Part Time Lovers

FL, Race ID 3854.0213 : Glenn Handicap Grade I All horses, 4 years old and up, A mile and one eighth on the Fast Dirt Course, Purse : $500,000

This is a very good race with a lot of horses who deserve to be racing in grade 1 races. It is nice to write a piece on a quality field like this the problem for the owners is a lot will be let down as only one horse can win and two others place.

FLAMING PYRE (KY) A.P. INDY x KINGMAMBO x BUCKPASSER

This is a lightly raced horse. He has been tried over different trips and surfaces. It would appear that around 8-9f on dirt is the best. His recent speed figures are good as well. His last start was a 114 but the horse was beaten in an ungraded stakes race. This time of year throws up funny results with last years top horses going backwards whilst others spring forward. He has to hope this happens to have any chance of winning a race as classy as this at the current time.

A VOW TO BE A SLEW (KY) BROKEN VOW x SLEWPY x MR. PROSPECTOR

This is a very classy horse indeed. His speed figures are very good indeed. He is a graded winner over this trip as well this is an added bonus in this race. It is safe to say trip and class hold this horse no fears. His last run was a loss but that was over 10f and the trip looks further than his best. He has had a nice rest since then. As long as he does not need the comeback run many sim horses do then he should run well and is capable of a place.

LUCKY’S CARPET (KY) KINGMAMBO x STORM CAT x MILL REEF

The first of a few Kingmambo horses in this race. Since when has he been such a good dirt sire. That being a side issue let’s look at the horse. He is a serious class act. His speed figures are outstanding and more importantly this has been achieved winning his last four races three of them graded. In terms of form and ability this horse goes into the race red hot. It is also hard to see him losing if he continues to run in the same manor. He has had a nice rest since his last start that could leave him rusty and is in honest the only hope of him getting turned over unless injured.

SEVEN STRIKES (KY) SMART STRIKE x SEPTIEME CIEL x DANZIG

The last time this horse won was in a nw3l he can therefore run in a nw4l. I think he would be a penalty kick in that kind of race. He is in here against some of the best horses in the sim. He has still to win a stakes race which probably tells you his chances of actually winning this race. He has been running well lately a third in a graded race last time and decent speed figures to boot showing he is in good heart. This though is a top notch event and even a place here would be a massive shock.

CAT’S GOT GAME (KY) DISTORTED HUMOR x STORM CAT x SEEKING THE GOLD

This is another horse who has been running good speed figure recently. He also has a third place run in a graded race on his last start. The problem he has as the horse above suffers from is this. He is graded class but this is a seriously good race and even though a very good horse he does not appear top class at present. The trip should suit but a place would be a major achievement.

IRON BOCK (KY) GRAND SLAM x HALO x QUADRANGLE

This horse is a 9f specialist that is very good news for his chance in this race. He is a multiple graded winner at the trip and can post good sped figures. He had a long rest between his last two races and may have been a bit rusty on his comeback run. If that has put him spot on he would be of interest in this race. A few are coming in of rests so may need the run it would not be the biggest shock if he were to win and at least run very well.

MAMBO BONES KINGMAMBO x DANEHILL x LE FABULEUX

The breeding does not suggest a dirt horse more like an allergic to dirt horse. That being said he has been a good animal over his life time and is a multiple graded winner. The issue is this, his last three runs have been in graded races he has been outside the top ten in all three. If he can do any better in this race it would be a major achievement.

NO WALKING AT DAWN (IRE) FOOTSTEPSINTHESAND (GB) x GREY DAWN II x CHIEF’S CROWN

This horse has improved throughout his life so far. The big thing was the switch to dirt. He is a decent horse at the ungraded stakes level. In three graded races he has not looked likely to trouble the judge and given the quality of this field is highly unlikely to in this race. That is of course unless there distance beaten monitoring software goes wrong.

MANIUS THE MIGHTY KINGMAMBO x SEATTLE SLEW x ALLEGED

Yet another Kingmambo is Steve Wonder the sim stallion hand at Lanes End? You would think this should be A P Indy siring these horses. There is more support to that theory when you see the number of turf horse A P Indy sires. Anyway this is another very good horse indeed. His last two races are wins. The speed figures are excellent and they were both over 9f included a graded win. The horse has to have an excellent chance in this race and in truth it would be a shame if he did not make the top three.

WRISKY CAT (KY) STORM CAT x DYNAFORMER x PLEASANT COLONY

This horse is kind of like a mars bar going into a fish and chip shop in Glasgow you know it is going to get battered. In his own class ungraded stakes race this is a good horse though. Three graded races have resulted in three of the board finishes. In truth I cannot see it changing in this race which is a top class affair with no hiding place.

SHETAN (KY) STORM CAT x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x SEATTLE SLEW
This horse ran in all three legs of the sim triple crown last year. As with many horses that peak early you have to wonder if the best is not behind this horse. His last two runs have been good in terms of speed figures but he was beaten in an ungraded stakes last time. This race will probably prove if he is any longer a graded animal or not, my gut instinct is not. Time will tell.

ROCK HARD KORN (KY) ROCK HARD TEN x SEATTLE SLEW x NIJINSKY II

This horse has not won a race in nine months. He is also eligible to run in a nw4x. that being said he has been running very well trip wise anywhere from 8 – 10 furlongs suits him. He always seems to find a few to good for him though. He did come 2nd in the Breeders Bowl Classic last year. The issue is this is he honest as a sim horse? It is hard to tell but h should run well. I think a nice couple of confidence boosting wins may help him long term though.

CALIGULA’S RULES (KY) ROMAN RULER x A.P. INDY x NUREYEV

This horse has been running well of late. His problem like a few of these is graded company. Three graded starts in his life and not really any hope of breaking through so far. This is a very good race and it is hard to see him finding that extra spark in a quality affair like this. Makes limited appeal at best.

FLYING BRYAN (KY) ROYAL ACADEMY x DANZIG x STORM CAT

The first thing I notice about this horse is that his dam shares a name with one of the greatest race horses ever the five times Cheltenham Gold Cup winner and Grand National Winner (only horse to do it in the same season) Golden Miller. I think he would need to be a St Moritz specialist to run well at Cheltenham today though. This is a good horse. He loves the 9f trip and is a graded winner over the trip several times. The horse has found the leap from 3yo only races to 3yo+ races hard. Many horses do take a while to adjust some do not. If he can adjust he has the speed to run a big race. The jury is still out though on if he can.

As for my selections:-

1 Manius The Mighty – has a fitness edge which may be crucial.
2 Lucky’s Carpet – The best horse in the race
3 Iron Bock – If at his best can run very well