Wow!\u00a0 <\/SPAN>What a race for my inaugural article (of which I predict to be many).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>I was just recently introduced to the Sim by a fellow member-Given, whom I met via the Race Track Industry Program at the As the days grow closer to that magical week of 3028, the excitement builds within the horse racing community.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The prep races dwindle as trainers give one last try to get their horse into one of the Breeder\u2019s Bowl Races or look for the perfect tune-up to get their horse a win in three weeks.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Whatever the case may be, one thing can be certain:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s going to be a crazy three weeks!<\/P> It\u2019s no secret what the trainers who have entered horses into the Breeders\u2019 Bowl Mile Prep<\/U> have on their mind.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The 16th<\/SUP> race nightcap from Ascot is one of two stakes races on the day, the other being THE ROO BEAVIS(IRE) Bonanza<\/U>, the10th<\/SUP> race on the card, an $85,000, 7 1\/2F turf race for 3yo+.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The BB Mile Prep features five horses with earnings greater than $1.5 million including the likes of New Storm<\/B> (second ranked male in the older turf route classic division) and Thirteenth Date<\/B> (second ranked female in the older turf route classic division).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A hot pace up front should immensely help these two deep closers as they try and push their way to the top of the division. <\/P> And now for the entrants!<\/P> 1) Thirteenth Date<\/B>, 4yo filly, 5-1, P Harzheim (24%), Gone West x Dynaformer x Storm Cat, trained by congie5<\/I><\/P> The 5-1 co-favorite comes off of a win in the Queen Ascot Stakes<\/U> (GrI, 8 F Turf, 3yo + fillies) in which she rallied from 8th<\/SUP> place at the quarter pole to take the lead and hold off a game Devil\u2019s Slide<\/B>, who takes post position 8 in here today.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The three time Gr1 winner will face boys for the first time here, which may prove a difficult task against the likes of some of the best turf males including New Storm<\/B>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Like the tactic taken by trainer congie5<\/I> in pointing her towards the BB Mile instead of trying to stretch her out for the BB Turf Distaff.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>With speed figures ranging from 103 to 112 this year, she may very well finish ahead of the boys, but as the co-favorite, she may be hard to play.<\/P> 2) Sip of Saki<\/B>, 4yo colt, 7-1, J Dyson (11%), Sakee x Forty Niner x Buckpasser, trained by bjbandit2 After winning his first four career races on dirt, Sip of Sakee <\/B>disappointed in his next three races and was moved to the turf where, except for a brief three race stint earlier this year, he has remained ever since.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His last race was a disappointing seven length loss in the Posh Purse Stakes<\/U> (GrII, 8.5F Turf, 3yo+).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He did still manage to salvage a speed figure of 103, however.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His last three races have earned him figs of 103 to 110, so the numbers are there, but you have to wonder if it\u2019s worth playing a horse who\u2019s never won a Grade 1 stakes at 7-1 against some of the best horses in the world.<\/P> 3) Weed Rat<\/B>, 4yo colt, 21-1, Ja White (10%), Novere(IRE) x Gulch x Go Step, trained by Since making the move to stakes company in week 2636, Weed Rat<\/B> has shown that he is capable against good horses.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He proved he can win at big odds in week 2685 when he took down The ON THE OTHER HAND (GB) Stakes<\/U> (Stk, 6F Turf, 3yo+) with a 104 speed figure that would be competitive in this field at odds of 17-1.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The problem is he hasn\u2019t broken into triple digits on the speed figs since then.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The closing sprinter has an outside chance to make a run at the hot pace in front if he can handle the stretchout from 6F to 1 mile all right.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Keep in mind that this horse has won at 8F before when deciding whether or not 4) Fresh off a bad beat second in the Canada Mile<\/U> (GrI, 8F Turf, 3yo+), 5) Fantastic Kris<\/B>, 4yo colt, 10-1, D Rideout (9%), Fantastic Light x Flag Down x Kris S., trained by 3rdtry<\/I><\/P> Comes into this off a big speed figure of 112 in The CULVER CITY Challenge<\/U> (Stk, 6.5F Turf, 3yo+), but will need to translate that number from an ungraded stakes race to a Gr1.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A turf course labeled good will help make things easier as he is 8 for 8 in the place on an off track.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>May have a little trouble getting the distance against such classy horses.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Foresee good things to come from the 3rdtry <\/I>trained colt, just not sure it will happen in his first graded stakes race.<\/P> 6) Sportin Quixote (FR)<\/B>, 5yo horse, 24-1, A Kotoro (10%), Safron Walden (FR) x Dawn Quixote x Sportin\u2019 Life, trained by ksue<\/I><\/P> Another one in here that will make his graded stakes debt in a GrI.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Running style bodes well for the race and a rerun of The WESTERN ACADEMY Special<\/U> (Stk, 7.5F Turf, 3yo+) from week 2951 would probably make him competitive to come in the money.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Horse has been whipped into shape by ksue<\/I> and turned into a good Stk\/upper allowance runner, but he will most likely need to pull a rabbit out of his hat to earn a piece of the pie in here.<\/P> 7) Danzig\u2019s Buda<\/B>, 4yo colt, 31-1, P Burch (4%), Danzig x Storm Cat x Sadler\u2019s Wells, trained by Vicki The breeding is there, that\u2019s for sure.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The problem is this horse just hasn\u2019t quite been able to turn the corner and take to form as a solid graded stakes runner.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Looks pretty overmatched and might get burned running close to the hot pace up front.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Look for Vicki <\/I>to get this horse going, just not today.<\/P> 8) Devil\u2019s Slide, <\/B>4yo filly, 8-1, J Wesselman (14%), Kingmambo x This horse has run past what her breeding indicated, which is saying something!\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The other filly in here nearly pulled out the win against this race\u2019s co-favorite, Thirteenth Date<\/B>, in the Queen Ascot Stakes<\/U> (GrI, 8 F Turf, 3yo + fillies) with her 111 speed figure, which puts her in the thick of this race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Way back in week 2496, afc<\/I> found this filly\u2019s niche when she responded at first asking on the turf.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has been lights out ever since, earning over $2.5 million in her career.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Unlike Thirteenth Date<\/B>, would have liked to see this horse pointed towards the BB Turf Distaff.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She didn\u2019t run too badly in it last year.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Worry that she\u2019s seen better days, but then again, she\u2019s come in the top four in her last four races (all grade I\/II\u2019s), and is coming off a career effort.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Still, will be leaning elsewhere as she faces one of the toughest fields in her epic career.<\/P> 9) Echoes<\/B>, 5yo horse, M Antoni (9%), E Dubai x Deputy Minister x Exits the Canada Mile<\/U> (GrI, 8F Turf, 3yo+) in which he finished fourth behind, among others, 10) New Storm<\/B>, 4yo colt, 5-1, M Day (20%), Storm Cat x Nureyev x Earner of over $2.5 million, New Storm<\/B> comes into this race ranked number two in the older male turf classic route division, second only to five time Grade 1 winner Seeking Sal<\/B>.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In his last race, The Simulated Sports Horse Racing Hall of Fame Stakes<\/U> (GrI, 9F Turf, 4yo+), New Storm <\/B>came flying like a bat out of\u2026a cave from 11 lengths back to catch pacesetter Awholenuworld<\/B> and out duel a strong-finishing Seeking Sal<\/B> by a head to rack up his second Gr1 win.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>New Storm will look to improve on an already impeccable record of 28-12-9-4.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has shown no signs of regression as of late and has not finished off the board since week 2587.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In addition to sporting some excellent form, New Storm<\/B> should also appreciate the benefit of an off track, at which he has registered his three fastest speed figures.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The only chink in the armor of this unbelievably well-bred colt is that he will be turning back in distance from his typical 9-10F to one mile.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>You have to respect the job that coolerk<\/I> has done with this horse to get him to this point.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Look for the 5-1 co-favorite to turn in another excellent performance, especially while reaping the benefits of a turf course labeled good, to serve as a springboard for the BB Mile, in which the rematch of Seeking Sal <\/B>and New Storm<\/B> will be much anticipated.<\/P> 11) Kyogle Tiger<\/B>, 5yo horse, 17-1, C Milhouse (13%), Mt. Livermore x Storm Cat x Cryptoclearance, trained by Tulloch<\/I><\/P> Tries a GrI for just the second time (finished a disappointing ninth at odds of 5-1 in only other try).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Has run a 109 speed figure as recently as week 2804, so can\u2019t say he\u2019s got no chance, but he hasn\u2019t one a race all year and this is tough spot to get his first.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Running style is perfect, recent form isn\u2019t.<\/P> 12) Barb\u2019s Back Home<\/B>, 4yo colt, 14-1, B Cokebottle, Sadler\u2019s Wells x Kingmambo x Seattle Slew, trained by barbstable Exits a win in the Maudlin Cup<\/U> (GrI, 8F Turf, 3yo+).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Looks like trainer barbstable <\/I>has gotten him to peak at the right time, and breeding indicates that those last two races were no fluke.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A win here would possibly earn a spot in the BB Mile.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Running style fits the bill.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Good turf course is a concern as he has finished off the board in all three races on an off track including an abysmal performance week 2818.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Still, great value at 14-1 and is the long shot play in here.<\/P> 13) Grimnosh<\/B>, 5yo horse, 18-1, H Danger (4%), Gold Legend x Strawbery Road(AUS) x The Minstrel, trained by knightmare Tough spot for the 18-1 long shot.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Not only faces the likes of quality horses such as Thirteenth Date <\/B>and New Storm<\/B>, but will also be pushed on the front end by 14) Your Desert<\/B>, 4yo colt, 9-1, T Moss (11%), Desert King (IRE) x Sadler\u2019s Wells x Seattle Slew, trained by baldrick Came off a 245 day layoff to hold strong for second and earn a nice 108 speed figure five weeks ago.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Very impressive that baldrick<\/I> had him ready to go after such a long time.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>No reason not to expect improvement second start off layoff.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Of course, there\u2019s also a good shot of a bounce, especially with