Scrub Dem Toilets! Anonymously!

It’s late January, and that means it’s time for one of the most curiously-named graded-stakes races in the Sim… It’s the Toilet Scrubbers Anonymous Handicap!

Right after I took the assignment to cover this race for the BTB, I happened to notice that there was a LOT of people in the chatroom… I’m not much of a chatroom guy, but I figured if I went in there and asked around, I’d get some help on the history of this race… Well, I got a little, just enough to go looking into the articles on previous runnings of this race. Here’s the scoop per Roys from the coverage of the 2006 edition of the race:

“For those of you that do not know Dave Koury, he is quite a character. A bar owner in this fine state [Michigan] he joined the Sim early on and was soon known only as TS (Toilet Scrubber), because he claimed that was mostly what he did. I don’t think this ex-submariner had many customers in the bar because he was always in the chat and always had everyone in hysterics with his self deprecating ways. He wrote for the old SRF, was involved in a notorious race-fixing scandal, picked up cans along the highways in order to bet the ponies, and for spouting his favorite saying – “Loose lips sink ships”. Unfortunately it was a saying he could never keep and his language was navy colorful…”

Well, that gives you the idea, pretty much… Now, TS’s namesake race… This 9.5-furlong main-track race for older runners has quite a racing history to go along with the name. The 2004 race was won by the Sim’s only Triple Crown winner, I Seek U. The great Ermington Pegasus won in both 2007 and 2008. The recently-retired Jeepster (likely now headed to the Sim HOF when he become eligible) tried in both 2010 and 2011 to add this trophy to his case, finshing 4th both times. For a race with such a humble name, it sure has one heck of a history… Now, let’s have a look at the 2012 edition:

Thirteen solid colts and horses and one legendary mare will greet the starter in what looks to be yet another exciting renewal of the Toilet Scrubber, the 14th race of this Saturday’s card. By my count, they have grabbed top honors in a total of 21 graded stakes races. Let’s have a look-see…

PRUSSIAN goes off a slight favorite at 5/1 for trainer kjracing despite finishing off-the-board last time out. Ranked #53 in the division, he has three graded-stakes wins to his credit and has been “right there” in quite a few more. The Hussonet runner looks to improve on his 5th-place finish in this race last year. Ran 2nd in the Middle Jewel a couple years ago, behind YOU SEE LA‘s win. Looks a strong contender here.

BLUE MOON FEVER has taken very few missteps in his career thus far but he tries much tougher here, reflected in his 20/1 odds. Trainer icbomber11 has guided this 4yo Smart Strike colt with much aplomb, and he is on the improve. He’s in tough, but could score some cash with his best effort.

SYMBOLIC GESTURE is rated at 7/1 after a very impressive Grade 3 win at NY last time out in which he earned a fancy 112 speed rating, seven weeks ago at this distance. The aliskunk-trained 6yo Symboli Kris runner looks to be getting better with age, and is certainly dangerous here.

CONFIDENTLY WRONG had a tremendous 2yo season, just missing in both the Grade 1 Breeders Bowl Juvy and the Grade 1 Movieland Futurity after four wins including a Grade 3. When he won another Grade 3 in March, trainer torrential set his sights on the Triple Crown classics, but his Encosta De Lago colt fell short of the mark. Lately, however, the colt has regained form and pulled off two impressive wins. Gets 15/1 odds here, and it’s anyone’s guess as to how this guy’s going to do here.

The interestingly-named FLAWED PERFECTION goes off at 19/1, and is another who can be put in that “up-and-comer” category. A 4yo son of Distorted Humor, this one has been carefully brought along by trainer jbrody and is just now developing into a star. After two consecutive allowance wins, he charged home to just miss in the slop in a Grade 3 at New Jersey last time out. Today’s extra sixteenth could be all this one needs to pull the surprise here.

FLAT OUT EVIL is a 5yo son of Awesome Again who didn’t even run until late in his 3yo year, but is on the improve for trainer fairhaven1. He goes off at 17/1 in his graded-stakes debut and will need to run his career best to earn cash in this spot.

MIRA BOONTA is a deep-closer type shortening slightly in distance for this run. A 5yo son of Distorted Humor trained by vertigo, he goes off at 9/1 and should be finishing strong. Has a ton of ability, but the question is whether he can start his run soon enough.

URBAN SAKHEE is the “old man” of this field, a 9yo son of Sakhee with 20 wins in 75 career starts who just keeps right on popping triple-digit speed figures well past the time most runners are retired. He’ll need to have his best day ever to cash in this much tougher spot, though. The lidman1 trainee goes off here at 13/1.

YOU SEE LA is a 5yo mare who did a rare thing indeed, finishing in the money against the boys in all three Triple Crown races with a Middle Jewel win in 2010 on the way to a divisional Eclipse win. Trainer pinerivers did a fine job keeping his Special Week runner going strong well into her 4yo season, but her form dropped badly in mid-year before she bounced back to grab 2nd in the Breeders Bowl Distaff. Unfortunately, she threw another clunker last time out. Can she come back again? The CPU doesn’t think so, placing her at 16/1, but I wouldn’t be so quick about throwing this one out.

REDWYNE STRAIT has proven himself quite competitive in graded-stakes and loves today’s distance. A 5yo son of El Prado, he won easily in an allowance last time out, a win which trainer salamander hopes will set him up for a big run here at 8/1.

ATLANTIC BOLT is a 6yo who makes his 21st consecutive graded-stakes try here, and the 27th in his career. He’s only won three of these, but the 6yo son of Stormy Atlantic usually contends well, but his last few may be an indicator that he’s in need of a break. Trainer bigarnie says, “You can’t win ’em unless you RUN in ’em!”. Goes off at 11/1 here, and he’ll need to bounce back from that last try to have a shot in this bunch.

PERFECTIONISM is a 5yo son of Henny Hughes who comes in at the top of his game, having won three of his last five. This includes a graded-stakes win for trainer blazingsad. Needs to bump up his speed ratings a bit to have a good shot here, so the 7/1 odds might be a bit low.

PRENZLAUERBERG had a spectacular last-half of his 3yo season last year after developing a bit late to make it into the Triple Crown races. However, he was unable to hit the board in his two tries at the end of the year vs. older. Trainer paterson gave him a couple weeks’ extra rest for this one, and he gets an extremely hot rider for this trip. 7/1 shot has a real chance here.

GO GENTLE rounds out the field at 9/1 for saver. Like many in here, this 6yo son of Dylan Thomas seems a bit schizophrenic. Add in that his speed ratings have been a bit low compared to the top contenders, and that he likes the lead, but will have trouble beating PRENZLAUERBERG to the front… Things look tough for this guy.

Now, to try and handicap this deal…

There doesn’t seem to be a ton of front-runners here, so I think that PRENZLAUERBERG should be able get to the lead with a minimum of effort, then cruise home in front.

I’m going to guess that the “back-class” of YOU SEE LA proves a factor, and gets her up in the 2nd spot.

REDWYNE STRAIT has proven ability and grabs the show dough.

Don’t forget to watch this one! Good luck to all!