Flying Carpet Stakes
The Flying Carpet Stakes attracted a field of 13, the Grade 2 Event will take place on a firm Turf Course at New York Racetrack. The 11f event will show lots of experienced runners in search of a Graded Win, some of them bring even Grade 1 Experience, but haven’t been able to score at the highest level so far, so let’s take a look at the runners:
#1 OLD AND POOR(IRE) 15/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=88566
18 Races – 7 Wins – 665,060$
The 6yo Daliapour Horse has a very strange career, after he won a Stakes race as a 3yo, after finishing 2nd and 3rd in the English and Adelaide Derby, he was put on a long rest, almost 3 years. He came back in february with a 101 ALW 2nd, and won a Stakes Race in April, with a smashing 112 over 11f. His last 3 races have been disappointing, including an 8th place in the Grade 1 Classic Turf Stakes last time out. It has to be seen, if the Front runner can turn on his magic again as a 6yo, or if those 2 comeback races had been all that was left in the tank.
#2 ANOTHER TENPIN TAP 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=127000
32 Races – 9 Wins – 1,978,596$
The 5yo Seeking the Gold Horse is a Grade 1 winner from last season, when he won the Classic Turf Stakes, this season however has been rough for him, scoring only 1 win in 10.5f stakes race in Portugal, last time out he was 3rd in a Stakes race, running a 104 over 10.5f, he likes to be in or near the lead early, but seems to lack closing speed this season, as most of his races he couldn’t even get his speed figures near 100.
#3 FAPPIANE(KY) 9/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=130469
23 Races – 4 Wins – 93,745$
The 4yo Elusive Quality colt has been running in ALW races most of the season, winning 2 back in March and July, his highest speed figure is a 106 over 11f, this will not quite be enough today. I think he is more of a longshot, than his odds tell, and I wouldn’t count on the front runner to even get the lead today. Last time out he finished 7th in a Grade 1 over 12f, producing a 103 speed.
#4 SMILING SLEW(KY) 22/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=135399
17 Races – 3 Wins – 136,135$
The 3yo Buddha Colt has a lifetimehigh speed of 100, good enough for a 2nd in a Stakes Race in kansas, over 9.5f . Well, you get that 100 will likely not be enough today, he is a far outside shot, last time out he produced a 98 over 12f, and finished 3rd in a Stakes race, but all his races so far have only been against horses of his age. He will be way over his head, when facing older rivals.
#5 ALUM BAY(IRE) 6/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=128857
27 Races – 5 Wins – 1,308,888
The 4yo High Chapparal Colt won the Grade 1 Turf Stakes as a 3yo, and lots of experts thought he was on his way to a great career as a long router on the turf. However he had a tough season, and just seems to find his form towards the end of the year, his 2 wins this season have come in a 11f ALW race, and last time out in the Del Penn Turf, a restricted stakes race, in which his 109 over 12f simply was great and a new lifetime high. He likes to settle for a place near the end of the field early, and has a great stretch run, which often gets him near the lead, he still finished in the money in almost all his graded Stakes appearances, the 11f should suit him, despite he can stretch even longer.
#6 ELVIS VICTORY(AUS) 8/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=42015
20 Races – 7 Wins – 347,368$
The lightly raced 4yo Elvstroen colt only ran in 6 races so far this season, 4 of them Graded Stakes races, and in all he produced 100+ speeds, so far so good. However, he could only win 1 race, a Grade 3 over 12f in April, last time out he ran for a 6th place in a Ungraded event over 11f with a 102 speed. He really has no prefered running style, which can be an advantage in a race with lots of horses gunning for the lead, but overall he has a good resume, but is likely to finish more in the money, than to really go for the win today.
#7 RINGS THE BELL(KY) 36/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=128390
20 Races – 3 Wins – 132,871$
Lifetime High speed for the 4yo Arthur’s ring colt is a nice 106, but that came back in February over 10f, and was only good for 2nd. Since than he hasn’t broken the 100, and had a troublesome race in June, where he came up a little injured afterwards. The odds say all, he will likely be in contention for last place, and that will be it.
#8 THE GIANT’S GONE(IRE) 11/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=109895
34 Races – 8 Wins – 439,964$
The 5yo Giant’s Causeway Horse won his last race back in March, in a 14f Stakes event, since then he was struggling, sometimes running speeds lower than 90, but that all changed last time out. The race was run on yielding turf over 12f, and the 5 runner stakes field brought out a new lifetimehigh speed figure of 112, but it was only good for 2nd, so it’s likely the winner simply made the speed for The Giant’s Gone. Nevertheless his owner hopes the 5yo can get another turn around into his career, that saw him win a total of 3 stakes races.
#9 STERNWOOD FOREST 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=49398
46 Races – 11 Wins – 460,085$
The 6yo Lear Fan Horse is well travelled and had a 3 race win streak back from June to August, the first time in his career he seemed really on fire, winning an ALW and 2 Stakes Races. Last time out he just came short with a 2nd place in an 11f Stakes race, however producing a lifetimehigh 109 speed rating. Not bad for a 6yo, you actually expect to decrease in performance level.
#10 FROM SIN CITY(IRE) 14/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=80363
29 Races – 8 Wins – 156,917$
The 5yo Theatrical colt seems asked too much in Stakes company, his last win results from a 13f ALW race back in July, having yet to win a Stakes race. He changed hands running in a 125K CLM back in march, and well, his last performances suggested moving him back down to ALW Level rather than trying Graded Stakes. Last time out he ran a sub par 92 over 12f, his lifetime high being a 106 in his last win, which he couldn’t confirm afterwards.
#11 STRONG BELWAS 9/2
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=94644
32 Races – 9 Wins – 2,986,585$
The 5yo Empire Maker colt is one of the superstars on the Turf, however this season has been rough for him, he finsihed 2nd in the Grade 1 Canada turf last time out, and only collected 1 win in 2008, an 11f ALW race. But his career shows 3 Grade 1 wins, a level at which he still is good for an in the money finish. Today he wants to get back to winning ways, and the 112 speed last time out showed his class is still there. If he can get to that level he’ll be tough to beat.
#12 BIG BAD N NOW(KY) 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=124541
32 Races – 12 Wins – 539,435$
The 4yo Cryptoclearance colt won 4 Ungraded Stakes Races this season, but still looks to collect his first Graded win, he finished 4th in his last Grade 1 try back in August. Running consistent 100+ speeds, with a 113 high over 11f. However last time out he struggled with a 97 over 13f, so the step back in distance seems logical. He should be able to keep up with the best today, and his style of running in the middle of the field early should suit well.
#13 SILENT AJDAL(KY) 14/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=141893
17 Races – 5 Wins – 480,800$
The 2nd 3yo entry is this nice Sharp Humor colt, who had a great season so far, highlighted by the Grade 1 win in the Caribbean a 11f contest for 3yos only, and here may come the biggest problem, it’s the first time he faces older horses, and struggled already with consistency in his 3yo only races, which his last 2 races show in extreme, which reflect a 110 and a 97 last time out.
It’s tough picking a winner here, I would like for Strong Belwas to regain glory, or Alum Bay or Elvis Victory to run lifetime great races, which all is possible.