Equinics-Gailileo
Just like the Olympics occurring every two years, so does the Equinics and this week is full of racing events that the residencies of the game come together and compete against each other. Paris is one of two sites (Vermont being the long-term home of the games) and the Galileo Stakes has a $1.5 million purse up for grabs. Competing in this turf races are horses age 3 and up. Here are the contenders:
1 FOREVER DUE NORTH 8/1
Trainer: JWSonny
Residency: Hoosier Racing
Forever Due North loves the turf and has been ITM 20 times over 25 starts with 10 wins. Seven of the wins have been in the allowance class with the remainder in graded level races and those came back in 2022. One of these was the Breeders’ Bowl Mile where a career best 120 speed was blasted out. Since this November, 2022 win, he has raced 10 times with 8 of these in graded company (ITM 4 times) and the other two were allowance races (with a win and a second). Speeds have not been too bad, ranging 111-116 over his last four starts. Forever is one of the oldest entrants in this contest as a 6yo and is a child out of No Nay Never. Winning has been elusive for this guy, so a gold will be difficult to take, however, he does have a knack of hitting the board, doing so 5 times in 9 G1 races, bringing the silver or bronze within reach.
2 DIVINE CITY 12/1
Trainer: Given
Residency: GR Simsters`
This colt was red-hot at the end of 2023 winning four grade level races in a row. Two were G2 level victories (Hall of Fame and Usain Bolt) the other two were G1 wins (Parking Ticket and Celebration Baby). The streak was halted after a three-month winter break when he finished in sixth in the G1 Sand Castle Fee Duty. Divine City has had his speeds in the upper tier, ranging from 111 to 122 over this span and this 5yo, out of Medaglia D’Oro loves to be on the front end early on. He has won 7 of 12 turf starts and is a contender to medal in this race.
3 NEPTUNE PARK 8/1
Trainer: Neonshadow
Residency: East-West Connection
As a six year old, Neptune Park is one of the oldest runners in this field. He has won 9 times on the turf over 20 starts. This Nathaniel bred runner is no stranger to posting 120+ speed figures as he has accomplished this difficult achievement four times and most recently did it in a winning listed stakes event this past February. Unfortunately, this speedy front runner, simmered off in his last race, the G1 Queen’s Spring Cup, finishing 6th and unable to get the front spot early on and a 107 speed. Neptune Park has raced in 12 stake events, winning 5 times, four of these with the before mentioned 120+ speeds and the other was a 118 speed. If he can get his speed up this level in this race, he could be standing on the podium awaiting a shiny medal.
4 COOL CONFRONTATION 8/1
Trainer: Summerset
Residency: Elite Racing Club
Has Cool Confrontation fired up at the right time? This 5-yo child out of Zouster has been on a streak of knocking out speeds of 110 or higher in 10 straight races dating back to February of 2023. He has a record of 3-3-1 over this streak with two of these wins in allowance and one in a listed stake race, which just happened in April with a 120 speed. He is no stranger to racing with grade level runners as he has raced at this level 5 times during this streak and has a pair of seconds and a third, one of the seconds was in the G3 Jennifer Connley BC Turf Cap where he hit his career best speed of 121 and despite this fine showing, missed the top position by ¾-length. Cool Confrontation’s form looks to be very good and he has a variety of styles he can throw at the field (from running from the back side of the field to running mid-field or even shadowing the leaders). He has not yet won in the graded level, but he has the means to find a spot on the podium.
5 BIG COUNTRY BEN 18/1
Trainer: 6Ward3
Residency: Northwest Racing Circuit
Big Country Ben, who is a 5-yo sired by Country House has raced 6 times in stake races and has hit the board once. This came last month where he ran in a mid-field position, which is his preference. He found some good footing in the stretch and made a move to finish second missing the win by a stride. He did chart a 116 sped in the process, a career best and he will be looking to pivot off this performance with hope of improvement and hopes for a big prize. Big County Ben has only tested graded company once and that was over 2-years ago and he will be challenged in this G1 race as he joins more experienced grade level runners.
6 DUBSDREAD FRED 12/1
Trainer: Lsumark
Residency: European Union Racing Organization
Dubsdread Fred is a gem that was found in a high-end claiming race. Almost a year ago he was claimed out of a pricey claiming race that he won and has since won three times for his new connections. He quickly won an allowance race (116 speed) and by the tail end of 2023 captured his first stake win in a listed event with a 114 speed. This past April, he was the victor in the G2 Bourbon Mile with a 116 speed figure and this came from the benefit of a monster late move trailing by nearly 12-strides at the half to win by over a stride. The prior race, the G3 Strange Brew Turf Handicap, Dubsdread Fred fell back 16 lengths at the half and fired through the stretch to finish 3rd and less than 3-strides behind the winner. This 5-yo son of Dubawi has been running very well for his new owner and has not finished worse than fourth. His strong late run may be his ticket to podiuming for a medal.
7 I AM SUPER REBORN 17/1
Trainer: Worldclass
Residency: Florida Racing Club
I Am Super Reborn is taking the largest jump in class of any runner in this field as he flies up the ranks from the claiming level into this G1 event. He is a 5-yo sired by I Am Invincible and has been racing in the claiming levels for the past year but he does have experience racing in listed stakes races where he ran three times and finished second once, back in November, 2022 with a 116 speed (his second fastest). He did knock off a 117 speed in a claiming race win last October and fought his way to the front running last at the half and making up a 10-stride deficit to win by over a length. He does have a lovely late run ability and has been mainly at distance of about a mile. The extra furlong should not be a hinderance but the big jump in class could be too much to overcome in taking home a medal.
8 THEGREATPRETENDER 15/1
Trainer: Slowroll
Residency: Empire State Racing
This Justify-sired 4yo colt has found wins on both the dirt and turf. The turf, for now, seems to have generated better success as he’s been ITM 9 of 10 races as the dirt is 2 of 6 races. Speeds over his last four turf runs have ranged in the 114-117 range. Thegreatpretender has only two turf grade level races and they both came this year. He won the G2 Double M Memorial by nearly 2-lengths with a 117 speed. In his last race, he ran 3rd in the G1 Sand Castle Fee Duty with a 116 speed. Thegreatpretender usually runs just off the leaders and stays close enough to make a competitive stretch run. His current form looks very good and he may be peaking at the right time which could position him for a possible spot on the award podium.
9 FASTNET INTRIGUE 7/1
Trainer: Icequeen
Residency: Midas
It was August of 2023 when Fastnet Intrigue seemed to find a shot of adrenaline. He scored wins in a pair of allowance races with 117 and 120 speeds, running from well-back at the half to sew up the victories. He picked up his first stakes win this year in February, in a listed stake race with a 118 speed. He repeated with the same speed in April, winning both by a 2-stride or better margin. This son of Fastnet Rock made his first grade level start last month in the May running of the G2 Confederate scratching out another win (making it 3-stake race victories in a row) and rallying to win by a stride and a 117 speed. This 5yo jumps up to make his second grade level start and the first in G1 company in this race. He could be hitting his career best at the right time and having a medal wrapped around his neck would not be too surprising.
10 BRICKS IMPACT 28/1
Trainer: Hipica
Residency: Latinos Del Mundo
This Bricks and Mortar sired 4yo colt has the fewest starts in this field with only 8 hustles around the oval. Five of these have been on the turf. Bricks Impact started his career as a 3yo last year and started with a pair of failed runs on the turf. He then was moved to the dirt where he ran three times and broke his maiden on the third outing. He was put back onto the turf, at the end of 2023, and came to life with a win against allowance, boosting the speed from 92 on the dirt to 111 on his return to the grass. He popped a 117 in another allowance race with a win and speed of 117. Bricks was boosted to a listed stake race, in his last start, and pulled off a powerful win by three-lengths and another 117 speed. He now has a 4-race winning streak and has the steepest odds in this race. This will be his first grade level start and he could turn out to be a hidden gem. He could be a huge upset in the making so beware, this guy could steal a medal!
11 WHITELIST PASSED 9/1
Trainer: Foxon
Residency: Down Under Racing
During 2023, Whitelist Passed only won 2 races and they were both grade level victories. His first win was one amazing feat, in the G3 Scandinavian 1800 Cup, where this guy rallied late and pulled away from the field by over two strides and a speed of 123 which he accomplished on a yielding turf surface. He gained his other win in December in the G2 Sanders Stakes with a 117 speed. This mid-field runner was sired by Highland Yield. There have been times where Whitelist has dropped to the back side of the field in the early going and this usually ends up with poor outcomes. If this 5yo can find a comfy spot in the mid-field, he will have a shot of scoring an Equinics Medal.
12 I’M DA ONE U WANT 11/1
Trainer: Old Moon Farms
Residency: Only Stayers
The “Grease” song themed named horse is a 4-yo sired by Deep Field. In 10-grade level races, he has been ITM 8 times including 2 wins. His first grade level win came almost a year ago in July, 2023 in the G3 Cold Cup Cap, scoring the win with a sizzling 122 speed. The second came this past January in the G2 Gas Station Mile where I’m Da One U Want equaled that same speed. His style is more like a stalker, sitting a few lengths off the leaders and then making a move in the stretch. He’ll be going 9f for the second time in his career, finishing second by a head in a listed stake race 2-years ago. Speeds in his last two races dropped since winning the Gas Station Mile to 114 and recently 107. Picking up a medal is in the cards, but his last two races are a concern (losing by 5-strides in each one).
13 BROKE MY MOUTH 16/1
Trainer: Worldclass
Residency: Florida Racing Club
Lope De Vega is the sire to Broke My Mouth, a four-year-old who has been struggling this racing year. He has made three G1 starts this season, with a fifth as the best finish in his last start, the Locksmith. Speeds have not been that awful and are in a narrow 112-114 range. He popped a strong 117 figure last November, winning the G1 Euro Mile Final at longshot 25/1 odds. He has raced in 13 stake races, with three wins (two were in listed stakes) and has been ITM 5-times. Since pulling off the upset in the Euro Mile Final, Broke My Mouth’s form has diminished quite a bit and this mid-field runner will need to make a major change to steal a medal in this race.
14 LETTHEDICESTAYHOT 12/1
Trainer: Tenpoint
Residency: All-Stars Racing
Letthedicestayhot has become hot over his last four starts. This 4yo, sired by Sea The Stars, has won three of his last four races with a near-miss second included. Last November, he scored a win with a 112 speed in an allowance race. This was followed by his first win in a stake race (in a listed event) with a 116 speed and just getting the win in a photo finish. He jumped to the G2 Nakayama Handicap, and continued to increase his speed, this time to 120, and closed late and missed the top spot by a head, finishing second. His last race, this past March, was a strong win in the G1 Sydney Cup, coming from a dozen strides off the lead to win by over two and a 119 speed. This strong closer may be wearing Gold when the race is over.
15 ROUGH SEAS AHEAD 15/1
Trainer: Dydalt
Residency: Universal Racing Club
In 8 lifetime grade-level races, Rough Seas Ahead has won twice with a second. The first win came a year ago in the G3 Moussac where this 4-yo wired the field at a mile distance. Three of his last four starts have been at 9-furlongs (same distance as this race), where this Sea The Stars has seemed to found to be most favorable. In January, he won an allowance race with a 118 speed. A career best speed came his way in the G3 Jennifer Connley BC Turf Cap with a 120 figure. His last race was on a good turf track in the Woody Ford where Rough Seas cut the early fraction and got beat in the stretch. The 9-furlong distance looks like and ideal fit for this colt and the speeds are supporting this. He’ll be running his heart out as he seeks out the gold.
16 POTASSIUM ROX 13/1
Trainer: Oshtay
Residency: British and European Racing Club
Potassium Rox has raced 17 times over his career with only two appearances in stake races. Last season, he finished a disappointing 9th in a listed stake race. This season, he pulled off an improved 4th in the G3 City of Gold with a 112 speed. Since the start of the 2023 race season, he has raced 11 times and hit speeds of 111 or higher five times. He enters this race on the heels of knocking out a sizzling hot 120 speed in his last race, which was a 2-length win with the allowance group. Potassium could strike gold if he replicate that speed again as he takes on the G1 level for the first time.
Thanks for the write up! Good luck all! I feel like this is my first real shot at an Equinics win!