Youngsters Set For Doc’s Blade
(SP)Wyoming-The Simply Electric Challenge is in the books and it was a shocker to be sure. A long shot came from nowhere and won the race going away. Four More Years broke very poorly and proceeded to fall behind, so far behind that every one lost track of him. It looked like my prediction was correct, but someone must have told him about this. As befitting the race name he all of a sudden woke up as if he had a shock and proceeded to gobble up ground like he was a pacman. You probably heard the rumbling and thought for sure it was an earthquake. This was just the winner hammering the ground as he blew by every single horse in the field to win by over a length. Forestal took advantage of the shorter distance for him and that translated into a comfortable place showing. He also was held back a bit and then let loose when he was ready this time and it certainly paid off. All the hard work and training at Ascot also helped K’s State Of Mind perform well at the weekend. He was on the shoulder of Forestal the whole race and this brought him over the wire in third for a very strong show.
Once again the WRC has chosen to name a stakes race after one that has already run during the year. All it has done is add fuel to the feud between them and WHOA, especially when the former run stakes race was in Norway. It again has WHOA pressing for better naming and research for stakes races here in Wyoming. There is even a drive to get the racing public to send in letters of protest asking for clearer representation of racing in Wyoming and other western states. It may just fall on deaf ears right now, but the movement is out there and is slowly gaining support. The $55,000 Doc’s Blade Memorial is the one causing the furor, and having it on the turf and also seven and a half furlongs doesn’t help. The only difference between the two, ours is for two year olds and theirs was for horses four or older. Now I must sound off here myself, I do not like writing about freshmen. There is usually so little data about the youngsters and trainers as often tight lipped about these young hopefuls. You would think it would be the other way around, but here in the sim world it is not the case. Don’t get me wrong, if I had a youngster that could run in a stakes race I would be the first to enter them. Also I have nothing against them, well not much. I do not want to write about their sires, as there is enough printed matter on them. Anyway, it should be about the new kids on the block. With that said let’s see what damage I can do for the five young hopefuls that have shown up for the race.
Quest for Phyl entered by pizzaman. This wild-eyed long legged brown is sired by Rainbow Quest out of Steely Seattle a Seattle Slew mare. He has not yet found his confidence on the track and it shows in the wide difference in speed ratings. It is good he has the number one jockey, Jason Sands, in the irons. Maybe he will be able to settle down our boy Phyl enough for a good showing.
Mandela entered by biko5. This huge brown by Johannesburg was named in tribute to a former leader of South Africa. The colt has not yet grown into his body, but seems to be slowly improving with each run. He was moved to the turf and seemed to be slightly more alive, so he will stay on this surface for a couple more runs. Trainer feels this early in the year his boy still has a chance at a good result at the black tie event.
Highly Motivated entered by causway. Johar, a $1.5 million race earner, sires this dark brown freshman. He has only three races under the saddle and is starting to show a desire to run with the leaders. He won his maiden last time out and like so many before him, he is moved directly into stakes company. Only time will tell if this has any long term effect.
Mythical Strength entered by futurestar. The chestnut coming out of gate four also has a freshman sire in Strong Hope out of Chief Conqueror (by Broad Bush). He is a small compact colt standing under sixteen hands and will get his first try on the lawn. He has been doing well so far on the dirt, but has a big stamina problem right now. Maybe the change in scenery will do the trick.
Duane Pipe entered by dowelly. Out of Amanda’s Charm (Nureyev) by Anabaa, a Danzig son, comes this chestnut with the most experience with seven runs. Oddly enough, he has stakes experience but didn’t win his maiden until last time out. He has shown increasing confidence and may be set to improve even more. The only knock, he tries to run down the leaders from the back of the pack and hasn’t learned when to start his charge to the front.