{"id":4489,"date":"2007-07-20T22:07:11","date_gmt":"2007-07-20T22:07:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=4489"},"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=4489","title":{"rendered":"I Make Stuff Up, General’s Chariot, Northern Pirate lead Smackdown III top guns"},"content":{"rendered":"

Texas<\/STRONG>–\u00a0\u00a0 Who’s says owner-restricted company is a cakewalk?\u00a0\u00a0 Definitely not easy as pie on Smackdown day, that’s for sure.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ve got a wonderful field here in the $500,000 older horse turf sprint — two Sim-wide champions, a couple of wondermares, a plethora of hot stakes winners, and\u00a0(last but not least!) ’07 Grade 1 hero\u00a0Northern Pirate<\/STRONG>, one of the leading grass monsters this season.<\/DIV>
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The GR Simsters, Northwest Racing Circuit,<\/EM> and Down Under Racing<\/EM> residencies send out a mighty crew to tackle the three-quarters.\u00a0 Each residency\u00a0presents a Top Gun too:\u00a0 \u00a0Northern Pirate (DUR), I Make Stuff Up<\/STRONG> (GR Simsters; \u00a0’06 Sim Eclipse Turf Sprint champ) and General’s Chariot<\/STRONG> (NWRC;\u00a0 ’05 Sim Eclipse Sprint champ) share co-fave status at 6\/1\u00a0each.\u00a0\u00a0 All three have struggled a bit of late and they’re gonna have their hooves full again with plenty of classy horses waiting to make a huge splash.\u00a0 Ends In Ski<\/STRONG> (7\/1) is the big outsider who might make a name for himself here.\u00a0\u00a0 Let’s meet the lineup………\u00a0<\/DIV>
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GR Simsters<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I Make Stuff Up<\/STRONG> (6\/1)\u00a0– lenny3<\/EM><\/DIV>
Despite not having won a graded race this year, Lenny’s wondercolt boasts # 1-ranking in the older horse turf sprint division.\u00a0\u00a0 He gains the ranking based on his victory in\u00a0last fall’s\u00a0inaugural BB Turf Sprint in addition to his\u00a0one listed\u00a0stakes victory and a 3rd-place Sydney Sprint(G1)<\/EM> finish\u00a0in 2007.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Yeah, yeah, ho-hum in a weak division.\u00a0\u00a0 But look again — I Make Stuff Up has a pair of close-up 4ths since in the Rising Sun(G1)<\/EM> and Golden Jamboree(G1)<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 Great 109 and 105 SP#s to boot really provide the power behind I Make Stuff Up’s ’07 punch.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The 4yo son of Mineshaft is just unlucky.\u00a0\u00a0 He needs to rekindle that over-the-top stretch drive of his.\u00a0\u00a0 Any way you look at it, this colt’s plain due.\u00a0\u00a0 Northern Pirate appears to be a little off.\u00a0\u00a0 General’s Chariot might be past it.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u00a0really think I Make Stuff Up is the Top Gun to beat here — the rest of the field is\u00a0gonna need a lot of luck to hold of this colt….\u00a0but watch out for Ends In Ski.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Ends In Ski<\/STRONG>\u00a0(7\/1) – fairhaven2<\/EM><\/DIV>
Woogedy, woogedy, WOOGEDY!\u00a0 This Numerous colt is quite a number.\u00a0\u00a0 8-for-13 lifetime, winning 5 of his last 6.\u00a0\u00a0 Mhhmm.\u00a0\u00a0 Gorgeous 105, 107, and 111 SP#s in 3 straight stakes victories (G2 in his last).\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Patiently handled, climbing the ladder in textbook fashion.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Stop the presses!<\/DIV>
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I Make Stuff Up may be the Top Gun to beat, but Ends In Ski is that one outsider right at his throat.\u00a0\u00a0 Fairhaven drew a lousy jockey, but\u00a0the 4yo youngster appears versatile on the pace or from about midpack.\u00a0 Wow, one to watch.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Polish pride all the way, baby.\u00a0\u00a0 GR Simsters brings majorly double-trouble.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Starfall(IRE)<\/STRONG> (13\/1) – given3<\/EM><\/DIV>
I still like Dan’s Giant’s Causeway up-and-comer a lot.\u00a0 Beautiful royal bred who finished up last year dominating the listed stakes ranks.\u00a0 Then Dan brought Starfall out earlier this season in that G1 Look To Heavens<\/EM> for 4yos only.\u00a0 It was a lite field, but the colt ran big for the runnerup spot.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In hindsight, those 4yo-only races were decent, bringing out top divisional contenders like Borracho, Cronus, and more.\u00a0 Definitely count Starfall as one of ’em.\u00a0\u00a0<\/DIV>
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However, Starfall just couldn’t continue to climb the ladder.\u00a0 He threw a clinker in May’s KY Horsemen Elixir Sprint(G1)<\/EM> and ran a bit\u00a0dully in the Golden Jamboree(G1)<\/EM> LTO.\u00a0\u00a0 The colt did garner a listed score in between.\u00a0\u00a0 The stalker just needs to put it all together and finally throw one\u00a0of those big 105+ speed figures.\u00a0\u00a0 I would be surprised to not see this guy at least a closeup 4th or 5th.\u00a0\u00a0 He’ll really have to dig deep and show up square-n-narrow for the victory though.\u00a0\u00a0 Quite possible however — very talented.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/DIV>
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Brego <\/STRONG>(15\/1) – claymore<\/EM><\/DIV><\/DIV>
My favorite name in the Sim.\u00a0 \ud83d\ude42\u00a0\u00a0Brego tried to storm the Helm’s Deep (errrr, Grade 1 KY Horsemen Elixir<\/EM>)\u00a0gates three back and kind of missed the glorious charge, finishing a well beaten\u00a09th.\u00a0 The Rainbow Quest 4yo had previously tossed some nice speed figs around one-turn and was a stakes winner too.\u00a0\u00a0 the closer bafgged a nice ALW around 5.5f LTO.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Good chance for a minor share in this spot.\u00a0\u00a0 He might even better that since he’s coming a confidence-boosting victory.\u00a0\u00a0 I really think you should try to string together some victories after this.\u00a0\u00a0 He just won his NW4x — try to string together some listed and ALW scores with strong speed figrues.\u00a0 He’s only got 17 starts, so you’re gonna have a good horse next year too.\u00a0\u00a0 We’re gonna hear more from Brego down the divisional road.<\/DIV>
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Speightful <\/STRONG>(16\/1) – reman12000<\/EM><\/DIV>
Woo!\u00a0\u00a0 Reman’s been hiding this Speightstown 4yo here, there, anywhere except the turf sprint ranks!\u00a0\u00a0 That is, until three starts ago when Speightful found himself in a 6.5f turf sprint allowance.\u00a0\u00a0 He was a decent grass miler before and can run about equal over the main track.\u00a0\u00a0 But around one-turn on the turf, look out!\u00a0 The colt won 3 straight for Reman including a\u00a0pair of listed level stakes purses.\u00a0<\/DIV>
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At first glance, 98 SP#s aren’t a big\u00a0bowl of hooey, but hey!\u00a0This guy can find the winner’s circle from off pace.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s 10-for-22 lifetime,\u00a0and has a recent graded start which wans’t too shabby over a flat mile.\u00a0\u00a0 Gotta call this colt a live sleeper.\u00a0 Granted, he faces the big boys now, so it can go either way.\u00a0\u00a0 But he’s the kind of entry that might sneak in there for the board.\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Down Under Racing<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Northern Pirate<\/STRONG> (6\/1)\u00a0– jockeymax<\/EM><\/DIV>
Max-factor times two!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jockeymax enters his two “Northerns” — and, of course, everybody’s eyes are on the big hoss, Northern Pirate, son of ubermare Crimson Pirate.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Northern Pirate upset the Penn Dash(G1)<\/EM> late last year on DelPenn Champions Day.\u00a0\u00a0 He then\u00a0overwhelmed the Generals Pals Sprint Show II(G1)<\/EM>.\u00a0 \u00a0That was an awesome and ‘Pirate crushed ’em with a huge 114 SP#, one of the fastest turf sprints at any level this season.\u00a0\u00a0 The earlybird running for the Sim Eclispe turf sprint championship looked like his for the taking.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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But, alas, Northern Pirate has hit a wall of late.\u00a0 Don’t get me wrong, he ran an excellent 4th from downtown in the KY Horsemen(G1)<\/EM> after the Generals Pals<\/EM>.\u00a0\u00a0 That was to be expected as kind of a “bounce race.”\u00a0 But he ran kind of even steven in the Rising Sun(G1)<\/EM> — the race was better than it looks though on paper — ‘Pirate suffered from big traffic woes in a freak race.\u00a0\u00a0 I’d forgive him that effort, but then he ran a crummy 4th place at the listed level.\u00a0\u00a0 I expected him to outclass the short field — maybe Max just had ‘Pirate on .9 effort.\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Regadless,\u00a0the Belong To Me colt\u00a0must be respected.\u00a0\u00a0 He can turn things around\u00a0on a dime and figures to get solid (but not superior which is good for him!) speed up front.\u00a0\u00a0 I would\u00a0be shocked if he did not hit the board.\u00a0\u00a0 From way, way downtown.<\/DIV>
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Sadler’s Wood<\/STRONG> (14\/1) – snappa7<\/EM>\u00a0<\/DIV>
Sanppa snapped up this Woodman royual bred for $20k in a claiming race\u00a0several starts back.\u00a0 The 4yo colt wnet on to win a few Starters for Snappa at a flat mile.\u00a0\u00a0 Great claim!\u00a0\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0\u00a0 =)<\/DIV>
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However, this is kind of puzzling.\u00a0\u00a0 The colt was a sprinter before Snappa won the shake, placing him in short routes with great success.\u00a0\u00a0 Now Sadler’s Wood returns to his old ways around one-turn — granted he was 10-for-18 sprint ITM prior to Snappa’s claim.\u00a0 Speedster steps way up in class.\u00a0\u00a0 Sometimes they run like gangbusters, but most of the time, they tank.\u00a0\u00a0 Still, Sadler’s Wood carries the DUR flag with an outside dark horse shot.\u00a0\u00a0 We’ll see what happens.\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Loneon(AUS)<\/STRONG> (15\/1) – scout4<\/EM><\/DIV>
Lohnro 4yo colt ran a runnerup 102 SP# around 7.5f a few starts back.\u00a0\u00a0 It was versus stakes company too.\u00a0\u00a0 The colt mostly tackles short routes but can earn some dough around one-turn too when necessary.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Loneon joins the closers.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0You gotta like his black type experience — he’s been around a block or two with a 4-for-24 lifetime record.\u00a0 Just hasn’t won much though and unfortunately draws into an exceptional turf sprint field here.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Solid money earner hopes for a piece of the purse at best, but needs to bring his as-yet-unknown A+-game.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Northern Chant<\/STRONG> (21\/1) – jockeymax1<\/EM><\/DIV>
Jockeymax’s “B” horse was a man one-two punch.\u00a0\u00a0 Northern Chant was a graded winner last year on the 3yo turf sprint circuit.\u00a0\u00a0 He actually outshined Northern Pirate for a moment there too!\u00a0\u00a0 But the speedy Northern Chant didn’t move onwards as a 4yo.\u00a0\u00a0 The War Chant colt has won a couple minor races, but nothing big.\u00a0\u00a0 And when he’s tested the graded level, he’s been up the track, hot-n-dirty.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s cracked the 100 SP# barrier only once this season and faded versus ALW company LTO.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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A tough nut to crack.\u00a0\u00a0 Just what has gotten into Northern Chant?\u00a0\u00a0 With 11-for-29 lifetime record, he sure has had a ton of starts even for a\u00a04yo.\u00a0\u00a0 Needs to wake up and in a hurry to be much of a factor for DUR.\u00a0\u00a0 Speedster faces some fit pacesetters too.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Cross your fingers!<\/DIV>
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Thirty Two Magic<\/STRONG> (30\/1) – silks2912<\/EM><\/DIV>
King Cugat 6yo horse specializes around a grassy one-turn.\u00a0\u00a0 ‘Magic hasn’t won in a spell, but he punches the clock decent enough in ALWs and minor stakes.\u00a0\u00a0 The old man brings a 9-for-46 lifetime record and has been in the moeny in nearly half of those lifetime calls to the post.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Thirty Two Magic comes in here after a couple of up-the-track performances at the listed stakes level.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s the longest shot on the board and this will likely be his biggest race ever.\u00a0\u00a0 Hey, ya never know what the stalker will be thinking.\u00a0\u00a0 Will ‘Magic cast a spell over the field?\u00a0\u00a0 Will he charm the heck out of railbirds, betting him down to 1\/2?\u00a0 Or will he feistiness win over the crowd as he proudly parades the DUR’s retired colors, huffing, stamping, and puffing\u00a0to the starting gate as if to boast, “Look at you Sim fan, bet me to\u00a0‘Thirty-Two’ and\u00a0I’ll come home a winner!\u00a0 Guaranteed!”\u00a0\u00a0 Ha!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Northwest Racing Circuit<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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General’s Chariot<\/STRONG> (6\/1) – proudtruth<\/EM><\/DIV>
The old man finally picked up a victory LTO at the listed level.\u00a0\u00a0 Poor General, one too many grades for him ealrier this season — he hadn’t done much at all for me in ’07 and I just should’ve dropped him a level sooner.\u00a0\u00a0 Short field LTO and he was the odds-on fave.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Does the 102 SP# look better on paper or did he indeed just need a victory to get back on track?\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Litmus test and draws the dreaded 15-hole.\u00a0 Blah.\u00a0\u00a0But the defending 2006 NWRC Horse of The Year,\u00a0proudly carries the Circuit’s colors to the post.\u00a0\u00a0 =)\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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A.P. Geisha<\/STRONG> (10\/1) – sera<\/EM><\/DIV>
What a lovely AP Indy grand dame!\u00a0\u00a0 She’s finished in the money in 29 of 36 and positively adores the grassy one-turn.\u00a0\u00a0 And don’t think that the 5yo aims to slip silently into the retired sunset either — AP Geisha has won 2 of his last 3 stakes starts with 106 and 102 SP#s, very respectable times.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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This speedster’s still competitive in the grades and, doggone it, she’s got a good shot here at garnering a piece of the prize money.\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, she’ll face some heavy competition for the pace, but she can tuff stuff out on her best days.\u00a0\u00a0 Seven panles might be more to her liking, but no worries.\u00a0\u00a0 The ‘Geisha Gal is all about beauty and poetry in motion.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Look for her blazing out front, smooth as\u00a0a a sweet sip of brandy — preferably from the winner’s circle trophy!\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Six Guns Blazing<\/STRONG> (10\/1) – murray2<\/EM><\/DIV>
Yeah!\u00a0\u00a0 Murray has a live sleeper in this experienced 4yo son of Pine Bluff.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The colt’s been at the top of his game of late, slipshot style from midpack.\u00a0 Three straight 100+s in stakes and ALW company around one turn sure see him a contender for a minor share.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Six Guns Blazing doesn’t win often with a 6-for-28 lifetime record, but he earns his dues at the listed level.\u00a0\u00a0 He’s the kind of longshot that can sneak up on ya if you’re not careful with your trifectas.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Could he jump up another level in the graded-quality company here?\u00a0\u00a0 Does he need the pace to run at all along?\u00a0\u00a0 Possible.\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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The Seeker<\/STRONG> (12\/1) – kobras\u00a0<\/EM><\/DIV>
I was heady on The Seeker’s chances earlier this season.\u00a0\u00a0 The Seeking The Gold 4yo was a late-blooming speedster last year who ran a spendid 4th in the Everclear Handicap(G2)<\/EM> back in January.\u00a0 He set the pace in that one and later followed that huge effort up with a 105 SP# score at the listed level.\u00a0\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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But, alas, The Seeker seemed to be just a shooting star.\u00a0\u00a0 The colt plunged back to the earth in the KY Horsemen(G1)<\/EM> and Rising Sun(G1)<\/EM> — both poor races on his part, well up the track.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Granted, he couldn’t garner a solo or at least semi-early lead in those races, running into buzzsaw pacesetters.\u00a0\u00a0 The colt dueled\u00a0again\u00a0in the King’s Fall(G2)<\/EM> around 5f LTO.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0He hung on for a minor share, but it was still a decline in form.\u00a0\u00a0 Bottom line, The Seeker faces difficult fields and with a\u00a04-for-19 lifetime record, you gotta wonder whther he needs to string together some victories at the lesser level.\u00a0\u00a0 Beware though — this colt reeks of talent.\u00a0\u00a0 He just needs to put it all together.\u00a0\u00a0<\/DIV>
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Follow The Path<\/STRONG> (13\/1) – <\/STRONG>woodhead<\/EM>\u00a0<\/STRONG><\/DIV>
Another grand old mare who brings a 9-for-34 lifetime record.\u00a0\u00a0 Follow The Path races hard and races often.\u00a0 And that suits her to a “T” too — she’s been very consistent, earning many a cheque at the listed level.\u00a0\u00a0 She’s bagged some triumphs too with a 106 SP# score earlier this year.\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, the\u00a0mare is no stranger to racing versus the boys — she finished 3rd in the very swift Simon & Simon Cap(G3)<\/EM> earlier this season after setting the early lead.\u00a0\u00a0 A big 107 SP# in that one.\u00a0 <\/DIV>
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Follow The Path took to closing LTO in a shot field stakes and she didn’t run well scoring only an 88 SP# for the 3rd place finish.\u00a0\u00a0 Perhaps that was an “off” race for the Sadler’s Wells 5yo mare.\u00a0\u00a0 She enters here on 3 weeks rest.\u00a0\u00a0 Loads of talent in this gal — gotta question her vigorous race shcedule, then testing these top-tier boys.\u00a0\u00a0You never know though — she seems like an “on and off again” type, and it looks like an “on again” race at least on paper.\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0
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Snowchief’s Picks:<\/DIV>
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Awesome field!\u00a0\u00a0 I think GR Simsters has it here with Ends In Ski over I Make Stuff Up.\u00a0\u00a0 Northern Pirate over General’s Chariot, Speightful, and Starfall.\u00a0\u00a0 Good luck everyone!\u00a0\u00a0 And thanks to all involved for a great Smackdown Day!\u00a0\u00a0 Goooooo NWRC!\u00a0 =)<\/DIV>
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Win:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ends In Ski<\/DIV>
Place:\u00a0 I Make Stuff Up<\/DIV>
Show:\u00a0 Northern Pirate<\/DIV>
Longshot:\u00a0 Six Guns Blazing<\/DIV><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Positively gorgeous field for turf sprint battle-royale<\/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-4489","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4489","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=4489"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4489\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}