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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
Breeders' Cup Recaps
Girl Power rules in Classic!
Owners Jerry and Ann Moss and trainer John Shirreffs have received flak all year long for keeping their star runner ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) competing against the girls. On Saturday, all naysayers and critics were silenced in emphatic fashion as the massive dark bay mare ran down the boys in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita. more... |
Conduit takes down another Turf trophy
Ballymacoll Stud's homebred CONDUIT (Ire) (Dalakhani) thwarted Presious Passion's (Royal Anthem) gallant attempt to wire Saturday's $2,727,000 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1), reeling in the longtime leader in deep stretch to defend his title successfully. On the heels of Presious Passion's ferocious fractions, Conduit blazed 1 1/2 miles on firm turf in 2:23 3/5, just off the stakes record of 2:23 2/5 he posted last year. The Sir Michael Stoute-trained Conduit thereby joins High Chaparral (Ire) as the only two-time winners of the Breeders' Cup Turf. more... |
Goldikova emulates Miesque in Mile
Trainer Freddie Head has often remarked that his star pupil GOLDIKOVA (Ire) (Anabaa) could be better than Hall of Famer Miesque, whom he rode to back-to-back Breeders' Cup Mile (G1) victories in 1987-88. In Saturday's $1,818,000 Mile at Santa Anita, defending champion Goldikova gave even more substance to that claim by blasting to her second straight title. more... |
Dancing in Silks upsets Sprint in tight photo
California-breds made it a sweep of Saturday's shortest Breeders' Cup races when Ken Kinakin's DANCING IN SILKS (Black Minnaloushe) prevailed in a four-way photo to notch the $1,818,000 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) under Joel Rosario. Despite winning a fast renewal of the California Cup Sprint in his latest start, the four-gelding was let go at 25-1 and led a trio of longshots under the wire. more... |
Well-timed 'Pounce' snares Juvenile Turf
Lady Serena Rothschild's POUNCED (Rahy) split rivals in the stretch and ran down longtime leader Bridgetown (Speightstown) to garner Saturday's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) at Santa Anita. The English shipper was handing the trainer/jockey tandem of John Gosden and Frankie Dettori their second straight victory in the event, following the success of Donativum (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux) one year ago. more... |
California Flag flies high in Turf Sprint
Dueled into submission in the 2008 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Hi Card Ranch's homebred CALIFORNIA FLAG (Avenue of Flags) found a far different scenario in Saturday's renewal of the about 6 1/2-furlong turf dash at Santa Anita. Breaking on top and finding no pressure from any quarter from 13 rivals, the gray sped through splits of :21 2/5 and :43 and strolled home to complete the distance in 1:11 1/5 under Joe Talamo. California Flag paid $8.80, $5.60 and $3.80 as the 3-1 favorite. more... |
Breeders' Cup News & Notes
D' Funnybone blows out quarter-mile in :24 2/5
At Santa Anita on Saturday, Futurity S. (G2) and Saratoga Special S. (G2) romper D' FUNNYBONE (D'wildcat) blew out two Pro-Ride furlongs in :24 2/5 just hours before his tilt at the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), according to the Blood-Horse. more... |
Breeders' Cup Recaps
Life is Sweet for Shirreffs in Ladies' Classic
Pam and Martin Wygod's LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) has faced a dynamo named Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in three of her last four starts, with that fourth run coming against the boys. On Friday, the bay lass finally found a race that didn't contain her nemesis, who also happens to be her stablemate, and ran away with the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) to give trainer John Shirreffs his second straight win in the race. more... |
Midday shines brightly in Filly & Mare Turf
Legendary British horseman Henry Cecil has trained the winners of 35 classics over the course of his illustrious career, but not until Group 1 star MIDDAY (GB) (Oasis Dream [GB]) powered to victory in Friday's $1,818,000 Filly & Mare Turf (G1) did he hoist his first Breeders' Cup trophy. more... |
She Be Wild rides rail for Juvenile Fillies score
Jockey Julien Leparoux kept SHE BE WILD (Offlee Wild) ran along the rail in the lane of Friday's $1,818,000 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), and the move paid off as the dark bay lass scooted through a hole in late stretch to give trainer Wayne Catalano yet another Juvenile Fillies victory. more... |
Decision decisive in Filly & Mare Sprint
Augustin Stable's INFORMED DECISION (Monarchos) proved to be better than Ventura (Chester House) in the Madison S. (G1) at Keeneland in April and demonstrated her superiority over that rival once more Friday with a score in the $909,000 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita. more... |
Man of Iron edges Cloudy's Knight in Marathon
The 2009 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita got off to a thrilling start on Friday as MAN OF IRON (Giant's Causeway) rallied determinedly to catch Cloudy's Knight (Lord Avie) in deep stretch and outfinished his nine-year-old rival by a nose in the $500,000 Marathon. The European horses were expected to dominate the 1 3/4-mile event over the Pro-Ride, but Man of Iron was the most unheralded member of the four-horse contingent. The regally-bred colt garnered his first stakes victory. more... |
Breeders' Cup News & Notes
Breeders' Cup TSI -- November 6
"This mare's been running hard, and she actually ran against the boys a couple of times. (Trainer) John (Shirreffs) did a tremendous job getting the filly's confidence back up underneath her and having her ready for today. And that's all it was. Really kind of getting her confidence back, and like I said, he did a tremendous job doing that."
—jockey Garrett Gomez on Ladies' Classic (G1) heroine LIFE IS SWEET (Storm Cat) more... |
Attendance and handle up on Breeders' Cup Friday
Attendance for Breeders' Cup Championship Friday at Santa Anita Park increased by 20 percent over Championship Friday last year as 37, 651 were on hand today for the nine-race card that included six Breeders' Cup World Championships races. Attendance on Championship Friday in 2008 was 31,257. more... |
Dean's Kitten chosen over Kera's Kitten for Juvenile Turf
After discussing options, owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey and trainer Mike Maker informed the Breeders' Cup racing office Friday morning that they would withdraw KERA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) from Saturday's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, thus allowing their DEAN'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) to draw in off the also-eligible list. more... |
Breeders' Cup International Odds
To get a sense of how three top European bookmakers view the Breeders' Cup, here are their prices for the major contenders as of Saturday at 12:30 p.m. (EST). more... |
Allegre scratched from Turf
Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) prospect ALLEGRE (Orientate) was scratched late Thursday afternoon after developing an abscess in his right front foot. more... |
Rip Van Winkle visits track, satisfies O'Brien
Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) contender RIP VAN WINKLE (Ire) (Galileo [Ire]) has been the subject of rumors surrounding his problematic feet in recent days, but trainer Aidan O’Brien said that some questions he had about the three-year-old's condition vanished after Rip Van Winkle went to the track Wednesday morning. He said the multiple Group 1 winner showed him he is ready for the Classic. more... |
Borel looking forward to Breeders' Cup
Kentucky Derby (G1) MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) landed in the No. 1 post position for Saturday's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Santa Anita when the 14-race Breeders' Cup card was drawn Tuesday. more... |
On the Breeders' Cup Worktab
European champion and Group 1 heroine RAINBOW VIEW (Dynaformer), runner-up in the E.P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) last out in her North American bow, posted three panels in :36 4/5 over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride on Wednesday in advance of Friday's Ladies' Classic (G1). more... |
Features
Internationals in the Breeders' Cup
Since it's become customary for me to post a special Breeders' Cup feature outlining my thoughts on the international brigade, I feel obliged to do so once again this year. My colleague, Tim Holland, has already posted very helpful descriptions of each international contender in his Breeders' Cup Preview, so I'll just chime in with complementary information that won't duplicate his efforts. Be sure to read us both to get the widest range of information! more... |
Handicapping Insights
The Breeders' Cup will be run for the 25th time this weekend at Santa Anita and it will be great to have the attention back on handicapping the horses and not on the host site. more... |
Holland's Breeders' Cup Spot Plays
While it may be argued that this year's edition is tougher than the 2009 running that VENTURA (Chester House) won by an easy four lengths, it could also be said that the Bobby Frankel-trained filly is even better 12 months later. more... |
Thoroughbred Beat
Here are six longshots in the Breeders' Cup that I will be looking to incorporate into my betting action this weekend: more... |
Classic Diary
In this final diary, I'll give my analysis and selections for the Classic (G1) and Dirt Mile (G1) on Saturday, and the Marathon on Friday. more... |
Turf Diary
For only the third time in Breeders' Cup history, the reigning champions in both the Turf (G1) and Mile (G1) are back to defend their crowns in the same year. more... |
Ladies' Classic Diary
With Zenyatta's (Street Cry [Ire]) connections opting to send their champion for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), the Ladies' Classic one day prior could prove to be a contentious affair. more... |
Sprint Diary
To regular readers of this column hoping to meet or exceed last year's Return on Investment (ROI) by backing my top selections in the three Breeders' Cup sprint races: it isn't going to happen. more... |
Filly & Mare Turf Diary
As noted in the companion Turf Diary, it's no mean feat to defend a Breeders' Cup title. So far, in the brief 10-year history of the Filly & Mare Turf (G1), only one distaffer has managed to win it twice -- the exceptional Ouija Board (GB) (2004, 2006) -- and even she couldn't prevail in successive years. more... |
Juvenile Diary
I'm not straying too far off the reservation in either Breeders' Cup race for juvenile colts and geldings. more... |
Juvenile Fillies Diary
The Juvenile Fillies (G1) is the only Breeders' Cup race without any European-based contenders, and the 12-horse field looks extremely contentious. more... |
Breeders' Cup News & Notes
Mine That Bird works 'super'
Over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride on Monday, Kentucky Derby (G1) hero MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) drilled five-eighths in 1:01 2/5 in advance of Saturday's Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Joe Talamo was aboard for the move, and trainer Chip Woolley was delighted with the result. more... |
Europeans settle in at Santa Anita
Defending Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) champion CONDUIT (Ire) (Dalakhani), along with several of Juddmonte Farms' Breeders' Cup hopes, cleared the 42-hour quarantine at Santa Anita Monday morning and went to the track. more... |
Breeders' Cup telecast schedule announced
The 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships on Friday and Saturday from Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, will receive nine hours of live coverage, including 2.5 hours on ABC. The 26th running of the Breeders' Cup will feature 14 races over two days on ABC, ESPN and ESPN2. more... |
Breeders' Cup partners with USO to host troops
In recognition and unqualified support of U.S. service members, the Breeders' Cup, in partnership with the USO, will host more than 350 American troops and their families for a day of championship Thoroughbred racing on Saturday at Santa Anita, as part of the 2009 Breeders' Cup World Championships. more... |
Denman expresses confidence in Zenyatta
Trevor Denman has called six of ZENYATTA's (Street Cry [Ire]) victories, and the sharp-eyed Oak Tree race caller sees no reason why the brilliant mare can't defeat males should she run in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on Saturday. more... |
Pure Clan, Capt. Candyman Can post final works
Lewis Lakin's multiple Grade 1 winner PURE CLAN (Pure Prize) put in her final major move for her start in Friday's $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1) at Santa Anita by working three furlongs in :37 3/5 over the fast dirt at Churchill Downs early Sunday morning. more... |
Zenyatta's date with destiny draws closer
Undefeated champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]) took a step closer to a much-anticipated date with the boys in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Oak Tree on November 7 when she breezed six furlongs in 1:12 2/5 over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Saturday. Regular rider Mike Smith was aboard for the move. more... |
On the Breeders' Cup worktab
Grade 1 queen COCOA BEACH (Chi) (Doneraile Court) covered five furlongs in :59 2/5 for trainer Saeed bin Suroor in advance of Friday's Ladies' Classic (G1). The dark bay five-year-old, who was last seen running third to champion Zenyatta (Street Cry [Ire]) in the Lady's Secret S. (G1), was clocked in splits of :12 2/5; :25, :37 1/5 and :48 2/5 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13. more... |
On the Breeders' Cup worktab
2008 Filly & Mare Sprint heroine VENTURA (Chester House) posted her final serious work in advance of her title defense when breezing five furlongs in :59 4/5 over Hollywood Park's Cushion Track on Friday. Trained by Bobby Frankel, the five-year-old mare exits a tremendous one-length score in the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1), and she'll enter the Breeders' Cup fresh with only four starts this season. The likely Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) favorite posted the third-fastest of 26 works at the distance. more... |
Breeders' Cup, Churchill unveil 2010 logo
The Breeders' Cup and Churchill Downs on Thursday unveiled the official event logo for the 27th running of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, which will take place at Churchill in Louisville, Kentucky, November 5-6, 2010. more... |
On the Breeders' Cup worktab
Over Churchill Downs' turf on Thursday, Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) hero TELLING (A.P. Indy) traveled five furlongs in 1:08 1/5 around the "dogs" in advance of the November 7 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1). Jesus Castanon was aboard for trainer Steve Hobby. more... |
Mastercraftsman expresses first preference for Dirt Mile
Trainer Aidan O'Brien revealed on Monday that MASTERCRAFTSMAN (Danehill Dancer) has the November 7 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) as his first preference, possibly leaving his stablemate RIP VAN WINKLE (Galileo [Ire]) to shoulder the yard's hopes alone in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). more... |
O'Brien, Crisford discuss Breeders' Cup hopefuls
On Wednesday, trainer Aidan O'Brien and Simon Crisford, Racing Manager for the Maktoum family's Godolphin operation, revealed their plans for the Breeders' Cup at a press event held at Epsom Downs racecourse in England. more... |
Mine That Bird rips bullet five-eighths
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner MINE THAT BIRD (Birdstone) blitzed five furlongs in a bullet :58 1/5 at Santa Anita on Monday as he continues his preparations for the November 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). The Chip Woolley trainee tied for the fastest of 32 works at the distance on the Pro-Ride. more... |
Indian Blessing to bypass Breeders' Cup
Dual champion INDIAN BLESSING (Indian Charlie) will sidestep the November 6 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) after a series of unsatisfactory works over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride, trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form. more... |
Einstein preps for Classic over Churchill dirt
EINSTEIN (Brz) (Spend a Buck), one of the top American hopes for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 7, zipped five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Sunday in the veteran's final pre-race training move over his home track. more... |
Summer Bird to work between races
Belmont S. (G1), Travers S. (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) winner SUMMER BIRD (Birdstone), the leading candidate for an Eclipse Award as champion three-year-old male, will reunite with regular rider Kent Desormeaux Sunday for a workout between Oak Tree's third and fourth races in preparation for the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) on November 7. more... |
Macho Again out of Classic
Stephen Foster H. (G1) hero MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) has been ruled out of the November 7 Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) because of a cough, West Point Thoroughbreds announced. more... |
Sweet Hearth headed for Filly & Mare Sprint
Having saddled Lashkari (GB) to a 53-1 upset in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Hollywood Park 25 years ago, French champion trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre is hopeful that SWEET HEARTH (Touch Gold) can give him a second victory at the Breeders' Cup. more... |
Racing Headlines
Larry Jones calls it a career
It was business as usual Saturday morning at Barn 43 at Churchill Downs with trainer Larry Jones in the saddle and galloping his horses during training hours. more... |
Shocked takes down Melbourne Cup
Trainer Mark Kavanagh did not have his best horse entered in Tuesday's A$5,650,000 Melbourne Cup (Aus-G1), but he had the right one. Resigned to not having either his 2008 Cox Plate (Aus-G1) winner Maldivian nor his multiple Group 1-winning pupil Whobegotyou (Street Cry [Ire]) in Australia's famous two-mile handicap at Flemington, the 54-year-old Adelaide, Australia, native ultimately found luck in the form of SHOCKED (Street Cry [Ire]), who gutted out the victory by three parts of a length after a three-wide journey throughout. more... |
Sassy Image, Thiskyhasnolimit will try and sweep Churchill stakes
SASSY IMAGE (Broken Vow) and Cathy and THISKYHASNOLIMIT (Sky Mesa), winners of the Pocahontas S. (G3) and Iroquois S. (G3), respectively, at Churchill Downs, figure to make return trips in stakes company on the Louisville, Kentucky, track's closing-day Stars of Tomorrow II card on November 28. more... |
Fair Grounds kicks off 138th season
The historic New Orleans Fair Grounds will open the gates for its 138th season of live racing on Friday, its earliest start date ever. Opening day falls one week earlier than last year and well ahead of the old Thanksgiving Day opener of years past. The 85-day meet runs through March 28. more... |
Jockey Brimo in critical condition
Jockey Julia Brimo, who suffered injuries when her mount, Golden Stride (Smart Strike), clipped heels and fell during Friday's 1ST race at Keeneland, has been listed in "critical" condition by the University of Kentucky Medical Center. more... |
NYRA hands Mullins six-month penalty
The New York Racing Association (NYRA) announced Friday that it imposed a six month penalty on trainer Jeffrey Mullins for violating NYRA's monitoring barn rules and regulations. more... |
Rachel Alexandra meeting up for auction
A personal visit with RACHEL ALEXANDRA (Medaglia d'Oro) goes on the auction block Thursday -- the grand final item in Kendall-Jackson's "Rachel Alexandra Running Auction," benefiting The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The auction will end after seven days at noon on November 4. more... |
Breeders' Cup or Bust to begin at Keeneland
On Wednesday, Keeneland will be the kick off venue for Breeders' Cup or Bust, a fundraising project created by Ray Paulick and Brad Cummings of The Paulick Report in which the two will travel to and wager at racetracks across the country in an effort to raise money and awareness for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund and the V Foundation for Cancer Research. Breeders' Cup is a partner, as is TVG. more... |
Black Mamba goes out in style in the Dowager
In what might turn out to be her final racetrack appearance, Double Down Stables' BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe) exited the stage the right way with a victory in Sunday's $125,000 Dowager S. at Keeneland. more... |
Banrock gets his Mohawk in Belmont meet finale
Nyala Farm's homebred BANROCK (Go for Gin) finally filled in the one gap on his impressive New York-bred resume in Sunday's $150,000 Mohawk S., the last race of Belmont's Fall Championship Meet. The Tom Bush veteran found his third try in the Mohawk to be the proverbial charm, driving to a one-length decision in a final time of 1:52 3/5 for 1 1/8 miles on the soft inner turf. more... |
Dominguez, Pletcher take home Belmont titles
Jockey Ramon Dominguez continued to dominate the competition in New York with his fifth straight riding title, and trainer Todd Pletcher won his 20th individual training title as Belmont Park's 33-day Fall Championship Meet concluded Sunday. more... |
Pair of Kittens punch Breeders' Cup tickets
Ken and Sarah Ramsey's homebred juveniles KERA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) and LISA'S KITTEN (Kitten's Joy) shipped in from Kentucky and captured the two turf stakes at Retama Park Saturday night, booking their passage to the November 6-7 Breeders' Cup at Oak Tree. Jockey Julien Leparoux made the trek to San Antonio to guide both Mike Maker trainees, who were each sent off as the 6-5 favorite in their respective events. more... |
Haynesfield and Dominguez star in New York Showcase
Turtle Bird Stable's HAYNESFIELD (Speightstown) returned to the winner's circle with a three part of a length victory in Saturday's $250,000 Empire Classic, utilizing a quick turn of foot off the far turn to open a clear lead in midstretch and holding sway to the wire under Ramon Dominguez. more... |
Icon Project retired
Andrew Rosen's ICON PROJECT (Empire Maker), last seen crushing the August 30 Personal Ensign S. (G1) at Saratoga by 13 1/2 lengths, has been retired after sustaining a tendon injury. more... |
Churchill, Kentucky horsemen agree on three-year contract
Churchill Downs Inc., the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association (HBPA) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (KTA) have reached agreement on a three-year contract that establishes levels of race purses at the home of the Kentucky Derby (G1). In addition, the Kentucky HBPA and CDI have agreed to dismiss their claims against one another in a lawsuit filed in United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky in 2008. The agreement follows the expiration of the previous contract following the historic track's 2009 Spring Meet. more... |
Black Mamba set for curtain call in Dowager
Grade 1 veteran BLACK MAMBA (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe), third in the October 10 Yellow Ribbon S. (G1) in what was expected to be her final start for Doubledown Stables, will go to bat for her connections one more time in Sunday's $125,000 Dowager S. at Keeneland. Following her swan song as the 125-pound highweight, the six-year-old will be sold at the November 10 Selected Fall Mixed Sale at Fasig-Tipton near Lexington, Kentucky. more... |
Graded Recaps
Malibu's prayers are answered in Chilukki
Edward P. Evans' homebred MALIBU PRAYER (Malibu Moon) was the bridesmaid in the Mother Goose S. (G1), Delaware Oaks (G2) and Monmouth Oaks (G3) this season, but finally earned her first significant victory Saturday with a one-length triumph in the $167,550 Chilukki S. (G2) at Churchill Downs. more... |
Ailalea becomes a Tempted winner
The juvenile fillies got their turn in the spotlight at Aqueduct on Saturday in the $106,500 Tempted S. (G3). Starlight Partners' AILALEA (Pulpit) held off the late charge of Mambo Fever (Stormin Fever) to win by 1 1/4 lengths under Eibar Coa. more... |
Expansion takes Red Smith
Gary and Mary West Stables' EXPANSION (Maria's Mon) took advantage of a tightly bunched field in Saturday's $150,000 Red Smith H. (G2) at Aqueduct to post a 1 1/4-length victory under jockey Channing Hill. more... |
Buddy's Saint runs away with Nashua
By the time he reached the half-mile mark in Saturday's $150,000 Nashua S. (G2), Kingfield Stables' BUDDY'S SAINT (Saint Liam) had taken command and merely extended his margin of victory from there. more... |
Bad Action flies home in Pegasus
Sanford H. Robbins, Winning Move Stable and P & D Kaplan Racing's BAD ACTION (Brahms) was sent off the 11-1 second longest shot in Friday evening's $150,000 Pegasus S. (G3) at Meadowlands, but the Gary Gontessa charge ran like a winner. more... |
Tuscan Evening scores in Las Palmas
William Deburgh's TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]) snapped a two-race losing streak when taking the $200,000 Las Palmas H. (G2), the nightcap on the Breeders' Cup Friday program at Santa Anita. more... |
Demarcation upsets Ack Ack
Longshots dominated Friday's $111,000 Ack Ack H. (G3) at Churchill Downs, with Amerman Racing Stables' DEMARCATION (Gulch) pulling off the 10-1 upset by 1 1/2 lengths with 21-1 and 13-1 chances occupying the next two slots. more... |
Features
Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 5
After reading everything I can get my hands on, watching every show on the Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) and talking to some of the participants Monday evening at a dinner, it's time to make up my mind and decide who I am going to back in the 149th running of the race that stops a nation. more... |
Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 4
"Cup Day, and Cup Day only, commands an attention, an interest, and an enthusiasm which are universal -- and spontaneous, not perfunctory. Cup Day is supreme, it has no rival. I can call to mind no specialized annual day, in any country, which can be named by that large name -- Supreme. I can call to mind no specialized annual day, in any country, whose approach fires the whole land with a conflagration of conversation and preparation and anticipation and jubilation. No day save this one; but this one does it." more... |
Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 3
Stalls were drawn on Saturday night for Tuesday's $5.4 million Melbourne Cup and the field of 24 was rocked by the defection of EFFICIENT because of injury. ZIPPING, who had to be scratched from the Mackinnon S. on Saturday when he was stuck under the starting gate is also out of the Cup, and KIRKLEES (Jade Robbery) was scratched after trainer Saeed bin Suroor watched him after arriving here and did not like what he saw. more... |
Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 2
t's been an interesting day. Left LAX around 9:30 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday and made it to Sydney on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. local time. From there, made my connecting flight to Melbourne which arrived at 10 a.m.. Don't know what happened to Friday. more... |
Melbourne Cup Blog - Entry 1
It's been an interesting trip so far and we aren't even halfway there. Going to the Melbourne Cup requires a lot of stamina. It basically takes a day and a half to get there but after doing it last year this year should be a piece of cake. more... |
Juvenile Fillies Diary
With the Breeders' Cup fast approaching, we'll take a look at the final premiere preps for the Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Juvenile Fillies Turf. more... |
Juvenile Diary
In this edition, we'll touch on the final preps for the two Breeders' Cup juvenile races for males and our initial observations on the participants exiting those races that are headed to California. more... |
Classic Diary
Call it the heart of a line-up. In baseball, the New York Yankees come at you with Mark Teixeira, Alex Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui in the 3-4-5 spot, and the Philadelphia Phillies can counter with their own "Murderers' Row" of Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Jayson Werth. more... |
Sprint Diary
To paraphrase Samuel Clemens, who knew a little something about horse racing, the reports of ZENSATIONAL's (Unbridled's Song) invincibility have been greatly exaggerated. more... |
Filly & Mare Turf Diary
In this edition, we'll survey five significant preps for the Breeders' Cup. After recapping the three that have taken place recently, we'll cast a glance at the two coming up on Saturday -- the E. P. Taylor S. (Can-G1) at Woodbine and the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) at Keeneland. more... |
Ladies' Classic Diary
This year's Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) is shaping up to be a repeat of 2008, with most of the same cast and crew re-opposing reigning champion ZENYATTA (Street Cry [Ire]). One really interesting contender has been retired, and another major player is now only 50-50 for the 1 1/8-mile event. more... |
Turf Diary
In this issue, we'll analyze the recent Breeders' Cup preps, first for the Turf (G1) and then for the Mile (G1), and take a look at Saturday's Canadian International (Can-G1). more... |
Commentary
I've never had the privilege of meeting or speaking to legendary Irish horseman John Oxx and I suspect I never will. If given the opportunity, however, I would personally thank him for his role in reassuring me not once but twice over the past decade that an affliction that's lasted with me for nearly a quarter-century is best left uncured. more... |
International Diary
Trainer Aidan O'Brien may be feeling like an Austrian general after the Battle of Austerlitz. No matter the dispositions of his troops, or the intricate designs of his tactics as he envisions them on the map, his forces are still getting smashed to pieces by Napoleon, or in this case, SEA THE STARS (Cape Cross [Ire]). more... |
Commentary
When asked to reel off the top trainer or trainers in the United States, the common answers include the likes of Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, John Sadler, Steve Asmussen, Richard Mandella et al, and deservedly so, but one name that tends to get overlooked is the genius known as Jonathan Sheppard. more... |
Notebooks
Churchill Downs Notebook
The 21-day Churchill Downs meet that began immediately after Keeneland's fall stay ended on October 31 promises large and quality fields and a great horseman community. more... |
Keeneland Notebook
The brief Keeneland 2009 Fall meet leading up to Breeders' Cup weekend came to a close on October 31. A total of 162 races through the month, on Polytrack and the turf, presented no great bias on either surface but revealed some terrific trends that deserve attention as Kentucky racing moves to Churchill Downs for a 21-day stand. more... |
Aqueduct Notebook
Aqueduct's meet began just as the fall Belmont session did, with heavy rain, a sloppy, sealed surface and races off the turf. The first grass race didn't take place until Friday's feature, but by the weekend things had cleared up considerably to allow all scheduled turf races to take place. more... |
Belmont Notebook
The Fall Championship meet came to a close with the way it started, with rainy weather affecting the stakes schedule. Both the Athenia (G3) and the Knickerbocker(G3), originally scheduled for the previous weekend, were smartly moved by management to the final week. more... |
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