Superfectablog v3.0 » Einstein

Post-Preakness ‘Potential’ Post

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:55:09 +0000

Another year, another No Triple Crown. But that is not to say that this year’s Triple Crown season has not been far more interesting than one might have predicted just a few weeks ago – indeed, the possibilities for some of this year’s crop of three-year-olds going forward is actually quite intriguing (which is more than can be said for what is left of the older horse cohort). Whether it is the result of luck or simply a slower-maturing group than we are used to seeing, we’re finally starting to see some potential stars emerge.

First, Animal Kingdom – if it had not been for some bad luck and traffic trouble slowing him down near the top of the stretch, he might have won the Preakness; his gutsy second-place effort demonstrated that he is not just a one-hit wonder. Given that this was only his second start on conventional dirt (and bearing in mind that even some dirt horses don’t love Pimlico’s track – recall that Calvin Borel felt that Rachel Alexandra did not handle the surface well in her Preakness victory), it was a tremendous effort. He is by far the most interestingly-bred top-class horse running in the US at this point, and while he is still lightly-raced, there are so many potential avenues for him, given his affinity for a variety of surfaces (and, perhaps, distances). He could easily switch to turf or synthetics and back again; I would love to see him get a grass win (or two) in before coming back for the Breeders’ Cup Classic in the fall. As for dirt races, the Belmont looks absolutely ideal for him, and a rubber match would be great for publicity and crowds on Belmont day. It is easy to imagine him pointing for the Dubai World Cup next year; I’d love to see that as a target with more turf racing following on – perhaps even a race in Europe. Ultimately, he has great potential to win Breeders’ Cup races on difference surfaces – that would be very interesting indeed. Becoming a surface triple threat like Einstein would cement him as my serious horse crush.

Of course, we should not overlook Preakness winner Shackleford; his performance more than made up for his pre-race appearance and behaviour. I was becoming quite concerned about having included him in my exacta and superfecta during the post parade and especially as they loaded in – I was nearly certain he was going to finish near the back of the pack after a brief initial lead. But as everyone now knows, that just how Shackleford rolls: looking a mess before the race is a good sign for him. And let’s give credit to jockey Jesus Castanon – not only was it a great ride, but it was his first time riding a Grade I winner. One expects it will become rather more routine for him now. While I don’t see Shackleford relishing the Belmont distance, he also possesses versatility potential – with his speed and style, he could excel at a mile. And while I would have preferred to see everyone heading to Belmont with a Triple Crown on the line, I can’t complain about Shackleford topping my (boxed) exacta – it was more remuneratively rewarding, if not as pleasing from a sentimentality point of view.

I am also looking forward to seeing Nehro in the Belmont; along with Animal Kingdom and Shackleford, he seems to be the best of his year (at least until Toby’s Corner returns). I cannot say I’m terribly impressed by Dialed In (beyond his closing fractions in the Derby), and clearly Midnight Interlude doesn’t have what it takes to run against these competitors, but Mucho Macho Man has a lot of room for improvement – he could be a different horse by the time Saratoga comes around.

Other disappointments on Preakness day included NBC failing to show the Dixie Stakes – especially as the race marked the winning return and, as we now know, the finale for the very talented (and multi-surface-loving) Paddy O’Prado. I’ve been pleased with the switch to Versus overall, but once things moved back to NBC, we were back to human interest stories instead of racing. I don’t mind a few of those, but two minutes could not have been carved out to show this race? Given that they were promoting their Saratoga broadcasts later this summer, it would have been a useful platform to introduce the casual audience to some competitors outside the Triple Crown crowd. It was a missed opportunity all around, not just for the hardcore racing fan. It would have been nice to see Paddy on the track, one last time.

But beyond Preakness day, there are early indications that we will have an exciting Breeders’ Cup to look forward to this fall: Goldikova kicked off her final campaign in winning style, taking the Prix d’Ispahan despite the distance being beyond her preferred mile. It was her thirteenth G1 win – and she may try to pick up number fourteen at Royal Ascot as part of her journey back to a potential fourth Breeders’ Cup. Perhaps next year her more-than-earned place will be taken by her little sister, Galikova? The possibilities are most interesting…

Terribly Lengthy Kentucky Derby Recap

admin — Mon, 09 May 2011 19:20:00 +0000

Our Kentucky Derby party was held on a horse farm, as is right and proper; the group’s main rooting interests were Animal Kingdom and Pants on Fire. Prior to the main races, we repaired to the mare-and-foal barn to have a look at this year’s crop – all fillies. We spent extra time scratching the ears of the Leroidesanimaux filly, and there was much discussion over what a win by Animal Kingdom (trained just a few miles away from the farm at Fair Hill) would mean for her. A few stalls down, one of the other mares was waiting to be confirmed in foal to Jump Start, so a good effort from Pants on Fire was also hoped for – not just for the potential value of the resulting foal, but also because jockey Rosie Napravnik has ridden other horses for the stable, and everyone wished her continued success.

My bets were already placed – most of them included Archarcharch, Pants on Fire and Nehro – and I included a number with Animal Kingdom and Master of Hounds. While I could never see Twinspired or Derby Kitten as anything other than turf or synthetic horses, I felt the other two had the potential to go beyond their preferred surface and ‘invested’ accordingly.

The first real excitement of the afternoon came when Get Stormy won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic…the dam of the aforementioned (and really quite adorable) Leroidesanimaux filly, Stormy Rosa, is also by Stormy Atlantic, so there was much rejoicing about the family doing well on such a big day. We were, of course, concerned to see the well-traveled Battle of Hastings being vanned off; he’s always seemed very game, and I hope he finds a pleasant retirement, now that he’s successfully come through surgery for his injury – although there is some small hope he could return to the track.

With the Kentucky Derby itself fast approaching, we finally got around to creating a pool; this year, horses were assigned by chance. While I was nonplussed to have pulled Brilliant Speed out of the hat, I felt more confident of my husband’s and child’s chances – they ended up with Animal Kingdom and Nehro. Finally, the horses loaded into the gate (a process that seemed much smoother and faster than it has for the past few years), and they were off. While no one was terribly impressed by the initial pace (we were early predicting a finishing time in the 2:06 neighborhood), as they hit the top of the stretch, things became very exciting indeed – and when Animal Kingdom made his move, the room erupted. As soon as he crossed the wire (in a much better time than anyone had imagined), it was clear we all had a mission: we had to go back to the barn to tell the Leroidesanimaux filly that her ‘brother’ had just won the Kentucky Derby.

Fortunately, the mares and foals seemed unfazed by the appearance of many very excited people in their midst, and (most of them) didn’t even mind the small children running and shouting around them. Of course, the ‘star’ filly was the main attraction, and she received many congratulatory hugs, scratches and pats on the nose; luckily, she has a lovely personality and didn’t mind the sudden onslaught of attention from people large and small. One imagines that once she (fingers crossed) begins to achieve things in her own right, she’ll be just as easy-going.

Naturally, there was upset over Archarcharch – it was such a shame to see such a game, talented horse injured – but it’s good to know that he’ll be able to have a comfortable retirement. Comma to the Top’s injury wasn’t as apparent (at least, to me), but I confess I was not expecting a huge race from him; at least he’ll be back racing (presumably at a shorter distance). While not as severe an issue, Pants on Fire’s bleeding issue was also a disappointment, but at least there was an explanation for his performance – he’s clearly capable of better, and hopefully he’ll soon be back in form.

I was not at all surprised to see Nehro in second – I had him there in all my exactas, and I think he’s got quite a future ahead of him. Of course, he’ll need to take care not to become this crop’s Awesome Gem (a horse I adore) with a collection of just-missing-the-win second (or fourth) place finishes, but it certainly would not hurt his bank balance. Mucho Macho Man seems to be maturing nicely, and I was impressed that Shackleford hung on as well as he did. Master of Hounds was also well worth noting – he seemed quite comfortable on dirt, and I would anticipate he would only improve with a little more distance. It’s a shame he won’t be sticking around for the Derby, but I would certainly be intrigued if he comes back in the fall for the Breeders’ Cup.

While much has been made (and rightly so) of how trainer Graham Motion’s victory demonstrates that it’s entirely possible to win the Kentucky Derby without the assistance of Big Pharma (huzzah!), Animal Kingdom’s breeding should not be overlooked. I’ve been high on his pedigree for some time; the combination of quality South American and European stamina and versatility influences is something that is simply absent from so many modern American runners. Also worth considering is what might be going on in Brazil that can produce a horse capable of succeeding on any surface – Animal Kingdom’s sire, Leroidesanimaux may have excelled on grass (he only tried an alternative once, in his racing debut), but his fellow Brazilian-bred Einstein was quite happy to win on any surface. While it’s not exactly scientific to presume from those two examples that Something Is Happening In Brazil, it’s nice to see those influences coming together to lead to wins at the highest level – though it’s a bit of a shame that Animal Kingdom’s German dam has been sent to Japan.

It all makes me wonder whether I should be heading to the Preakness in less than two short weeks…

Statueque Single Lady Seeks Accomplished Gentleman: Zenyatta’s Choice

admin — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 20:21:30 +0000

Snow is not a worry for this California girl

Joe Drape has a nice catch-up article on Zenyatta’s life on the farm, and he zeroes in on the biggest question about the nation’s favorite mare – not whether or not she’ll be Horse of the Year (though we find that out on Monday – check out Hello Race Fans for more on the Eclipse Awards), but which big-name stallion has been selected to be her first beau. The presumption has long been that it will be A.P. Indy – after all, she’s living at the farm where he is king, and he’s one of the most in-demand studs in the world. But she’s got a good few inches on him, and has a race record that blows his (entirely respectable one) out of the water; can he live up to her standards?

Of course, if A.P. Indy isn’t good enough, it’s going to be awfully difficult to find someone who is. One presumes Zenyatta won’t be going to see Blame (that would just be awkward), but it’s hard to think of another American-based stallion who might fit the bill.

I’d be interested to see her go to a European star like Galileo, Montjeu, Oasis Dream or even Yeats; given Zenyatta’s ease on synthetics, there could be the potential to produce a grass superstar – and having a famous mother could be just the sort of added interest that might get the US spotlight focused on such races. Of course, there are no guarantees in breeding; it’s highly unlikely that Zenyatta will manage to produce a foal nearly as amazing as she is – but there are always precedents like Personal Ensign and Urban Sea that suggest it’s possible.

And as for the lucky stallion I’d pick for this first foray into broodmare-land? Einstein. Just because.

Things Popular Overseas: Quality Road, Soccer

admin — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:35:23 +0000

The equine Bill Bryson?

The Met Mile takes place on Monday, and it’s generating some interest overseas; Britain’s Racing Post seems more excited about seeing Quality Road back in action than most of our domestic racing press does at this point – the race will even be shown live on At The Races. (Will their online streaming be more effective than the NTRA’s? We suspect so). They consider Quality Road the ‘top-rated horse in the world’ and give fulsome praise to his Donn Handicap victory. By some measure, he seems to have moved into that rare category – American Things More Appreciated Abroad – which is normally inhabited by writers or musicians like Suzi Quatro or Chrissie Hynde. While trainer Todd Pletcher is no doubt looking forward to seeing his grownup star in action, he had to appreciate the way the publication framed his thoughts on Quality Road’s last work:

“I thought it all went very, very well,” added the Kentucky Derby-winning trainer.

The one negative about the race is that Quality Road will have very little competition; Warrior’s Reward and Kensei are nice horses, but are nowhere in the same league. I would be intrigued to see him head to Royal Ascot to see where he fits in with Europe’s top horses; while he’s certainly very effective on dirt, he’s got that as-yet-untapped Antipodean pedigree on his dam’s side – he could be equally at home on grass (or synthetics). After all, versatility is a fine thing – just ask Einstein or Blame.

Of course, there is life beyond racing; the World Cup is almost upon us, so Team Superfecta will be much distracted by that in the coming weeks. We’ll be at the US-Turkey friendly on Saturday, and will likely go into full World Cup saturation mode following the Belmont. You have been warned!

Eclipse Awards: Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta And The Rest

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:32:00 +0000

Last night, they handed out a few awards for horse racing – you may have heard a bit about it.

2-year-old male: Lookin at Lucky
As per usual with the juvenile awards, there was no surprise here. His three G1 wins sealed the deal, and he looks to improve this year. We’ll soon find out if he likes real dirt, but trainer Bob Baffert seems quite happy with things thus far.

2-year-old filly: She Be Wild
While this category had a little more competition, She Be Wild has a good backstory – former claimer, unwanted at auction wins four out of five, including the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Both dirt and turf could be in her future – versatility FTW!

Turf Male: Gio Ponti
A well-deserved bit of recognition for a horse who showed up just about everywhere – but who truly excelled on the grass. And the night was just beginning for him…

Turf Female: Goldikova
While I respect the notion that the Eclipse Award winner should have more than one start in the US, I am quite happy to toss that guideline out when the horse in question is as overwhelmingly superior as Goldikova is. Her repeat of Miesque’s back-to-back Mile victories, under the tutelage of Miesque’s former jockey, Freddie Head, completes an undeniably satisfying circuit – and the news that she’s aiming to capture a third Breeders’ Cup victory this year should certainly be rewarded. Given the excitement over Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta, it may be difficult to recall that the opportunity to see a horse of Goldikova’s caliber is rare indeed – and it should be celebrated.

Steeplechaser: Mixed Up
How often does a 10-year-old PA-bred win an Eclipse Award? And hey, he doesn’t even take Lasix. These are Good Things.

Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
These awards tend to follow the money, and it’s certainly hard to argue with Juddmonte’s success in producing top-level horses. There were a few stray votes for Dolphus Morrison for breeding Rachel Alexandra – even if he did not want to truly unleash her talents.

Female Sprinter: Informed Decision
The overwhelming pick of her division (although one has to assume that Ventura’s positioning in both this category and the Turf Female category may have hurt her chances), Informed Decision won at nearly every track she visited, under a variety of conditions – and the best news is that she’ll be back later this spring to extend her winning streak.

Male Sprinter: Kodiak Kowboy
Although he had a respectable career as a 2 and 3-year-old, Kodiak Kowboy truly had the chance to prove himself as a 4-year-old, winning as a sprinter and miler. He goes to stud with a solid record of achievement.

3-year-old Male: Summer Bird
This was a no-brainer – but I am quite curious to know who cast the single vote for I Want Revenge. Trainer Tim Ice reiterated that we should be seeing him back on the track later this year; let’s hope his recovery continues in such an encouraging fashion.

3-year-old Female: Rachel Alexandra
The great filly took home the least-suspenseful award of the night – it was also the sole unanimous award (but more on that in a moment). Owner Jess Jackson’s acceptance speech was thoughtful, but at something approaching seven minutes, it could have used some judicious editing. But given that the award winners can’t speak for themselves, we can allow a little indulgence.

Owner: Godolphin Racing
This was one of the most competitive awards, with only five votes separating the winner from Jerry and Ann Moss. But as in the case of the Breeder category, the Eclipse voters tend to recognize revenue – but the narrow margin of victory demonstrates that there is also a desire to reward owners with a more personal touch.

Trainer: Steven Asmussen
Once again, you cannot argue with the numbers – or his great good fortune in having Rachel Alexandra drop into his lap (although her original trainer, Hal Wiggins, also received a few votes). While I may not be a fan of his record of medication violations, his staff clearly loves the horses they work with, so the award is as much an acknowledgement of their hard work.

Older Male: Gio Ponti
A double on the night for the versatile 4-year-old was clearly in the offing; as much as I love Einstein, based on this year’s wins, it had to go to Gio Ponti. He’s still flying under the radar in the eyes of the general public, and even the racing press sometimes overlooks his accomplishments, so it was entirely justified that he be doubly rewarded. The Blood-Horse points out that he is the first horse to win this award without a win on traditional dirt – so it’s particularly interesting. His future plans may involve the Dubai World Cup – that could end up a very competitive race indeed.

Older Female: Zenyatta
While this was another foregone conclusion, there was a single (protest?) vote from someone at the Daily Racing Form for Icon Project – presumably the backstory there will be revealed at some point. While I still believe she should have been crowned Horse of the Year last year, the news that she will return to the track this year means she may finally get to take home that honor; in any case, winning two consecutive Eclipse Awards and making history in the Breeders’ Cup Classic is certainly enough to consider without worrying about Horse of the Year – yet.

Apprentice Jockey: Christian Santiago Reyes
Further proof that Puerto Rico knows what it’s doing when it trains jockeys, this 19-year-old has a bright future – he would be wise to study the next winner.

Jockey: Julien Leparoux
It’s hard to imagine he won the Eclipse for Apprentice only four years ago – it seems he’s had nothing but success since arriving in the US. Clearly, the title of his Facebook fan group is on the right track.

Horse of the Year: Rachel Alexandra
In the end, it wasn’t even close: the votes were 130 to 99. That in no way reflects poorly on Zenyatta’s accomplishments – it simply honors the fact that during the past racing season, Rachel Alexandra had more opportunities to show off her immense talent, in a wider variety of venues – she won for her efforts throughout the year, not for a single race (regardless of how impressive that race may have been). But as I have said before, while Horse of the Year honors are important to some, a firm place in history means more in the long run. If we are lucky enough to see Rachel Alexandra take on Zenyatta, that would be tremendous – I’d like to see a Best of Five race series at a variety of different tracks. The difficulty will be getting other horses (male or female) into the gate to fill a race – but someone should certainly be working to set that up. Any takers?

Welcome Back?

admin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:53:00 +0000

Like so many promising 2-year-olds before her (Halfbridled, in particular, comes to mind), Stardom Bound (pictured) has had difficulty replicating her early successes; luckily, though, she is being given the opportunity to try her luck at 4. She makes her first start of the year at Santa Anita in the El Encino on Sunday. She and Justwhistledixie will be co-highweights in the race, but they both have a large field to contend with; I’m interested to see how Kenny McPeek’s Dream Empress does here, given that she has a nice weight break. If Stardom Bound does not rebound here, she could end up being bred to Big Brown – so fingers doubly crossed, for her sake!

Also looking for weekend redemption are Papa Clem and Mr. Hot Stuff; they are both back in the San Fernando. While Papa Clem’s case is one of looking to return to his best form, Mr. Hot Stuff’s is a little more complicated – he seems to find ways to lose, despite clearly possessing at least some of his full brother Colonel John’s talent. To that end, trainer Eoin Harty has been working closely with Joe Talamo (the latest in a long line of jockeys to take the reins on the horse) to see if they can get him into the winner’s circle. The 8.5 furlong distance should suit him well – if his team can overcome his mental quirks.

But let’s take a closer look at Papa Clem; Jay Hovdey praises the horse’s tenacity, and I also believe he’s been extremely unlucky, yet he’s always given his all in each race. In that respect, he reminds me a bit of Einstein (who, like Zenyatta, may or may not really be retired) – hopefully he’ll get a chance to demonstrate what he’s really capable of at 4 (or perhaps beyond, if we get lucky). If all goes well, he could be taking the California route to Dubai via the Santa Anita Handicap – and given the new synthetic surface at Meydan, that may prove a wise course to follow.

One imagines that many of this year’s new 4-year-olds may follow a simple strategy – avoid Rachel Alexandra. Summer Bird is coming back as well – now may be the time for everyone else to pick up a few checks.

The Official Superfecta 2009 Year in Review

admin — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:01:00 +0000

It almost seems we racing fans have experienced a karmic reversal this year; after the lows of the previous few years, we were treated to nothing less than history – live. So, without further ado, here are the top ten moments in horse racing for 2009, as seen from Superfecta HQ:

10) Einstein wins the Big ‘Cap
It was wonderful to see Einstein, a blog favorite for years, pick up a big win; this may not have been his best season, but it certainly had high points – this being the top. Hopefully his versatility and record of sheer hard work will be rewarded with a successful stud career.

9) Bambera wins the Clasico del Caribe
Yes, the Venezualan filly is the real deal. Sid Fernando is your man for all things Bambera – and he notes that we should see her Stateside in 2010. She’s won 15 of 17 starts – 10 of those were G1s, including her nation’s filly Triple Crown and most of the mixed-gender variety as well. Look out, Gulfstream!

Goldikova repeats in the Breeders’ Cup Mile
Let’s recall that the French mare was beating the boys long before it came into fashion this year – she handled them with no difficulty in last year’s Prix du Moulin and, of course, the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Trainer Freddie Head, who rode the great Miesque to her back-to-back Mile victories thinks she’s even better; she’s on track to come back next year to aim for a threepeat. Fingers crossed!

7) Yeats wins his fourth Ascot Gold Cup
The Times was right – it’s hard to imagine a more perfect swansong for the 8-year-old; he’s demonstrated time and again why he’s an all-time great. Here’s hoping his stamina and quality is recognized at stud – it will be hard to live up to the reception he received from fans after his victory.

6) Rachel Alexandra wins the Kentucky Oaks
Can you remember seeing anything like it? Rachel Alexandra would go on to demonstrate in the Mother Goose that against her peers (including a perfectly nice filly like Gabby’s Golden Gal), that’s just how she rolls – deal with it. Super filly? You bet.

5) Sea the Stars wins the Arc
That’s a lot of Group 1 winners finishing behind him – and it’s not every day you see a colt equal his mother’s success in that particular race. His win made him the first horse to win the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and the Arc in the same year – and he did it all undefeated. While it’s easy to see the allure of getting the half-brother to über-stud Galileo into the shed, it’s a shame we’ll never really know what he might have been capable of.

4) Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness
While I normally go to the Belmont, it takes something special to get me to Pimlico for the Preakness (largely because of the appalling state of the track) – but I was certainly not going to pass up a chance to see Rachel Alexandra take on the boys for the first time in person, and it was a beautiful thing. It’s only the second time I’ve seen the entire crowd cheering for one horse (the other being Smarty Jones coming into the Belmont with a Triple Crown on the line); it was to be the first time I would see that faith rewarded.

3) Rachel Alexandra wins the Haskell
What, you want me, the Preakness winner, to beat the Derby and Belmont winners? Hey, you asked for it. Even with the miserable weather, this is by far the best performance I’ve ever seen live (sorry, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer!); once again, the crowd was there for Rachel, and only Rachel – and she repaid them with another runaway victory. This race also receives special note for Sarah K. Andrew’s fantastic photo (right) – my favorite of the year.

2) Rachel Alexandra wins the Woodward
Finally, some real competition – and the chance to see what Rachel would do when eyeball to eyeball with another horse. Apparently, the answer is win – yet again. I’m looking forward to seeing her as the ‘older horse’ – after all, in a few short days, she’ll be all of 4.

1) Zenyatta wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic
I’m one of Those People who wanted Zenyatta to be Horse of the Year last year and I was not pleased by the rest of her campaign this year – but she proved she’s more than just a great mare with a distinctive running (and, let’s be honest, walking) style. She earned the number one spot with her sparkling, historic performance.

While I’ve already determined that the Horse of the Year debate will not matter much in the long run – indeed, who, beyond the industry, even knows or cares that such a thing exists? – my own vote would go to Rachel Alexandra. I cannot think of another year when I would have listed the same horse more than twice, at most, in a year-ending review – to see the same name four times is not something I expect to see again anytime soon. However, as she’ll be running next year, I may need to keep some slots vacant…but the truth remains that both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta firmly stamped themselves into this history books in emphatic style.

Here’s hoping that 2010 will be half as exciting as 2009!

A Return, and a Long Weekend

admin — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:34:00 +0000

Things are slowly getting back to normal here at Casa Superfecta, after a quick jaunt to the left coast for some soccer (but more on that later). The Breeders’ Cup may be in the history books, but Thanksgiving weekend offers quite a variety of top-level racing.

On Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs, Unbridled Belle and Swift Temper are in action in the Falls City Handicap; it is likely the last start for both millionaire mares.

The following day, Einstein (picture, by Barbara Livingston) is aiming to return to winning form in the Clark Handicap; as Julien Leparoux will be in Japan, he’ll have Rajiv Maragh aboard as well as some stiff competition from Macho Again and Bullsbay. But it seems that it may not be the final start for the stalwart son of Spend a Buck – he’s been supplemented to the Hong Kong Cup in December – however, it would still be lovely to see him win.

Both coasts are in action over the weekend; in New York, the Cigar Mile is the headliner. Quality Road has been working hard on his gate schooling, and the distance makes the race seem like a good fit for him – if he wants to start. It’s a great lineup in any case – Bribon, Kodiak Kowboy, Munnings, Vineyard Haven and Pyro are all possible starters. The 2-year-olds will also be on display in the Demoiselle and the Remsen.

In California, Ventura has a chance to give Bobby Frankel a final win in the Matriarch; while she will run in the name of his longtime assistant, Humberto Ascanio, Frankel was still directing her career, even at the end:

“Last Friday (Nov. 13), Bobby called me while I was at the barn and told me, ‘I’m going home tomorrow. I’m not going to take any more transfusions. I just don’t want to go on like this.’ And he said, ‘I’m scared.’

“There was a silence, and then, Bobby said, ‘Talk to Humberto and just tell him, two easy halfs for Ventura and she’ll be fine for the Matriarch.’

Ventura’s frequent rivals Rutherienne and Diamondrella (who is now trained by Gary Stevens, which was apparently something of a surprise to him) are also expected, but it would be nice to see Ventura end with a flourish. Also looking for a positive final race is Cowboy Cal in the Citation, but he will have competition in the form of El Gato Malo, Whatsthescript and another Frankel horse – Proudinsky.

And while she will not be running, Zenyatta will still be very much a presence in California over the weekend; she’s expected to parade around Hollywood Park between races on Sunday. There will be posters, DVDs and other collectibles on offer – although hopefully these are not part of the package.

Overseas, Breeders’ Cup Turf repeat champion Conduit will line against top Japanese mare Vodka in the Japan Cup – last year’s winner, Screen Hero, will be on hand to defend his title. Conduit will be retiring to stud in Japan after the race, but he could take home a considerable bonus if he wins on Sunday. Interpatation, Marsh Side and Just As Well will be representing the US in the race.

And while neither news item relates specifically to this weekend, there is welcome word that Rachel Alexandra has begun to stretch her legs again, and that Goldikova will, as rumored, remain in training next year. Rachel Alexandra will head to the Fair Grounds for the winter after leaving Churchill Downs, while Goldikova’s campaign to win a third Breeders’ Cup Mile will begin again in France.

Check back later (likely after the holiday weekend) for some thoughts on what racing might learn from American soccer – and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Breeders’ Cup Wrap-up, 2009

admin — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 19:43:00 +0000

While Zenyatta’s historic win in the Classic seems to eclipse the rest of the two-day event, there were many other interesting storylines – each race stood out in its own way this year.

Marathon
What a fascinating result – nine-year-old Cloudy’s Knight very nearly got there to be the oldest Breeders’ Cup winner on record (and jockey Rosemary Homeister, Jr. would have been only the second female jockey to win a Breeders’ Cup race), but he was run down by three-year-old Man of Iron. The Aiden O’Brien trainee was actually sold just before the race and will be moving to Luca Cumani’s barn, but he proved yet again that like his half-siblings, Rags to Riches and Jazil, his dam’s offspring like to run as long as possible. He will aim for the Dubai Carnival races next. Last year’s winner, Muhannak, was no factor this year, but he also changed hands and will remain in California under the tutelage of Ben Cecil. Man of Iron was the only Ballydoyle horse who ran on Lasix – and their only winner this year.

Juvenile Fillies Turf
Tapitsfly rewarded her backers, professionally taking on Rose Catherine in the stretch. Favored Lillie Langtry came out of the race with a slab fracture, but she should be back after some minor surgery and time off. Tapitsfly gave trainer Dale Romans his first Breeders’ Cup victory – and so far American-based runners are two-for-two in this turf event.

Juvenile Fillies
She Be Wild proved she enjoys running on synthetics, but she and the other top two finishes, Beautician and Blind Luck, will all be aiming for the Kentucky Oaks on conventional dirt. Both the runner-up and third-place finishers had some bad luck during the race, as did wiseguy favorite Biofuel, who got pretty knocked around – luckily, all seemed to have only minor complaints and a few of them may run again before the year is out.

Filly & Mare Turf
Legendary trainer Henry Cecil scored his first Breeders’ Cup win when Midday took the Filly & Mare Turf – and perhaps she will be back to defend her title, as the plan is for her to remain in training next year. It’s an exciting possibility.

Filly & Mare Sprint
Informed Decision gave jockey Julien Leparoux his second Breeders’ Cup weekend win; as expected, it came down to a dogfight between the winner and top-class mare Ventura. We should see Informed Decision next year as well.

Filly & Mare Classic
Without stablemate Zenyatta to waltz past her in the closing strides, Life is Sweet finally had a chance to demonstrate her class – and trainer John Shirreffs plenty of confidence going in to Saturday’s races.

Juvenile Turf
The first Breeders’ Cup race on Saturday’s card went to Pounced; the American-bred, European-based colt had the always-welcome piloting services of Frankie Dettori. Trainer John Gosden (who was based at Santa Anita for many years) snagged his second victory in this race, having won last year with Donativum.

Turf Sprint
California Flag, who had given himself an impromptu workout before the race, proved he suffered from no ill-effects from his adventure. Joe Talamo secured his first Breeders’ Cup win aboard the California-bred speedball, with ‘other’ filly Gotta Have Her getting up for second (the well-traveled Diamondrella didn’t fire on Saturday).

Sprint
Dancing in Silks scored a major upset – and made trainer Carla Gaines the third woman to train a Breeders’ Cup winner in the process. All the ‘big names’ finished off the board, with Gayego getting closest in fourth. Favorites Zensational and Fatal Bullet finished near each other in fifth and sixth, and global star Fleeting Spirit did not seem to take to the surface. It was a fantastic race for longshot bettors!

Juvenile
Upset winner Vale of York gave up-and-coming Godolphin jockey Ahmed Ajtebi his first Breeders’ Cup win. The horse may be pointed to the Kentucky Derby, but he’d be working against history by prepping in Dubai. Bob Baffert trainee Lookin at Lucky was not terribly lucky in the race, but he still finished a respectable second – and seems a more likely Derby contender.

Mile
Goldikova continued to display her brilliance – matching the great Miesque’s back-to-back Mile wins, and she did so by overcoming a difficult post position and not the easiest trip in this year’s installment. It caps a year in which she’s been (mostly) beating up on the world’s best milers and it means she now has seven G1 wins. The suggestion that she could come back next year to aim for a third Mile win was not immediately ruled out – let’s hope it happens. For those who may grumble that it seems unfair to give an Eclipse award to a horse who has made a single US appearance this year, I’d say that’s true – unless it’s Goldikova.

Dirt Mile
Mastercraftsman was billed as unbeatable, but obviously no one told longshot Furthest Land. Followed closely on by perpetual maiden Ready’s Echo and Midshipman, Furthest Land gave Julien Leparoux his third win for this year’s Breeders’ Cup. And Mastercraftsman? He’s retired.

Turf
Another repeat – Conduit did it again. What was perhaps almost as exciting was Presious Passion’s gutsy effort for second in the race – running off like a sprinter at the beginning, yet still managing to get a big slice of the purse. Dar Re Mi also ran a good race for third (overcoming some considerable traffic trouble), and we could see her again next year. Conduit will now retire to stud in Japan, and it’s possible Presious Passion may also head to Asia – but in his case he’d be going to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Vase.

Classic
Did Rip Van Winkle’s feet bother him? Perhaps. But even if he had been in top form, it’s difficult to imagine anyone having beaten Zenyatta on the day, as she was perfection incarnate. It’s easy to overlook the quality efforts put in by both Gio Ponti in second and Twice Over in third, but neither had any sort of chance against the giant mare. Poor Einstein had to check behind the slowing Rip Van Winkle, which essentially took him out of the race, and Summer Bird did not have the best luck but still managed to be a closing fourth. But it was really all Zenyatta – and while the Horse of the Year discussions will go on, they really don’t matter; she’s one of the greatest, and that’s all anyone will remember.

Breeders’ Cup 2009: Classic

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:20:00 +0000

#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds

1 Mine That Bird, Chip Woolley, C. Borel, 12-1
Perhaps unfairly overlooked; he does have the rail and Bo-Rail.

2 Colonel John, Eoin Harty, G. Gomez, 12-1
Solid runner is flying a bit under the radar.

3 Summer Bird, Tim Ice, K. Desormeaux, 9/2
Gets better and better each time out – can’t wait to see him again next year.

4 Zenyatta, John Shirreffs, M. Smith, 5/2
Her numbers and recent competition are the biggest concern – she looks amazing. Perhaps she just does all she needs to? In any case, it’s great to see her here.

5 Twice Over (GB), Henry Cecil, T. Queally, 20-1
Tough European seems to offer great value here.

6 Richard’s Kid, Bob Baffert, A. Solis, 12-1
The mystery horse; was his shock upset of Einstein the beginning of a pattern? His works have drawn raves.

7 Gio Ponti, Christophe Clement, R. Dominguez, 12-1
Solid, honest horse who happens to beat just about everybody – without garnering much acclaim. Great spot here.

8 Einstein (BRZ), Helen Pitts-Blasi, J. Leparoux, 12-1
He’s got the ability, he just needs the luck – would love to see him (pictured) go out on a win, especially for Pitts-Blasi.

9 Girolamo, Saeed Bin Suroor, A. Garcia, 20-1
Three-race win streak is more G2 level, but he does have talent.

10 Rip Van Winkle (IRE), Aiden O’Brien, J. Murtagh, 7/2
If his foot doesn’t bother him, he wins – if it does, he finishes up the track.

11 Regal Ransom, Saeed Bin Suroor, R. Migliore, 20-1
Came back from a post-Derby layoff with a win in the Super Derby; hard to evaluate where he sits.

12 Quality Road, Todd Pletcher, J. Velazquez, 12-1
Would have preferred to see him in the Dirt Mile – or even the Mile, given his Aussie breeding. Next time?

13 Awesome Gem, Craig Dollase, D. Flores, 30-1
Will he hit the board again? He did in the 2007 edition of this race.

Ideal world: Einstein & Zenyatta DH for first, Gio Ponti takes second, Summer Bird third Picks: Rip Van Winkle, Einstein, Gio Ponti, Twice Over