I don't know how people are going to choose between the 4 impressive G1 winners that we had in the res last week! To the nominees...
Otto O - 4yo H
Storm Cat x Seattle Slew x Seeking the Gold
Owner/Breeder: Epic
Race: 2706.1216 - G1 The Penn Dash 7f turf 3yo+ (full field)
SF: 106
After exiting a nice closing 3rd in a 6f G1 last time out, Otto O looked like he'd relish the extra furlong of The Penn Dash. Would that be enough, considering he was squaring off against a really nice field that included General's Chariot who was a perfect 6 for 6 in sprint races this year w/ 5 of those being graded wins, and 3 of those being G1s? Let's just call Otto O the giant killer, as he circled the field w/ an impressive closing run to prevail by 3/4 of a length! Otto O covered the 7f in 1:21 4/5, and earned a 106 SF for the G1 winning performance.
Pub Crawl - 2yo C
El Prado x Giant's Causeway x Danzig
Owner/Breeder: Given
Race: 2706.0909 - G1 Digging the Grave Hcp 7f turf 2yo (full field)
SF: 96
Pub Crawl exited a nice 3rd in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile, but left Dan w/ a decision to make. Stay at 8.5f routing (8.5f being the distance of his only career defeat), or drop back down to 7f (where he was a perfect 2 for 2). Considering Pub Crawl was 4 for 4 below 8f, I think Dan made a nice decision entering the 7f G1 Digging the Grave Handicap, and it paid off w/ a nice win! Pub Crawl, refusing to acknowledge an outside post is a detriment, flaunted his brazen early speed in Lure like fashion and fired to the front. He opened up on this nice field by almost 3 lengths at one point, and cruised home for the impressive 1/2 length wire to wire win. He covered the 7f in 1:22 4/5, and earned a 96 SF for his G1 winning performance.
Especially - 4yo H
Sadler's Wells x Torrential x Relaunch
Owner: Epic
Race: 2706.2212 - G1 The Kelso Cup 16f dirt 3yo+ (full field)
SF: 101
Epic bought this horse at auction for $5 million+ 12 weeks ago, and I don't think he regrets it! Three short weeks later Especially ran 2nd, just 3/4s of a length short of winning the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, at 10f. Then in his next race he had a turf adventure over 11f. Now it was time to try the grueling distance of 2 miles back on his preferred surface (dirt). Was he man enough? You bet! Especially broke 8th, and tracked 11 lengths off the pace early on. He started to uncoil his run on the turn, and was now in 3rd, yet he had almost 9 lengths to make up in the stretch! Could he get there? Does the Pope wear a funny hat?! Especially put in a massive drive in the stretch to prevail by a head, stopping the 16f timer in 3:29 1/5, and earning a 101 SF for his impressive G1 winning performance.
Tenacious V - 2yo F
Vindication x Lear Fan x Buckpasser
Owner/Breeder: Padre Bri
Race: 2706.0913 - G1 Storm Dog Hdcp 8.5f turf 2yoF (full field)
SF: 90
Not to be outdone by these colts is Tenacious V. Tenacious V went into the Breeders Bowl Juvy Fillies Turf a perfect 2 for 2 in turf routes, winning those 2 races by open lengths w/ imposing closing runs. Her tendency to come from the clouds left her a little too much to do in the stretch of the Juvy, but she finished just 1 short length behind the winner Jaca. A nice effort, and more than enough reason to try 8.5f again, and to try to turn the tables on the Juvy winner Jaca in the G1 8.5f Storm Dog Handicap. TV broke 2nd last, as she tends to do, and settled into a nice stride just 5 short lengths off the early pace setter. As they turned for home, she was 6th, only 2 lengths out of it, and then that imposing finishing kick took over. Getty up. Tenacious V put on a display in the stretch and ran away from this field by 3 widening lengths. She covered the 8.5f in 1:44, and earned a 90 sf for her impressive G1 winning performance.
The deadline for getting votes in is Saturday (when races are posted), so get those votes in, and vote your conscience!
Otto O - 4yo H
Storm Cat x Seattle Slew x Seeking the Gold
Owner/Breeder: Epic
Race: 2706.1216 - G1 The Penn Dash 7f turf 3yo+ (full field)
SF: 106
After exiting a nice closing 3rd in a 6f G1 last time out, Otto O looked like he'd relish the extra furlong of The Penn Dash. Would that be enough, considering he was squaring off against a really nice field that included General's Chariot who was a perfect 6 for 6 in sprint races this year w/ 5 of those being graded wins, and 3 of those being G1s? Let's just call Otto O the giant killer, as he circled the field w/ an impressive closing run to prevail by 3/4 of a length! Otto O covered the 7f in 1:21 4/5, and earned a 106 SF for the G1 winning performance.
Pub Crawl - 2yo C
El Prado x Giant's Causeway x Danzig
Owner/Breeder: Given
Race: 2706.0909 - G1 Digging the Grave Hcp 7f turf 2yo (full field)
SF: 96
Pub Crawl exited a nice 3rd in the Breeders Bowl Juvenile, but left Dan w/ a decision to make. Stay at 8.5f routing (8.5f being the distance of his only career defeat), or drop back down to 7f (where he was a perfect 2 for 2). Considering Pub Crawl was 4 for 4 below 8f, I think Dan made a nice decision entering the 7f G1 Digging the Grave Handicap, and it paid off w/ a nice win! Pub Crawl, refusing to acknowledge an outside post is a detriment, flaunted his brazen early speed in Lure like fashion and fired to the front. He opened up on this nice field by almost 3 lengths at one point, and cruised home for the impressive 1/2 length wire to wire win. He covered the 7f in 1:22 4/5, and earned a 96 SF for his G1 winning performance.
Especially - 4yo H
Sadler's Wells x Torrential x Relaunch
Owner: Epic
Race: 2706.2212 - G1 The Kelso Cup 16f dirt 3yo+ (full field)
SF: 101
Epic bought this horse at auction for $5 million+ 12 weeks ago, and I don't think he regrets it! Three short weeks later Especially ran 2nd, just 3/4s of a length short of winning the G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, at 10f. Then in his next race he had a turf adventure over 11f. Now it was time to try the grueling distance of 2 miles back on his preferred surface (dirt). Was he man enough? You bet! Especially broke 8th, and tracked 11 lengths off the pace early on. He started to uncoil his run on the turn, and was now in 3rd, yet he had almost 9 lengths to make up in the stretch! Could he get there? Does the Pope wear a funny hat?! Especially put in a massive drive in the stretch to prevail by a head, stopping the 16f timer in 3:29 1/5, and earning a 101 SF for his impressive G1 winning performance.
Tenacious V - 2yo F
Vindication x Lear Fan x Buckpasser
Owner/Breeder: Padre Bri
Race: 2706.0913 - G1 Storm Dog Hdcp 8.5f turf 2yoF (full field)
SF: 90
Not to be outdone by these colts is Tenacious V. Tenacious V went into the Breeders Bowl Juvy Fillies Turf a perfect 2 for 2 in turf routes, winning those 2 races by open lengths w/ imposing closing runs. Her tendency to come from the clouds left her a little too much to do in the stretch of the Juvy, but she finished just 1 short length behind the winner Jaca. A nice effort, and more than enough reason to try 8.5f again, and to try to turn the tables on the Juvy winner Jaca in the G1 8.5f Storm Dog Handicap. TV broke 2nd last, as she tends to do, and settled into a nice stride just 5 short lengths off the early pace setter. As they turned for home, she was 6th, only 2 lengths out of it, and then that imposing finishing kick took over. Getty up. Tenacious V put on a display in the stretch and ran away from this field by 3 widening lengths. She covered the 8.5f in 1:44, and earned a 90 sf for her impressive G1 winning performance.
The deadline for getting votes in is Saturday (when races are posted), so get those votes in, and vote your conscience!
SC
GR Simsters President
GR Simsters President
