(Due to the fact that it is only November and I am still compiling my 2011 three-year-olds-to-watch list, I have decided to make this week's "Top Twenty" a "Top Ten" instead. Enjoy!)
1. To Honor and Serve - Trained by William Mott
His Remsen score was excellent and he appears to have unlimited talent. Time will tell just how good he is, but he may be the colt to give Mott his first Kentucky Derby victory.
2. Uncle Mo - Trained by Todd Pletcher
The undefeated Uncle Mo will most likely be voted champion two-year-old male in January off of his decisive victories in the Champagne Stakes (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I). However, his pedigree does worry me just a bit.
3. Santiva - Trained by Eddie Kennealy
I really liked the way this colt fought on in between horses to win the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II). A win over the Churchill Downs main track is always useful, and he seems to have a lot of untapped potential.
4. Comma to the Top - Trained by Peter Miller
The son of Bwana Charlie has won four straight races, topped by the grade III Generous Stakes last Saturday. He has made nine starts this year, but is not done yet--a start in the CashCall Futurity (gr. I) remains. The sky is the limit with this promising juvenile.
5. Brethren - Trained by Todd Pletcher
A half-brother to the 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Brethren is undefeated in two starts, the most recent being an allowance race last Saturday, where he circled the field five wide to score convincingly. I would imagine that a debut in stakes company will be next.
6. Mucho Macho Man - Trained by Katherine Ritvo
Mucho Macho Man just seems to be getting better and better. He has twice in a row finished second to To Honor and Serve, in both the Nashua and the Remsen, and should be a force next year.
7. Boys at Tosconova - Trained by Rick Dutrow
Obviously very talented, Boys at Tosconova won the Hopeful Stakes earlier this year and finished a distant second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Both performances shout ability, but his pedigree may catch up to him next year.
8. Jaycito - Trained by Bob Baffert
The winner of the Norfolk Stakes (gr. I) was extremely disappointing in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, his pedigree warrants giving him a second chance. He seems to have a great deal of stamina and should be a force next year, especially if he can prove himself on a dirt surface.
9. Rogue Romance - Trained by Kenneth McPeek
Winner of the Bourbon Stakes (gr. III) on turf, the son of Smarty Jones ran huge in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to finish third and is one of the more exciting two-year-olds of 2010. I'm greatly anticipating his next start, for he seems to have a little something extra that a lot of colts don't have.
10. Stay Thirsty - Trained by Todd Pletcher
Stay Thirsty finished a game second in the Hopeful to Boys at Tosconova, but could only manage a fifth place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. However, his pedigree says that he will get better with distance and he should be a very nice three-year-old.
-Keelerman
Monday, November 29, 2010
Saturday, November 27, 2010
TRIPLE CROWN COUNTDOWN ---- November 26th, 2010
Welcome back to Triple Crown Countdown! With the Breeders' Cup concluded and several great two-year-old races being run this weekend, I decided that now is as good a time as any to start thinking about the 2011 Triple Crown.
The heavy favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby at the moment is Uncle Mo, impressive winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. However, my pick for the Derby is currently To Honor and Serve. A son of Bernardini, the colt is running in the grade II Remsen Stakes on Saturday, which happens to be this week's Feature Race.
FEATURE RACE ---- Remsen Stakes (gr. II)
1 1/8 Miles at Aqueduct
The Remsen Stakes, a important early prep race for the 2011 Triple Crown series, has drawn a solid field of seven, led by the above-mentioned To Honor and Serve. The colt has won two of his three starts, breaking his maiden second time out at Belmont Park by almost nine lengths before easily winning the grade II Nashua Stakes by 4 lengths. Trained by Bill Mott, he has drawn gate five and will be ridden by John Velazquez. He will carry top weight of 120 pounds.
Bandbox, undefeated in three starts, has an excellent chance as well. Although he has never raced beyond seven furlongs, he has shown to be a very versatile colt and should be able to handle any pace scenario. Trained by Rodney Jenkins, Bandbox won the Charles Town Juvenile Stakes by nearly ten lengths before Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park by a length and a quarter. He will carry 118 pounds and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez.
Buffum, the 2-1 morning line second choice, looks like a colt with a lot of potential. The son of Bernardini has only raced once, desperately hanging on to win a one mile maiden special weight by a nose. The final time was a decent 1:36 4/5, and he has every chance to improve off of it here. I would not be surprised at all if he is a factor in the stretch.
He is trained by Thomas Albertraini, and will be ridden by David Cohen. He will carry 116 pounds.
Mountain Town, 6-1 on the morning line, has a big chance as well. The son of Cape Town overcome a tough trip to win a 5-1/2 furlong claiming race by a head, coming from ten lengths back. This impressive performance was enough to warrant a start in the grade I Champagne Stakes. Although he was no match for Uncle Mo, finishing five lengths behind the likely juvenile champion, he did finish second, ten lengths clear of the third place finisher. If he runs that well tomorrow, he is capable of winning this race. Trained by Rick Dutrow, he will be ridden by C. Velasquez and will carry 116 pounds.
This brings us to Mucho Macho Man, a son of Macho Uno. From four starts, he has recorded a win, two seconds, and a third. He began his career by finishing second to Gourmet Dinner in a maiden special weight race. Gourmet Dinner won the $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot last week.
Mucho Macho Man then ran third to Curlinello in another maiden special weight. Curlinello has finished second in two stakes races since then. He then broke through with a victory over Bellamy's Boss in a maiden special weight. Stepped up into stakes company, he finished second to To Honor and Serve in the Nashua Stakes. He is trained by Katherine Ritvo and will be ridden by Eibar Coa. He will carry 116 pounds.
Pants On Fire and Economic Summit have scratched.
This race should have a large impact on the Triple Crown Trail next year, and I'm very excited about the potential these juveniles have shown.
My picks are. . .
1 To Honor and Serve
2 Mountain Town
3 Bandbox
4 Mucho Macho Man
5 Buffum
Who do you like?
OTHER RACES OF NOTE
Another race which will likely have a major impact on the 2011 Triple Crown Trail is the grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. Super Saver, this year's Kentucky Derby winner, proved best in the 2009 Kentucky Jockey Club. Therefore, I will be paying close attention to the winner of this race, which has drawn a field of seven.
The 6-5 morning line favorite is Astrology. A son of A. P. Indy, he began his career by finishing third in a maiden special weight. He broke through with a win in a maiden special weight over To Honor and Serve, which definitely bodes well for his chances today. A third place finish in the Garden State Stakes to Sweet Ducky and Curlinello was followed up by a dominant win in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) over the Churchill Downs main track. The fact that he has a victory over this track makes him the deserving favorite here.
The second choice here is Santiva. He has yet to break his maiden, but he did finish second in the grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity. He has a very strong late run and should be charging in the stretch.
Major Gain, winner of the grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity, is the 4-1 co-third choice. However, he could only manage a fifth-place finish in the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity and has never run on dirt.
Cane Garden Bay turned in a brilliant performance in the maiden special weight, winning the seven furlong event by a length and a quarter in a sharp 1:22 1/5. He has run well on both dirt and synthetic and his late kick appears to be very potent.
It is difficult to pick from this fine group of horses, but here are my selections. . .
1 Cane Garden Bay
2 Astrology
3 Santiva
4 Major Gain
5 Halo's Thunder
6 Prideofthechapter
7 Enable
One race prior to the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is a one mile allowance race for two year olds. Brethren, a Todd Pletcher-trained son of Distorted Humor is a half-brother to Super Saver, and won a maiden special weight by a half-length, scorching six furlongs in 1:08 4/5. If he runs that well tomorrow, he is definitely a colt to watch next year.
For two-year-old fillies, there is the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) and the Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II). Both have drawn good fields, with Kathmanblu the morning line favorite in the Golden Rod and Believe in A. P. the favorite in the Demoiselle. Both ran well in the Breeders' Cup, with Kathmanblu finishing third in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Believe in A. P. finishing fourth in the Juvenile Fillies. Both appear to have excellent chances at winning their respective races and although I won't make any official selections, I will be watching both races.
On Monday, I will post my first official "Keelerman's Top Twenty" of 2011, a list of my top twenty picks for the 2011 classics. Be sure to check back for it!
Enjoy the races!
-Keelerman
The heavy favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby at the moment is Uncle Mo, impressive winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. However, my pick for the Derby is currently To Honor and Serve. A son of Bernardini, the colt is running in the grade II Remsen Stakes on Saturday, which happens to be this week's Feature Race.
FEATURE RACE ---- Remsen Stakes (gr. II)
1 1/8 Miles at Aqueduct
The Remsen Stakes, a important early prep race for the 2011 Triple Crown series, has drawn a solid field of seven, led by the above-mentioned To Honor and Serve. The colt has won two of his three starts, breaking his maiden second time out at Belmont Park by almost nine lengths before easily winning the grade II Nashua Stakes by 4 lengths. Trained by Bill Mott, he has drawn gate five and will be ridden by John Velazquez. He will carry top weight of 120 pounds.
Bandbox, undefeated in three starts, has an excellent chance as well. Although he has never raced beyond seven furlongs, he has shown to be a very versatile colt and should be able to handle any pace scenario. Trained by Rodney Jenkins, Bandbox won the Charles Town Juvenile Stakes by nearly ten lengths before Sleepy Hollow Stakes at Belmont Park by a length and a quarter. He will carry 118 pounds and will be ridden by Ramon Dominguez.
Buffum, the 2-1 morning line second choice, looks like a colt with a lot of potential. The son of Bernardini has only raced once, desperately hanging on to win a one mile maiden special weight by a nose. The final time was a decent 1:36 4/5, and he has every chance to improve off of it here. I would not be surprised at all if he is a factor in the stretch.
He is trained by Thomas Albertraini, and will be ridden by David Cohen. He will carry 116 pounds.
Mountain Town, 6-1 on the morning line, has a big chance as well. The son of Cape Town overcome a tough trip to win a 5-1/2 furlong claiming race by a head, coming from ten lengths back. This impressive performance was enough to warrant a start in the grade I Champagne Stakes. Although he was no match for Uncle Mo, finishing five lengths behind the likely juvenile champion, he did finish second, ten lengths clear of the third place finisher. If he runs that well tomorrow, he is capable of winning this race. Trained by Rick Dutrow, he will be ridden by C. Velasquez and will carry 116 pounds.
This brings us to Mucho Macho Man, a son of Macho Uno. From four starts, he has recorded a win, two seconds, and a third. He began his career by finishing second to Gourmet Dinner in a maiden special weight race. Gourmet Dinner won the $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot last week.
Mucho Macho Man then ran third to Curlinello in another maiden special weight. Curlinello has finished second in two stakes races since then. He then broke through with a victory over Bellamy's Boss in a maiden special weight. Stepped up into stakes company, he finished second to To Honor and Serve in the Nashua Stakes. He is trained by Katherine Ritvo and will be ridden by Eibar Coa. He will carry 116 pounds.
Pants On Fire and Economic Summit have scratched.
This race should have a large impact on the Triple Crown Trail next year, and I'm very excited about the potential these juveniles have shown.
My picks are. . .
1 To Honor and Serve
2 Mountain Town
3 Bandbox
4 Mucho Macho Man
5 Buffum
Who do you like?
OTHER RACES OF NOTE
Another race which will likely have a major impact on the 2011 Triple Crown Trail is the grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs. Super Saver, this year's Kentucky Derby winner, proved best in the 2009 Kentucky Jockey Club. Therefore, I will be paying close attention to the winner of this race, which has drawn a field of seven.
The 6-5 morning line favorite is Astrology. A son of A. P. Indy, he began his career by finishing third in a maiden special weight. He broke through with a win in a maiden special weight over To Honor and Serve, which definitely bodes well for his chances today. A third place finish in the Garden State Stakes to Sweet Ducky and Curlinello was followed up by a dominant win in the Iroquois Stakes (gr. III) over the Churchill Downs main track. The fact that he has a victory over this track makes him the deserving favorite here.
The second choice here is Santiva. He has yet to break his maiden, but he did finish second in the grade I Dixiana Breeders' Futurity. He has a very strong late run and should be charging in the stretch.
Major Gain, winner of the grade III Arlington-Washington Futurity, is the 4-1 co-third choice. However, he could only manage a fifth-place finish in the Dixiana Breeders' Futurity and has never run on dirt.
Cane Garden Bay turned in a brilliant performance in the maiden special weight, winning the seven furlong event by a length and a quarter in a sharp 1:22 1/5. He has run well on both dirt and synthetic and his late kick appears to be very potent.
It is difficult to pick from this fine group of horses, but here are my selections. . .
1 Cane Garden Bay
2 Astrology
3 Santiva
4 Major Gain
5 Halo's Thunder
6 Prideofthechapter
7 Enable
One race prior to the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes is a one mile allowance race for two year olds. Brethren, a Todd Pletcher-trained son of Distorted Humor is a half-brother to Super Saver, and won a maiden special weight by a half-length, scorching six furlongs in 1:08 4/5. If he runs that well tomorrow, he is definitely a colt to watch next year.
For two-year-old fillies, there is the Golden Rod Stakes (gr. II) and the Demoiselle Stakes (gr. II). Both have drawn good fields, with Kathmanblu the morning line favorite in the Golden Rod and Believe in A. P. the favorite in the Demoiselle. Both ran well in the Breeders' Cup, with Kathmanblu finishing third in the Juvenile Fillies Turf and Believe in A. P. finishing fourth in the Juvenile Fillies. Both appear to have excellent chances at winning their respective races and although I won't make any official selections, I will be watching both races.
On Monday, I will post my first official "Keelerman's Top Twenty" of 2011, a list of my top twenty picks for the 2011 classics. Be sure to check back for it!
Enjoy the races!
-Keelerman
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Greatness
What is greatness?
Greatness is a relative measurement; defined by one’s own opinion and views. Is a horse’s greatness defined by what they accomplish on the racetrack, what they accomplish off the racetrack, the competition they face, or the races in which they run?
Greatness can be any one of these and more.
Secretariat was a great horse. He won the Triple Crown and set records that still stand. By winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 magnificent lengths, he took the meaning of greatness to a whole new level. Along the way, he made memories for all who saw him and proved himself to be just as good--if not better--on the grass than he was on the dirt. He was perhaps the closest thing to the fictional Black Stallion as any horse could ever be.
Rachel Alexandra is a great horse. She was the epitome of brilliance; and she will likely remain the only filly to win the Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward. She won the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose by twenty marvelous lengths each, the Mother Goose in a faster time and by more lengths than Ruffian, and the ease at which many of her victories were accomplished left all of her fans breathless.
Zenyatta is a great horse. Unlike the prior two runners, she is not famous for winning races by double-digit lengths; nor is she famous for breaking track records. She is famous for her patented late run, which has failed her only once despite the incredibly slow early fractions in many of her races. Her personality is endearing, her charisma undeniable, and her apparent ability to time her late run leaves one gasping in astonishment. And her pre-race dancing is equally show-stopping.
What about Silky Sullivan? Although no longer a household name, I’m positive that no other horse has ever existed who could come from forty-one lengths behind. . . in a sprint race. . . and still win. This incredible talent alone makes Silky Sullivan a great horse.
The exact opposite of Silky Sullivan is Presious Passion. The old gelding has many memorable performances on his resume, but perhaps the one that will be remembered most is his run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year, where he went out ten lengths in front of a quality field, rattling off fractions of :23 flat, :45 flat, 1:09 1/5, 1:34 2/5, and 1:59 3/5. The field caught him just after a mile and a quarter, and a lesser horse would have folded from the intense pace that he had set. Presious Passion? Why, the running had just begun! Closing his final quarter in :24 seconds, Presious Passion allowed only one horse to pass him, Conduit, the defending winner of the race. To run the first half-mile of a twelve-furlong race in :45 seconds and end up beaten only a half-length is true greatness.
Likewise, Danzig was a great horse. He was undefeated, yes, although he ran only three times, and never in a stakes race. He amassed a grand total of $32,400 in earnings. It is what he did as a sire that etched his name among horse racing’s immortals. He has given us many thrills in the form of Dance Smartly, Chief’s Crown, Danehill, Pine Bluff, Danzig Connection, and Hard Spun. Would racing be the same if Danzig had never been born? Absolutely not.
Equally great are mares like No Class. As a racehorse, No Class lived up to her name. She won 3 races from 29 starts, amassing a meager $37,543 in earnings. But when she became a broodmare, her name could have easily been All Class. She produced eight foals, of which seven made it to the races. All seven became winners. Six of them became stakes winners. Her 1981 foal, Classy ‘n Smart, went on to become the dam of Smart Strike. Without No Class, horses like Curlin, Lookin at Lucky, and English Channel would never have been born.
Even the claimers are great. Horses like Defender, Unstoppable Force, Bucky Came Home, and Challenged have never won a race, but they serve a very important purpose; without them, little claiming races wouldn’t fill. Race tracks would be unable to card enough races, and therefore would be unable to run big races like the Travers, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hollywood Gold Cup and Vanity. The claimers, if you think about it, are crucial to horse racing.
Greatness is relative, limited only by one’s imagination. To me, all horses are great. What do you think?
--Keelerman
Greatness is a relative measurement; defined by one’s own opinion and views. Is a horse’s greatness defined by what they accomplish on the racetrack, what they accomplish off the racetrack, the competition they face, or the races in which they run?
Greatness can be any one of these and more.
Secretariat was a great horse. He won the Triple Crown and set records that still stand. By winning the Belmont Stakes by 31 magnificent lengths, he took the meaning of greatness to a whole new level. Along the way, he made memories for all who saw him and proved himself to be just as good--if not better--on the grass than he was on the dirt. He was perhaps the closest thing to the fictional Black Stallion as any horse could ever be.
Rachel Alexandra is a great horse. She was the epitome of brilliance; and she will likely remain the only filly to win the Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward. She won the Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose by twenty marvelous lengths each, the Mother Goose in a faster time and by more lengths than Ruffian, and the ease at which many of her victories were accomplished left all of her fans breathless.
Zenyatta is a great horse. Unlike the prior two runners, she is not famous for winning races by double-digit lengths; nor is she famous for breaking track records. She is famous for her patented late run, which has failed her only once despite the incredibly slow early fractions in many of her races. Her personality is endearing, her charisma undeniable, and her apparent ability to time her late run leaves one gasping in astonishment. And her pre-race dancing is equally show-stopping.
What about Silky Sullivan? Although no longer a household name, I’m positive that no other horse has ever existed who could come from forty-one lengths behind. . . in a sprint race. . . and still win. This incredible talent alone makes Silky Sullivan a great horse.
The exact opposite of Silky Sullivan is Presious Passion. The old gelding has many memorable performances on his resume, but perhaps the one that will be remembered most is his run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf last year, where he went out ten lengths in front of a quality field, rattling off fractions of :23 flat, :45 flat, 1:09 1/5, 1:34 2/5, and 1:59 3/5. The field caught him just after a mile and a quarter, and a lesser horse would have folded from the intense pace that he had set. Presious Passion? Why, the running had just begun! Closing his final quarter in :24 seconds, Presious Passion allowed only one horse to pass him, Conduit, the defending winner of the race. To run the first half-mile of a twelve-furlong race in :45 seconds and end up beaten only a half-length is true greatness.
Likewise, Danzig was a great horse. He was undefeated, yes, although he ran only three times, and never in a stakes race. He amassed a grand total of $32,400 in earnings. It is what he did as a sire that etched his name among horse racing’s immortals. He has given us many thrills in the form of Dance Smartly, Chief’s Crown, Danehill, Pine Bluff, Danzig Connection, and Hard Spun. Would racing be the same if Danzig had never been born? Absolutely not.
Equally great are mares like No Class. As a racehorse, No Class lived up to her name. She won 3 races from 29 starts, amassing a meager $37,543 in earnings. But when she became a broodmare, her name could have easily been All Class. She produced eight foals, of which seven made it to the races. All seven became winners. Six of them became stakes winners. Her 1981 foal, Classy ‘n Smart, went on to become the dam of Smart Strike. Without No Class, horses like Curlin, Lookin at Lucky, and English Channel would never have been born.
Even the claimers are great. Horses like Defender, Unstoppable Force, Bucky Came Home, and Challenged have never won a race, but they serve a very important purpose; without them, little claiming races wouldn’t fill. Race tracks would be unable to card enough races, and therefore would be unable to run big races like the Travers, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hollywood Gold Cup and Vanity. The claimers, if you think about it, are crucial to horse racing.
Greatness is relative, limited only by one’s imagination. To me, all horses are great. What do you think?
--Keelerman
Saturday, November 13, 2010
UNUSUAL SUSPECT WINS THE HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP!
Unusual Suspect wore down Temple City in the final stride to secure his first grade I win in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes.
Sitting third early under Corey Nakatani, Unusual Suspect recieved a perfect ride to reach contention as the field turned for home, just getting up to catch front-running Temple City to win by a head.
Temple City went to the lead from the start and set fairly slow fractions. He was tracked by Marlang and Unusual Suspect. Longshot Big Shot Syd was racing in third. The two favorites, Where's the Remote and Treat Gently, were right together sixth and seventh with Buenos Dias sitting last.
Where's the Remote dropped back around the far turn and finished last. Treat Gently made a good run entering the stretch but flattened out. In the end, it was Buenos Dias who rallied for third. Treat Gently held on for fourth.
The final time was 2:25 4/5.
-Keelerman
Sitting third early under Corey Nakatani, Unusual Suspect recieved a perfect ride to reach contention as the field turned for home, just getting up to catch front-running Temple City to win by a head.
Temple City went to the lead from the start and set fairly slow fractions. He was tracked by Marlang and Unusual Suspect. Longshot Big Shot Syd was racing in third. The two favorites, Where's the Remote and Treat Gently, were right together sixth and seventh with Buenos Dias sitting last.
Where's the Remote dropped back around the far turn and finished last. Treat Gently made a good run entering the stretch but flattened out. In the end, it was Buenos Dias who rallied for third. Treat Gently held on for fourth.
The final time was 2:25 4/5.
-Keelerman
THOUGHTS ON THE HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP
It is currently eleven minutes to post time for the grade I Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes, a mile and a half turf race for three year olds and up. Although none of the eight runners have won a grade I race, I find it a truly fascinating field of runners.
The current favorite is Where's the Remote, who finished second to Champ Pegasus in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes just over a month ago. Champ Pegasus came back to run second in the Breeders' Cup Turf, which is definitely a good sign for Where's the Remote.
Treat Gently, the second choice, is perhaps the most interesting runner of the group. A five year old mare, she ran fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes last month and been a fairly consistent performer.
Unusual Suspect, a six year old male, is also running. One of my favorite horses, he has made fifty-four starts and comes into this race off of a runner-up finish in the California Cup Classic Stakes.
Temple City, currently 8-1, won the Cougar II Handicap on the Del Mar main track earlier this year. Marlang has proven to be a very nice horse and will likely attempt to go wire-to-wire. Longshots Buenos Dias, Worth Repeating, and Big Shot Syd complete the field.
My picks. . .
1 Where's the Remote
2 Treat Gently
3 Unusual Suspect
4 Buenos Dias
5 Marlang
6 Worth Repeating
7 Temple City
8 Big Shot Syd
-Keelerman
The current favorite is Where's the Remote, who finished second to Champ Pegasus in the Clement L. Hirsch Turf Championship Stakes just over a month ago. Champ Pegasus came back to run second in the Breeders' Cup Turf, which is definitely a good sign for Where's the Remote.
Treat Gently, the second choice, is perhaps the most interesting runner of the group. A five year old mare, she ran fourth in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes last month and been a fairly consistent performer.
Unusual Suspect, a six year old male, is also running. One of my favorite horses, he has made fifty-four starts and comes into this race off of a runner-up finish in the California Cup Classic Stakes.
Temple City, currently 8-1, won the Cougar II Handicap on the Del Mar main track earlier this year. Marlang has proven to be a very nice horse and will likely attempt to go wire-to-wire. Longshots Buenos Dias, Worth Repeating, and Big Shot Syd complete the field.
My picks. . .
1 Where's the Remote
2 Treat Gently
3 Unusual Suspect
4 Buenos Dias
5 Marlang
6 Worth Repeating
7 Temple City
8 Big Shot Syd
-Keelerman
Thursday, November 11, 2010
THANK YOU, ZENYATTA
When I first sat down to write this post, I wasn’t sure what to say. At first, I was going to write a recap of the Breeders’ Cup Classic. But what could I say that hasn’t already been said?
I thought about writing out a list of the records that Zenyatta has set over the course of her long career. Most money earned by a female race horse in North America, most consecutive wins, most wins in the Vanity Handicap, most wins in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, most wins in the Lady's Secret Stakes, first filly or mare to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, etc., etc.
But let's be honest. Zenyatta is more than numbers and records. Much, much more.
She is unforgettable memories.
I remember when I first heard about Zenyatta. It was right after she won the Apple Blossom Handicap in 2008. I thought to myself, "Hmm, an undefeated filly. She'll be a fun horse to follow. She certainly has an unusual name. I hope I don't forget it. . ."
I didn't.
I remember when she won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. I was cheering hard for her that day, and watching the replay later I remember thinking that she was one of the most amazing horses I had ever seen. There were some very nice horses behind her that day, including Ginger Punch, Cocoa Beach, and Music Note, but she just blew past them under a hand ride as if they were nothing. One must watch the race to believe it, for words do not do it justice.
I remember the 2008 Eclipse awards. Curlin was my favorite horse at the time, and I was desperately hoping that he had done enough to win his second consecutive Horse of the Year honor. I wasn't sure how winning the Dubai World Cup and losing the Breeders' Cup Classic would hold up against Zenyatta's undefeated season, but let's just say that I was more than happy when Curlin took home the award yet again.
That was the last (and only) time I would root against Zenyatta.
I remember the 2009 Vanity Handicap, where Zenyatta toted a remarkable 129 pounds to an easy victory. That same day, Rachel Alexandra won the Mother Goose Stakes by twenty lengths. Being a huge fan of both horses, it was a very exciting day. That was when I started comparing Zenyatta to Ruffian.
I remember the 2009 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, where Zenyatta's tremendous strides just got her up in time to win by a head on a track that she didn't care for. This was when I realized that Zenyatta was something more than just a great racehorse. She closed her last five sixteenths in about :28 2/5 seconds, which is simply amazing. But words once again don't do justice.
I remember the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic. Although I picked her to win, I had no idea as to if she could actually defeat the best males in the country. It would be the hardest task she had ever undertaken. Still, I just reminded myself that she still had a gear or two that she had never used before.
I remember when she turned for home on November 7th at Santa Anita Park, in what was to be her final career start. When Mike Smith guided her in between horses and steered her to the outside of Twice Over, I thought it was all over. No ordinary horse could have caught the leaders at that point.
But Zenyatta is no ordinary horse. She found another gear in the stretch and blew right past Gio Ponti to win by a neck. At the time, I had no idea who she had beaten. I thought for a moment that it was Einstein who had gamely finished second. But it didn't really matter to me, for the mare I had enjoyed for a year and a half had achieved the next-to-impossible. It remains the greatest race I have ever watched.
Zenyatta was retired after that. I remember feeling disappointed; as one always does when their favorite horse retires. I wondered what might have happened if Zenyatta had stayed in training one more year. Perhaps she could have broken Citation and Cigar's famous sixteen-win streak in unrestricted races. We would never know.
Or would we?
In early January 2010, the announcement came that Zenyatta would remain in training for one more year, to attempt a repeat victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic. I was elated. She was back for one more year.
I remember when she fought her way through traffic to win the Santa Margarita Handicap under 127 pounds. It was her first start in four months, and to do what she did in her first start back was incredible. The fact that it came on my birthday made it even more special.
I remember her hard-fought third-consecutive victory in the Vanity Handicap. Going into the race I wasn't sure if she was going to be able to spot St. Trinians 9 pounds, for St. Trinians is a very good racehorse. For a brief moment my heart stopped, as it appeared that St. Trinians was going to hold off Zenyatta, but the great big mare shifted gears and got up in the final yards for a half-length victory. I was ecstatic.
Almost lost in all of the excitement was the fact that she had broken Citation and Cigar's win streak. It took sixty-one years for it to fall, a time period that saw horses like Secretariat, Dr. Fager, Kelso, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, and others stake their claims as the greatest horses to have ever run. However, none of them could break the record. It took a horse like Zenyatta to do it.
It may take another sixty-one years before her record falls.
I remember when she won the Ladies' Secret Stakes for the third straight year just six weeks ago. It looked as though she couldn't possibly catch Switch, but she somehow managed to do so inside the final few yards. By winning her nineteenth consecutive race, she tied the modern-day North American record for most victories held by Pepper's Pride. However, Pepper's Pride's streak had been achieved while running in state-restricted races. Therefore, in unrestricted races, Zenyatta's record stands alone.
I remember her loss in the Breeders’ Cup Classic just a few days ago. Despite dropping nearly twenty lengths off the pace on the first turn, Zenyatta did what she always does, overcoming adversity to rally from impossibly far back in the stretch. Unfortunately, for the first time in her career, the finish line came before her colossal strides could carry her the final inches to victory.
I remember the feeling of disappointment immediately following her defeat, a feeling that disappeared when I realized what she had accomplished in defeat. Very few horses could have done what she did, and under the circumstances, I have my doubts that even Secretariat could have come that close.
But most of all I will remember her. Her dancing prior to a race, her charisma, her unbelievable ability, her personality. I will never forget the image of her turning for home under Mike Smith and flying to one victory after another. She created countless records over the course of her career, yes, but more importantly, she created countless memories.
Years from now, I will look back and fondly remember these last three summers, when the great big mare took a hold of horse racing and made it her own, dominating the sport like no other horse before her.
Many of her records stand alone. But numbers on a chart don't do justice to what she means to her vast legion of fans. She is something else entirely; something that cannot be expressed with numbers, charts, or words.
Perhaps someday her name will make it into dictionaries. If so, I know how I would define it.
ZENYATTA (adj) Cannot be described; beyond description.
Thanks for all of the memories, Zenyatta. You've made horse racing that much more special to me.
-Keelerman
I thought about writing out a list of the records that Zenyatta has set over the course of her long career. Most money earned by a female race horse in North America, most consecutive wins, most wins in the Vanity Handicap, most wins in the Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, most wins in the Lady's Secret Stakes, first filly or mare to win the Breeders' Cup Classic, etc., etc.
But let's be honest. Zenyatta is more than numbers and records. Much, much more.
She is unforgettable memories.
I remember when I first heard about Zenyatta. It was right after she won the Apple Blossom Handicap in 2008. I thought to myself, "Hmm, an undefeated filly. She'll be a fun horse to follow. She certainly has an unusual name. I hope I don't forget it. . ."
I didn't.
I remember when she won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic. I was cheering hard for her that day, and watching the replay later I remember thinking that she was one of the most amazing horses I had ever seen. There were some very nice horses behind her that day, including Ginger Punch, Cocoa Beach, and Music Note, but she just blew past them under a hand ride as if they were nothing. One must watch the race to believe it, for words do not do it justice.
I remember the 2008 Eclipse awards. Curlin was my favorite horse at the time, and I was desperately hoping that he had done enough to win his second consecutive Horse of the Year honor. I wasn't sure how winning the Dubai World Cup and losing the Breeders' Cup Classic would hold up against Zenyatta's undefeated season, but let's just say that I was more than happy when Curlin took home the award yet again.
That was the last (and only) time I would root against Zenyatta.
I remember the 2009 Vanity Handicap, where Zenyatta toted a remarkable 129 pounds to an easy victory. That same day, Rachel Alexandra won the Mother Goose Stakes by twenty lengths. Being a huge fan of both horses, it was a very exciting day. That was when I started comparing Zenyatta to Ruffian.
I remember the 2009 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes, where Zenyatta's tremendous strides just got her up in time to win by a head on a track that she didn't care for. This was when I realized that Zenyatta was something more than just a great racehorse. She closed her last five sixteenths in about :28 2/5 seconds, which is simply amazing. But words once again don't do justice.
I remember the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic. Although I picked her to win, I had no idea as to if she could actually defeat the best males in the country. It would be the hardest task she had ever undertaken. Still, I just reminded myself that she still had a gear or two that she had never used before.
I remember when she turned for home on November 7th at Santa Anita Park, in what was to be her final career start. When Mike Smith guided her in between horses and steered her to the outside of Twice Over, I thought it was all over. No ordinary horse could have caught the leaders at that point.
But Zenyatta is no ordinary horse. She found another gear in the stretch and blew right past Gio Ponti to win by a neck. At the time, I had no idea who she had beaten. I thought for a moment that it was Einstein who had gamely finished second. But it didn't really matter to me, for the mare I had enjoyed for a year and a half had achieved the next-to-impossible. It remains the greatest race I have ever watched.
Zenyatta was retired after that. I remember feeling disappointed; as one always does when their favorite horse retires. I wondered what might have happened if Zenyatta had stayed in training one more year. Perhaps she could have broken Citation and Cigar's famous sixteen-win streak in unrestricted races. We would never know.
Or would we?
In early January 2010, the announcement came that Zenyatta would remain in training for one more year, to attempt a repeat victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic. I was elated. She was back for one more year.
I remember when she fought her way through traffic to win the Santa Margarita Handicap under 127 pounds. It was her first start in four months, and to do what she did in her first start back was incredible. The fact that it came on my birthday made it even more special.
I remember her hard-fought third-consecutive victory in the Vanity Handicap. Going into the race I wasn't sure if she was going to be able to spot St. Trinians 9 pounds, for St. Trinians is a very good racehorse. For a brief moment my heart stopped, as it appeared that St. Trinians was going to hold off Zenyatta, but the great big mare shifted gears and got up in the final yards for a half-length victory. I was ecstatic.
Almost lost in all of the excitement was the fact that she had broken Citation and Cigar's win streak. It took sixty-one years for it to fall, a time period that saw horses like Secretariat, Dr. Fager, Kelso, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, and others stake their claims as the greatest horses to have ever run. However, none of them could break the record. It took a horse like Zenyatta to do it.
It may take another sixty-one years before her record falls.
I remember when she won the Ladies' Secret Stakes for the third straight year just six weeks ago. It looked as though she couldn't possibly catch Switch, but she somehow managed to do so inside the final few yards. By winning her nineteenth consecutive race, she tied the modern-day North American record for most victories held by Pepper's Pride. However, Pepper's Pride's streak had been achieved while running in state-restricted races. Therefore, in unrestricted races, Zenyatta's record stands alone.
I remember her loss in the Breeders’ Cup Classic just a few days ago. Despite dropping nearly twenty lengths off the pace on the first turn, Zenyatta did what she always does, overcoming adversity to rally from impossibly far back in the stretch. Unfortunately, for the first time in her career, the finish line came before her colossal strides could carry her the final inches to victory.
I remember the feeling of disappointment immediately following her defeat, a feeling that disappeared when I realized what she had accomplished in defeat. Very few horses could have done what she did, and under the circumstances, I have my doubts that even Secretariat could have come that close.
But most of all I will remember her. Her dancing prior to a race, her charisma, her unbelievable ability, her personality. I will never forget the image of her turning for home under Mike Smith and flying to one victory after another. She created countless records over the course of her career, yes, but more importantly, she created countless memories.
Years from now, I will look back and fondly remember these last three summers, when the great big mare took a hold of horse racing and made it her own, dominating the sport like no other horse before her.
Many of her records stand alone. But numbers on a chart don't do justice to what she means to her vast legion of fans. She is something else entirely; something that cannot be expressed with numbers, charts, or words.
Perhaps someday her name will make it into dictionaries. If so, I know how I would define it.
ZENYATTA (adj) Cannot be described; beyond description.
Thanks for all of the memories, Zenyatta. You've made horse racing that much more special to me.
-Keelerman
Saturday, November 06, 2010
BLAME WINS THE BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC!
Blame pulled off a stunning upset in the Breeders' Cup Classic, holding off the previously undefeated Zenyatta to win by a short head.
Blame sat far off of the early pace set by Espoir City and Quality Road. He made a strong run in between horses to take the lead in the stretch and found just enough to hold off Zenyatta in the final strides.
Zenyatta dropped farther off of the pace than usual, sitting about twenty lengths from the front in the early going. Mike Smith started asking her for some run on the backstretch, and the six year old mare responded as the field turned into the homestretch. Steered to the outside by Smith, Zenyatta closed relentlessly in the final furlong but just could not get to the winner, although she passed him a couple strides after the wire.
Fly Down finished third, followed by Lookin at Lucky. Quality Road faded as the field turned for home.
The final time was 2:02 2/5.
-Keelerman
Blame sat far off of the early pace set by Espoir City and Quality Road. He made a strong run in between horses to take the lead in the stretch and found just enough to hold off Zenyatta in the final strides.
Zenyatta dropped farther off of the pace than usual, sitting about twenty lengths from the front in the early going. Mike Smith started asking her for some run on the backstretch, and the six year old mare responded as the field turned into the homestretch. Steered to the outside by Smith, Zenyatta closed relentlessly in the final furlong but just could not get to the winner, although she passed him a couple strides after the wire.
Fly Down finished third, followed by Lookin at Lucky. Quality Road faded as the field turned for home.
The final time was 2:02 2/5.
-Keelerman
BREEDERS' CUP UPDATE SATURDAY #8
5:10;
Well, Dangerous Midge proved to be the best in the Breeders' Cup Turf, sitting just off of the early pace and out running Champ Pegasus in the stretch to score by far the biggest victory of his career.
The next race is the big one --- the 27th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic. It is currently 36 minutes away. Zenyatta has opened as the 3-5 favorite, with Lookin at Lucky the second choice at 4-1. Blame is 7-1; Quality Road 9-1. Haynesfield, 12-1 on the morning line, has doubled to 24-1.
This is much more than just a horse race --- this is history. No horse has ever been in the position Zenyatta is right now; undefeated with a chance to win her second consecutive Breeders' Cup Classic. Already Zenyatta has etched her name in among those of the greatest horses to have ever graced the American turf, and a victory here tonight would elevate her to the status of immortal; forever remembered as one of the all time greats. A win here tonight would rank her with Spectacular Bid, Seattle Slew --- even Secretariat. A victory here tonight would allow her to go out on her highest note yet; perfect, relatively unchallenged, and forever a part of history. Win or lose, this will likely go down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, race in the history of the Breeders' Cup.
Win or lose, thanks for all of the great memories Zenyatta!
5:23;
Twenty-five minutes to post now. . . over $1,670,000 has been bet on Zenyatta to win. Roughly $570,000 has been placed on Lookin at Lucky to win. Therefore, Zenyatta is the favorite by $1,100,000. Wow.
The big four --- Zenyatta, Lookin at Lucky, Blame, and Quality Road --- are all 8-1 or less. The fifth choice, Haynesfield, is 21-1. If you like Musket Man, he's 30-1. Espoir City is 37-1. Etched? 59-1.
As I promised earlier, here are my picks. . .
1 Zenyatta
2 Musket Man
3 Lookin at Lucky
4 Blame
5 Paddy O'Prado
6 Quality Road
7 Etched
8 First Dude
9 Haynesfield
10 Fly Down
11 Pleasant Prince
12 Espoir City
Whoever wins, it's going to be a fabulous race. A loss by Zenyatta here will not detract from her incredible career. She has probably done more for racing than any other horse over the last ten years and win, lose, or draw, she is a great champion.
5:35;
It's now just thirteen minutes to post time! This will be my last live update until after the race. Enjoy!
-Keelerman
Well, Dangerous Midge proved to be the best in the Breeders' Cup Turf, sitting just off of the early pace and out running Champ Pegasus in the stretch to score by far the biggest victory of his career.
The next race is the big one --- the 27th running of the Breeders' Cup Classic. It is currently 36 minutes away. Zenyatta has opened as the 3-5 favorite, with Lookin at Lucky the second choice at 4-1. Blame is 7-1; Quality Road 9-1. Haynesfield, 12-1 on the morning line, has doubled to 24-1.
This is much more than just a horse race --- this is history. No horse has ever been in the position Zenyatta is right now; undefeated with a chance to win her second consecutive Breeders' Cup Classic. Already Zenyatta has etched her name in among those of the greatest horses to have ever graced the American turf, and a victory here tonight would elevate her to the status of immortal; forever remembered as one of the all time greats. A win here tonight would rank her with Spectacular Bid, Seattle Slew --- even Secretariat. A victory here tonight would allow her to go out on her highest note yet; perfect, relatively unchallenged, and forever a part of history. Win or lose, this will likely go down in history as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, race in the history of the Breeders' Cup.
Win or lose, thanks for all of the great memories Zenyatta!
5:23;
Twenty-five minutes to post now. . . over $1,670,000 has been bet on Zenyatta to win. Roughly $570,000 has been placed on Lookin at Lucky to win. Therefore, Zenyatta is the favorite by $1,100,000. Wow.
The big four --- Zenyatta, Lookin at Lucky, Blame, and Quality Road --- are all 8-1 or less. The fifth choice, Haynesfield, is 21-1. If you like Musket Man, he's 30-1. Espoir City is 37-1. Etched? 59-1.
As I promised earlier, here are my picks. . .
1 Zenyatta
2 Musket Man
3 Lookin at Lucky
4 Blame
5 Paddy O'Prado
6 Quality Road
7 Etched
8 First Dude
9 Haynesfield
10 Fly Down
11 Pleasant Prince
12 Espoir City
Whoever wins, it's going to be a fabulous race. A loss by Zenyatta here will not detract from her incredible career. She has probably done more for racing than any other horse over the last ten years and win, lose, or draw, she is a great champion.
5:35;
It's now just thirteen minutes to post time! This will be my last live update until after the race. Enjoy!
-Keelerman
DANGEROUS MIDGE WINS THE BREEDERS' CUP TURF!
Dangerous Midge sat just off of the early lead and outfought Champ Pegasus to the wire, winning the Breeders' Cup Turf in an 8-1 upset.
Champ Pegasus set the early pace, with Dangerous Midge tracking him on the outside. Behkabad was sitting third along the rail, with Telling and Debussy right behind him. The pace was slow, with fractions of :50 and 1:15 4/5.
As the field turned for home, Champ Pegasus still held the lead, but Dangerous Midge was coming hard on the outside and put the leader away to score by just over two lengths.
Heavily favored Behkabad finished third, followed by Winchester.
The final time was 2:29 2/5.
-Keelerman
Champ Pegasus set the early pace, with Dangerous Midge tracking him on the outside. Behkabad was sitting third along the rail, with Telling and Debussy right behind him. The pace was slow, with fractions of :50 and 1:15 4/5.
As the field turned for home, Champ Pegasus still held the lead, but Dangerous Midge was coming hard on the outside and put the leader away to score by just over two lengths.
Heavily favored Behkabad finished third, followed by Winchester.
The final time was 2:29 2/5.
-Keelerman
BREEDERS' CUP UPDATE SATURDAY #7
4:33;
Well, Dakota Phone pulled off another major upset, just nosing out Morning Line is the final strides to win by a nose at odds of 37-1.
Does anyone else think that the odds of having a second carryover are pretty good?
The next race will be the Breeders' Cup Turf. The seventh of eight Breeders' Cup races today, the scratch of Workforce has allowed Behkabad to open as the 9-5 favorite. The 3-1 third choice is Winchester, with Al Khali at 7-2. The longshot is Telling at 18-1.
4:38;
Well, in a little more than an hour the Classic will have been run and the long anticipated results will finally be know. I'll say this much --- Mike Smith deserves a win, for he has had a pretty bad day today, finishing off the board on both Jaycito and Proviso.
4:46;
Behkabad has dropped to 3-2 now. Otherwise, the odds haven't changed much. Dangerous Midge is 8-1; Debussy is 6-1. Winchester and Al Khali have risen slightly, they are now 7-2 and 4-1, respectively.
4:55;
Three minutes to post now! Behkabad is now the 6-5 favorite. Interestingly, Champ Pegasus, despite having won two consecutive graded stakes races, is one of the longest shot in the field at 9-1.
It's post time now! I'll post the results momentarily.
-Keelerman
Well, Dakota Phone pulled off another major upset, just nosing out Morning Line is the final strides to win by a nose at odds of 37-1.
Does anyone else think that the odds of having a second carryover are pretty good?
The next race will be the Breeders' Cup Turf. The seventh of eight Breeders' Cup races today, the scratch of Workforce has allowed Behkabad to open as the 9-5 favorite. The 3-1 third choice is Winchester, with Al Khali at 7-2. The longshot is Telling at 18-1.
4:38;
Well, in a little more than an hour the Classic will have been run and the long anticipated results will finally be know. I'll say this much --- Mike Smith deserves a win, for he has had a pretty bad day today, finishing off the board on both Jaycito and Proviso.
4:46;
Behkabad has dropped to 3-2 now. Otherwise, the odds haven't changed much. Dangerous Midge is 8-1; Debussy is 6-1. Winchester and Al Khali have risen slightly, they are now 7-2 and 4-1, respectively.
4:55;
Three minutes to post now! Behkabad is now the 6-5 favorite. Interestingly, Champ Pegasus, despite having won two consecutive graded stakes races, is one of the longest shot in the field at 9-1.
It's post time now! I'll post the results momentarily.
-Keelerman
DAKOTA PHONE WINS THE BREEDERS' CUP DIRT MILE!
Dakota Phone pulled off a shocking 37-1 upset in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile, rallying furiously to nab Morning Line in the final strides.
Morning Line and Vineyard Haven set a blazing early pace, with the early fractions being :22 2/5, :44 4/5, and 1:09 2/5. Morning Line had a clear advantage in the homestretch and looked home free despite the pace he had set, but was just nosed out in the last jump by the winner.
Gayego turned in a mild rally to finish third, beaten about a length and a quarter. Cool Coal Man completed the superfecta, which paid out $36,883.80 on a $1 bet.
The final time was 1:35 1/5.
-Keelerman
Morning Line and Vineyard Haven set a blazing early pace, with the early fractions being :22 2/5, :44 4/5, and 1:09 2/5. Morning Line had a clear advantage in the homestretch and looked home free despite the pace he had set, but was just nosed out in the last jump by the winner.
Gayego turned in a mild rally to finish third, beaten about a length and a quarter. Cool Coal Man completed the superfecta, which paid out $36,883.80 on a $1 bet.
The final time was 1:35 1/5.
-Keelerman
BREEDERS' CUP UPDATE SATURDAY #6
4:00;
Goldikova provided one of the most astonishing performances in the history of the Breeders' Cup Mile when she rallied strongly on the outside to win her third consectutive Breeders' Cup Mile in easy fashion.
Words cannot describe her performance, so I won't even try. It was simply one of the most amazing races I have ever watched. Thank you Goldikova!
The next race is the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. At the moment, Here Comes Ben is the mild 2-1 favorite. Tizway is 3-1. Vineyard Haven is the third choice at 8-1, and several others horses are 9-1. Surprisingly, the third longest shot on the board at 27-1 is Mad Flatter, despite the fact that he just turned in a career best performance at this distance last time out!
4:10;
Nine minutes to post now for the Dirt Mile. The morning line favorite, Morning Line, is currently 9-1. The post parade has begun!
Mine That Bird is currently 12-1.
4:15;
Morning Line just started to run off with his jockey. Fortunately, the jockey and an outrider were able to get him under control. I didn't see what upset Morning Line, but this certainly doesn't help his chances.
Three minutes to post now! Here Comes Ben has risen just a tad to 5-2. I'll be back with the results shortly!
Goldikova provided one of the most astonishing performances in the history of the Breeders' Cup Mile when she rallied strongly on the outside to win her third consectutive Breeders' Cup Mile in easy fashion.
Words cannot describe her performance, so I won't even try. It was simply one of the most amazing races I have ever watched. Thank you Goldikova!
The next race is the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile. At the moment, Here Comes Ben is the mild 2-1 favorite. Tizway is 3-1. Vineyard Haven is the third choice at 8-1, and several others horses are 9-1. Surprisingly, the third longest shot on the board at 27-1 is Mad Flatter, despite the fact that he just turned in a career best performance at this distance last time out!
4:10;
Nine minutes to post now for the Dirt Mile. The morning line favorite, Morning Line, is currently 9-1. The post parade has begun!
Mine That Bird is currently 12-1.
4:15;
Morning Line just started to run off with his jockey. Fortunately, the jockey and an outrider were able to get him under control. I didn't see what upset Morning Line, but this certainly doesn't help his chances.
Three minutes to post now! Here Comes Ben has risen just a tad to 5-2. I'll be back with the results shortly!
GOLDIKOVA WINS THE BREEDERS' CUP MILE!
Goldikova pulled off one of the most spectacular feats in the history of the Breeders' Cup when she rallied fast and furious in the middle of the track to snatch her third consecutive victory in the $2,000,000 Breeders' Cup Mile.
Despite being floated wide on the first turn, Goldikova made a move to reach contention as the field turned for home and blew past Sidney's Candy under very little urging to become the first horse to win three Breeders' Cup races.
Ridden by Olivier Peslier, Goldikova brought her racing record to 21-15-3-2.
It was a truly remarkable performance, one that will never be forgotten.
Gio Ponti rallied strongly for second, followed by The Usual Q. T. and Paco Boy.
The final time was 1:35 flat.
-Keelerman
Despite being floated wide on the first turn, Goldikova made a move to reach contention as the field turned for home and blew past Sidney's Candy under very little urging to become the first horse to win three Breeders' Cup races.
Ridden by Olivier Peslier, Goldikova brought her racing record to 21-15-3-2.
It was a truly remarkable performance, one that will never be forgotten.
Gio Ponti rallied strongly for second, followed by The Usual Q. T. and Paco Boy.
The final time was 1:35 flat.
-Keelerman
BREEDERS' CUP UPDATE SATURDAY #5
3:03;
Uncle Mo looked like a superhorse in the making today when he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by at least five lengths. He has locked up the 2yo championship and will be the winter book favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby.
Boys at Tosconova finished best of the rest in second.
My pick, Jaycito, failed to menace at all and finished up the track.
Next up is the Breeders' Cup Mile, where Goldikova will attempt to win the race for the third consecutive year, a feat which has never been accomplished in the history of the Breeders' Cup. She has opened as the 8-5 favorite.
3:17;
I'm surprised that Goldikova is 8-5 here; I was positive that she would be at least 6-5 if not even money or less. I suppose that the poor post position draw is having an influence on the odds.
Proviso is being well bet; she is now 7-1.
Also, it appears as though the outside/speed bias has continued, for Uncle Mo used that strategy to win the Juvenile.
3:24;
I just got to thinking about Proviso. The horse she beat two starts back in the Diana Handicap, Shared Account, won the Filly & Mare Turf yesterday. A good sign?
The pick four pool is over $1,800,000 now.
3:29;
Nine minutes to post now, and Goldikova has dropped to 3-2. Gio Ponti is still 7-2. Sidney's Candy is the surprising 5-1 third choice.
The post parade is going on right now. This will be a historic moment if Goldikova can pull off this incredible feat.
The pick four pool is now over $2,200,000.
3:35;
Three minutes to post now! The horses are getting closer to the starting gate.
The more I think about it, the more I think that Court Vision has a serious chance at winning. The turf course is just perfect for him and he seems primed for his best effort.
Uncle Mo looked like a superhorse in the making today when he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by at least five lengths. He has locked up the 2yo championship and will be the winter book favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby.
Boys at Tosconova finished best of the rest in second.
My pick, Jaycito, failed to menace at all and finished up the track.
Next up is the Breeders' Cup Mile, where Goldikova will attempt to win the race for the third consecutive year, a feat which has never been accomplished in the history of the Breeders' Cup. She has opened as the 8-5 favorite.
3:17;
I'm surprised that Goldikova is 8-5 here; I was positive that she would be at least 6-5 if not even money or less. I suppose that the poor post position draw is having an influence on the odds.
Proviso is being well bet; she is now 7-1.
Also, it appears as though the outside/speed bias has continued, for Uncle Mo used that strategy to win the Juvenile.
3:24;
I just got to thinking about Proviso. The horse she beat two starts back in the Diana Handicap, Shared Account, won the Filly & Mare Turf yesterday. A good sign?
The pick four pool is over $1,800,000 now.
3:29;
Nine minutes to post now, and Goldikova has dropped to 3-2. Gio Ponti is still 7-2. Sidney's Candy is the surprising 5-1 third choice.
The post parade is going on right now. This will be a historic moment if Goldikova can pull off this incredible feat.
The pick four pool is now over $2,200,000.
3:35;
Three minutes to post now! The horses are getting closer to the starting gate.
The more I think about it, the more I think that Court Vision has a serious chance at winning. The turf course is just perfect for him and he seems primed for his best effort.
UNCLE MO WINS THE BREEDERS' CUP JUVENILE!
Uncle Mo showed just how good he is by drawing off impressively through the stretch to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by daylight.
Ridden by John Velazquez, Uncle Mo sat just off the early pace set by Riveting Reason and simply blew past him on the far turn, winning by at least five lengths over Boys at Tosconova, stopping the clock in 1:42 3/5.
Boys at Tosconova sat about mid-pack early and made a strong move to reach contention, but he was unable to challenge the winner. Still, he finished about six lengths in front of the third place finisher Rogue Romance. Biondetti finished fourth.
Jaycito got off to a slow beginning and never reached contention, going very wide and failing to put in a rally.
-Keelerman
Ridden by John Velazquez, Uncle Mo sat just off the early pace set by Riveting Reason and simply blew past him on the far turn, winning by at least five lengths over Boys at Tosconova, stopping the clock in 1:42 3/5.
Boys at Tosconova sat about mid-pack early and made a strong move to reach contention, but he was unable to challenge the winner. Still, he finished about six lengths in front of the third place finisher Rogue Romance. Biondetti finished fourth.
Jaycito got off to a slow beginning and never reached contention, going very wide and failing to put in a rally.
-Keelerman
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)