Welcome to Japan, where this years Buddy Boy Mile is not just another Grade 2 Race, It\u2019s the much anticipated return of \u201c2008 Horse of the Year\u201d Basketball Jones, and like you can expect, media from all over the Globe flew into Tokyo to take pictures of the star and trying to dig as deep as they can to present a story. Well, I\u2019m not gonna dig deep, I don\u2019t need another sensation, but want to introduce you the horses that try to stop Basketball Jones from winning 5 in a row. The Turf is in best firm condition, as the 9 horses will get into the parade ring soon, let\u2019s take a look at the field of older horses going for the classic Mile distance: #1 <\/SPAN>SKIDMORE DAMPER \u00a0<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/B><\/A><\/SPAN>32\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=26611<\/A> 29 Races \u2013 3 Wins \u2013 151,619$ The 6yo sadler\u2019s Wells Colt looks more like a filler entry, not having won since Junbe 2008, and not having cracked the 100 speed mark in his last 5 races, this will be a tough test, not to finished distanced. He feels best over 8f, but struggled recently, to even get into the money in ALW races. #2 <\/SPAN>VERMONT VICTORY \u00a0<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/B><\/A><\/SPAN>5\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=100267<\/A> 50 Races \u2013 20 Wins \u2013 854,198$ The 6yo Two Punch Colt is a real veteran, who was on top of his game in 2007, when he showed a 2nd<\/SUP> place in a Grade 1. 2008 he was mainly running in ALW company, and fared very well there. After 3 consecutive wins from October to December, he started this year in the Grade 3 Laffit Handicap, where he ran a strong race, and finsihed 2nd<\/SUP>, less than 2 lengths behind Awesome Song. But tells you what a struggle he\u2019ll face today, with Awesome Song, likely not the strongest rival he\u2019ll battle today. He likes to stalk the lead a few half lengths off, but not too far, always staying in touch. He\u2019s tricky to judge, being a 6yr veteran and his lack of big races entered over the last year, but don\u2019t expect him to challenge Basketball Jones. #3 <\/SPAN>YASUTORA(CO) <\/SPAN><\/B><\/A><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>8\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=140624<\/A> 16 Races \u2013 6 Wins \u2013 918,054$ The very talented 4yo Eckelston Colt looks to rebound from a rather mediocre finish to his great 3yo campaign. He was on top of his game when winning the 2000 Guineas and the St. James Tavern, sweeping the major English 1m turf races for 3yos, however he struggled from there on. He finished 3rd<\/SUP> in the Equnics, and after 2 out of the Money Finishes in the Canada Mile and the Mospe Cup was 5th<\/SUP> in the Breeders Bowl Turf, with a lifetime best 8f speed of 112. He finished the season with a 3rd<\/SUP> place in the Kingab Mile, showing very strong speed finishing, and perhaps would like to go a furlong further. But today he\u2019ll have to square off against the top milers of 2008, and would love some Breeders Bowl Revenge. #4 <\/SPAN>BASKETBALL JONES(KY) <\/SPAN><\/B><\/A><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>5\/2 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=31387<\/A> 26 Races \u2013 13 Wins \u2013 3,334,670$ Whatever you write about this 5yo Smarty Jones Horse may not be enough, whenever the Ecplipse winner and undisputed horse of a year hits the track the first time in the next year fort he first time, it\u2019s something special, and it\u2019s no different this year. Welcome 2008 Horse of the Year Basketball Jones…………… Enough of the merits, today he\u2019ll be just like any other entrant, starting at the stalls, and trying to get win No. 14 for him. He comes off a long layoff, having not run since last years Breeders Bowl, a total of almost 4 months, but he is unbeaten in his last 4 starts, and hasn\u2019t lost a race over 1 mile in the last year, his last defeat over exactly 8f coming last january in a Grade 3. His only real floppy race last year was the Smackdown race over 10f, but he compensated well for that, being a winner at the Equinics, the Canada Mile and the Breeders Bowl, 3 of the most important races over older turf milers. He\u2019ll face some well known rivals like Yautora and Banner in an almost unbelievable dream mile for a Grade 2 event. #5 ANIO NOVUS(GB) <\/B><\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>5\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=12189<\/A> 27 Races \u2013 7 Wins \u2013 310,270$ The 5yo Nureyev colt enters the Grade 2 on a low note, he\u2019s not won a race since June 2008, and it looks, like this will not be necessarily the day to change it. He showed his strongest outing last year in the Maudlin Cup, a race won by Banner, he finished 2nd<\/SUP> 2 lengths back, and afterwards never was able to match that class, finishing 4th<\/SUP> in a Grade 3, and 2nd<\/SUP> in a Stakes race last time out. His lifetime high is a 113, which looks good on paper, but usually, when running fast speeds, he was beaten, and used a good running style in his favour. He likes to trail early on, and often can be found near the end of a race midway through. #6 ALBERTA DEHERE(KY) <\/B><\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>10\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=154887<\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN> 12 Races – 5 Wins \u2013 147,651$ The lightly raced 4yo Dehere Colt made his turf debut just 4 races back, winning an ALW race in October 2008, afterwards he set a blastering 116 over 1 mile in his second start, an open stakes race, but struggled in Graded class afterwards. Finishing 4th<\/SUP> in both the Sanders Stakes and the NC Mile, where he faced some horses he\u2019ll have to battle again today. It will be a versy important race for him today, with now more turf experience, he\u2019ll have to show he can battle with the best, and could be on for a great 2009 campaign, if he can show lots of progress today. #7 OPIUM <\/B><\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>11\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=78569<\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN> 31 Races \u2013 12 Wins \u2013 415,101$ The 6yo Rahy colt is another contender bringing in a winning streak, his now counting at 3. He\u2019s a veteran, however making only his 3rd<\/SUP> start in graded company, with the first 2 being rated average, with a 5th<\/SUP> and a 6th<\/SUP> place back in Spring 2008. Last time out he won an open stakes race over 8.5f in Nebraska, running a nice 110, only 1 under his lifetime high, which is a 111 set in December 2007. Usually making his race from Midpack he looks one class beyond the favourites today, and will face an uphill struggle all day. #8 BANNER(IRE) <\/B><\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>5\/1 http:\/\/www.simulatedsports.net\/hr\/runtime\/prettyhorse.asp?hossnum=146025<\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN> 17 Races \u2013 5 Wins \u2013 2,398,125$ The 4yo Danehill Dancer colt comes off a 7 week break, and would like to have a winning start into this season. He looked very strong finishing last year with a Grade 1 win in the Penn Mile, his 116 speed was a career high, and shows off some great things to come in 2009. 2008 was a great year for him, with 2 Grade 1 wins, in the Penn Mile and the Maudlin Cup, he showed very strong in the top mile races, with a 2nd<\/SUP> place in the 3yo Equinics Race and a 4th<\/SUP> place in the Breeders Bowl Mile, he is looking for his first win over Basketball Jones, and likely challenges from mid-pack. #9 AWESOME SONG(KY) <\/B><\/SPAN><\/A><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>4\/1