Perhaps the most competitive race this weekend will be the Beldame; while Ginger Punch [...]]]> From the (welcome) coverage it is receiving, it might seem that Curlin’s Jockey Club Gold Cup bid is the only race taking place this weekend when in fact it’s ridiculously busy (rather like my entire week this week).

Perhaps the most competitive race this weekend will be the Beldame; while Ginger Punch towers over the field, it’s no walkover — Unbridled Belle and Lemon Drop Mom are both in the mix (and let’s recall how close it was the last time Ginger Punch faced Lemon Drop Mom), but I am particularly intrigued by Cocoa Beach and Leah’s Secret. Cocoa Beach was 3-year-old champion filly in Chile last year and she has been facing tough (and occasionally male) competition in Dubai and elsewhere. Godolphin may not be much of a powerhouse compared to Ballydoyle this year, but if they do have a horse to watch this year, she may be it. Leah’s Secret has always been on the bubble with the top-flight mares; nonetheless, I’m keeping an eye on her.

Nor is Curlin the only Horse of the Year contender running this weekend; Zenyatta is also stepping up to the plate. While her participation in the Filly & Mare Classic (née Distaff) seems a foregone conclusion (even though I would rather see her in the ‘Classic’ Classic, depending on which Euros ship over), it would be nice if she can keep her unbeaten streak alive in this weekend’s Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita. The obvious trifecta would seem to be Zenyatta-Hystericalady-Santa Teresita, but you never know. Nevertheless, it would have been more interesting to see her race played up as a west coast counterpart to Curlin’s Belmont star turn.

Back at Belmont, Wait a While is back for another shot at the Yellow Ribbon. How many former 3-year-old champions are still in training at 5 these days? That’s only one great reason to watch her race — if you happen to get TVG.

Zenyatta is not the only star at Santa Anita either; Street Boss is the favorite in the Ancient Title, and it seems this is a ‘last chance to see‘ before the Breeders’ Cup and retirement — he’s off to become a Darley stallion. (Apparently it was not enough to own both Street Cry and Street Sense). While he’s made his mark as a sprinter, I would prefer to see him in the Classic come Breeders’ Cup time — although given that it’s his final race, it hardly seems to matter.

Before we (finally) get to Curlin, it seems the European press has latched on to Jerry Bailey’s comments regarding whether Henrythenavigator would stay the Classic distance, or whether he’s more suited to the Mile (indeed, it is his only proven distance). He’s being considered for both races, but things will likely become clearer after he meets Tamayuz and Raven’s Pass on Saturday in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. His stablemate, Duke of Marmalade, is apparently still possible for the Classic, but he is out of the Breeders’ Cup prep race at Great Leighs. Whether he takes on Zarkava in the Arc or heads to California (or both) is still up in the air. In any event, Ballydoyle will have to leave their team tactics at home.

There is still more action stateside this weekend, but as it’s been a crazy week at work, we’ll have to move swiftly on to Curlin in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The Baltimore Sun has articles in favor of and against wanting to see him break native son Cigar’s all-time earnings record Saturday (which you can watch live on ESPNEWS). Beyond the race, however, there is still the legal sideshow going on over his minority owners. The latest move to sell their interest by sealed bid merited this response from Jess Jackson’s attorney:

A decision to retire the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike may hinge on the outcome of the sealed-bid process, according to courtroom discussion.

“My clients, as the 80% owners, are being infringed upon because of problems with ongoing litigation,” Richard Getty, an attorney representing Stonestreet Stables, argued before Crittenden. “My client has already been harmed by not already divesting this interest. The large farms are not interested.”

“Mr. Jackson is saying we may race the horse next year, because we are forced to,” Getty said, terming Midnight Cry Stable’s ongoing presence as an “albatross” at one point. “We would love to be rid of this interest.”

One presumes this will not be the position presented to the public on Saturday — but I digress.

While some are complaining there isn’t much competition for Curlin in the race, I am looking forward to seeing more steady improvement from Mambo in Seattle; I don’t expect him to win (for we know Curlin doesn’t mind the slop, judging from last year’s Classic victory), but he may make Curlin work for it. If Curlin does indeed go to the Classic, such a challenge should keep him tuned up for the big day. If you are going, you may need to use your commemorative t-shirt as an umbrella…

Here’s what anyone who does [...]]]> There is a great weekend of racing to look forward to – it’s a shame it’s going to be hidden away on HRTV and TVG. Check out today’s Green but Game for a fantastic open letter to the NTRA on this very topic; she is spot on!

Here’s what anyone who does not receive those channels is missing — first, let’s check in with Delaware Park. The Obeah (finally a G3) sees Unbridled Belle aiming to take this race after a second-place finish last year which set her up nicely for victory in the Del Cap. She faces some real competition (especially as this is her debut for the year) from Lexi Star, who has Jeremy Rose aboard (and Jeremy Rose is tough to beat at Delaware Park); I also like Best Vow as a longshot.

Staying on the east coast, we next head toward Belmont (and one hopes the bathrooms are working again, even if there’s not a crowd). The first race of note is the Scottish Monk, which features turf milers Like Now, Wood Be Willing, Cosmonaut and Tam Lin. Storm in May is entered here as well after being scratched from the True North on Belmont day, but this race is not much easier for him. He could still get up for third at a price.

Eclipse-winning mare Ginger Punch reappears in the Ogden Phipps and is giving four pounds to Spring Waltz (who,like Ginger Punch, is also trained by Bobby Frankel — so one presumes she’s the understudy), her closest rival; I also like Moon Catcher. Ginger Punch is aiming to collect her third win for the year and should be tough to beat, weight or no weight.

Then the action moves to Churchill Downs – while Curlin is the headliner (and there is more on him below), it’s a great card overall. The Fleur de Lis is the first stakes race on the card and Hystericalady, Cowgirls Don’t Cry and Peach Flambe are all short prices for a reason.

The Regret features Pure Clan heading back to turf in search of a win; she also gets a break in terms of weight as Zee Zee gets 122 pounds to her 116. Here’s hoping if she wins certain portions of her ownership group can simply graciously accept the trophy and fade into the background…but I digress.

The Northern Dancer is a return to racing for many of this year’s Derby horses: Recapturetheglory, Pyro and Visionaire are all back to see if 1 1/16 at Churchill is a little more to their liking. I’m curious to see how Pyro does, and I still really like Visionaire, who gets to carry a few pounds less than his other two Derby brethren. It should be a much better race by which to judge their abilities than this year’s Derby (or about half the Derby preps).

The Jefferson Cup is also for 3-year-olds, but this time over turf; I’m looking forward to seeing Old Man Buck again and am intrigued by Tizdejavu. Halo Najib is also in the mix.

The Mint Julep is run after the Steven Foster, so I’ll discuss it first; I like Street Sounds (who is a nice 8-1 on the morning line) even though she’s facing a tough competitor in Dreaming of Anna; Danzon is also a nice filly. Dreaming of Anna’s high weight of 123 is a full eight pounds heavier than the next highest assignment; she is giving as many as 12 pounds to some in the field. She’s classy enough to pull it off, but given her odds, I’d be betting against her.

The feature of the day, of course, is the Stephen Foster. Curlin will certainly face some adversity (layoff since Dubai, inside post, high weight, good field) but this is a chance to continue to discover just how good he really is. I will naturally be rooting for Einstein and Brass Hat to finish well, but Curlin has looked phenomenal of late — if you want to see what a real champion looks like, make sure you tune in.

In other news, were you aware there is a documentary on Lost in the Fog making the rounds? It will be premiering Saturday at the CineVegas Film Festival. Here’s hoping for a warm reception.

Finally, don’t forget to create and activate your Road to the Breeders’ Cup stable, since scoring starts tomorrow; I only happened to see it because it was on Facebook. Peculiar.

“I pushed to have it at Golden [...]]]> Sunshine Millions weekend is upon us, but there are still questions as to whether the Santa Anita surface will be functional by race day or if the California half of events might have to be cancelled (or moved somehow); Steve Specht, trainer of McCann’s Mojave, suggested an alternative:

“I pushed to have it at Golden Gate; maybe they should have listened,” said Specht, who also is at Santa Anita this week. “They know they got a major problem with this track, and horses have shipped in from all over the country, and they might have to cancel. It’s a joke. This isn’t a matter of trying to beat the other guy; it’s a matter of will they even run. There is no miracle cure; it’s a screwed-up mess.”

And for another special ‘well done,’ check out Magna’s Sunshine Millions website which 1) does not render properly in Firefox and 2) features an article about last year’s pre-entries on its front page. Well played, sirs.

But provided all the surface issues are worked out, it should be an exciting weekend of racing; Nashoba’s Key is back in the Filly & Mare Turf and speedster Georgie Boy is featured in the Dash. If my iPod’s picks are anything to go by (and they usually are not, but there you are), he should be unbeatable — why else would it have played ‘Georgie Boy’ by Jack L[ukeman] so many times? Ginger Punch makes her 2008 debut as well. Don’t forget to check the TBA homepage for all your Sunshine Millions PP needs.

For your general amusement, I include my picks for the day:

Sprint (Gulfstream)
Cobalt Blue
Benny the Bull
Storm in May

F&M Sprint (Santa Anita)
Tiz Elemental
Shaggy Mane
Cher Ami

Oaks (Gulfstream)
Phantom Income
American Country
Billie Bob

F&M Turf (Santa Anita)
Nashoba’s Key
Quite a Bride
Snow Cone

Distaff (Gulfstream)
Ginger Punch
Leah’s Secret
Peach Flambe

Dash (Santa Anita)
Georgie Boy
Afleet Rumor
Winsome Charm

Turf (Gulfstream)
Icy Atlantic
Soldier’s Dancer
War Monger

Classic (Santa Anita)
Diamond Stripes
McCann’s Mojave
Gottcha Gold

In news beyond the Sunshine Millions, Asiatic Boy is back in a big way; you can catch video from his race over here. Cacique added to his family’s legacy this week with a little help from an Irish mare; his first reported foal is a colt. Last weekend, his full brother Champs Elysees became the latest of Hasili’s offspring to win here in the US as well as in Europe. Three-year-old Raise the Flag is next up, and there’s a yearling filly in the bunch as well.

Finally, as to the Barbaro art, well, think of it this way — imagine the uproar had the artist in question gone in a more Damien Hirst direction…

Tiago performed well in his first outing against older horses in the Goodwood Handicap (Lava Man was scratched in favor of a race next weekend), although he was certainly tested by Awesome Gem — nevertheless, [...]]]> It was quite a weekend of racing; things are shaping up nicely for the Breeders’ Cup. First, the West Coast:

Tiago performed well in his first outing against older horses in the Goodwood Handicap (Lava Man was scratched in favor of a race next weekend), although he was certainly tested by Awesome Gem — nevertheless, his victory was very professional. I would also like to see more of third-place finisher Lewis Michael, perhaps in a slightly shorter race; I believe he has a lot of potential but has never quite found his rhythm although he seems comfortable on both dirt and grass. Some may recall he finished third to a horse named Barbaro in the Florida Derby and did not look bad in that defeat; I’d like to see him in the Dirt Mile.

Nashoba’s Key switched back to grass for the Yellow Ribbon and still remains unbeaten, holding off a strong challenge from Citronnade. As I’ve mentioned before, the Filly & Mare Turf division is going to be the hardest one to handicap — but more on that later. It is perhaps more impressive to consider that Nashoba’s Key began this winning streak when she began her racing career earlier this year as a four-year-old and she seems to improve with each race.

Switching to the East Coast, but staying with the girls on grass, the Flower Bowl was certainly an interesting race. Lahudood set a stakes record in her win (her first graded win in America, as a helpful reader has pointed out), but Roskina (one of my picks) was a fine second ahead of Wait a While. It seems that the talented My Typhoon was not a huge fan of the very firm going, as she was never a factor (but she should not be discounted come Breeders’ Cup day). As mentioned above, the Filly & Mare Turf division is full of talent already — once everyone else ships in from Europe, it’s practically a toss-up since a good argument can be made for any number of top horses. It’s going to be a highlight of Breeders’ Cup day.

Discreet Cat’s return to the races in the Vosburgh did not play out as planned; his dull third was not a particularly confidence-inspiring performance, but the excuses are built-in — the long layoff, he needed the race, he needed more distance (although he certainly did not seem to need it at that particular point in time), etc. But the good news is that it means the new Dirt Mile will have a marquee contender, which is something it probably needed — and it should also mean that he needs to stay in training next year to really prove himself. If anything, the victory by Fabulous Strike should continue to raise his sire Smart Strike’s stud fee — three grade I wins for his offspring in one weekend (see English Channel and Curlin below) cannot hurt.

Back on the turf, English Channel looked tremendous in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (his second victory in the race, which is a remarkable statistic these days for a stallion); I don’t know whether that means he’s quite in the same league as some of the expected European heavy-hitters, but it was a gutsy run and a very encouraging sign. It would be nice to see more horses with a career of consistent top-level performances. Given that he was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf as a 3-year old and third last year, he does have a good shot, but it’s going to be a tough race.

The Distaff division is clearly missing Rags to Riches; Unbridled Belle looked good beating stablemate Indian Vale in the Beldame although Ginger Punch did not seem quite her usual self. While Unbridled Belle seems to be coming into her own, she’s not really in the same class as Rags to Riches and the division is poorer for her absence. Without her, it’s a reasonably solid, but somewhat uninspiring group. However, I’ve always maintained that winning the Del Cap can propel a mare on to bigger and better things, and Unbridled Belle clearly took that to heart — not bad for a $4,000 purchase.

Finally, of course, the Classic division. As predicted, Hard Spun bested Street Sense, but he had everything his own way in a tiny field and on a surface he loves. He’s unlikely to get to set the pace and lead wire to wire in the Classic, which seems to be his preferred running style; Street Sense didn’t look tired to me as much as not necessarily pushed to his full potential — the race seemed more of a rehearsal for him. As I’ve said before, I like Hard Spun a lot and would love him at a mile (and he looked fine at the 1 1/8 as well), but I’m not sure he loves the 1 1/4 distance, and Street Sense does. As ever, trainer Carl Nafzger made no excuses and looks forward to the next dance:

Carl Nafzger, handler of Street Sense, was gracious in defeat. “It was up to him at the head of the lane to get by Hard Spun,” he said, “but he just outran us. We were right there and we got beat; that’s horseracing, no excuses. But we’re ready for next time.”

Curlin proved me wrong, gamely holding off Lawyer Ron in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, although Lawyer Ron didn’t do himself any favors — he seemed rank early on and was in the center of the track for much of the race. It could easily be argued that he just prefers Saratoga to Belmont — but even if that is the case, it seems there was some concern from trainer Steve Asmussen that Lawyer Ron’s pressure was a tough challenge for Curlin:

Asmussen called the Gold Cup “trophies in their own right” but acknowledged it was not his ultimate goal. That comes in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Oct. 27 at Monmouth Park.

“Everyone knows the Classic is the pinnacle,” he said. “And I’m extremely concerned that he left too much out there today.”

The bottom line is that all the Classic contenders who raced this past weekend looked good and will likely go off at relatively short odds on come the evening of Breeders’ Cup Saturday, but I can imagine quite a few scenarios in which a European horse runs off with the prize. We’ll have to wait and see who ships in…