Big-money racing is no stranger to Japan’s race course, and this Saturday is no exception, with a trio of huge-money graded stakes races heading the card. One of these is the Japan Sprint, a Grade 3 race with a purse of $750k. Run at 6 furlongs on the turf, the race has attracted three BB Turf Sprint runners looking to make amends for their poor efforts in that race, including top-ranked BATTLE DREAM<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Three quarters of a million… Nice little “consolation prize”, huh?<\/p>\n
In addition to the BB Turf runners, nine others are here after that big money. Should be a good one; let’s have a look at this bunch.<\/p>\n
SHEIK DJIBOUTI<\/b> traveled halfway around the world last time out to try the best in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Sprint last time out after a pair of Grade 1 wins, but flopped pretty badly. So what does goofball owner rackme32<\/i> do? He sends his 4th-ranked turf sprinter across the Pacific to do battle with top sprinters again! Going off as the 5\/1 2nd choice in the betting, the Rock Of Gibraltar runner needs to prove whether that BB Turf failure was a fluke or not.<\/p>\n
GENERAL’S SON<\/b> is a 4yo Danehill Dancer colt from “she-mare” General’s Chariot, winner of over $5 million in the Sim racing wars. He’s won a Grade 3 and almost $700k himself, and looks for the big payday here for proudtruth<\/i> at 8\/1. His closing rush will need to be reckoned with if he can fire his best shot.<\/p>\n
MINED<\/b> was seen in a $30k claimer back in April, but not claimed from digginin<\/i>. Good thing for him… His 3yo Came Home colt has won 4 of 6 since, including a small stakes win in his most recent effort. Now he takes on the big boys, and will have to run the race of his life to beat those 22\/1 odds.<\/p>\n
TOPSTOP<\/b> is an interesting one… The Husson colt has only raced in a sprint once, and that was in 2010. He did run 2nd that day, and it was a Grade 2. Since then, the arthurs<\/i> trainee has been fed a solid 2-turn diet, mostly graded stakes and often with good results. Who knows? He may get outrun by a furlong or he might win at friendly 10\/1 odds…<\/p>\n
MY REDEMPTION<\/b> is a semi-veteran of the claim-race wars, being run for a tag twice last year and claimed both times. Since the last claim (by doombie<\/i>) the Dylan Thomas runner has been a solid allowance runner, winning several times at that level. He has tried stakes races, being somewhat competitive in minor stakes but falling well short in a couple of graded-stakes efforts. He goes off at 13\/1 here and will need a superlative effort to have a shot vs. these.<\/p>\n
BATTLE DREAM<\/b> needs little introduction to Sim fans, but just in case… This 4yo Dansili colt is currently ranked #1 in the Turf Sprint division and possesses a closing rush that is hard to deny. Trained by tigereyes<\/i>, he seems to prefer 7 furlongs but he has shown a few strong runs at this distance in the past, including a strong 2nd in this race last year. Hopes to make amends for his 5th-place run as the favorite in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Sprint last time out and tries to go over the $4-million mark. He’s the favorite again, at 7\/2.<\/p>\n
ATOMIC STORM<\/b> has been right in the hunt in almost every race he’s tried since he was brought back to sprinting by trainer monologue<\/i>. A 4yo son of Teofilo out of a stakes-winning Storm Cat sim-mare, this guy could very well win here at 10\/1 if he can repeat the effort he did in winning the Grade 3 Orange Tree Stakes in July.<\/p>\n
PIONEER PARK<\/b> makes the trip across the pond from a poor outing in the Breeder’s Bowl Turf Sprint and tries to return to the form that got him a pair of Graded wins in his two previous runs for socalman<\/i>. His just-off-the-leaders running style might work well for him at 8\/1.<\/p>\n
STOCK MARKET<\/b> came up huge when he won the Grade 3 Mr. Salinger Stakes last time out, and ashado<\/i> hopes he can cash in big again with his After Market 5-year-old. This guy is a bit inconsistent, but gets some respect from the CPU with 8\/1 odds. Watch out for a huge run down the lane if this guy decides to fire.<\/p>\n
INVINCIBLEKINDNESS<\/b> is a 5yo son of Invincible Spirit trained by hkrclebow<\/i>. He has a strong allowance run over this course a couple starts back, but has rarely been competitive with graded-stakes company and the 15\/1 longshot will need to have a great day to deal with these.<\/p>\n
S R GIANTS<\/b> has one graded-stakes win on his record, but his four starts since that win have left a bit to be desired. A 4yo son of little-used Irish sire Key Of Luck trained by lordpye3<\/i>, he’ll need a turnaround to contend with this bunch at 13\/1; his last pair of allowance tries were encouraging, however.<\/p>\n
QUITE A CHUCKLE<\/b> has had a lot of close misses with strong speed figures lately, and needs to find that extra oomph needed to pull off wins at this level. The Bernardini colt, trained by ck2stable<\/i>, is versatile in running style and has a good shot at this if things fall his way. He’s the 7\/1 third choice in the wagering.<\/p>\n
Well, well, well… After carefully looking at the PP’s, consulting my shrink, having my palm read, I have decided that the race is most likely to fall this way… I think, maybe, kinda…<\/p>\n
SHEIK DJIBOUTI<\/b> seems primed to make amends for his BB Turf failure and is my top choice… Of course, he’s also the star of my own stables… Take this pick with a grain of salt.<\/p>\n
Top-ranked BATTLE DREAM<\/b> is capable of starting his rush a bit earlier, and could very well catch my top choice.<\/p>\n
PIONEER PARK<\/b> should be close to the pace early on, and should be able to get part of the big money.<\/p>\n
Good luck to everyone entered!<\/p>\n
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