Can Awesome Force be that in Grade II Kyoto
Race ID:3868.5013
Grade II The Kyoto Handicap
$1,200,000, 4 Year Olds and Up
One Mile and Three Eighths (11 F)
Track: Turf
Local racegoers will be crowding the grandstand in spite of the gloomy forecast as fourteen older horses take to the track to compete in the 1st Edition of the $1.2M Grade II Kyoto Handicap over eleven furlongs of turf in Japan. A highly competitive field will parade to the post featuring lenny12’s standout #2 SIM Ranked THE GUN WENT OFF(KY) and it promises to be an exciting inaugural edition. Let’s examine this competitive field …
Race Analysis by Hladun
HOT OFF THE PRESS … We are unveiling a new prognosticating tool today as we seek to gain every edge we can in deciphering the complexity of throughbred handicapping. No it’s not the “SIM ThoroughGraph” or SIM Brisnet’s sophisticated computer algorythmic programs. Yes, that’s right. It’s the Magic 8 Ball! We’ll ask the Magic Eight Ball a handicapping question specific to the horse in question to gain valuable handicapping insight into the race … but you gotta believe. Afterall, it’s magic right? Enjoy!
PP 1: 110323 STAYER(IRE) landen1 (6/1) RANK: 70
This six year old daughter of El Prado is primed and ready to take on the boys in this challenging spot. She comes out of the filly restricted The Murf Closet Memorial Stakes at today’s distance where she attempted to wire the field and just missed by a quarter length in doing so running the distance in a fine 2:15:1 (108). Her best tactic may be a speed try here.
QUESTION:
Does she plan to go wire-to-wire and steal it? Magic 8 Ball says … “Better not tell you now”
PP 2: 131656 FOOTSTEPS ON GRASS(GB) robroe (17/1) RANK: 33
This five year old son of Footstepsinthesand(GB) has not won since July 2008 when he took the Grade I Dawn To Dusk Cup with a huge stretch kick closing thirteen lengths to win by three quarters. In addition, he has not run a triple digit speed figure in his last three and tries to figure it out here in this difficult spot. An outsider until he proves he’s back on track.
QUESTION:
Can he win at this shorter than prefered distance? Magic 8 Ball says … “As I see it yes”
PP 3: 138893 THE GUN WENT OFF(KY) lenny12 (12/1) RANK: 2
This four year old son of Mineshaft has been an absolute turf monster though adept on both surfaces having fives wins to date on each. However, it’s on the turf where he’s made his mark having banked $2.8M on it while winning Grade I Japan Classic, Grade I Arc De Triumph and the Grade I Owners Stakes all within his last five starts. His biggest wins have been over twelve furlongs where he’s had the room to unleash his huge kick passing rivals in deep stretch to snatch victory away. He has won at today’s distance in the past and will need to be sharp and stay within reach here as he’ll have less room to work with than usual. A strong contender.
QUESTION:
Does he take performance enhancing drugs? Magic 8 Ball says … “YES”
PP 4: 17866 MONTE YOUN(IRE) monte1 R. Andretti (7/2) RANK: 131
This nine year old son of Doyoun(IRE) though the elder statesman in this race has only competed fourteen times. In fact, he raced only three times a s two year old in 2002 and didn’t resurface again until February of 2008 where he promptly broke his maiden and the rest is well history. He has won six of his starts to date and finished in the money now nine times. He comes out of the Grade III Buck Dharma Handicap where he wired the field at today’s distance in a handy 2:14:1 (115). A repeat of that effort pops the champagne again and no doubt will have the geriatric support at the windows. A strong contender.
QUESTION:
Can he repeat the superior effort of his latest? Magic 8 Ball says … “Without a doubt”
PP 5: 96416 COMMANDER WALLACE cougar (9/1) RANK: 40
This six year old son of Vindication has reeled off thirteen wins in thirty-one career starts and banked $471K. He has capturedfour of his last four races, all non-graded events, including his latest in The Battle Tough Handicap where he covered today’s distance in a smart 2:15:0 (110). This is his first attempt in graded company. A contender.
QUESTION:
Can you win your third race in a row today? Magic 8 Ball says … “”Most likely”
PP 6: 78190 DYNA MAGIC(KY) dundley (15/1) RANK: 592
On a three race winning streak in allowance company, this four year old son of Dynaformer has competed in only one non-graded event to date and that was as a two year old where he finished fourth. He is a speedy individual but that tactic may be tough to employ here as there are others with speed to burn and a proven record of success in graded company. This a huge step up for this horse and only time will tell if he’s up to the task. An outsider until he does.
QUESTION:
Is he intimidated by this group of competitors? Magic 8 Ball says … “My sources say no”
PP 7: 35151 DISTORTED COLONY(KY) jroque2 (10/1) RANK: 50
This four year old homebred son of Distorted Humor has five wins and eleven in the money finishes over a brief fourteen race career. He comes into this race off a solid victory in the Grade III Marcus Footwear Handicap in Queensland winning by almost four lengths at 9-1 on a “good” track. Improving with every start, his optimal distance may be ten furlongs but there is lot to like about him right now and I can’t throw him out. A contender.
QUESTION:
Can he follow up his big win with another? Magic 8 Ball says … “Outlook not so good”
PP 8: 120390 GAI(KY) tulloch (16/1) RANK: 65
This five year old daughter of Cryptoclearance is trying the boys for the first time in her career. Her best graded result was three starts back in the Grade III Canary Stakes where she ran a close second at fourteen furlongs. She did employ a speed style that day and the abbreviated distance will not pose a problem for her here. Her best tactic may be to lay just off pace and make a move through the stretch if the speed falters. A difficult challenge in this spot.
QUESTION:
Can she compete with the boys in this event? Magic 8 Ball says … “Very doubtful”
PP 9: 117824 AWESOME FORCE(KY) camry (3/1) RANK: 290
After twenty-seven consecutive dirt races, this five year old son of Awesome Again competed on the turf for the first time in his last where he finished a fast closing second in the Grade III Marcos Footwear Handicap. In that event he was as far back as sixteen lengths at one point and needs to track closer in this event if he wants to have a chance to get there in time. He has lot’s of graded experience and has banked $6.5M to date. He would not be a surprise.
QUESTION:
Did he learn enough last out on turf to win today? Magic 8 Ball says … “Without a doubt”
PP 10: 6414 RAINBOW MOONSHELL cleverdoc (58/1) RANK: 1527
At eight years of age, this son of Rainbow Quest has competed in sixty-seven races having won nineteen of with eleven of those victories coming in non-graded company. His lone graded victory came in his two year old season so winning here would not only provide boxcars for the two dollar bettors but bring his career full circle as he winds it down. Would be a surprise.
QUESTION:
Is this his farewell tour on the circuit? Magic 8 Ball says … “”Cannot predict now”
PP 11: 66230 SHRIVER MINE shawke (28/1) RANK: 62
This seven year old son of Dynaformer has six wins in twenty-seven career starts and banked $1.1M. Over his last four races he has been distanced, beaten by ten, beaten by twenty-two and distanced again. He has not had a triple digit speed figure in his last six races and is clearly going in the wrong direction. An outsider.
QUESTION:
Can he still compete at the graded stakes level? Magic 8 Ball says … “Without a doubt”
PP 12: 97614 EXPECTED YIELD super8 (15/1) RANK: 782
This six year old son of High Yield comes out of an allowance affair which he won in convincing fashion over ten furlongs pulling away by four at the wire. It was his first victory in his last nineteen races. He did enjoy some success in graded stakes company back in 2007 but has not competed at that level since. A stretch to see him as a factor in here with this group.
QUESTION:
Can he double up and build off that last win? Magic 8 Ball says … “Most likely”
GRADED HANDICAPS: By Hladun
1. AWESOME FORCE(KY) camry
2. MONTE YOUN(IRE) monte1
3. COMMANDER WALLACE cougar