Eruption X Draws 16 2yo’s
As we reach late December, those who’ve been around this great Sim know that Del-Penn National (and other residencies, I think… Please excuse my ignorance, I should know better) is hosting one of the biggest residency events of the year, the DPCD series of mostly residency-restricted stakes races at their network of East Coast racetracks. This year is the tenth installment of this tradition, DPCD X.
This article covers one of the many top races in this series, ERUPTION X, a Grade 2 event held at Maryland’s venerable racing grounds. It’s the final event of the day, a flat-mile race for 2yo’s on the main track. The weatherman has co-operated and the track is fast. 15 colts and 1 enterprising filly will greet the starter and take their shots at grabbing the largest share of the healthy $750k purse.
Before we run down the field, let’s start up the ol’ Wayback Machine and remind ourselves of the namesake of this race, ERUPTION. This Miswaki colt burst upon the Sim scene back in 2002 and immediately began to dominate his races. During his memorable freshman campaign, afc‘s fine colt picked off 5 wins in six tries with his only failure being a 4th-place finish in the Breeders Bowl Juvy. He won the Grade 1 Movieland Futurity and another Grade 1 while putting up insane speed numbers, added a pair of smaller stakes wins, and was honored by the Sim Eclipse voters as the top 2yo colt of 2002.
After his ridiculously great 2yo season, ERUPTION’s consistency slipped a little; however, when he felt like it, this guy could run a hole in the wind! He ended up with 10 total wins, 7 Graded wins, and a healthy $2.6 million bankroll in 31 starts. Nice li’l horse there!
Anyway, here’s the 2011 Eruption X field:
QUANTUM MECHANIC goes off at 18/1 for slipknot22 (Tequila Mockingbird Stables). While the Bernardini colt has run well in all his tries, he couldn’t break through to the winner’s circle until his 3rd start. It was his first 2-turn try, so he took a shot at a small stakes on a Good track at Mexico. Another near-miss, but his speed number improved yet again to 87, an encouraging sign. However, he’ll need to improve yet again to have a shot in this solid group. Has an outside shot for at least a small chunk of the purse.
DETECTION SERVICE is a 9/1 chance, running for lasthope (Dixiedotco Racing). He has much experience chasing the top runners in the game, closing well but only getting minor prizes in his three Graded route races. Tapit colt needs to find more, but he’s got one of the best trainers in the game to help. Maybe the little bit of rest will be the trick…
ROBOCOP is light on experience, and is 1-for-2 in terms of good efforts. He goes off at 41/1 here, likely a reflection of his awful debut in which he nipped the water truck in a photo while putting up an 11 speed figure. Obviously, the corza6 (Corza Stables) trainee was not himself that day. Just six weeks later, the Big Brown colt was in a better frame of mind and ripped off a nice 87 speed while dominating a MSW field at today’s distance. Will need more here, but is a potentially “live” longshot.
From the barn of graywolf6 (Wolf’s Den) comes 15/1 shot ONE FOR THE MUN, a Munnings colt who just got done breaking his maiden at Japan three weeks ago with a nice 88 while going 8.5 furlongs. This guy is just starting to figure things out, could pull a surprise.
ESKIDORO is next, a consistent Eskendereya colt who has hit the board in all six of his career starts and was 2nd in a Grade 2 last time out at this distance. The 93 speed figure is very competitive, and the italst10 (East Coast Reins) trainee looks dangerous at a nice 11/1 price. Should be right in the thick of things at the wire…
TOO MANY QUESTIONS is ranked #3 in the division after getting three graded-stakes wins in a row, but things fell apart in the BB Juvy last time out. Trainer seekgold (Flagdown Racing) gave the Discreetly Mine colt a couple extra weeks off for this run; will he spring back? He’s 9/1 and is high-earner in the field. Has a 25% rider on board.
ZILDJIAN STAR, a Northern Meteor filly, has been the cymbal of excellence
DIAMOND ARCHER also goes off at 17/1, for the independent trainer jimallie. The Arch colt ran a bangup 2nd last time out in a small stakes on a good track, his 4th runnerup finish in five starts. On the improve; not without a shot at scoring a little cash.
Get outta my chair, Edit! ARCH E BUNKER is an Arch colt trained by cmd (Cmd Stables) who has run well in most of his starts, but has just a MSW win to his credit. His last start, a 9-furlong graded-stakes effort, may have been “better-than-looked”; he improved his speed rating while going further against tough company. Can he use that experience here? Anyone’s guess at 14/1…
METAL FLUTE goes off at 9/1 for pureclass2 (Murray2 Stables), and is a First Samurai colt with a future. After picking off a quick pair of wins, he was sent right out into stakes company, where he has been close every time. Should contend here, too.
GREATDAYFORAMERICA goes off at 15/1 and makes his fifth career start for blankpoin1 (Right At Home Stables). The Eskendereya colt has won half of them, and his speed numbers improved significantly when he was raced around 2 turns. He travels for the first time – all of his starts have been at Louisiana. Maybe… Maybe not…
FIRSTONTHESCENE has been first to the wire in his last pair, but tries 2-turning for the first time. Like his stablemate, this Smart Strike colt has run all of his races at one track, this time Upper New York. The blankpoin1 trainee gets 12/1 odds; he has a whole lot to prove in order to get the job done here.
BIESCAS is a Medaglia D’Oro colt who is 2-for-2 at today’s distance, with a minor-stakes win in his last. Trainer donosti (Rafa Stables) has this 13/1 shot in top form for this, and this guy could do some damage.
DOCTOR SAX is the 5/1 favorite after his strong effort last time out earned him the only triple-digit speed figure in this field. Trainer super4 (Super Stables) has a good one here; the Giant’s Causeway colt has 2 wins and 4 2nd’s in 6 starts on the dirt. Even this colt’s lone turf try was pretty solid. Should be very tough to beat; will appreciate the slightly shorter distance, too.
MAJOR ALEX won 4 of his 5 sprint tries by racing with the leaders early, then was tried around 2 turns, where the Daiwa Major colt dropped to midpack then unleashed a powerful stretch run to take home a Grade 3 title. The versatile jetchamp (Jet Stables) trainee is the 6/1 second choice in the betting, and looks very strong.
GRAYINGTON has been to a lot of battles, five consecutive 2-turn graded-stakes races. Unfortunately, he has been on the wrong end of most of these, and may be showing a bit of wear at this point. Trainer grayfwolf3 (Wolf’s Den) must think otherwise, or his colt wouldn’t be here. Goes off at 11/1; your guess is as good as mine…
Time to try to handicap this thing…
My first thought: Lots of early speed in here… Hard to think any of them can hold up after the battle that should ensue up front… With that in mind, I’ll go with deep-closer TOO MANY QUESTIONS to make amends for his BB Juvy failure and run ’em down late.
DOCTOR SAX looks to be in a good spot to settle just off ’em, then pounce … MAJOR ALEX could do the same, and there’ll be a photo between these two for the place dough.
Good luck at the races!