Full Field Lines Up For Breeders’ Bowl Turf
There is perhaps no greater achievement in North American turf racing than to achieve a slot in the illustrious Breeders Bowl Turf (G1). The historic race, producing a rich purse of $3,000,000 every year, is run over a mile and one half over the inner turf track. This years’ Breeders’ Bowl series of races is held in California This years Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) is coming off as the fourteenth race on the Grade 1-studded list of races for the Saturday card. This weekend a full fourteen horse field have achieved the pinnacle of being a contender for the mile and one half Breeders Bowl Turf (G1), but only one of these fourteen can come away the winner in the true test of the turf champion. The stakes record for the Breeders Bowl Turf (G1) is held by 2006 winner Horseshoe Bay, trained by texasace, who won the twelve furlong race in 2:28 1/5 with an astonishing speed figure of one hundred seventeen under jockey F. Gossett. The famous history-rich race has also played host to such famous immortals as Joe Cayenne and Allied Assault, just to name a few. The weather here in California has been terrific with sunshine forecasted all week. Look for Breeders’ Bowl day to be in the high 80s with the track listed as firm. Which of our fourteen contenders this year will earn their way to greatness along with the more recent likes of Horseshoe Bay and Sunnybank Memorial? Only time will tell, and a victory in this years’ Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) will be sure to help them along the road to turf greatness and possible Eclipse Award nominations later in the year.
1. Jazztown – (A.P. Indy x Mr. Prospector x Northfields) – mintjulip – R. Harzheim – 14/1
The first up in the historic running of the Breeders Bowl Turf (G1) is the nine-year old brown horse, Jazztown, who is owned by Mintjulep Stables. The bay veteran has been very lightly raced throughout his racing career with only thirty-five career starts. The last start for the horse came in September during the fourteen furling listed All Try Bonanza in Rhode Island where the horse finished four lengths back in third with a speed figure of one hundred one. The horse hasn’t made a graded start since December of last year when he made a third place finish in the twelve furlong Allied Assault Handicap (G1). This Saturday is the big horses first attempt at a Breeders Cup series race. The horse may be a bit of a gamble for people interested on going to the betting windows on Saturday. With his inexperience with top name graded stakes and not having run in a graded stakes in nearly a year, he will be sure to detour more than a few bettors. However, there will be bound to be a few people that will try to take a lucky shot on the 14/1 horse. Look for the veteran to come out of the rail post towards the middle of the field if he’s on top of his game and try to look for an opening to coast down the rail during the stretch to try to take the win.
2. Galiesis (IRE) – (Galileo (IRE) x Diesis (GB) x Cozzene) – goldsmith – F. Gossett – 15/1
Next up in the race we have Galiesis (IRE), the number three ranked three-year-old colt for turf eleven furlongs and over. The bay colt is being raced under Goldsmith Stables and is out of the graded winning and two time stakes producing mare, No More Options (GB). His most recent start came in the prestigious Ark De Triumph (G1) overseas in Longchamp. The colt broke out of the gate and sat back towards the middle of the field but he did not have his best race there in the Ark De Triumph (G1). The bay colt ended up finishing eight and three-fourth lengths off the pace of the winner to finish sixth in the race. His most recent win came in the Irish Derby (G1) this past August where he won by three lengths with a speed figure of one hundred ten. We caught up with owner/trainer goldsmith on Wednesday morning for his thoughts about his colts chances in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf. “Unfortunately it appears as though Galiesis might have peaked back when he won those back to back graded races ending with his romp in the Irish Derby. He was real gutsy that day and stormed home to the wire, but he hasn’t shown that same spark since. I’m hoping he can bounce back here in the Breeders Bowl Turf since he’s been training for this race for a while. We’ll have to hope for the best.” While maybe not the most confident of trainers here in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf, it might pay not to be over confident with ones chances in any race. Look for Galiesis to come out of gate two and probably settle in the middle of the pack until just before the stretch, where hopefully, he will rebound from his start in the Arc De Triumph (G1) and move forward to take on the leaders.
3. Muggsy (AUS) – (Commands (AUS) x Peintre Celebre (IRE) x Rainbow Quest) – mav1761 – T. Small – 20/1
Next up, working our way through the filed is the number six three-year-old colt for turf races eleven furlongs and over. This Australian-bred wonder will be loaded into the third gate in the black and green silks of Deadinthelane Stables. The bay colt made his last start this past September in the ten furlong Saint Ledge Stakes (G3) where he finished nine and three-fourth lengths off the pace in fifth after setting out of the gate towards the rear of the field. His last victory came in June during the Seventh King Eddie Stakes (G2) over twelve furlongs overseas in Ostend. The colt has as total of five lifetime wins for his credit including one graded win and a listed stakes win. He’ll be going to the post this Saturday in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf with only fourteen career races under his belt. Look for the bay colt to break out of the starting gate and probably linger back towards the middle of the pack, lumped in with most of the other horses in Saturday’s race.
4. Max California – (Rock Hard Ten x Secretariat x Danzig) – buffy5 – H. Harzheim – 5/1
In the next post position we have the number one ranked older male in turf eleven furlongs and over in Max California who will be going to the gate in the red, white and blue silks of Winterfell Racing. The four-year-old chestnut colt has been quite impressive in his twenty-four race career with a total of ten wins and career earnings of $3,231,430. The colts greatest claim to fame has been a photo finish victory in the Coalminer Cup (G1) last year and a second place finish in this years Ark De Triumph (G1), where the colt finished second by three and one-fourth lengths with a speed figure of one hundred seven. Max California will be making his second start in the Breeders Bowl Turf (G1), the colt ran last year to finish ninth, thirteen and one-fourth lengths off the pace. The colt will be going off as the co-favorite this year, along with Holdo in gate ten. Look for this chestnut colt to come out of the gate and possibly hold back with the majority of the field towards the middle of the pack, or he may take a more forward position in the race if there seems to be a lack of pace on Saturday.
5. Questing Beast (ENG) – (Rainbow Quest x Sadler’s Wells x Storm Bird) – catspaw – P. Harzheim – 6/1
Following we have the English-bred four-year-old colt who is the number two ranked older male turf runner at eleven furlongs and over. The bay colt has earned $1,402,832 in his racing career over twenty-six lifetime starts. The colt is out of the race-winning mare Pump Lactose and will be running here in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf under Elenalag Stables. The colt made his most recent start in the twelve furlong Ark De Triumph (G1) where he finished third, right behind another Breeders’ Bowl Turf contender, Max California, who will be starting to the inside, right alongside Questing Beast (ENG) on Saturday. In addition to his start in the Ark De Triumph (G1) start, the colt has started in other notable stakes including the Man Of War Stakes (G1) and United Countries Handicap (G1). Look for this English-bred colt to come out of gate five and either be held back towards the middle of the field coming out of the gate, or perhaps be held back even father, trailing the field going past the stands for the first time.
6. Rosenthal (IRE) – (Rock Of Gibraltar (IRE) x Caerleon x Mill Reef) – simsters8 – K. Ledwith – 6/1
Nearing the center of the turf course we will have this five-year-old brown horse, Rosenthal (IRE), who will be loaded into gate six under the well-known Evil Empire. The brown colt has achieved career earnings of $2,905,220 throughout his thirty-six start racing career. The five-year-old champion colt is coming off of win this past September in the twelve furlong Bluegrass Cup Turf (G2) where he won convincingly by three lengths with a speed figure of one hundred eight. The horse is also the winner of the 2007 Allied Assault Handicap (G1) as well as achieving placing in the Sand Castle Golden Turf Classic (G1) and 2006 Eclipse Stakes. This Saturday will be Rosenthal’s (IRE) first start in a Breeders’ Bowl series race, despite being the number four ranked older horse on the turf at eleven furlongs or longer. We found simsters8 on the track backside late Wednesday night and talked with him about his chances with his two colts entered in the Breeders Bowl Turf (G1). Of Rosenthal (IRE), simsters8 stated, “Now he’s an old warrior. He’s been competitive in graded races for a few years now and has some nice wins in these races to his name. His last race in the Bluegrass Cup Turf was a great prep for the Breeders Bowl Turf and I feel that he certainly has a chance at hitting the board this Saturday.” Despite this, simsters8 also expressed disappointment that The Gun Went Off, this years Ark De Triumph winner, would not be running in the Breeders Bowl Turf (G1) after the simsters8-trained colt came out of the race injured Look for Rosenthal (IRE) to come out of the gate swinging and possibly go up towards the lead in the race, probably just off the pace in second or third. However, the bay horse has proven a versatile runner and can also rate far off the pace if needed to conserve his energies for a hard battle down the stretch.
7. Silencers – (Kingmambo x Danehill x Pleasant Colony) – super1 – D. Givens – 9/1
Right out in the center of the track in the middle post position we will have the four-year-old Silencers, who is named for the movie Matt Helm and the Silencers, will be going to the gate in the black, red, yellow and white silks of More Evil Than The Evil Empire. The four-year-old brown colt has won $1,504,874 in lifetime earnings over a period of twenty-four career starts. The most recent of these races was a run in the Ark De Triumph (G1) where the colt just managed to get a piece of the prize money when he finished seven and a half lengths back in fifth with a speed figure of one hundred four. Going back two starts we will see his most recent win, this in the twelve furlong Sword Swallower Stakes (G1). Despite the colt making some starts in some very well known races including the Japan Classic (G1) and Sydney Derby (G1), the really big win has so far eluded the brown son of influential turf sire Kingmambo. The connections hope that this start in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) this Saturday will finally give the colt a win in one of the world’s classic races. We talked with owner/trainer super1 late Wednesday night for his view on his colt. Super1 stated, “His run in the Sword Swallower was what really made me decide to give him a shot at the Breeders’ Bowl. I think he has a shot at winning, but I’m a little surprised the bookmakers didn’t put him at double digit odds for the race. I should have a good idea of how things are going to turn out after the field goes a mile. If Silencers is starting to pick off horses by then, I think he has as good chance at hitting the board.” Look for the brown colt to come out of the gate towards the middle of the field, but he could be rated as far back as last out of the gates on Saturday.
8. Delpenn Gold (IRE) – (Sadler’s Wells x Alydar x Bold Ruler) – sdmf2 – D. Evans – 18/1
Working our way towards the grandstand side of the posts we have this Irish-bred chestnut colt, ranked eighth over the turf at eleven furlongs or over for three-year-olds, Delpenn Gold (IRE), who will be sent to the gate on Saturday by Black Label Stables. The three-year-old son by top sire Sadler’s Wells has been very lightly raced throughout his racing career with a total of just eleven lifetime starts, making him one of the most inexperienced horses in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) field this year. The chestnut colt made his last start over the yielding turf track in the Classic Turf Stakes (G1) in New York earlier this month where he finished three and three-fourths of a length back in third with a speed figure of ninety-nine. The colt has only made three graded appearances in his career, his single graded win coming in the Horseshoe Falls Stakes (G2) in Ontario a few months ago before his run in the Classic Turf Stakes (G1). Despite his inexperience, the connections of Delpenn Gold (IRE) are confident that the colt will take something away from the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1), at the very least some racing experience if he can’t wrestle away a win. Look for the colt to probably be out of the gate and held back towards the middle of the field in what looks like it will probably be a very tightly bunched-up race. However, the colt has also shown the ability to be able to rate far off the pace if he needs to get out of traffic on Saturday.
9. Footsteps On Grass (GB) – (Footstepsinthesand (GB) x Sharpen Up (GB) x Niniski) – robroe – T. Loesch – 14/1
Being settled into the ninth post we will have the orange, green and white trimmed silks of Brisma with his four-year-old colt, Footsteps On Grass (GB)/ The brown colt hailing from Great Britain made his most recent start, like many of the horses in this Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) field in the twelve furlong Ark De Triumph (G1). The tall colt finished ten lengths off the pace in this race to finish seventh with a speed figure of one hundred two. The colt has achieved two graded victories so far in his racing career, but neither of these have been a Grade 1 race, the most prestigious races so far eluding the first-time Breeders’ Bowl Turf contender. The colt is usually out of the gate and held back in the middle of the field in the majority of his career races do date, however he has shown diversity in being able to rate farther of the pace towards the rear of the field, and has also been able to run just off the pace, chasing the leaders out of the gate. Pace will probably have a big portion in say as to what jockey T. Loesch does with the colt on Saturday.
10. Holdo – (Smarty Jones x War Chant x Ack Ack) – layeguada – A. Rolling – 5/1
In the tenth post position we have the other co-favorite for this years’ Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) in the brown colt Holdo. Holdo is currently ranked number seven of the older males specializing in running over the turf at eleven furlongs or over. The four-year-old colt, who is out of the graded winning and three-time stakes producing mare Holda, will be entering gate ten under the red and two-tone green silks of Rafa Stables. The Kentucky-bred colt has seen thirty-two lifetime career starts with all but two of these starts coming over the turf track for the brown colt. His most recent start, again like many of our Breeders Bowl Turf (G1) contenders, was in this months twelve furlong Ark De Triumph (G1) where he finished six lengths off the pace in fourth with a speed figure of one hundred five. This race was immediately following his start in the Man Of War Stakes (G1) the month earlier where he again finished fourth, but posted a blistering speed figure of one hundred ten. The colt has managed to duplicate similar speed figures in many of his races including the Lot’s Of Luck (G1) in Ireland and the Arkansas Turf Classic (G1) earlier in the year. With these kind of speed figures in his history as well as not having finished off the board since a three-year-old in the listed This Kid Can Play Challenge where he finished seventh, this brown colt is sure to be betting favorite here at the track on Saturday. Look for the bay colt to come out of the gate and go towards the lead in the race, possibly showing the field through the first furlongs of the race or setting just of the pace of a few front runners. The colt has also shown the diversity to sit back in mid pack until just before the stretch where he has rocketed forward to challenge tiring front runners.
11. Christchurch – (Dynaformer x Forty Niner x Caerleon) – kevoman3 – N. Lawton – 31/1
For the longshot pick in this years’ Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) we have Christchurch, being sent to gate eleven in the black and red silks of Coolk Stables. The three-year-old Kentucky-bred colt has been very lightly raced throughout his racing career with a total of just six lifetime starts, making him the most inexperienced horse in the field on Saturday for the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1). However, of these mere six starts, the gusty colt has managed to pull out a win five of these times, winning all but one of his starts. The colts most recent start, and only graded caliber start in his career, was the thirteen furlong Big City Handicap (G2) held in New South Wales earlier this month. The bay colt finished three and three-fourth lengths in front of the nearest opposition in the race, scoring an impressive and lifetime best speed figure of one hundred twelve for his effort. The only race the colt has lost in his career came in his maiden debut race in Ostend where he finished fourth. We talked with kevoman3 early on Wednesday evening about his inexperienced, yet very accomplished colt. kevoman3 stated, “I didn’t even think Christchurch would really even draw into the Breeders Bowl Turf, he’s lucky to be in there. I would have to guess he might hold the record for having the fewest number of races to get into the Breeders’ Bowl. I have great expectations for this colt and I hope he’s not misplaced and can do himself justice in the big race.”
12. El Kursaal – (Unbridled’s Song x A.P. Indy x Night Shift) – layeguada – R. Foster – 13/1
Coming in gate twelve is the second entry for Rafa Stables in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1). This second entry is the striking roan four-year-old, again under the the red and two-tone green silks. The Kentucky-bred colt made his last start in the Coalminer Cup (G1) overseas in Victoria earlier this month where he finished second, back by two and three-fourth lengths, with a speed figure of one hundred seven for his effort in what may be a perfect prep for his start in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) this Saturday. We’ll have to go back to June to see his most recent win, which came in the eleven furlong listed stakes, The Enough With Tex Memorial, in which he emerged victorious by two and three-fourth lengths. After beginning his racing career on the dirt, layeguada switched the roan colt to the turf after a year of running over the dirt. The colt has improved over the turf, winning several listed stakes, but he has yet to be able to clench the elusive graded win. His closest attempts came in the Coalminer Cup (G1) where he finished second and the Fusashoochie Turf Classic (G3) where he finished third. Perhaps this start in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf may be the colts break out race and his chance to try to finally go and claim a graded win. Look for the flashy colt to be out of the gte and probably settle down in the middle of the field out of the starting gates. If the pace is slow on Saturday, we might see him slightly more forwardly placed in the race, possibly around fourth, stalking the leaders early on in the race.
13. Wrecking Crew (IRE) – (Sadler’s Wells x Blushing Groom (FR) x Never Say Die) – lenny3 – W. McClendon – 11/1
Next up we have the second entry for The Evil Empire stable group in the three-year-old Irish-bred colt, Wrecking Crew (IRE). The bay colt has been lightly raced in his short career with a lucky thirteen lifetime starts, all of which have been over the turf track. The colt has been plagued by a string of second place finishes lately, finishing second in the Irish Derby (G1), Man Of War Stakes (G1) and his most recent start, the Classic Turf Stakes (G1), which came over the yielding turf. However, despite the colt finishing second in these three races, all were settled with impressive speed figures for the colt, including a one hundred eleven figure for his effort in the Man Of War Stakes (G1) this past September. When we caught up with lenny3 earlier in regards to his first entry, Rosenthal (IRE), we also discussed the chances of his less well known second entry, Wrecking Crew (IRE). He stated, “Wrecking Crew (IRE) has been a really fun colt to work with this year. He’s been knocking on the door all year but hasn’t been able to put it together in a graded race yet in order to make it to the winner’s circle. His last two races in the Man Of War Stakes and Classic Turf Stakes have been great, but I think his best distance is probably around ten or eleven furlongs.” Wrecking Crew (IRE) is currently ranked fourth for three-year-olds colts sat eleven furlongs and over on the turf. Look for the brown colt to come out of his grandstand side post and be settled back into the middle of the pack, or even perhaps be held further back at the rear of the field until they come down to the final turn in the race, where the colt will likely be urged forward to make his move on the front running horses.
14. Kirby’s Best Yet – (Dynaformer x Forty Niner x Kingmambo) – kingkirby – J. Stivers – 8/1
In the far outside post position nearest to the grandstand side of the track we will have our final contender for the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1). This final contender will be the four-year-old bay colt, Kirby’s Best Yet, going to the outside gate fourteen in the orange, yellow and black silks of Ojai Valley Stables. The brown colt has earned lifetime career earnings of $3,141,390 for his twenty-four career starts, most of which have been over the turf. The colt has had a single start over the dirt, of which he also won. His most recent race came over fourteen furlongs in North Korea during the listed Wonderboy Arie Stakes where the brown colt finished eight lengths off the winner to finish third with a speed figure of one hundred. His last win, just prior to this one, came in the listed Apex Shananie Memorial, also over fourteen furlongs, which he won impressively by four lengths. We have to go back to August to find his most recent graded start which was the eleven and a half furlong Shimko Classic (G2) in Japan, which the colt won by four lengths. Perhaps taking a different preparation route than many of the horses in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) by choosing to prep with the listed Wonderboy Arie Stakes instead of a graded race, it will be interesting to see how this decision in tactics effects the colt in comparison to the other horses with graded stakes preps. Look for the brown horse to be out of the far outside pot and go up towards the front of the field out of the gate. He probably won’t be on the lead in the race but should be close to it, anywhere around second to fourth out of the gates.
Tellnotale’s Picks
Win: Holdo
Place: Max California
Show: Questing Beast (ENG)
To all with runners in the Breeders’ Bowl Turf (G1) this weekend, good luck. This is tellnotale signing off.