EWC Steve Buium Memorial Sire Showcase Turf 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.

It’s Reunion time and this article is focused on the turf race, which will be held in California at a distance of 8.5 furlongs.  Seven of the 11 horses that ran in the inaugural race are returning for this stakes event.  Five of the seven have won a race leaving 2 maidens aiming to get that first trip to the winner’s circle.  Here’s a look at this stakes field: 

1-GLAMOUR HENSEN 4/1-We have the winner of the April Showcase race snagging the inside post and he will be going the route for the first time.  The Blue Point bred colt has hit the board in each of his three starts and enters off his personal best speed of 82 in his last start in an allowance event, finishing 2^nd.  He was close to the lead in that contest for much of the race and faded back to a 5-stride deficit, losing ground in the stretch.  Looking to pick up the reunion win and beating the field a second time but will need to handle the extra distance to do so.

2-EWC MILLER EIGHT  4/1-This Lord Kanaola bred colt is coming into fine form.  He has hit the board in all of his last three starts including a 7.5f distance win.  He ran 8.5f in his last outing taking third after trailing in 6^th with an 85 speed.  He certainly has improved quite a bit since finishing 8^th in the April Showcase race and the route distance seems to work well for him.  One to watch in this race but comes in with only 2 weeks rest.

3-DUBOLIK  9/2-The nicely bred Dubawi sired filly broke her maiden at a mile in her last start going gate-to-wire with a speed of 80.  She ran a speed of 82 in the prior start, also a mile distance, but finished 3^rd and tiring in the stretch.  In the April Showcase race, she set the pace and was overtaken in the stretch to finish 4^th.  The filly fits in with the boys in this one and is capable in the route.  Rested and ready to go and is in the running!

4-NEVER FRANKEL  3/1-A bit of a setback came this Frankel bred colts way in his last start running a mile.  He ran rather flatly throughout the race and finished 5^th with a 77 speed.  Prior to this race, he ran a speed of 80 going 7.5 furlongs finishing 2^nd and within a stride or so of the winner.   The 3/1 favorite back in the April Showcase event finished third.  This colt was doing well until he hit the bump in the road in his last start.  He’ll need to shrug that start off and hopefully it’s not a sign that he dislikes a mile distance.

5-NO MODERNISM 5/1-Cranked out a career best speed of 81 at a mile in her last race which was on the dirt and finished 3rd.  This filly, out of sire Modern Games, broke her maiden back in August at 7 furlongs with a 78 speed on the turf.  She does have a mile start on the grass where she ended up fifth and a 79 speed.  In the April Showcase, she was 7^th and never was a serious threat.  She rejoins the boys for the fist time since the Showcase race and will need to sharpen a bit as her grass results (1 of 4 ITM) have not been overly convincing.

6-SHOWMETHEDOOR  22/1-Longshot in the April Showcase race, finishing last, is once again a longshot in this race.  He has not hit the board in five starts and finished in the rear corridor in each race.  Top speed of 68 came in his last start, on the dirt, at 7-furlongs.  Speed figures have been troublesome for this Bricks and Mortar sired colt.  He comes back to the turf after a pair of dirt outings and things do not look promising that the grass run will yield improvement.  This will be his first start in a route, so there is hope that the longer distance could wake this maiden up.

7-FOUND MY HEELS  3/1-After finishing 5^th in the Showcase race, this filly out of Frankel broke her maiden in a June race at 6f.  This was followed by a decent 2^nd at 6.5 furlongs on a yielding surface (82 speed).  Her last start was at the mile distance and she ran flatly finishing 7^th with an 81 speed.  Things were going well for this filly until her last start where she wasn’t a threat at the mile distance.  Will be going the route again in this stakes event and hopes to leave the last outing in her shadows.

MY PICKS:

Glamour Henson is cable of beating this field once again and gets improved rail spot this time.  In the Showcase race, had the far outside gate 11 position.

Dubolik seems to be in fine condition and may wire this field and never look back.

EWC Miller Eight can be a factor, but concerned about 2-week rest break.  In very good form and route fits well here.