GODOLPHIN MILE
SCANDALOUS FAVORITE IN SAND CASTLE GODOLPHIN MILE There must be something really big going on this weekend. Two damsels in distress at the BTB, namely Sharon & Roys, were so desparate to summon enough reporters they offered to not only pay for my air-fare, hotel & limo, they threw in tickets for the indoor ski facility here in beautiful Dubai. And all that for really bad reporter. Perhaps I should have held out for the camel ride too. So let’s get the work out of the way I can get back to my harem. I’ve got fourteen runners to cover that aren’t the least bit interested in the five Grade One’s surrounding them. They’ll be trying to garner the winners share of the One Million dollar Grade 2, The Sand Castle Godolphin Mile. The race is open to 4 y.o.’s and up and will be a flat mile run over what is projected to be a “perfect” surface. Despite all the dust storms we had earlier, all the Kings men have been working non-stop to make this day unforgettable. The morning linefavorite at 9/2 is the super fast eleven race winner, including the G1 “Nixon’s Promise”, Watergate Scandal. Owner jonsnow said that his horse didn’t have a chance for lead and he was going to see if he could come from behind. I had to do second take. What! After he got done laughing he confessed that he was just trying create some Scandal and that he was not a criminal. Heard that before. Wooden Minister will go as the well regarded second choice at 6-1. Owner pogs1 said he was still licking his wounds after just coming up short in the Grade One “February Stakes”, a race that half of the field here locked horns in. In fact, the top fourfinishers from that race will be squaring off as the top four choices here. While the top two choices will attempting to push their lifetime bankrolls past the 2 million mark, the “February Stakes” winner and third choice at 7-1Hoosier Miner surpassed the 2M mark with that victory. Owner escena is delighted to be in the underdog roll again. The fourth place finisher from the Fegruary and fourth choice here is Sahara Desert. That might work out to be a nice “swami” angle, considering where we’re at. Hmmm. And godmother has him in his element. Let’s take a closer look.
Race ID:3903.5113
Race # 13
Click here for EZPrint version
Sand Castle Goldolphin Mile
Grade II
One mile
Fast Dirt
$1,000,000
All horses, 4 years old and up
Top of Form 1
PP | Horse ID | Horse | Owner | Jockey | Odds | W / P / S | |
1 | 81310 | WATERGATE SCANDAL(KY) | jonsnow | H Harzheim | 9/2 | ||
2 | 141395 | TARA WORE GREEN(ENG) | michaelbri | D Evans | 19/1 | ||
3 | 131423 | STAFF TROUBLE(KY) | zaza | J Stivers | 10/1 | ||
4 | 1586 | WOODEN MINISTER(KY) | pogs1 | T Loesch | 6/1 | ||
5 | 14048 | HOOSIER MINER(KY) | escena | K Ledwith | 7/1 | ||
6 | 74401 | A.P. PRECEDENT | squirrel3 | S L Ledwith | 17/1 | ||
7 | 150601 | BUDGET DAY(KY) | hollofly | Q Cassell | 10/1 | ||
8 | 120271 | AUTOMATION | simsters6 | T Small | 11/1 | ||
9 | 135026 | PANHANDLING(KY) | dixiedotco | B Ball | 11/1 | ||
10 | 36631 | SAHARA DESERT(AUS) | godmother | B Schardein | 8/1 | ||
11 | 2587 | FLAMING PYRE(KY) | xanderman | A Witter | 18/1 | ||
12 | 136177 | ROMAN PLUTONIUM(KY) | leiter | N Huhn | 15/1 | ||
13 | 147853 | SIXTY TWO(KY) | nijinsky4 | P Bangs | 19/1 | ||
14 | 139102 | SNARKY REMARK(IRE) | looneylopo | P Harzheim | 12/1 |
Tara Wore Green is trained by michaelbri and on the surface sure doesn’t seem to fit in here. But for some reason he’s only 19-1 despite being very light in both form and class. That lifetime best 113 three races back looks okay until you see it was a five horse 4 y.o. allowance field. I wonder why he hasn’t been back on the turf since his convincing win going 1 1/4 way back in June 07?
I would be shocked*Staff Trouble sure has been keeping good company for zaza. He appears to be tailing off a bit since his “sloppy” Grade 1 win in the Cosmopoliton back in May. Unfortunely he’ll have to find a way to reverse his form against four runners that just beat him. Needed it to rain *
Wooden Minister just posted his lifetime best,116, coming up a 1/2 length shy in the “February”. He had easily beaten the winner, Hoosier Miner, in their prior start when he won the G1 “Diplomat Way”. No denying that he’s one of the ones in here, but he’ll be one of many that will be at the mercy of the “unknown” pace players.
Can do with fast fractions and a clean trip*Hoosier Miner put it all together, posting his lifetime best number by far, while winning the common “February” race. His closing style is identical to his inside rivals and he’ll need everything to fall just right once again if he has any hopes of a repeat. After 25 races he’s either just hitting his prime or a “bounce” canidate. Could go either way*
A.P. Precedent comes in off of a “confidence builder” win over this track after a 12 week vacation for squirrel3. Prior to his break he had hit rock bottom in the G3 “Gravestone” where he encountered a physical issue. He’s also yet another deep closer who’s hooves will be tied to the early pace. But he has 12 wins, a fresh confidence victory and some back class that he brings to the table. Upset Possibily?
Budget Day sure made his return to Graded company a successful one winning the G3 “Razorback Cap” three weeks ago at 12-1. Since he’s turned four he’s been unbeatable for hollofly and has impressively ran better in each start of ’09. He’s probably going to get a lot of takers at a hefty 10-1 here, but I’m not going to be one them. What is he going to do to better or even repeat that whooping 119 number on three weeks rest while traveling across accross the pond.
Possible Regression?Automation‘s trainer simsters6 said he knows what’s expected of him just by looking at the form. The closers signed on want him to just repeat his performance in his front running allowance race win last out. He’s another one that hasn’t had any luck tackling the likes of these for quite some, but he’s only 10-1? Maybe it’s a combination of his last race improvement and the fact his only Graded win was right here in December of ’07.Food For Thought*
Panhandling is at 11-1 for dixiedotco. While he was just a head away from winning last years Breeder’s Bowl Mile just a few months ago, he finished ninth behind many of these in the “February”. Passing*
Sahara Desert will have to turn the tables on the top three finishers of his “February” effort, but it sure looks like it’s very possible. His last two races were good indications that he’s getting the hang of facing these older guys and I’m expecting him to garner his third Graded event Saturday. Not just because he’s racing in the DESERT.
Choice*Flaming Pyre is still eigible for NW3L and facing some multible Graded winners. But xanderman is quick to point out he was under the same class disadvantage when his charge just missed by a nech in the G1 “Glenn” last month. The closers are sure glad to see him. If you throw out his last race clunker, you’ll find him on the lead in the first two calls every race. Pace Factor
Roman Plutonium is a millionaire that took down a Grade 1 & two G2’s last year as a 3 y.o. for lieter. 09’s been a different story so far. I can’t endorse his chances after he only beat one horse to the wire in a Stakes race in Jamaica for his prep. Can’t see it*
Sixty Two will be carrying the nijinsky4 silks. He stepped up to the Graded level for the “February” after a nice series of allowance races. While he was fairly well beaten by many here, I could see him improving as he adjusts to trying to catch up to his new friends. Not just yet*
Snarky Remark is very interesting at 12-1. He won last years Breeder’s Bowl for looneylopo and now he’s 12-1 in a Grade 2, coming in off of a solid win. So it was only a five horse field of 4 y.o.’s, he did do it easy. Still… Needs lifetime best*
Very tough race to nail down>>> I’ll go
10/4/1 Good Luck to All^^^ “badasboots”