6015 All horses, 4 years old and up - 8 furlongs on the Turf Handicapper - Stretch Sponsored by Stretch Race 15 Handicapped by STRETCH "THE NUREYEV" GRADE I One Mile on the Hong Kong turf $500,000 All horses, 4 years old and up WITH 111 STAKES winners, 61 group or graded stakes winners, and 23 group or grade one winners, Nureyev is one of the world's greatest sires. He is also exerting a breed-shaping influence through his sons and daughters. Already at least fifteen sons of Nureyev have sired group or graded stakes winners, with ten of them siring group or grade one winners. Nureyev's daughters have produced 78 stakes winners, including major sires Kingmambo and Zabeel, and other classic winners and champions East of the Moon, Desert King, Loup Solitaire, and Loup Sauvage. Entries:  1 26/1 From DelPenn - Mr. West Gone West x Alydar x Vice Regent Trainer is Madamson MR. WEST                madamson   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: M Day     Total 25 8 4 2     $196,405 Mr. West is a 5 year old horse who has actually done more racing on the dirt than on the turf. However, with a turf record of 2 firsts and 2 seconds in just 8 starts and his breeding which says he can do the distance and the turf pretty easily, then we may be in store for a blockbuster surprise in the money finish out of this guy. The trainer is the very crafty Madamson who also trains the world famous Whoops Apocalypse. His last race was a prep for this race over in Kentucky were he closed on a very sloppy dirt track to win at 6 1/2 furlongs and a very nice 104 speed rating. The question is can the very crafty DelPenn trainer pull off a stunner in this race with this horse? We will see.  2 9/2 From Team Independant Unity - Enough Knock Sadler's Wells x Mill Reef x Jacinto Trainer is win ENOUGH KNOCK                win   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: Q Cassell     Total 60 27 14 8     $7,764,140 Enough Knock is an 8 year old horse with over $7.7 million dollars in lifetime earnings. In his 52 lifetime turf starts he has won 26 of them. He has 11 place and 7 shows in those races too. This horse is the benchmark for all other great turf horses that will come after him. It is quite possible that no others will be able to achieve what he has in their lifetimes. When this horse walks out onto the turf what you are looking at is history. Years after his racing career is over people will be talking about his races and his success. In later years the newcomers will not realize just what a great horse we have the opportunity of watching race today. Let me tell you that someone needs to keep the closed circuit taping of last year's Breeder's Bowl Mile. Put that one on a pedastal somewhere so that we can go back and look at it again over and over. It was total domination by a 7 year old that many thought was at the end of a very glorious career and was about done racing. He destroyed the field wire to wire. They should let him walk out onto the track before every Breeder's Bowl and get the applause he deserves and give everyone a chance to see him even after he is done racing. He took it on the chin in his last race, the A.S.R Mile. Well here he is again. No need for him to knock on the door of the Hall of Fame because he is already in the Hall of Fame, waiting on his successors. When the bell is rung and the race starts he typically answers in fine fashion. They are all here today. The ones that want to take his place. Can he pull out another great win? Whether he does or does not, I will be cheering him on.  3 15/1 From Viking Racing - Nightly The Gordie Dajur x Theatrical(IRE) x Vaguely Noble Trainer is sos NIGHTLY THE GORDIE                sos   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: G Bonkowski     Total 49 12 17 2     $721,960 Nightly The Gordie is a 7 year old horse who is quite capable of hitting the 100-110 speed mark at this distance on the turf. In his 47 turf appearances he has been first or second a total of 29 times. A very amazing record. He has not been in graded races in quite some time and comes out to try it again after posting a very nice 106 speed rating in the Catchpenny Handicap race. He came in 2nd to the quick Pompous Project who was doing his best to try to rate in that race. He lost by only a little over 2 lengths to that one and that sets him up to contend for this race today. He runs his best from the lead or just off of the lead so look for that style of running again today. He will have to really do his very best however, there are some very good closers in this race who are just itching for a fast pace.  4 63/1 From North West Racing Curcuit - Proud Prospect Nureyev x Private Account x Luthier(FR) Trainer is Aurora PROUD PROSPECT                aurora   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: P Smith     Total 51 7 6 9     $309,290 Proud Prospect is a 7 year old horse who likes the turf but maybe a shorter distance than what is on his plate for today. I like his turf breeding and is sired by today's race namesake. Still, with all that going for him he is up against a buzz saw in this race today. He is making a big jump up in class today after a series of mostly owner restricted races. Yet I have the most admiration for this horse with the heart to make an attempt for this glorious prize. I really wish him well but I do not see an in the money finish today. I do hope you prove me wrong.  5 35/1 From Missouri - Half Summer Saumarez(GB) x Irish River(FR) x Nijinsky II Trainer is erniea HALF SUMMER                erniea   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: W Meeks     Total 28 6 5 3     $234,065 Half Summer is a 5 year old horse with some excellent turf breeding. Out of 23 turf races he has been first or second 9 times. He has been struggling some as of late. Back in week 1208 he posted a very nice 108 speed figure in a mile stakes race across the turf over in South Dakota. Since that time things have been a little rough. He drops back to a mile distance from two mile and a sixteenth races. This distance is a much better distance for him. He will have to turn in one of his best lifetime performances to stay with this star studded field of turfers today.  6 11/1 From Queensland - July War Academy Award x Alydar x Groton Trainer is Siriusflit JULY WAR                siriusflit   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: T Brewer     Total 14 5 3 1     $316,745 July War is a lightly raced and very well bred 7 year old horse. He has ever increasing speed ratings in his last several stakes races. His last three stakes races have shown that he loves this distance on the turf and is ready to try the graded races now and the trainer thinks he is ready also. He will be up against the finest turfers in the sim and with no races against this group of horses, we will have to see how he can do against this top class competition.  7 3/1 From Nebraska - Used Bandaid Wild Again x Alydar x Mr. Prospector Trainer is Jungleboy USED BANDAID                jungleboy   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: P Williams     Total 36 21 2 4     $2,266,352 Used Bandaid is a 5 year old horse that I enjoyed watching alot while he was in his 3 year old season. He smashed a hopeful that I had running at that time, Dynamis. That 3 year old season was just a preview though of what was to be a marquee 4 year old season for Used Bandaid. He has 20 wins in his 33 lifetime turf starts. It is all or nothing for this fellow and usually it is the All that he gets. He is a stone cold closer of the highest magnitude. In the Canada Grade I turf mile he reeled off a speed figure well into the 120's and to prove that it was no fluke he did it again with a 124 speed figure in the Grade II NC Mile in his race before last. His last race was in the Grade I A.S.R. Mile on the turf against many of the same competitors that are appearing in todays race. He managed only a 6th place finish and a 103 speed rating in that race. He made his typical closing run but ran out of real estate before he could catch the leaders. There is nothing more enjoyable than watching Used Bandaid scorching the turf with his late run, that is unless your the trainer of one of the other horses. Regardless of what the outcome, this guy is already a big star.  8 6/1 From Vermont - September Storm Summer Squall x Alydar x Buckpasser Trainer is Futurestar SEPTEMBER STORM                futurestar   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: C. Shinkle     Total 19 13 2 0     $1,617,010 September Storm is a very versatile 4 year old colt. He can run very well on dirt or turf, and in varying conditions, fast or off tracks, as proven by his record. He has proven himself against the older horses too. Recently placing 2nd in the Grade I A.S.R. Turf Mile against a full field of horses. He hung just off the leaders heels before taking the lead at the half way mark but was caught in the late stretch. His speed rating was 111. That field contained some of the very best talent in the sim too and he meets several of those same horses again today. He is out to show that he is more than ready to take over stardom from the old sim turf stars, not just a future star, he is a star already. He likes to go to the front early and runs his best with that E/P style.  9 17/1 From East West Connection - Raw Robe(GB) Cadeaux Genereux(GB) x Roberto x Rarity(ENG) Trainer is Lordpye6 RAW ROBE(GB)                lordpye6   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: W. Bayless     Total 30 9 6 3     $424,487 Raw Robe(GB) is a 7 year old horse who runs at or around the 100 speed figure in graded turf stakes races. Out of 29 turf races he has been first or second a total of 15 times with most of them coming in routes. This is a sneaky fast horse who should not be discounted based on a recent rash of mid pack finishes. He has ability to run from off the pace, however today he will really have to pick it up against an extremly strong group he is up against.  10 15/1 From Minnesota - Senior April Sadler's Wells x Buckaroo x Cornish Prince Trainer is Jobean SENIOR APRIL                jobean   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: T. Hamill     Total 27 5 7 3     $245,117 Senior April is a young 4 year old colt who does very well at the distance and on the turf. In 13 turf races he has been first or second a total of 9 times. He is a very capable stakes runner and usually does very well with speed ratings around the 110 mark. The trainer prepped him for this race in an allowance race over in Connecticut against the older horses for the first time. Going 14 furlongs with a small field of five and just breezed. We have yet to see what he is really capable of doing against the older horses. He won a stakes recently in Norway and has 3 place finishes recently in stakes races at Connecticut and New South Wales with speed figures around 110. He likes to come from just off the pace and will really have to turn it on today against this excellent group of older horses.  11 63/1 From Terrapin Jockey Club - Contagious Lord Raconteur x Maudlin x Time Tested Trainer is webpilot CONTAGIOUS LORD                webpilot   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: H Harbert     Total 7 4 1 0     $57,120 Contagious Lord is a very lightly raced 5 year old horse. He does have a very fine record which qualifies him to be in this prestigeous race. In just 6 turf starts he has 4 wins and a second place finish. He is going to be a very good turf runner over his lifetime. I believe that he will have difficulty showing off his true potential here today due to a lack of seasoning only. He is up against horses with many great turf starts. His ability and true class was shown though back in week 1208 when in a stakes race against older horses at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf he was just barely causght at the wire and lost by just 3/4 of a length. He recorded a 105 speed rating against a full field of horses. This shows his potential for greatness. I am going to go out on a limb though and say that he needs some more races under his belt and a little more seasoning in stakes race company, then move up into the graded ranks. You have to really like the looks of this one though and I am sure we will be hearing much more aobut him in the future.  12 7/1 From A.S.R - Exeter Orange Nureyev x Carson City x Caerleon Trainer is dmckinna EXETER ORANGE                dmckinna   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: B Hollier     Total 16 6 2 1     $424,490 Exeter Orange is a very lightly raced 7 year old horse. He has only 17 lifetime starts but what great races they have been. Out of his 15 turf starts he has won 6 and placed 2 times. He has almost a half a million dollars in lifetime earnings in those few race also. The trainer treats this older horse very well and lets him get plenty of rest between races and spots him into races in which he fits very well. He loves 8 furlongs on the turf and he gets a steady diet of just that. Here is a Nureyev sired horse that can win the race which was named to honor his sire. He steadily gets speed ratings in the 110 area in graded stakes races at this distance and surface. He was involved in the same A.S.R. Grade I turf race that many of these others were involved in last time out. In that one he was always moving forward and gaining on the lead. Possibly will get better results in today's race with the very quick pace that is expected.  13 14/1 From New South Wales - Redneck Mars Carr De Naskra x Marscay x Tom Rolfe Trainer is gooner REDNECK MARS                gooner   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: N Tippins     Total 37 8 6 5     $413,240 Redneck Mars is a 7 year old horse with a very nice turf record. For some reason he has run his last 4 races on the dirt and should welcome the change back to his preferred surface which is definately the turf. He has some huge speed ratings in the last 4 dirt races so I am thinking he will bump up his speed rating now that he gets back onto the turf. He has 17 in the money finishes in 30 turf starts over his career and over a quarter of a million dollars in winnings on that same surface. He has an upfront style of running that is going to hurt him today though. He does not have the speed necessary to keep up with these gazelles. Still though he is a very nice horse and very worthy of being in this competition. With so many famous turf stars out there today it will take his best performance to come out of here with the desired outcome.  14 5/1 From Ireland - Pompous Project Mr. Prospector x NijinskyII x Bold Ruler Trainer is Tisjuliet POMPOUS PROJECT                tisjuliet   Races Wins Places Shows Earnings  Jockey: G. Harmon     Total 40 17 8 3     $1,590,844 Pompous Project is a very fast 5 year old horse. I saw him run many times when he was a 3 year old and I know that he has a lot of go power. This is his best distance and conditons. He has won 15 out of 30 lifetime turf races with a similar record for routes. And he has won a ton of money. This is a class horse who is out to try and take over stardom from older sim stars. In the Grade I Canada Mile he set a break neck pace only to set up the race for a hard charging Used Bandaid who was flying down the lane late. Still, Pompous Project recorded a 121 speed figure for the mile on the turf. That race took a lot out of him and it showed in his next two races after that one, which were somewhat slower. However, they were big stakes races also. Since then I see two advancing speed ratings meaning he is starting to get back to his old self again and if so can be a real monster. This is a key horse in the race as I will spell out later in my race analysis. If he goes out to the lead as he did in Ontario it could set it up for a deep closer such as Used Bandaid again. At any rate, Pompous Project may be a carrier of the Hong Kong "flew". WIN: USED BANDAID PLACE: EXETER ORANGE SHOW: SEPTEMBER STORM ANALYSIS & BET: Speed kills and whomever tries to keep up with it surely will burn too. As I have mentioned throughout my write-ups on each of these horses, many were in the very same last race, the A.S.R Mile. So you would think it would be easy to just use that race to determine the winner here today but that is definately not the case. Here is why, since I do not see Volitile Nijinsky in this field, the horse that won the A.S.R. Mile, and with the addition of POMPOUS PROJECT today, it changes the entire complexion of the race when compared to the A.S.R. mile. The A.S.R Mile had a very slow pace, none of the truely fast horses was willing to go out to the front early with an all out charge. They let Bustfully Shag set the slow pace and that is why you see all of the closers coming up short at the end of that race. That will not happen today thanks to the addition of my key horse, POMPOUS PROJECT. And that is also the reason for the slow time of the A.S.R Mile. That race finished in 1:34 2/5s, today's race will end at about 1:33 4/5s. In today's race I do not think that anyone will be able to go wire to wire in this bunch of horses even though there is speed shall we say, to burn. With three and maybe even four front-runners in here I have to go with a deep closer. And the one with those credentials is USED BANDAID. He will be set-up as he usually is in these types of races by the speedy POMPOUS PROJECT who just cannot help himself but to go all out from the front. It has happened several times before. USED BANDAID has his number. I am sure that somewhere the trainer of USED BANDAID is munching on a kangaroo burger and drinking some suds and smiling at the thought of POMPOUS PROJECT being in the race. POMPOUS PROJECT has to go to the front early because that is how he runs the best and the trainer knows it. NIGHTLY GORDIE, ENOUGH KNOCK, and possibly REDNECK MARS will try to stay with POMPOUS PROJECT all to their undoing. SEPTEMBER STORM should be running the first part of the race from mid pack in a Early/Presser style of running which is his best style. I expect SEPTEMBER STORM to be waiting to make his move when the speed finally takes it's toll on the front runners and he can make his move to the front. He should be overtaken in late stretch though by EXETER ORANGE who will be racing from near the back of the pack. Both SEPTEMBER STORM and EXETER ORANGE will be overtaken at the wire by the hard charging USED BANDAID who will be flying down the lane late. THE BET: Take USED BANDAID ACROSS THE BOARD. In the exacta take USED BANDAID with EXETER ORANGE, SEPTEMBER STORM, and POMPOUS PROJECT. Then flip it. Back To TIPSHEET