WESTERN ROMP TED GETS CHRONIC ADDICTION
by testbarn
on
Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at
10:05:31 PM
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WILL TRY TO MAKE VAPORIZER DISAPPEAR
The West State Sprint
Grade I
Six and one half furlongs
Fast Dirt
$500,000
All horses, 4 years old and up
We are here today in Northern California for a preview of Saturday's 11th running of The Grade I West State Sprint. The race, for horses 4yrs. old and up, is to be run at 6 1/2f over the Dirt Course and carries a purse of $500,000. Some of the West Coast's, if not the Nation's best sprinters are expected to be in the line-up here, when the Starter drops his flag. Headed by multiple Grade I winners WESTERN ROMP TED, CHRONIC ADDICTION and multiple stakes winner SANDSTONE PARK.Officials here are expecting a large crowd, depite the Weather Man's call for a 10% chance of rain. So grab the wife and kids, and plan to get out early, if you want a place along the rail. In the meantime lets take a closer look at this full-field of 14 and see how they measure up.
POST #1 KITTY HEAVEN (ARG) #124744
SOUTHERN HALO x STORM CAT x BUCKPASSER
RACE RECORD: 26-5-10-2
EARNINGS: $369,895
TAINER: onemore
JOCKEY: B DICKERSON
ODDS: 11-1
THIS MULTIPLE STAKES WINNER, AND WINNER OF THE GRADE III CRACKED PEANUTS SPRINT IN HIS OUT BEFORE LAST. HE IS A VETERAN IN THE GAME, AND HAS FACED SOME OF THE BEST HORSES THE SIM HAS TO OFFER. HE HAS RUN IN 6 GRADED RACES AND 24 STAKES ALL TOTALED AND HAS AMASSED NEARLY $400,000, HE IS FAST ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE, IN FAIRLY GOOD FORM AND HIS RUNNING STYLE FITS TODAYS RACE. THE DOWNSIDE IS THAT HE IS ABIT INCONSISATANT AND WEAKENS IN THE LANE WHEN PRESSURED.
POST #2 SMOULDERING STREET #61653
FOOL'S PLEASURE x GRAUSTARK x NEARCTIC
RACE RECORD: 52-14-6-7
EARNINGS: $953,989
TRAINER: magoo2912
JOCKEY: R FISHER
ODDS: 17-1
WITH EARNINGS NEARING $1,000,000 AND 14 WINS ALREADY IN THE BOOKS, THIS HORSE HAS SEEN AND DONE IT ALL. HE HAS APPEARED IN 21 CONSECUTIVE STAKES EVENTS AND WON LAST YEARS WORLD CUP SPRINT. I AM AFRAID THAT HIS BEST DAYS MAY BE BEHIND HIM THOUGH, AS HE HAS FAILED TO HIT THE BOARD IN HIS LAST 7 STARTS. HE WILL BE LOOKING TO REKINDLE SOME OF THAT OLD MAGIC TODAY AND A RETURN TO HIS 2007 FORM WOULD PUT HIM IN THE HUNT.
POST #3 CARNAVAL (KY) #135524
HENNESSY x AWESOME AGAIN x PULPIT
RACE RECORD: 24-6-3-4
EARNINGS: $220,468
TRAINER: mindiarte
JOCKEY: C CLAIR
ODDS: 9-1
ANOTHER VERY FAST HORSE, POSTING SP#s ABOVE 100 IN HIS LAST 10 STARTS. BUT HAS FAILED TO MAKE AN IMPACT IN 2 OUT OF 3 STARTS WHEN FACING GRADED COMPITITION. ON A POSITIVE NOTE, THE GOOD START WAS JUST TWO RACES BACK. WHERE HE FINISHED A GAME 3rd IN THE GRADE II BOOKER T. HANDICAP WITH A SP# 108.
POST #4 KASHMIR HEX (IRE) #95389
SADLER'S WELLS x AWESOME AGAIN x GONE WEST
RACE RECORD: 25-8-3-4
EARNINGS: $277,060
TRAINER: confessor
JOCKEY: E BAY
ODDS: 15-1
A NICE HORSE WITH A GOOD TURN OF FOOT IN THE LANE, WHO JUST HAS NOT FIRED IN HIS LAST TWO STARTS. HE SHOULD GET THE FAST PACE UP FRONT THAT HE NEEDS, BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH TO GET THE JOB DONE? HIS HISTORY WHEN IN AGAINST GRADED COMPANY SAYS NO, HAVING FINISHED WAY BACK IN 3 OUT OF 4 ATTEMPTS, HARD TO FIGURE, BUT NOT WITHOUT HOPE.
POST #5 SANDSTONE PARK (KY) #12088
KINGMAMBO x PLEASANT COLONY x NIJINSKY II
RACE RECORD: 14-8-2-2
EARNINGS: $348,822
TRAINER: shapor1
JOCKEY: J WHITE
ODDS: 8-1
A FAIRLY CONSISTANT HORSE, HAVING BEEN ON THE BOARD IN 12 OUT OF 13 STARTS. HIS WORST START HAVING COME AT SMACKDOWN, WHERE HE FINISHED 4th, BEATEN 4 3/4 LENGTHS. WHAT STANDS OUT TO ME, IS FACT THAT THE ONLY SUB-100 SP# IN HIS ENTIRE CAREER, CAME IN HIS FIRST START AS A MAIDEN. IN ALL THE PAST PERFORMANCES I HAVE LOOKED AT, I HAD NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE. IN HIS LAST START, HIS FIRST IN A GRADED STAKES, HE FINISHED 2nd BY A HEAD IN THE GRADE I TRI-CITY SPRINT. LAYING BACK EARLY AND COMING FROM WAY OFF THE PACE, TO JUST MISS AT THE WIRE. THIS HORSE COULD BE THE REAL DEAL AND THE STAR OF THE FUTURE.
POST #6 DOCTOR G #121793
GRAND SLAM x AFFIRMED x TOM FOOL
RACE RECORD: 20-4-4-3
EARNINGS: $153,805
TRAINER: kauffmac
JOCKEY: G KEMUFF
ODDS: 13-1
THE SPEED OF THE SPEED, WHO WILL LIKELY FIND HIMSELF LOCKED IN A DUAL OUT FRONT WITH CHATROOMRAIDER AND IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH AND SEE WHO WILL WIN THE BATTLE, WITHIN A BATTLE FOR THE LEAD AND THEN TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH LEFT TO HOLD OFF THE REST OF THE FIELD.
POST #7 BLACK ARROW (KY) #123989
APTTITUDE x GONE WEST x SEATTLE SLEW
RACE RECORD: 27-7-5-3
EARNINGS: $196,561
TRAINER: ascot
JOCKEY: O STURMAN
ODDS: 11-1
IMPECCABLE BLOODLINES AND A COLLECTION OF SP#S THAT WOULD (EXCUSE ME), CHOKE A HORSE. THIS ONE REMAINS A BIT OF A PUZZLE. HE THREW IN A CLUNKER LAST TIME OUT AFTER CHALKING UP A PERSONAL BEST(SP# 112) THE OUT BEFORE AND SEEMS TO GET BETTER THE FASTER THEY GO. WHICH WILL BE A GOOD THING TODAY, WITH THE FAST PACE EXPECTED.
POST #8 BY ANY OTHER NAME (KY) #126477
FUSAICHI PEGASUS x DANZIG x DR. CATON
RACE RECORD: 27-4-5-5
EARNINGS: $316,782
TRAINER: megaman42
JOCKEY: T MCGRIGGS
ODDS: 12-1
ALTHOUGH UNPREDICTABLE, HE USUALLY IS IN THE MIX FOR ONE OF THE MINOR AWARDS AND SATURDAY COULD BE NO DIFFERENT. BUT HIS LAST TWO EFFORTS HAVE BEEN FAR BELOW PAR AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF HE HAS LOST A STEP?
POST #9 CHATROOMRAIDER #109513
FORTY NINER x SECRETARIAT x HALO
RACE RECORD: 28-6-4-2
EARNINGS: $119.039
TRAINER: robscoobi3
JOCKEY: M PETERS
ODDS: 11-1
ON THE BOARD IN 5 OUT OF HIS LAST 6(INCLUDING A 3rd IN THE GRADE I SMOKEY PROJECT MEMORIAL) WHILE POSTING SP#s FROM 102-111. A GRITTY-TYPE RUNNER WHO MORE THAN LIKELY WILL BE OUT THERE WINGING IT ON THE FRONT END WITH DOCTOR G FOR AS LONG AS HE CAN.
POST #10 STORMY BALLAD (GER) #80542
MONSUN x SAINT BALLADO x EASY GOER
RAXE RECORD: 15-5-2-1
EARNINGS: $90,767
TRAINER: ontarget
JOCKEY: T SILK
ODDS: 9-1
ALTHOUGH HE COMES INTO TODAY'S RACE WITH LITTLE EXPERIENCE IN STAKES COMPITITION, HE IS COMING OFF A MONSTER EFFORT LAST OUT. AN EFFORT IN WHICH HE TRAILED THE FIELD FOR MOST OF THE TRIP AND HAD ONLY TWO HORSES BEATEN AT THE TOP OF THE STRETCH AND SOMEHOW MANAGED TO GET UP IN TIME, TO MISS BY TWO SHORT LENGTHS IN A RACE RUN IN A VERY FAST 1:15 FLAT FOR 6 1/2f. HIS LAST FIVE SP#'S ARE 108, 105, 109, 116, AND 111 RESPECTIVELY AND IF HE CONTINUES TO PROGRESS AS HE IS, THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT.
POST #11 WESTERN ROMP TED (KY) #41339
GONE WEST x BLUSHING GROOM x CREME DELA CREME
RACE RECORD: 33-7-6-3
EARNINGS: %1,356,669
TRAINER: aparcolypse
JOCKEY: S MUNOZ
ODDS: 25-1
THIS MAGNIFICENT SON OFGONE WEST HAS WON OR PLACED IN 5 GRADED EVENTS AND WON OR PLACED IN 8 OTHER STAKES. ALTHOUGH HE IS UNDENIBLY THE CLASS OF THE RACE, HE HAS AT TIMES IN THE PAST, BEEN A BIT INCONSISTANT AND MAY BE ON A DOWN CYCLE IN FORM, HAVING FINISHED 14th LAST TIME OUT. TO BE HONEST...IT IS HARD TO TELL. AS FAR AS THE NUMBERS GO, IN 5 OF HIS LAST 7 RACES, HE HAS RECORDED A SP# UNDER 100 AND HE WILL NEED TO STEP-UP TODAY, IF HE WANTS TO GET INTO THE WINNERS CIRCLE. AT 25-1 HE MAY BE WORTH A FEW BUCKS OR IN THE EXACTA.
POST #12 HAPPY A #24898
A.P. INDY x DEPUTY MINISTER x VAGUELY NOBLE
RACE RECORD: 31-9-0-5
EARNINGS: $323,246
TRAINER: noble
JOCKEY: P GRAHAM
ODDS: 10-1
A VERSATILE RUNNER WITH A ROYAL PEDIGREE, THAT MOST OF US CAN ONLY DREAM ABOUT. THIS SON OF A.P. INDY IS A VETERAN OF GRADED COMPITITION, HAVING COLLECTED A CHECK IN 3 OUT OF 6 ATTEMPTS. HE COMES INTO THE RACE OFF A WINNING EFFORT IN THE CORDELL D. STAKES, WHILE POSTING A PERSONAL BEST SP# 113. HE LIKES TO RUN FROM OFF THE PACE AND IF THIS ONE FIRES HE COULD BE HARD TO HANDLE.
POST #13 VAPORIZER (KY) #131445
SKY MESA x GONE WEST x SEATLE SLEW
RACE RECORD: 21-6-7-1
EARNINGS: $242,314
TRAINER: tripwire
JOCKEY: M ATIE
ODDS: 5-1
A SPEEDSTER, COMING INTO THE RACE, AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME. HE HAS 13 STRAIGHT RACES OVER SP# 100 AND HAS FINISHED 2nd IN HIS LAST TWO. RECORDING SP#'s 114 & 117 IN THE PROCESS. THE ONLY DRAWBACK HERE IS THAT HE SEEMS TO HANG AT THE FINISH WHEN TESTED, BUT A TOP 3 FINISH WOULD NOT BE A SUPRISE TODAY.
POST #14 CHRONIC ADDICTION #127599
GONE WEST x ELA-MANA-MOU x VALID APPEAL
RACE RECORD: 31-12-5-3
EARNINGS: $871,735
TRAINER: pjlracing
JOCKEY: C WINTER
ODDS: 5-1
FOR THOSE WHO LIKE TO CRUNCH THE NUMBERS, THIS IS YOUR HORSE. HE HAS RUN FASTER, AGAINST BETTER, MORE OFTEN, OVER A LONGER PERIOD TIME. HE HAS RECORDED SP#'s OVER 100 IN 17 OUT OF HIS LAST 18, INCLUDING 6 AT 110 OR BETTER. HE HAS FACED GRADED COMPANY IN HIS LAST 7(8 ALTOGETHER), WINNING A GRADE I AND GRADE II IN THE PROCESS AND TAKING HOME CHECKS IN THREE OTHERS. IN ADDITION TO THAT, HE LIKES THE TRACK, HAVING WON THE GRADE III PABLO CRUZ HERE, BACK IN MARCH AND TODAYS DISTANCE IS WITHIN HIS RANGE. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT?
In the process of composing an article of this nature, you find yourself going through the past perfomances several times gathering information, in which to write about. the first time i glanced at the past performances it appeared on paper (in this case wordpad), that we had an interesting race to look forward to. with many sub-plots and battles to be fought and settled within the greater battle itself. With each each review of the stats I became more and more drawn into the possible scenarios that could take place, until I final arrived at the conclusion, that regardless of each particular horse's rank in the sim or their past performance, that we could be possibly be about to witness a race that people in the future will regard as an epic!!
With that said and looking long and hard into my crystal ball (just kidding). I look for the major battle to be fought up front, straight from the gate. With 3, 4. maybe 5 horses contending for the lead and as they go down the backside the speed horses starting to drop off when they can't make the lead. Leaving maybe WESTERN ROMP TED and DOCTOR G up front, and following just off the pace by VAPORIZER, KITTY HEAVEN, CHRONIC ADDICTION, SANDSTONE PARK, and the closers as they bunch up going into the turn. Around the turn everyone looking for room and a place to go as the speed gives way and starts to drop off. As they straighten out into the stretch CHRONIC ADDICTION taking the lead with VAPORIZE right along side and the others starting to close in on the outside. Then in the last sixteenth with.......
Go ahead and finish it in your mind, then do it again....
To be honest, there are 7 or 8 horses with a real shot at the main prize and it would not be a suprise to see any one of them win, Unfortunatly we will all have to wait till Saturday to get the real answer. Till then.....
HOPE TO SEE YOU AT THE RACES!!
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