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The Gate Is Full for The Sword Dancer

By on

8/29/2020

  9  SAR     The Sword Dancer (GI)  [BC]

        $675.000     4yo&Up      1 1/2m  InTurf          123lbs

We have a heck of a marathon turf battle shaping up for The Sword Dancer (GI) [BC] with a big purse and a trip to KEE on the line.  These distance types are always taking swings at each other and no different here today as many of these have done battle before.  I’ll give Techfluence the node today.  He’s a tough old boy and has been running big in his last few races.  No reason to think any different today.  I’ll pull the crazy move and go to the outside for the second choice and give that to Controlled Power.  The 6yo only has a single win but I know he runs big every time he lines up and I think he will make the most of his outside position.  This should be a heck of a race so grab a cold-snack and let’s watch this one. 

Here’s The Field –

1
   Chayse    Crocker Ggs    Franco G   123   8/1 

For three races he was on top of his game, showing two wins and a placing vs. graded foes, but his last two are hard to look at.  Ninth in the Manhattan (GI) and eighth in the Bowling Green (GII) facing similar to today in each of those.  So the $10000 question is who do you get today?  His best makes him tough. 

2
   Command Authority    Nakamura Stables    Cedillo A   123   9/1  

Coming into this season, he looked pretty good, and won the Canadian Turf (GIII) over the GP grass at a flat mile.  But his last trio of races were up the track, although he was still within a few lengths in each of those.  He’s stretching out a bit in this one as well, but he has run big at times.

3
   Its Anyones Game    Australia Wide    Stein J   123   8/1

The King brings a claimer to a GI, but goodness knows in his heyday you wouldn’t bat an eye at such.  This one was second last out at the marathon distance vs. OptAlw horses, so the HOF conditioner obviously sees something he likes. 

4
   Maniaco del Controll    Threshold    Gaffalione T   123   6/1

It amazes me that this one keeps going off at long odds yet is right there just about every start.  Now he’s still looking for his first win of the 2020 campaign, I know… but he was second in the Whittingham (GII) at nearly 18/1 odds, then carried the torch to keep into the SJC (GIII) only to end up third and he was 56/1 in that one.  Give this 5yo some respect already. 

5
   Blame It On Luck    Mb Stables    Bisono J   123   4/1  

Got the job done last out, taking the Bowling Green (GII) by a nose over this same surface.  You just can’t ignore the Mb Stables entries as they always run big and they know how to get their picture taken.    This one seems to be running big right now so give him a big look here.

6
   Thanks For Nothing    D J C Racing Stables    Jaramillo E   123   7/1 

Won the Man o War (GI) three back, but it was a struggle in both the Manhattan (GI) and the Bowling Green (GII) and he faces a bunch of those same horses again today.  So it’s obvious, when he’s good, he can run with any of them… but who shows up today?

7
   Raj Action Packed    Arindel    Gutierrez Mario   123   6/1

I just never seem to be in sync with this one…  I’ve overlooked him in the Man o War (GI) where he ran third, thought he run big in the BEL Gold Cup (GII) where he ran seventh and then overlooked him again last out when he just missed in the Bowling Green (GII).  I’m not sure which way to go today. 

8
   Face Your Fears    Mb Stables    Beschizza A   123   6/1

Won the Ft. Marcy (GII) back in May but the last two have been less than what you would have expected.  Last in the BEL Gold Cup (GII) where he just didn’t seem to like the yielding surface, but followed that up with a sixth in the Bowling Green (GII).  He needs to get back on track here.    

9
   Winter Solstice    John Henry    Tunon M   123   8/1

He’s still winless this year, but does have a pair of seconds and thirds from his five starts.  The way things go, seems he’s due and may get the job done today.  If he runs back to his HOL Turf Cup (GII) from his last start of ’19, he may be tough.  They may be hoping for rain. 

10
   Argead    Fractious    Davis D   123   9/1     


Was struggling vs. stakes company and dropped him back to Alw horses at today’s distance and that did the trick as he won by a quarter length at MTH.  He sold for $400.000 back in April so they sure do thing a lot of him.  Did he wake up? 

11
   Techfluence    The Sidley Stud    Bejarano R   123   5/2   

Classy ol’ rascal is always a handful and proved that two back taking the BEL Gold Cup (GII) by two lengths.  He’s always tough but if it gets wet, he may get just a bit better.  Was fourth in the Bowling Green (GII) after having the lead…

12
   Multiple Shadows    Our Athletes    Geroux F   123   7/1

Got his second win of the year last out taking the Wise Dan (GII) at CD closing down fast in the late stages to win by a nose.  He also took the FG Stakes (GIII) back in Feb., so he knows how to bring home the bread.  His Man o War (GI) effort was not what the connections wanted and I’m just not sure what we get today. 

13
   Bayou Quartier    Invicta Group Llc    Alvarado J   123   8/1 

Three wins and a pair of seconds from six starts vs. less, but did run big in the SJC (GIII) where he was second.  All of his wins have been vs. Alw horses so it’s is a bit of an acid test and he catches an outside post. 

14
   Controlled Power    Spankys Barn    Prat F   123   6/1

Took the San Luis Rey (GIII) for his only win of the season, but has been second in three other graded races, so he’s is a sold turf marathon horse.  The post position is certainly not optimal but he’s a nice horse and may be able to overcome this. 

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