<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>
<\/SPAN>Grade II The Kyoto Handicap <\/SPAN><\/B>
$1,200,000, 4 Year Olds and Up
One Mile and Three Eighths (11 F) \u00a0<\/SPAN>
Track:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Turf <\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>
<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Local racegoers will be crowding the grandstand in spite of the gloomy forecast as fourteen older horses take to the track to compete in the 1st<\/SUP> Edition of the $1.2M Grade II Kyoto Handicap over eleven furlongs of turf in Japan.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A highly competitive field will parade to the post featuring lenny12\u2019s<\/I><\/B> standout #2 SIM Ranked THE GUN WENT OFF(KY)<\/B> and it promises to be an exciting inaugural edition. \u00a0<\/SPAN>Let\u2019s examine this competitive field \u2026<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>Race Analysis<\/SPAN><\/U><\/B> by Hladun<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>HOT OFF THE PRESS \u2026<\/SPAN><\/B>\u00a0 <\/SPAN>We are unveiling a new prognosticating tool today as we seek to gain every edge we can in deciphering the complexity of throughbred handicapping.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>No it\u2019s not the \u201cSIM ThoroughGraph\u201d or SIM Brisnet\u2019s sophisticated computer algorythmic programs. Yes<\/I>, that\u2019s right. It\u2019s the Magic 8 Ball!\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/B><\/I>We\u2019ll ask the Magic Eight Ball a handicapping question specific to the horse in question to gain valuable handicapping insight into the race \u2026<\/I> but you gotta believe.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Afterall, it\u2019s magic right?\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Enjoy!<\/o:p><\/B><\/I><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>PP 1:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>110323\u00a0 <\/SPAN>STAYER(IRE)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>landen1<\/I>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>(6\/1)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>70<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>This six year old daughter of El Prado is primed and ready to take on the boys in this challenging spot.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>She comes out of the filly restricted The Murf Closet Memorial Stakes at today\u2019s distance where she attempted to wire the field and just missed by a quarter length in doing so running the distance in a fine 2:15:1 (108).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Her best tactic may be a speed try here.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>QUESTION<\/SPAN><\/U>:\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>Does she plan to go wire-to-wire and steal it?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Magic 8 Ball<\/B> says \u2026 \u201cBetter not tell you now\u201d<\/I><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P>PP 2:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>131656\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>FOOTSTEPS ON GRASS(GB) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>robroe\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/I>\u00a0<\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>(17\/1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>33<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>This five year old son of Footstepsinthesand(GB) has not won since July 2008 when he took the Grade I Dawn To Dusk Cup with a huge stretch kick closing thirteen lengths to win by three quarters.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In addition, he has not run a triple digit speed figure in his last three and tries to figure it out here in this difficult spot.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>An outsider until he proves he\u2019s back on track.\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>QUESTION<\/SPAN><\/U>:\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>Can he win at this shorter than prefered distance?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Magic 8 Ball<\/B> says \u2026 \u201cAs I see it yes\u201d<\/I><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>PP 3:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>138893\u00a0 <\/SPAN>THE GUN WENT OFF(KY)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>lenny12<\/I>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN>(12\/1)\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>2<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>This four year old son of Mineshaft has been an absolute turf monster though adept on both surfaces having fives wins to date on each.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>However, it\u2019s on the turf where he\u2019s made his mark having banked $2.8M on it while winning Grade I Japan Classic, Grade I Arc De Triumph and the Grade I Owners Stakes all within his last five starts.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>His biggest wins have been over twelve furlongs where he\u2019s had the room to unleash his huge kick passing rivals in deep stretch to snatch victory away.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has won at today\u2019s distance in the past and will need to be sharp and stay within reach here as he\u2019ll have less room to work with than usual.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A strong contender.<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>QUESTION<\/SPAN><\/U>:\u00a0 <\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>Does he take performance enhancing drugs?\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>Magic 8 Ball<\/B> says \u2026 \u201cYES\u201d<\/I><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P><\/o:p><\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/P>PP 4:\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>17866\u00a0 <\/SPAN>\u00a0<\/SPAN>MONTE YOUN(IRE)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>monte1<\/I>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>R. Andretti\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>(7\/2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/SPAN>RANK:\u00a0 <\/SPAN>131<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>This nine year old son of Doyoun(IRE) though the elder statesman in this race has only competed fourteen times.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>In fact, he raced only three times a s two year old in 2002 and didn\u2019t resurface again until February of 2008 where he promptly broke his maiden and the rest is well history.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He has won six of his starts to date and finished in the money now nine times.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>He comes out of the Grade III Buck Dharma Handicap where he wired the field at today\u2019s distance in a handy 2:14:1 (115).\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A repeat of that effort pops the champagne again and no doubt will have the geriatric support at the windows.\u00a0 <\/SPAN>A strong contender. \u00a0\u00a0<\/SPAN><\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/P>\u00a0<\/o:p><\/SPAN><\/B><\/P>