented threepeat. As I munch on one Chicago’s famous hot dogs and with a deep dish pizza on the way, I have settled in to break down this field of grass monsters.

THE FIELD

PP 1 TARA TR bredtosell JKY T Balwin ML 24/1

The 4 year old chestnut daughter of Generous x Siren Song (Galileo x Warning) is a winner of 1.7 million in purses. The lone gal in the race has won 4 of her mere14 lifetime starts which tell you the kind of races she is running in to be a millionaire in that few races. She comes in off two poor performances and will need to find the form she had at the end of last year when she scored in a grade 3 and grade 1 event. She is a deep closer with a great closing burst if she is right. Lots of questions about this one that leave you thinking of other places to wager, but how many times can you get 24-1 on horse with this resume?

 PP 2 OTTOMAN TURKS TR stoners JKY S Bigger ML 15/1

A five year old scratch breed, Empire Maker x  Sadler’s Wells x Buckpaaser who has 2.5 million in purse winnings. He also enters having run better than he has in his last two. Some of his greatest triumphs (runner up in last years breeder’s bowl turf) have come at a mile and half so some issues about the shorter distance. If the turf was wet you’d like his chances better here but the ground is firm. If he is going to win hereshe may need to get loose on the lead and hope to hide. He is 17 for 23 lifetime itm so think hard about him in exotics.

PP 3 TREVORDOSKY TR derbybound JKY M Bowen ML 13/1

This 6 year  Kingmambo x AP Indy x Alydar may be running best right now. Some horses just take awhile to find their best stride and this one may have found it around race 35. He does not have experience at this elite level but will look to wing it of the front end and make them come catch him. He loves the distance and who knows if Saturday the old man does not break his graded maiden, he came so close to breaking in his last race.

PP 4 DRACO TR spqr JKY A Ching ML 8/1

The 5 year old son of Sadler’s Wells x AP Indy x Unbridled enters with some real nice spf’s lately. The problem is they all come at a mile. This race has two extra panels for him to carry that speed across. Last time he tried G1 10f he was well beaten.He has a late charging style that should work to his advantage as there appears to be some pace to close into. His low morning line odds may be deceptive, and not factor the added distance. You can find more value in this field.

PP 5 RISEN SAVIOR(AUS) TR drevil JKY K Ryn ML 14/1

Not nearly as regally bred as many here, this son of  Flying Spur x Quiet American x Risen Star will need to have a chip on his  shoulder to win. He lacks the back class and the bankroll as well. He enters here off an awe inspiring allowance score at a mile that has many punters in a frenzy. I think again the value is not here at 14-1. His mid pack style in a pacey race gives him a punchers chance but I will not be looking for the upset here.

PP 6 CREEPSHOW(IRE) TR lenny28 JKY P Munoz ML 9/1

The evil empire sends out the legendary 5 year son of Rock of Gibraltar x Deputy Minister x Seeking the Gold. He has 6 million plus in the cofers and won a G1 at this distance two back. He has won many times against this level and he is in good form other than his last race. He has a beautiful two move burst in closing that makes him a major threat if he fires. Will the Empire Strike back here? Don’t bet against it, because at his best Creepshow scares everyone.

 PP 7  EIGHT STRAIGHT TR catahoula JKY W Cabaniss ML 16/1

The son of Smarty Jones x Pulpit x Danzig nearly scored in a G3 last out but his spf’s will need to step forward to win here today. He has not showed the capacity to run his top speeds against top company and will need to this time. He will be closing late and could light up the tote board coming out of the clouds if the pace has softened the others enough. I will look elsewhere.

PP 8 EXCLUSIVE HABITAT(ENG)TR iant8 JKY R Logan ML 7/1

This Sakhee x Habitat x Exclusive Native is in top form hitting the board in 17 of 20 lifetime starts. The 4 year old is really impressive in his consistent display of talent. He lost a heart breaker in May running a 115 at this distance so he certainly is fast enough to win at his best. If he had his druthers he’d go to the top and never look back. There are several others in this race who want the lead as well. I think his chances of being the one on top early are good and if he does make it, it may mean she will be on top late as well. Hard to ignore.

PP 9  STORM’S GONE AGAIN TR tisgold  JKY B White ML 12/1

The 5 year old son of Awesome Again x Storm Cat x Gone West has a millionaires wallet to go with his million dollar pedigree. He seems to have been having his confidence rebuilt lately, and if he can reach back to his January effort then those efforts will be realized. Most vets will tell you that attempts to win off memory wind up leaving a bad taste in your mouth. But if this one could recall his Smackdown win last year he could surprise a lot of people.

PP 10  SHRIVER MINE  TR shawke JKY T Smaron ML 15/1

The 6 year old son of Dynaformer x Irish River x Blushing Groom is another fella who wishes it was wet here today. His last big effort came back on the soft grass and he was not good in his last race (another thing many in here have in common). He does have a nice history of performing well at this level and his spf’s fit at this distance. His style of sitting just off the lead pack is one that really looks good in a group of front runners and deep closers. I just don’t think he will be quick enough here but you’d be hard pressed to give a reason why.

PP 11 ROSENTHAL(IRE) TR simsters8 JKY Y Dunbar 7/1

Yet another of the sim legends in this race. The son of Rock of Gibraltar x Caerleon x Mill Reef has earned well over 2 million bucks in his amazing career. Back in May it looked like he might dominate this division after a sizzling win at the Kinsho Kho classic. Since then he has not been as good and needs to find that form if he is going to get his picture taken on Saturday. Nothing but graded efforts on his dance card lately so he is no stranger to most of the horses in this race or the high class of racing. The horse has a versatile style and should have an edge based on letting the pace dictate his position. At he best she wins, but is he at her best?

PP  12 MIA THEN BACK TR madhibby5 JKY M Reveiz ML  6/1

The co morning line favorite was brought into the sim via Forty Niner x Danzig x Secretatriat. Another frighteningly good millionaire who has only missed the money once in his 18 starts. He was lightly raced for most of his career before two July starts and this one make 3 in 6 weeks. He looked short in his last and hopefully is back on the muscle for this huge race. He crushed a great field in smackdown and one wonders how he was not running in China last week. He has a huge closing kick and he if he finds his running lane he will be photographed in the winners circle.

PP 13 TOWN PRINCE(IRE) TR quitter JKY D McCants ML 11/1

The 5 year old son of Ballingary x Majestic Prince x Patrone is yet another millionaire in this field. A check on Saturday of any kind pushes him over 2 million lifetime. He likes it wet but has won big races on hard grass too. Another one who threw a clunker last out and is looking to rebound. Last time he ran that bad it took a few races to regain his form, he won’t have that luxury now if he is to win here. If he makes the lead he hits the board, if he doesn’t it may be a repeat of last race.

PP 14 RAPID GREY TR champions4 JKY Dubbs ML 6/1

Someday they may have to change the name of this race to the Rapid Grey, especially if the back-to-back winner can make it three in a row. Tactical Cat x With Approval x Bold Ruler produced this legendary 6 year grey horse. He has done many things no other horse has done but this might be his crowning achievement, to win this prestigious race thrice. He ran a huge race last out and comes in the co choice based on his recent performance not just his owning this track and race. His patented late charge will have all with goggles on looking for him late and if they see him coming it may be too late to do anything about it. How do you not pick him or at least root for him to make history. All you Big Brown haters probably have an answer.

Final Thoughts

No way I will even venture a guess here because there are just too many fantastic horses in this race. I will say I am pulling for the old grey horse to do it again because who does not love a great story. He has his work cut out for him though and there are at least five horses in this race who could beat him even if he runs big. I will be buying a bunch of 2 dollar win tickets on Rapid Grey as souvenirs and I hear Kingab will pay 50 percent over face for any programs he might be able to Hawk on ebay if he wins.