Irish Bring Spark for Equinics Flame

You can't start a fire without a spark... But a spark, indeed, is what the Emerald Isle is bringing to the third race of the Inaugural Equinics. You can bet your last beer that team IRELAND is hoping Lever Sparky will set off a blazing bonfire leading to a series of medals to take back across the pond. The G2 Apollo Special, run for a cool Half Mill on 6-1/2 furlongs of fast dirt, has attracted some of the best sprinters in the world. However, none are as accomplished as the 1999 Sprint Champion, Lever Sparky - the seasoned veteran has set fire to a track or two - and he's favored at 7/2 to bring home Equinic Gold.

An exceptionally well-matched field will file into the gate, and they won't let Lever Sparky run off with the torch unchallenged. I believe the strongest contenders will hail from NEVADA, NEBRASKA, MINNESOTA, and NORTH CAROLINA. Realistically, any one of the twelve tracks could take it - every entrant is deep in talent and anything can happen in that mad dash to the turn. From the rail:

1) Representing California - cheeks's Gordon Road (9/1):
This son of Broad Brush was the very impressive Cold And Cloudy Handicap winner, run at this distance, earning a 113 speed figure. He had another nice win last out, scoring a 111... he may bounce off that effort, and has not shown much in efforts outside of his home state.
2) Iowa - james22's Cuvee Beau (14/1):
It's been a while since he's had a stakes win, and he might be a touch inconsistent. He's scored some very nice figures in allowance victories at 6-1/2 furlongs, including a 113, and won his last race by 3-1/2 lengths. He'll get the acid test here, might be up to the task if he runs to his best effort.
3) Vermont - greentreef's Alyoro (8/1):
Hometeam hero is lightly raced with only twelve starts, but clearly loves this track - three recent starts in Vermont have resulted in two wins and a second. He rarely misses the board, and has a pair of 112 figures as a testament to his quality.
4) Delaware - morriseey's Stormy the Stormy (13/1):
Couldn't hold off Alyoro in his last race, a VT allowance at this distance. His three recent stakes attempts haven't yielded favorable results, and probably needs a career-best effort to get a medal. However, this guy is sired by Storm Cat, has top jock F.Gossett in the irons, and must be respected.
5) Longchamp - dkyoung2's Notion Teddy (36/1):
Turfstar's hope would be a bit of a surprise as the longest shot on the board. He's light on experience (six starts, and no stakes races), but does come in sporting three consecutive wins. Promising colt has a very bright future... it's just a bit too early to take on these seasoned speedballs.
6) Sweden - priest1's Billy Cayenne (7/1):
This colt runs like he's got wolves chasing him, and will likely go straight to the lead and try to steal all the glory for the Vikings. He is the only one coming into the race off a graded-stakes win, a 115 figure as he wired the field in the G3 Capital Spring Sprint. The main question mark - his last seven races were on turf. Has a solid dirt record, but how will he take to it again after the long hiatus?
7) Minnesota - minx's West the Star (6/1):
WOW! That 120 figure last out was incredible. Flying from wayyyy back to run off with the Buckpasser Stakes. Did he just relish the slop? Consistent figures over 100, including a 110 earlier on a fast track supports his overall brilliance. He clearly loves the distance, and at long as he doesn't bounce to the moon, he's in contention for Gold.
8) New York - makestakes's Necessary Deed (31/1 ):
Lone three-year-old in the field, he hasn't been let out to play with his elders till now. He finished up the track last out, but should come back strong and is capable of firing a triple digit. Would be a shocker, but he's a street-smart New York city kid, gotta give him some respect.
9) Nevada - adamson's Ninety Two Sea (6/1):
Admittedly, I'm biased because of course Team Nevada is going to win every single gold medal.... but I don't have to stretch my imagination to picture this classy guy in the winners' circle. He rarely runs a bad race, and when he does, still manages figures in the high nineties. Prime example, his last race - toss it out... it was a tune-up for this one. He earned a 113 figure in the Clavier Handicap before that, and is a recent G3 winner.
10) Nebraska - greg's Aegon's Deposits (7/1):
Mr. Consistency has hit the board in twenty of twenty-three sprint races, with only one sub-100 figure on his record. He's light on stakes experience, but has a recent 110 figure, and was second in a VT stakes at this distance. He's a guaranteed run-true-to-himself horse... will it be enough to win? If the speed-freaks falter slightly, he'll be right there.
11) Ireland - cencall's Lever Sparky (7/2):
Granted, the champ didn't seem like his old self in his last two, finishing behind Gordon Road and Alyoro. However, he beat both of them soundly in the Bad Tie Affair Sprint, and prior to that, a holy-terror. Multiple graded stakes winner, earnings of over $2.6 million dollars, ranked #9 in the sim, a string of five consecutive stakes wins earlier in the year, and frequent speed figures at or near 120... a grave mistake to think he's done. Most likely, cencall has just been tightening the screws to peak just in time for a gold medal leading into a defense of his title in the Breeders' Bowl Sprint.
12) North Carolina - tidy2's Grim Dancer (6/1):
Another who hasn't been as brilliant recently after posting some sensational speed figures earlier. He owns a 118 and 119 at the distance, and a 116 in a 6 furlong G3 runner-up effort. Perhaps that allowance win last out was what he needed to get his killer attitude back, and he's a live threat.

My prediction for the medals presentation:
GOLD: Lever Sparky, with the luck of the Irish
SILVER: Ninety Two Sea, Nevada high-roller could surprise
BRONZE: Aegon's Deposits, Nebraska farmboy offers much value

Best wishes for Equinics Glory, and safe trips to all!