{"id":2814,"date":"2006-08-25T18:38:22","date_gmt":"2006-08-25T18:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=2814"},"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=2814","title":{"rendered":"Virtuoso, New Found Cyclone, Ermington Pegusus in $1-million Travelers(G1) Triple Crown rematch"},"content":{"rendered":"New York<\/STRONG>–\u00a0 <\/FONT>It’s the eighth running of the Sim’s Midsummer Derby:\u00a0\u00a0t<\/FONT>he\u00a0time-honored Grade 1\u00a0$1,000,000 Travelers Stakes<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>With the springtime sophomore classics still fresh in our minds, the Travelers is one of those rare races that stands out prominently in the Sim schedule.\u00a0 *Two letters less* and you have the Sim’s equivalent of the Saratoga classic (Ha!).\u00a0 Additionally, it is a “Golden Hour” race:<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>The Travelers “Golden Hour”<\/FONT> <\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>- Triple Crown winners begin to either make or break their “Sim legend”<\/STRONG> based on their Travelers performance.\u00a0 The individual Derby, Middle Jewel, and New Yorker\u00a0winners either affirm their prior victories as being no flukes …..\u00a0or they begin a right-or-wrong slide from the Sim’s favor — a kind of community stigmatization if they finish up the track.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/FONT><\/LI><\/UL>
In other words, tough love since all sophomore classic winners are inevitably compared to past winners and past greats in the game.\u00a0 You can only go so far when comparing Derby-to-Derby.\u00a0 \u00a0You have to dig deeper for clues\u00a0revealed in their entire careers.\u00a0 And since we’re all looking for the next Sim superstar and we all adore our 3YO heroes, the Travelers is an expected “make or break” chapter to\u00a0traditional sophomore dirt colt stories.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>- We can go further and say that the Travelers’ 11\u00a0week-gap after the Triple Crown’s conclusion\u00a0gives plenty of time for the 3YO stars to garner a “needs a race” prep or two<\/STRONG>.\u00a0\u00a0You can allow for example the Derby winner a loss or easy-n-lite win here or there if they took an extended\u00a0post-New Yorker layoff.\u00a0\u00a0 All of that is prelude to the big Travelers show anyway.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/FONT><\/LI><\/UL>
And\u00a0<\/FONT>there are plenty of prep races such as\u00a0the Princess Cup, Swamps, It’s My Birthday, Moutainous & Buckeye Derbies<\/EM>, and of course the Haskell<\/EM>.\u00a0 Almost too many — rarely will the top colts\u00a0gather head-to-head, with\u00a04, 5,\u00a0or 6 top contenders-deep in a post-New Yorker prep race.\u00a0\u00a0 The best and major divisional headliners are just spread thin all over the\u00a0Sim.\u00a0 The Travelers in theory brings them together.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>- Finally all of this presents a golden opportunity for\u00a0the hard-luck late-blooming colts<\/STRONG> (who\u00a0didn’t have enough\u00a0points to draw into the T.C.).\u00a0\u00a0 With a win here, they can “catch up” to the earlybird springtime stars in the race for Breeders Bowl Classic points and Sim Eclipse Award Champion 3YO Colt honors.\u00a0 They can break on through to\u00a0Sim celebrity!<\/FONT><\/LI><\/UL>
What a fabulous show and marquee event (one of a handful!) for the game.\u00a0\u00a0 The Travelers is a “Golden Hour” moment where the springtime heroes begin to make or break their careers and the division’s late-bloomers\u00a0eye a golden\u00a0“catch up” chance for Sim celebrity.\u00a0 Together they seize this opportune moment for one heckuva\u00a0summertime send-off, trumpeting the entire Sim’s way towards\u00a0Breeders Bowl madness and Sim Eclipse Award honors.<\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>This Year’s Field<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>And this year’s “Golden Hour” renewal sure delivers — we got Bluegrass Derby & New Yorker hero Virtuoso <\/STRONG>(the 5th colt to win *two* Triple Crown races and the 1st to win both the Derby & New Yorker).\u00a0\u00a0Middle Jewel champ New Found Cyclone<\/STRONG> who upset Virtuoso’s T.C. hopes returns for another head-to-head rematch.\u00a0\u00a0Both Globogym<\/STRONG> and Divine Inspiration<\/STRONG> upset\u00a0our\u00a0awesome duo since the springtime classics.\u00a0 Fan favorite Peacenik <\/STRONG>and the hard knocking Intergalactic<\/STRONG> are back\u00a0for another round.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And\u00a0Bluegrass <\/FONT>Derby runner-up Ermington Pegusus<\/STRONG> fits that “now horse” bill after his sizzling 109 SP#<\/STRONG> last time out.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>
Let’s take a look at the field……..<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>All Hail The Mighty Rematch:\u00a0\u00a0 Virtuoso vs. Cyclone<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Our two 2006 Triple Crown heroes Virtuoso<\/STRONG> and New Found Cyclone<\/STRONG> return to the scene of their last meeting here\u00a0in the Big Apple:\u00a0 on a sun-splashed early June day,\u00a0Bluegrass Derby champ Virtuoso positively ran away with the New Yorker and its 12 “test of champions” furlongs.\u00a0\u00a0Middle Jewel hero\u00a0New Found Cyclone finished well beaten up the track.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>They’ve since gone different paths, but all the while in preparation for a splendidly dramatic Big Apple return.\u00a0\u00a0 #1-ranked Virtuoso took a six-week breather before heading back to the starting gate in the Clerk Of Scale(G2)<\/EM>.\u00a0 Super7’s Cryptoclearance son walked out of the grid, but picked up his stride late in the 9.5f contest.\u00a0 He closed\u00a0with a fine stretch drive to finish\u00a02nd by a length to Globogym.\u00a0 <\/FONT>Can’t fault this colt’s T.C. return — it was a solid prep race where he made up tons of ground.\u00a0 Sure you’d like to win, but Virtuoso looks in tune for his very best stuff.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Five weeks rest here with top New York jockey Nancy Lawton aboard.\u00a0 The bookies must be smoking something to leave this guy at a\u00a0ridiculous 11\/1.\u00a0 Yow, what a fabulous price!\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>A lot of questions on the other hand for New Found Cyclone (7\/1).\u00a0 Trainer Ydrbargain confidentally raced the Newfoundland\u00a0colt just two weeks back after the New Yorker drubbing (he just didn’t want any part of the 12f).\u00a0 And Cyclone sure reeled ’em in the Princess Cup(G1)<\/EM>, posting a gorgeous 106 SP#<\/STRONG> victory for the 10f,\u00a02\/5 faster than Virtuoso’s Bluegrass Derby.\u00a0\u00a0If the 2 week rockback\u00a0wasn’t vigorous enough, Cyclone then raced 4 weeks later in\u00a0the Swamps(G1)<\/EM> (distant 4th to Divine Inspiration) and 3 weeks later in the Haskell(G1).<\/EM><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>I’ve got mixed feelings on this.\u00a0 On one hand, I don’t like to penalize horses for racing — they’re showing their stuff as opposed to a horse that sits on the sidelines for a spell.\u00a0\u00a0 On the other hand, you gotta space out your star’s races, giving them ample rest\u00a0with wear & tear in mind as well as the big races down the road.\u00a0\u00a0And IMO, the Sim seems to be training their graded stakes stars in the latter direction.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0<\/DIV>
But I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say\u00a0that I don’t agree with Ydrracing here.\u00a0 He raced Cyclone 3 weeks-tough on the T.C. trail and that’s fine….. but I feel this is one too many times to the well after that 2-week Princess Cup score.\u00a0 The Haskell was the slowest 10f grade so far in the 3YO division.\u00a0 While he did pick up a placing and finished closer to the winner, his performance just rubs me the wrong way.\u00a0 To me, that looks like a tired horse and he should’ve skipped Saturday.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Hopefully Cyclone wil prove me wrong.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Virtuoso is spot on and should run his race.\u00a0 Whether or not he’s ready to run down\u00a0a hot Ermington Pegusus or an interesting Divine Inspiration, I don’t know at this point.\u00a0 If I were the supers, I’d be happy with a placing and go forward from there.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Fly, Pegusus, Fly\u00a0<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Pigeon3 had to be totaly esctatic after Ermington Pegusus’ 109 SP#<\/STRONG> thrashing in the It’s My Birthday(G1).<\/EM>\u00a0 Definitive 9f tour-de-force top-to-bottom — this Sky Mesa colt held everyone well safe at the end by 2 1\/2 lengths.\u00a0\u00a0 Delicious and a great vindication for the Equinics(G1) <\/EM>hero.\u00a0 He was pretty darn good in the T.C., finishing a heartbreaking 2nd in the Derby and and strong 3rd in the Middle Jewel.\u00a0 Pegusus sat out the New Yorker in favor of a six-week breather.\u00a0\u00a0 He finished out of the moeny but competitively in the Flat Lad Derby(G2)<\/EM> prior to his Birthday evolution<\/EM>.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Excellent on board for the prohibitive racetime favorite (6\/1).\u00a0 He finally came in the clear last time out.\u00a0 Possible he might bounce after such a large number though.\u00a0 Should be able to sit back behind\u00a0Divine Inspiration’s expected\u00a0pace.\u00a0 Not a lot of speed here, so this race could come down to Pegusus and Inspiration (if he can get the distance) at\u00a0the wire.\u00a0 He’s the “now” horse and\u00a0one to beat.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>A Surprising Inspiration<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Can’t fault win stable for thinking Divine Inspiration<\/STRONG> (8\/1) would be nothing but a sprinter.\u00a0 With a Pulpit x Phone Trick x Storm Cat pedigree, my goodness, what else would he be?\u00a0\u00a0 Ha!\u00a0 After\u00a010 average but good sprint starts (he was a stakes winner), win put Inspiration in the Trial By Night(G2)<\/EM> for his 1st test at a mile.\u00a0 Wow!\u00a0 107 SP#<\/STRONG> score, battling it out grittily on the lead.\u00a0 And this colt postively laughed off the field that included New Found Cyclone in the 9f Swamps(G1)<\/EM> — talk about major daylight as he went wire-to-wire with a 105 SP#.<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0His Swamps<\/EM> final\u00a0time was 3\/5 slower than Ermington Pegusus’ Its My Birthday<\/EM>…. but that’s all Inspiration needed.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>\u00a0<\/DIV>
How good is this colt?\u00a0 Major props to him\u00a0after winning\u00a0his last race, but he’s still a wildcard.\u00a0 Will he take to the 10f or will his female family catch up to him?\u00a0\u00a0A short router or not, this horse is one to watch.\u00a0 Not a good jockey aboard — and he’ll have some mild pace pressure from a couple longshots.\u00a0 Ermington Pegusus should be close too.\u00a0 We’ll see\u00a0if he can spoil the show gate-to-post.\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>How Dare They Diss Pluto<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Here’s my longshot pick.\u00a0 Intergalactic <\/STRONG>(10\/1), relatively green (10th start Saturday), but\u00a0proven at the graded\u00a0level.\u00a0 Broke his maiden in January and\u00a0proceeded directly to the stakes level, winning 3 of 4, including the Fedirico(G2)<\/EM> two weeks before the Derby.\u00a0\u00a0 Of course,\u00a0the Aptitude son didn’t have the points to draw into the big race.\u00a0 He did however squeak into the Middle Jewel and he ran awesome, finishing 2nd to Cyclone.\u00a0 Ran\u00a0bridesmaid to Cyclone in the Princess Cup(G1),<\/EM> cresting the 100 SP# mark for the first time in his young career.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>This colt has a lot of depth — after running the 9.5f and 10f, he cut back just as well to 9f in Divine Inspiration’s Swamps(G1),<\/EM> picking up a lot of ground from midpack to snare the place spot.\u00a0 <\/FONT>\u00a0Excellent jockey aboard, 5 weeks rest — I like this guy to scoot through and outrun Ermington Pegusus (who might throw a lesser effort\u00a0after his monstrous run LTO) to the wire.\u00a0 Holding off Virtuoso’s late kick.\u00a0 Ranked 6th in the division already and he hasn’t even won a Grade 1!\u00a0 I think Saturday’s Intergalactic coming-out party and we’ll all be shoutin’, “Pluto is a PLANET, darnnit!”\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Climbing Gym<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>VSmdinc2’s Pleasantly Perfect late-bloomer Globogym<\/STRONG> (12\/1) made a splash earlier in the season, finishing 3rd to Peacenik in the Wooden Indian(G2)<\/EM>.\u00a0 The tuff guy bagged the Chicago Derby(G2)<\/EM> two starts later over 9f.\u00a0 He’s a big off-pace closer with a running style similar to Virtuoso and he plain outran the Derby hero LTO in the Clerk Of Scales(G2)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 His huge stretch kick left no excuse for his better-known rival — Globogym deserves a second look after upsetting\u00a0Virtuoso.\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>He didn’t fare best over the New Yorker 12f but the 9.5f effort LTO sure stamps him as a possibility for the mighty 10f.\u00a0 Yet to break the 100 SP# barrier, but he blongs with this group.\u00a0 I like this guy a lot too — lightly raced\u00a0with ample rest.\u00a0 A lot of upside.\u00a0 Serious possibilities not only for the prize but also a major share of the purse.\u00a0 Deep field here so he’ll need his very best so far.\u00a0\u00a0Dark horse.<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Peace Fans Rule<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Lots of fans out there who follow\u00a0oaklawn66’s Peace Rules son Peacenik<\/STRONG> (9\/1).\u00a0 The Wooden Indian(G2)<\/EM> winner was one of the faves for the Derby and he didn’t run that bad, finishing 5th by about 5 lengths.\u00a0 He also closed decently for 4th in the Middle Jewel.\u00a0 Afterwards though, oaklawn struggled with a puzzling turf experiment (I don’t see any\u00a0turf in his pedigree — he’s already proven\u00a0graded capable over dirt).\u00a0 \u00a0Also two-week wheelback to a listed dirt stakes.\u00a0 The Smackdown<\/EM> 3rd place effort\u00a0over 10f shows that he’s still capable of top speeds.\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Mysterious Haskell(G1)<\/EM> drubbing kind of throws Peacenik up in the air.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s a good horse, but it’s just quite possible that he’s a miler to 9f type horse.\u00a0 \u00a0Will win more races and it’s always a possibility that he’ll turn his season around here with an unexpected wakeup call.\u00a0 Mixed feeling with him here in this spot.\u00a0 I just like to see horses on upswings.\u00a0 I’d say that odds are against him and hopefully regroup after this race, finding his niche.\u00a0 We’ll see him again down the road.<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Big Mac\u00a0Attack<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Test Big Mac(AUS)<\/STRONG> (11\/1) earned a ticket to the Travelers show after his win LTO in the Colorado Sophomore Classic(G3)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 Good 1-2 SP# time over the 9f.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Vejasjef’s Testa Rossa(AUS) son kind of upsy-daisy throughout this season.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s been graded place over 8.5f and even tried sprinting…. and he’s also thrown some clunker races too.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Jef’s a tough trainer at the NWRC — I agree with spotting Big Mac here — gotta try him at 10f and only one chance at the Travelers.\u00a0 A lot to prove though — this will be the colt’s toughest field ever and he’s got to pass the distance test.\u00a0 Decent jockey aboard helps.\u00a0 Wouldn’t be surprised if he grabs a minor share.\u00a0 Even though he won the Grade 3 LTO, he’s still going to the wolves here.\u00a0\u00a0Outside chance from near pace.<\/FONT>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>World Of Hirt<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Zoomr’s Dixieland Band son Al Hirt<\/STRONG> (9\/1) won the Captain Hook(G2)<\/EM> back in June from midpack with a 103 SP#.\u00a0 Lots of stamina in this colt’s female family (Kris S. x Boldnesian).\u00a0 However, he kind of bid-n-hung over\u00a0the Princess Cup’s <\/EM>10f, finishing a distant 4th.\u00a0 Proved he was one to watch with a very swift 3rd (103<\/STRONG> SP#) in Ermington Pegusus’ It’s My Birthday<\/EM>.<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Talented colt blossoming into his finest form.\u00a0\u00a0 Hmmm… very interesting.\u00a0\u00a0 Maybe his Princess Cup was just a bounce-type race.\u00a0 Deserves this shot at 10f again.\u00a0\u00a0 I like to see proven back-class over the distance and this guy certainly has the proven back-class<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 Dark horse with prospects for an upset.\u00a0 I like Intergalactic better though.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Has a shot.<\/FONT>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>Put It In The End Zone<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>Touchdown McNabb(IRE)<\/STRONG> (9\/1) goes for the goal posts for jackbauer stable.\u00a0 However, the Black Tie Affair(IRE) colt is 0-for-2 past 9f.\u00a0 He is the “senior” in the field, making his 22nd career start, by\u00a0far the most in the field.\u00a0 Won a pair of 8.5f stakes this summer in fine time.\u00a0 Good earner and will win\u00a0some more races, but\u00a0has a lot to prove against these.\u00a0 Possible for minor share of the purse from behind the pace, but I’d say he’s in for a rough day.\u00a0 \u00a0IMO, he should be at higher odds.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/FONT><\/DIV>Rue The Woo (Or Dyna Won’tcha\u00a0Blow Your Horn)<\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/DIV>