{"id":32892,"date":"2015-10-27T22:17:02","date_gmt":"2015-10-28T02:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=32892"},"modified":"2015-10-27T22:20:25","modified_gmt":"2015-10-28T02:20:25","slug":"breeders-bowl-dirt-marathon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=32892","title":{"rendered":"Breeder’s Bowl Dirt Marathon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Kentucky (KY)<\/b>Friday, October 30, 2015\u00a0— 2:00:00 PM EST | Race ID :\u00a01415248<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Marathon<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grade I \/ Group 1 – Purse : $750,000<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Restricted to 3 Year Olds and Older<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
14 Furlongs | ~2800 Meters | One Mile and Three Quarters<\/b><\/td>\n\n

Fast Dirt<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Status :\u00a0<\/b>Race cards now available.<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n\n

Entries Closed on 10\/27\/2015 — 3:00:00 PM EST<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
#<\/b><\/td>\nHorse<\/b><\/td>\nBred<\/b><\/td>\nA\/S<\/b><\/td>\nOwner<\/b><\/td>\n\u00a0<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

USD<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

EPnt<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

Odds<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

1<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

LOCO COLONY<\/td>\nIRE<\/td>\n5F<\/td>\njrogue5<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$2,562,535<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

324.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

7\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

2<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

TOSH<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n6M<\/td>\ngowans2011<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$2,160,773<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

101.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

3<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

LITTLE COLUMN B<\/td>\nJPN<\/td>\n4M<\/td>\npbcash1<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$1,793,420<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

400.13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

4<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

ZYR<\/td>\nENG<\/td>\n5M<\/td>\nsuper10<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$1,842,380<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

224.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

5<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

TAP LESSONS<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n4M<\/td>\nnedsnags<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$1,136,441<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

112.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

10\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

6<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

OUTBACK BORON<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n4M<\/td>\ngreynomad<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$887,605<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

156.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

7<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

DANBAWI<\/td>\nENG<\/td>\n5M<\/td>\nxpletives2<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$800,428<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

116.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

8<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

HAACK’S ROCKET<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n4M<\/td>\nerenotto<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$893,346<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

204.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

9<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

FITZCHIVALRY<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n4M<\/td>\nkhalasar3<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$486,910<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

105.59<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

10<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

IDEAL VIEW<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n4F<\/td>\nsealsheels<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$726,700<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

96.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

11<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

LORD OF BLADES<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n4M<\/td>\nspqr6th<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$601,259<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

156.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

12\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

12<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

FACTOR X<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n4M<\/td>\naguadeep6<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$316,459<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

86.00<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

23\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

13<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

K’S CASSIUS CLAY<\/td>\nKY<\/td>\n5M<\/td>\nlatinlover<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$650,071<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

134.50<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

14<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

SHAKEN GIMLET<\/td>\nJPN<\/td>\n3M<\/td>\nkroth6<\/a><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n\n

$934,995<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

188.53<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

15\/1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

It\u2019s the Marathon!\u00a0 Let\u2019s get this party started, in order of qualifying points!<\/span><\/p>\n

PP#4\u00a0 ZYR<\/b> (Dubawi o\/o G1 winner PRAVDA, by Kingmambo X Pleasant Colony) has been there, and done that.\u00a0 He was a maiden until his 9th<\/sup> start, and did not venture into stakes competition until the final start of 2013.\u00a0 His 4yo season was one for the ages, winning six Graded stakes, four of them Grade 1 at the 14 furlongs distance of today\u2019s contest.\u00a0 The one that got away was the narrow loss to LOCO COLONY in last year\u2019s edition of the Breeder\u2019s Bowl, held in California.\u00a0 Still, ZYR wound up with well-deserved End Of Year honors in the division, and started 2015 with success in Graded company once again.\u00a0 Alas, it was his 28th<\/sup> lifetime start \u2013 that dreaded number for dirt runners which often signals the beginning of the end.\u00a0 ZYR was a shadow of his former self in four subsequent starts, all unplaced.\u00a0 Super wisely rested him over the summer, perhaps for one last hurrah and a crack at $2 mil earned before heading off to the simulated gender reassignment surgery suite.\u00a0 The internet tells us that \u201cZYR starts with clean, naturally filtered water from Russia’s North West, not far from the Finnish border. The water is then filtered five times in preparation for its marriage to the fermented blend of grains. After the five distillations of ZYR’s mash, ZYR is filtered four more times using carefully selected birch tree charcoal granules to remove any remaining impurities and round out the taste.\u201d<\/p>\n

Indeed, ZYR has been expertly filtered, fermented, and distilled by the supers, using five long allowance races to build up his speed and stamina.\u00a0 ZYR was filtered four more times \u2013 his four G1 victories.\u00a0 Perhaps five would have been excessive.\u00a0 Sure, ZYR is not a likely winner this time around.\u00a0 The truth is, it would not be pure propaganda to suggest that the body of work for the career of ZYR deserves a \u2018perfect 100\u2019 rating.\u00a0 http:\/\/www.zyrvodka.com\/home.html#art_of_zyr<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PP #1\u00a0 LOCO COLONY<\/b> (Montjeu x Storm Bird x Pleasant Colony) came into last year\u2019s BB Marathon as an upstart ing\u00e9nue \u2013 inexperienced (12 lifetime starts), outclassed (a G1 and two G2 victories), and isolated (making her first start against males).\u00a0 The fine preview by rharfo correctly stated that she \u201clikes to run on or near the pace and seems to show more fight if she can dictate the pace, with three of her better wins coming\u201d when she lead throughout or sat just off the speed.\u00a0 The race was packed to the brim with classy speed.\u00a0 Of course, something else happened:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LOCO COLONY<\/td>\nIRE<\/td>\n4F<\/td>\njrogue5<\/a><\/td>\nJ\u00a0Wilson<\/td>\n\n

109<\/b>\u00a0482<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n\n

12<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

10-1\/4<\/sup><\/td>\n\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

14-3\/4<\/sup><\/td>\n\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

10-1\/2<\/sup><\/td>\n\n

—<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

13.66<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

That \u201c—\u201c indicates the number of lengths behind at the finish \u2013 zero.\u00a0 By bringing her from way out of it, trainer jrouge was a genius, the luckiest so-and-so, or maybe both.\u00a0 This year, LOCO COLONY is anything but an upstart \u2013 she\u2019s the reigning champ and EOY winner for the ladies long dirt division.\u00a0 She\u2019s tacked on two more G1 wins and three other placings on her way to $2.5 mil, and is not slowing down with only 19 lifetime starts on her ledger.\u00a0 After winning the 16F G1 Scottsdale Stayer in typical high-cruising fashion, she \u201cprepped\u201d with a better-than-it-looks 8th<\/sup> vs. the boys in the 10F Jockey Club Gold Cup.\u00a0 If she can handle the relatively quick 4 week turnaround, there\u2019s no reason to think she can\u2019t repeat and become the all-time queen of the dirt marathon.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PP#3\u00a0 LITTLE COLUMN B<\/b> (Admire Moon o\/o CANKEROUS SEA, by Seattle Slew X Silent Screen) enters the race as the #1 qualifier with an astounding 400 points.\u00a0 He\u2019s an overwhelming 4-1 morning line favorite, which is hard to do in a Breeder\u2019s Bowl field of any kind.\u00a0 Of course, he\u2019s ranked #1 in the division and is trained by the (arguably) #1 trainer lenny271.\u00a0 Ryan converted him into a marathon type less than a year ago, as the 4yo cut his teeth on a sort of delayed Classic path, resulting in a show finish in the New Yorker and a nice 2nd<\/sup> in the Clerk of Scales, both Grade 1s.\u00a0 In three G1\u2019s at the distance, he\u2019s only been beaten once, and only by a few feet when barely outfinished by HAACK\u2019S ROCKET in the Razorback Route this June.\u00a0 If he wins, he locks up the EOY trophy and still has enough juice in the tank for a repeat try next year.\u00a0 Any horse who looks to take him down is definitely on a highway to the danger zone.\u00a0 It\u2019s no surprise to see a Lenny horse well managed and primed as the favorite for a bigtime race, but what may be most interesting here is the origin story.\u00a0 The man himself told me \u201cIt\u2019s funny. This guy is from one of the only open mare breedings I’ve done in the better part of five years. I noticed his mare hadn’t been used for a few years, and that her first offspring (BUCKSCHOTT) by Forty Niner, hit the board in the Derby and Belmont way back when. I took a cheap shot with Admire Moon\u201d and the rest is history. So even when you have a vast selection of top flight mares to choose from like Ryan most certainly does, it pays to follow Sterling Archer\u2019s wisdom and choose a little from Column B, the open mare pool.\u00a0 But what was in Column A?\u00a0 Don\u2019t ask.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/derbyfever.com\/onehorse_inline.asp?horse=11400049555<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PP# 8 The aforementioned HAACK\u2019S ROCKET<\/strong><\/span> (Awesome Again x Unbridled x Nijinsky II) comes into the Breeder\u2019s Bowl as the obvious \u201cdanger\u201d horse.\u00a0 Like many good marathon types, he took a while to become competitive, breaking his maiden in start #5 when stretched out to 12 furlongs.\u00a0 Here\u2019s the thing \u2013 he hasn\u2019t lost since.\u00a0 One of my all-time favorite trainers, Haack (aka Otto), expertly plotted him on a conservative course through the allowance conditions, then an open allowance, and finally a 14 furlong listed stakes debut in January.\u00a0 As fate would have it, the race happened to be the Buckshott Dirt Stayer, named after that half-brother to the horse he\u2019s trying to dethrone today.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t this game awesome?\u00a0 Two more listed races, then straight to G1 glory in the Razorback Route.\u00a0 He stayed about a length in front of LITTLE COLUMN A throughout, but the gap narrowed to \u00bc length at the finish.\u00a0 Saving something for later, or a sign of things to come?\u00a0 Otto simply gave him light prepwork after that, and he maintained his streak of now eleven in a row.\u00a0 He\u2019s not brought his track or his jockey with him, so there\u2019s no obvious flaw in this iron horse.\u00a0 Discerning eyes might quibble with the lack of a \u2018layoff\u2019 since early 2014, but it\u2019s been 13 starts in 19 months, and no sign of wear and tear that I can see.\u00a0 This could be a coronation of a prince who has his eyes on the throne.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PP# 14\u00a0 SHAKEN GIMLET<\/b> (Tanino Gimlet o\/o Bad Stella, by Dubawi x Seattle Slew) has a past performance list that looks like a cross between LITTLE COLUMN B and HAACK\u2019S ROCKET.\u00a0 Like Lenny\u2019s horse, he found his calling when 3rd<\/sup> in the New Yorker, and like Otto\u2019s horse, he\u2019s undefeated at marathon distances.\u00a0 The difference here is that Selurvinek\u2019s one time turf sprint winner (yes, really!) sort of ignored that whole prolonged seasoning period by winning a 3yo listed race at 12 furlong, and skipping all the grades straight up to the 16f G1 Seattle Stayer for 3yo+.\u00a0 He smashed them.\u00a0 While the field did not contain any of the top 4 contenders today, he did defeat the formidable LORD OF BLADES and G1 winner OUTBACK BORON.\u00a0 By virtue of that victory, he earned a spot in the Bowl and took over 1st<\/sup> place in the 3yo dirt long division.\u00a0 Simply hitting the board may seal the EOY victory, but I imagine this youngster (the only sophomore in the race) has designs on starting a BB Marathon dynasty of his own.\u00a0 He\u2019s never actually attempted this 14F distance, but you won\u2019t see me second guessing his abilities in that regard.<\/p>\n

PP# 6\u00a0 OUTBACK BORON<\/b> (Smart Strike x Unbridled\u2019s Song x Encosta De Lago) is the first of the Marathoners with a pedigree that made me think \u201cOh, really?\u201d\u00a0 Yes, really.\u00a0 Despite a Wikipedigree calculated dosage of 3.42 and tons of Brilliant-Intermediate-Classic points (10-14-17-0-1, if you must know) and a rare 2×5 inbreeding to Mr. Prospector, this Tulloch (aka Kyogle) runner is a bona fide long baller.\u00a0 Perhaps his best effort was a 2nd<\/sup> to ZYR in last year\u2019s 14F G1 Geaux Saints, but more recently he scored a 6 length laugher in the 16F G1 Cayuga Lake Special vs. several of these.\u00a0 I can relate \u2013 I trained the winner of the 2011 BB Marathon, GATO DEL LAGO (Encosta De Lago x Storm Cat x A.P. Indy), not exactly everyone\u2019s idea of selecting for stamina.\u00a0 Tight fitting genes be damned, the story here is not substance or style, but rather form.\u00a0 OUTBACK BORON followed his big win with a decent 3rd<\/sup> in a G2, then three straight inexplicable losses of 20+ lengths.\u00a0 It may simply be that the continuous campaign and heavy mileage through 23 starts has caught up with the 4yo, but he\u2019s rebounded from poor efforts in the past and should not be discounted so easily.\u00a0 If a little R&R doesn\u2019t help him turn the tables, well, perhaps a little he-mare procedure is in his immediate future.\u00a0 Perhaps a son of A.P. Indy\u2026so long as Mr. Prospector isn\u2019t close up!<\/p>\n

PP# 11\u00a0 LORD OF BLADES<\/b> (Street Cry o\/o XTREMELY BOLD, by A.P. Indy x Touch Gold)\u00a0 has been knocking on the door but not quite grabbing the Graded ring just yet.\u00a0 Waremblem used the \u2018Otto School of Training\u2019 method with the multiple stakes winning 4yo, but he has had trouble when he\u2019s not comfortably in front when turning for home.\u00a0 He certainly ensures a wicked pace and will make it tough for anyone who thinks they can get a breather and still overtake him.\u00a0 He does trace back to HOF marathoner XTREMELY GOLD who was quite remarkable and controversial during his day.\u00a0 The trainer had plenty of backstory and insight to offer on how to campaign with a target in mind \u2013 instead of heavy editorializing, here\u2019s what he had to say: \u201cHe has run the best four races of his career the last four races but only has one win to show for them. He has run 2nd three times, which may be an indication that he is just a step below the top horses in his division or that he has just had some bad luck. LoB has elite speed for this distance and he will certainly ensure a rapid pace in the race. Is he good enough to win this race? Yes, but he is going to need some help from the fractions and can’t get caught up in a speed duel. At the same time you can’t get away from what you do best so that’s the decisions we will have to consider when reviewing the field and discussing our strategy with the Jockey.<\/p>\n

When I ran 2nd in the Seattle Stayer G1 I knew I would have the points to get into this race. I wanted to give LoB another graded race before the BB Marathon to season him up against graded competition as he is a relative new comer to facing horses of this quality. It looks like he is in the best form of his career. Despite how great his grandma Xtremely Bold was, she never won a BB race so it would be thrilling to see one of her offspring bring a trophy home. Since Touch Gold (the sire of Xtremely Bold) is not exactly a SIM friendly sire, I strengthened the SIM pedigree line by adding AP Indy in LoB (he)dam Xtremely Gold then used Street Cry with LoB. This will be the last race of the year for LoB, I’ll bring him back next year and then breed him to American Pharoah at some point depending on how well he is racing.\u201d<\/p>\n

PP# 13\u00a0 K\u2019S CASSIUS CLAY<\/b> (Giant\u2019s Causeway x A.P. Indy x Dynaformer) has origins in another powerhouse stable who is ever-present come Breeder\u2019s Bowl time, the esteemed Ledwith.\u00a0 There is certainly the Led training fingerprints on the past-performances, with several hot races used as confidence builders before tackling G1 company in the 2014 version of the G1 Monster Mash (second to another waremblem horse, SINS OF ATRITION).\u00a0 The kicker is that the horse was not raced by the original breeder, but in fact by Santiago\u2019s Hispano Parlante residency-mate Zampatelo, a star in his own right.\u00a0 Whether it is a collaboration, gift horse, or a changing of the guard, one must respect the connections in a race of this magnitude. K\u2019S CASSIUS CLAY has yet to win a dirt race at 14F or longer, or a stakes race for that matter, but has plenty of solid efforts on his resume.\u00a0 In Grade 1 marathons alone, he\u2019s collected a 4th<\/sup> to go with two seconds and a third, a perfect 4-for-4 on the tote board.\u00a0 This \u201cclose but no cigar\u201d narrative might have Zampatelo cheering for \u2018un poquito mas\u2019 at the finish, except for the curious wrinkle of the horse\u2019s last three races.\u00a0 He won an easy 14F turf condition allowance, got drilled in a G3 Turf marathon, then entered a 13F allowance dirt prep only two weeks prior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

13<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

-29200|NW3y<\/td>\n-fst<\/td>\n\n

2:44\u00a028<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

110<\/b>\u00a0218<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

3\u00a05-1\/2<\/sup><\/td>\n3\u00a07<\/sup><\/td>\n1\u00a03-3\/4<\/sup><\/td>\n2\u00a01-1\/2<\/sup><\/td>\n\n

1.79<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

F Foster<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

That\u2019s an odd middle-move and nabbed-late finish for a horse who is usually much farther back.\u00a0 The horse who beat him (it gets weirder) is Brundlefly\u2019s SAMALAMAN ISLAND, a Grade 1 winner in his own right, who was 2nd in the Breeder\u2019s Bowl Marathon.\u00a0 In 2009.\u00a0 His last race prior to the allowance win?\u00a0 2011.\u00a0 Apparently, 47 months on the farm will do you some good.\u00a0 Wouldn\u2019t that be a heck of a key race?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PP# 7\u00a0 DANBAWI<\/b> (Dubawi o\/o THE UNDERWRITER, by Dansili x A.P. Indy) is a beautifully-bred 5yo from the same Zampatelo training group, but bred and owned by \u2018xpletives2\u2019.\u00a0 His early races look identical to his stable mate, except that he continued to clean up in listed and G3 company before ultimately trying the big boys in the 14F G1 Big Apple (3rd<\/sup> to ZYR and K\u2019S CASSIUS CLAY).\u00a0 He turned the tables on KCC when 2nd<\/sup> in the 16F Cayuga Lake (OUTBACK BORON), which might be his preferred distance.\u00a0 He\u2019s a plodding, grinder type that passes horses but doesn\u2019t fly past them, and hasn\u2019t been stellar at the 14F distance.\u00a0 More foreboding is the 29 lifetime starts, and two lackluster efforts coming into the big event.\u00a0 There\u2019s a great deal working against DANBAWI today but he\u2019s earned his ticket and could easily weave his way through the pack to get a minor placing.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PP# 5\u00a0 TAP LESSONS<\/b> (Tapit o\/o stakes-winner PRIVATE LESSONS, by KINGMAMBO x NUREYEV)\u00a0 has a blue-blood pedigree that often lends me to speak the phrase \u201ccould be any kind\u201d.\u00a0 In fact he had a little more early success than the common marathoner, breaking maiden at two and posting solid allowance route wins in the spring of his 3yo season.\u00a0 In a series of moves that could be described none other than \u201cballsy\u201d, jrouge (him again) moved from a listed stake to\u2026 ok let me just show you, in ascending order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

9.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

-24300|NW3L<\/td>\n-fst<\/td>\n\n

1:55\u00a035<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

102<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

6<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

3<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

1\u00a01\/2<\/sup><\/td>\n1\u00a03\/4<\/sup><\/td>\n1\u00a01-1\/4<\/sup><\/td>\n1\u00a01-1\/4<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

10.5<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

–Teddys Slew Dirt Route<\/a><\/td>\n-fst<\/td>\n\n

2:08\u00a054<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

104\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

11<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

9<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

2\u00a01\/4<\/td>\n2\u00a0hd<\/td>\n1\u00a03<\/td>\n4\u00a05-1\/2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

10<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

-Princess Cup<\/td>\n-gd<\/td>\n\n

2:00\u00a091<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

105\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

4<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

3\u00a01-1\/2<\/td>\n2\u00a02-1\/2<\/td>\n3\u00a03-1\/4<\/td>\n5\u00a04-3\/4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

16<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

-Pleasant Damper Marathon<\/td>\n-fst<\/td>\n\n

3:29\u00a089<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

99<\/b>\u00a0671<\/sup><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

14<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

3\u00a02<\/sup><\/td>\n3\u00a02-1\/2<\/sup><\/td>\n1\u00a02-1\/4<\/sup><\/td>\n1\u00a03-1\/2<\/sup><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

So you\u2019re seeing that right\u2026 the speeds go up, the placings get worse, but he enters the G1 marathon race (3yo only) and crushes it.\u00a0 Again, he\u2019s either a genius or lucky or both.\u00a0 Guano-crazy comes to mind as well.\u00a0 On the merits of the G1 win, TAP LESSONS is entered in the BB Marathon where he runs a predictable 8th<\/sup>.\u00a0 Not bad, but he wasn\u2019t fast enough.\u00a0 Since then he\u2019s been all over the map, with mixed results.\u00a0 A nice win at 16F in a G2, a superior 2nd<\/sup> to BB Classic contender INCULPATE at 10F, then a clunker in the Sand Castle.\u00a0 He ran 3rd<\/sup> on 13 days rest in the G1 Razorback Route; he tried 10F again (5th<\/sup>), he was practically eased in the Monster Mash (11th<\/sup>).\u00a0 I\u2019m not going to try and guess what he\u2019ll do today. Perhaps only Mike Wallace, and maybe jrouge, know for sure.<\/p>\n

PP #9\u00a0 FITZCHIVALRY<\/b> (Bernardini x Unbridled x Nureyev) is still somewhat new at this dirt marathon thing.\u00a0 He won a listed route on the turf at 3, and it wasn\u2019t until this spring that Given dedicated him to the realm of 12F allowance races in California.\u00a0 He steadily progressed (see Otto, Zampatelo, et.al.) and won a 16F listed route, then was second in a (player sponsored?) 14F G1 in June.\u00a0 Another 16F listed stake was enough to earn him the points for a BB berth, but his collective stakes efforts have been uninspiring.\u00a0 Dan knows how to play the points game as well as anyone out there, so it\u2019s not easy to look at the PP\u2019s and determine that this horse who hasn\u2019t done it before will not in fact do it today.\u00a0 His last out (unplaced 12F G3) is either form regression or gamesmanship, making him the official AT&T-Budwiser- Jeep Cherokee- Red Robin Williams Memorial Longshot play of the day at 14-1.<\/p>\n

PP #2\u00a0 TOSH<\/b> ( Distorted Humor x Nijinsky II x Deputy Minister) is the elder statesman of the field, the lone 6yo making his 32nd<\/sup> lifetime start.\u00a0 The gowans trainee has been successful at many levels, not the least of which was winning the 2013 version of today\u2019s race, defeating bigtime marathoner IMPACTA and the tough mare KISS THE MOON.\u00a0 TOSH did not get a chance to defend his BB title last season, as he amazingly pursued his parallel grass career, to the tune of a win in the G1 Coronation Pilsner (12F turf).\u00a0 This led to a berth in the BB Turf, which didn\u2019t turn out so well, so it\u2019s back to Plan A for 2015.\u00a0 Gowans says \u201che is quite simply the best horse I\u2019ve ever had.\u201d\u00a0 \u201cI ran him in the Sand Castle earlier this year, and he didn’t get embarrassed.\u00a0 After an easy Grade 3 win, I thought he was back on track (amazingly with already 25+ starts at that point). But he flopped in the Arkansas race. Knowing I wanted to get in to this race, I knew he needed points. So, I ran him back on 3 weeks against a pretty easy field and he won. He was a little flat again in the race in Kentucky. The easy (really easy this time) hot race prep has worked for me in big races before.\u201d You can\u2019t get much easier than a 56 speed figure (notice how I haven\u2019t mentioned speeds or times in this article yet?), so he should be fresh and sharp.\u00a0 The old boy seems to have some run left in him, but the sands in the hourglass are not on his side.\u00a0 As they say, Father Time is still undefeated. \u201cWith 31 starts, this will probably be his last start. I’m not really going in with any expectations. This race was won with a 109 last year, so who knows what he could do if he has one last effort in him.\u201d\u00a0 And that is why we take a shot!<\/p>\n

PP # 10\u00a0 IDEAL VIEW<\/b> (Ghostzapper o\/o STILETTOS, by A.P. Indy x Sadler\u2019s Wells)\u00a0 has been good for a while. Heretofore unheralded trainer Dahmamas took a patient stance with the filly who appeared to break down in a 3yo maiden race last June.\u00a0 Three months off made her a different beast, reeling off 4 straight wins while skipping conditions,\u00a0 eventually conquering stakes company and an impressive 7 length win at the game\u2019s longest distance.\u00a0 That was enough to convince dahmamas to try Graded company, and she delivered with a late-running 2nd<\/sup> to front-running LOCO COLONY in the G1 Little Rock Stayer.\u00a0 Her cutback to 12F was an off the charts victory in a G2, and she prepped for this with another easy 16F jaunt in a listed stake.\u00a0 Everything seems to be going right for this one, and despite being #5 in the ladies ranks, she snuck into the field with 96 points.\u00a0 That might be bad news for the rest of the bunch because she\u2019s been electric this season and nearly unbeaten \u2013 LOCO COLONY had no pressure in their only matchup.\u00a0 This is definitely one to keep your eye on in late stretch, and with 15 starts lifetime, there\u2019s a good chance she\u2019ll be back next year as well.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

PP # 12\u00a0 FACTOR X<\/b> (The Factor o\/o XTRA BEEP BEEP, by Unbridled\u2019s Song x Seeking The Gold) is the last to make the cut but definitely not the least likely winner in the bunch, for many reasons.\u00a0 First, you have this guy named lightning99 aka deeprock aka Lou aka this freakin\u2019 guy turns junk into marathon gold so often, he\u2019s been awarded an honorary doctorate in metallurgic alchemy.\u00a0 This son of a dam who won all of one race and $9,000 was getting his head bashed in for 20k claimers last summer as a 3yo.\u00a0 The rock nabs him, gives him 4 months on the farm or hyperbaric chamber hotel or whatever he does, the horse comes out running off in deep stretch like DARK MANDU.\u00a0 32 furlongs would be too short for this horse, let alone 14, and he is by THE FACTOR (War Front x Miswaki x Icecapade x Bold Forbes).\u00a0 I can\u2019t figure it out, but Lou sure can, so he deserves to be here on the merit of his late-running 2nd<\/sup> in the Monster Mash (LITTLE COLUMN B) at 28-1.\u00a0 We\u2019ve seen this movie before\u2026 cheap horse with crackpot trainer enters Breeder\u2019s Bowl race, people smirk, horse vastly exceeds expectations while other trainers extract excreta from trousers.\u00a0 Lather, rinse, and repeat.\u00a0 Lou\u2019s only comment was \u201dbe nice to my claimer\u2026 he could be a problem for the favorites\u201d.\u00a0 I agree.\u00a0 And if I were you facing this field of tough-minded trainers, I\u2019d find an undisclosed location to watch the race, in case it goes too well, if you know what I mean.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Good luck to everyone, I hope you enjoyed my version of a preview.\u00a0 Thanks for your sportsmanship and a thoroughly intriguing renewal of my favorite Breeder\u2019s Bowl contest, the Dirt Marathon.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kentucky (KY)Friday, October 30, 2015\u00a0— 2:00:00 PM EST | Race ID :\u00a01415248 Breeders’ Bowl Dirt Marathon \u00a0 \u00a0 Grade I<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":67,"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":[2],"tags":[165,166],"class_list":["post-32892","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews","tag-bb15","tag-breeders-bowl-2015"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32892","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\/67"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32892"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32892\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32898,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32892\/revisions\/32898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32892"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32892"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32892"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}