Dude, you’re getting a Grade 1 winner.
The particulars for this Grade 1 futurity are that 10 promising 2 year old colts have been entered, travelling the always difficult 7 furlongs on the dirt, for a purse of $250,000. But make no mistake; this is all about getting those Grade 1 credentials, and the associated Points Power that can give your horse entry access to some of the more meaningful races down the road. But isn’t a Grade 1 win meaningful enough? (see Donnybeisbol’s Quest for Relevance, circa 2011)
At first glance, the entrant whose form jumps off the paper and smacks you in the Simulated face is #2 ZAYATS STAR, bred and trained by broohar (marineboy stable). The son of freshman sim-sire Eskendereya and the Red Ransom mare HUNGRY FOR MONEY has made 4 starts, winning 3 in a row, most notably the Grade II Midsoil Stakes in his last start 7 weeks ago. In fact, ZAYATS STAR has gone to post against a total of 47 starters (a testament to full fields and depth of his competition), finishing in front of all but one. An undefeated horse would be nice, but I’m willing to excuse that effort as it came in March, in a 16 horse URC restricted Maiden Special Weight at 6 furlongs…a veritable marathon for babies of that age. The winner that day was Tees’ Candy Ride colt METHODIC MADNESS, who then needed a switch to turf to regain his winning ways.
To add insult to the injury of the other 9 entrants today, ZAYATS STAR has never been headed at any call (bar the last jumps of his initial outing). He’s fast, and he doesn’t yield in the stretch (winning by 1 ½ lengths, at a minimum). His speed figs have been steadily increasing, despite the easy wins (73, 77, 80, 87). His pedigree has an interesting mix of classic talent and high cruising speed, being inbred 3 x 3 to Seattle Slew (through Eskenderya’s dam, and HUNGRY FOR MONEY’S dam) as well as 3 x 5 to Roberto (the sire of HUNGRY FOR MONEY’S sire Red Ransom, and the dam’s-dam sire of Eskendereya’s sire Giant’s Causeway). To quote the immortal LloydChristmas – I like it. I like it a lot.
In the immediate family, ZAYATS STAR has a half-brother named HELD TWO RANSOM, a son of the Danzig/Rubiano stallion War Front. It could be argued that War Front’s is the “sprintier” of pedigrees, yet HELD TWO RANSOM won the G2 Trial By Night Stakes at a mile, and was 3rd in the G1 Chicago Derby while on his way to racking up a cool half a million in lifetime earnings.
If these clues are any indication, ZAYATS STAR will have little difficulty with the seven panels or the 10 horse field or any of the obstacles in his way. But they don’t race on Simulated paper, which is why I am going to profile the other 9 contestants, just in case their trainers read the BTB. (Just kidding, Squirrel and Roys)
It is still early in the world of Simulated 2yo development, and there are plenty of others who have done no wrong… but have not yet been afforded an opportunity to shine on a grand stage.
Numbers 1 and 3 through 10? This is your shot at the big time.
The next horse who makes me sit up and think “That’s interesting,that’s (certainly) interesting, man” is #5 BEFORE DAWN. This Unbridled’s Song colt had a lot going for him, even before he set hoof on a simulated racetrack. Bred and trained by Justin (just ‘justin’, I guess), he jumped right into Graded company after a solid MdSpWt victory in Kentucky, earning 79 and 86 SP figures in respectable defeats. Getting the lead from post 14 was no small feat, hanging on for third in the G2 High Roller’s Juvenile at 6f. He never got the lead in the G2 Hoserhead, but out finished the pacesetter and 9 others who looked tough compared to this bunch. Momma SASSY LIZ is by A.P. Indy x Seeking the Gold and was a stakes winning sprinter… at ages 5 and 7. This one may have a lot of upside, to say the least. He should be in the mix, don’t you think?
Another clear “Stop the press… who’s that?” entrant is #9 UNIVERSAL SPEED, from Smokeglack’s cbrady stable (URC). Clearly, the name fits the colt, who has reeled off 4 wins from 5 well-placed starts, all in allowance company. The only blemish is a sub-par 64 SP in a 4.5 furlong open allowance in March, that can probably be chalked up to a lack of rest (only 5 weeks after winning one of the first 2yo races of the season). Despite a short field of 4 and suspect competition, UNIVERSAL SPEED’s last race stands out with an 85 SP going 6.5 furlongs. Holy frijoles, he’s fast, Batman. You’d expect that from a son of Zensational and ONTHERUN DIXIE (Sky Mesa x Elusive Quality). His momma wasn’t much (claimed for $(SIM) 3500)) but the granddamn Elusive Dixie (o/o a Dixieland Band mare) was a 3 time stakes winning sprinter. Fast begets fast (or maybe it skips a generation, sometimes). I don’t think the 7 furlongs is going to help this horse out, but he’s fast enough to make it interesting and should not be ruled out as a potential pace stalker of undetermined rating ability. He’s a player (don’t hate… congratulate.)
The remainder of the field is less distinguished, but not likely to be less talented…at least as far as I can tell before Saturday at noon, Simulated Racing Time. In light of this, we will now review the entrants in ascending post-position order. Trainers – please do not interpret this as prognostication or an evaluation of relative talents. Don’t blame me… I didn’t determine the post-position order. Who does that, anyways? I’ll bet that Simulated racing office official is none too popular.
#1 is another Tees entrant, KISS MY QUARTERS. A scratch-bred Awesome Again x Kingmambo x Storm Cat, he was entered in a 5.5 furlong MdSpWt on the turf (presumably to give Ian of ‘Iant Hates American Sires’ fame a 7th rant-related coronary) where he had 11 horses in front of him at third call, and ended up losing by a half-length. Now THAT is as good of a non-winning debut as I would like to see. Five weeks later, Tees changed the surface, added 200 meters, and KISS MY QUARTERS responded withan easy late-running victory. A quick scan of the sire stats shows a 4yo mare named QUBIT who has the exact pedigree this guy does… and is a stakes winner on the turf… at 13 furlongs. Despite real-world tendencies for this combination of sires… in the Simulated world, these are studs among studs, and KISS MY QUARTERS will likely stamp himself a Breeders Bowl and Bluegrass Derby contender with a good showing today.
“Who am I, and why am I here?” The original answer is Ross Perot’s presidential running mate James Stockdale, but this existential question might be running through the mind of #3 ADVISABLE as he enters the simulated starting gate for the second time. Trainer Mtk bred this son of Curlin to DANGEROUS EYES(Hard Spun x Seeking The Gold) for his delaware stable(Blazing Saddles), and the 3 x 4 inbreeding to Mr.Prospector did not disappoint in the speed department. He was modestly placed in a 7 horse MdSpWt, which he won convincingly with a 77 SP. And then…this? It remains to be seen if he can make the leap of approximately 15 SP it will take to hit the board today. Such a gamble is not advisable, owing to many a simulated heart being ripped from a young runner, but sometimes it pays off. By no means is Curlin a bargain sire (mtk’s forte, I have heard), having a super awesome multiple GSW 2yo filly named Estrada (o/o A.P. Indy x Storm Cat) in this year’s crop, so perhaps the shot in the dark is warranted. We all can dream, can’t we?
Speaking of Bargain Breds… is this a REAL bargain bred? #4 MURTARYE is a scratch bred son of Murtajill (say what?) x Catcher In the Rye (like the novel?) x Flag Down (heard of him… and that’s it). Before all you pedigree snobs get all uppity on an Aussie – he’s inbred 3 x 3 to Danehill via his sire’s sire Rock of Gibraltar and the damsire(by Danehill) – this guy destroyed a MdSpWt with an 80 SP and had more in the tank down the stretch at 18-1. Perhaps breeder/trainer Acarigua (Queensland) knew what the deal was, but I certainly would not have started this horse on a surface that does not rhyme with “Smurf”. A similarly-inbred son named PROAJILL (Murtajill x Cacique(Danehill)) is a recent 3yo stakes winning sprinter, but has run exclusively on turf. Whatever the inspiration, hats off to acarigua and good luck with your Cinderfella candidate. If you ignore the pedigree, he looks like he could contend – if not, the ‘flash in the pan’ 2yo doubts creep into consciousness.
#6 LAGO MY EGGO is a colt by Encosta Del Lago who looks like he could be the proverbial “any kind”. He’s certainly no toaster waffle (get it?). AtthewireThouroughbred’s entrant (EWC) has the dubious distinction of being the field’s only maiden, but that’s about the only variable in which he doesn’t quite measure up. The pedigree is ruthless…o/o BEHOLDEN TO BEAUTY (Rock Hard Ten x Giant’s Causeway), which could literally give you a dirt sprinter or turf marathoner. He’s run second by closing off the pace, and second by heading for the lead early. The momma never cleared her lifetime conditions, but the grand dam (he-mare JOLLY GREEN GIANT) once ran a 112 SP in a 6 furlong allowance dirt sprint. He lost by a neck while running an 82 SP last out, and the horse who beat him is here today as well. If there were ever a time to try a Grade 1 field with a maiden, I guess this would be it!
#7 LOOKIN AT HOTROD has taken a more conventional path to his Graded Stakes debut. Tazdevil (URC again) chose freshman sensation Lookin At Lucky (Smart Strike) to be the father of the first foal from his eight-time stakes winner HOT ROD LINCOLN (Danehill Dancer x Stephen Got Even x Seeking the Gold). The latter was a precocious turf sprinter, who probably drove Tazdevil to drinkin’ with his precipitous decline at age 4. This guy is 3 for 4, two wins in a row, steadily improving, an allowance and listed stakes winner… this is a logical step for him. The knock is in the speed figure department, earning only an 80 SP tops in a hard-fought 6 furlong race. The pace will be hotter today, so he needs rapid improvement. If he likes the distance, he is one who could pass the pacesetters and be in the photo.
#8 FOOL PROOF is no MURTARYE from the wrong side of the simulated train tracks, but his origins are markedly blue-collar for a race of this stature. A son of first-year Kentucky sire Plan (Storm Cat x Thunder Gulch), he is the first foal of PIRATE’S CUTLASS (Eddington x Pirate’s Bounty), which is a mare many SIM veterans may not have considered SIM-sperm-worthy. Oh, how wrong they (hypothetically) were. Neon Shadow (alohabold stable) may not be a household name, but has been around the simulated block and has a top-quality dirt sprinting millionaire in ELECTED OFFICIAL to show you how it’s done. One of the associated stables is called ‘sprinter’, so perhaps this was no happy accident. The horse himself is inbred 3 x5 to Storm Bird and 5 x 5 to Mr. Prospector, but has a nice, speedy outcross in the DDS with Pirate’s Bounty (Hoist The Flag) and Cutlass (Damascus). That’s the way to do it. The horse’s form looks a lot like #3 ADVISABLE, in that he entered and won a modest MdSpWt race, here with a 77SP. Now it is sink or swim time, and FOOL PROOF has been tossed overboard without a life preserver. He’s a hefty 25-1 on the morning line (which I have heretofore ignored… they’re 2yos whose odds are often reflections of the cost of the pedigree, not ability) and would be quite a story if he brings home the simulated bacon.
Last and certainly not least is el numero diez, HAACK’S GLADIATOR. Yes, it is an Otto Haack charge (erenotto stable, Hispano Parlante) so you know it’s going to have a kick-ass pedigree and be ready for business. He really deserves his own race preview category, as he is the only entrant who has raced at a distance FARTHER than today’s 7 furlongs. The pedigree is a clue towards that end, as this is a son of Street Cry out of ALONDRA LADY (Storm Cat x Seattle Slew x Secretariat). I can’t think of a more 3yo Classic Dirt pedigree in the SIM, which is probably why Otto placed this guy in an 8 furlong allowance race after a fast-closing 2nd by a nose at 6 furlongs. He ran a credible second, passing all but ALWAYS CHARMING, a broohar colt who is entered back in a 7f URC event this week. Perhaps Otto is simply looking for stakes points with a reasonable showing here… but it could be that GLADIATOR’S “sweet spot” is somewhere between 6 furlongs (80 SP) and 8 furlongs (82 SP). Let’s do the math(s)… 8 plus 6, divided by 2…. 7 furlongs! All things being considered, this is not a horse you would want to ignore in this race, under any circumstances. Una mala idea. El caballito? Me gusta. Me gusta mucho.