In North American racing, the sprint is always one of the big draws. While Europe awaits the final run on the long grass run, we want speed, speed, speed….and here it is! The $2,000.000 BC Sprint over 6 furlongs of KEE dirt. This is the race that the illustrious Alpha Ultimo crossed the finish line first three times stamping himself the historical king of sprinters. In those early years there was Romeo, Ljosalfar, Columbia River, Shoot Skyhigh twice, and in the more modern era Sanny Village sent Bold Star to back to back wins in 2013 and 2014. These days, we don’t see repeat winners in horses, but Mb Stables is back in hopes of becoming only the second owner to enter the winner’s circle three time as Jerry Garcia Racing has with Alpha Ultimo. If he manages it, he will do it with three different horses.
This group is as top notch as any that have ever come before. I thought, OK, I’ll weed this down to few, highlight them, and away we go, but it just ain’t that easy. Here’s what you do: take $280 out of the bank, put $2 on 1 through 14, and you’ve got it made.
Vanderbiltt 95
Br: La Canada Racehorses (NY*)
Owner: La Canada Racehorses
Jockey: Fuentes Ru
Vanderbiltt has been banging at the door of graded sprints at major tracks all year and recently in spite of some hefty odds., second last out in the SA Sprint Championship and third in The Amsterdam at SAR against some of the best. His connections have been breezing up to this with some nice fractions, and he seems ready for a sharp effort.
Peculiar Sensation 91
Br: M.b.o. Racing Stable (NY*)
Owner: Mb Stables
Jockey: Bridgmohan S X
Peculiar Sensation won the Grade 1 CD back in May and had a bit off and on since running second in The True North at BEL and winning a MTH allowance race one back while tripping up in a couple of grade 2’s. With this crowd, he will need to regain that May form. That sharp 5-furlong blowout on the third may get him fit for the race.
Con Artist 97
Br: Mb Stables (ON*)
Owner: Smokey Stover
Jockey: Velazquez J R
Con Artist might be looking for rain or an extra furlong because it sure looks like that on the form. He likes to handle these sprints like he’s Kincsem reincarnated. Even though he came up short last out, it was only a length short after three spectacular come from behind performances in which he won two and missed by only a neck in the Grade 1 Forego After being 11th heading into the far turn. Fun stuff.
Stark 94
Br: D J C Racing Stables (NY*)
Owner: D J C Racing Stables
Jockey: Beschizza A
Stark has by plying his trade out at long distances and struggling. Last out his connections decided to give him a shot at shortening up in the six-furlong Grade 2 Phoenix locally, and low and behold he went off as an 18-1 (no surprise) and won (surprise). That little trick got him an entry here to see if his owner is going have to convince that he knew he was a sprinter all along.
Iron Return 95
Br: LionKing Stables (ON*)
Owner: Alydar Stables
Jockey: Hernandez R M
You can say Iron Return got beat last out, but I can’t take anything away from that beaten favourite. It says he was second coming home and fourth at the wire, but it also says he was a neck behind when he was second and he was a neck behind at the wire. What I see here is a horse that is fighting at the wire in every race except that one unfortunate performance at WO back in July. This is a fighter that I expect to see in the mix at the wire.
Cucamonga 100
Br: Axeman (Cal*)
Owner: Tiratzo
Jockey: Centeno D E
Cucamonga’s last race was a spectacular 100 SRF that is a tip off of things to come. What I see when I look this horse’s form over is a young 4 year old that is still learning. I think his connections will have to bear with still more inconsistencies as he grows and learns, but I bet it will be well worth it
Tallmadge Star 92
Br: Oquinn Farm (ON)
Owner: Oquinn Farm
Jockey: Carmouche K
Tallmadge Star came out winning and just improved from there. He has never been far from the win spot at the end, and I don’t think this race will be any different. He’s faced big crowds, he’s faced tough posts, and he’s come away unintimidated. His last race was a bit of a surprise in that it was a bit uncharacteristic. He always comes from behind, and here he didn’t. He wasn’t beat by much, but it seemed odd. All I would say is don’t do that again.
Gothic Heart 93
Br: SamIam (Cal)
Owner: SamIam
Jockey: Gutierrez Mario
Gothic Heart has been getting better and better. The Amsterdam was a bit of a hiccup, but I think it was the first time he saw that kind of mud, and it just put him a bit off. Look at the rest of his races. Look at the way he came back from that. I love the fact that he came from way off the pace to score a tough win. I don’t know if that was a trainer decision or not, but it speaks volumes of ability and growth. Watch this one now and in the future.
Carnoustie 100
Br: Smokey Stover (Cal*)
Owner: Smokey Stover
Jockey: Davis D
Look at this beastie! Eleven starts and eight wins! He came up to the Crosby Stakes winning everything in sight, and that bloody odds thingy made him 10-1, and he believed it! What a shame. Because he came back in The Amsterdam at 32-1 and decided he’d had enough and came from far back to score a sharp head win and scored another come from off the pace win in The Vosburgh at 9-1. So, go ahead, offer long odds on him again and see what happens in this race. I think he’s had enough of being disrespected by a machine.
Global Strike 96
Br: Our Athletes (Cal)
Owner: Fractious
Jockey: Rosario J
Global Strike was having a good go of it right up to his win as the favourite in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap at SAR. And then along came that bloody odds machine that made him 7-1 in the Grade 1 Forego at the same track and he promptly ran like it. Could have been the mud. Unfortunately, he repeated that performance in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at PRX and here we are coming into
Yocomoblazed 91
Br: Establo Pichon (Cal*)
Owner: Nolespan Racing
Jockey: Garcia Mar
Yocomoblazed was claimed late last year for $10.000 and given some time off to condition, came back in a $50.000 claimer and won for his new owner. Please with that promise, his connections shipped him to SA where he could qualify for a State-bred stake, and he won the $100.000 Tiznow Stakes, then followed that up with a win in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap. Results since then have been a bit mixed, , but a third in the Grade I Crosby and a strong second in a BEL allowance last out has landed him here.
John Deere 98
Br: Mb Stables (Fla)
Owner: Mb Stables
Jockey: Franco M
John Deere had a little trouble getting his feet under him to start life off, but scored a win in his third try and since hasn’t finished farther back than second, winning five of those seven, including the Grade 1 Crosby Stakes two back, beating most of the strongest competition he will meet here. Last out he was the beaten favourite by a neck in the Grade 2 Gallant Bob Stakes at PRX. He is the lightest raced horse in this race and seems to be getting better with every atart.
Sail Away 91
Br: Mb Stables (NY)
Owner: Mb Stables
Jockey: Ryan S
Sail Away has devoted most of his race days to routes, but three races back won the Grade 1 Stephens at BEL at seven furlongs scoring a 100 SRF. Unfortunately, his next two starts at sprint distances were less than notable. It should be noted, though that when he was just starting out, first four starts were sprints and he won three and lost the other by a nose. Could be something there.
Angelsinheaven 92
Br: elkstone llc (WV)
Owner: Angelos Stable
Jockey: Bejarano R
Angelsinheaven made his name by finishing second in the Prk. Since then it has been mostly routes for him, though his win in the Grade 1 Jerkens Memorial at SAR was at 7f. His last run was a come from behind fourth beaten a length in the Grade 2 Phoenix locally.
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
