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It\u2019s race number 1 on a card of 16 of the most prestigous races in sim history. \u00a0Today’s Breeders Bowl card will kick off with the Dirt Mile. It’s not a traditional Breeders Bowl Race, but it is one with a lot of emotion. The Dirt Mile was created to give those Mile specialists their own race, and not have to flip them to turf, or force them into the 10f Classic event. It is run for the first time this season, making it even more interesting to see how the race is accepted. So to find that out, let\u2019s take a look at the runners:<\/p>\n
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#1 <\/span>A.P. PRECEDENT 7\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=74401<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 32 Races \u2013 11 Wins \u2013 747,468$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 4<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 5yo A.P. Indy horse is sure one of the hotter milers this season, he won 3 graded races in very fine fashion. However in the first highlight of the season, the 8f dirt Equinics race, he was completley off, a 13th<\/sup><\/span> place with a 102 was way under his potential. However he has the talent to rebound strongly, and showed so by finishing 3rd<\/sup><\/span> in the Grade 2 Middle Gournd Mile, a 112 showed he is on his way back to the Top. He felt like on top, when winning the Lil\u2019Leprechaun Mile and blistering a 117 speed. He likes to be sitting near the end of the pack till the half way mark, from then on working his way through the field for his final sprint to be launched. Surely has the firepower to prevail today.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #2 <\/span>ZYGOTE 5\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=23769<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 37 Races \u2013 14 Wins \u2013 1,941,840$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 5<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The favourite is a 6 yo A.P. Indy horse, and he would have loved to have a Dirt Mile scheduled back in ’06 and ’07, as he was as hot as it gets come Breeders Bowl time. This season he already triumphed in the Smackdown event, and most recently in the Middle Gournd Stakes, beating Snarky Remark and A.P. Precedent, who will look for revenge today.\u00a0His last race was an easy prep race, where he finished 3rd<\/sup><\/span> in a stakes event with a 109, but looked to have reserves. In the Equinics event he was just beaten by a nose byHoosier Miner. The Smackdown and Equinics 8f dirt races look like the most relevant preps for today, and summing up those results he surely is the favourite. He likes to be a couple of lengths off the lead early and advancing by the half-mile mark. Some races diverged from that strategy, like in the Smackdown event, where he went out of the stalls real bad. He can sum up his career in great fashion with a win today.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #3 <\/span>HOOSIER MINER(KY) 12\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=14048<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 20 Races \u2013 7 Wins \u2013 734,183$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 1<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 4yo Mineshaft colt hit the stakes scene early this year, and first found it tough to make his mark, but in May he scored a stakes event with a 116. But, after an average 106 in a 9f event, it was really surprising to see he was nominated for the 8f Equinics event, which turned into an event he\u2019ll likely never forget. He parted the field, and in the end was a nose ahead of Zygote scoring in his first Grade 1 and collecting the winner’s cheque. He subsequently failed in the 9f Woodward Memorial, but look out for another big race from him today, as an up was followed by a down and vice versa, so it should be an up again in the Breeders Bowl. It is always important for him to be not too far off the leaders at the \u00be mark, as he only then can make his final run.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #4 <\/span>IRON BOCK(KY) 7\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=12892<\/a><\/p>\n 21 Races \u2013 8 Wins \u2013 622,082$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 2<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 4yo Grand Slam colt came to life this season, when striking in two grade 2 races, and finished in the money in all but 2 races. His form only seems to be average, as his last two races both led over 9f, he ran a 114 and a 107 for a 1st<\/sup><\/span> and 3rd<\/sup><\/span> place in stakes events. He will run the 8f trip for the first time, only running at 8.5f once this season, and always going longer other days. It\u2019s tough to judge his potential over a mile, but his best 9f race saw him produce a 117 speed. He likes to have an early lead, and usually fails to produce if he can\u2019t. His two most recent wins both were wire-to-wire wins. We have to see how the early competition will be, and if he can get the lead.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #5 <\/span>SNARKY REMARK(IRE) 24\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=139102<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 16 Races \u2013 5 Wins \u2013 819,640$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 1<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 3yo Invincible Spirit colt had his last win in April, when winning the Wooden Indian, one of the traditional Derby preps. In the Bluegrass feature he had an off day, a speed of 90 ended him up in 15th<\/sup><\/span>, and a try at 12f in the\u00a0GR Simsters’\u00a0Belmont Stakes was even worse. But his autumn campaign showed hope. He finished 2nd<\/sup><\/span> to Zygote in the Middle Gournd Mile, but an allowance prep over 8f failed, so it\u2019s dubious he has the necessary form for this Breeders Bowl test, as his 113 looks like a one-day wonder at the moment. He usually runs from well behind, and that may not be the place to be in in this race.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #6 <\/span>WATERGATE SCANDAL(KY) 7\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=81310<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 24 Races \u2013 10 Wins \u2013 731,936$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 1<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The Empire Maker 4yo colt has had a mixed season, he ran only 7 races this year so far, but one of those was the fastest to date this year, when he ran a 120 in the Grade 1 Nixon\u2019s Promise. This however was followed by a 4th<\/sup><\/span> place in the Smackdown and a 7th<\/sup><\/span> in the Equinics. This two results make him a not-so-hot horse. He like many others tried an ALW prep, and came 2nd<\/sup><\/span> over 7f with a 107. Not what you look for, as you may have seen he has shown to be one of the top milers. However he hasn\u2019t beaten the best when they all showed up, and his losses to Zygote may be in his mind when he sees him again at the starters orders for todays race. It will be tough for him to reverse form here.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #7 <\/span>PANHANDLING(KY) 14\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=135026<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 15 Races \u2013 4 Wins \u2013 505,206$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 2<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 3yo A.P. Indy colt is one of the longer outside shots, he finished 5th<\/sup><\/span> in the 3yo Equinics race, and that being said may show you, that he couldn\u2019t even beat his own aged horses, so now a tune up with the best older horses seems even tougher, his 2 graded wins back in April qualified him for the Breeders Bowl race today, but his recent form has been all but encouraging. A 111 over 9f was only good for 4th<\/sup><\/span> place in the grade 2 Bluegrass Cup last time out, and it\u2019s tough to imagine him beating some of the best dirt milers today. He likes to be in the lead early, and this for sure will be a tough one today. If he fails to take the lead early he usually can\u2019t finish well, plus I\u2019d make 9f his better distance.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #8 <\/span>SPECIAL WAY(JPN) 16\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=120598<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 26 Races \u2013 8 Wins \u2013 556,992$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 1<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s tough to believe the 4yo Forty Niner colt was really entered in today’s event. He’s had a terrible autumn so far. A 4th<\/sup><\/span> in the Equinics and a 2nd<\/sup><\/span> in the Smackdown races showed his potential, but recently he finished 10th<\/sup><\/span>, 12th<\/sup><\/span> and 13th<\/sup><\/span> in stakes competition, gettin worse with every race. He likely could have used a break to get back at his winning ways, but a 91 two weeks ago earned him a entry in today’s race as a \u201creward\u201d. Somehow he has to find his spring form to be near the top horses today, but I doubt he can do it and likely will fail to finish in the top 10 again.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #9 <\/span>HALO ME DOWN 8\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=131577<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 25 Races \u2013 9 Wins \u2013 611,435$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 2<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The 5yo Mineshaft horse looked ambitous early on this season, he scored grade 3 Ecliptic Stakes with a nice 111 over 8f. \u00a0He then followed on nicely with a 6th<\/sup><\/span> place in the Smackdown just outside the money. At the Equinics, he ran the 10f event and finished 2nd<\/sup><\/span>. Like most horses in today’s field, he recently struggled finishing 7th<\/sup><\/span> and 8th<\/sup><\/span> in 9f Grade 2 events. The step back at 8f may suit him, and he can likely build on better results. He will likely aim at the early lead, but it has to be seen if he can get it.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #10 <\/span>WHO DO YOU LOVE(KY) 18\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=133641<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 21 Races \u2013 7 Wins \u2013 1,177,562$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 1<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n It was early in the year when the 4yo Awesome Again colt was at his best. He won the grade 1 Diplomat Way Handicap over 8f with a 112, and followed his great outings in 8f dirt feature events in 2007. But he wasn\u2019t made to remain atop the scene. Some off-track races seemed to take his energy, and when it counted in the Smackdown race, he wasn\u2019t seen entering the final stretch in 2nd<\/sup><\/span> he faded and finished 8th<\/sup><\/span>. He looked better afterwards winning an 8f stakes race, but a stakes prep over 7f showed him flop in 13th<\/sup><\/span> place. He is another horse gunning for the early lead, and with so many doing so, will likely fail and finish outside the money.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #11 <\/span>ROMAN PLUTONIUM(KY) 26\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=136177<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 18 Races \u2013 8 Wins \u2013 757,318$<\/p>\n Graded Wins\u00a0: 3<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Another 3yo gunning for Breeders Bowl glory, and he sure looked great this spring, winning the Corkscrew Stakes and the Fountain of Ute. However when the Bluegrass Derby arrived the Roman Ruler colt, he was not at his best. A 12th<\/sup><\/span> there and a 13th<\/sup><\/span> at the Middle Jewel made him look very average. However he showed his class in the Flatland Derby, winning with a great 115 speed on an off-track, blame it on the off-track or whatever it was his last win till today. A 3rd<\/sup><\/span> in the Eddie Haskell looked ok, but when facing older horses for the first time in the Bluegrass Cup Classic he failed to do anything, fading away into 13th<\/sup><\/span>. He is back looking good today, but how much of optimism has the last race taken out of him. Plus he is another horse looking for the early lead, and that makes it half the field trying to take the lead.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n #12 <\/span>AWESOME FORCE(KY) 11\/1<\/b><\/p>\n http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=117824<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n 26 Races \u2013 10 Wins \u2013 6,520,100$<\/p>\n Graded Wins: 8<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Looking at the career earnings and the odds of the horse make you feel strange, in top shape he should be the 4\/1 favourite today, but it looks like the best days are behind the 4yo Awesome Again colt. It was this March, when he ran the 10f in 117 and won the biggest horse event on earth, the Sand Castle Classic. Plus he is the New Yorker and Middle Jewel stakes winner of 2007, finishing 5th<\/sup><\/span> in the Breeders Bowl Classic last year. Now all that, and you wonder, why is he running in the Dirt Mile, and why are his odds at 11\/1. Well, the answer is in all those races since the big win in Dubai. His best finish was a 3rd<\/sup><\/span> place in a 9f stakes event. In all grade 1 races he finished outside the money, and that has been 3 attempts including the Equinics. So now he hopes to restart his career at 8f, a distance he hasn\u2019t run since January, when he finished 5th<\/sup><\/span> to Who Do You Love, another struggling horse since then. Was the Diplomat Way Handicap jinxed?<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n