8/14 (SAR): Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1)
 

10th (5:48) Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1)

1 1/2 Miles (Inner turf) | Open | 3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $500,000

1 Marlang Velazquez J R 116 L
2 Romp (ARG) Maragh R 116 L
3 Interpatation Albarado R J 120 L
4 Expansion Castellano J J 118 L
5 Al Khali Desormeaux K J 116 L
6 Bearpath Borel C H 116 L
7 Grassy Dominguez R A 116 L
8 Telling Gomez G K 120 L
9 Marsh Side Nakatani C S 120 L
10 Grand Couturier (GB) Garcia Alan 118 L

Solid field. Will Grassy ever live up to expectations.

Solid field of slugs.. I am tempted to give the Sheppard/Romp a shot..Who is fav in this slug fest Expansion, Al Khali? This is one horrible group. I imagine any decent listed Euro nevermind a Group 3 would crush these.

It isn't the Million, that's for sure but I look at it as a solid betting race.

I look for a very big effort from Bearpath. While he is certainly a cut below on paper, he is an improving sort with a big rider switch. Plus he will absolutely stay the route and probably have 1st run as they straighten.

Solid betting race and solid group are 2 totally different things. This race is HORRIBLE, but it might be a good betting race.

Bearpath...heavy

Not as heavy as you or me...but heavy..:D

What, no turf sprinter, that's never gone beyond 6F, in here? Seems to me, he'd be able to set 27 55, ... fractions are win for fun. With the boys sitting chilly behind him, 4 across, waiting to make a last run. :rolleyes:

Sorry I don't think its horrible at all.

I don't think it is either. It clearly isn't the greatest G1 in the world, and maybe my standards have become watered down by the overall quality in the sport these days, but this race doesn't look horrible to me.

You have last year's winner.
You have the '07/'08 winner.
You have Marlang, Al Khali, and Grassy - all of whom ran well over the course last year, and all of whom come into the race off of victories.
You have Marsh Side and Interpretation who are both G1 winners at this distance.
And you have Expansion coming in off consecutive on-the-board finishes in G1 turf events.

Especially given that this race always splits the division with the Arlington Million, I don't think it is that bad.

I don't think it is bad either. Considering what's available in this division, the group is pretty good. That's part of the reason why the Euros come here and kick our ass almost every year in the BC Turf, we don't have 12 furlong turf horses anymore.

If you think about the Sword Dancer, the last five winners are Telling, Grand Couturier (2x), Go Deputy, and King's Drama. Those horses were hardly ever legitimate GI caliber horses in races like the BC Turf. Why should this year's field be any different?

NT

lets call a spade a spade... Maybe we have seen 5 decent US based turfers in the last 7 years.. The stock is gone and it is never coming back..

Artie
E Channel
Kitten
The Brazilian Frankel leroy, I dont count..who else?

Who else has been decent? Courageous cat and Minute Mouse?

Cacique was decent.

Cacique is Hasili and Hasili is hardly US based? Intercontinental,banks, HH, and Champs, didnt suck either!

Shakespeare
Daytona
English channel
Kip deville

No love for Better Talk Now? If you take out 2008-2009 the three year run he went on from 2004-2007 was strong. He won the Sword Dancer, Man O War, BC Turf, UN, finished 2nd in the BC Turf again and the Manhattan.

NT

I'm sort of surprised that a real horse like Get Serious, Presious Passion or even Acclamation wasn't entered in the race. I mean, any one of them would have 25 on this bunch (excluding Al Khali). Instead we'll be treated to another paceless, 4 abreast around the track affair, sure to showcase our brilliant colony of riders.

yawnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Why waste $500k on this bunch when a group of maiden claimers would provide more entertainment -- visually and parimutuelly? NYRA throwing away money.

I thought Johar was a serious horse.

Barbaro was possibly an all timer on turf.

I see pace in there.

Doesn't Marlang have a lot of speed for a grass race at that distance?

Every time I watch a EURO turf race I'm struck at how differently the jocks ride over there. They go 2 abreast, like cyclists, for most of the race, then come out, as far as they need to, for the stretch run. Contrast this with NA jocks, who have no problem going without cover for most of the race, then bunch up for the stretch run, resulting in any number of them getting blocked.

Moreover, the EUROS are whipping and driving and rocking all over the place, trying to get some momentum going for their horses. The NA's, like Gomez, are twirling the reins, trying to get a better grip.

As for Marlang, what are we realistically looking at: 25, 50? For $500K can't we find some horses that can actually cut a decent pace? I mean, isn't the turf up there about as hard as it gets?