Breeders Bowl heroine Clark County stars in DPCD Lightning Ladies Sprint(G1)
Delaware– What’s in a racename? I’d say a heckuva lot if it’s got DelPenn Champions Day or DPCD in front of it. For the 7th straight year, DelPenn Champions Day takes the Sim world by storm in one thunderous afternoon of Grade 1 racing action. Not only does it celebrate the age-old yet forever young DelPenn National residency, but (for most of its history) DPCD also presents the game itself with a big post-Breeders Bowl party. It’s like a 2nd championship day for the Sim. What an end-of-the-year feast for Sim fans!
Last year for DPCD?
While DelPenn National provided for its own residency-restricted races this year, big props go out to Tony (Afc) who sponsored the day’s Grade 1 races despite having departed DelPenn a few months ago. Thanks for keeping the Sim-wide half of DPCD alive, Tony! It’s been a great tradition for the game and has left a huge impact upon the game’s history. I imagine that it won’t be back next year, or if it will be, then perhaps under a different title. Thanks Tony and everyone who helped make this great raceday a part of the game over the years!
The Returning Race
So, now onto our creature feature: the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Lightning Ladies Sprint returns to the DPCD card for the first time since 2005. Texasace’s Red Tejas won the 2005 renewal which was actually run over the grass that year. It appears that the DPCD organizers dropped the Lightning Ladies racename afterwards, calling the female sprinter division events other names such as “DPCD Bullet” (won by dixiedotco’s Birds Of Paradise in 2006).
An ice storm hit the northeast this week, and the Delaware course turned into a skating rink and thensome. However, it’s expected to dry out somewhat by Saturday afternoon with a “good” rated dirt surface in the works. We’ll test that theory anyway by going 6.5 furlongs in an all-out wishywashy splash ’em up!
Hark The Herald, A Breeders Bowl Angel Sings!
The inaugural Breeders Bowl Mare Sprint(G1) heroine Clark County stars this Saturday. All eyes shall be upon Lenny’s gorgeous Seeking the Gold filly who is ranked #1 in the older mare sprint division. Clark County put forth a fine romp in the Breeders Bowl — the 4yo damsel won by a length and half in swell time. She’s gotta be a definite possibility for the uni-sex Sim Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter ballot in January. After all, Clark County also won her Equinics race over the summer — a fine come-from-the-clouds effort that really brought her onto the Sim’s Grade 1 stage. A victory Saturday could definitely see her in the running for the championship which was won last year by the filly Tired Wings.
Clark County makes her 25th career start this week and oddsmakers like her a lot, awarding her co-favorite 6/1 status. The filly rallied, but finished off the board in a listed level stakes in her post-BB followup. We’ll see if that’s just a case of her trainer taking it easy on her in preparation for DPCD and possibly Sim Eclipse glory.
Other Breeders Bowl Belles
They went to the big dance, but only came away with consolation prizes. Three other BB-invitees have another go on racing grandest stage. And, of course, the first one up is Lenny’s “B” horse, Fifth Street (7/1). This Silver Ghost daughter finished a very respectable 3rd on BB day — unfortunately, she was just outgamed to the winner by her much-the-best master stablemate, Clark County. Fifth Street had previously won a sponsored G1 contest after working her way through the ranks earlier this season.
If I were you, I’d watch out for this 4yo filly who’s 4-for-5 over off tracks. Additionally (and unlike Clark County!), Fifth Street actually won her BB followup, taking the Blueberry Stakes(G3) with a splendid 110 SP#. So that’s 3 straight solid efforts for this midpacker who knows how to find the winner’s circle. All in all, a mean one-two punch for trainer Lenny.
Next up, we have the 10th-place BB finisher in Minister Of Humor (9/1). Trainer Pointblank saw this Distorted Humor daughter rack up the sophomore grades throught this season. Minister Of Humor enjoys gunning for the lead and she was just at the top of her game on Equinics day last August, scooter-pooting home to a sassy 1 3/4-length score in the American Heart(G1). She’s 9-for-14 so far in a eye-catching career.
Hmm… you better keep an eye on this one. Pointblank really spaces this filly out — Minister Of Humor only ran once in betwen the early August Equinics and the late October BB. Also, this is her 1st start since tiring in the Breeders Bowl. She’ll either be very fresh or tank again from lack of work. All or nothing with this gal.
Finally, Stirling Form (15/1) finished dead last and distanced in the BB. Trainer Jrogue must’ve been sweating bullets, waiting to see how the 5yo daughter of A.P. Indy returned to the barn. some down time was ncessary and Stirling Form hasn’t raced since BB day.
Stirling Form won the Grade 2 Dandelion very early this season and picked up many minor money checks in grades throughout the spring and summer. The Dandelion was also over 6.5f and resulted in a brave 112 SP# for the closing mare. She hasn’t equaled that number since though, but I must she’s been keeping classy company. Maybe the post-BB respite has freshened her up and Stirling Form then will turn over a new leaf Saturday.
Speed Demon, Listed Stakes Steamin’
The bookies positively adore a few of these listed stakes competitors, so let’s take a look at them first. Most of all, flagdown’s Mt. Fever shares co-favorite status at 6/1. Mt. Fever is a modestly-sired gal by Stormin Fever. The 4yo filly is a mark of consistency, running 109 SP#s notably often, having won 3 back with that number. She’s an experienced dame too, making her 30th trip to the post this week. However, Clark County beat her pretty much in the Equinics, finishing 5th. Flagdown hopes that this filly will fire on an uncharacteristic 2-weeks rest.
I’m struck by a couple things with Mt. Fever. Sure, she’s got those consistent numbers which you always look for anytime of the year in a step up to grades. But she’s also had a somewhat lighter schedule than the graded runners. It’s the 2nd-to-last week of the year — DelPenn Day is a day for ripe upsets. You might want to look for proven class, talent, and a kind of lighter schedule that might see a fresh horse spoil some of her rivals who dusted her just a couple months ago! LOL!
Pazjazz has another candidate for this “lite schedule” theory. Pegasus Prayer (7/1) rides an impressive 3-race win streak into Saturday. The 4yo daughter of Sky Mesa got off to some easy early leads and nailed a couple of stakes as well as an allowance. But don’t let the lesser levels fool ya — Pegasus Prayer finished a very nice 2nd in the classy Go For It Handicap(G1) earlier this season, missing the gate-to-wire romp by a mere 1/4-length. She brings 110 and 112 type speed figures to this group. That puts her right up there with the favorites.
I expect this experienced filly (38 starts) to challenge Minister Of Humor for the early lead. Perhaps she’ll outwrestle the youngster who hasn’t yet matched Pegasus Prayer’s speed figures for the honor. Keep an eye on this one.
Another filly on a 3-race win streak is lopickles’ Yamazakura (9/1). The Mineshaft daughter finally build up numbers to enter the stakes ranks recently. The 4yo filly did not disappoint either, reeling off a couple wire-to-wire romps with 106 and 107 SP#s respectively. You gotta love that form, even though her resume is a bit skimpy on black type experience. Yamazakura joins the frontrunners, but has been known to take to stalking the lead just as well. She looks to better her 8-for-27 lifetime record.
Prfounds’ Apples Awesome (10/1) has a similar recent record, having won 2 of her last 3 stakes attempts. The 4yo daughter of Awesome Again faced a wall of horses in both contests and rallied like a showgirl on stage. The filly brings an 8-for-22 lifetime record to the table. However, she seems to falter whenever she steps up to the graded level. I’d beware of this middie longshot though — she threw a gigantic 115 SP# around 7.5f several starts back over the sloppy stuff and is a true blue off track lover. Very interesting to see if she runs big in this spot all of a sudden. I’d put a side bet on her!
Though she only won once in her last 6 stakes efforts, Sea Of Green (10/1) near gives her all each time out. The 5yo mare by Afleet is very consistent, earning plenty of race cheques around one turn. Trained by zooomr3, Sea Of Green may not be very flashy with a 9-for-39 recordand only $300k in the bank, but she deserves a shot at the limelight and a million-dollar race is the ultimate limelight! I’d expect the speedster to mix it up early and probably fade late. She’s a determined competitor, so she won’t embarass herself. The 100+ SP#s look good on paper, but I don’t know if she can pull off a 110 or more versus this group. We’ll see.
Graded Gallopers Breaking On Through
Real Danger(G2) winner Diktation (12/1) finds herself on a mission. Jerrylee’s Forty Niner 4yo took the Real Danger back in the springtime with a fabulous off pace rally. However, it was a slow time for the graded event: 104 SP# for the 6f. The filly tested deeper company in two subsequent grades and finished nowhere near the front with similar speed numbers. Her last race actually was in the Dancer Cap(G1) and that’s in August! Yow. So, Diktation has been idle for a very long time. Her 8-for-18 lifetime record is splendid but is she in race shape? Doubtful and even if she was, this is an ambitious race placement IMO — she doesn’t have the form to fit in here.
The Supers get in on the DPCD action with Fetish (13/1). The Cryptoclearance 4yo has been all over the board this season. She placed once in a Grade 2 and won a stakes race, but was well beaten by Clark County on Equinics day and got pummeled by Fifth Street in the Blueberry(G3) LTO. An extreme lack of consistency in this filly sort of cries, “toss out!” Nice filly, but needs to find her form again.
By Pivotal, Pearl Of Wisdom (17/1) belies her odds. The xanderman trainee won the Dolly Prummond(G3) two starts back. It was a slow 102 SP# time, but the 3yo filly got the job done from midpack. She had prior won a listed event with a 108 SP#. I love how this gal has stepped up versus older mares. Granted, she fell a little flat LTO and needs to rebound. She also doesn’t have graded experience versus her own age group, but she was a late bloomer. This is a difficult spot to take the plunge versus the top level. But it’s not like she hasn’t exhibited talent yet. Can go either way. I have a sneaky feeling though that she might do pleasantly well.
The Came Home sophomore Mean Girl (18/1) from gg stables was kind of here and there versus her own age group this season. She has won 2 straight though, including a short field listed victory against her elders. Only 3 100+ SP#s though in her past 8 starts — she frankly looks a bit overmatched at this point, but you gotta respect her form. Another dark horse sleeper.
Last but not least, Sdmf’s Hand of A Sinner (20/1) is a quite a bit better than odds indicate. The Saint Liam 4yo threw some nice numbers in the sprigtime for a couple of lesser level wins and then picked 4th place cheques in both the Dancer(G1) and Go For It(G1) Handicaps. Her poor performance in the County BB(G3) stretching out to 9.5f drove up her odds in this spot. She however ran a bit so-so in the Blueberry(G3) after setting the pace. Agghhh — normally I’d beware anything Sdmf tosses into these grades — he knows his horses. But I think he’s reaching with this one. At best, Hand Of A Sinner will just join the pace scramble for a while.
Snowchief’s Picks:
Happy Champions Day, Sim gamers! I’ll take Fifth Street over Apples Awesome and Pegasus Prayer. Clark County has an off day, but ya never know! This race is very deep though. I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of those listed winners take home the rich purse.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Hope to see everyone vote for the 2008 Sim champions in the Sim Eclipse Awards. Coming soon in early January! Help us close another chapter of Sim History. The champions need YOU to give them their just due. 🙂
And just one more reminder — watch race 3805.7416, the last ride of Bob The Cob, one of the most popular horses in the game ever. It’s his 100th start — the Everyhorse of the Sim! Roys and Tracy wrote wonderfully fun articles about him this week here and here.
Good luck to all and have fun in the Sim. 😉 Godspeed, Bob The Cob! Godspeed to all these lovely horse characters who we fret and exalt and cheer “Hip hip hooray” about each week in the Sim.
Go, Sim gamers, GO! And see ya in the winner’s circle. Woohoo! 🙂
🙂 Snowchief