Every so often, Sim players realize that the sim is merely a game \u2013 a hobby that is enjoyable, but takes a backseat in the priorities of life.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Life sometimes gets in the way of the sim.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Almost everyone playing has gone through or will go through it.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Whether it\u2019s one missed week, one missed month, one missed year, or a permanent goodbye, we all know the feeling (or will one day).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The sim acts as a good \u201cgetaway\u201d from reality, one that is significantly cheaper than a trip to the I use this introduction to explain the two-week hiatus of the Speed Study Series.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Thankfully, it was not a serious life event.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It was merely a move from the summer life, at home, back to the work-filled school life at Unfortunately, the simulated world does not enjoy people leaving it.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It is not set up properly for abrupt departures.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>When someone takes a week or two off from entering horses, it is not a major factor.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But if someone takes a month or more, it can be seen in the form of the horses.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Horses that are Sharp fall to Ready To Go, and can\u2019t be trained back until they get another race under their belt.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Looking at the past performances, anyone can see a huge gap in a horse\u2019s timeline.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Disappointingly, these lost months\/years may have contained the horse\u2019s prime.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A horse that has had 3 years off may never again return to the form he showed in his earlier career.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/P> Another side effect of hiatuses from the Sim is that some of the amazing, terrific, awe-inspiring sim horses live on in Sim Limbo.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Rbgstable<\/I>, owner of still-active horse Joe Cayenne<\/B>, has not entered a horse in a race since wekk 2446 (April 1, 2005).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Only 3 of the nine started in a week later than 2400.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Owner indy<\/I>, controller of I Seek U<\/B>, went out with a bang on week 2293, running 7 of his 10 horses for a final time on that date, October 30, 2004.<\/P> With that in mind, the Speed Study Series will take a look at the some of the top horses in each division.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This list is completely subjective \u2013 while I will base my original list off of the Rankings, the \u201cTop 10\u201d won\u2019t necessarily be the 10 highest ranked horses.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Consider it a \u201cPower Ranking\u201d if you will.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A hot horse may be ranked higher than one who was very good earlier in the year, but has cooled off, regardless of who has more stakes points.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And of course, I will go into detail with some of the horses, looking at their season so far, and looking into their speed figures, as the study does so well.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The three classifications are those in the sim \u2013 Sprinters, Classics, and Long.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Each of these categories will combine both surfaces and genders into 1 list.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In that case, each horse will be compared only to their own gender\/surface for ranking purposes (so a turf mare could be ranked higher than a dirt horse, even though the dirt horse is faster, because the turf mare is much more dominant against her own class).<\/P> Confused yet?\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I know I am.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But here are the power rankings as of August 21, 2006.<\/P> Sprinters<\/U><\/B><\/P> 1. Explosive Storm<\/B> (7 \u2013 Dirt Female) \u2013 This 5yo daughter of Storm Cat is owned by pjlracing<\/I>, and the owner has done a good job of campaigning her.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is the hottest sprinter right now, having reeled off wins in her last 4, including the G3 Trail Mix Stakes<\/I> and, most recently, the G1 Dancer Cap<\/I>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In the latter, a 7 furlong NY event, she closed from nearly 11 lengths back halfway through the race and unleashed an unbelievable closing kick to win by 2.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her top speed figure in the 4 wins is a 112, which may be good enough to beat the boys.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is the most dangerous dirt filly right now, and doesn\u2019t look to be slowing any time soon.<\/P> 2. Looking For More<\/B> (3 \u2013 Dirt Male) \u2013 gene<\/I>\u2019s 4yo son of Brahms has performed very well this year, up until his last race in the Smackdown challenge.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A closer, he has won 4 of his last 5, coming from as far back as 10 lengths.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Those wins include the G1 Sand Castle Golden Sprint<\/I>, the KY Horsemen<\/I> Elixir Sprint <\/I>(G1), as well as a Grade 3.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His incredibly consistent speeds range from 107 to 111 in the wins, as well as in the Pablo Verdes Handicap<\/I> (G2), where he finished \u00bd behind the winner.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He couldn\u2019t quite close enough in his last race, finishing 5th<\/SUP>, 1-3\/4 back.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But he still looks like he\u2019s on top of his game, and is clearly a force to be reckoned with.<\/P> 3. Pulling Strings<\/B> (2 \u2013 Dirt Male) \u2013 danknight<\/I> owns this 5yo son of Bestyoucanbe.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There is very little separating him from the #2, except in the grades.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has also won 4 of his last 5, 3 of which were Grade 2\u2019s, including the Bluegrass Sprint<\/I>, Due North Stakes<\/I>, and Sooner-Husker Stakes<\/I>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His speed figures in the wins ranged from 106 to 111, although most races were fairly close.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His front-running style is more appropriate for sprints, and he has more speed than most horses in the sim.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It has been a full year since he did not have the lead at the first call.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Even when pushed, he still manages to hang on to the lead.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s only a matter of time before #2 and him meet, which will go down as an epic sprint battle.<\/P> 4. Digital Overture<\/B> (3 \u2013 Turf Male) \u2013 spelunker<\/I> campaigns this 4yo son of Rahy, and has done a good job so far.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His form looks a little inconsistent at first glance, but a closer look reveals a different story.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has won 3 of his last 4, including the Sydney Sprint<\/I> (G1), The King\u2019s Fall<\/I> (G2), and most recently the Turf Sprint Smackdown II<\/I> race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has a stalking style that seems to suggest that he likes a slightly longer race, as he does not seem to have the same initial burst of speed that he used to show.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has also proven to not like the off-track.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But he does what he needs to do, including earning a 110 SP in his Smackdown II win by \u00bd length.<\/P> 5. Lake Bemidji<\/B> (2 \u2013 Turf Female) \u2013 ajr15<\/I>\u2019s 4yo filly by Miswaki has shown a new affinity for route races in her previous 2 starts, and may find that she will be mostly competing out there from now on.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But that doesn\u2019t take away the fact that she is still a very qualified turf sprinter.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She was in the money in all five of her turf starts this year, including a near-miss in the Frank Dettori<\/I> Equinics (G1), and a 3rd<\/SUP> place finish in the G3 Hyperactive Handicap<\/I>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has not pulled off a win in a graded sprint this year, but she has shown real consistency in her efforts, earning her this ranking.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has run between a 104 and 106 in every sprint this year, and is only getting better.<\/P> 6. A.P. Rizz Kid<\/B> (10 \u2013 Turf Female) \u2013 lordpye2<\/I><\/P> 7. Hard To Handle<\/B> (4 \u2013 Dirt Male) \u2013 zwylde<\/I><\/P> 8. Night\u2019s Desire <\/B>(13 \u2013 Turf Male) \u2013 troy5<\/I><\/P> 9. Gathering Momentum<\/B> (6 \u2013 Dirt Male) \u2013 rascal<\/I><\/P> 10. Digging The Grave<\/B> (2 \u2013 Turf Horse) \u2013 zewango2<\/I><\/P> Classics<\/U><\/B><\/P> 1. Seeking Sal<\/B> (1 \u2013 Turf Male) \u2013 keryn<\/I> owns the #1 ranked son of Seeking The Gold.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>If the record alone isn\u2019t good enough (8:6-0-2 this year), you only need to turn to the speed figures to realize how talented this colt currently is.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has only had 1 \u201cbad\u201d race, a 103 speed 3rd <\/SUP>place finish.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In his last 5 wins, he has never run less than a 110 speed figure.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Those wins include the Sand Castle Fee Duty <\/I>(G1), I\u2019m Back Again For Good<\/I> (G1) and, most recently, the Eddie O Cap<\/I> (G1), as well as a G2 and G3.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He took the I\u2019m Back Again For Good<\/I> by 2-3\/4, and the Sand Castle Fee Duty <\/I>by 3-1\/4.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This guy cannot be stopped in the 9 furlong range unless he does something wrong.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Right now, every race is his to lose.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>And so far, he hasn\u2019t been getting in the way.<\/P> 2. Cold Storage<\/B> (1 \u2013 Turf Female) \u2013 We stick with the turf horses for this 4yo daughter of Victory Gallop, sent out by springtime<\/I>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has reeled off her last four, with winning distances running between \u00be and 2-3\/4.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In fact, in the 7 races she has run this year, she has a record of 5-1-0.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But even more impressively, her five wins have come in Grade 1\u2019s, while the losses have been lower levels.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The wins include the Equinics, the Virgin Mary Stakes<\/I>, the Ugly Breeders Bowl Distaff<\/I>, the Rich and Famous Handicap<\/I>, and the Yorkshire Oaks<\/I>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She clearly likes competing at the top level, running speed figures of between 102 and 109 in her 5 wins.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is the hottest horse going right now between 9 and 10 furlongs, and she shows no indication of slowing.<\/P> 3. Back In Your Arms<\/B> (5 \u2013 Turf Female) \u2013 iant4<\/I> campaigns this 5yo daughter of Kingmambo.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>This may be an undeservingly high ranking, as she has yet to win anything higher than a Grade 3 this year.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With that said, she is a winner of 4 of her last 5, including the Sure Will Cap<\/I> (G3), the Breeders Bowl Game<\/I> (G3), and the Smackdown II<\/I> filly turf mile race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The speed figures, however, are what gives her this ranking.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>After relatively \u201cslow\u201d speed figures of 100 and 103 (off-track) to start the streak (with a collective 4 length win), she really began to pick it up.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Back on the firm turf, she excelled, winning the Breeders Bowl Game<\/I> by 1-3\/4 with a 110 speed figure.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>To prove that it wasn\u2019t a fluke, she went out again in the Smackdown II race and won by 1-3\/4 again, this time with a 111 speed figure.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She bounced slightly in her last, but still looks at the top of her game.<\/P> 4. Wild Cat Tales<\/B> (6 \u2013 Dirt Female) \u2013 The 4yo daughter of Tale Of The Cat is owned by champions4<\/I>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has been the hot horse lately, taking her last 3 races.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The wins include a 107 in the Fort Lostinthewoods Misery Stakes<\/I> (G3), a 110 in the Beer Pitcher Handicap<\/I> (G2), and a 109 in the Go For The Gold Stakes<\/I> (G1).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has won the three races by a combined 7-1\/4 lengths, and excels in the 8.5-9f range.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her only downside may be that she has already run 9 times this year, but she appears to just now be coming into her own.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She hasn\u2019t quite done enough to warrant a top 3 spot, but with another win, she may be in the running.<\/P> 5. Journeyman<\/B> (5 \u2013 Dirt Male) \u2013 The toughest division means the least \u201cdominant\u201d horses, causing kiri<\/I>\u2019s 6yo son of Seeking The Gold to fall to #5 on the power rankings.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He is unstoppable at 1 mile, going 4 for 4 in his career (and this year) at the distance.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The wins include a 113 speed figure in the Barkley Handicap<\/I> (G3), a 110 in the G1 Cosmopolitan Handicap<\/I>, a 109 in the KY Horsemen Moonshine Mile<\/I> (G1), and most recently a 114 on the good dirt in the Prims Memorial<\/I> (G2).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His deep closing kick has failed him in races too short as he runs out of room, and too long as he doesn\u2019t have the stamina to last.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But he is clearly the dominant mile dirt horse in the sim right now.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The question is where it will lead him.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A trip to the turf may be necessary, as he hasn\u2019t run there yet in his career.<\/P> 6. Rapid Grey <\/B>(9 \u2013 Turf Male) \u2013 champions4<\/I><\/P> 7. 8. Solar Song<\/B> (2 \u2013 Dirt Male) \u2013 squirrel4<\/I><\/P> 9. New Storm<\/B> (2 \u2013 Turf Male) \u2013 coolerk<\/I><\/P> 10. Otto History <\/B>(3 \u2013 Dirt Female) \u2013 capsized<\/I><\/P> Long<\/U><\/B><\/P> 1. Xtremely Gold<\/B> (1 \u2013 Dirt Female) \u2013 Every so often a horse shows up in the sim who clearly towers over every other horse in the division.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s the horse that scares the competition off, but deserves it, as he or she doesn\u2019t lose.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Grracers<\/I> sends out the 5yo daughter of Touch Gold who fits this description.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>While long graded races are the toughest to find, especially on dirt, she takes advantage of the ones she does find.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is 6 for 6 on the dirt for the year, with 2 Grade 3 wins and 4 Grade 1 wins.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In fact, no horse has even finished within 1-3\/4 lengths of her in her 6 wins.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her speed figures in the wins range between 101 and 109, and they span both fast and sloppy tracks.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has actually won her last 8 dirt starts (dating back to last year), and looks to be better than ever now.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is not only good enough to beat the girls, but her races show that she is probably good enough to beat the guys as well.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In fact, she has done it twice, in winning the iMedic.com<\/I> (G3) by 3 on a sloppy track, and the KY Horsemen Whiskey Cup<\/I> (G1) by 5-1\/2.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She is, by far, the most dominant horse currently running in the sim.<\/P> 2.
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