THE SILVER CHARM CHALLENGER
All Horses 3 Years Old
A Mile and One Eighth on the Fast Vermont
Dirt Track
Our heartfelt thanks to stretch for sponsoring this Equinics race. An
excellent trainer and handicapper, his home track of Delaware is
very well represented here. Being a good old boy from Texas, I am
sure stretch will be holding an excellent pre and post Equincis "get
together" .In a race named for the big Gray son of Silver Buck, we have no
"grays" vying for the Gold Medal. Silver Charm was the third richest
racehorse in history, earning close to $7 million, with a record of 24-12-7-2.
His heart and will to win was bigger than life and we, as trainers, can
only hope to be able to have the opportunity to train one as good as
Silver Charm!
We have some very impressive racehorses in this field of up and coming
3 year olds. Also, with 14 of the 16 colts running being homebreds, it means
we have some excellent owners and trainers being represented here today.
Storm Cat seems to be the predominate sire here, with four of
the sixteen starters being sired by him. Let us take a closer look at all the
contenders and give them their due, as it is a great honor to be representing
their track here at the Equinics. They are all great horses and their owners
can be proud of their accomplishments so far in their young racing careers.
#1) REGAL DEPUTY - 7/1 - Representing Minnesota and trained by larksfarms.
Sired by Deputy Minister out of a Regal Classic mare. Record 10-4-0-1.
Keeps improving and has been running against some very good competition
and his last race was a dandy in the GR3 Holy Bull stakes on an off track. His
one turf start was not up to par so looks to prefer the dirt now and seems to prefer
the off track as well. We will have a fast track for this out but is a definite contender
as will like the added distance and a hot jockey up.
#2) ROCKY PARK - 23/1 - Representing the A.S.R. and trained by brentuk2.
Sired by Silvino out of a Sadler's Wells mare. Record 9-7-2-0.
Very impressive race record for this one time $7500 claimer. Most of his
races have had very few runners and his Speed ratings are a little lower
than most, but when you are winning by many lengths, no need to break
any speed records, right? Jockey is a little off his form this year too, so
that is not a plus. One of the two horses running that is not a homebred.
#3) VISION OF A KING(IRE) - 45/1 - Representing Ireland and trained by
dancards. Sired by King's Best(Ire) out of a Vision mare. Record 4-2-0-0.
A little inexperienced with only four races. Seems to be able to handle both
Surfaces. Has local top jockey up but feel might be in over his head in here
for now, but will improve as he gains experience.
#4) TOWER STORM - 7/2 - Representing Team Independent Unity and trained
by lonespeed. Sired by Storm Cat out of a Forty Niner mare. Record 10-7-1-2.
Very impressive race record as well. Never out of the money. As they say, "Show
Me the money", well this colt showed them the money!!! This is his second start
as a three year old and seemed to need the first one to get him ready for this.Kept
getting better as the year went on and seems to be ready to continue on. Winner
of the Juvenile Breeders Bowl and the 2001 Eclipse Award for two year old
colt of the year, he should be on the podium here.
#5) OZARK DANCER - 20/1 - Representing East West Connection and trained
by simond. Sired by Broad Brush out of a Northern Dancer mare. Record 8-3-2-1.
Has been a steadily improving colt and has been getting a little more distance
each time out. Has a very hot jockey up and should be very competitive in here.
Will be part of the early pace but feel he will not be able to finish.
#6) ICE AGE PREDATOR - 8/1 - Representing Queensland and trained by tigerman.
Sired by Fusaichi Pegasus out of a Buckpasser mare. Record 9-2-1-2.
You can never go wrong with a Buckpasser mare even using a new age, untested
Sire. And if this offspring is any indication, Fusaichi Pegasus will be a good sire!
This colt seems to like any surface and this distance should suit. Best races seemed
to be after a four week rest between, same as here. Another hot jockey here so
watch for this colt to be closing on the front runners.
#7) DIM DAN - 12/1 - Representing Nexis and trained by rednag.
Sired by Elnadim out of a Naevus mare. Record 5-3-0-1.
I once knew a guy named Dan who was a little dim, but this colt
is far from being dim! Two for two on the dirt! What a turn around
since changing surfaces. His last out was spectacular! This is his
first race as a three year old having been off a little longer than most
since that amazing out so hopefully he will be ready! After finding he
likes this fast dirt surface there may be no stopping him! Mediocre
jockey does not necessarily bode well for him but should be close for
a piece of the money.
#8) IL EMANUEL- 53/1 - Representing The Terrapin Jockey Club and
trained by ildottore. Sired by Never Black out of a North Prospect mare.
Record 3-1-0-1. Only three race experience coming into this race and
did not seem to like the added distance last out. Should be part of the
early pace but feel he will not be able to hang on. Excellent jockey
will help but might be a little over his head in here. After more
experience, should be a super horse.
#9) DEMON GAS - 99/1 - Representing New South Wales and trained
by mwolves. Sired by Rhythm out of a Reach(Ire) mare. Record 2-1-0-0.
Quite an unknown quantity in this colt, having only raced twice and
just broke his maiden last out. It was a very nice win by 3 lengths, so looks
like he might like a little more distance. Feel he is in a very tough spot
here but has the talent to improve and get better as the year wears on as this
is his first race as a three year old.
#10) SEEKING SLEW - 5/1 - Representing South East Racing Association
and trained by pauldmd. Sired by Seeking the Gold out of a Green
Dancer mare. Record 8-5-1-1. A very nice race record indeed and getting
better with each out. First race as a three year old but hopefully will continue
his winning ways. Great SPR last outs and looks to like the added distance.
If seeking to find another horse as great as "Slew", may be close here!
Should be part of the top 4 finishers.
#11) GOLDEN TOGUE - 16/1 - Representing Nebraska and trained by
coroner. Sired by Seeking the Gold out of a Saint Ballado mare.
Record 7-3-0-1. This trainer scares me, no I mean, really scares me!
Anyway, his colt surely scares his competition each time he steps up
to the starting gate. Never know when the champion side will show up.
Erratic finishes but does seem to keep improving his numbers. Jockey
is a little new to the track but seems to hold his own.
#12) WHOOPS APOCALYPSE - 7/1 - Representing DelPenn and trained
by madamson. Sired by Storm Cat out of a Carson City mare. Record 7-5-1-0.
"Whoops, I did it again!" Win, that is!!!! Impressive two year old campaign
and looks to be able to carry it forward into his three year old season. His race
record speaks for itself, with only one race below par. That was the race
following his disappointing lose in the Breeders Bowl, and I am sure he
was still a little down. But he picked himself up and won his last out in
fine fashion. Should like the distance but unimpressive jockey does not
help him here.
#13) GOD OF THUNDER - 13/1 - Representing the Home Track of Vermont
and trained by mmurano1. Sired by Storm Cat out of a Halo mare.
Record 8-3-1-1. Not an impressive start as a two year old, but we all know
what an amazing trainer mmurano1 is, and that he would bring this talented
colt to his potential. First start as a three year old was impressive, winning by
more than 4 lengths. Although it was a small field, it was a very good field.
Excellent jockey up and if improvement is any indication, this colt could be
in the top four finishers.
#14) DEFIANT PAUNCHI - 19/1 - Representing Germany and trained by
joe333. Sired by Blushing Scribe out of a Venetian Jester mare. Record 7-4-1-1.
Amazing improvement every time out. This is the only other colt that is not
a homebred in this race and originally ran in claimers, as low as $5000.
Has been facing tougher competition lately and still won. An excellent
Jockey helps a great deal in here but has not gone a route yet so feel he
will not get the distance.
#15) EXBOURNE'S ALERT - 16/1 - Representing Viking Racing and
trained by redalert. Sired by Storm Cat out of a Sadler's Wells mare.
Record 8-5-1-0. Competed in a number of stakes races on the turf and did
very well indeed. Switched to dirt last two outs and is two for two. Seems
to like the dirt as well, maybe a little better. Should like the distance as way
winning going away in his last two at a mile and a sixteenth. Jockey likes
to win so should help. Like his chances.
#16) NORTHERN NAY SAYER - 19/1 - Representing Missouri and trained
by packrat. Sired by Rahy out of a Northern Dancer mare. Record 7-4-1-0
Another case of steady improvement. This will be his first out as a three
year old and the distance should not be a problem. Decent jockey up should
help his chances. Has won three in a row and shall look to carry on with his
winning ways.
Sixteen super 3 year old colts here, some with a little more experience than
others, some with first starts as three year olds, some with more. An Eclipse
Award winner going against one that just broke his maiden. The variables
in this race are many, but the similarity is they are all three year olds wanting
to win. It is also a horserace, and we all know what that means! Anything
can happen. It is hard to bet against a Breeder's Bowl winner, as well as
being an Eclipse Award winner!! At odds of 7/2 that is not bad!! So shall
bet $50 WPS on #4, TOWER STORM. I do like #7 DIM DAN and #13 GOD
OF THUNDER as well. Shall bet $50 to Place and Show on #7 and #13, for a total
of $350 bet. Good Luck to all! And remember to keep your stick on the ice!!!
