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Black Type Bugler

eHorseracing.com’s Official Online News Source

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Sim Magic – Dirt Sprinting – A Year in Review

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One of the most fascinating Divisions to me is the sprint Division, especially on dirt, this is a fast and dirty work for the jockeys. The horses catapult out of the stalls and after one corner, or even just a straight, on some courses, the race ends after 5-7 furlongs, and the winners can become millionaires.

Today I wanna take a look back at some of the the Big Grade 1 Races for Colts and Horses of the past year,of course the Breeders Bowl, the Equinics and the First Big Sprint of the Year, the Sand Castle Golden Sprint in March, and thats where I want to start:

 

03/22/08

 

Sand Castle Golden Sprint

4yo+,6f,Fast

 

  1. In a Simple Rhyme
  2. Lannister Gold(KY)
  3. Hennessy Titans

 

In a Simple Rhyme was the 2007 Breeders Bowl Sprint 2nd, and got the new Year going in a great way, the 5yo Forty Niner Horse stormed home just ahead of 4yo Lannister Gold, taking the first Big Grade 1 Race, favourite Wonderboy DJ failed to win again, just as so often in 2007.

 

06/28/08

 

The Red Keep Special

5yo+,6.5f,Fast

 

  1. Chronic Addiction
  2. Tensile Defense
  3. Fernando Storm

 

A very special race, The Red Keep Special is only for horses 5yo+, and was created to renew rivaliries of the older horses, this year, Chronic Addiction used it to get his first Grade 1 Win, the Gone West Son is a late developer, and after winning a Grade 3 earlier in his career, he finally notched a Grade 1.

 

08/09/08

 

The Equinics – ASPCA

4yo+,6f,Fast

 

  1. Sobron(KY)
  2. Lannister Gold(KY)
  3. Viking Rush

 

Lannister Gold like in Dubai came 2nd again, but this time 13.5/1 outside shot Sobron, a 4yo Unbridled’s Song Colt beat him. Sobron hadn’t won a race since December 07, but came in well prepared from a 2nd in the Smackdown Sprint, and took the opportunity, to beat the Stars, like Wonderboy DJ(4th) and In a Simple Rhyme(6th)

 

09/06/08

 

Tri-City Sprint

3yo+,6.5f,Fast

 

  1. MoneyGrowsonTrees
  2. Sandstone Park(KY)
  3. Mr. Tom’s River(KY)

 

The 5yo Forestry Colt MoneyGrowsonTrees, showed his class, being a 7f Grade 2 winner, he used the extra furlong, that most sprinters are not used to, to win by a head in front of Sandstone Park. His fisrt showing in the Grade 1 scene made a horse that made his name later in the year, Mr. Tom’s River NJ.

 

10/25/08

 

Breeders Bowl Sprint

3yo+,6f,Fast

 

  1. Mr. Tom’s River NJ(KY)
  2. Il Prospetto(KY)
  3. In a Simple Rhyme

 

Winner of 2 Grade 3 and 2 Ungraded Stakes Races Mr. Tom’s River finally got his first Grade 1 win, the 4yo Storm Cat x Mr. Prospector Scratch Bred proofed his connections to be too classy. He beat Il Prospetto by 1 ¼ lengths, speeding home for victory, In a Simple Rhyme once again showed his class in a big race. Usual Suspect Lannister Gold finished 6th, with Sobron in 5th.

 

11/15/08

 

Bernie Mac Special

3yo+,6f,Fast

 

  1. Chronic Addiction
  2. Mr. Tom’s River(KY)
  3. Huchey(KY)

 

Just 4 weeks after the Breeders Bowl, Comedy Central sponsored a big revanche sprint for the stars of the scene, and Mr. Tom’s River was looking for another Grade 1 victory, but it shouldn’t happen, 10th in both the Breeders Bowl and the Equinics the 5yo Gone West Colt Chronic Addiction got another Grade 1 win, and after the Red Keep Special, beat Mr. Tom’s River by ¾ of a length. Usual suspect In a Simple Rhyme finished 6th.

 

12/20/08

 

DPCD Sprint Championship

3yo+,6f,Good

 

  1. Cascade Magpie(KY)
  2. Call Waiting (MD)
  3. Judas has Spoken(KY)

 

With lots of the Big Names missing, some because of the Off-Track, some because of going into a break just before christmas, the final Big Sprint of the year brought some new faces to the scene, perhaps some we will have to watch in 2009, winner Cascade Magpie is an off-track specialist, winning 8 out of 12 races on off-tracks, he was entered mainly because of the ground, and proofed his class. A 4yo son of Speightstown he won his first Graded Stakes Race and took the final big prize of the season, by 1 ¼ lenghts ahead of 3yo Call Waiting, another off-track specialist. Of the Big Names just In a Simple Rhyme showed up and finished in last place.

 

 

Division Standings 1 week before the End of the Year:

 

Older Males

Dirt  Rating under 8 furlongs:

 

  1. Chronic Addiction 468
  2. Mr. Tom’s River NJ(KY) 384
  3. K’s Storm Maker(KY) 328

 

 

 

3rd placed K’s Storm Maker dominated the 7f races, winning 1 Grade 1 and 2 Grade 2’s along with some Ungraded Stakes races, but didn’t appear in any of the major sprints. Chronic Addiction won the Bernie Mac Special and the Red keep Special, while Mr. Tom’s River NJ won the Breeder’s Bowl Sprint.

 

What I find very sad, that the Race in Dubai is the only big sprint race in the First Half of the Year, most top sprinters run in Grade 2’s and Grade 3’s early in the year, it would be great, if someone sponsored a major sprint race for older horses in February or May to keep the scene alive.

 

 

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