DPCD 7: Turf Mile
It’s just about time to shop for christmas presents, and as we all feel ready for a nice warm place to relax from all the stress of the year, for our little sim horses there is just one more highlight left, the DPCD Event, featuring Grade 1 races in all major divisions.
For the 1 Mile Turf Event 15 Horses entered, including some of the Stars, but the Miler of the year, Basketball Jones, winner of the Breeders Bowl Mile, the Canada Mile and the Equinics for 4yo+ horses is missing, so the field is open for his challengers, like Race favourite Crazy Scoob, Breeders Cup Top 3 finishers Severe Warning and Stromin Blues, or top rated horses Senior Anzio and Banner. As you can see a great field has lined up, and first of all i want to give you an in depth look at todays challengers:
#1 CLIFDEN CASTLE 12/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=102802
26 Races – 9 Wins – 629,348$
Division Rank: 18 Grade 1 Wins: 0
Yet to win a Grade 1 Race, the 5yo Sadler’s Wells Mare has been running in Stakes all season, and now wants to take the challenge of taking on the boys, with a lifetime high speed of 112, run over 8.5f just 2 races back, she looks in good shape, and could stand the challenge with the top milers. In her last race she came 2nd in a Grade 2 and looked good with a 108 over 8.5f, she has won 3 stakes races this season, including a Grade 2. She only ran in filly and mare races so far, and her performances in Grade 1 races have been ugly. But don’t count out the lone filly, as she likes to fly late, and pick a bit of space behind the field early.
#2 SENOR ANZIO 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=93002
30 Races – 9 Wins – 810,396$
Division Rank: 3 Grade 1 Wins: 1
The E Dubai Colt became one of the strongest dirt milers at the very high age of 6, before this season he was an average ALW colt looking for his best distance, but making his Stakes debut in March, he stormed home for an easy Stakes win, and a 114 speed, since then he hardly looked back, winning the Jack the Man Stakes and the High Lady Cup, plus finishing 2nd in the Dr. Reuben Garr Memorial, and a 3rd in the Farse Domination Stakes. His Autumn wasn’t that great, as he was 7th in the Canada Mile and 8th in the Breeders Bowl Mile, but last time out he battled back, winning the 8.5f Jacobson Stakes in a 110 speed. He may have lost a step compared to his summer form, but the Penn Mile could bring out another huge performance, he likes to start slowly and trail the field early, but he has a lightning finish on the stretch.
#3 DELPENN CHAMP(KY) 18/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=153994
12 Races – 4 Wins – 324,045$
Division Rank: 77 Grade 1 Wins: 0
The 3yo Seeking the Gold colt just started his career this January, after being unraced as a 2yo, and it paid of to rest him that long, he won the Grade 2 Jockey Club Stakes Classic in September. Apart from that it was a tough season for him, whenever hitting Stakes Company, but he seems to be a nice late bloomer, setting a career high speed of 111 in August. He crossed heads with some of the competitors of todays race in the Jacobsson Mile, when finsihing 6th 3 lengths behind Senior Anzio, and it looks like it will be tough for him to reverse the form today. The Grade 1 Race still seems to be way over his head, and it would need for him to make another improvement, and not revert like in the last races.
#4 DEDUCTION(KY) 20/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=93777
15 Races – 7 Wins – 767,570$
Division Rank: 10 Grade 1 Win: 1
The 3yo A.P. Indy Colt impresses with his almost 50 W%, but there is a lot more behind this entry, in September he won his only Grade 1, the Mospe Cup, ran on a yielding turf, and with a 109 speed, he confirmed the off-track win, by beating the field in the GR Simsters Mile in October, with a 112 on Firm Turf, however his performance in the Kingab Mile was disatrous, he ran a sub-par 96 3 weeks ago, and there have been rumours about an injury, but his entry just 3 weeks later deny all of that. It seems to have been just a bad day in not so strange conditions, something that can happen to a 3yo any given day. Especially after his huge improvements in the 2 races before. He likes to take an early lead and go wire-to-wire, but a performance settling near the speed can also be ok, but be aware if he is behind too far early on, he is not a horse to fight back, either he gets the speed early on, or he’s not likely to have a sound day.
#5 SEVERE WARNING(IRE) 7/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=65971
24 Races – 8 Wins – 2,614,644$
Division Rank: 4 Grade 1 Wins: 3
The 4yo Theatrical Colt has had an up and down season, after winning the Grade 1 NY Island Cap in June, he flip flopped between 2nd places and narrow Top 3 misses, but he became one of the best turf milers, after prefering 10f early in his career, this autum he finished 2nd in the Breeders Bowl Mile and the Canada Mile, being beaten by Basketball Jones both times, but today may be his big day, with the Basketball men being absent, he can perhaps finally re-enter the winners circle. Last time out he ran in the 10f Eclipse Stakes, and once again it seemed he looks way sharper over 8f, as he finished 4th with only a 105 speed mark, more than 10 points down from his 2nd places in the Mile Races. He likes to take an early lead, and finally hopes not to be caught today.
#6 RAGSPOINT DEPUTY(KY) 16/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=132648
27 Races – 7 Wins – 286,864$
Division Rank: 77 Grade 1 Wins: 0
The 4yo Dynaformer Colt has been a switcher between ALW and Graded Races during his career all the time, winning ALW races and 1 Stakes Race in his career, the Graded Events haven’t been good to him, or you could say he simply is outclassed. A 2nd in the Posh Purse Stakes is his best performance in Graded Company so far in his career, the 110 he ran that day his 2nd best career performance only topped by a 114 a Stakes win in japan in August. Look for him to likely not be at that level today, last time out in the Kingab Mile he just ran a 101 and finsihed 9th, something realistic for today. He ran his best races, when getting the lead early, a task nearly impossible today.
#7 TORINO(KY) 9/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=9044
29 Races – 6 Wins – 361,260$
Division Rank: 55 Grade 1 Wins: 0
Running in 4 Stakes races this season, the Grade 2 win in the Fivestarnick handicap was the career Highlight og the 4yo Eurosilver Colt. He has been cracking 110+ speeds in regularity this summer, before a down race in the Posh Purse Stakes, his last 2 races have been much better, and he was a good 4th in the Jacobson Stakes, a race contested by many runners of todays race. He likes to run from the midpack, and often puts his challenge very late, being one of the fastest horses on the stretch, but often coming short. I wouldn’t deny his chances, but his hooves must be flying like they have this summer to give him any chance.
#8 CRAZY SCOOB 6/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=73196
36 Races – 15 Wins – 673,867$
Division Rank: 16 Grade 1 Wins: 0
The 5yo Awesome Again Horse became a Stakes horse on 2nd try, the first time his ownership thought about Stakes races was back in February 07, when the 4yo colt won a 7.5f Restricted ALW race with a speed of 108, but in 2 Stakes tries afterwards he finished 7th both times, not even breaking 100, so it was back to ALWs for him, and it needed a repeated 110+ performance in February 08, to get him back into stakes racing, and it was much more succesful this time, he finished 2nd in March in an Ungraded Stakes race, and finally won a Stakes Race in the Grade 3 Port Marshua Handicap in May. And followed that by a restricted Stakes win in September and the Grade 2 Fujimoto Stakes in October. Last time out he was 2nd in the Jacobsson Stakes, just beaten by Senior Anzio. His repeated 110+ performances make him a huge shot at a Top 3 finish today, he has really been very consitent this season, and the only thing missing in his career is a Grade 1 win, perhaps the front runner/stalker can get it today.
#9 BANNER(IRE) 9/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=146025
16 Races – 4 Wins – 1,498,125$
Division Rank: 2 Grade 1 Wins: 1
One year ago, the now 3yo Danehill Dancer Colt started in the 5th race of his career, at exact the same track and meeting, he won the Restricted Juvenile Turf Stakes, his 2nd career win, and what a career it went on to be, as 1 year later, he enters the Turf Mile as one of the best 3yo Mile Turfers, but the season not only had glory moments, like the Win at the Smackdown event or the Maudlin Cup he won, one race he looked forward to most, was the 2000 Guineas, but it was not his day yet to shine, he finished 5th more than 6 lenghts behind Yasutora. The next highlight was the Equinics, he entered the 3yo Mile Turf race, and that day he beat Yasutora, but it was Stormin Blues, that denied him the Grade 1 race, he finished 2nd one length back. One Race later he finally became a Grade 1 winner in the Maudlin Cup, the Breeders Bowl was another low day, he finished only 4th, just missing, despite running a lifetime high 114. Last time out the stalker finished 5th in the Kindab Mile, he likes to settle a little behind the pace, and make his move from 1-2 lengths back.
#10 ZANZABAR(IRE) 10/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=32989
39 Races – 14 Wins – 1,391,045$
Division Rank: 144 Grade 1 Wins: 0
The best days seem to be behind the 5yo Galileo colt, but you should never rule out a comeback by a million Dollar Earner, who had his best days about a year ago, when winning the Grade 2 Utah BB Mile. This season he seemed back at his best in September, when dashing a 115 in a Stakes Race in England, winning that day, and finishing 3rd in the Utah BB Mile a month later. But his last 2 races have been rather disappointing, a 4th in the GR simsters Mile and a 13th in the MACLEAN Cup last time out. He’ll likely need another career performance today, but his Grade 1 record is a disaster, with a 2nd in the Jack the Man Stakes in 07 his best result. He likes to position himself in mid-pack early on, and make his move from there.
#11 WELLS GHOST TED(WV) 10/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=2463
35 Races – 6 Wins – 621,501$
Division Rank: 15 Grade 1 Wins: 1
4 weeks ago, we would have hardly wasted a thought about the Ghostly Minister 4yo Colt, but on November 29th his career changed big time, he demonstrated his turf mile class with a win in the Kingab Mile, and despite the 110 speed was not that huge compared to the Breeders Bowl speed, it still was a Grade 1 win. Before that day his best result was a 2nd place in a Grade 2 and a few ALW wins. It is something big, if a late blooming 4yo scores a Grade 1, after being denied several times before in even Ungraded Stakes races, but this colt seems to be something special, just coming into his own after the Parade of horses, when other get anxious and nervous. Let’s see if he can repeat his performance, an advantage is his flexible early speed, as he can go anywhere from lead horse to mid pack sitter, but with Severe Warning in the race, it’s unlikely he’ll go for the early lead.
#12 RED RAVEN 16/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=107245
35 Races – 13 Wins – 841,101$
Division Rank: 21 Grade 1 Wins: 1
It was Early March this year, when the Touch Gold 5yo was rated one of the best Turf Milers, and won the Grade 1 Crock of Gold for his first Grade 1 win, after winning the Grade 2 Vermont is 4 Lovers just a month before. But a lot seems to have changed since then, his Smackdown and Reuben garr Memorial Performances had been disasters, he couldn’t even crack 100, speeds, he rebounded a little in Autumn, winning an ALW with a 106, and finishing 3rd in the GR Simsters Mile, his last time out he won another ALW on a yielding course with a 97, but more was not necessary. Despite that good autumn campaign he is lightyears away from his early spring form, and looks just an outside shot in todays field, unless he can find his gallop from March again.
#13 STORMIN BLUES(KY) 10/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=138556
16 Races – 5 Wins – 1,042,436$
Division Rank: 4 Grade 1 Wins: 1
Another huge performer in the Open Mile Turfer Division, the 3yo Bernardini Colt had his day of glory in August, when beating Banner in the 3yo Turf Mile Equnics Race, it is always a pleasure winning the Gold medal, and a great 113 speed rounded off his huge day, making him a member of the Elusive Gold Medalists at the Equinics. It was 2 ½ months later, when he went for another shot of Sim Glory in the Breeders Bowl Mile, but he was denied that day, Basketball Jones beat him by 3 lengths, despite a career high 114. And still the lightly raced 3yo is waiting for another win after the Equinics, as last time out he finished 5th in the Jacobson Stakes won by todays rival Senior Anzio. Stormin Blues can run at various speeds early on, but prefers a solid position mid-pack.
#14 SLAMMIN’ G(KY) 38/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=138121
24 Races – 6 Wins – 163,871$
Division Rank: 559 Grade 1 Wins: 0
A filler entry here, the 3yo Grand Slam Colt is a little overraced, and has a career high speed of 103, enough said, look for a near last place finish.
#15 BANNABY(KY) 10/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=131880
26 Races – 7 Wins – 383,780$
Division Rank: 56 Grade 1 Wins: 0
The switch to turf in his 7th career race was a huge one for the 4yo Unbridled’s Song colt, after whooping through ALW conditions, it took till this January, until he finally win a Stakes Race, the Grade 3 Laffit Handicap, and to make it worse, it still is his only stakes win till today, only winning one more ALW prep race this season in July. But last time out, after several complete wasted races, he finally found a good speed again, settling into 2nd place in the Grade 3 MACLEAN Stakes, but a 112 was his 2nd best career speed. He likes to be near the pace to a mid pack position early on, but it will take a huge performance boost for him to have a chance at a win today. One of the more outside shots, but his good form could carry on today.
Overall the field is filled with the top mile horses except that one we all seem to miss, but the great colts may make us forget what a challenge it could have been, I like Banner to have one of his on days, but he will face a tough challenge by Jacobsen Stakes winner and recently hot Senior Anzio as well as Kingab Mile winners Wells Ghost ted, but perhaps one of those not running in the top mile races so far have a shot at the win.