Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint 2010

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Welcome to the heart of American thorough bred racing between the twin spires here in Kentucky. The track is swarmed with trainers, owners, fans and horses from around the world for this years Breeders Bowl, where the best of the best face off. The fourth race of the day is the Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint. A short romp across six and a half furlongs on turf upon the hallowed ground of Churchill Downs. The contenders are a varied group with some returning for their second Breeders Bowl while others are trying this out for the first time. This is certainly not a level for novice or beginner sprinters. Those selected for todayfs race have seen their share of winners circles. The fastest time for the BB turf sprint is held by Mr Devious at 1:09 flat, three years standing. Mr Devious was also made famous for winning the BB turf sprint two consecutive years: 2007 and 2008. He ran in 2009 but was trumped by the Irish born, Highside, then later retired. Lets have a closer look at some of today’s runners.

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This horse started out on the dirt but was impressive none the less. He easily won his maiden, an allowance, and the Kingdom Blushing Bonanza stakes in less than three months. His 2yo campaign landed him 6 wins in 7 starts. The following year was also impressive with 6-3-2-1 with speed figures ranging from the high 70fs to the low 90fs, but the real kicker was his transition from dirt to turf. On Halloween 2009, Thorfs Odyssey stunned his owner, along with the rest of the field with two length win and a whopping 113 speed figure. Kingab realized that Thor had finally found his calling. Since that night he has held turf stakes and graded company. Talking with Kingab he regrets not trying him out on turf sooner, but he has high hopes for the dark grey colt and speaks highly of his dam, Around the World. He has only dipped his toes into graded company in comparison to some of his contenders, he has won at all levels of graded stakes. Nonetheless, this one is sure to prove is worth come post time and give the field a run for their money.

This will be the second go around at the Breedersf Bowl for this chestnut. He is ranked as third richest in earnings for 5yo turf sprinters. In 2009 he finished in 10^th place, firing just before the finish line. If he can manage to keep up with the forward company this year and gear up just as he did before, he could very well see himself on the board. “This is just a tough old horse with a lot of races and a lot of wins,” said owner Dixiedotco, of his colt, “this division is so tight that any one can jump up and win it with his/her best race.” Suffering from some injury issues this past year he has confidence that Scientific Proof is back in fighting form. On a final note Dixiedotco hinted at the possibility of an impending retirement for his colt saying, “this is probably his last chance to run in the BB… with the great career he’s had, he at least deserves the opportunity.” I could not agree with more. Scientific Proof fitfs the bill for this years sprint turf and with the trophy up in the air, its within the reach of anyone willing to reach up and go for it.

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This king has returned to take the crown he was denied last year. Losing to Highside by little more than a length in the 2009 BBST, Urkofs King is back with a vengeance and armed with a notable 2010 campaign. He hasnft won a G1 race in a year but I donft think that will effect much if Urkofs King decides to step up to the challenge. In the Sydney Sprint back in April was his best turn out for the year. He won easily with a 111 speed figure. The company hefll be keeping today is likely to be finishing just as hard and fast. His races since have been slower and not always resulting in a win or even in the money. Hell need to channel that Sydney race to get himself up into the top three.

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This late blooming 4yo debuted on dirt just this past January. He broke is maiden after his second outing, then was tried over the turf on his fourth start. He won his turf maiden, an allowance local bred race in New York, easily with over a four length lead. His third start on the grass turned over a triple digit speed figure of 103 and two starts later was a 112. He had found his calling and abandoned the dirt track in his wake. In the last 6 races over the last 6 months Water Landing remains undefeated and seems to be staying consistent with high speed wins. When I talked to owner, Dixiedotco, about his entering this relatively untried colt his story surprised me. Originally, Water Landing was bred into a test barn whose sole purpose was to race local bred horses, not champions, just a few decent runners worth keeping. Every time this horse touched the grass something amazing happened so the decision was made to take out into the big leagues and less than three months later he was a G1 winner. Dixiedotco is extremely proud and ultimately confidant in his colt saying, “I guarantee you there’s no sharper horse in the field… and that the others will have to come get him to win.” Though he may not carry the experience of some of his competitors, he has more than enough of what it takes to win.

This son of Cacique was named after a planet in the Star Wars series according to one of his owners. He had a relatively short but efficient two year old season. He debuted in May of 2008 and by November he had won his first stakes. Since then he has raced stakes and graded stakes exclusively. This three year old campaign was turbulent with a mix of stakes wins and graded losses, but with each race he continued to mature and intensify. After a two month winter break, he opened up 2010 with a bang. He lost the race by a quarter length but his speed and dominance was graded quality. He continued to run graded races but always came up short by a length or two. After a series of second places, he finally won his first graded race, G1 Sprint Cup, on September 11^th. He enjoys setting the pace but he will have to be blazing to out run these field. He will have to show us something new.

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Strike When Ready owned by Snowchief

(More than Ready x Smart Strike x What a Pleasure)

In 2008 More Than Ready was sure fire sire and with Curlin tearing up the racing world, a More Than Ready x Smart Strike foal seems like sim gold, but in 2008 all was not as it seemed in the house of Chief Stables. In October and early November of that same year Strike When Ready debuted on dirt twice with results that were less than expected. He was then entered into to turf races identical to his first two on dirt, which churned out the exact same results. After deciding to keep him on the turf and in sprints, Strike When Ready slowly, but surely fermented into a solid allowance sprinter by the summer of 2009. Talking with his owner, Snowchief she said of her colts training, “I think in hindsight though that his slow start really worked to my advantage. I took my time building up his consistency and speed figures.” Once joining stakes company he kept them on their toes and himself on the board, winning his first stakes that fall. His first try at a graded race was disaster ending with his worst outing to date. After a long winter break and an allowance race for a warm up, he returned to stakes and graded stakes with a vengeance. He has never seen a G1 race but I refuse to hold that against him. Snowchief shared some concern for her coltfs extended vacation in August and coming into this race with only a single prep race, but if you look back at his previous layoff his come back was impressive. He is more than capable of taking on this level of speed, so long as he brings his A-game.

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This little colt had a most impressive two year old campaign. His debut was an easy win and was swift followed by a stakes race resulting in a significant loss, but little more than a month later he was back at it. He won his third race, his stakes maiden then went on to a 5 win stakes streak. He ended 2009 in a graded race but crossed the finish line in fourth. The start of his three year old season was up and down with graded losses and allowance wins but by the summer of 2010 he was back on his winning streak and should he win today, it would mark his fifth consecutive win. This colt isnft as fast as some of the older horses but hefs not shy. Hefs a perfect midfield hunter, waiting five or six lengths behind the leader until the last furlong. Owner, Kashbarn, has high hopes and said, “I’m proud that he has the talent at this point to even set foot on the track and compete with the best of them”

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Mikes big colt is a little guy in terms of experience compared to most of the others in this field, with 16 starts. This three year old started off had a impressive two year old season with five wins in seven starts, the final win being his first try at stakes level. He started off 2010 with a brilliant G1 win, beating out the talented Mean Dice and fellow BBST competitor, Scattered Kash. The win took a bit out of him and required a few stakes and allowance races for him to get back into his groove prompting an explosive stakes win in June. Since then he has been all over the place with wins and losses and has yet to develop a consistency, but he is still young. If this isnt his year for the Breeders Bowl, he could be a prime suspect for 2011s BB winners circle.

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This Red Clubs colt was born into stakes races, almost literally. His maiden was the Silvo Cat Memorial Stakes, which he won with ease, late in the winter of 2008. He continued on into his three year old career with stakes wins and though his tried numerous times at the graded level, he did not succeed in winning them, but he dominated everything outside of it. Perseverance paid off and in the fall of 2009 he won the G3 Hawkz Guineas in brilliant fashion and the G1 New Zealand 2000 Dark Beers. Despite his ability to rally at high speeds, 2010 has not been so kind. He has won a couple stakes but not in his younger fashion. Donft count him out though, at 4yo I doubt hefs burning out, but just at a rest stop. This colt can kick it into high gear if need be, but he will have to rally like never before to defeat this field.

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This little grey is the one and only lady in todays turf sprint. She started off in the dirt and won her first maiden, but after three starts her owner decided to try her on the grass, which turned out to be a great decision. In three months she went from trying out the grass to winning her first stakes then showing well in a G2. By 2010 she was back in allowances but quickly regained her composure and won the G1 New Market Handicap in March. She has won allowance, stakes, and graded stakes since, but has never managed a speed figure over 109. Chances are todays race will see much higher figures from the leaders, but it would be nice to see a girl show up the boys in a Rags to Riches or Zenyatta tale.

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Haack showed will on dirt in his maiden in the summer of 2008. He tried turf a couple months later and did poorly so he was sent back to the dirt. In 2009, he won a couple allowances and show great speed early on. After a few bad outings he was sent back to the turf where this time, he told the truth. He finished out his three year old season with a stakes win and proof that even damn grass didnft phase him much. In the spring, he started off rough, finishing all over the place with various speed figures. It seems like he couldnft figure things out for a few months, but after a loss in the G2 Sydney Derby he started pulling his act together and showing something like consistency. He showed true guts and powerful speed in the G3 highlander, as well as the G1 MGD Special. His prep race last month yielded a formidable 112 speed figure which wont be too far off from the expect speeds are today, which are in the high teens between 115-120. He has matured nicely and should be seen hunting mid pack with a surge in the last couple furlongs.

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This colt had a rather light first two years on the track. He debuted on the dirt with poor results and found his calling on the turf in the fall of 2008. With five starts that year and only six in 2009, all being allowance routes it was not until the last weeks in the winter of 09 that he ran a turf sprint and showed his dominance. The first four months of 2010 were spent on allowance sprints, but come May he ran and won his first stakes. He has only seen two graded races, both G2, and placed in both of them. Hefs never seen a speed figure over 108 and may not have what it takes to win this years BB, but he is a perfect candidate for next years turf sprint.

Highside is much like a fine wine, ripened with age and experience. In 2007 he raced four times, breaking his maiden on the fourth. He was nothing spectacular and spent all of 2008 in allowances honing his skills, speed, and slowly maturing. If he was not winning then he was hitting the board and always in the money. His first race of 2009 was his stakes maiden and blew the competition away. He repeated a win in the same smashing style the following race, after a two month rest. After a few wins and some narrow misses at the graded level the 2009 Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint came along. Out of the gate, Tatsu set the pace and Highside stalking him just a length behind. In the third furlong he exploded and decimated the field. Urkofs King was just couple lengths behind him in second with Tatsu and Scientific Proof at the back of the pack. In 2010, Highside has yet to reenact his monstrous Breeders Bowl win but he is still capable of it. Meeting former competitors once more means he will have to work twice as hard to fend them off and keep his title as Turf Sprint champion.

This brings us to our last horse. One of the owners I talked to this past week described this years Breeders Bowl Sprint Turf, The race sure looks like Tatsu’s coronation. Given has done such a crackerjack job with that monster.

Nothing can be said about this colt without first mentioning his sire, followed closely by his dam. Ghostzapper has done an impressive job as a leading sire, but Tatsu seemed to have only inherited his devilish good looks. His taste and talent for the turf came from his dam, Mother of Dragons, a mare who demands attention. All six of her foals are stakes winners, four of which are graded winners with a combined earnings of over $6,126,000. Storm Cat proves to us once again that he is a brilliant dam sire. Her most recent foal, a 2yo filly by Medaglia Dforo is already a graded winner on 4 starts. Her greatest achievement so far is Tatsu, arguably one of the best turf sprinters around.

Tatsu started off on dirt surprisingly and faired well, even placing in a stakes his fourth start. His opening race for his three year old season, his sixth start, was a turf sprint. Two starts after winning that he was boosting a stake win and a 102 speed figure. He was a machine during his three year old campaign with the G3 George Rides Stakes on April 11^th being his most brilliant show of prowess. Bursting out of the gate and taking the lead by a length, he never gave his competitors the light of day and romped home with a 119 speed figure. In the 2009 Breeders Bowl Turf Sprint, Tatsu set a feverish pace but could not hold it to Highside. A month after the devastating lost Tatsu destroyed the field at the G1 King Kong Sprint like the Breeders Bowl had never happened. Two months later he repeated his brilliant performance of the George Rides Stakes almost to a tea, and them some, in the G1 Shining Sea Sprint, G1 Sand Castle Turf Sprint, G1 Strand Broke, and again in the G1 Cup of July. With two prep races behind him, he should be in fighting form. He lost his last race, the G2 Sprinter Stakes, but that could be a very good thing for this beast. Many of his most brilliant wins come after a relaxed second or third place. I had a chance to talk to his owner Given who said of Tatsu, “While it’s arguable whether or not Tatsu is the most talented horse I have ever trained, what I can say definitively is that his campaign this year is the best campaign any horse of mine has ever had. He has won all four Grade 1 races that he’s contested, and now it’s just a question of how much he has left in the tank”

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Looking at the evidence its hard not to see how this years feels meant to be for Tatsu, but victories must be earned and this race has yet to be run. Tatsu aside, this is a very tight competition this year with many horses possessing the speed, strength and game plan to win. This is truly any mans (or horses) race and its up for grabs for any one brave enough to reach for it.

I would like to wish each and every horse, jockey and owner the best of luck in the Turf Sprint, as well as the rest of the 2010 Breeders Bowl contention.

A special thank you to the owners/trainers who took the time out of their day to message me quotes, info, and opinions.

This is Dsparrow in Kentucky signing out. Someone point me to the betting window!