{"id":2746,"date":"2006-07-21T18:27:16","date_gmt":"2006-07-21T18:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=2746"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","slug":"oldbtb_1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=2746","title":{"rendered":"Digging The Grave leads best of turf sprinter division in Smackdown II(G1)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kentucky<\/STRONG>–\u00a0\u00a0 Oh, most wicked speed!\u00a0\u00a0 Glorious speed<\/EM> to post in a most splendid match-up!\u00a0 F<\/STRONG><\/FONT>our of the five 2006 Grade 1 winners<\/STRONG> in the Older Male Turf Sprint Division gather for the Grade 1 $500,000 Smackdown II<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0This\u00a0mighty 6 furlong race is top-to-bottom totally<\/EM> over the grand top (Ha!)……..<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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First, let’s get our X’s and O’s all lined up beginning with the Fantastic Grade 1<\/EM> Four*:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PP 7:\u00a0 Digging The Grave<\/STRONG>, <\/STRONG>hero of both the Equinics(G1) and Golden Jamboree(G1) [Divisional Ranking: #2]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PP 4:\u00a0 General’s Chariot<\/STRONG>, last year’s Eclipse Sprint Champion, winner of the KY Horsemen Turf Sprint(G1)\u00a0 [Divisional Ranking: #1]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PP 5:\u00a0 <\/FONT>Once Haunted<\/STRONG>, conqueror of the Rising Sun Sprint Cup(G1)\u00a0 [Divisional Ranking: #5]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 PP 12:\u00a0 <\/FONT>Digital Overture<\/STRONG>, gutsy victor of the Sydney Sprint(G1)\u00a0 [Divisional Ranking: #3]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The credential cup spilleth over for these top stars:\u00a0 Digital Overture boasts an additional two Grade 2 scores in 2006, while Digging The Grave presents a Grade 3.\u00a0 Both General’s Chariot and Once Haunted have each placed twice\u00a0in Grade 1 contests.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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*Kiki’s Solid Rock [Divisional Ranking: #4], winner of the General Pals Sprint Show(G1) is absent from the field.<\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV>
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Next, the exciting Graded<\/EM> horses who have placed versus this group recently.\u00a0 The following duo share a budding rivalry:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>PP 10:\u00a0 Night’s Desire<\/STRONG>, winner of Mr Anderson Special(G3) & 3rd in Rising Sun Sprint Cup(G1);\u00a0\u00a0threw gorgeous SP# in listed company victory LTO\u00a0\u00a0 [Divisional Ranking: #10]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>PP 8:\u00a0 Best Rock Yet(IRE)<\/STRONG>, champ of the duplicate Simon And Simon(G3) races at Italy and California;\u00a0 unplaced in Rising Sun Sprint Cup, but regained momentum with a tough 4th in Golden Jamboree(G1)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Listed stakes specialists:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/STRONG>PP 1:\u00a0 My Miracle<\/STRONG>, speedster zipped through Puerto Rico LTO and was Grade 3-placed prior to that effort<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PP 6:\u00a0 Offstage(GB)<\/STRONG>, big-time closer a brave 2nd in the Sydney Sprint\u00a0\u00a0 [Divisional Ranking: #19]<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PP 9:\u00a0 <\/FONT>Sittin In A Tree G<\/STRONG>, another speedster who ripped a\u00a0huge SP# several starts ago<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PP 13:\u00a0 Q Tip XP(IRE)<\/STRONG>, brazen 107 SP# score two starts back<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Milers shortening up:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PP 2:\u00a0 <\/FONT>Slew Can<\/STRONG>, recent hero of the Dr. Reuben Garr Memorial(G1);\u00a0 millionaire boasts a 3-for-4 lifetime turf sprint record<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PP 11:\u00a0 <\/FONT>Echoes<\/STRONG>, Sydney Mile(G1) runner-up enticingly tries shorter trip for just 2nd time in career\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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And, finally, the Sophomores:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PP 3:\u00a0 <\/FONT>Woette’s Power<\/STRONG>, 4th-ranked\u00a03yo colt grass sprinter and runner-up in After Shave Sprint(G2)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0PP 14:\u00a0 <\/FONT>Japans Last Hope(JPN)<\/STRONG>, winner of the Alec And Stephen(G3) versus age group earlier this season;\u00a0\u00a06th in After Shave Sprint(G2)\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Instead of getting all ga-ga about sires, odds, jockeys, and stuff (LOL!\u00a0 Hey, it’s a vacation article!), let’s skip all of that and cut right too some nitty gritty analysis:<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Point # 1:\u00a0\u00a0 Speedster rivals duke it out:\u00a0 Digging The Grave vs. Digital Overture.<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>Sdmf’s Digging The Grave of course is the group’s classiest speedster.\u00a0\u00a0 He made mockeries of the Equinics and Golden Jamboree — after the first furlong, it was all over in those races — nobody was gonna catch him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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But he’s not without rivals this time around!\u00a0 Spelunker’s Digital Overture brings mucho gate-break to the table — he played second-fiddle to the Gravedigger late last season in the Japan Sprint(G1), but both horses were just rounding into their\u00a0Grade 1 top-of-the-division form.\u00a0\u00a0The pair’s Equinics had promised to be a rematch.\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, Digital Overture suffered apparent injury in the Equinics and finished last in the field.\u00a0 He was out for quite a spell until the Sydney Sprint(G1).\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The Aussie race then became the new rematch, but this time, the Gravedigger wasn’t 100%.\u00a0 DTG was only on one weeks rest after a vigorous schedule that included a 4th to General’s Chariot in the KY Horsemen(G1).\u00a0 Both Digital Overture and DTG broke\u00a0nose-to-nose in the Sydney Sprint, but the latter weakened in the stretch of the 5.5f event.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Of course ‘Overture won the race and has since vied versus graded company, losing a Grade 3 and winning the Grade 2 King’s Fall.\u00a0 Spelunker keeps him sharp as a 5 furlong-ish specialist.\u00a0 I’m not really sure about the reasoning — maybe it’s to save some horse for later in the year or perhaps spelunker thinks ‘Overture’s just better a furlong less.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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So, here we are in July, and the pair both have 5 weeks rest, great jockeys,\u00a0and appear 100%.\u00a0\u00a0 What a match!\u00a0\u00a0DTG\u00a0breaks to the inside, so ‘Overture has to\u00a0run hard for position early.\u00a0 Wow!<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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# 2:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 More speed to join them!<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For sure l<\/FONT>isted winners My Miracle and Sittin In A Tree G add to the top guns’ pace fray.\u00a0 <\/FONT>Unostables’ My Miracle is fresh off a wire-to-wire score.\u00a0 The 5YO also has the class, finishing well ahead of Digital Overture in the Full Speed Ahead(G3), missing the win by just 3\/4 length.\u00a0 On paper, medusa’s Sittin In A Tree G though\u00a0brings better-looking SP#s to the fray — he won four back with a 107, and just missed by a head with a 105 LTO.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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The sophomore Woette’s Power also likes to cruise up front, but his SP#s are nowhere near the older horses.\u00a0 At best, he might be a mild factor.\u00a0 You never know though — possible he might bounce back after soundly beaten in\u00a0Digital’s Overture’s King’s Fall(G2).\u00a0Might be more wishful thinking than realistic analysis.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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# 3:\u00a0\u00a0 And those stalkers…..!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>Jef’s Once Haunted went on a carousel ride in the Rising Sun Sprint Cup, going gate-to-wire so easily, beating Night’s Desire, General’s Chariot, Offstage, and Best Rock Yet(IRE).\u00a0 He’s since been idle for a 10 week breather a la<\/EM>\u00a0Horseshoe Bay (and we all know how the 2005 Horse Of The Year came back from his vacation!\u00a0 Yeah!).\u00a0 Great move by Jef since Once Haunted raced\u00a0hard in a couple extra starts earlier this season.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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But the pacesetting Rising Sun(G1) was a switch in strategy.\u00a0\u00a0 Once Haunted’s normally a stalker, preferably around midpack.\u00a0 I imagine he’ll return to his old style Saturday.\u00a0 Lovely colt who\u00a0makes his 28th career start, all of which have been at the stakes level!\u00a0 Have to do some research\u00a0to see\u00a0if that’s a record, Jef (probably is!).\u00a0 \ud83d\ude09\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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And then we have Keely’s Night’s Desire, wonderfully blossoming into primetime.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s a 5YO, but only making his 20th call to the post and fabulously too with a gorgeous 108 SP#<\/STRONG> listed stakes win LTO.\u00a0 Just gotta love this guy’s form — he climbed out of the ALW level with two straight listed turf sprint wins and then belted out a Grade 3 victory.\u00a0 Finished 2nd to Best Rock Yet(IRE) in the Simon and Simon(G3) at Italy\u00a0and took a hard-fought 3rd in the Rising Sun(G1).\u00a0 This is textbook stuff, building SP#s and, most of all, consistency.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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This is how you race a top-notch horse — will Saturday be his coming-out party?\u00a0 It’s possible that this guy might even knock the pacesetters off their feet, racing up razor close to the lead.\u00a0 The only things I don’t like about him are:\u00a0\u00a0a)\u00a0 he might bounce after such a SP#;\u00a0\u00a0but he’s got an extra week’s rest (6 weeks) — doubtful he hasn’t recovered since his last, and b)\u00a0 if he gets tangled in the anticipated speed duel, but like I said, he just might bowl them all over and be strongest down the lane.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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# 4:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Closers in the best scenario.<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0If a strong speed duel develops, then there’s as a good a chance as any for an upset from a come-from-behinder.\u00a0 I’d put <\/FONT>General’s Chariot in this group, though he’s more\u00a0of a midpacker or so.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0My colt just\u00a0has to have pace to run at and soften up those frontrunners.\u00a0\u00a0He can still make trouble and is a model of consistency.\u00a0\u00a0 Just needs some help to seize the winner’s circle.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Best Rock Yet(IRE) has to move forward from his recovery trip in the Golden Jamboree.\u00a0 Broohar’s very talented colt gained a lot of ground in that race.\u00a0 Extremely live longshot, but has to prove that he belongs.\u00a0 Certainly has the class though, so look for an even better trip.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Clmstable’s Offstage(GB) got the divisional points in a surprising Sydney Sprint runner-up effort.\u00a0 And he wasn’t beaten that bad in the Rising Sun, just 3 1\/2 lengths back.\u00a0 Toss out mile debacle afterwards — he’s still a threat, though in all honesty, probably not as good as the favorites.\u00a0 \u00a0It would be a surprise if he upset this race.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Xixa’s Q Tip XP(IRE) seems “off and on” winning 2 of last 5.\u00a0 Big 107 SP# similar to Night’s Desire, but this colt isn’t as consistent.\u00a0 Glides in here Saturday in the “on again” phase of his form though.\u00a0 Might be viable for piece of purse but has to prove he belongs at this level.\u00a0\u00a0 IMO, he’s a longshot similar to Offstage(GB).\u00a0 \u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Up and down season for the longest shot on the board Japan’s Last Hope(JPN).\u00a0 Sophomore won a turf grade in January and see-sawed back and forth to routes.\u00a0 Has run in 4 straight turf sprints recently and hasn’t really been much effective versus the best in his age group.\u00a0 Slim-to-none chance he’ll\u00a0be any better versus the best older horses. \u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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# 5:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Miler wildcards.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/STRONG>We’ve got two milers cutting back in distance and Slew Can is a real looker.\u00a0 He’s a 111 SP#<\/STRONG> winner at graded level this season and lots of back class too, winning 3 of 4 lifetime turf sprints.\u00a0 Granted those victories were in listed company and mostly came over 7.5f.\u00a0 But, remember miler Xtremely A Fan last year, winning the Penn Dash on DelPenn Day in his career turf sprint debut!\u00a0 Gsrprize’s royal bred Danzig horse in his 39th career trip — getting up there,\u00a0but a real live shot at 9\/1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Epic enters Echoes, another graded miler.\u00a0 This is his 2nd career turf sprint (he was 4th last season in the Otter Dash(G3) over 4.5f).\u00a0 Quality horse and worth a try at the distance.\u00a0 He seemed OK on it over the dirt eons, but is clearly a better turfer.\u00a0 Another live wildcard —\u00a0<\/FONT>flip a coin with these milers, because it can go either way.\u00a0\u00a0 However, it could be the best wakeup call for them too.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Honestly, it would be a surprise if either of them won the race….. but not as much because they are such classy individuals.\u00a0 <\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Snowchief’s Picks<\/U>:<\/STRONG>\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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There you have it —\u00a0t<\/FONT>hunderous applause all around to the GR Simsters, Pastures of Green and KY Horsemen residencies for they have truly succeeded in putting together a fabulous raceday!!\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I’ll be bold and say that IMO, the speed duel is gonna hurt DTG and Digital Overture as long as other horses join them<\/STRONG>.\u00a0 If those two are out there by themselves or, worse yet, DTG out there by himself…. eeek.\u00a0 It’s all over, they’ll control the race after the opening\u00a0quarter and boom, BOOM!\u00a0\u00a0 Out got the lights.\u00a0 ;^)\u00a0\u00a0 If Night’s Desire doesn’t bounce, then perhaps he’ll be the only one who can run one of those two down (to at least snare 2nd place spot).<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I don’t think Once Haunted will stay as close to the lead as Night’s Desire and much less that he’ll gun for the lead.\u00a0 Possible though because that’s the way he won LTO.\u00a0 If that’s the case<\/STRONG>, then it’ll be really hot up front and thus will set up perfectly for General’s Chariot, Best Rock Yet, Slew Can, Echoes, or some other closer.\u00a0\u00a0If Once Haunted stays back<\/STRONG>, then he’s got a\u00a0shot similar to Night’s Desire.\u00a0 The layoff could do him wonders\u00a0or it could go the other way — I’d play the odds and put my money on the hot SP# horse, Night’s Desire, then.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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So, when the gate opens, keep an eye on who goes with DTG and ‘Overture.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ll see if My Miracle and Sittin In A Tree G can paceset with the big dogs too.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Ha!\u00a0\u00a0No, I’m not gonna select win, place, and show!\u00a0 LOL!\u00a0\u00a0 Ain’t jinxing my horse.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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OK, enough of my blathering.\u00a0 :^)\u00a0\u00a0 Zzzzzzz…… anyone out there?\u00a0 Get the race started already, sheesh.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Good luck to all!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Additional Grade 1 winners General’s Chariot, Once Haunted, Digital Overture challenge in magnificent battle-royale<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":396,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"colormag_page_container_layout":"default_layout","colormag_page_sidebar_layout":"default_layout","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2746","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2746","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\/396"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2746"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2746\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2746"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2746"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2746"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}