DPCD VIII Delaware Distaff

Certain events mark certain times of the year and the annual DPCD event always lets me know the sim year is soon coming to an end. With more roman numerals then a Rocky film I present to you the DPCD VIII Delaware Distaff. Let’s take a look at the fine field of 17 (what 17 I need to get PAID!) runners assembled to take home their share of the 2 million dollar purse.

1. CY FLY BANDIT – When you use Touch Gold as a sire your never quite expecting to get a super horse but this three year old filly of cheyenne15’s has shattered that stereotype. She’s had an old school campaign as this is her 15^th race of 2009 but she’s won some huge races including the Kentucky Oaks and a resurgent 3^rd in the Breeder’s Bowl Distaff. She’ll be a major factor if she runs back to that last race and perhaps she will finish the year in style with a win at 16-1.

2. CONTROLLED POWER – Sired by real life Horse of The Year of 2001 Point Given, this three year old has posted 7 straight races with speed figures over 100. She fired her biggest shot 3 back with a second place finish in the Bluegrass Cup Distaff and seems on the verge of a career defining win. Not an easy task against a field like this as reflected by the 15-1 morning line odds.

3. ROME – Mare Eternal City has been a good one siring 2 stakes winners from 3 foals the best of which is this million dollar daughter of Dubawi. She’s really excelled at distances of 10-12 furlongs and her career defining win took place in 2008’s Equinics where she took down the 10f race in exciting come from behind fashion. Today’s distance is choice is a bit of a head scratcher but she’s talented, versatile and in fine form. Look for her to make the most exciting move of the race if she fires and at odds of 18-1 I am listening.

4. SNATCH – I am sure the Super conglomerate would love to grab (no I won’t use the easy, breezy cheap pun of snatch) a victory here with this 3 yr old daughter of Kingmambo. She’s primarily been an open stakes sort but did snatch a graded victory in the G2 LA Oaks. She’s a bit underwhelming to back vs. most of these but who am I to question her connections who know how to win big races.

5. SUHEY – Today’s distance fits this daughter of Linamix like a glove and she has run big races, most notably a huge 2^nd in the ultra competitive Tag Team race. Her recent form has suffered but if she is starting an upward cycle and is permitted to obtain a soft easy lead she could hit the board.

6. LACADA POINT – Geography buffs would know that this had to be a daughter of Giant’s Causeway since Lacada Point is the “cruel talon of rock which juts out into the sea off the Giant’s Causeway headlands. Access to the point is hazardous since the closure of the old lower cliff path in 1994. On a cold, stormy night in 1588, it was here that nearly 1300 men of the Spanish Warship, The Girona, lost their lives in the dark freezing waters. Only 5 men survived”. History lesson over and she has no men to contend with today but fellow ladies should take heed. Based on her Personal Ensign romp she seems best at 10f but she’s talented enough to win the day today and if she continues her win every other form she offers generous odds at 8-1.

7. SKIDMORE INDY – A pedigree of AP Indy X Sadler’s Wells X Kingmambo is about as anti skidz as you can get breeding wise and it has worked to beautiful perfection for trainer jrogue. Four year old ran a monstrous 117 in May when she won the MD Distaff and another 110 when she won the Go For Gold Stakes. Gave way after leading most of the Breeder’s Bowl Distaff last out fading to seventh but she should rebound nicely from that effort and is my choice to be today’s winner if jock Z Wango can get her out fast.

8. SUZY’S EMPIRE – Delaware native yours truly has the mount on this talented daughter of Empire Maker. Although I typically excel in riding front runners the goal today will be to keep this baby about 3-4 lengths off the pace and then challenge the leaders before the late runners get their chance at her. She ran 112 and 113 speed figures 2 and 3 back and if she fires like that today I might be able to take the wife and kids out for a nice steak dinner. Thanks to my boy Balata for the mount you’re my favorite Canadians except for Bryan Addams and Pam Anderson pre skivvies.

9. SISSON’S MARK – When you breed an offspring of Mark of Esteem and it earns over 1.8 million dollars in lifetime earnings you indeed have made your mark. Her signature wins are in the 2008 Smackdown, Cecil Roo Classic, and most recently three back in California in the Bra Snap (loving it). She will need a fast pace to run at and if she gets it I like her chances to make a strong finish.

10. ALLEY JUSTICE – Lenny has some Delaware connections as he typically makes a journey out here during the Christmas season and he came a bit early this year and brought his Empire Maker filly with him. He was super patient with her while she took time to clear her allowance conditions and that patience seems to have paid off nicely as she’s now a frontrunning diva capable of 112 speed figures. She passed her first open stakes test easily last out and gets her graded acid test today. Win or lose the way she has been trained would make Ralph Waldo Emerson proud (if simulated horses were his thing).

11. INDY’S CHOICE – After seeing this baby and several of the last few all I can say is YIKES this is going to be a fast pace that should set up for closers. This four year old daughter of Redoute’s Choice somehow likes the dirt and runs big on it as witnessed by victories in the Farewell to Cryptozot and The Great Dame. She’s the need to lead type and struggled when she didn’t have her way last out in the Breeder’s Bowl Distaff and its hard to be in love with that type of runner in a 17 horse race with a lot of speed. Nonetheless she has earned respect and draws resident top jock H Ross. H Ross gets the most simulated groupies because he gets the most simulated wins/$’s wow this sim is like real life.

12. PARADISE STARLET – Four year old by Vindication made a massive leap forward last out when she posted a big 110 in a winning romp in the G2 Jump Town H. That’s 7 points higher then her lifetime best so jock TJ Cox might not be the only thing bouncing today.

13. BAVMORDA – The top sires are well represented in this race and here is another by perennial all surface stud Giant’s Causeway. Ran the first 11 races of her career on the grass with pretty nice success but trainer ceclaim found immediate speed figure gold when she was switched to the main track where shes been running 100+ speeds ever since. Only graded win was back in May in the My lady G2 but she’s been running big against nice fields long enough that she commands respect.

14. BLAZING FRONTIER – With only nine lifetime races this Bernardini filly is not only the greenest in today’s field but also the long shot at 37-1. Her speed figures are right about where they need to be but those were produced in sprints and breaking through in this race at a longer unproven distance is a lot to ask. I will predict she is in store for a brilliant 4 yr old campaign and would love to see her try 8 and 9 furlongs on the grass as well.

15. REINCARNATION – Manmanlopo brings us this daughter of Pivotal who has finished ITM in 10 of 15 lifetime races and accumulated over 400k in earnings in the process. She just missed out last out in the GR Simsters championship Distaff and posted a lifetime best 106 speed figure.  She ran a similar race in The Kentucky Oaks, I love her running style for this race and something has me wanting to key her in the bottom of my exactas.

16. LUZERNE – AFC’s daughter of Pulpit has had a disappointing 2009 after a banner go of it the previous 2 years. The massive 112 she posted 3 back in open company must have injected hope into her connections but the last two have not followed up on that success. If karma is in play she could run big again today but if she fails to find that form again something tells me he will lose patience with her and make her a mama in 2010.

17. STENO BOOK – Deadinthelane’s Storm Cat filly drew a Kentucky Derby like post for today’s race but her off the pace running style should not compromise her chances excessively. What could be a problem is jockey D Silver aka Given who has found a home in DE despite being from Philly originally I think (hey where are those Sim Snapshots when you need them). Luckily his simulated jockey has scored in DE more then his namesake ever did at UD Frat Parties and it would not be a shock to see him guide her to a big pay day here today. Hey Given you guys doing Wild Wings again this year ; )

Observations/Predictions:

1. Empire Maker has thrown a lot of nice dirt running fillies
2. 17 horses is a lot to write about and we BTB writer’s need to start a simulated union
3. Given’s probably going to whine about my shabby treatment of him in a message board thread. Here’s to you Danny Boy ; )
4. Good luck to everyone’s runners and thanks to the generous benefactor of today’s races! (Afc) DPCD is truly one of the great days on the sim calendar.