EWC Steve Buium Memorial Showcase Dirt Stakes

The EWC kicked off 2025 with it’s annual Steve Buium Memorial Sire Showcase series with a pair of races on both the dirt and turf surfaces.  Two year olds started their racing career in these Showcase races back in April with a pair of Stake races scheduled for a November reunion of these runners.

And here we are, it is reunion time!  This article is focused on the dirt race, which will be held in California at a distance of 8.5furlongs.  Of the 11 horses that ran in the inaugural race, only five have returned and excludes Senpai, who won the race back in April and has since won three of four outings.  Here is a look at the field of those who have returned for this event, of which three are still maidens:

1-BLESSED BY GOD  9/5- Sired by Justify, this colt has place twice in four starts.  Last time out, he ran on the grass for the first time, going 8.25 furlongs, making a late move from the backside of the field to finish second with a 79 speed.  The preceeding race, he went a mile and finished a well back 8^th.  The turf may be a better surface for this guy who is flipping back to the dirt for this reunion.  (Finished 7^th in April Showcase race)

2-STREET GUN FIGHT  9/1- This Gunnevera bred colt has been shutout in all five of his career starts.  He is aiming to hit the board for the first time and comes off his best speed of 68 in his last start, going 8.5 furlongs and he finished last by a large margin.  His backend of the breeding pedigree of Street Sense x Gone West should be supportive of the mile distance but has not fired up.  Maybe this start will spark something.  (Finished 9^th in Showcase Race)

3-I LUB AMEIRCA  1/1- The Starspangledbanner sired colt has been ITM in all of his 6 career starts and includes a pair of wins.  He enters this field off a 7.5f allowance win with his lifetime best speed of 85 winning by a neck.  His prior pair of races were 2^nd place finishes, missing the trip to the Winner’s Circle by ironically a neck.  Hard to look past the favorite here, who has been very consistent with results (Finished 3^rd in Showcase Race).

4-TEN PIN VALLEY  10/1- This Callide Valley bred filly is taking on the boys for the third time in her career and she is still seeking her first time to hit the board.  She ran on the turf in her last pair of starts after poor finishes on the dirt.  She hit her best speed of 75 in her last outing going a mile distance but finished a mid-field 7^th in the field of 13.  She comes back to the dirt with hopes of turning things around and the improved speed figure may help.  (Finished 8^th in Showcase Race).

5-SHOWME THE CODE 7/2-This filly is one of two entrants who have won a race and she has two victories to her credit.  She won her last start going 6.5 furlongs with an 81 speed figure and this Honor Code sired filly has been ITM 4 of 5 races.  This will be here second time battling with the boys with the first time in the April Showcase Race where she was a lukewarm 6^th.  She should go well this time out.

MY PICKS:

Favorite I Lub America looks the best in this field with 80+ speeds in last two races.  Hard to fault.

Showme the Code will be out there early on and will battle top choice for early lead.  Capable to take top spot if top choice falters.

Blessed By God showed some life in last, albeit, coming on the turf.  Returns to dirt and looks to be best of the rest.