The 2010 IZOD Haskell Invitational (gr.1) has attracted one of the deepest fields in the 43 year history of the prestigious race thus setting the stage for one of the most dramatic renewals on record. Leading the star-studded cast is 2009 Champion two-year old Male Lookin At Lucky, winner of the Preakness and Rebel Stakes this year. The brilliant son of Smart Strike has been just about the unluckiest colt of 2009, seeming never to catch a good trip in his races until the Preakness Stakes. He will undoubtedly be the deserving favorite. A win here would thrust him firmly into the lead for the 3-year-old male championship. Trainer Bob Baffert once again finds his charge leaving from the number 1 hole just like in the Kentucky Derby.
Returning off an 8th place finish in the Preakness Stakes behind Lookin At Lucky is Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver. Trainer Todd Pletcher is confident of the colts physical and mental condition right now, stating that he believes he is in better condition now than he was for the spring classics. He will be looking to prove that winning the Derby was just a prelude to greater things this year.
First Dude charged hard onto the national racing stage with a gritty runner-up finish in the Preakness Stakes in May before another impressive performance in the Belmont Stakes that resulted in a third place finish. In both starts he led from the break and held on gamely in the late stages to grudgingly lose the lead. This guy has displayed more grit and determination than almost any other runner this year.
Ice Box gave a very uncharacteristically poor showing of himself in the Belmont Stakes as the favorite, finishing a lack-luster 9th. Trainer Nick Zito was at a loss after the race as to a reason for the poor showing and will have Ice Box fit and ready for this race. His Kentucky Derby runner-up showing continues to be one of the most impressive losing efforts of 2010.
Trappe Shot enters the Haskell as the horse with everything to prove. The talented colt is undefeated in four starts this year but has never faced competition of this caliber before. In his last start the Kiaran McLaughlin trainee won the Long Branch Stakes in his stakes race debut and looks to make his move into the leaders ranks.
Uptowncharlybrown can once again produce the most beautiful fairy tale ending to the Haskell story with a win. Trainer Alan Seewald died tragically earlier in the year before he got to see his star pupil make a run at the Triple Crown races. Brian Zipse wrote a wonderful article on the subject here, I would highly recommend reading it. In Uptowncharlybrown’s last race, the colt finished fifth after losing one of his weights during the running and only lost by about three lengths.
Afleet Again’s late closing style should get plenty of pace to run into, but with Ice Box sporting the same running style I tend to think his chances will be seriously compromised.
Our Dark Knight will likely be toast with his front-running style. A style that is shared by the tough, speedy First Dude who, in my opinion, is much better than Our Dark Knight and will find little trouble in running him off his feet.
This could prove to be one of the toughest races to handicap this year with all the experience, speed and raw talent entered. I’ll have to say that Lookin At Lucky is still my number one pick of the year overall for the leader of the three year old male division and I think he is the best of this field. Ice Box, First Dude, Uptowncharlybrown and Trappe Shot all come next for me in that order. Ice Box has a devastating late kick when he shows up and First Dude has proven his fighting worth twice against the nation’s best. Trappe Shot is the question mark here, we don’t know how he will perform against graded stakes caliber colts and while I think he is very talented, I don’t think he’ll be able to crack the top two spots.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Weekend Doings
Have you ever taken a bite from something that you were sure you wouldn’t like and then received one of the most pleasant surprises your taste buds had ever discovered? That’s what thoroughbred horse racing feels like when the summer racing season starts to get rolling. The drought brought about by the after effects of another Triple Crown run is now past and the racing stars are rolled out of their stables in glittering groups, ready to strut their best stuff once again.
This past weekend was a delicious sampling of what is in store for racing enthusiasts this summer and mind you, just a small one at that. Rachel Alexandra ran a small group of seriously over-matched rivals off their hooves in Monmouth Park’s Lady’s Secret Stakes on Saturday and now has long-overdue back-to-back victories in 2010.While the performance has been pulled every which way by analysts and fans alike, the bottom line is that no one is going to agree on exactly what the performance says about her current level of ability or if she is really as good as she was last year or not. With the heat index as high as it was at Monmouth I find it very impressive that she received a Beyer of 110. In all her previous 2010 outings Rachel Alexandra was able to post Beyers of 100 or more. In each progressive start her Beyers have improved, starting with an even 100 in the New Orleans Ladies, then a 103 in the La Troienne, a 109 in the Fluer de Lis and now a 110 in the Lady’s Secret. If those numbers mean anything then it’s a very good sign for her overall fitness and advancement this year. Each successive race this year has resulted in better figures. It appears the champion is headed next for Saratoga's Personal Ensign which could be on the radar for Zenyatta.
Aside from Rachel Alexandra’s triumph, Devil May Care and Evening Jewel gave each of their respective fields on the East and West Coast a thorough thrashing to prove that they are the second and third best 3-year-old fillies in the nation behind only Blind Luck. On the West Coast Evening Jewel won the San Clemente Handicap (gr.2) under strong urging from jockey Victor Espinoza after sweeping into the homestretch three wide. At Saratoga Devil May Care provided the most impressive victory of the weekend with her easy Coaching Club American Oaks (gr.1) win over a respected field of sophomore fillies. It now appears Blind Luck and Devil May Care, the nation’s two leading 3-year-old fillies, may be headed for a thrilling matchup in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on August 21.
If this past weekend’s colorful collection of races wasn’t enough to satisfy your appetite fear not, the coming weekend
promises to surge by with even more excitement and thrills. The Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr.1) has blossomed into the premier race for 3-year-old colts in early summer and this year looks to give last year’s running, when Rachel Alexandra defeated the boys, a run for its money. Both Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky and Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver headline an extremely deep and competitive field.
Aside from the Haskell there are several key races to keep an eye on that could provide a major impact to the year-end championship honors. Richard’s Kid and Delightful Kiss headline the $125,000 Cougar II Handicap but trainer Bob Baffert has also entered Richard’s Kid in the San Diego Handicap (gr.2) where he would face Battle of Hastings, Tres Borrachos and Mythical Power. Fly Down returns from an impressive second place showing in the Belmont Stakes to top the Jim Dandy (gr.2) field which includes talented 3-year-olds Winslow Homer, Afleet Express, Aikenite, A Little Warm and Miner’s Reserve. Pleasant Prince runs as a solid favorite in the Ohio Derby (gr.3) while Unrivaled Belle and Malibu Prayer face off in Saratoga’s Ruffian Stakes (gr.1).
I will post more on the weekend’s races and especially the Haskell in the next couple of days. Before ending I wanted to also note that 2009’s Champion Female Sprinter Informed Decision made her first try at two turns a successful one when she took down the July 27th $100,000 Windward Stakes. That makes the 6-year-old mare’s second consecutive victory and with those two under her belt it appears she may be ready to defend her championship title in 2010. Once this mare gets rolling in her races she has proved very hard to stop.
This past weekend was a delicious sampling of what is in store for racing enthusiasts this summer and mind you, just a small one at that. Rachel Alexandra ran a small group of seriously over-matched rivals off their hooves in Monmouth Park’s Lady’s Secret Stakes on Saturday and now has long-overdue back-to-back victories in 2010.While the performance has been pulled every which way by analysts and fans alike, the bottom line is that no one is going to agree on exactly what the performance says about her current level of ability or if she is really as good as she was last year or not. With the heat index as high as it was at Monmouth I find it very impressive that she received a Beyer of 110. In all her previous 2010 outings Rachel Alexandra was able to post Beyers of 100 or more. In each progressive start her Beyers have improved, starting with an even 100 in the New Orleans Ladies, then a 103 in the La Troienne, a 109 in the Fluer de Lis and now a 110 in the Lady’s Secret. If those numbers mean anything then it’s a very good sign for her overall fitness and advancement this year. Each successive race this year has resulted in better figures. It appears the champion is headed next for Saratoga's Personal Ensign which could be on the radar for Zenyatta.
Aside from Rachel Alexandra’s triumph, Devil May Care and Evening Jewel gave each of their respective fields on the East and West Coast a thorough thrashing to prove that they are the second and third best 3-year-old fillies in the nation behind only Blind Luck. On the West Coast Evening Jewel won the San Clemente Handicap (gr.2) under strong urging from jockey Victor Espinoza after sweeping into the homestretch three wide. At Saratoga Devil May Care provided the most impressive victory of the weekend with her easy Coaching Club American Oaks (gr.1) win over a respected field of sophomore fillies. It now appears Blind Luck and Devil May Care, the nation’s two leading 3-year-old fillies, may be headed for a thrilling matchup in the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga on August 21.
If this past weekend’s colorful collection of races wasn’t enough to satisfy your appetite fear not, the coming weekend
promises to surge by with even more excitement and thrills. The Haskell Invitational Stakes (gr.1) has blossomed into the premier race for 3-year-old colts in early summer and this year looks to give last year’s running, when Rachel Alexandra defeated the boys, a run for its money. Both Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky and Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver headline an extremely deep and competitive field.
Aside from the Haskell there are several key races to keep an eye on that could provide a major impact to the year-end championship honors. Richard’s Kid and Delightful Kiss headline the $125,000 Cougar II Handicap but trainer Bob Baffert has also entered Richard’s Kid in the San Diego Handicap (gr.2) where he would face Battle of Hastings, Tres Borrachos and Mythical Power. Fly Down returns from an impressive second place showing in the Belmont Stakes to top the Jim Dandy (gr.2) field which includes talented 3-year-olds Winslow Homer, Afleet Express, Aikenite, A Little Warm and Miner’s Reserve. Pleasant Prince runs as a solid favorite in the Ohio Derby (gr.3) while Unrivaled Belle and Malibu Prayer face off in Saratoga’s Ruffian Stakes (gr.1).
I will post more on the weekend’s races and especially the Haskell in the next couple of days. Before ending I wanted to also note that 2009’s Champion Female Sprinter Informed Decision made her first try at two turns a successful one when she took down the July 27th $100,000 Windward Stakes. That makes the 6-year-old mare’s second consecutive victory and with those two under her belt it appears she may be ready to defend her championship title in 2010. Once this mare gets rolling in her races she has proved very hard to stop.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Devilish Happenings
This weekend could be remembered for several different events in the history books. Either it will be remembered as the weekend Rachel Alexandra won the Lady’s Secret Stakes, the weekend she lost the Lady’s Secret or it could end up being the weekend Devil May Care tossed her horse shoe in the coffee pot, hoping it stands up straight and true. It could even end up being a combination of the two or a completely different player could steal the stage from the juvenile ranks.
Undoubtedly the biggest story this week is Rachel Alexandra running in the Lady’s Secret Stakes, a race in which she will be a weighty favorite against a sadly over-matched field. Few seem to doubt that she will win the Lady’s Secret and the only question people seem to want answered is: By how much she will the race?
Rachel Alexandra isn’t the only big name running this weekend by far. For the first time in 94 years the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr.1) will not be run at Belmont Park, it will instead be run Saratoga, New England’s summer racing jewel. The form of the fillies entered in the Coaching Club American Oaks looks fantastic, six of the eight fillies entered are all coming into the races off wins.
All top three finishers from the Mother Goose Stakes (gr.1) return in the Coaching Club American Oaks to do battle again. Headlining the field is Mother Goose victor Devil May Care, a filly who looks like she wants to give Blind Luck a run for her money in the race for 3-year-old Champion Filly honors. She barely broke a sweat when winning the Mother Goose under jockey John Velazquez last out and I believe she will continue that tradition here.
Mother Goose runner-up Connie and Michael comes back to face Devil May Care after falling short by 1 ¼ lengths in the stretch. She looks like a fast improving filly and is probably once again the biggest threat to Devil May Care and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her pull off an upset.
Biofuel had her two race stakes winning streak snapped quickly in half when finishing third in the Mother Goose. The Mother Goose was her first start on dirt and considering how she ran in the Mother Goose I believe that handled the new surface fine and was simply outclassed by two better fillies.
Acting Happy comes to Saratoga off a win in Pimlico’s Black Eyed Susan Stakes (gr.2) and sports a very consistent record of 2 wins if just 4 lifetime starts and both losing efforts resulted in runner-up finishes.
Seeking the Title enters off a winning score in the Iowa Oaks (gr.3) after finishing 6th in the Acorn Stakes (gr.1) three weeks prior. Three starts back she stumbled entering the stretch of the Black Eyed Susan Stakes and unseated jockey Kent Desormeaux so it’s hard gage exactly how that affected her performance in the Acorn or if it had any say at all in her poor finish.
Lisa’s Booby Trap is undefeated in three lifetime starts, all of which were won in romps of 8 lengths or more and all of which came at Finger Lakes. Those are impressive stats regardless of the track and competition quality, she could be a very live long-shot for filling out exactas and trifectas at odds of 30-1.
The other two entrants, Bahama Bound and Absinthe Minded enter off allowance wins.
Devil May Care looks like a very solid favorite to me and I think she’ll win this one but Connie and Michael looks like the best shot for an upset. Lisa’s Booby Trap is really intriguing to me, she may turn out to be just another one of those one track wonders who never lives up to a graded stakes caliber potential but I think she could get a piece of the top three.
Good luck to all this weekend and don’t miss out of the Sanford Stakes, Eddie Read Stakes, California Dreamin’ Handicap Stakes (with one of my personal favorites Bold Chieftain)and the San Clemente (gr.2) Handicap with Crisp and Evening Jewel facing off. And of course don’t miss reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Lady’s Secret Stakes today at Monmouth.
*Sadly both Connie and Michael and Linda's Booby Trap were scratched from the CCA Oaks effectively taking out two of my top three choices.Biofuel and Acting Happy now fill out my top three.*
Undoubtedly the biggest story this week is Rachel Alexandra running in the Lady’s Secret Stakes, a race in which she will be a weighty favorite against a sadly over-matched field. Few seem to doubt that she will win the Lady’s Secret and the only question people seem to want answered is: By how much she will the race?
Rachel Alexandra isn’t the only big name running this weekend by far. For the first time in 94 years the Coaching Club American Oaks (gr.1) will not be run at Belmont Park, it will instead be run Saratoga, New England’s summer racing jewel. The form of the fillies entered in the Coaching Club American Oaks looks fantastic, six of the eight fillies entered are all coming into the races off wins.
All top three finishers from the Mother Goose Stakes (gr.1) return in the Coaching Club American Oaks to do battle again. Headlining the field is Mother Goose victor Devil May Care, a filly who looks like she wants to give Blind Luck a run for her money in the race for 3-year-old Champion Filly honors. She barely broke a sweat when winning the Mother Goose under jockey John Velazquez last out and I believe she will continue that tradition here.
Mother Goose runner-up Connie and Michael comes back to face Devil May Care after falling short by 1 ¼ lengths in the stretch. She looks like a fast improving filly and is probably once again the biggest threat to Devil May Care and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her pull off an upset.
Biofuel had her two race stakes winning streak snapped quickly in half when finishing third in the Mother Goose. The Mother Goose was her first start on dirt and considering how she ran in the Mother Goose I believe that handled the new surface fine and was simply outclassed by two better fillies.
Acting Happy comes to Saratoga off a win in Pimlico’s Black Eyed Susan Stakes (gr.2) and sports a very consistent record of 2 wins if just 4 lifetime starts and both losing efforts resulted in runner-up finishes.
Seeking the Title enters off a winning score in the Iowa Oaks (gr.3) after finishing 6th in the Acorn Stakes (gr.1) three weeks prior. Three starts back she stumbled entering the stretch of the Black Eyed Susan Stakes and unseated jockey Kent Desormeaux so it’s hard gage exactly how that affected her performance in the Acorn or if it had any say at all in her poor finish.
Lisa’s Booby Trap is undefeated in three lifetime starts, all of which were won in romps of 8 lengths or more and all of which came at Finger Lakes. Those are impressive stats regardless of the track and competition quality, she could be a very live long-shot for filling out exactas and trifectas at odds of 30-1.
The other two entrants, Bahama Bound and Absinthe Minded enter off allowance wins.
Devil May Care looks like a very solid favorite to me and I think she’ll win this one but Connie and Michael looks like the best shot for an upset. Lisa’s Booby Trap is really intriguing to me, she may turn out to be just another one of those one track wonders who never lives up to a graded stakes caliber potential but I think she could get a piece of the top three.
Good luck to all this weekend and don’t miss out of the Sanford Stakes, Eddie Read Stakes, California Dreamin’ Handicap Stakes (with one of my personal favorites Bold Chieftain)and the San Clemente (gr.2) Handicap with Crisp and Evening Jewel facing off. And of course don’t miss reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra in the Lady’s Secret Stakes today at Monmouth.
*Sadly both Connie and Michael and Linda's Booby Trap were scratched from the CCA Oaks effectively taking out two of my top three choices.Biofuel and Acting Happy now fill out my top three.*
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
It's No Secret: Rachel Is Back
Tuscan Evening and Paddy O’Prado pretty much stole the show this past weekend with powerful performances that prove they are two of the best turf horses in the nation. Life At Ten also showcased her incredible talent to run her win streak to 6 consecutive races in the Delaware Handicap, both she and Tuscan Evening are undefeated this year but Tuscan Evening’s 6 consecutive wins coming strictly in graded stakes races, ranging vastly in distance, trumps all others.
Paddy O’Prado has his sights set squarely on winning an Eclipse Award after decisively winning yet another turf race in the Virginia Derby (gr.2). He has becoming the sophomore turf monster this year and with Gio Ponti finally back on the winning track it looks like the male turf division is at the mercy of this pair for the rest of the year. If and when they meet on the track it will be one exciting race.
Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returns Saturday in Monmouth Park’s Lady’s Secret Stakes to try and reaffirm her position as one of the leading older females in the country. After getting back to her winning ways in the form of a 10 ½ length romp in last month’s Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr.2) at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra returns to the site of one of her most emphatic victories from 2009 to try and conjure up some more of the old magic.
After losing the first two stars of her 2010 campaign by less than a combined length, Rachel Alexandra destroyed the Fleur de Lis field with offhanded ease. It was a race that got the Rachel fans heralding the return of the champ to form, and others still doubting that she was her old self after beating a supposedly weak field. Even with the impressive margin and hand ride to the wire some people remained unconvinced of her return.
I believed emphatically that she was back as did many others and a few weeks back that sentiment seemed to be one step closer to being confirmed. On July 10th, Jessica Is Back entered the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr.1) off a third place effort to Rachel Alexandra in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr.2). She exited the race as an official Grade 1 winner and helped kill the idea that Rachel’s Fleur de Lis was filled with nobodies and weak fillies unable to win a graded stakes race between them.
Don’t miss the race on Saturday, whether she wins or not Rachel Alexandra is always worth watching. I for one believe and hope that she pulls off another big win that sets her up for a terrific summer campaign. Let the queen roll!
Before I finish I would like to thank all of my faithful readers and followers who have supported and encouraged me to keep going with my blog. On Tuesday Rail Runner passed 15,000 views! I have only been up and running for 9 months and it is all thanks to you. I would also like to send a very heartfelt thank you out to Kevin Stafford from The Aspiring Horse Player who kept telling me I needed to start my own blog. You were right Kevin, thank you. This has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life so far and I look forward to many more years of the same. Thank you!
Now, in closing I have to share a quick story and a photo to go along. Monday the 19th was my 22nd Birthday and over the weekend I had two close friends, James and Sarah (siblings), over to visit. Over the last few years I have done my best to indoctrinate them, mostly trying to convert them to Curlin lovers but also adding some Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra influence in there since last year. For my birthday last year I received a beautiful Curlin mug with a shot of his 2008 Stephen Foster win from them. This year their creativity hit in and, well…you can see for yourself.
Thank you Sarah and James for the laughs and for always know how to incorporate Curlin into things no matter how strange or wacky it may seem! (:
[caption id="attachment_776" align="alignright" width="200" caption="I was Curlin's exercise rider for a day!?"]
[/caption]
Paddy O’Prado has his sights set squarely on winning an Eclipse Award after decisively winning yet another turf race in the Virginia Derby (gr.2). He has becoming the sophomore turf monster this year and with Gio Ponti finally back on the winning track it looks like the male turf division is at the mercy of this pair for the rest of the year. If and when they meet on the track it will be one exciting race.
Reigning Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra returns Saturday in Monmouth Park’s Lady’s Secret Stakes to try and reaffirm her position as one of the leading older females in the country. After getting back to her winning ways in the form of a 10 ½ length romp in last month’s Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr.2) at Churchill Downs, Rachel Alexandra returns to the site of one of her most emphatic victories from 2009 to try and conjure up some more of the old magic.
After losing the first two stars of her 2010 campaign by less than a combined length, Rachel Alexandra destroyed the Fleur de Lis field with offhanded ease. It was a race that got the Rachel fans heralding the return of the champ to form, and others still doubting that she was her old self after beating a supposedly weak field. Even with the impressive margin and hand ride to the wire some people remained unconvinced of her return.
I believed emphatically that she was back as did many others and a few weeks back that sentiment seemed to be one step closer to being confirmed. On July 10th, Jessica Is Back entered the Princess Rooney Handicap (gr.1) off a third place effort to Rachel Alexandra in the Fleur de Lis Handicap (gr.2). She exited the race as an official Grade 1 winner and helped kill the idea that Rachel’s Fleur de Lis was filled with nobodies and weak fillies unable to win a graded stakes race between them.
Don’t miss the race on Saturday, whether she wins or not Rachel Alexandra is always worth watching. I for one believe and hope that she pulls off another big win that sets her up for a terrific summer campaign. Let the queen roll!
Before I finish I would like to thank all of my faithful readers and followers who have supported and encouraged me to keep going with my blog. On Tuesday Rail Runner passed 15,000 views! I have only been up and running for 9 months and it is all thanks to you. I would also like to send a very heartfelt thank you out to Kevin Stafford from The Aspiring Horse Player who kept telling me I needed to start my own blog. You were right Kevin, thank you. This has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life so far and I look forward to many more years of the same. Thank you!
Now, in closing I have to share a quick story and a photo to go along. Monday the 19th was my 22nd Birthday and over the weekend I had two close friends, James and Sarah (siblings), over to visit. Over the last few years I have done my best to indoctrinate them, mostly trying to convert them to Curlin lovers but also adding some Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra influence in there since last year. For my birthday last year I received a beautiful Curlin mug with a shot of his 2008 Stephen Foster win from them. This year their creativity hit in and, well…you can see for yourself.
Thank you Sarah and James for the laughs and for always know how to incorporate Curlin into things no matter how strange or wacky it may seem! (:
[caption id="attachment_776" align="alignright" width="200" caption="I was Curlin's exercise rider for a day!?"]
[/caption]
Friday, July 16, 2010
Weekend Racing Action
This weekend is filled with a diverse mix of intriguing and exciting races that stretch across the country filled with some of todays most accomplished and promising stars. Included in the parade of equine athletes poised to compete in the races are Tuscan Evening, Paddy O’Prado, General Quarters and Sidney’s Candy.
Sidney’s Candy has been away from the races for so long that I had almost forgotten about him until I began going over the 2010 Kentucky Derby results again a few weeks back. After his 17th place finish in the Derby he was given a break from the races, out of sight and out of mind. Now he returns to reclaim his crown as the best West Coast three year old in the nation in Hollywood Park’s Swaps Stakes (gr.2) this Saturday. Considering the caliber of racehorse he was before the Derby there is no reason to think that he won’t rebound in the Swaps and continue improving this year. His biggest competition will probably come from Sham Stakes (gr.3) winner Alphie’s Bet who last finished third to Golden Itiz in the Affirmed Handicap (gr.3) after closing well from last place to miss the winner by a length. Second place Affirmed Handicap finisher Skipshot also looks to have a legitimate shot at taking the big cheese. An interesting entry is the undefeated Twirling Candy who last out took an allowance field by more than 7 lengths. Completing the field is Summer Movie who most recently finished fourth in the Affirmed Handicap.
General Quarters is no longer the “has-been feel good story” for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, he is a genuine Grade 1 winner. Since taking the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend General Quarters has stepped out of his supporting role and now commands the respect and even favoritism deserving of a grade 1 winning older horse. I happened to be at Churchill Downs when he won the Turf Classic and ended up hitting the exacta for a really nice payout. He immediately became a favorite of mine, not only because he paid for more than half my trip to Kentucky and I don’t even really bet, but also because of the charming and general sweetness behind his story, plus I used to work with Owner/Trainer McCarthy’s great-niece. I will definitely be rooting for General Quarters to win his second grade 1 in the Arlington Handicap this Saturday.
In the Modesty Handicap (gr.3) Tuscan Evening will look to extend her “anything-but-modest” 2010 undefeated string
of races to 6 while facing five accomplished competitors. Not only has Tuscan Evening won 5 straight race this year, all her victories have come in graded stakes races. Rainbow View, Hot Cha Cha, Éclair de Lune and Ask but I Won’ttell complete the field and the obvious second and third choices are Rainbow View and Hot Cha Cha. Rainbow View enters off a disappointing third place finish in Woodbine’s Nassua Stakes as the even money favorite. Prior to that she won the Gallorette Stakes (gr.3) on May 15th at Pimlico. Hot Cha Cha was last seen winning the Mint Julep Handicap (gr.3) at Churchill Downs, a victory which snapped a three race losing streak. Tuscan Evening is the clear standout in this field and the Modesty distance of 1 1/16th miles will be no problem for the versatile throw-back mare who has won races ranging in distance from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 ¼ miles this year.
Tuscan Evening will not be the only mare this weekend looking to extend her winning streak to 6 races. Life At Ten has become a scintillating example of a late-bloomer. The red-hot grade 1 winning 5 year old mare is looking to remain undefeated in 2010 as she makes her fourth start of the year in the Delaware Handicap (gr.2) . With a win in the Delaware Life At Ten would earn an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic while also enhancing her status as one of the better older females in the nation.
Also don’t miss Paddy O’Prado, Stately Victor, Interactif and Krypton this weekend. The stallar group of colts head a field of 8 three year olds in the Virginia Derby (gr.2) going 1 ¼ miles on the turf.
Sidney’s Candy has been away from the races for so long that I had almost forgotten about him until I began going over the 2010 Kentucky Derby results again a few weeks back. After his 17th place finish in the Derby he was given a break from the races, out of sight and out of mind. Now he returns to reclaim his crown as the best West Coast three year old in the nation in Hollywood Park’s Swaps Stakes (gr.2) this Saturday. Considering the caliber of racehorse he was before the Derby there is no reason to think that he won’t rebound in the Swaps and continue improving this year. His biggest competition will probably come from Sham Stakes (gr.3) winner Alphie’s Bet who last finished third to Golden Itiz in the Affirmed Handicap (gr.3) after closing well from last place to miss the winner by a length. Second place Affirmed Handicap finisher Skipshot also looks to have a legitimate shot at taking the big cheese. An interesting entry is the undefeated Twirling Candy who last out took an allowance field by more than 7 lengths. Completing the field is Summer Movie who most recently finished fourth in the Affirmed Handicap.
General Quarters is no longer the “has-been feel good story” for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, he is a genuine Grade 1 winner. Since taking the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs on Derby weekend General Quarters has stepped out of his supporting role and now commands the respect and even favoritism deserving of a grade 1 winning older horse. I happened to be at Churchill Downs when he won the Turf Classic and ended up hitting the exacta for a really nice payout. He immediately became a favorite of mine, not only because he paid for more than half my trip to Kentucky and I don’t even really bet, but also because of the charming and general sweetness behind his story, plus I used to work with Owner/Trainer McCarthy’s great-niece. I will definitely be rooting for General Quarters to win his second grade 1 in the Arlington Handicap this Saturday.
In the Modesty Handicap (gr.3) Tuscan Evening will look to extend her “anything-but-modest” 2010 undefeated string
of races to 6 while facing five accomplished competitors. Not only has Tuscan Evening won 5 straight race this year, all her victories have come in graded stakes races. Rainbow View, Hot Cha Cha, Éclair de Lune and Ask but I Won’ttell complete the field and the obvious second and third choices are Rainbow View and Hot Cha Cha. Rainbow View enters off a disappointing third place finish in Woodbine’s Nassua Stakes as the even money favorite. Prior to that she won the Gallorette Stakes (gr.3) on May 15th at Pimlico. Hot Cha Cha was last seen winning the Mint Julep Handicap (gr.3) at Churchill Downs, a victory which snapped a three race losing streak. Tuscan Evening is the clear standout in this field and the Modesty distance of 1 1/16th miles will be no problem for the versatile throw-back mare who has won races ranging in distance from 6 ½ furlongs to 1 ¼ miles this year.
Tuscan Evening will not be the only mare this weekend looking to extend her winning streak to 6 races. Life At Ten has become a scintillating example of a late-bloomer. The red-hot grade 1 winning 5 year old mare is looking to remain undefeated in 2010 as she makes her fourth start of the year in the Delaware Handicap (gr.2) . With a win in the Delaware Life At Ten would earn an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic while also enhancing her status as one of the better older females in the nation.
Also don’t miss Paddy O’Prado, Stately Victor, Interactif and Krypton this weekend. The stallar group of colts head a field of 8 three year olds in the Virginia Derby (gr.2) going 1 ¼ miles on the turf.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Weekend Recap: Blind Luck, Gio Ponti & Awesome Gem
Blind Luck is every racing fans dream horse. Not only is she consistent enough to be near perfect she always insists on giving her fans a heart-pounding finish that inevitably ends with the crowds on their feet, fists pumping the air and cheering for all they are worth. She did it once again on Saturday when she took the Delaware Oaks (gr.2) from a tough-luck Havre de Grace after closing furiously from dead last to catch the wire in a head bob. As the heavy favorite in the Delaware Oaks Blind Luck ran behind the pack from the break of the field and remained content to trail down the backstretch. Entering the turn Blind Luck began moving up from the back while Jeremy Rose on Havre de Grace got to work rousing his mount to contest the lead. Into the turn it was Havre de Grace who had the jump on Blind Luck, seizing the lead and looking strong while driving for all she was worth for the wire. Blink Luck proved once again though that she can be one of the most determined and brilliant runners in the nation as she furiously rallied to get within contention and just catch Havre de Grave at the wire.
The Delaware Oaks was Blind Lucks first start on a sloppy track and aside from passing that test with flying colors the versatile filly remained undefeated in four starts on the dirt. Next up for Blind Luck is the Alabama Stakes (gr.1) at Saratoga on August 21st.
Entering the 2010 edition of the Man ‘O’ War Stakes (gr.1) the picture may have looked different than it did a year ago, but the end result was the same. In his 5th start of 2010 dual 2009 Champion Gio Ponti finally put it all together and
returned to his winning ways, taking his second consecutive Man ‘O’ War Stakes. Showing the same spark he demonstrated last year when winning four straight Grade 1 races, Gio Ponti closed into a very slow pace in the Man ‘O’ War to run down 53-1 long shot Mission Approved to win by a neck. After trailing the field, led by a super slow Mission Approved, Gio Ponti gradually moved up nearing the final turn and waited behind a wall of horses as the field entered the stretch. Mission Approved opened up on the field entering the homestretch while Gio Ponti was blocked behind the field with no way through. Jockey Ramon Dominguez, showing complete confidence in his steed, waited patiently for the right opening to appear. When he was finally let loose Gio Ponti exploded through the hole and bounded home with incredible ease to defeat Mission Approved by a neck. The Champ is back and it was great to see his return to the winners circle.
Awesome Gem has apparently had enough of playing second fiddle every time he runs against grade 1 caliber horses.
In Saturday’s Hollywood Gold Cup (gr.1) the 7-year-old gelding finally claimed his moment in the spotlight with a brilliant victory over favored Rail Trip. Breaking from the gate in the field of 6, Awesome Gem was content to run behind the leaders all through the backstretch. Entering the far turn Rail Trip moved about four wide, while Awesome Gem actually fell back to last before rallying to the inside and charging hard on the rail. Into the stretch it was Rail Trip who seized the lead and looked home free, but Awesome Gem darted through an opening on the rail and exploded to the lead within a matter of moments. The final margin of victory was a half length for the well traveled veteran.
Recently I haven’t been keeping my blog as up to date as I would like and I’ve missed posting about the weekend races until after the weekend is already through. Mostly this was due to a mild case of writers
The Delaware Oaks was Blind Lucks first start on a sloppy track and aside from passing that test with flying colors the versatile filly remained undefeated in four starts on the dirt. Next up for Blind Luck is the Alabama Stakes (gr.1) at Saratoga on August 21st.
Entering the 2010 edition of the Man ‘O’ War Stakes (gr.1) the picture may have looked different than it did a year ago, but the end result was the same. In his 5th start of 2010 dual 2009 Champion Gio Ponti finally put it all together and
returned to his winning ways, taking his second consecutive Man ‘O’ War Stakes. Showing the same spark he demonstrated last year when winning four straight Grade 1 races, Gio Ponti closed into a very slow pace in the Man ‘O’ War to run down 53-1 long shot Mission Approved to win by a neck. After trailing the field, led by a super slow Mission Approved, Gio Ponti gradually moved up nearing the final turn and waited behind a wall of horses as the field entered the stretch. Mission Approved opened up on the field entering the homestretch while Gio Ponti was blocked behind the field with no way through. Jockey Ramon Dominguez, showing complete confidence in his steed, waited patiently for the right opening to appear. When he was finally let loose Gio Ponti exploded through the hole and bounded home with incredible ease to defeat Mission Approved by a neck. The Champ is back and it was great to see his return to the winners circle.
Awesome Gem has apparently had enough of playing second fiddle every time he runs against grade 1 caliber horses.
In Saturday’s Hollywood Gold Cup (gr.1) the 7-year-old gelding finally claimed his moment in the spotlight with a brilliant victory over favored Rail Trip. Breaking from the gate in the field of 6, Awesome Gem was content to run behind the leaders all through the backstretch. Entering the far turn Rail Trip moved about four wide, while Awesome Gem actually fell back to last before rallying to the inside and charging hard on the rail. Into the stretch it was Rail Trip who seized the lead and looked home free, but Awesome Gem darted through an opening on the rail and exploded to the lead within a matter of moments. The final margin of victory was a half length for the well traveled veteran.
Recently I haven’t been keeping my blog as up to date as I would like and I’ve missed posting about the weekend races until after the weekend is already through. Mostly this was due to a mild case of writers
Monday, July 5, 2010
The Sport of Kings
So many things can incite passion in people, politics, music, relationships, money and power are just a few small examples but one thing in particular can many times get a person more riled than anything else in the whole wide world. Sports. It’s the engine that drives almost every single American weekend. Whether it be Football, Baseball, Basketball or Soccer one thing is clear, Americans, and in fact a large population of the entire planet thrive off of the thrill that comes with a winning moment. Sometimes it doesn’t even take a victory to create a thrill and a defeat can provoke more passion than a win.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing is all about the passion people infuse into the industry, passion of the race, the horse, the jockey, passion of the game. By the mid to late 1970’s Thoroughbred Horse Racing began to slide from its position as the leading sport in the nation, losing its status as the most popular and watched sport in the nation. Today racing is considered a minor sport by most casual sports fans and completely ignored by others. Aside from the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and, to a lesser degree, the Breeders’ Cup, horse racing is well hidden from the public’s eye. In contrast almost the entire first half of the century was dominated by Thoroughbred Horse Racing with the only real threats coming from Boxing and later Baseball. With three Triple Crown winners in the 1970’s the sport was veritably assured a spot in the public’s eye but entering the early 80’s things changed quickly. The 80’s were headlined mostly by Basketball thanks in many respects to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and the 90’s-to-present have been completely ruled by Football.
Somewhere along the line racing dropped the ball and managed not to acclimate with the times. There is however always hope for a sport if the fans have passion. Ever since I could read I have digested all the reading material I could ever find in relation to racing and while I have only been following live racing since 2006 there is one thing I know beyond a doubt: we have some of the most passionate and loyal fans in the sports industry. The list of things that are wrong in the industry is certainly a long one and quite discouraging at times but I believe there is just as much reason for concern as there is for hope.
If there is one thing above all else that provides success for racing it is events. I recently read an article online that discussed the reasons for some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster movie successes in history. In every single case the featured movie was not just presented as a movie, it was marketed as “the” movie to see. If you are anybody you’ve seen “that” movie. A perfect recent example of this is James Cameron’s Avatar. It wasn’t the great reviews that made this movie such a winner at the box-office, it wasn’t the special effects or the actors or the music, it was the story and nearly perfect marketing campaign that for weeks put Avatar trailers and images foremost in everyone’s minds. Although it had a big opening weekend, it was the incredible longevity of the movie that made it the highest grossing film in history and the “must have-must see” aura that made it the fastest selling DVD in history. This was an event film, something everyone could talk about and marvel at.
In 2009 Thoroughbred Horse Racing created a plethora of stunning events and gave a much needed, if only temporary, shot-in-the-arm to the industry. First it was Rachel Alexandra’s record smashing Kentucky Oaks win, then Mine that Bird’s Kentucky Derby, then back to Rachel Alexandra for the Preakness, Mother Goose, Haskell and Woodward. Summer Bird helped as well, becoming the first horse since Easy Goer to win the Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup while Zenyatta put the exclamation point at the end of the season with a brilliant victory over an international group of males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Churchill Downs nighttime racing has been met with great success so far and has also succeeded in bringing in a new and younger audience. I believe the key to their success is that they created an event, something that was hyped up for months in advance and effectively integrated the old ways with the new. Fans were able to attend and watch the horse races while also having the choice to listen to music, hang out with friends, wager a few dollars and buy cheap drinks and snacks. In two words: fan friendly.
While 2010 seems to be lacking the incredible “kick” given by the 2009 racing year so far, there is great potential. I am still hoping for that “event” this year and believe that it will come, that wow moment when more than just the casual racing fan will stop what they are doing for just a few minutes to witness history in the making. We can still be The Sport of Kings.
Thoroughbred Horse Racing is all about the passion people infuse into the industry, passion of the race, the horse, the jockey, passion of the game. By the mid to late 1970’s Thoroughbred Horse Racing began to slide from its position as the leading sport in the nation, losing its status as the most popular and watched sport in the nation. Today racing is considered a minor sport by most casual sports fans and completely ignored by others. Aside from the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, Belmont Stakes and, to a lesser degree, the Breeders’ Cup, horse racing is well hidden from the public’s eye. In contrast almost the entire first half of the century was dominated by Thoroughbred Horse Racing with the only real threats coming from Boxing and later Baseball. With three Triple Crown winners in the 1970’s the sport was veritably assured a spot in the public’s eye but entering the early 80’s things changed quickly. The 80’s were headlined mostly by Basketball thanks in many respects to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls and the 90’s-to-present have been completely ruled by Football.
Somewhere along the line racing dropped the ball and managed not to acclimate with the times. There is however always hope for a sport if the fans have passion. Ever since I could read I have digested all the reading material I could ever find in relation to racing and while I have only been following live racing since 2006 there is one thing I know beyond a doubt: we have some of the most passionate and loyal fans in the sports industry. The list of things that are wrong in the industry is certainly a long one and quite discouraging at times but I believe there is just as much reason for concern as there is for hope.
If there is one thing above all else that provides success for racing it is events. I recently read an article online that discussed the reasons for some of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster movie successes in history. In every single case the featured movie was not just presented as a movie, it was marketed as “the” movie to see. If you are anybody you’ve seen “that” movie. A perfect recent example of this is James Cameron’s Avatar. It wasn’t the great reviews that made this movie such a winner at the box-office, it wasn’t the special effects or the actors or the music, it was the story and nearly perfect marketing campaign that for weeks put Avatar trailers and images foremost in everyone’s minds. Although it had a big opening weekend, it was the incredible longevity of the movie that made it the highest grossing film in history and the “must have-must see” aura that made it the fastest selling DVD in history. This was an event film, something everyone could talk about and marvel at.
In 2009 Thoroughbred Horse Racing created a plethora of stunning events and gave a much needed, if only temporary, shot-in-the-arm to the industry. First it was Rachel Alexandra’s record smashing Kentucky Oaks win, then Mine that Bird’s Kentucky Derby, then back to Rachel Alexandra for the Preakness, Mother Goose, Haskell and Woodward. Summer Bird helped as well, becoming the first horse since Easy Goer to win the Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup while Zenyatta put the exclamation point at the end of the season with a brilliant victory over an international group of males in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Churchill Downs nighttime racing has been met with great success so far and has also succeeded in bringing in a new and younger audience. I believe the key to their success is that they created an event, something that was hyped up for months in advance and effectively integrated the old ways with the new. Fans were able to attend and watch the horse races while also having the choice to listen to music, hang out with friends, wager a few dollars and buy cheap drinks and snacks. In two words: fan friendly.
While 2010 seems to be lacking the incredible “kick” given by the 2009 racing year so far, there is great potential. I am still hoping for that “event” this year and believe that it will come, that wow moment when more than just the casual racing fan will stop what they are doing for just a few minutes to witness history in the making. We can still be The Sport of Kings.
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