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SPRINT DIARY OCTOBER 21, 2008 by Vance Hanson I have been guilty of overanalyzing Breeders' Cup races since time in memoriam, and I'm quite confident of not being alone in that regard. Wracking my brain has led me down blind alleyways too numerous to mention, which has led to missed financial rewards of proportions too depressing to recount. While the advent of time travel would be a welcome cure for this melancholy (and other ills), the great fact in the life of every horseplayer is that there is always tomorrow, or, in the case of the Breeders' Cup, there's always next year. With our annual rite of passage only days away, it's time to get down to the business at hand. On paper, the main track sprint races appear pretty straightforward. These aren't necessarily the best wagering propositions, simply the ones I feel have all the tools going for them at this time. SPRINT 1st -- STREET BOSS (Street Cry [Ire]) was designated in this forum three months ago as our early selection for this race, and even with a narrow loss in his final prep, we don't see any reason to back off now. It is unknown whether he would have the same talent on dirt, but for the foreseeable future that is irrelevant. His synthetic record is vastly superior to that of nearly everyone else in the field, and he's had a balanced, well-spaced campaign that should have him in peak condition for this likely Eclipse Award decider. Perhaps the thing I like most about him is that despite being a one-run closer, he's as comfortable going three-quarters as he is in longer sprints. He will need luck to negotiate traffic in this race, but few have such an explosive kick and he is sure to get the right pace set-up to show his best. 2nd -- FABULOUS STRIKE (Smart Strike) is one I debated about choosing, primarily because he would have been my selection at Monmouth Park last year had he not developed a lung infection following a scintillating victory in the Vosburgh S. (G1). He did not reappear until June when taking a minor stakes against two rivals at Delaware Park, then hit the sidelines again until the September 27 Vosburgh. He ran an excellent race that day, fighting back resiliently against the oncoming longshot BLACK SEVENTEEN (Is It True), but bowed to that rival by a head. Though he might not be as good as he was last season, it stands to reason that he got a lot out of that Vosburgh attempt and might take a step forward here. The 2007 version of this horse would have had an excellent chance regardless of surface, but this time around I have to take that factor into account given the probability of his diminished ability. I'll still be rooting for him if he's in contention late. 3rd -- COST OF FREEDOM (Cee's Tizzy) is one of only two horses to beat Street Boss this season. Claimed by his present connections for $50,000 three back, he's run two terrific races for them including a half-length decision over Street Boss in the Ancient Title S. (G1). He's undefeated in three starts over Santa Anita's main track, and we see no apparent reason why he cannot continue his recent streak of good luck in the most important sprint of the year. Longshot -- FATAL BULLET (Red Bullet) will undoubtedly be one of the wise-guy picks of Breeders' Cup weekend. Most are drawing comparisons between him and Cajun Beat, who captured the 2003 Sprint at Santa Anita following a win in the Kentucky Cup Sprint (G3). In his favor, he has a remarkable 8-7-1-0 record on synthetic surfaces. The downside is that he has yet to hook a field this good. FILLY & MARE SPRINT 1st -- INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) is going to have regress substantially not to be in the picture in this race. Sure, she has a few weaknesses, but then again, as Old Blue Eyes would say, too few to mention. Since trainer Bob Baffert began to focus on this goal over the summer, his champion has looked spectacular winning by open lengths in the Prioress S. (G1), Test S. (G1) and Gallant Bloom H. (G2), all the while earning BRIS Speed ratings that consistently tower over her opposition. The maturing of her rating abilities has been a prime factor in her success, and will be of great help here with a contested pace expected and seven furlongs stretching the limits of a number of her rivals. And even though it was contested over a surface not quite the same as the one presently in place, her victory in the Santa Ynez S. (G2) in her seasonal debut negates most worries that she might not be able to run to snuff on a non-dirt track. 2nd -- INTANGAROO (Orientate) has been one of this season's pleasant surprises, proving her mettle on both synthetic and dirt. A three-time Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs, she is another whose chances will be enhanced by swift fractions. One concern we have is that she will be entering this race off of a three-month layoff, and her record is mixed when it comes to firing off the bench. While a career-best effort will be needed to win this, the lack of respect usually accorded her might make her one of the more playable contenders over this two-day affair. 3rd -- DEAREST TRICKSKI (Proudest Romeo) figures to be involved in the blistering early pace, but with scores in the seven-furlong La Brea S. (G1) and A Gleam H. (G2), has a proven capacity to get the trip. Horse racing is a funny game, and races don't always develop the way they should on paper. Given that, it's not impossible to think one of these fillies could dash out to a clear early lead, though not a commanding one. This miss undoubtedly has that capability, and she should still be in the thick of things well into the latter stages of this race. Longshot -- TIZ ELEMENTAL (Cee's Tizzy) is one of those horses you admire for their consistency. Unplaced only twice in her last 10 starts, she possesses a solid 5-3-2-0 record over the various Santa Anita main tracks that have come into existence the past few years. If you like Intangaroo and Dearest Trickski, as I do, you have to like a filly who handed the former a loss in the Las Flores H. (G3) and came within a nose of beating the latter in the Rancho Bernardo H. (G3). TURF SPRINT Rightly or wrongly, the approach I took in scooping out this race was to give extra credit to those who have positive experience over this unique downhill course, which also requires a brief crossing over the main track. 1st -- DESERT CODE (E Dubai), who was on the also-eligible list when pre-entries were announced, is now in the main body of the field after the defection of Tropic Storm (Stormy Atlantic). The bettor in me is probably pushing aside the more thoughtful handicapper in landing on this choice, but the fact is that on his best day he is as capable as anyone else in the field, not to mention a three-time winner over this course and distance. Granted, he's run some detestable races down the hill, including the Morvich H. (G3) last time, but our belief is that he is capable of better. Returning from a layoff in the Morvich, he engaged eventual winner CALIFORNIA FLAG (Avenue of Flags) from the start and lost that battle of wills in what turned out to be a course-record performance for that rival. Looking back on his past performances, however, we see a colt capable of sitting off the pace and saving his best run for the end, the kind of move that propelled him to wins in the Baldwin S. (G3) as a three-year-old and in the Joe Hernandez S. last March. 2nd -- GET FUNKY (Straight Man) was California's leading turf sprinter until upended by California Flag in the Morvich, but I still respect his chances to rebound, and the pari-mutuel pressure will be off of him this time. He rallied along the inside to grab second by a narrow margin in the Morvich, but is often more formidable when making an outside rally. 3rd -- CALIFORNIA FLAG might be as good as his Morvich romp would suggest. If you hold that belief, however, you won't be rewarded with another 22-1 mutuel. Still, a price in the high single-digits would force us to give him another look. In retrospect, his ascendancy to expert over the El Camino Real should have come as no surprise given his genetic gifts. His full sister, Cambiocorsa, at one time won six consecutive races down the hill including the Las Cienegas H. (G3). Longshot -- SALUTE THE COUNT (Count the Time) might be the East Coast's best hope despite a history of settling for minor awards this year. Runner-up in both the Aegon Turf Sprint (G3) and Jaipur S. (G3), the ex-claimer finally broke his stakes duck with a Saratoga closing-day decision in the Quick Call S. over 5 1/2 furlongs. He's trained by the ever dangerous Richard Dutrow Jr., who is no stranger to pulling off minor upsets.
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