{"id":46928,"date":"2018-10-05T02:00:50","date_gmt":"2018-10-05T06:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=46928"},"modified":"2018-10-04T17:57:02","modified_gmt":"2018-10-04T21:57:02","slug":"handicapping-the-grade-i-6000000-ark-de-comicdog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/?p=46928","title":{"rendered":"Handicapping the Grade I $6,000,000 Ark De ComicDog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Handicapping the Ark De ComicDog<\/span><\/b>…Field of nineteen go One and a Half Miles over the Turf Course in the $6,000,000 Ark De ComicDog<\/i><\/p>\n

PROJECT SPACE \u2013 <\/b>last was good, really good, but he finished far back against SPICED TURTLE<\/b> in this same race last year and hasn\u2019t demonstrated that he has improved enough to turn the tables in this edition of the Ark<\/i>…needs top effort<\/p>\n

CHEEKY VISITOR \u2013 <\/b>first time starter at 324-1 has no chance…I guess the name says it all…look elsewhere<\/p>\n

XQ’S MOI \u2013 <\/b>has to be some concern exiting the G1 G.P. Von Baden<\/i> <\/b>after crushing the field in the G2 Dutchland<\/i>…your call<\/p>\n

BUGLE BABE \u2013 <\/b>shortened stride <\/b>in his first start against older LTO in the G3 Freer Stakes<\/i>, should benefit from that outing, but faces a tough challenge against these…must not falter<\/p>\n

THE MARK OF LUST \u2013 <\/b>3yo takes on older for the first time in his career, <\/b>was unable to run down a tiring BUGLE BABE<\/b> for the place money in the G1 Owner’s Stakes<\/i>, then getting outstepped by HURRICANE POINT<\/b> in the G1 Saint Legend<\/i> LTO…getting closer<\/p>\n

ROCK MY CLOCK LV \u2013 <\/b>the KOR-bred has been feasting <\/b>on races at the Local level, finished far back in the Celtic Legend Turf Challenge<\/i> four back, his most recent effort outside the Local Division…not with these<\/p>\n

WIDOW’S MONSTER \u2013 <\/b>the 3yo returns to the races after a much-needed break; finished far back in his two starts after winning the highly coveted G1<\/i> <\/i>Derby de English<\/i>…might need a race<\/p>\n

DREAM OF STARS \u2013 <\/b>turned in a huge effort in the <\/b>G1 G.P. Von Baden<\/i>, against a field containing seven G1, three G2, and one G3 winner; the IRE-bred has won three of his last four G1 appearances…dangerous<\/p>\n

TETE CIRYAHER \u2013 <\/b>the 4yo JPN-bred broke a zero for nine month slump with an upset victory in the G1 Saint Cloud Grand Prix<\/i> two back; last, a third place finish from far back in the G1 Judgemont International<\/i>, was good enough to suspect he is rounding into the form that earned him three consecutive Graded victories as a 3yo last season…don\u2019t ignore<\/p>\n

WENTY’S CHARM \u2013 <\/b>the 4yo doesn\u2019t back down from a fight, but enters the field winless in over a year…must show more<\/p>\n

HURRICANE POINT \u2013 <\/b>you have to be impressed by how this 3yo demolished the field in the G2 Greatwood Cup<\/i> and G1 Saint Legend<\/i> in his last two starts, his only stakes appearances; concerned he\u2019s taking on older, don\u2019t be; there are nine older horses from that G2 Greatwood Cup <\/i>that say it\u2019s not a problem…major player<\/p>\n

FINKE DAIMLER \u2013 <\/b>if you are looking for the horse that\u2019s <\/b>getting better with every start then look no further; <\/b>the NZ-bred turned in back-to-back wins in the G2 M-Class<\/i>, where he posted a 120-speed figure, and G1 Greatest Show On Turf<\/i> respectively; was caught late by a surging CINNAMON LV<\/b> in the G1 Judgemont International<\/i> LTO; travels 12-panels for the first time in his career…never better<\/p>\n

SPICED TURTLE \u2013 <\/b>the <\/b>defending champion of the Ark<\/i>, winner of the 2018 Equinics<\/i> and Japan Classic, EOY Award winner<\/i>, Horse of the Year<\/i> recipient, and Hall of Famer<\/i> certainly needs no introduction; oh, and did I mention he\u2019s never been beaten in a race over 10-Furlongs…one to beat<\/p>\n

FINKE SEAYOU \u2013 <\/b>the 4yo Frankel<\/i> Colt enters the field off an impressive victory against a talented field in the G1 Sword Swallower Stakes<\/i> LTO; freshened since that start, expect the ENG-bred to stalk the early leaders entering the stretch in what will be the biggest test of his career…in top form<\/p>\n

FINAL REALM \u2013 <\/b>there is no doubt this 3yo Filly is headed to an EOY<\/i> Award in her division, and she could have taken the easy way out and ran against 3yo fillies in the G1 Vicky Stakes<\/i> on November3; so kudos for taking on a huge task this Sunday; the concern is her last start when she took on older fillies and turned in the poorest effort of her career in the G1 Vermillion Stakes<\/i> finishing 13-lengths behind the leader…red flags are up<\/p>\n

CINNAMON LV \u2013 <\/b>the FR-bred is the only horse in this field to enter the race off consecutive G1 victories; beating the likes of TETE CIRYAHER <\/b>and FINKE DAIMLER<\/b> in the G1 Judgemont International<\/i>, and ALMOST TERMINAL<\/b> and DREAM OF STARS<\/b> in the G1 King Geoff and Queen Beth’s Emerald Stakes<\/i> earning him high marks in this field and establish him as a serious contender…main threat<\/p>\n

BEST BITE EVER \u2013 <\/b>the 4yo IRE-bred has shown sparks of brilliance in his 17 race career but has capitalized only once at the graded level when he won the G1 New Zealand Darby<\/i> in March; a recent bout of seconditis earns him bridesmaid status once again…happy with part<\/p>\n

ALMOST TERMINAL \u2013 <\/b>the 4yo gelding turned in an impressive performance winning the G1 Grand Brazilian<\/i> but came up short against the likes of this field in his last two outings…chance to menace off best<\/p>\n

REY DEL LLANO \u2013 <\/b>although the ENG-bred has turned in a pair of third place finishes in the G1 John Scott Appreciation Stakes<\/i> and G1 G.P. Von Baden<\/i> in recent starts, he is still looking for his first victory in over nine months making him hard to endorse in such a talented field…would surprise<\/p>\n

The Contenders<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

DREAM OF STARS \u2013 has been facing the best and is poised for the upset<\/b><\/p>\n

TETE CIRYAHER \u2013 could be regaining his 3yo form to grab a minor share<\/b><\/p>\n

HURRICANE POINT \u2013 could be this good, a must in your exotics<\/b><\/p>\n

FINKE DAIMLER \u2013 improves with each start and may be ready for a new top<\/b><\/p>\n

SPICED TURTLE \u2013 strictly the one to beat<\/b><\/p>\n

CINNAMON LV \u2013 knows how to get the job done<\/b><\/p>\n

The Picks<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

SPICED TURTLE \u2013 until proven otherwise<\/b><\/p>\n

DREAM OF STARS \u2013 huge chance for upset<\/b><\/p>\n

HURRICANE POINT \u2013 talk of the town<\/b><\/p>\n

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

Handicapping the Ark De ComicDog…Field of nineteen go One and a Half Miles over the Turf Course in the $6,000,000<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":443,"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":[],"class_list":["post-46928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-previews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46928","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\/443"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46928"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46928\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46947,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46928\/revisions\/46947"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46928"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46928"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46928"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}