Awesome Weekend BC Preps Results

By CandiceCurtis
Updated: October 3, 2016

Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire

G1 Joe Hirsch Turf

As the Super Screener had anticipated, in a 4-horse field the pace was likely to come up very soft and the pace leader, if he has any quality, is at a strong advantage. We anticipated that Flintshire would finish 2nd in this race as the race circumstances would not work to his favor and he didn’t have to win this race as he has already “won and in” the Breeders’ Cup Turf. If you like Flintshire going into the Turf, don’t let his 2nd place finish here dissuade you. We thought his stablemate Money Multiplier, however, would be the winner, but Ectot was no surprise especially with the yielding turf conditions.

• (Ectot) Takes a big step up for the Pletcher barn. Is rounding into form and peaking at the right time third off the 10-month layoff, so he’ll compete for a possible bottom of the Exacta finish. He definitely has an advantage if the turf comes up yielding.

G1 Gallant Bloom

A Super Screener “must use for the win” choice, Paulassilverlining, was a solid winner here as the complexion of this race changed with the defection of Hot City Girl. Super Screener accurately anticipated that #5 Momameamaria would be your pace setter and possibly take this field from gate to wire, but jockey Franco opened up a huge lead along with some wicked fractions and she could not hold on.

Quezon was a real Super Screener favorite to complete the Exacta as the best closer in the field that could handle the off going. It was somewhat disappointing, however, to see her get bet down to 9-2.

• (Quezon) A very dependable sort that is 6 for 8 in the Exacta and has never missed the Superfecta. Will need a swift and pressured pace and projects to move forward in this second race off the layoff. Best closer if the top two go faster.

No complaints in the end as the Super Screener suggested wagers hit multiple Exacta tickets for a payoff of over $300.

G1 Vosburgh

A great addition of the G1 Vosburgh and as anticipated a fired up, X Y Jet off the long rest jumped out and cut brutal fractions as he was hounded throughout by #4 Green Gratto and #1 Weekend Hideaway. In the end, the race set up for the closing antics of the 7 year-old gelding, Joking, enjoying arguably his best year of his career.

He was the Super Screener top upsetter pick but with the defection of A.P. Indian he was bet down to 4-1.

• TOP LONG SHOT 7 yr-old gelding (Joking) is 8 for 8 in the Exacta at Belmont. Moves up on an off track. Been away since June but works are sharp and here’s your upsetter at a nice price.

The horse that really ran the best race here was Weekend Hideaway. He was part of that hot pace but held on stubbornly for third. Since the Super Screener faded Stallwalkin’ Dude some we needed Weekend Hideaway to hold onto 2nd for the cash.

• NY-bred (Weekend Hideaway) facing open company is hoping for an off track. Makes his third start off the layoff and has every right to move forward. Recent works were top notch. Is a cut below the top contenders here. Top half finish possible.

G1 Beldame

Another great race on the Super Saturday card at Belmont. Trainer Keith Desormeaux was fretting all week about a possible off track and Forever Unbridled’s ability to negotiate those conditions. In fact, after the race we learned he was considering scratching her from the race. While she was clearly the one to beat, we used that information to downgrade her a touch but a must include in Exactas. It was our top long shot pick #1 Tiger Ride that really ran an awesome race to grab 2nd at nearly 15-1.

• (Tiger Ride) TOP LONG SHOT Super Screener likes the switch to jockey Jose Ortiz. Last race, after a bit of a layoff, was quite solid and coming back here Super Screener projects she’ll turn the tables on #3 Rachel’s Temper who defeated her last out. Has a very balanced energy distribution profile which will serve her well against these. Super looking recent works.

Forever Unbridled will go forward to the Breeders’ Cup Distaff now facing the likes of Beholder, Stellar Wind and Cavorting. That race is now shaping up to be one of the greatest editions of the Distaff of all time.

G1 Frontrunner

The Stakes action then moved to the West Coast kicking off with the G1 FrontRunner. #6 Klimt was the prohibitive favorite and really ran a deceivingly good race in that he could not count on a fast pace and had to track down a lone-lead, no-pressure rival in #1 Gormley all on his own. Taking nothing away from the winner, but Klimt was clearly best and got that 2-turn experience he needed to set him up well for the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile.
It is now pretty clear that Straight Fire is a sprinter and should be a good bet against if he goes forward in the BC Juvenile.

G1 Awesome Again

The main event this Saturday was the G1 Awesome Again Stakes where we got to watch one of the greatest horses of all time take it to this field of over matched rivals. #1 California Chrome cut very swift fractions in taking this field wire-to-wire. Baffert’s Dortmund with the addition of blinkers took it to “Chrome” early, but exhausted himself in the process, setting him up to be a strong contender to take down the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

California Chrome just needs to keep his form now heading into the Classic as the clear favorite (though don’t tell connections of Arrogate that!).

• (California Chrome) Your Breeder’s Cup Classic favorite and horse-of-the-year candidate has already “won and is in” the Breeders’ Cup Classic so just a great effort to tighten the screws is all the barn is looking for. Frankly, even his “B” game wins this. Once again he will either lead the field throughout or sit off #2 Dortmund and make that winning move mid stretch. Will be very tough to beat.

As an aside, the Super Screener picked the exact order of finish for all entrants in this race. Let’s do that now in the Breeders’ Cup Classic!

G1 Rodeo Drive

Super Screener really liked the value possibility of this race and accurately predicted that despite the large field the pace would be quite soft with Avenge being chased by Zipessa which is exactly what happened. In the end this was one of those merry-go-round races in which every rival finished the race in about the same position as where they started. So late runners had absolutely no shot whatsoever. Give extra credit to Majestic Heat in this race as that one passed several rivals running into this slow pace.

While the Super Screener cashed on this race it came up pretty chalky in the end and a 2nd place finish by Frenzified would have been much sweeter.

G1 Zenyatta

The 2-1 odds on Stellar Wind was quite generous as she once again defeated Beholder by the narrowest of margins in another exciting renewal of this race. Stevens took Beholder to the lead and Stellar Wind just stalked that one throughout in perfect position until that pair just drew away from the rest of the field in what turned into a two-horse match race. Once again, taking nothing away from Beholder who has now finished 2nd in her last three starts, but as she gets a bit older, younger rivals from this excellent crop are getting better as the year progresses.

• (Stellar Wind) Victory against #2 Beholder was no fluke in the Hirsch. This 4 yr old is a rising star and has been managed with the utmost precision by John Sadler. He is looking to have her in top condition to peak on the first Friday in November. Takes up a very comfortable position just off #3 Vale Dori and then explodes nearing the wire.

Once again the Super Screener called the exact order of all the entrants…that will be much more meaningful if we can repeat that feat in screening the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

G1 Chandelier

If you boxed our top 4 rated horses you would have caught the Exacta, Trifecta and Superfecta. The Super Screener suggested wagers cashed on Trifecta and Superfecta wagers totaling nearly $1,200.

Super Screener was really convicted on this foursome:

• Baffert’s other charge (Noted and Quoted) was originally going to ship to Keeneland for the Alcibiades. Runs here and is the “now” filly in the barn. Will appreciate two turns and toss that last race as she was not well behaved that day. Good value.

• (With Honors) Super Screener prefers horses with two-turn experience and this one has two such races. Turf to dirt move is a strong play with trainer Desormeaux. Connections seeing what she can do on dirt to provide BC races options. Contender.

• (Zapperkat) Will get dismissed as Baffert pair and #3 Champagne Room draw spotlight attention. Negotiated swift fractions but drew out nicely for the debut victory. Super Screener notes those two long and strong works. Top win choice…value

• (Champagne Room) Begging for two turns as this filly can run long against less stressful fractions. Mike Smith picks up the mount and energy distribution profile sprinting projects well for the move to the route as balance is the key. Contender.

The Super Screener also spotted the full sister to American Pharoah, American Cleopatra as a vulnerable favorite with her reputation exceeding her ability.

• A bit over rated due to being a full sister to American Pharaoh. Quality filly and Baffert likes her, however, stablemate, Noted and Quoted might be better right now. Could get caught up in a speed duel. Dull last work.

Zapperkat ran a really good race here having broken a bit slow out of the gate and then having to do all the work to close into a soft pace as the top two finishers went around the track as the leading pair throughout.

Wow! If you liked this action-packed weekend of loaded Breeders’ Cup prep stakes races, stick around as next weekend brings us 17 graded stakes including those being run opening weekend for Keeneland. What a great time of year for horseplayers! We’ll be covering all the action as we get closer to completing the road to the Breeders’ Cup.

Until next weekend…Go Fast and Win!
Mike