{"id":3417,"date":"2006-12-15T16:55:35","date_gmt":"2006-12-15T16:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=3417"},"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=3417","title":{"rendered":"Superstars Horseshoe Bay, Sunnybank Memorial, turf titans in final ’06 show"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pennsylvania<\/STRONG>–\u00a0\u00a0 We’ve been so lucky this year\u00a0following probably the two best horses ever to grace the Sim.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sunnybank Memorial<\/STRONG> and Horseshoe Bay<\/STRONG> have both in turn rewritten the definition of “Sim superhorse.”\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Fittingly on DelPenn Champions Day,\u00a0Memo and Bay Bay\u00a0meet in what may be the final chapter to their historic rivalry.\u00a0\u00a0 It’s the\u00a0Grade 1 $1,500,000 Penn Allied Assault<\/EM> (formerly named Penn Marathon<\/EM>).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And a great story awaits………<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
In\u00a0Allied Assault’s Footsteps?<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
The DelPenn residency\u00a0renamed this race\u00a0in honor of\u00a0three-time Penn Marathon<\/EM> winner\u00a0Allied Assault<\/A><\/STRONG>.\u00a0\u00a0 Masterab’s 2003 Breeders Bowl Turf hero positively adored\u00a0DelPenn day, capturing this race not only in 2003 and 2004, but also in his final career bow in\u00a02005.\u00a0\u00a0 Allied Assault then retired on a winning note.\u00a0\u00a0 He later entered a pantheon of Sim greats as an unanimous selection\u00a0to the Sim Hall Of Fame<\/A><\/STRONG>.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Allied Assault was a 5yo last year\u00a0and so is Sunnybank Memorial this season.\u00a0\u00a0The pair shared many head-to-head matchups.\u00a0 Memo\u00a0surpassed Allied Assault’s\u00a040 lifetime starts mark (Memo makes his 47th trip Saturday).\u00a0\u00a0 One must wonder\u00a0if\u00a0Lilbitfarm shall follow suit and\u00a0call it a sunset for Memo.\u00a0\u00a0 Especially if Memo\u00a0upsets the 4yo Horseshoe Bay Saturday.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Memo vs Bay Bay Rivalry<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
But enough about that speculation — what about the Bay Bay vs Memo 2006 rivalry?\u00a0\u00a0 The duo first met this season in the Sim Equinics<\/EM> back in February.\u00a0\u00a0 Neither won that contest though.\u00a0\u00a0In March though, they matched up again in the John Scott Appreciation(G1)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 Both were at their best and Bay Bay overpowered Memo down the lane.\u00a0\u00a0 The duo finished one-two in a splendid contest.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
The rivalry had to wait as the pair went their seperate ways.\u00a0\u00a0 Horseshoe Bay competed in April’s Sand Castle Festival<\/EM>, then won three straight at California, Ireland, and New York.\u00a0\u00a0 He also sandwiched in a whopping 3-month layoff.\u00a0\u00a0 That gutsy training decision by Texasace proved invaluable — the colt came back on fire, throwing huge\u00a0speed figures and you can possibly speculate that the layoff proved key to the\u00a0second-half of his ’06 season.\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Meanwhile, Sunnybank Memorial opted for a vigorous path that would lead him to Sim\u00a0history.\u00a0\u00a0 Memo set a new all-time graded wins record following his victory in the late springtime\u00a0United Countries Handicap(G1)<\/EM>.\u00a0 He dueled and lost sometimes to\u00a0his other rivals (Rain God, Puppet Regime and more).\u00a0\u00a0 But folks positively loved Memo setting his 4th career Sim record (he also owns the all-time Grade 1 victories record and at one time held the consecutive Grade 1 and graded win streak records).\u00a0\u00a0 This reporter thought him to be the\u00a0new “greatest Sim horse ever.”\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
To The Breeders Bowl<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Finally, September rolled in and Bay Bay and Memo were ready to renew\u00a0their rivalry.\u00a0\u00a0 New York’s Man o’ War Stakes(G1)<\/EM> proved beyond all wonder with Memo triumphing a length-and-a-quarter in the clear over Horseshoe Bay’s late charge.\u00a0\u00a0 Unbelievably awesome!\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Texasace chose the Arc de Triumph(G1)<\/EM> for Horseshoe Bay’s final Breeders Bowl prep and the big horse won handily, defeating 3yo upstart Lex Luthor.\u00a0\u00a0 Lilbitfarm and Sunnybank Memorial stayed in New\u00a0York for the Classic Turf(G1)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 Unfortunately, Memo threw a dull effort, finishing fifth.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
November’s Breeders Bowl Turf<\/EM> had all the makings of another fabulous star event.\u00a0\u00a0 You had Memo, Bay Bay, Lex Luthor, Rapid Grey, Puppet Regime, Cortez(IRE) and more turf heavyweights.\u00a0\u00a0 By the wire though, it was all a one-horse show with Horseshoe Bay breaking all hearts.\u00a0\u00a0 He\u00a0just hit another stratosphere, winning by 4 lengths in an amazing 2:28 1\/5, a 117 SP#<\/STRONG>.\u00a0 \u00a0Memo struggled home with the rest of the field, finishing 9th.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Final Chapter?<\/STRONG><\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
<\/FONT><\/STRONG>\u00a0<\/DIV>
The oddsmakers sure are confident.\u00a0\u00a0 They’ve set Horseshoe Bay as the heavy 8\/5 favorite<\/STRONG> in Saturday’s big race.\u00a0 Sunnybank Memorial naturally takes the second-choice spot, but he had to settle for 9\/2<\/STRONG>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
But DelPenn is known for upsets.\u00a0 It’s not been kind either to Breeders Bowl victors (no BB winner won on DPCD day in 2005).\u00a0\u00a0 Can Sunnybank Memorial dig down deep in his 47th career call to post?\u00a0\u00a0 Can he\u00a0go once more to the well and upset rival Horseshoe Bay?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Win or lose, will he retire or\u00a0will Lilbitfarm set a new goal:\u00a0\u00a0 breaking Joe Cayenne’s\u00a0all-time earnings of\u00a0$13-million?\u00a0 Memo’s only $3-million away — possible!<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Horse of the Year is on the line for\u00a0Horseshoe Bay.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This reporter believes he’s sown up the turf horse championship (Seeking Sal might have something to say about that though!).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And I daresay, Baby rides the coattails of Sim history too — if he can follow that Breeders Bowl with a victory here, then you really have to consider him as the undisputed “greatest Sim horse ever.”\u00a0\u00a0 Each\u00a0great horse has their merits, but Horseshoe Bay is just at another untapped level now.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
The Rest Of The Field<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Oh, what an\u00a0awful way to describe the remaining entrants!\u00a0\u00a0 And I don’t take that lightly too, since I have one of my own horses\u00a0in this race\u00a0(Confederacy <\/STRONG>10\/1).\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
But I just can’t see Horseshoe Bay losing this race.\u00a0\u00a0 Memo and wrecks2’s Puppet Regime<\/STRONG> might have\u00a0shots, but they both lost to Lex Luthor in the Japan Classic(G1)<\/EM> three weeks.\u00a0\u00a0 Horseshoe Bay was able to run down that 3yo pacesetter twice.\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude41<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
*And* three of the four Breeders Bowl Turf pacesetters\u00a0return: \u00a0snappa4’s Director<\/STRONG>, ninerdust’s Ballisodare,<\/STRONG> and Confederacy.\u00a0\u00a0 All three got pummeled, fading badly as also-rans in the BB.\u00a0 If all three go at it again (or at least 2 of the 3), then you can’t ask for a better scenario for Horseshoe Bay.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s gonna get plenty of targets to run at.\u00a0\u00a0 And I think it’s doubtful that one of those three pacesetters will seize a commanding solo lead.\u00a0 Jakematt’s longshot ALWer Barb’s Class<\/STRONG> might factor into that fray as well.\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Director won the Coalminer Cup<\/EM> (I think over Rain God) and Ballisodare won the Bluegrass Cup Turf<\/EM> and finished 2nd to Memo in the United Countries<\/EM>.\u00a0 Confederacy won a couple late-season grades.\u00a0\u00a0 All three are good horses.\u00a0\u00a0Director has tons of upside since this is only the sophomore’s 10th career start.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Puppet Regime deserves a lot of respect.\u00a0\u00a0 If he can regain his form, it would be quite an upset story.\u00a0\u00a0He’s one of the heavyweights of the division especially earlier this year.\u00a0\u00a0 I think he won on Sand Castle day (the PPs don’t go back that far, sorry).\u00a0 However, he’s just not throwing the numbers right now comparable to Horseshoe Bay on paper at least.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
You can also consider ratt49’s Extortionist<\/STRONG>.\u00a0\u00a0 The 5yo has only made six starts this season (looks like his trainer recently returned to the Sim — welcome back!).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Extortionist was a Grade 2 winner in the summer and\u00a0finished 4th in the BB Turf.\u00a0 Granted he was 17 1\/2 lengths behind Horseshoe Bay and you can very well say Extortionist was “best of the rest.”\u00a0\u00a0 The closer put forth a similar effort in the Japan Classic LTO.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
I like gboro’s new face here:\u00a0\u00a0 Gallant Wings(GB).<\/STRONG>\u00a0\u00a0 The 4yo In the Wings(GB) son won the Grade 3 Carleton Fisk<\/EM> over this distance LTO from behind the pace.\u00a0\u00a0 Granted, he got pummeled by Ballisodare in the Bluegrass Cup Turf<\/EM> this autumn, so you can possibly suspect the quality of the field in that Grade 3.\u00a0\u00a0 Still, love to see a horse on the upswing in form.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Kronus sends out an interesting dark horse.\u00a0 K’s Abbundanza<\/STRONG>\u00a0(21\/1) has a royal AP Indy x Nijinsky II x Buckpasser pedigree.\u00a0\u00a0 the 4yo colt has 21 starts, but recently found his groove in\u00a010f+ marathons.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s raced his entire career over the main track, save for one start on the grass.\u00a0\u00a0 That came early in a 3yo season — he finished 4th in a MSW mile race.\u00a0\u00a0 I could write some more details about him, but suffice to say that he’s untested over the grass at 12f, but is a stakes winner over this distance on the main track.\u00a0\u00a0 Very interesting!<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
The final entry is obviously misplaced.\u00a0\u00a0 Sherman8’s claimer Madhibby Wood<\/STRONG> (90\/1) doesn’t belong at this level.\u00a0\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Snowchief’s Picks<\/U>:\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Win:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Horseshoe Bay\u00a0 (upset of the day if he loses)<\/FONT><\/DIV>
Place:\u00a0\u00a0 Ballisodare<\/FONT><\/DIV>
Show:\u00a0\u00a0 Sunnybank Memorial or Puppet Regime<\/FONT><\/DIV>
<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Sorry I didn’t write a normal preview — I have another DPCD preview still and just wanted to write something different.\u00a0\u00a0 :^)\u00a0\u00a0 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
\u00a0<\/DIV>
Good luck to all!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/FONT>\u00a0<\/DIV><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

$1.5 million on the line in Penn Allied Assault(G1)<\/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-3417","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3417","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=3417"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3417\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3417"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3417"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3417"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}