Eight big grade one races on tap this weekend. You could call it a turf festival with six of the eight races run on the grass. This could also be referred to as Breeder\u2019s Bowl prep week for the Breeder\u2019s Bowl Turf with three mile and a half grade one races this week. There are also three grade one races for juveniles and with just three weeks till Breeder\u2019s Bowl it is probably safe to say the winners of these races will likely not recover in time for the Breeder\u2019s Bowl. Lets get to the races. <\/P>
Race: 3364.3513 <\/B> Just a field of eight runners will contest the Lex Luthor finished second here last year as a three year old. Lex had a long three year old campaign that saw him win the Derby de English and the Japan Classic. He has had a much easier race schedule this year making just his seventh start of the year. He has won five of those starts including a pair of grade one races in June. He had a nice easy prep for this race after a couple of months off so he should be ready for a top effort. He will go to the front the only question is if anybody will be good enough to catch him today. <\/P> Good to be King has been a very solid horse in his career. He has lacked the punch to put him at the top of this class, still he has kept great company most of his career. He faces the best on many occasions and that experience is what makes him dangerous. His recent races have been some of his best so he could also be stepping it up a bit as he comes off a nice grade two win. His running style seems to vary as he was off the pace for his win last time but on the pace in the race before that. A definite for the exotics and if he steps it up a level could be a player for the win. <\/P> For a bit of a long shot take a long look at the three year old Rainband. He has a whole bunch of races for a three year old at seventeen. When he was finally stretched out he started to show he has talent. He has won four of five route races including his last three. His last two have come at a mile and a quarter where he won both his last race a grade two event. His speed figures are solid and he can likely improve with more distance. He comes from way off the pace and seems to be a wild card in this event. <\/P> Race: 3364.5315 Coalminer Cup<\/SPAN> – Grade I – $1,500,000<\/B> The million and a half purse draws eleven runners led by Secret\u2019s Gold and Ottoman Turks. Ottoman Turks seems the better of the two if only because he is younger and less raced. He has just thirteen career starts having won eight of them. He has won two grade one races this year but when he was not the fastest from the gates in his last two he failed miserably. There are other pace horses in here so the start will be interesting. I think Ottoman Turks needs to be on the lead or pressing from second. If he drops behind the pace by more than a length write him off, to this point in his career he has yet to prove he can come from off the pace. <\/P> Secret\u2019s Gold is getting long in the tooth with thirty-seven career starts. The thing going for him is that he is in some of the best form of his career. He has back to back good efforts in open allowance company with 105 and 104 speed figures. That is likely what type of speed figure the winner will earn here. Another thing to like is the way the pace sets up for him. He will be off the pace where there will be several runners and should get a good trip. If he backs up his last two allowance runs he is a player. <\/P> Past the top two I like a couple of three year olds. F Speed has not done anything at the grade one level to this point but the competition is not that strong. He is coming out of a grade three event at a shorter distance where he earned a 105 speed figure. He has a win at this distance a couple of races before that in the grade three Derby de Danish. His speed figures have been better at slightly shorter distances but he is only three and has room to improve unlike most of this field. He will be stalking the early pace in a good position to make an impact. <\/P> The long shot I like here is Max California another three year old. Max has made his way through his allowance conditions this year. In his last three he has won a restricted stakes and an open stakes with solid enough speed figures. He could be one of those that never improves from what he is now or he could be one of those about to burst onto the scene with a career best effort. He cuts back in distance here will come from off the pace and is not that far off the top runners speed figure wise already all plusses for this long shot. <\/P> Race: 3364.0415 Classic Turf Stakes<\/SPAN> – Grade I – $750,000<\/B> Just seven runners show up for this grade one headed by Another Tenpin Tap. Another Tenpin Tap has been knocking on the door all summer long running very nice speed figures. He is facing a couple of runners here sort of in the same boat but at this point he looks clearly better. His last four races have all been at the grade one level where he has finished second three times and third once. Tenpin Tap likes to be near the front of the pack stalking and pouncing which could be an ideal place to be in a shorter field. <\/P> There are two other runners that look as though they could threaten the favorite Stunning Blow and Simulation King. If not for two horrible races Stunning Blow might be the favorite here. He has bombed his last two times out and there does not seem to be a good reason why other than he was off form. Before that he race a couple of very nice speed figures finishing in the money with speed figures of 110 and 106. Those speed figures put him in the mix here. He has not won a race since April and should likely turn his form around here. He will stalk the pace probably be close up early looking to turn his fortunes around. <\/P> Simulation King is a grade one winner at this distance but he does not have overpowering speed figures. He is still lightly raced and has room to improve but this late as a four year old not sure by how much he can improve. In his wins he came from way off the pace and likely will be well back here. In his recent races he went to the lead before finishing fourth in the Sword Swallower and failed to fire the next time out. The pace here does not look strong and the other two favorites are stalkers so he will have his work cut out for him. <\/P> Race: 3364.0414 Flower Pot Stakes<\/SPAN> – Grade I – $750,000<\/B> Nine fillies and mares are led by co favorites Red Royal and Change My Mind in the Flower Pot. Red Royal ran a freakish 112 speed figure last time out and she ran second in that race. Back in March she ran a pretty fast speed figure in a listed stakes and backed that up the next time out with a grade three win. The distance may get her though. She has proven to be quite good at a mile and an eighth but to this point her mile and a quarter races have not been as good. She is a middle of the pack type runner so look for her to make a late run. <\/P> Change My Mind has shown improving speed figures in each of her last five races. During that time she has won a pair of listed stakes and last time out finished second in the grade one Demona Handicap. She has only gone this distance once and that was in her third career start as a three year old facing older horses and it was on the dirt. That really gives no indication of her ability to get the distance. She has been a come from behind type and she seems plenty capable of the distance and with her recent form she looks like a solid choice. <\/P> What happened to Wet Paint? Looking at her past performances I think I will think long and hard before running a top runner on two weeks rest. She won seven of her first nine starts of the year as she all in stakes. In June she won the grade one Born to Wet Paint then seemed to rebound a bit finishing second in the grade one Oakshire Oaks with an ok speed figure before earning a 72 speed figure finishing thirty-seven lengths back in the grade one Princess Di Cap. I suspect she needed rest as this is her first start in five weeks but making her thirteenth start of the year. Maybe she has recovered from the Summer and is ready for a return to her June form. She usually stalks towards the front of the pack and if she is back in form look out. \u00a0<\/SPAN><\/P> Race: 3364.0314 QE2 Challenge<\/SPAN> – Grade I – $500,000<\/B> Thirteen three year olds look to use this race as a stepping stone to the Breeder\u2019s Bowl Turf Distaff. Infernal Tutor and Ruler Slew are your co favorites. Infernal Tutor has really stepped up in her last two races. In August she just missed in a grade two at a mile with a 111 speed figure. She came back in September and won a grade two with a 108 speed figure. She moves out in distance a bit but this seems well within her scope. She likes to stalk or be near the lead and her current form suggests it will take a big effort to bear her this weekend. <\/P> Ruler Slew comes in from a different angle than Infernal Tutor. Where in Infernal Tutor is stretching out a bit Ruler Slew is cutting back in distance. Ruler Slew last five races she has run from a mile and a quarter to a mile and a half with two wins and two seconds. She has a pair of 102 speed figures at the mile and a quarter distance. A lot of times a runner like this cutting back just one furlong can put up at 108 or 110 speed figure which is why she is so respected. She will likely be near the pace and a win here probably puts her in the Breeder\u2019s Bowl. <\/P> Skull Crusher ran a huge race last time out putting up a 112 speed figure while winning the grade one Demona. She stalked the pace took the lead on the turn for home and never looked back. She has really developed this summer and she will very likely give another good account of her self here. <\/P> If you want a long shot to play take a look at Sabre Fan. She has just five career starts. She comes off of a very nice allowance win that saw her earn a 103 speed figure at this distance. She could be one that takes a step forward here although she is going against a very tough group of fillies. She is a stalker so should have a nice trip and be in with a chance if she is good enough. <\/P> <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P> Race: 3364.0416 Sparkling Wine Stakes<\/SPAN> – Grade I – $500,000<\/B> Unlike in real life getting your two year old in the sim to turn around on three weeks rest is tough and that is what the winner of this race would have to do to make the Breeder\u2019s Bowl Juvenile. So you have a field of later developing two year olds ready to go led by Shetan. <\/P> Shetan ran a great race last time out at the listed level. This son of Storm Cat stalked the early pace from fourth got into contention on the turn and wore down his rival in the stretch to win by a length with an 87 speed figure. So far he is a perfect two for two on his young career. He turns back on three weeks to race here it will be interesting to see how he responds. <\/P> Run for President is off to a very good start with two wins from three starts. He just missed in his last race losing by three quarters of a length and he finished third. That was a grade two and his second 87 speed figure in a row. That was the first time he stretched out and he came from well off the pace. There is a ton of speed here so he could likely be further from the pace this time around which is probably a negative with these youngsters. <\/P> Crease Infraction ran second in the same race that Run for President ran third. His entry here is interesting because he likely would have made the field for the Breeder\u2019s Bowl but he would have had to have entered off eight weeks rest. He could be one of the runners here capable of turning back to the Breeder\u2019s Bowl after this race on three weeks rest. He will be near the lead there is a bunch of speed here. He could be just off the pace and I like him better in that situation. <\/P> Race: 3364.0915 Frickazee Stakes<\/SPAN> – Grade I – $500,000<\/B> A full field of fillies are lead by Robinson Flat. Robinson Flat is undefeated in her young career a perfect two for two. She broke her maiden out of the gate and last time out took a listed stakes at seven furlongs. She ran a very solid speed figure of 86. She has been a stalker in the sprints but on the stretch out she could be more forwardly placed. With Deputy Minister in the dam sire slot this one will not have a problem with the distance. <\/P> EE Bright Light has the top speed figure coming into the race. Her last race was a grade three at seven and a half furlongs. She sat off the pace closed well in the stretch earning a 91 speed figure and a graded win. She has a router type pedigree the extra distance should not be a problem She should be forwardly placed a little off the early pace. <\/P> Sevenspanishangels is a very interesting runner. She has won three of four lifetime including two route races already. Her only defeat came in her debut and since that time she has won comfortably in her races. Last time out was a listed stakes win where she was pressing the pace. Look for her to be a very tough customer in the stretch. <\/P> Race: \u00a0<\/SPAN>3364.5515 Knick Knack Juvenile<\/SPAN> – Grade I – $500,000<\/B> Dollis Hill has been installed as the morning line favorite down under. Turf may not be this runner\u2019s best surface. His last two races have come on the dirt with mid 80\u2019s speed figures where as his two turf starts where in the high 70\u2019s. He could be fine on the turf he was a stakes winner and ran second in his two starts. His first try in a route was not horrible running sixth in a grade two. He will likely come from off the pace here. <\/P> The most interesting entry is The Stardust. He is the third ranked horse in this division and he would have been in the Breeder\u2019s Bowl Juvenile Turf with no question in a few weeks. I know he would have been coming off a long layoff into that race but he will probably not be able to turn around from this race and make the Breeder\u2019s Bowl. If he does I would bet against him there. He is a front runner and he is fresh. He should bolt to the lead and could be very tough to run down this weekend. He just missed in a grade one race last time out. <\/P> Long shot players take a long look at Busted Hollow. This runner\u2019s dam has already produced a stakes winner and with the stretch out in distance this is the sleeper of the race. In four sprints he is a stakes winner who comes from well off the pace. He should relish the extra distance. The bad thing for him is that The Stardust looks like only speed which may not set up well for the deep closer. At the very least play this guy underneath. <\/P><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 8 Grade One Races Lots of Turf Action<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":255,"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":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873","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\/255"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4873"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/btb.ehorseracing.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/B>Track: Longchamp
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf<\/P>
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf<\/P>
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one half on the Turf
<\/P>
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old and up
Distance: A mile and one quarter on the Turf<\/P>
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 3 years old
Distance: A mile and one eighth on the Turf<\/P>
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt<\/P>
Track:
Restrictions: Fillies and mares, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Dirt<\/P>
Track:
Restrictions: All horses, 2 years old
Distance: A mile and one sixteenth on the Turf<\/P>