Blazing Saddles Showdown Classic

Blazing Saddles Breeder’s Showdown Classic — Owner Restricted
Stakes
A mile and one quarter
Fast Dirt
$500,000
All horses, 3 years old and up — RESTRICTED TO PARTICULAR OWNERS
What is usually the last race of the Breeders Cup weekend is the first race in Kentucky on BS Showdown day. The Blazing Saddles Classic features one of the best older horses in the game, Too Many Larry. Although he has only won once in the last year, he has won this race the last 2 years, and his only win in the last year came in a G1. It will not be easy for Too Many Larry, as he faces 6 rivals who are very accomplished as well.

PP #1 Too Many Larry-Unbridled’s Song x Alydar x Seattle Slew, 2-1 favorite with D Givins up (22.4%)
Trainer: Otistaylor
This looks familiar, Too Many Larry running 3rd in the Breeders Bowl Classic and then running in the BS Showdown Classic. He did exactly that last year, coming off a 3rd place finish in the BB, he won this race with a huge speed figure, 120. His Breeders Bowl run this year, was probably better than last year though. He came from 17 down, and powered home, but ran out of ground, beaten ¾ of a length. Two back, he finished 2nd to the Breeders Bowl Classic winner, Twist Twist, in the G1 Jockey Guild Gold Cup. This horse has won this race the last years, you could say he has done it easily too, and he will be ultra tough again this year.

PP #2 Codex Alimentarius-Tanino Gimlet x Kingmambo x A. P. Indy, 6-1 with D Sherman up (11.4%)
Trainer: Skunkbarn
The “turf” trainer Skunkbarn trains this Tanino Gimlet colt, who is on the improve. Another deep closer, this colt came from 16 lengths back to finish 2nd in the 9 furlong G3 Stubborn Pheasant, beaten only a neck last time out. Three back, at the classic distance of 10 furlongs, he won an open allowance by 2 lengths. Last year, as a 3yo, this colt ran in two Blazing Saddles restricted races, the BS KY Derby and the BS Belmont, where he finished with two nice finishes, a 2nd and a 3rd. He’ll be in the back of the pack early, with Too Many Larry, should be interesting to see if he can kick with the favorite.

PP #3 Jennings-A.P. Indy x Sadler’s Wells x A.P. Indy, 7-1 with P McCarthy up (8.8%)
Trainer: Desperado
Another horse that ran in this race last year, Jennings has run in Breeders Cup marathon preps in his last two. In this race last year, with the same jock up, he did not get the lead, which is not a good thing for his horse, as it would seem he needs the lead to be successful. This year, with Screaming For in the race, it does not look like he will get the lead again. Three back though, he did get the lead and popped a big number at 10.5 furlongs in a listed stake, hanging on to win by a nose. Probably will be 2nd early, not sure he’s the right one here.

PP #4 Marengo-Empire Maker x A.P. Indy x Alydar, 5-2 with P Cadigan up (14.1%)
Trainer: Galileo
This 5yo son of Empire Maker has also run in this race before, as a 3yo in 2009. He also did not have much success, finishing 6th beaten more than 9 lengths, but that was 2 years ago . Last out in a tough 10 furlong listed, he closed from more than 10 back, and made up some ground late, but finished 4th beaten 6 lengths. Two back, he ran the best race of his career in a player bought G2, the Bob Hope International at 10 furlongs, on a sloppy track, which he very much appreciated. He beat one of the best active horses in the game, Distorted Storm by 2 lengths with a 119 speed. Brings come class into this event, he will be tough, but not sure he’s good enough to win.

PP #5 Urban Sakhee-Sakhee x Fappiano x Buckpasser, 8-1 with B Sipe up (10.1%)
Trainer: Gowans
I claimed this old war horse for $15,000 in February of 2009. This 7yo will make his 75th start of his career in this race! He has not raced in a graded race for more than a year, and has never won a graded race, but has finished in the money in a few grades. He has won back to back 10 furlong allowances by open lengths. His last race convinced me to send him to this spot, as he won by more than 4 lengths with a 107 speed. I thought his racing career was over earlier in the year, but after a rest he has come very well. Not sure he’s good enough to win, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him trying to hold off the late closers in the stretch.

PP #6 Screaming For-Bernardini x Forty Niner x Nijinsky II, 9-2 with S S Ledwith up (11.1%)
Trainer: Mtk76
Another older horse with lots of class, he is also another G1 winner. In last year’s BS Showdown Classic, he broke slow, and was distanced, which basically means he broke down. Last out, in a 10 furlong allowance, he opened up a 10 length lead at the 3rd call, a huge lead that late in the race, and had enough to hang on to win by 2 ¼. Three back, he again opened up a big lead in the G1 Farewell to CryptoZot, but tired late to finish 4th beaten 3 ½ lengths. Should have the lead for at least 6 furlongs, not sure if he could go all the way and hold off the closers, but he definitely could be in the money.

PP #7 Monetti-Monsun x Seattle Slew x Damascus, 7-1 with D Pagel up (7.6%)
Trainer: Redhill
Another former claimer, trainer redhill claimed this 4yo Monsun colt in April of 2010 for only $10,000. He has not raced at a distance of 10 furlongs or less since his 3yo season, last year in December. He has not raced in 9 weeks, when he was 4th in a 12 furlong allowance. He came from 12 back, and made up a few lengths late, to be beaten 6 lengths. Two back, he raced in a G3, the Fall Championship, another 12 furlong race. He kind of ran around the track in place, never making up much ground, finishing 7th beaten almost 11 lengths. He’ll be far back early, and I don’t see him making much of a late run.

Morning Line: 1-4-6-2
Gowans: 1-2-4-5

Good luck to all the trainers in the BS Showdown Classic!! (Even Mtk)