Tokyo City Cup (Grade 3)- $100.000 Purse
SA- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Half on the Dirt
April 2, 2017

About five months ago, Night Rider Stables claimed Zombie Tomb Raider from Wolfs Den for just $25.000.  This has been a perfect match, as the Above Reproach gelding has won all three races while wearing the Night Rider Stables.  This did not completely come out of nowhere, as Wolfs Den took a stab at the WV Derby with him in August, so the talent was always there, he just needed to learn how to use it, it seems.  The WV Derby was also the last time he went long, and he was back to sprints after that.  After the claim, Night Rider not only sent him long, but very long, and has been rewarded.   Aboard the winner was V Espinoza, who wins the race for the second time in his career, having also done so in 2011.  It is Night Rider’s first win in Tokyo City Cup. Congratulations!  The race went in a time of 2:29.10, making it the third quickest running of the race when it was run at this distance.  Let’s look at how it played out!

½ Mile (:49.51)- The race begins with the field in two separate packs.  The first four have left the back three behind and are essentially nose to tail early on, then you go back four additional lengths to find the second group.  Our frontrunner is Siberian Slew (Wolfs Den), and he leads Techfluence (The Sidley Stud) by a length going down the frontstretch.  It’s another length to our eventual winner, Zombie Tomb Raider from Night Rider Stables and Yummy Opus (Drabfantasy) is within half a length.  Then, there’s large gap to the rest of the field, Socal Man (Night Mare Racing), the maiden King de Bois (Namor Farms), and Angie Springs (Barcelona Farms).  They run three wide down the front stretch.

3/4 Mile (1:14.38)- Not surprisingly, this portion of the race is uneventful, and there’s very little that is different here as there was at a half mile, so we’ll move to the next fraction!

1 1/4 Mile (2:03.75)- Things actually began to get exciting midway through the backstretch as Techfluence makes an emphatic move to the front, making the pass of Siberian Slew look very easy.  Zombie Tomb Raider, who has been stalking Techfluence continued to do that as he stayed behind Techfluence, and then said to him that he sees that move, and he’ll raise him even more.   Zombie Tomb Raider continues to pour it on, and handles the turn impressively well.  Techfluence is hanging in there, but he could not match up with the race winner.  Behind them, you have a huge gap now to the new third place horse, Socal Man. A reason for this was because once Siberian Slew was passed for the lead, he thought his day was over.  The other horse in the initial four horse breakaway was Yummy Opus, and he would completely disappear in a stunning display of disappointment.  Socal Man, then, was essentially third by default due to this as he was not really making a push, yet. Angie Springs certainly did not look like he was about to finish second at this point, as he had 4 ½ lengths to make up on the leader.  King de Bois was keeping pace, but not showing a push forward.

Finish- (2:29.10)- Zombie Tomb Raider continues in a graceful stride in the stretch, and is not made to work all that hard.  Espinoza could ride him easy to the wire, since Techfluence, who has been second, would tire out in the stretch.  The story of the stretch behind the winner was clearly Angie Springs, who responded with impressive run at the top of the stretch.  He was not going to get the winner, but jockey M E Smith set his sights on second.  With a furlong to go, there was still two lengths to make up on Techfluence.   Techfluence did not pack it in, necessarily, but he was being beaten with every stride and could not hold off Angie Springs for the second position.  It was about another two lengths to Socal Man and King de Bois.  Then way back to Siberian Slew, and the layoff showed with Yummy Opus.

About the winner: Zombie Tomb Raider is a four year old gelding by Above Reproach and out of Enthusiasm.  He was bred in New York by Mb Stables as a third quarter two year old, but never raced for his breeder.  He was acquired by Night Rider Stables via a $25.00 claim from Wolf Den in November 2016.  Congratulations to the connections!  The win is his fifth in 14 career starts, and his first graded win.  It’s also his third straight victory.  His career earnings now sit at $143.700.

Track: Fast
Time: :49²  1:14¹  2:03³  2:29

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 1 – 5 Paid 39.30
$1 Trifecta: 1 – 5 – 3 Paid 402.20

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES