{"id":5512,"date":"2008-02-27T23:33:39","date_gmt":"2008-02-27T23:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blacktypebugler.com\/?p=5512"},"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=5512","title":{"rendered":"Ring of Fire in Nevada"},"content":{"rendered":"

A risky carding seems to have paid off for the Nevada<\/st1:place><\/st1:State> track.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Forty-eight hours before the entry box closed it looked as though carding an inaugural Grade I race for three-year-olds on a weekend already loaded with big name races was going to lead to a weak field.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But last minute entries have swollen the race to eleven highly regarded runners, including a couple top five sprinters.<\/P>

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While this time of year, many are focused on the Derby<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> trail, there are riches and fame awaiting those who run around one turn as well.<\/P>

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Here is a look at the field:<\/P>

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PP 1\u00a0 <\/SPAN>WABI SABI(KY)\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(ELUSIVE QUALITY x PIVOTAL(GB) x IRISH RIVER(FR)) bred by surf4bass1<\/I><\/B>, trained by leeballs<\/I><\/B> (Corza Stables, 6%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 11-1<\/P>

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One way for a filly to gain extra stakes points is to win them against the boys.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She probably has her work cut out for her, as her figures don\u2019t match up with others.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Jockey is looking for a first win in 2008.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Forgive Wabi\u2019s two previous graded tries \u2013 they were grassy routes.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Since switching to dirt two races ago, she\u2019s been showing dramatic improvement, and she\u2019s three out of four in sprints.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Continued proportional improvement would make her a factor.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She has a tendency to win every other race, and she\u2019s coming here off a loss\u2026<\/P>

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PP 2\u00a0 <\/SPAN>CHATTOOGA(KY)\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(WAR CHANT x PLEASANT COLONY x RAISE A NATIVE)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by hoofers<\/I><\/B> (Hoofers Stables, 6%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 8-1<\/P>

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Like this colt, barn may not win often, but it has a very nice ITM record.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Chattooga will be a factor at least early.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has a tendency to fade late and that seems his likely fate here, but it would be a mistake to leave him out of exotics.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He makes his first graded start after three overnight starts in his brief career.<\/P>

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PP 3\u00a0 <\/SPAN>BROKE BACK(KY) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(CAT THIEF x FLYING SPUR(AUS) x DANZIG<\/st1:place>)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>bred and trained by mrsardis<\/I><\/B> (Mrsardis Stables, 15%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 9-1<\/P>

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He entered the Breeders Bowl Juvenile as fifth choice in the wagering. coming off a two-year-old campaign where he had four wins and two seconds in six starts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That included a win in the Grade III Cryogenics.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Despite a mild rally in the Breeders Bowl, he really wasn\u2019t a factor.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Barn gave him three months off, and he returned to an off track.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s hard to know if his poor race is due to the layoff, the off track, or a genuine decline in form.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019s still the number 31 ranked routing three year old and still has a legitimate shot to make the Derby<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> field.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Not sure what to make of the entry back in sprints, but he\u2019s too dangerous to ignore.<\/P>

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PP 4\u00a0 <\/SPAN>MYTHMAKER(FL) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(PICO CENTRAL (BRZ) x MYTHIC TRIBE x NUREYEV) bred and trained by seedlysub<\/I><\/B> (UFO<\/st1:PlaceName> Testing<\/st1:PlaceName> Center<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place>, 15%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds 43-1<\/P>

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Despite coming into this off three straight wins, he hasn\u2019t been given much respect by the oddsmakers.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That\u2019s not much of a surprise \u2013 he\u2019s been beating small fields at minor tracks in unspectacular times.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>It\u2019s a long way from Mexican allowance company to a Grade I race.<\/P>

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PP 5\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SWIFTSURE(KY) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(DEHERE x FORTY NINER x DANZIG<\/st1:place>) bred and trained by sanchez<\/I><\/B> (Bigkev and Bjbanditfarms, 19%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 7-1<\/P>

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Winner of a World Cup race, he still maintains a number three divisional ranking.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Following the World Cup, he didn\u2019t show a lot of improvement in his next couple races, including the Grade I Lever Sparky where he finished out of the money for the only time in his career.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>But his first start as a three-year-old was very encouraging.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>While he got caught late by Speedtown <\/B>after taking over the lead, he showed a marked improvement in speed figures.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He may be ready to resume his assault on the sprinting division.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Gets Nevada<\/st1:place><\/st1:State>\u2019s best rider in the irons.<\/P>

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PP 6\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A CONCEIT(KY) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(RAHY x VICE REGENT x RISEN STAR) bred and trained by seedly2<\/I><\/B> (UFO<\/st1:PlaceName> Training<\/st1:PlaceName> Center<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place>, 14%) Odds: 25-1<\/P>

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Uncoupled stablemates go off as the longest shots in the race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In both cases, it may make sense after so many wins to try a stakes race, but with so many in here able to exceed their speed figures by 20 points, the jump to Grade I is ambitious.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>The good news is that every stable in the UFO<\/st1:PlaceName> Training<\/st1:PlaceName> Center<\/st1:PlaceType><\/st1:place> is better at this game than I am, so my doubts mean nothing.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Good luck to them both.<\/P>

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PP 7\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SUNSET <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>MESA<\/SPAN><\/STRONG><\/st1:place><\/st1:City>(KY) <\/SPAN><\/STRONG>(SKY MESA x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x SEATTLE<\/st1:place><\/st1:City> SLEW) bred and trained by twoofus2<\/I><\/B> (Twoofus Stables, 15%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 7-1<\/P>

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Opened his three-year-old campaign with a nice win over Speedtown<\/B> in the Grade III Special Bid.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Today\u2019s pace scenario sets up nicely to give him a similar trip likely.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His rally fell short in his follow-up race, and his speed figures regressed.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Those mixed signals make this a tough one to call.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That he finished with interest last time and gets an extra furlong for his rally swing the balance toward positive feelings.<\/P>

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PP 8\u00a0 <\/SPAN>PROCEDURE(KY) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(FUSAICHI PEGASUS x DANZIG<\/st1:place> x DAMASCUS<\/st1:place><\/st1:City>) bred and trained by super1<\/I><\/B> (More Evil Than The (sic) Evil Empire!, 18%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 4-1<\/P>

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Colt earns favoritism by earning a triple digit speed figure last time and winning three of his last four and four of his six lifetime races.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>What\u2019s missing in that r\u00e9sum\u00e9 is a graded win, and the Supers hope to rectify that today.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>There\u2019s no arguing he deserves to be the favorite based on speed figures, but he\u2019s no shoo-in.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His overnight win last time was against an undistinguished field, and even his DelPenn third came against an unusually weak DelPenn field.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>No surprise if he wins, but we\u2019ll look for better value elsewhere.<\/P>

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PP 9\u00a0 <\/SPAN>FOLSOM BLUES(KY) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(FUSAICHI PEGASUS x NUREYEV x BLUSHING GROOM(FR)) bred by crazyjoe, <\/I><\/B>trained by jimcougar<\/I><\/B> (The Evil Empire, 15%)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Odds: 5-1<\/P>

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It is undeniable: the main reason for rooting for this colt is the name.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Word has it that Lenny will ask jockey Brenner to wear all black for the race.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Beyond the Johnny Cash references, there are other reasons to expect a win.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019s undefeated in three not-close races throwing huge figures every time.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Like Procedure, he hasn\u2019t beaten a strong field yet, but he\u2019s won them all so convincingly, that the class rise doesn\u2019t look like a major issue.<\/P>

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PP 10\u00a0 <\/SPAN>DE FU(KY) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(DEHERE x FUSAICHI PEGASUS x CANNONADE) bred and trained by minnesota<\/I><\/B><\/st1:place><\/st1:State> <\/I><\/B>(ONEWORLD Stables, 11%) Odd: 6-1<\/P>

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The only colt here mentioned in the Bugler\u2019s<\/I> \u201c<\/B>Bluegrass Derby Watch.\u201d\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Their comment questioned De Fu\u2019s breeding for the distance, and the trainer seems to agree, dropping him back to sprinting here.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>That makes a lot of sense: he\u2019s one of five routing and three of four sprinting.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>De Fu tried to run away with the Breeder\u2019s Bowl, but faded late, and he\u2019s been following that pattern ever since.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He may be able to hold on with the shorter distance.<\/P>

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PP 11\u00a0 <\/SPAN>SPEEDTOWN(KY) <\/STRONG><\/SPAN>(SPEIGHTSTOWN x DANZIG<\/st1:place> x SEEKING THE GOLD) bred and trained by citation<\/I><\/B> (Citation Stables, 12%) Odds: 5-1<\/P>

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Veteran of the group is the only one with more than ten starts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He\u2019s been in the money three times in four graded starts, but is looking for his first graded win.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Stalking speed and improving form make him an obvious contender.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Would not be a surprise to anyone.<\/P>

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Conclusion:<\/B>\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/P>