Don’t Blink Or You’ll Miss The BB Sprint

BLACK ARROW (KY)                     9/1            Divisional Rank: 20

4 Year Old Colt                                    

APTITUDE x GONE WEST x SEATTLE SLEW

Jockey: J Caves ( 665 – 144 – 111 – 89 – 22% )

Record (29 : 8 – 6 – 3) $381,561                   Sprint (18 : 6 – 5 – 1) $315,931                     

Distance (1 : 0 – 0 – 0)                                   Year (12 : 2 – 3 – 1)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 90

This four year old chestnut is really bred to run long but has made most of his money sprinting. His best distances have been the longer sprints of 7 and 7.5 furlongs, and having Aptitude as his sire, conventional wisdom would say that six furlongs is way to short for this colt. However, his past performances indicate that he does have the speed to be in front or very near the front early in his races, and this attribute should help him at the shorter distance. His lone try at six furlongs came in June of last year against allowance company where he finished fourth after failing to show his early speed. He must leave the gate running on Saturday to have any chance against this group.

In his only two tries in Graded company, he was out of the money in The 7 furlong Grade 2 Pinto Handicap in July, and he finished second in The Grade 1 West Side Sprint at 6.5 furlongs four weeks ago. The West Side may very well have been his best race even though his figure of 111 was not a career high. That day he was just under two lengths behind the loose on the lead winner Doctor G, but he had established sprint stars Chronic Addiction and Sandstone Park behind him. Embolden by that effort he returned two weeks ago to wire the field in the ungraded Halo Spanking Special at 7.5 furlongs. He got a career high 114 speed rating for that effort and the problem he faces now is: Can he reproduce a similar performance of just 14 days rest?

MR TOMS RIVER NJ (KY)                        5/1            Divisional Rank: 6

4 Year Old Colt                                    

STORM CAT x MR. PROSPECTOR x A.P. INDY

Jockey: J Stivers  ( 743 – 227 – 137 – 116 – 31% )

Record (24 : 14 – 2 – 5) $616,290                 Sprint (24 : 14 – 2 – 5) $616,290                   

Distance (12 : 8 – 1 – 3)                                 Year (12 : 4 – 2 – 4)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 114

This regally bred colt is the tepid morning line favorite despite never winning a Grade 1 race. In fact his race seven weeks ago in The Tri City Stakes was his first start in a Grade 1 event. He was third that day, beaten just ¾ length by Moneygrowsontrees and Sandstone Park. So when entries were taken on Wednesday the racing secretary drew grasp from the audience when he installed this brown son of Storm Cat as his favorite. “His six furlong form is the strongest in this field in my opinion and his overall numbers fit well with these,” the oddsmaker told the press. “Some of the others have better credentials, but I think this is the horse to beat.”

After beginning his career with six consecutive victories and winning ten of his first twelve starts, the speedy colt has won just four of his last twelve as the competition has gotten stronger. His two Graded Stakes wins have come in The Grade 3 Count Fingers and The Grade 3 Jim BB both at six furlongs – a distance he has thrived at. Jockey John Stivers rides the colt for the first time on Saturday and believes the distance and the versatility of his colt will be an advantage. “He’s quick enough to be in front or he can rate just off the speed. If we break and no one wants the lead I can see us being in front. I also like the fact that he has a recent race over the track.”  

The colt was shipped to California to prepare for The Breeders Bowl immediately after his race in The Tri City. However, instead of training up to the Sprint, trainer honeyj decided to give his charge a feel for the track in The Fast Glue Bonanza at seven furlongs. In a very swiftly run race the colt tired slightly after leading in the stretch to run third, beaten two lengths. His number that day however was 115, the second highest of his career. “I didn’t think they would run that fast, but obviously they did,” his trainer commented about his last race. “We didn’t want that tough of a race just three weeks before the big dance, but that is the hand we’ve been dealt. His best distance is really six and that is what he’ll get on Saturday.”

MONEYGROWSONTREES (KY)              9/1            Divisional Rank: 8

5 Year Old Horse                                             

FORESTRY x MR. PROSPECTOR x I AM THE GAME  

Jockey: F Gossett ( 697 – 181 – 131 – 98 – 26% )

Record (34 : 9 – 6 – 4) $1,258,460                Sprint (29 : 9 – 5 – 4) $1,227,210                  

Distance (2 : 0 – 0 – 0)                                   Year (8 : 1 – 1 – 1)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 98

This is one of the five year old runners who appears to have lost a step. Although his numbers are solid, he has won just three races the last two seasons, and only one race this year. That lone victory came seven weeks ago when he upset The Grade 1 Tri City beating many of the horses he will face on Saturday. He closed well that day to out game Sandstone Park by a head. That victory was his first in ten months and snapped a seven race losing streak. His connections were hoping that race would mark a turnaround in form but three weeks later he came back against ungraded competition and was out of the money. His inconsistency is not only a headache for handicappers; his connections have also been left scratching their heads on many occasions. “When we lead this guy over we never really know what to expect. I guess it depends on his mood,’ his trainer cheadle said at this week’s press conference. His 0 for 2 record at six furlongs is also not ideal for a spot as tough as this. In fact his last six furlong race was The 2006 Breeders Bowl Sprint where he finished one from last. “It’s no secret his best distances are 7 and 7.5 furlongs. On the other hand, he ran so well at 6.5 in The Tri City that we decided to take another shot at the BB Sprint this year.”

BRAVE BIRDIE(ENG)                    25/1            Divisional Rank: 2

3 Year Old Colt                                    

GREEN DESERT x CAPE TOWN x STORM CAT  

Jockey: A Darling ( 583 – 96 – 92 – 83 – 16% )

Record (16 : 5 – 4 – 0) $574,365                   Sprint (10 : 5 – 2 – 0) $434,365                     

Distance (3 : 2 – 0 – 0)                                   Year (8 : 3 – 1 – 0)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 79

 The number two ranked sophomore sprinter based on his wins this year in The Grade 2 Hutchingson Stakes and The Grade 1 Prince’s Knight Stakes. Both those wins came in gate to wire fashion at seven furlongs against three year old company. Those wins were also five months apart and his form in between has been spotty at best. In his last start he faced his elders for the first time in The Grade 1 Tri City and he faded to eighth beaten three lengths after pressing the pace. I think it is fair to say, that at this point in his career he is a need the lead type colt who doesn’t win if he can’t get to the front from the get go. All of his five wins have been wire to wire and the question remains: Can he get to the front on Saturday? “We’ll try. I think he’ll be in front. The two horses that out footed him in his last race are not in here,” jockey Darling said.

This will also be the colt’s first start at six furlongs since June last year and his connections are hoping that the cut in distance plus a seven week freshening can get their charge into the winner’s circle.

IL PROSPETTO (KY)                       9/1            Divisional Rank: 20

4 Year Old Colt                                    

MEDAGLIA D’ORO x MR. PROSPECTOR x NORTHERN DANCER  

Jockey: J Caves ( 665 – 144 – 111 – 89 – 22% )

Record (26 : 5 – 2 – 4) $311,962                   Sprint (21 : 5 – 2 – 4) $308,524                     

Distance (8 : 1 – 1 – 3)                                   Year (9 : 2 – 1 – 4)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 113

In three seasons of racing this colt is now in his fourth barn after being bought at auction twice, and then being claimed for $60,000 by his current owner inthamoney, who talked about that claim. “We liked the horse all along and when he was put in for a tag we couldn’t resist the purchase. Of course we didn’t have the Breeders Bowl in mind when we claimed him, but we did think his best races were ahead of him.” In fact, that claiming race in October of last year seemed to have served notice that this colt who had promised much but delivered little, was about to turn the corner. That day he caught a wet track and won going 6.5 furlongs while recording his first triple digit speed figure in sixteen starts. In his next start, which was the first for his new owner, he was asked to go a mile and he struggled home fourth in a starter allowance. That race marked the end of his 2007 campaign and the end of his two turn races. All nine of his trips to post this season have been at the shorter distances, and he has finished in the money on seven of those occasions, while recording triple digit speed numbers in each race. “We made a decision to keep him sprinting for 2008 and I believe he has justified our decision,” his trainer told the press. The colt’s recent form has also justified his trainer’s decision to claim him for $60,000. “He really started to get good this summer and his last four outings have been his best.”

In July the light grey colt was able to win The Grade 3 Middle of Nowhere Sprint in his stakes debut, and his last race two weeks ago in The Grade 1 Scottsdale Stakes indicated that he is not out of his depth against top class competition. In that six furlong dash he was second to crack sprinter Doctor G who will be absent this weekend. Finishing behind him however was top rated sprinter Chronic Addiction and highly fancied Fernando Storm. He could be getting good at the right time.      

LANNISTER GOLD (KY)                7/1            Divisional Rank: 5

4 Year Old Colt                                    

FORESTRY x SEEKING THE GOLD x DANZIG

Jockey: D Givins ( 712 – 200 – 122 – 74 – 28% )

Record (25 : 10 – 9 – 1) $1,213,663                          Sprint (23 : 10 – 8 – 1) $1,201,588    

Distance (11 : 4 – 5 – 1)                                             Year (7 : 3 – 3 – 0)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 116

A very consistent colt who has finished on the board in twenty of his twenty five trips to the post, ten of his eleven starts at six furlongs, and all three of his Graded Stakes tries. I know his connections would have preferred an off track this weekend, but a wet track is near impossible to find on the west coast. “He loves the mud, but the fast track won’t be a problem,” jockey David Givins assured the media. This will be the second time Givins will be aboard the chestnut colt after riding him to a second place finish behind Sobron in The Grade 1 ASPCA Stakes in August. “I may have waited too long and he just missed getting up. I learned a lot about the colt that day and hopefully the same mistake won’t be repeated.”

The ASPCA was his second tough loss in a Grade 1 for the year after he fell a nose short to In A Simple Rhyme in The Sand Castle Golden Sprint in March. He will lock horns with those rivals again this weekend and will be looking to avenge both those defeats. The colt’s only other foray in the Graded Stakes ranks came in his first outing for 2008 in The Grade 2 Wicker Sofa Stakes. He caught a sloppy track that day and sped home in 1:08 2/5 for the six furlongs. In the process he broke the track record and recorded a career high 116 number. His other two wins for the year were in ungraded stakes sprints.  

+ Stellar six furlong record and ultra consistent colt who rarely runs a bad race.

– His last race four weeks ago was his worst performance for the year and his first out of the money finish in over a year. Worryingly he was beaten at even money against soft minor Stakes company.

SOBRON (KY)                      8/1            Divisional Rank: 9

4 Year Old Colt                                    

UNBRIDLED’S SONG x CARSON CITY x MILL REEF  

Jockey: P Bangs ( 739 – 177 – 155 – 99 – 24% )

Record (30 : 9 – 8 – 2) $981,890                   Sprint (24 : 7 – 8 – 1) $942,660                     

Distance (5 : 0 – 2 – 0)                                   Year (10 : 1 – 5 – 0)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 113

One of the popular greys, this almost white son of Unbridled’s Song has become a bridesmaid this year winning just one of his ten starts, while finishing second on five occasions. His lone triumph for 2008 came in The Grade 1 ASPCA Stakes in August. Going 6.5 furlongs that day, he was able to stalk the pace in second before drawing away through the stretch to hold off Lannister Gold by ¾ length. He stopped the clock in a sensational 1:14 3/5 and received a 116 speed figure for that effort. That race also marked the only time he finished in the money in six Graded Stakes attempts. Not surprisingly he couldn’t reproduce that form four weeks later in The Tri City and came home seventh beaten just under two lengths. His weak Graded Stakes form makes him a risky proposition for punters this weekend, but those who like him can take solace in the fact that if he runs to his top numbers he can get the job done at a decent price. His versatile running style will also be an asset in here, and jockey Percy Bangs alluded to this when asked about his tactics for the race. “He has won on the lead, pressing the pace, and closing from mid-pack. So I have a lot of options once the gates open.”

CASTERLY ROCK (IRE)                16/1            Divisional Rank: 10

6 Year Old Horse                                             

GIANT’S CAUSEWAY (IRE) x GONE WEST x SADLER’S WELLS

Jockey: T Small ( 748 – 221 – 146 – 107 – 30% )

Record (42 : 16 – 5 – 5) $4,746,447              Sprint (39 : 16 – 4 – 5) $4,737,437                

Distance (27 : 14 – 3 – 2)                               Year (7 : 2 – 1 – 0)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 115

The veteran of the field, and not only the most accomplished sprinter in this heat, but one of the best Sim sprinters ever. This will be his fourth consecutive BB Sprint after winning back to back runnings in 2005 and 2006, and finishing fourth last year. Admittedly he is now in the twilight of his career, and although his recent form is not what you would like to see coming into such a tough race, he still appears capable of running the occasional big race and his experience in the major races must be respected. His impressive resume includes six Grade 1 wins and fourteen victories at six furlongs. His most recent Grade 1 score came this spring when he beat a not too stellar field in The Lannister Special and his 103 number that day won’t do him any good in here. The race before The Lannister however, indicated that this old warrior can still run big when in the mood. That day he sped the six furlongs in 1:08 4/5 for a 112 speed figure. His form throughout the summer and into the fall seems to have deserted him, and he must improve on his last three starts where he has failed to hit the board.

His regular rider Tony Small became misty eyed at this week’s press conference when he talked about one of his favorite mounts. “Winning back to back Sprints on The Rock has been one of the defining moments of my career. I look forward every Breeders Bowl to getting on his back and I may get a tear in my eye on Saturday when he takes the track. I really hope the old boy has one more big race left. It would be special to do it a third time, especially when many believe he can’t.” 

FERNANDO STORM (KY)             11/1            Divisional Rank: 13

5 Year Old Horse                                             

STORM CAT x SEEKING THE GOLD x DANEHILL 

Jockey: R Harzheim ( 729 – 182 – 130 – 108 – 25% )

Record (45 : 13 – 4 – 4) $687,227                 Sprint (40 : 13 – 3 – 3) $662,327                   

Distance (17 : 6 – 0 – 3)                                 Year (9 : 3 – 0 – 1)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 113

Since being claimed by his current owner in November of 2006 this chestnut son of Storm Cat has steadily improved his performances. He hit his peak towards the end of the summer last year and carried that good form through to the early months of 2008. In that eight month period he reeled off six consecutive victories, including eye catching scores in The Grade 2 Devil Went to Delaware and The Grade 3 Silver Spoon both at six furlongs and both in wire to wire fashion. His numbers of 111 and 113 for those events are competitive with the rest of this field, but since March his form has tailed off and he only has an allowance win to his credit during the last seven months. In those seven months he has also been off the board in five of his seven races. Last time out in The Grade 1 Scottsdale he faded to run fourth after pressing the early pace and he just doesn’t seem like the horse he was during his six race winning streak. Jockey Robin Harzheim climbs aboard for the first time on Saturday and believes his mount will be part of the early pace. “I’ve never been on him and I haven’t spoken to the trainer as yet, but watching his past races it looks like he has the speed to be on the lead in here. We’ll see how the race plays out.”

IN A SIMPLE RHYME (KY)                       10/1            Divisional Rank: 7

5 Year Old Horse                                             

FORTY NINER x MR. PROSPECTOR x SECRETARIAT   

Jockey: H Harzheim ( 723 – 195 – 118 – 114 – 27% )

Record (36 : 11 – 3 – 5) $1,862,966              Sprint (32 : 10 – 3 – 5) $1,841,846    

Distance (11 : 3 – 1 – 3)                                 Year (8 : 1 – 0 – 2)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 114

This come from the clouds sprinter was second in last year’s sprint, but has struggled somewhat this year. He brings a one for eight record into this race and has been off the board in five of his outings this season. There have been whispers on the backstretch this week that the five year old has lost a step. However his jockey, the Dubai based ace rider Harry Harzheim, warns punters not to overlook his mount. “This is not an easy horse to ride. Most times he drops far back early on, and the key for the jockey is not to panic. I rode him to his only win this year in Dubai and in that race with two furlongs to go I thought we didn’t have a chance.” The race in question was The Grade 1 Sand Castle Golden Sprint in March where the colt closed furiously to get up by a nose and deny Lannister Gold the victory. “When I asked him to go it took him a little time to get started, but when he kicked into gear it was awesome. He hasn’t won since then, but I believe you have to know how to ride this colt. And I know how to ride him.” 

In six starts since The Sand Castle Sprint he has finished out of the money on four occasions and was third in the other two races. His trainer zewango4 also believes that jockey error could have cost him in some of those outings and thinks he has the right man for the job on Saturday. “Harry fits the horse like a glove. That’s why we went for him. He was second last year with Harry’s brother Paul, so hopefully Harry can go one better than his brother this year.”

WOLF’S SLAM (JPN)          30/1            Divisional Rank: 15

3 Year Old Colt                                    

FRENCH DEPUTY x GRAND SLAM x DIXIELAND BAND

Jockey: Z Kentucky ( 727 – 161 – 119 – 123 – 22% )

Record (26 : 8 – 3 – 4) $251,451                   Sprint (23 : 7 – 3 – 4) $246,891                     

Distance (7 : 2 – 2 – 0)                                   Year (15 : 5 – 1 – 1)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 102

This Japanese bred three year old has been awfully busy this year making fifteen trips to the gate. His career highlight came in June when he won The Grade 2 No Country Sprint going seven furlongs against nine of his fellow three year olds. He was able to contest the early pace and still hold on for the win while receiving a career high 111 speed rating. In six starts since then he has not been in the money and has been well beaten on each occasion. Nothing in his recent form would suggest that he will be a factor in here and this is reflected in the oddsmaker installing him as the longest shot on the board. He explained his decision earlier this week. “He is a nice colt but I don’t think being a nice colt is good enough to win at the Breeders Bowl. He’ll have to move forward big time and I don’t see it happening in his sixteenth start of the season.” The fact that this race is his first try against his elders will also make his assignment that much tougher. It will be interesting to see the tactics his rider Zack Kentucky will employ this weekend, since the colt has flashed early speed in the past.

CHRONIC ADDICTION (KY)                    7/1            Divisional Rank: 1

5 Year Old Horse                                             

GONE WEST x ELA-MANA-MOU(IRE) x VALID APPEAL

Jockey: K Ledwith ( 745 – 232 – 147 – 112 – 31% )

Record (33 : 12 – 5 – 5) $951,735                           Sprint (28 : 11 – 5 – 5) $944,180

Distance (4 : 2 – 0 – 2)                                             Year (12 : 5 – 1 – 3)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 115

The number one ranked older dirt sprinter in The Sim, this five year old horse has really come to hand this year. He began 2008 with a hat trick of sprint victories, and included in that streak was The Grade 3 Pablo Cruz Handicap at seven furlongs. That race marked his Graded Stakes debut and his speed figure that day of 117 remains a career high. Although he has only won two of his ten races since then, both of those victories have been at Saturday’s distance of six furlongs. In June he won his only Grade 1 to date by closing fast to take The Red Keep Special. The very next month he again displayed great finishing speed to capture The Grade 2 Sooner Husker Stakes. His numbers of 112 and 115 respectively for those races makes him a major threat this weekend. A confirmed closer he will need a fast pace to set up his late run.

+ Never been off the board in four races at six furlongs.

– Has lost his last three and he may be feeling the effects of a tough campaign. Saturday will be his thirteenth start of 2008.

SANDSTONE PARK (KY)               10/1            Divisional Rank: 15

4 Year Old Colt                                    

KINGMAMBO x PLEASANT COLONY x NIJINSKY II

Jockey: A Rolling ( 733 – 203 – 158 – 105 – 28% )

Record (14 : 8 – 2 – 2) $373,822                   Sprint (12 : 8 – 2 – 0) $369,310                     

Distance (5 : 3 – 1 – 0)                                   Year (10 : 6 – 2 – 1)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 112

This lightly raced four year old is bred to run all day long but has been surprisingly effective at the shorter distances. In his fourteen starts he has been nothing short of impressive, with his first race the only time he has failed to record a 100 plus speed figure. Although he is yet to win in the Graded Stakes ranks he is dangerous in here because his numbers are good and his best races appear to be ahead of him. “He’s only run fourteen times and I think he still has some upside to him,” one of his connections told the media. “His last two races would also seem to indicate that he fits nicely with these runners.” Those two races were both 6.5 furlong Grade 1 events. The Tri City and The West State Sprint. In The Tri City he lost a head decision to Moneygrowsontrees and in The West State four weeks ago he was badly outpaced early and could only close to get fourth. He likes to come from off the pace and if a fast pace materializes and he is in contention at the top of the stretch, his late kick could see him spring the upset.

No one has been more confident about his chances than jockey Ann Rolling who climbs aboard on Saturday. “We’re hoping for a fast pace to set us up. I don’t think he’ll be as far back as he was last time though. He had a great work last week and he’s been galloping strong. I think he has a big shot.”

CORPORATE FINANCE (ENG)                 14/1            Divisional Rank: 1

3 Year Old Colt                                    

WITH APPROVAL x BELONG TO ME x SEATTLE SLEW

Jockey: P Harzheim ( 733 – 202 – 149 – 101 – 28% )

Record (19 : 9 – 2 – 2) $1,125,972               Sprint (17 : 9 – 2 – 2) $1,125,972                  

Distance (7 : 3 – 1 – 1)                                  Year (9 : 4 – 1 – 1)

Best 6 furlong speed figure: 114

The top-ranked sophomore sprinter comes to California with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. Despite over a $1 million in the bank, a solid race record, and a large fan base –due mainly to his almost white color and come from the clouds running style-, he has gotten no respect from the racing secretary who has dismissed him at 14/1 on the morning line. This son of With Approval has sprinted eight times this year, with four victories, a place, and a show to his credit. Two of those wins came in the seven furlong Grade 3 South Bronx Stakes in April and the six furlong Grade 1 Red Cross in August. On both occasions he looked hopelessly beaten in the stretch, before unleashing that patented devastating turn of foot. The Red Cross was his first and only Grade 1 triumph thus far, and he also got a career best 114 speed rating for that effort. However, the fact that his only two off the board sprint efforts this season have been against his elders, has left him somewhat overlooked in the betting. In May he tackled the older horses for the first time in The Grade 2 Bluegrass Sprint at seven furlong. Not surprisingly for a three year old against his elders in the spring he was never a factor in that race and trudged home tenth of fourteen. “In hindsight that was not the best spot for him at that time,” his trainer said while watching the popular grey train on Tuesday. Four weeks after his exciting Red Cross score he again stepped up to take on his elders. Going 6.5 furlongs in The Grade 1 Tri City Stakes he was towards the rear early before launching a bid two furlongs out. He fell a length short while finishing fourth, but his trainer was satisfied with that effort. “I was happy with his race that day. If we get more pace to run at on Saturday he can be dangerous.” On Saturday he will face the three horses that finished ahead of him in the Tri Nations – Moneygrowsontrees, Sandstone Park, and Mr.Toms River NJ.   

My Picks

1.)    Sandstone Park

2.)    Mr. Toms River NJ

3.)    Il Prospetto

Good Luck To All!