Giant Slayer Classic
Welcome to colt and freezing Denmark, not the typical home of your Graded Stakes race, but today some of the best 3yos on the Dirt have come to show their progress, and try to make early Derby Challenges, the field features mainly horses with only a little Graded experience,
With Bridled Dancer the only Grade 1 winner in the field. The 8.5f test on the fast dirt track will see how much the horses have gained with their 3rd Birthday, and who is progressing well enough for a Derby Prep.
#1 COPPOLA(KY) 9/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=102414
8 Races – 3 Wins – 211,630$
The 3yo Ghostzapper colt has been improving nicely recently, last time out he ran a 93 in the Grade 1 Eruption handicap, finishing 2nd in the big race at Maryland Racetrack, before that he was able to record his first stakes win, with a 92 over 8f in a stakes race at Conneticut. He seems able to continue that progress, after he looked in bad shape, when trying graded races in early summer, struggling at an 8f Grade 3 in Kenntucky in August, but a ALW win afterwards gave him the confidence to come back. He likes to travel along early about 3 lengths off the lead, and then attack in the 2nd half of the race.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=109356
10 Races – 7 Wins – 190,940$
The State your Case colt is not your typical Graded runner, unlike other early 3yos, who are pushed into Graded racing by their owners, he took a long time of 3 stakes wins in a row, before now tackling his 2nd Graded race of his career. First time in Grades in August, he finished 6th in the Dell Computer Futurity with a mediocre 82. In general his speeds seem a little low compared to his rivals, with a 89 over 8.5f last time out his lifetime high, but he hasn’t been challenged winning 3 in a row coming in here today. Worst Case posseses a wonderful kick in the stretch, and has been able to close 9 length trailings, let’s see if he can reproduce that, as his running style demands the quickest finish of all.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=101862
10 Races – 4 Wins – 68,385$
The nice looking 3yo Savabeel colt brings a nice turf pedigree, but on the track his performances on the dirt course has been way better, he was able to win a 7.5f stakes race in October, but since then is missing a bit of his power running style. Not being able to transform his quick finishing speed, he showed when winning into the last couple of races. Last time out he ran a 91 over 8f, but was only able to finish 4th in the stakes event. Making his first Graded try today seems a bit unlogic counting his recent struggles at stakes level, and his winless streak since October.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=158613
8 Races – 3 Wins – 88,200$
The 3yo Primary colt is another entry, who is winless at stakes level, and that always is not a good sign, when tackling Graded Racing. Last time out he won a NW4L ALW race, setting a 81 speed over 7.5f, just presenting the next question mark, as he has not run route races at all so far. I predict him struggling as mightly as he did in his Grade 1 try over 7f, where he finished 10th despite a lifetime high 87 speed.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=86419
8 Races – 3 Wins – 516,725$
The Latent Heat Colt comes into this Grade 3 test off a 3 race winning streak. He struggled a long time breaking his maiden, mainly running in DelPenn Restricted Races over shorter distances, the switch to 8f made him progress a lot in the last couple races, and he set a career high 95 in his Stakes Win in october, confirming the great race with a 94 last time out, however on a good dirt track. He prefers coming from way back, trailing the field early by a lot of lengths, he’ll likely run alongside Worst Case early, and try to match his kick of speed in the stretch.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=31719
6 Races – 3 Wins – 211,600$
The Pure Prize Colt really comes smoking into todays race, carrying a win from the Blazing Saddles Breeders Day into the race. After winning his Maiden and a first try at stakes over 6f he was struggling in heavy Graded competition, carrying the Blazing saddles flag into the Equinics, he ran a good race, but an 85 was just good for 6th place that day. But last time out, over 8.5f and with the top 2yo colts of BS as his rivals, he really put on a show, holding Midtown Riot off by a head. Let’s see if he can bring that great looking race back to life today on the course here in Denmark. His running style suggests he can adopt the style of a race depending on the speed, either going for the lead at halfway point, or trailing waiting for others to tire.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=160411
9 Races – 2 Wins – 198,195$
The Tale of the Cat colt brings a strange record into the race, he went directly to Stakes races, after winning his maiden, but seems to be best on off-tracks, as his maiden win, and a 2nd place in a Grade 1 result from sloppy dirt. In regular conditions he struggled at graded level, after winning a stakes race, with a nice 88 over 7.5f in August. Last time out he ran a great 99, but after taking the lead early, which is not his typical stalking style, he was caught just moments before the line, and finished in 3rd, but just ½ a length back. The Grade 3 Pleasure stakes had been run over 8.5f. Perhaps he’ll try to avoid taking the lead to early today.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=169273
5 Races – 4 Wins – 117,120$
Not sure how much influence the devil really had into the breeding of this 3yo Forestry Colt, but he sure has been kicking his competition on high note, sicne breaking his maiden in his 2nd try. Winning 2 ALW races and a Stakes race, always improving in his speed figures set, he comes in from a 8f stakes win in nearby Norway, winning with a nice speed of 91. He’ll surely have to improve from that today, but looks more than capable of doing so. He likes to take the lead early in the 2nd half of the race, and has been able to cruise from there on in his wins. Not sure if he can do so today, but will be a hot pick to finish in the Top 3, if he can improve again, as he looks making the step up to Graded Racing at the right time.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=10956
3 Races – 2 Wins – 55,970$
The 3yo Harlan’s Holiday makes a step up of multiple levels, but his ALW NW1x win looked that impressive, that his owners decided to simply skip ungraded stakes and come for this Grade 3 test today. He crushed the competition with a wire-to-wire win producing a 94 speed over 8f, extending his lead from marker to marker. He seems to have a lot more speed and stamina left, so look out for him to either take an early lead, or stalk a hot pace. Should not be left out, when setting up your tipsheet, but his lack of experience brings a big question mark.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=115746
10 Races – 3 Wins – 179,216$
The 3yo Afleet colt is on a winless draught since June, and now wants to kick off his 3yo campaign in style. Last time out he suffered a heartbreaking ¼ length loss to No health Nut in the Grade 3 Pleasure Stakes, a race, in which he caught leader XTRA Tales just when entering the stretch, but was overtaken himself in the last metres. He established himself in Stakes competition, with 2nd and 3rd places, but still only has one stakes win to show, from a 6f race in June. He would like to transform his recent 100 speed into a winning race this time, and it surely should be possible, the way his speed improved over the last months.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=126472
6 Races – 3 Wins – 114,936$
The 3yo Red Ransom colt surely looks to have turned around his career, since hitting dirt for the first time. After 3 helpless tries to break his maiden on turf, his owner switched him to dirt in September, and he responded with a Maiden, an ALW and a stakes win. Consquently his 93 speed performance over 8.5f leads him into todays race carrying high hopes. He surely is made to stay even a longer distance, and his love for the dirt track can continue on here. He likes to run from the mid-pack, but makes his move early when entering the stretch, the look of his wins lead me to the assumption, that he has a lot left tom improve even better, as he had 2+ length wins in all 3 of his dirt tries.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=58728
9 Races – 4 Wins – 551,394$
The 3yo Unbridled’s Song colt has been one of the stars of last summer, being 4 out 5 with a Grade 1 win made him one of the hottest entries into the Breeders Bowl Juvenile. But he seems to lack improvement since then, running a 91 in his Grade 1 win in July, he just ran a 89 in the BB juvenile, and a 90 in both his next starts, all at Grade 1 level. He’ll start his 3yo campaign in this minor Grade 3 race in Denmark, in need of a big race to bounce back into the ranks of Derby Contenders. He ran his best races, when either taking the lead early, or stalking along the pace, it seems he misses a big kick in the stretch, which could cost him again in this test. Let’s see, if he can improve as a 3yo, or if his form staggers.
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=107659
3 Races – 1 Win – 93,500$
I always feel strange, when a horse that wasn’t able to win stakes races is entered into Graded competition, and for this nice 3yo Awesome Again colt, that really looks the case. He finished 2nd in both his 2 stakes tries, after winning his maiden first time out. Last time out he showed a nice 93 speed over 8.5f, but was caught on the stretch by Corinthian War to finish 2nd. He likely can compete with such a speed, but take in account his inexperience, and you could find him running an uphill struggle today.
#14 ACTIVITY CELEBRE(IRE) 13/1
http://www.simulatedsports.net/hr/runtime/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=156746
10 Races – 4 Wins – 94,585$
The Pentre Celeibre Colt is a stakes winner, that comes into the race off a nice ALW win, he scored an 8.5f ALW with a 93 last time out. He had been struggling before, entering his first Grade 1 race in the Movieland Futurity, where he finished 13th with an 83, but despite his recent win, there are doubts he can really get the distance, as he always looks fading in the stretch, so perhaps a furlong less would suit him better. In general he likes to be near or on the lead early.
XTRA TALENT and On the Otherside look great coming off their speeds in the Pleasure Stakes, however it has to be seen, if they can dominate the race with their speed, as there are quite a few horses showing nice stretch runs, that could catch them by surprise and take advantage of a very hot speed early on.