{"id":25569,"date":"2014-10-07T21:44:35","date_gmt":"2014-10-08T02:44:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=25569"},"modified":"2014-10-07T21:44:35","modified_gmt":"2014-10-08T02:44:35","slug":"bustin-chops-dominates-in-ark-sets-up-rematch-with-asterism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=25569","title":{"rendered":"Bustin Chops Dominates In Ark, Sets Up Rematch With Asterism"},"content":{"rendered":"

REVIEW: \u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

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ARK DE COMICDOG<\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Groupe 1 \/ Grade 1<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Paris (FR)<\/p>\n

Purse: \u00a0 $4,000,000<\/p>\n

Distance: \u00a0 \u00a0~2,400 metres, or 12 furlongs, or 1 and 1\/2 miles.<\/p>\n

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The early fractions on the front end of the 2014 Group 1 Ark de ComicDog weren\u2019t particularly fast, and usually that would have spelled trouble for the heavily favored deep closer Bustin Chops in Paris on Monday.<\/p>\n

But the four year old son of Malibu Moon managed to do, somehow, what he has done quite a bit in his career thus far, and that would be winning races no matter what else is going on around him.<\/p>\n

In this particular $4,000,000 race, the 12-furlong Ark, the focused Bustin Chops lived up to the betting public\u2019s expectations and collared 24\/1 long shot K\u2019s Fallibilism about 100 metres out from the finish to score a thrilling one-length victory on Monday.<\/p>\n

In one of the biggest–and richest–races on the world\u2019s fall turf racing calendar, the 2,400-metre Ark, Bustin Chops had his owner, Mike of Pointblank Racing, in shock.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimply put, over the moon, no pun intended,\u201d said Mike, when he was asked after the race how he felt about winning the big $4,000,000 headliner on the huge Paris graded stakes card Monday.<\/p>\n

Mike was just about the only one in shock, after the betting public sent his colt off as the 7\/2 favorite to capture his fifth group 1 victory, when he won the 2014 Ark.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t really sure what to expect,\u201d said Mike. \u201cHe\u2019s done his best at ten furlongs, but there were two reasons to give the Ark another try. \u00a0One, he ran really well in this race last year. \u00a0Two, to run a race away from Asterism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Asterism, who also won his fifth group 1 win when he defended his title successfully in the $1.5 million Osmonds Memorial at 10 furlongs in New Zealand on Saturday, is quite a beast himself, as he scored his fifth group 1 win when he shipped down under this weekend.<\/p>\n

And, according to Mike, it looks like Bustin Chops and Asterism, who have met twice with each scoring a win over the other, might be meeting again very soon in a race that some are saying will probably have Horse Of The Year implications written all over it.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the Breeders\u2019 Bowl would be too quick of a turnaround, but then again, you never know,\u201d said Mike, when asked where Bustin Chops would run next. \u00a0\u201cI\u2019m also looking at the Group 1 Fall Tent Show. \u00a0I noticed Asterism is pre-entered and would love another shot at him after this confidence booster. \u00a0One thing is for sure. \u00a0Bustin Chops will end his year defending his win in the (2013) King Kong Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, it looks like Mike and Bustin Chops aren\u2019t so hesitant, after all, to meet Asterism, owned by Tony of AFC Racing.<\/p>\n

The two turf titans finished 1-2 in the Grade 1 Windy City Turf Classic in America in August, with Asterism coming out on top there. And, the pair also finished 1-2 in the Group 1 King Kong Cup in Hong Kong last season, where Bustin Chops asserted his dominance.<\/p>\n

Wherever–and whenever–these two horses meet, it\u2019ll be a big deal. That much is certain.<\/p>\n

In Saturday\u2019s Ark, Bustin Chops tracked near the back of the pack early, as he is prone to do, having beaten only two horses, Ah Tabai Teo and Weekend Romance, early.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Overindulgence and Haven Of Vice were dueling on the front end. \u00a0That pair wasn’t setting the world on fire with their front end fractions (:47.47, 1:11.80, 1:36.29), and for a while it looked like either of those two might have enough left at the end of Monday\u2019s Ark to break up Bustin Chops’ party in the winner\u2019s circle.<\/p>\n

But Bustin Chops proved he was more than up to the task at hand on Monday in Paris. \u00a0About 1400 metres, or seven furlongs, into the race, Bustin Chops began to make his big move, swerving in and out from the rail and picking off horses.<\/p>\n

By the time he headed into the far turn he was laying in about seventh place, and that\u2019s when he made his winning move. \u00a0It was an impressive move that would see him pick off everyone but the leader, K\u2019s Fallibilism, who looked like he was going to be a run-away long shot winner of one of the world\u2019s biggest turf races after that one tracked Overindulgence and Haven Of Vice early.<\/p>\n

But 100 metres out, Bustin Chops was just digging down and getting ready to dash the Ark dreams of K\u2019s Fallibilism and his owner, Ledwith. \u00a0He moved even with Led\u2019s horse before drawing off for the one-length score. \u00a0K\u2019s Fallibilism put up a pretty valiant effort to stave off the late charge of Bustin Chops, but the late push of the winning son of Malibu Moon was just too much to withstand.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust for a moment, I thought my horse was going to win my favorite race of\u2026\u201d said Ledwith, ever gracious in defeat, as his thoughts trailed off \u00a0while dreaming what might have been. \u201cWhat a cruel moment. \u00a0And, of course, congratulations to the connections of Bustin Chops.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was a pretty huge race for both the first and second place finishers in the 2014 Ark de ComicDog. \u00a0With his effort, Bustin Chops avenged his second place finish in last year\u2019s Ark. And, it was a huge effort, as well, from K\u2019s Fallibillism, the four year old son of Dubawi who was running in only his third group 1 race of his career.<\/p>\n

The three year old Pleasant Walk, a 15\/1 long shot owned by Super 1 Racing Stables, was also near the back of the pack early, just ahead of Bustin Chops most of the way. \u00a0That one ran a big race, as well, to finish third, 3 \u00bd lengths behind Bustin Chops.<\/p>\n

One of Pleasant Walk\u2019s three owners, J.C. of Super1 Stables, was one of many to congratulate Mike in the forum on Bustin Chops\u2019 big Ark score, and he put Bustin Chops’ Ark win in perspective.<\/p>\n

\u201cCongratz on your Ark win,\u201c said J.C. \u201cEnjoy the moment. \u00a0It\u2019s the race the rest of the world wants to win. \u00a0For just a moment, I thought Pleasant Walk had a chance, but it wasn\u2018t meant to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was without a doubt the biggest victory of Bustin Chops\u2019 five group 1 wins thus far. \u00a0And, his share of the monster $4,000,000 Ark purse boosted his winnings to just under $10 million, at $9,925,720.<\/p>\n

The Elements ran a very game fourth, while the longest shot of the race, Rio Rainbow (31\/1) ran on late to pick up the fifth place check.<\/p>\n

After the top five, it was Ah Tabai Teo, K\u2019s Fiscal Cliffs, Haven Of Vice, Tete Albert, Overindulgence, Weekend Romance, Asador Etxebarri and Henze rounding out the 13-horse Ark field.<\/p>\n

Bustin Chop ran the 12 furlongs in a time of 2:29.70, with a 108 speed figure–only his second sub-110 speed figure in his last nine starts. It wasn\u2019t a particularly flashy winning time for the 2,400-metre Ark.<\/p>\n

But a win is a win is a win, particularly when it\u2018s a $4,000,000 win.<\/p>\n

\u201cBustin Chops is a special horse, by far the best I\u2018ve ever had\u201d said Mike, whose Pointblank Racing operation also had Weekend Romance in Monday\u2019s Ark.<\/p>\n

Mike said it all started for Bustin Chops in his 8.5-furlong Sand Castle Duty Free win, which kicked off the big 2014 campaign earlier this season in Dubai. \u00a0Mike said it was a win that really caught him by surprise.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tried to get him into the Turf Classic but didn\u2019t have enough points to make the field. \u00a0As a result, I entered (the Sand Castle Duty Free) at a much shorter distance. \u00a0I would have been thrilled to hit a top three finish there, but when he won I was totally shocked. \u00a0As with anything else, enjoy the ride as long as you can, because you never know when it\u2019s going to end.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Ark win means Bustin Chops has group 1 wins this year at 8.5 furlongs, 10 furlongs and now 12 furlongs in 2014. \u00a0The Ark was his first group 1 win at 12 furlongs. \u00a0That versatility and ability to win at such a wide range of distances means pretty much any door Mike wants to open for Bustin Chops in the future could be a winning one.<\/p>\n

Tony. of AFC racing, who owns Asterism, the arch-rival of Bustin Chops, noted in the forum, \u201cThat\u2019s some sort of beast you\u2019ve got there. Versatile in distance, always fires big, super consistent and just a money-gobbling machine. \u00a0Congratz on the Ark win.\u201d<\/p>\n

All in all, it was a pretty huge weekend for Pointblank Racing and Mike, who also had two other group 1 winners this weekend and on Monday.<\/p>\n

He congratulated his filly, Noogy Nooch, on her win in the Prix Marcel Boss on Monday in Paris. \u00a0The group 1 win vaulted the stable mate of Bustin Chops firmly into the #1 spot in her turf miler division.<\/p>\n

And, a three year old who Mike says \u201cjust may be one to watch\u201d in the future, Weekend Joy, won his third career start in nine tries, when the 29\/1 long shot son of Tapit beat his elders in the 12-furlong Group 1 Coalminers Cup down under in Victoria. Notably, Weekend Joy ran the same speed figure (108) as Bustin Chops did in his Ark victory.<\/p>\n

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REVIEW: \u00a0\u00a0   ARK DE COMICDOG \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Groupe 1 \/ Grade 1   Paris (FR) Purse:<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":162,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25569","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25569","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/162"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25569"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25569\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25576,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25569\/revisions\/25576"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25569"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25569"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25569"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}