Grade II Longchamp Sprint

1) Kylie (11-1) (thediv) Hardknocking five year old mare tries the boys here, and boy is she in deep. Closer has been a bit off form of late as she hasn’t cracked a triple digit speed figure in five tries, but she is fast enough to run with these on her best day. Stretch running mare will need some speed up front to soften up Digging the Grave and then need some racing luck to get a ground saving trip. Capable with her best, but will need to show more than she has lately.

2) Ziklag (6-1) (rvd) Co-favorite has nine wins from 41 starts and has been a competitor at this level for a long, long time. Won the Grade I Golden Jambouree at 6f just four starts back and if he runs back to that start could prove very menacing in the stretch. His last race is bothersome, as he faded pretty badly in the Grade I Maudlin Cup only five weeks ago. The race was a mile (not always his best distance), but he’s at least been competitive going 8f before and this time he wasn’t. If he shrugs tht off, however, he’s one of the top turf sprinters in the sim and would give a very good account of himself here looking for win number ten. He’s the first of several that ran in the DUR Lightening Cup (finishing a close up third), which may prove to be the key race in comparing runners here.

3) Magpie in the Sand (9-1) (gcphantom3) Four year old is an impressive nine for fourteen in his short career, including a third and a fifth in his only two graded tries (his last two races). He’s also a stretch runner, although was up near the lead two back in the Lightening. Like nearly everyone else, he’s going to have to catch the favorite on the outside and will need to step up by a couple of lengths to do so.

4) True Contender (17-1) (worldbeatr) Four year old looking for his first stakes win in a very difficult spot. Should get a good stalking trip from just off the pace, but even if he reels in the front runners, is going to have several proven closers flying at him late. Might need a bit softer.

5) Otto O (7-1) (2die4) Deep closer has a couple of things going for him. Finished a close up second in the Lightening. Should like the five furlong distance as he’ll be a bit closer to the pace. His one run on a ‘good’ turf course resulted in a sparkling 109 speed figure. Jockey E. Wood knows how to get a horse from last to first. Still young and improving. A whole lot to like here at 7-1 and hopes to turn the tables on Grave in a rematch of the Lightening.

6) Miron Hollandia (21-1) (rintintin) Three year old against his elders here. Ran a very solid fourth two starts back in the Grade I Never Ready Sprint and a repeat of that race can put him in the hunt for a check. Still never won a stakes race and isn’t likely to get it done today, but could rally late for a piece at very high odds.

7) Stolen (9-1) (worldbeatr) The second (and more accomplished) half of the worldbeatr entry. Late runner won his last effort in fast time, the Lepaka Drakon stakes and finished a close up third in the Grade II Fiery Hooves Sprint going five furlongs three starts back. One of several closers that will be fighting for position midturn trying to find room to unleash their rallies, if he can get clear and the front runners have gone out too fast, he certainly could pass them all late.

8) Tete Not Galileo (8-1) (racelord) Just finished a head back in the Capital Spring Sprint, a Grade III race going six furlongs. Trainer is bearing down on 300 wins and certainly knows his way to the winners circle. Closer is part of the herd that will be lined up with 3/16 to go trying to find a hole and run down Digging the Grave. As good of a shot as any here in this wide open field.

9) Unbridled Horizons (10-1) (cjwalker) Four year old has been knocking heads with the best in this division, this being his fifth straight graded stakes sprint. He hasn’t won any of them yet, but is always close. One of only a couple that has proven that he can handle five furlongs. He’ll be right at the back of the pack at the head of the stretch, but if he finds a hole to unleash his late rally, is another that could get up in time to get his picture taken.

10) Secretariat’s War (12-1) (skipaway59) Had a very nice stakes win in the Raw Honour Special four months ago, but his form has been declining since then. Was just beaten handily by Stolen last out and will need to show more than he has lately to compete with these.

11) Digging the Grave (6-1) (zewango2) Has been in front at every call in his last six turf sprint starts, including last four speed figures of 107, 110, 108, 108. Tried Grade I milers in his last race (The Canada Mile) and faded at the 3/8 pole. Probably an overlay at 6-1 here. Could be a monster in the making. Big question is the 5f distance. He handled 5.5f in the First leg of the turf sprint triple crown, but the pace will be faster than ever here (although there isn’t much other pace pressure and that is all outside of him), and he’ll need to handle the faster fractions. Looks formidable.

12) Storm’s Rage (16-1) (tripcrown9) Has been chasing several of these around the track in his last three starts. Will need to show more.

13) Glitter’s Concorde (14-1) (con10er4) One of two that looks to be challenging Digging the Grave early. Took an allowance field wire to wire last out running a 101 speed figure, so he has some speed, but is against much tougher today. Could be a threat if able to outbreak Grave and Wonderboy Brian outside of him and able to set slow fractions, but that doesn’t seem likely in this short sprint and will need his best to hold on for a share.

14) Wonderboy Brian (14-1) (zeco2) The last of the frontrunners gets stuck on the far outside. Went gate to wire in his last race, the Theatrivich Stakes, and is a threat to take these all the way if he gets clear. As for the horse just inside of him, the problem will be getting clear of Digging the Grave, somehow saving ground and then having enough to hold off the six closers that all look to be just as fast or faster…

This looks to be a great race. If I were betting (and I am), I’d have to take the 11 on top to win and let the rest sort themselves out. Good luck to all the runners!