View Gatling's Breeder's Bowl Classic Triumph Photo
| BB Classic |
GATLING PROSPECTOR
THREE YEAR OLD COLT
(STORM CAT - MR. PROSPECTOR - BOLD RULER)
Owner: billg51
Record: 17-6-4-3
Earnings: $4,466,445
Stakes:- 1st: Breeders Bowl Classic (G1), Middle Jewel Stakes (G1),
The Yugo Astroturf (G1), The Simulatedsports Stakes (G2), The Dogberry Special (IRE) Stakes
- 2nd: Bluegrass Derby (G1), Del Webb Derby (G2)
- 3rd: The New Yorker (G2), Swamps Stakes (G1), Indiana Derby
By-Sharon Shimko
"He danced in all the dances, avoided no showdowns, and ran with
the best competition the entire year." (Kingab, SRF Eclipse Award Coverage: 3YO Colt Champion
Tribute)
Near three months ago, this fantasy game, as it does each
and every week, delightfully remained true to our expectations. It hosted an event, which
we, as horse racing fans, weigh as an idyllic day to crown the champions of the sport.
What it was, was a good show. And what it meant to us, was a fanciful dream come true
for the players involved and spectators alike. It was our championship day. It
was our “mirror” of real-world racing, and it was a great play and the lines of
which were spun from somewhere in between numbers, names, and that source intangible:
imagination. It was the Breeders Bowl, the culmination of the Sim's 1999 racing journey............
"This game is intended for horse racing enthusiasts of all ages and
all levels. Some of our players have trained professionally; others have never been to the
track. The main objective is simply to have fun but, rest assured, that the guts of
the game are rooted solidly in mathematical theory applied to the breeding and racing
aspects of horse racing.” (Mike Wallace, Simulatedsports.com
Horse Racing Game Instructions)
Gatling Prospector headed into the Breeders Bowl Classic
back in November as an underdog. He had flopped badly in his prior start: a gallop over
the grass at Florida, finishing some two dozen lengths up the track. There were other
stars in the spotlight for the Classic: liam’s New Slew, the Jockey Guild Gold
Cup winner and subsequent champion older horse, as well as thejoker’s Slew
Collecting and doug’s Senior Dancer parlayed more talk and hoopla. In
fact, most of the talk centered on who was not in the race: arcticruck’s Hunt
Fanfare, that seemingly wicked hungry hawk of a colt who defeated Gatling a strong
five lengths in an amazingly fast Indiana Derby run. That IN Derby produced Gatling’s
career best speed figure: 116, but it was not enough and he had to settle for third.
However, some folks took note of his off-the-pace running tactics in that race -- Gatling
was always noted as a pacesetter -- and The Middle Jewel was his finest hour..........
"A lot of factors go into determining the outcome of a
race: pace, distance, surface, and post position are some of the "race factors" to consider.
Other things include the horse's condition .... his form, how and how well he takes to the trainer. Another factor includes his maturity.
Not all horses mature at the same pace .... sometimes a horse just runs an awesome race
for no reason; other times he may run a dud for no reason. A lot of factors are
thrown in, so don't be convinced you know everything about your horse after only a few
races."
(Mike Wallace, Simulatedsports.com Horse Racing Game
Instructions)
Bullying his way out of the gate, the third post position fed right into his jockey’s hands as
the big red colt thundered up front, playing “catch-me-if-you-can.” At the half, he led by
three; at the three-quarter pole, he led by six. Inexorable was his title as he maliciously
knocked The Middle Jewel field off their feet. And the day was his too -- a good sixteenth
of a mile less saw him coast to an undisputed two length victory. Sure, the closers were
on their mighty way to chase him down, but the wire was Gatling’s. No repeat of the
Bluegrass Derby was it at all -- billg51’s colt had simply blossomed -- only eight starts to
his credit, but his fourth career victory had magnificence attached readily to his
name: Gatling Prospector, serious, deadly firepower on wanton wicked search for the
finish line............
"A first, second, and third in the Triple Crown races. The winner of three Grade I’s .... and a one season bank account
of some $4.5 million dollars."
(Kingab,
SRF Eclipse Award Coverage: 3YO Colt Champion Tribute)
Two-thirds of the Sim Triple Crown was not meant to be. Doug’s Senior Dancer ran
away with The New Yorker, but Gatling showed some mighty stuff -- he finished a
creditable third in the field of eleven after dueling on the early lead. After a short breather,
he began a summertime campaign that was far from tremendous. A third in the Swamps
at California, he finished a tired tenth in that mammoth entourage known as the Eddie
Haskell Stakes. But the key here is that he ran and competed well enough -- only
once did he start in a race below his stature, and that was a nice confidence victory at
Arkansas. He ran versus Son Sliding in the Woodward, and School Kris(GB) in the Del
Webb Derby. And, of course, his Indiana run, though not a victory, was something
special -- he “danced in all the dances,” nine times he cracked the 100 speed figure mark,
and when it came time to pull the trigger, Gatling Prospector stepped up to the gate and
delivered us all a starpower performance.............
"And when they held the grand ball, with the best of ALL ages
participating, the Gatling gun mowed them all down." (Kingab, SRF Eclipse Award Coverage: 3YO Colt
Champion Tribute)
First out of the gate, and first to the wire. Billg51’s colt with the
firepower name stayed those ten furlongs and held safe by two lengths bigbro’s U.
Bull and doug’s Senior Dancer. The big horse ran and ran -- the Classic was not the
fastest ten furlongs of the year, but the most awe-inspiring. Even the Derby itself, won by
mpm12’s Pharrun Prospect, could only hold its place alongside if not a little below
the Breeders Bowl Classic in eventful dramatics. The BB was for crowning the
champions, and though legends are made from the Triple Crown, nothing can take
away a championship performance from the Breeders Bowl. Not to say that all BB
winners were meant to be award winners -- awards are reserved for the entire year, but,
win or lose, they too will always remain a cut below a championship
performance.............
"And you know the best part of it all?"
(Kingab, SRF Eclipse Award Coverage: 3YO Colt
Champion Tribute)
There was much talk after the crowning of the Sim’s Divisional Eclipse Award winners.
Much of it was positive and good -- and some of it was understandably debating. To this
writer, the key point of the Sim Eclipse Awards project is kind of manifested in Gatling
Prospector’s 1999 career. It was all about an idea, beginning something, devising a plan,
organizing it, nurturing the plan through each step and each stage, and, as all projects are
completed, seeing it through to the end. When you look at it, from Gatling’s
runner-up 3YO debut at Arkansas to his culminating wire-to-wire triumph in the Breeders
Bowl Classic, you can see a plan at work: one, at times, very direct that runs so smooth,
it’s startling, and, at other times, one that falters here and there, erroneously impressing so much upon
us that this poor big red colt was just a flash in the pan.
It is when you step back, that you
notice that Gatling’s 1999 campaign was one impressive journey that many other horses
undertook and performed admirably in as well. No matter what level our horses compete
at, we all have an "at the heart" Gatling Prospector in some way in our barns: one that began his or her
career, continues to perform, and if not lucky or talented enough for a victory, then gallant
in defeat and competition. Thus was the Sim Racing Form’s project devoted to
coordinating, organizing, and seeing through to the end the Sim’s Champions of
1999. Good? Yes. Debatable? Yes. With human error? Yes. With knowledge?
Yes. With the enjoyment of the game in mind? An absolute yes. Will we do
something like it again? A proud answer: yes. Like these wonderful imaginary horses continue their racing
campaigns. Like us all, fantasy trainers, continue to addictingly revel in this simulated
horse racing game’s lovely allure. And, like billg51’s big red colt, son of Storm Cat, three
year old Eclipse Award champ, hero of The Middle Jewel, championship victor of the
Breeders Bowl Classic, and, because champions shall be crowned, and the champion of all
champions shall be crowned..............
Gatling Prospector: 1999 Sim Horse of the Year
"And you know the best part of it all? He will be coming back for another
year!"
(Kingab, SRF Eclipse: 3YO Colt Champion Tribute)
Gatling Prospector's Horse of the Year Campaign
|
|
GATLING PROSPECTOR
|
ID#
|
|
( - - - - )
|
|
billg51
|
3 Year Old Colt
|
(STORM CAT x MR. PROSPECTOR x BOLD RULER)
|
| Divisional Ranking: |
8 | | |
| Races | Wins |
Places | Shows | Earnings |
|---|
| Low Tag/Year: | N/A | | | Total |
17 |
6 |
4 |
3 |
$4,466,445 |
|---|
| Non M/C/O/S Wins: | 5 | | | Dirt |
15 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
$4,391,445 |
| | | | | Turf |
2 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
$75,000 |
| | | | | Routes |
14 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
$4,432,075 |
| | | | | Sprints |
3 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
$34,370 |
Past Performances:
| Race ID | Trk | RST | Srf | Dist | Race | Time | SP# | # | PP | C1 | C2 |
C3 | FIN | Odds |
| 474.0210 |
FL |
3yo+ |
D |
10 |
Breeders Bowl Classic -G1 |
2:01 4/5 |
110 |
12 |
11 |
1
1 |
1
2 |
1
3 |
1
2 |
12.50 |
| 467.0210 |
FL |
3yo |
T |
9 |
FL Turf Derby -Stk |
1:49 1/5 |
76 |
12 |
5 |
4
2 |
4
5 |
7
12 |
10
24 |
1.30 |
| 439.2011 |
IN |
3yo |
D |
8.5 |
IN Derby -Stk |
1:40 4/5 |
116 |
12 |
11 |
8
8 |
8
12 |
4
10 |
3
5 |
5.20 |
| 425.041 |
NY |
3yo+ |
D |
9 |
Bob Woodward Mem'l -G1 |
1:47 2/5 |
107 |
12 |
10 |
1
1 |
2
hd |
2
4 |
6
10 |
18.20 |
| 411.0103 |
CA |
3yo |
T |
9 |
Del Webb Derby -G2 |
1:50 3/5 |
88 |
7 |
3 |
1
1 |
1
2 |
1
hd |
2
4 |
1.30 |
| 397.0608 |
AK |
3yo |
D |
8.5 |
The DOGBERRY(IRE) Special -Stk |
1:42 3/5 |
106 |
8 |
2 |
1
1 |
1
2 |
1
3 |
1
1 |
1.60 |
| 383.0904 |
NJ |
3yo |
D |
9 |
Eddie Haskell Stakes -G1 |
1:49 1/5 |
85 |
12 |
7 |
3
1 |
3
2 |
6
6 |
10
15 |
2.90 |
| 362.0107 |
CA |
3yo |
D |
9 |
Swamps -G1 |
1:49 |
102 |
9 |
5 |
1
1 |
1
1 |
1
ns |
3
3 |
1.90 |
| 327.041 |
NY |
3yo |
D |
12 |
The New Yorker -G1 |
2:25 4/5 |
98 |
12 |
11 |
2
1 |
2
1 |
3
1 |
3
12 |
4.60 |
| 299.0809 |
MD |
3yo |
D |
9.5 |
Middle Jewel Stakes -G1 |
1:55 |
109 |
12 |
3 |
1
1 |
1
3 |
1
6 |
1
2 |
5.10 |
| 285.0309 |
KY |
3yo |
D |
10 |
Bluegrass Derby -Stk |
2:02 4/5 |
102 |
12 |
7 |
1
1 |
1
1 |
1
3 |
2
1 |
7.00 |
| 264.0309 |
KY |
3yo |
D |
9 |
The Yugo Astroturf -G1 |
1:48 |
113 |
12 |
9 |
1
2 |
1
3 |
1
2 |
1
3 |
8.50 |
| 250.0309 |
KY |
3yo |
D |
9 |
 -G2 |
1:48 3/5 |
109 |
12 |
4 |
1
1 |
1
2 |
1
7 |
1
3 |
16.30 |
| 243.0404 |
NY |
3yo |
D |
7 |
MSW-41000 |
1:23 3/5 |
92 |
12 |
11 |
2
hd |
2
ns |
1
1 |
1
2 |
2.40 |
| 236.0203 |
FL |
3yo |
D |
8 |
MSW-48300 |
1:36 |
95 |
12 |
11 |
1
1 |
1
hd |
2
3 |
2
2 |
3.20 |
| 222.0503 |
LA |
3yo |
D |
6.5 |
MSW-36400 |
1.16 1/5 |
85 |
12 |
5 |
1
1 |
1
3 |
1
3/4 |
4
6 |
2.70 |
| 215.0610 |
AK |
3yo |
D |
6 |
MSW-31800 |
1.10 3/5 |
80 |
6 |
3 |
1
1/4 |
1
1/4 |
1
1 |
2
2-3/4 |
1.30 |
**********
|
