The Champ and Other Top 3YO Turfers Square Off
A deep, talented, and star-studded cast of three year-old colts heads post ward on Saturday in The Golden Rose, a Grade 2 event over a mile on the firm turf at Victoria. Headlined by 2010 Sim Eclipse Award winner BLAST OFFF (Champion 2 Year-Old Colt on Turf) and THE SEVEN SEAS (a finalist in that same category), many of the top ranked colts in the three year-old turf classic division are in the mix here in what should be a very competitive and exciting event. Here’s the field of fourteen:
1. DYNAJINSKY(KY)
DIV RANK: 10
A winner of four of seven lifetime starts, including the G3 Wooden Reserve, blankpoin5’s most promising runner was unsuccessful in his first try on dirt last time out, finishing next from last and earning his lowest SR (87) since August. This impeccably bred son of Dynaformer hasn’t won in five months, but did run well to place in two graded stakes at this distance at the end of 2010. He should return to better form in this second start of his three year-old campaign and has every right to top his career best 100 SR. Will look to stalk from mid-pack.
2. DISTINGUISHED TED(FL)
DIV RANK: 19
The star of the puddinpuss barn last won the G2 Jimcrack over six furlongs last fall but hasn’t been disgraced since being stretched out to a mile for each of his last four outings, including ninth-place finish in the last years BB Juvenile Turf, (was beaten less than six lengths). This son of With Distinction has finished second in both of his 2011 starts, including the G3 Adam George Cap, in which he registered a career-best 96 SR. Although his last effort produced another second place finish, this time in an overnight stakes, his form was actually flattered in being runner up to top-class turfer GONE FOR GIMLETS. Has tactical speed but came from a bit further back in his last.
3. BLAST OFFF(AUS)
DIV RANK: 2
The champ makes the second start of his three-year old season here after finishing a fast-closing second in an extended sprint overnight stakes in Ireland last time out. The course was soggy that day, and the race was clearly a prep in shaagger’s long-term plan for his Northern Meteor colt, but he was beaten at 1-2 in a four-horse field. Today’s performance should be a much better indicator of what is in store for the rest of his year. If anything like last year, it will be a spectacular one. BLAST OFFF has never been worse than second in eight lifetime starts and captured the G1 Futurity and G2 Future en route to his divisional championship. Oh, and don’t forget his stirring come-from-the clouds charge in the BB Juvenile Turf, a race in which he earned a career-best 100 SR but was beaten a nose (by THE SEVEN SEAS) on the line. Have to respect the champ.
4. ADJUDGE(KY)
DIV RANK: 4
This son of Bernardini is a millionaire twice over (largely due to his win in the G1 $3M Golden Shoe over this same course in September) and has two other graded stakes to his credit, including a smashing win in his three year-old debut last time out. He pressed the pace in the G2 Fainting Goat Nightmares Stakes in Arizona before kicking away to win handily, beating six other graded stakes winners and earning a huge 106 SR in the process. Impressive. Har’s colt finished second in BLAST OFFF’s Futurity in December and was a close-up fifth (as second betting choice) in the BB Juvenile Turf. He was a very strong two year-old and has seemingly made significant development since the calendar turned. Has had enough rest to recover from that monster effort and must be feared.
5. STARCRY(IRE)
DIV RANK: 89
A lightly raced son of Galileo, STARCRY is a stakes winner at the distance, having beaten a field of 12 in the SKYWAY PRINCE Memorial Stakes, but has yet to place in a graded event. In his only start in such company last time out, lucky7’s colt finished a distant sixth, beaten over ten lengths. That race, however, was carded at 10.5 furlongs, which may be beyond his best range, so a return to better form seems reasonable to expect. His best SR (100) is competitive with these, but there is some doubt as to how much more room he has to improve in the short term.
DIV RANK: 23
This late-running son of Teofilo was a highly successful 2 year-old turf sprinter, having captured three consecutive graded stakes events at one point, but monologue’s colt has been less successful since stretching out to longer distances. It started with a decent third in an overnight stakes at a mile in November, followed by a so-so seventh in the G1 Futurity in which he passed tired ones down the lane. Freshened for almost two months, he made his three year-old debut in the G1 Vermont is For Lovers at 7.5 furlongs and again made a late bid to finish a well-beaten third. On the positive side, his SRs have been steadily, incrementally increasing, despite not having registered a triple digit figure as yet.
7. THE SEVEN SEAS(IRE)
DIV RANK: 1
He won the Breeders’ Bowl Juvenile Turf. He won the G2 Champagne Mile. He won the G3 Looking Forward Stakes. This speedy son of Montjeu looked like a solid choice to be the champion two year-old of 2010 until, in his last start of the season, he tired badly down the lane in the G1 Futurity. That eighth place finish likely cost him the title. Certainly disappointing for the super stable, but they’re likely not looking back. Their colt was brought back to the races in a month’s time and finished a solid second in that previously mentioned strong edition of the G2 Fainting Goat Nightmares. He showed a waiting style in that one and earned a career best 104 SR along with enough dough to become a millionaire. Some sim horses make big developmental leaps after the first of the year, and like ADJUDGE, this could be one of them. With good rest since his last, this one figures to be in the mix when the real running starts.
8. THEOKOLES(AUS)
DIV RANK: 57
This Royal Academy colt has been patiently handled by icbomber5. He’s been given a lot of rest between starts and has been carefully spotted for the most part. He’s graded stakes placed, thanks to a runner-upfinish (to THE SEVEN SEAS) in the G3 Looking Forward, then ran poorly in a G2 event next time out. He was then rested for an extra month and brought back into allowance company on Christmas day, a winning effort at 7.5 furlongs, and then made his 2011 debut in an overnight stakes against just three opponents. He led comfortably every step of the way and became a stakes winner in handy fashion, earning a career best 93 SR with a lot left in the tank. He’ll need to improve considerably to be a factor in this one, and he has every right to, but he’ll also likely have fierce company up front early.
9. LUCKY’S WOOGSBY(IRE)
DIV RANK: 34
Heavenly1’s colt has won five of nine lifetime starts but has yet to face the starter in 2011. This son of Danehill Dancer made a huge leap once tried around two turns and his only defeat going a route of ground came in the G1 Saint Cloud at 10 panels. Certainly forgivable. He won the G3 Condo For Rent at nine furlongs in the start before that one, so he has some class, but his competitiveness in this field must be considered questionable. His lifetime best SR of 90 is simply not good enough to beat the best of his division. Still, he has likely developed in his more than two months away from the races, but will also likely be short in this comeback effort.
10. DRIVE BY(KY)
DIV RANK: 43
Also from the super stables, this Street Cry colt is another that has shown marked improvement since January 1. It took him five tries to break his maiden as a two year-old, but the new year brought a soft spot and convincing win in the five-horse PHARCAT Memorial. That race was followed with another clear victory in an overnight stakes in Greece in mid February. His 100 SR was impressive, but it should be noted that he didn’t beat much in that field either. He gets tested for class big time on Saturday.
11. TOPSTOP(AUS)
DIV RANK: 8
The leading offspring of sire Husson, arthur’s colt has been in stakes company his entire career. He made his debut in July of his two year-old year at a mile on the turf and took the DEGGIAL Memorial in wire-to-wire fashion. From there, it was straight into G1 company, this time at 6F in the More Nay in France, and it resulted in a solid second place finish. His next four starts have all been around two turns, the best result being a come-from-behind win in the G2 International in November. He clocked a 100 SR in that nice win, but couldn’t follow it up and came home eleventh in the Futurity. His first start this year was a return to winning ways, this time at 8.5 furlongs in an overnight stakes in Dubai. A repeat of that performance, however, may not be enough against these types, but a move forward is by no means out of the question.
12. SAN JACINTO(KY)
DIV RANK: 6
The supers bring another shooter to the lineup with this multiple G1-winning son of Giant’s Causeway. An early two year-old, he reeled off five consecutive wins at sprint distances from February to September of last year, moving up the ladder from the maiden ranks to NW1X allowance company, then a G3, G2 and G1 win in the Blue Diamond Road over this same turf course. His next three produced losing efforts around two turns, including a weak showing on the dirt, but he did manage a huge rally from last to third in the BB Juvenile Turf, beaten less than a length on the wire. Making up nine lengths in the stretch against the best of the division is nothing to sneeze at. His three year-old campaign has consisted of two extended sprints, both strong closing victories, the last in the G1 Vermont is 4 Lovers at 7.5 furlongs. He picked off four graded stakes winner in that last-to-first win and earned a career high 103 SR. He’s never failed to produce a late run on the turf, and there’s no reason he won’t be flying late in this one.
13. BLAZING GIMLET(JPN)
DIV RANK: 122
This useful son of Tanino Gimlet is a stakes winner at 7.5 furlongs and is also G1 stakes placed, a solid third in SAN JACINTO’s Blue Diamond Road victory. But on paper, mtkfever‘s runner looks a cut below these top-level turf routers. His last, in the Fainting Goat Nightmares, seems a good indicator of his current ability – he pressed the pace but came up empty when the real running started. Would likely need a lone F type of pace scenario to upset this quality field. But again, a nice horse that will win a lot of races.
14. BAD BLAKE(KY)
DIV RANK: 41
Named for the character that produced Jeff Bridges’ Oscar win for Best Actor, this regally bred son of Kingmambo was never cut out for drunken nights singing in dive bars. This guy belongs at the Met. His two year-old season was bit in and out, it’s high note being a win in the G3 Rockette over seven furlongs. His three year-old debut was a nice second place run in the G3 Jellyton over a mile. Nice tune ups, but likely just a prelude to what is to come when gregchilds‘ kingly colt finds his full voice. Back-to-back 100 SRs and a nice rest since his last could have this boy primed to sing. Or, he might get drunk and lose a kid in a mall, something he always regret.
Best of luck to all in this contentious, quality event.