Can Anyone Remove A Devious Crown? (Written by Otistaylor)

The Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint

Welcome ladies, gentleman and horseplayers to the most exciting day of racing in the Sim. Perhaps no race will be a better microcosm of that excitement than the Turf Sprint. 14 bolts of electricity set loose from the gate simultaneously…. I mean how great is that!!! The only thing that might be more exciting is when they serve “dessert” at Kirby’s party. On second thought is having a two time champ returning in an attempt to make BB history even more exciting than that? NAH! but it is a close second.

Mr. Devious is back to defend his title AGAIN. He won at 6 in 2007 and then for good measure won this race again at 6.5 along this same strip of fast grass last year. For the 13 that seek to wear this crown they will know they have to beat one of the fastest horses ever to run in cyberspace.. If Mr. Devious is to pull off a threepeat he will have to outrun the creme dela creme of grass sprinters to do it. In the field are the winners of 14 G1 events and 18.5 million in earnings (although Mr Devious is responsible for about 1/3 the purse loot and half the G1 wins). But before we get too far into looking at our runners in today’s race I wanted to take a moment to hear from some of the owners. Keep in mind some of these quotes may not represent the thoughts of those they are attributed to. Nextbonus who sends out ROAD NOT TAKEN plotted this one’s journey to the race a year back and it worked. He loves the fact that Stivers is up. LIlbitfarm also loves his rider M Day who will send HIGHSIDE right from the gate. If he does not make the lead Lilbitfarm says you can toss your tickets. Legendary trainer Dixiedotco says he has scientific proof that SCIENTIFIC PROOF is ready to roll after a perfect prep. Urko says URKO’S KING is very proud of his number 1 ranking. It’s the first time the crafty Belgian has sent one to the post with the top ranking. He is not afraid of the big boys and for good reason… He is one… Whirlwind says ETHICS PARADOX may appear to be off his summer form but this is the race he has been pointing to and toss the recent form. As part of the imposing SUPER’s syndicate he wanted to give a shout out the Bargain Bred Racing Series and its beloved leader Knightmare. GRS kingpin Given sends out two with a plan. He says the ageless Perfect Dragon has plenty left in the tank but is perhaps not his best hope in the race after coming up RTG. He will be under trainers orders to not upset the chances of TATSU. As a result Perfect Dragon will rate and not press the pace in this second race off a layoff. TATSU the son of champion mare Mother Of Dragon’s is Given’s main hope. Dan says he is fresh and explosive right out of the gate and now we know he will not face pressure from his stablemate. He is confident Tatsu is a good investment for your betting dollars. Binzaman has publicly stated that SISSON’S SUPERSTAR is ready to fly. He wishes the race was still being run at 6f instead of adding the extra half click. Last but far from least are the thoughts of the two time defending champ. CoolK believes the awe inspiring MR. DEVIOUS will be up for the challenge of doing it for the third time even at RTG. He believes his charge’s spot on preparation will compensate for not having the extra edge of sharpness. He expects Mr D to overtake the leader at the top of the lane and play catch me if you can with the late closers. We and Kevin give him the built in excuse of not being sharp if somehow he does not get there this time. That’s what the owner’s and trainers think. Now for a less informed view from your sponsor.

THE FIELD

1

REZURRECTION(KY)

dog

D Evans

12/1

The 4 year old son of Dayjur out of a dirt sprinting hemare. He enters this race with 500k in earnings but without a graded win on his card. He just missed in The July Cup and again in the Hawkz Challenge. He began his career on dirt before realizing the moss was his best surface. In big races he seems to prefer being close to winning so keep him in mind when you look at the exotics. Looks like his best form was earlier this summer. His early speed will make him a pace factor but will need to find something more to be the one getting his picture taken at the end.

2

SANDSTONE PARK(KY)

stupor1

W McClendon

8/1

The 5 year old scratch bred Kingmambo son is running his best right now. Last year he tried the BB dirt sprint but he has put together a very nice grass campaign this year despite only having 300k in career earnings. The deep closer might be looking for more ground at the end, but look out if the pace sizzles the front runners. He has shown the speed figures and has plenty of heart but can he compete with the division best on this G1 stage? If the answer is yes then 8-1 is a square price.

3

APPROPRIATELY(KY)

pjlstables

K Ledwith

6/1

The multi-millionaire son of Pulpit by multi GW producing mare Cat o’ Nine Tails is the morning line co-favorite. It is probably based on his near miss in 113 back in September’s Sprint Cup. The versatile 4 year old colt can press the pace or rate so Ledwith can ride him Appropriately. He has been raced hard to get here so one might wonder if he has enough in the tank. Tried this race last year but ran disappointing will the second time be the charm? Has plenty of talent and his speed figures put him right up there with anyone in this race.

4

HIGHSIDE(IRE)

firfight

M Day

9/1

The 4 year old speedball out of High Chaparral really came into his own recently. He ran the best race of his career two back in the Hawkz Challenge. The scratch bred with just under 400k may look a little under credentialed on the surface but is capable of running the speeds needed to win this race. Will be right on the lead or close to it in a race filled with horses that run that same style. How he runs will likely decide not just his fate but several others fate as well since M Day has been instructed to wing it right from the gate. At his best he would surprise no one.

5

SCIENTIFIC PROOF(IRE)

brightvalr

B Ball

15/1

The 4 year old son of Galileo out of the Hemare Seeking Security seemed to have been at his best back in March. His trainer says to throw out the recent starts because this is the race they were pointing to. He is closing in on 2 million in lifetime earnings so class is not an issue here. His running style and top level Jockey give you some additional reasons to like him. He may be well suited given the pace scenario (lots of early speed). In the final analysis though, it is tough to ignore the recent form woes and lack of top 110 plus spfs.

6

ROAD NOT TAKEN(KY)

focusforce

J Stivers

12/1

The 4 year old Storm Cat colt out of the Hemare Political Patriot also seemed to be in his best form back in March winning a grade one in his first start of the year. That is the last time he ran speed figures that will likely be needed to win here today. He runs for one of the most beloved trainers in the sim, so expect him to be a crowd favorite. With his mid pack style and turf legend Stivers in the irons there is more to like than sentiment alone. He has had a tough campaign and with nearly two million in earnings any bettor will have to respect his class, and even though the figs have not been great he has been competitive with graded class foes. One last note… his early days on dirt are a great example of why you want to try both surfaces before giving up on a horse.

7

URKO’S KING(IRE)

urko1

H Harzheim

13/1

The son of Sadler’s Wells out of the hemare Take A Look At Me is the number 1 ranked three year old sprinter in simdom and he has done well thus far when facing older. He has shown remarkable speed in short sprints and he loves to wing it straight out of the gate. The pride of Belgium will be facing superior competition today but he may well be up for it. With 800k in earnings and a G1 win versus older he is a tantalizing choice at 13-1. If he makes the lead Harzheim’s view may never change. He has only been off the board twice in 14 lifetime starts so exotic players should take note. On the top of his game at the moment and there is reason to believe he is just getting better. A live longshot!

8

TATSU(KY)

given

T Loesch

7/1

Part of an entry out of the Given stable group, the 4 year old son out of Ghostzapper out of one if the sim’s most productive mares, Mother of Dragons. A leave the gate and never look back type. He has the dynamic speed figures you look for and comes from top class genes too. 14-19 lifetime in the money so consistency is a not an issue. There are quite a few who will be gunning for the top along with Tatsu so pace is something to consider here. He has shown that he can wing it for 7f so perhaps the half click less will allow Loesch to open him up without fear. Hard to not like everything you see in the way this one was prepared for the biggest race of his career. Another one who did show his star ability until after being tried on dirt. Beware!

9

HUARALINO(KY)

zambaygo

B Schardein

16/1

The longest shot on the board, A Speightstown 4 year old, is out of the mare Zamal. On paper he looks a touch overmatched in this group but only the best horses are here in the race. He has not been the same since winning a G1 in Vermont earlier this year. He like to press the pace and that 112 back in March that shows that at his best he can run with anyone, but since then he has not been the same. Unless he can regain that form it looks like the oddsmaker has it right. Maybe a break in his last few races will allow this guy to be back in peak form.

10

MR DEVIOUS

londoner

A Rolling

10/1

A horse that needs no introduction to this crowd and especially not to this race which he has won the last two years running. The 6 year old out of Crafty Prospector who has made his mama Lady Storm awfully proud. He has 5.6 Million in earnings and one of the prettiest race cards you ever saw. 27-34 lifetime on the board on turf with 9 graded wins most being Grade 1. He will likely go for the lead and try and make sure he never gives it up, the only thing that may stop him is the fact that he comes in here only rtg. He has been showing he can rate lately too, so he adds another weapon to his seemingly limitless arsenal. His heart is so big that if you think that rtg is a reason to not put you faux bucks on him make that call at your own risk.

11

ETHICS PARADOX(KY)

gradetwo

F Gossett

11/1

The 4 year son of Giants Causeway out of the mare Storm the Seas is a millionaire for good reason. He ran a jaw dropping 115 in the grade 1 Cup of July so there is no doubt of his talent. His closers style seems to fit this race nicely. Many of the top choices want to be on or near the lead so F Gossett can find a nice place for his mount and then hope to run down the crumbling pace setters in the lane. At a price of 11-1 that is an attractive play. On the flip side his last two efforts have been quite sub par for a field of this ilk. The connections say toss those two races but it ain’t easy to do if its your money you are wagering. But when you factor all of the elements together; race pace, class, and quality of previous wins the paradox becomes how do you not bet him. Play?

12

PERFECT DRAGON(KY)

reacher

P Harzheim

14/1

Part two of the Given stable group entry is this 5 year old AP Indy colt out of yet another Dragon mare… Dream Dragon… Back in May and June it looked like he and not Tatsu would be the marquee name on the Given ticket but recent form has flipped the script. The connection have gone as far as saying this fella will not press the pace so as to avoid compromising Tatsu’s chances. After The Strand Broke G1 victory (open length win in 112 off a previous 115) who could have foreseen that? But horse racing is a ruthless business and the powers that be at the Given Stables are amongst the top trainers in the sim because sentimentality does not get in the way of business. Can Perfect Dragon rate and still win this thing? His effort in his last allowance says that P Harzheim will have a hard time keeping this one off the pace and what a scene that might be post race if the two Given horses wind up pressing each other into an off the board finish… Intriguing, because this guy certainly has the talent to win at his best.

13

SISSON’S SUPERSTAR(KY)

levers

T Small

6/1

The other co choice by the pre race odds is this scratch bred 4 year old son of Distorted Humor. The only knock is if the 6.5f distance is one he can handle, because he eats 6f graded races as between meal snacks. His last two efforts have been magnificent and his connection say he is kicking down the barn doors fit for this race. His style is perfect for the race and he has shown that if the go really fast on the engine he can sit further back, if they don’t he can sit on a leaders throat latch. That is a nice option for T Small to have on Saturday because the pace looks like it may be ferocious. If the race was at 6f you’d be backing up a Brinks truck at 6-1 but unfortunately it seems like that extra half click might be enough for this potential Superstar to remain just a Star. He is a millionaire who has worked hard all year to get here so maybe Binzaman has tightened him up enough to get it all on day when Mr Devious is only ready to go. Hard to lay off at 6-1.

14

SAYMON BOLIVAR(KY)

puracrema

O A Haack

11/1

The 4 year old scratch bred son of Woodman is another one who has questions at the race distance, but unlike the one just inside of him, he seems like he may be best a tad longer than 6.5. When he is at his best he is on the front end, preferably the lead which might be a problem today with the lightning early speed the race looks to be featuring. He has won at the graded level but those wins seem to have been as much a testament to excellent placement as to the horse’s talents. With only 15 races under his belt the Puracrema charge may have the best in front of him, and if you agree with that notion then 11-1 is a Pure Cream price. Has the speed figures to match up but how will he react to a full field of horses that are just as talented as him? Guess work at best.

THE PREDICTIONS
The biggest question in a sprint of this magnitude is what will the pace be like? Well the assumption from this writer is that it is going to be white hot! Who makes the top, and how much will they have left when the closers come calling? My guess is that one the horses that like to run from off the pace is going to reel in the tiring leaders like they had a rope around their neck. I think Tatsu will make the lead but find himself under all sorts of pressure, the horse is a beast but the heat may be too much, even for one as good as him. I see Mr Devious being the first to try and over take him but the old man is rebuffed by the imperious Given charge. Urko’s King also is denied by the game Tatsu but the shrewd Sisson’s Superstar has laid in wait and sneaks a nose in front deep in the lane. Road Not Taken is coming out of the clouds but not today for Nextbonus. It looks like Sisson’s Superstar’s corantion awaits but out of nowhere comes a bolt of late Lightning named Ethics Paradox to sweep em all up and take the 2009 BB Turf Sprint

Final Picks
1. Ethics Paradox
2. Sisson’s Superstar
3. Tatsu