Final Tuneup for Sunnybank Memorial in the Classic Turf Stakes
In any other year, they’d have conceded the Breeders’ Bowl already. In any other year, we’d be talking “greatest ever.” In any other year, Sunnybank Memorial would have locked up Horse of the Year. But in 2005, we’re still debating the best 12 furlong turf horse. Perhaps it is Sunnybank Memorial, who here this week in
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Today is about one horse. Sunnybank Memorial, who has answered questions time and time again, winning against all sorts of company and winning with style. Here, the massive son of A.P. Indy looms as a 3/5 favorite for trainer sunnybank, and barring disaster, he looks to be the only conceivable winner in what is surely his final prep before attempting a defense of his Breeders’ Bowl title against competition of a markedly higher class than he sees today.
That said, there’s a lot of money on the line, and six trainers are holding out hope that today is the day the champion can be cracked. We’ll take a look at the field in post position order:
Classic Turf Stakes
Grade I
A mile and one half
Firm Turf
$750,000
All horses, 3 years old and up
PP | Horse ID | Horse | Owner | Jockey | Odds | Comments |
1 | TEMPLEMORE(IRE) | 15/1 | Three year old makes the jump into G1 competition out of an 8 furlong allowance race in which he could do no better than 10th. If this one is in the same zip code as Sunnybank Memorial under the finish line, it will be a miracle. Seems to be an entry thrown in with a hope of a minor award, but even that will be difficult. | |||
2 | FIREHAWK(IRE) | 8/1 | Five consecutive poor races make it difficult to believe this one has any prayer of being within Sunnybank Memorial at the finish, but if he can rebound from a 10th place finish in an allowance last time out, he may have a shot at hitting the board. | |||
3 | SUNNYBANK MEMORIAL | 3/5 | The champion could run backwards and still likely win by several lengths. Two consecutive G1 wins over this track, and he stretches back out to the 12 furlong trip that seems to be his optimum after a jaunt at 11 furlongs last time out. If you’re a betting man, this would be a good time to bet the house. | |||
4 | SHASIM HOLLANDIA | 26/1 | Another three year old, and while he seems to be in the same situation as Templemore, he’s got a top jock on board who may be able to tuck him in behind Dancin In Seattle and conserve enough to last for a minor award. | |||
5 | DANCIN IN | 3/1 | Far more likely than the scenario discussed with Shasim Hollandia, however, is that this one, actually a G1 winner, will be hooked early by his younger counterpart starting one gate to his left and both will be cooked by the time Sunnybank Memorial turns on the afterburners through the stretch. This one gained a first-hand look at the big horse’s unbelievable stretch kick when he spit the bit through the stretch of the Man of War Stakes (G1) last time out and came home a well-beaten 9th. His class says that he should be the best of the rest (he’s ranked 6th in the division), but he’ll not come close to getting his picture taken. | |||
6 | HAIL TO THE KING | 12/1 | A three year old, and a filly. She’s a G1 winner and ranked 3rd in her division, but she faces males for the first time and older for just the second time. This trip is a little bit shorter than her best (surprising, for a horse by Kingmambo out of a Storm Bird mare, but I suppose with a record as developed as this one you must trust the performances over pedigree!), and its just too much to ask of a three year old filly to take aim at a horse like Sunnybank Memorial. That said, if Dancin In Seattle’s early lead is contested, she could come running for 2nd money. | |||
7 | SKUNKANISI(IRE) | 7/1 | Bred to get the trip, and if you excuse the dismal effort over 16 panels last time out, his record over 12 furlongs is solid, but he is a lousy 2: 0-0-0 over the lawn. He’s bred to enjoy it, and with his only two starts over turf as a two year old (when even over dirt he was a claimer), he must be given another shot. However, this is his 16th race this campaign, so he may be needing a break. That said, you can find another point lending him support: he’s consistently inconsistent, turning in consecutive good and then bad races, a pattern that dates back a full 8 races. His last “bad” race, however, was very bad. He’ll need quite a rebound to make a difference. Long and the short of it? This is the wildcard of the field. He could finish anywhere from 2nd to 7th. |