Movieland Futurity – Eclipse on line?
OPEN PIT TED will be trying for a historic double when he leaves the paddock for the Movieland Futurity this Saturday at California. The feat will be far from easy, however. Two of those in today’s field were close up in the BB Juvy, and a couple of other have beaten “Ted” in the past.
In the 12-year history of this great Sim racing world, the winner of the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile has never gone on to win the Movieland Futurity the same year. The closest anyone has come was back in 2002, when BB Juvy winner Credit Buster finished 2nd in the Movieland. Of course, an Eclipse award would likely be a very nice side benefit shout “Ted” get the job done.
Interestingly, the race before this on the California card will feature the BB Juvy Fillies champion, Lindy Hop. Looks like a heck of a day to head to the track; it’s not every day you get to see two BB champs race in back-to-back races!
A look at the Futurity field:
MAGIC LANTERN is a speedy A. P. Indy colt from the barn of upperhand who faded late after a heated pace duel last time out in a strong restricted-stakes field. The winner of that race won his next race Dec. 11 with a spectacular 103 speed rating, the fastest 2yo rating of 2010 so far. The 10/1 shot will need to avoid getting caught up in a speed duel on the front end.
SIGHING DESERT is a Street Cry colt from the worldwide barn who has run well in all five career starts but has only a single win to show for it. His high-80’s speeds, while solid, show that he’ll need to pick ’em up and lay ’em down quite a bit faster to compete successfully in this bunch. The CPU agrees, laying 12/1 odds on this guy.
NIGHT OF TERROR closed strongly in the BB Juvenile last time out for fastvett1, and beat some of these in a Grade 3 just before that. A scratch-bred son of Candy Ride, he’s improving in a nice way, and could turn the tables here with a little bit of luck. He’s a dangerous 8/1 shot.
FLAPPIN’ THE GUMS is a cleverly-named son of Dixie Chatter who has been a bit short of the top ones thus far in his career for spastic, and he’ll need a bit more octane in his fuel to compete successfully in this bunch. 15/1 shot needs to prove he can hang with the likes of this level.
COUNTERFEIT KASH has only tried 2-turning once, a solid late-closing win in a 20-horse restricted stakes last time out. The Pleasantly Perfect colt from kashbarns is trying much tougher in here, but he has a huge closing kick and should be charging late here. Might be a good play at 11/1.
PINK FLAMINGOES regressed a bit vs. a strong Grade 3 field last out, but super22 thinks his Ghostzapper colt will bounce back nicely. “We’ll need our best against these, but I think my colt’s got more than he’s shown so far.” The 94 speed from two back is very competitive here if he can repeat that effort, and has a good chance to reward players at 9/1.
ROWDY CHOICE is a talented son of Redoute’s Choice who has done very little wrong thus far in his career, but the punter69 trainee hasn’t faced this level. This is a lot to ask, but he could still be around with a puncher’s chance when the real racing starts. 11/1 shot has tried 2 turns just once, but it was a solid win vs. a short field minor-stakes group.
STEVIE IIII is a Medicean colt who was looking like a budding superstar after winning a Grade 2 with a nice 92 speed rating back in July, but he has regressed since with a pair of disappointing efforts and is left by the CPU at 16/1. Now the biglou trainee tries two turns for the first time. Looks like a possible recipe for disaster, but ya gotta try the route racing sometime… Besides, he beat today’s favorite once…
OPEN PIT TED is the deserving 6/1 favorite who will be trying for the aforementiond feat, the coveted BB Juvy-Movieland Futurity double. Trainer refinement says, “This is the best 2yo I’ve ever had, and I’m just happy to be here, and I sure hope I can hold him together for the big 3yo races next year, and…” Sorry, the batteries died in my recorder, but he is definitely excited to have this potentially historic opportunity. Should be able to race mid-pack or slightly closer up, then finish strong from there.
COLONIAL GIPPER comes off an impressive out-of-the-clouds win in a Grade 3 (his only 2-turn try), and returns to the site of his maiden win for trainer gipper9. The 99 speed figure from that effort is the fourth-highest earned by a 2yo so far in 2010, and certainly stamps this blue-blooded Colonel John colt as one to watch here and very possibly in 2011. The CPU is impressed, and makes this one a 7/1 co-2nd choice.
SLAMMED SIDEWAYS brings a bunch of early speed to the party for rharfo7 and maintained that speed nicely in his 2-turn debut last time in a restricted stakes. This son of Grand Slam might be a pace victim here, as reflected in his 16/1 odds. This is a tough spot, as he tries graded-stakes company for the first time, but he could be a danger if he gets to set reasonable fractions.
FIFTY TWO PICKUP has two highly-ranked speed ratings to his credit, but has only tried graded-stakes racing once. This resulted in the Street Cry colt’s only loss around 2 turns for super15, but it was a strong run, his 2nd-fastest. He’s shown he has enough quicks to compete here, but his class level isn’t proven yet; it’s not UNproven, either! Maybe it’s in the cards… He’s the highest-rated of the triumverate of Super entries, at 7/1.
CONFIDENTLY WRONG ran a solid 7th in the BB Juvenile last time out, and finished ahead of today’s favorite while winning that Grade 3 in Ohio a couple tries earlier. Trainer torrential is very high on his Encosta De Lago colt, and thinks he can beat anyone, any time. He’s well-regarded at 9/1.
FASHION POLE bombed badly in the BB Juvenile, but won a Grade 1 in his previous outing at this track with a strong speed rating. This son of Old Fashioned outran his normal speeds by quite a bit in that earlier race, but trainer pirates is confident that the return to his home track will be just what this guy needs. The CPU isn’t quite so confident, placing him at 15/1.
Okay… Put-up or shut-up time…
I think history will be made by the favorite, OPEN PIT TED. His mid-pack style suits the race perfectly.
COLONEL GIPPER will be charging late, and will be the main danger.
FIFTY TWO PICKUP will also finish strong.
Good luck at the races!