G2 Jacobsson Stakes

Welcome to BTB coverage from beautiful Sweden! Sweden is home to this weeks Jacobsson Stakes. This race is sure to be an exciting one, and proves that top class racing is alive and well in Sweden! The race shouldn’t get lost in the shuffle of stakes races this week. It is an intriguing race full of extremely talented runners and trainers. With talented horses like Stormin Blues, Senor Anzio, Crazy Scoob, and Torino! Not only do the names of the horses jump out at you, but the names of the trainers. The trainers in the Jacobsson Stakes look like a who’s who of sim racing with names such as Desperado, Super1, and Scoobi.

Race strategy is equally intriguing as the names in this race as well. The race is full of late kicking horses who more than likely want no part of the lead, but someone is going to have to play rabbit. Will be interesting to see which horse’s go for the lead, and if any will be able to sustain what may be a suicidal tactic. However, that being said a big lead may be attainable if the rest of the field decides to sit way back. Someone is more than likely going to try it. I think that horse may be a wildcard factor, whoever he is, and could possibly sustain it to finish in the money.

There is really no telling what will happen with eleven horses and 44 hooves pounding over a mile and a sixteenth of firm turf doing battle. Picking a winner in this race is like throwing darts at a dart board blind folded. The only sure bet here is that the race will be full of intensity, drama, and suspense. The lucky jockey who trots his horse to the winning circle is going to have to earn it against some of the best classic turf horses in the world. Now to the Jacobsson Stakes field of runners:     

1   SENOR ANZIO       Trainer: elranchoti       Jockey: P Jones  9/2

E DUBAI x EL GRAN SENOR x BLUSHING GROOM(FR)

Career Starts: 29 8 7 5 $690,396

Last Five Speeds: 109, 108, 113, 115, 105

Senor Anzio looks like he may very well have an interesting story behind him. The six year old had a very promising start to his career before being shelved by owner bentley. Two years late elranchoti takes over the horse and has a solid season racing exclusively in allowances. 20 races into his career Senor Anzio explodes with a monster 108 speed to win an allowance at six years old. Now with just 29 career races this horse is peaking, and coming off an impressive streak of racing. Only question is whether the last two races our indication of a downtick in speed, or just a mere speed bump. At any rate Senor Anzio looks to be a fierce contender who can lay ruin to any horse on any day at any time.

2   DELPENN CHAMP(KY)  Trainer: super1  Jockey: M Hein  14/1    

SEEKING THE GOLD x SEATTLE SLEW x NORTHERN DANCER

Career Starts: 11 4 3 1 $324,045

Last Five Speeds: 106, 109, 111, 95, 96

Delpenn Champ just recently made the jump to grade II racing, but the reward was a victory parade to the winners circle. The three year olds racing career is just starting to take off. Trainer Super1 is a seasoned and savvy vet with a knack for producing big time winners. Don’t be surprised if Delpenn Champ holds his own with this field of elite runners.

3 AMERICAN WEREWOLF  Trainer: kensei  Jockey: S Young   8/1  

STORM CAT x FAPPIANO x NIJINSKY II

Career Starts: 29 9 5 3 $552,482

Last Five Speeds: 108, 106, 101, 112, 105

American Werewolf has yet to score the elusive graded victory, but one would be foolish to discount this monster as a strong contender. This field is wide open, and American Werewolf has the bite to win this race. The four year old brings a big late kick, and will look to rundown the leaders late in this one.

4   PALAZZO(ENG)  Trainer: lasthope1  Jockey: W Turnbull  14/1    

MEDICEAN (GB) x GONE WEST x SEATTLE SLEW

Career Starts: 18 7 3 4 $229,766

Last Five Speeds: 107, 100, 105, 100, 89

Palazzo is just three, but seasoned with 18 career starts. In his last three starts (all of which were grade II) he has managed two third place finishes. He certainly has been holding his own as of late. I think anything above 5^th will be a huge accomplishment for this three year old with a bright future. I would not be surprised to see Palazzo in the mix. He has struggled in the past running upfront, but I think it may be his best chance here. It may be easier to steal a lead early with so many late kickers. Will be interesting to see which approach trainer lasthope1 takes.

5   CRAZY SCOOB  Trainer: offdapace  Jockey: J Jacobsson  9/2    

AWESOME AGAIN x MR. PROSPECTOR x NORTHERN DANCER

Career Starts: 35 15 5 4 $623,867

Last Five Speeds: 111, 110, 97, 112, 112

What the last five speed stat does not show here is his whopping 117 speed he ran this year in a G3 in Hong Kong back in May. This horse is coming off two consecutive stakes wins, one of which was a G2. The five year old is a seasoned vet with superior consistency. Crazy Scoob can try for the wire to wire win, or sit just off the leader. Being that he is seasoned and consistent, he is my pick for victory here today.

6   FEARSOME(KY)  Trainer: avalanche3  Jockey: YA Jones  8/1 

FUSAICHI PEGASUS x DEPUTY MINISTER x MR. PROSPECTOR

Career Starts: 30 4 6 8 $371,622

Last Five Speeds: 102, 111, 100, 108, 108

It seems Fearsome runs harder in graded races then regular stakes. If it is pushing that Fearsome needs, then pushing it is he will get in this race. If Fearsome is to win in Sweden he is more than likely going to put up another frightening speed figure. If he starts his driving kick in time, watch out!

7  STORMIN BLUES(KY)  Trainer: desperado2  Jockey: M Mason  7/1 

BERNARDINI x STORM CAT x FORTY NINER

Career Starts: 15 5 3 4 $1,038,436

Last Five Speeds: 114, 107, 113, 108, 103

Stormin Blues is coming off a 3^rd place finish in this year’s Breeders Bowl Mile. With over a million in earnings in just 15 races Stormin Blues has solidified himself as a genuine monster of racing. Desperado has a knack for winning big races, and Stormin Blues could very well feed that reputation further. I’ve picked Crazy Scoob to win this race, but that may be a mistake by me. Stormin Blues can give even the most elite of horses the blues.

8   EL GUIRERO(TUR)  Trainer: guirero  Jockey: Mi Roberts  9/1    

MANILA x CAPOTE x COMPLIANCE

Career Starts: 34 10 4 6 $468,968

Last Five Speeds: 112, 110, 104, 104, 89

After winning the Delpenn Turf Mile trainer guirero has decided to try a graded race for the first time this year with El Guirero. The four year old will need to step up in class, and run big once again. I think he is capable, and certainly seasoned enough with 34 starts. El Guirero is a real wild card, and will be interesting to follow.

9   TORINO(KY)  Trainer: wistful  Jockey: T O’Shea  6/1     

EUROSILVER x DANEHILL x STORM BIRD

Career Starts: 28 6 8 1 $351,260

Last Five Speeds: 108, 101, 111, 113, 111

Torino won the G2 Five Star Nick Handicap with an impressive 111 speed. He is a consistent four year old at his peak. I would expect an impressive run. He usually doesn’t run to far off the leader. There isn’t any rabbit’s for this race. Maybe Torino will take that role. It will be interesting to see the approach trainer wistful, and jockey O’Shea go with. Torino is consistent, and I see no reason to believe why he wouldn’t be right in the thick of things coming down to the wire.

10 RAGING MENACE(WA)  Trainer: teerades  Jockey: M Jones  20/1   

TRAIL CITY x DEPUTY WILD CAT x NUREYEV

Career Starts:  19 4 2 4 $493,024

Last Five Speeds: 102, 105, 94, 104, 95

Any three year old with $493,024 in earnings deserves respect. Nonetheless I think Raging Menace will struggle against a field of seasoned elite runners. He is a great horse, but I just don’t think it is his time yet. If Raging Menace is to contend he will have to run the race of a lifetime. I would set him for the lead, and hope the pace is slow. Who knows, I have seen it work before with a field of late kickers. Then again what do I know, I am just a writer.

11 SCYTHIAN(KY)  Trainer: imatiger2  Jockey: W Farthing  6/1

SKY CLASSIC x SEATTLE SLEW x TRACK BARRON

Career Starts: 25 6 6 6 $338,821

Last Five Speeds: 100, 110, 111, 108, 109

Scythian is one of the horses in this race that should like the 8.5 furlongs more than a traditional 8 furlong race. He can win in grades, he has the speed, he has the right amount of experience, and quite frankly he can, and may steal this race. Scythian is clearly a contender for glory here in Sweden, and you guessed it, he is a late kicker too.

Lebowski’s Selections: 5, 7, 1, 11, 9