The Great Debate for 2009 Horse of the Year

9 11 2009

No sooner had the synthetic dust settled in the wake of Zenyatta’s dominating performance in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita then the flame igniting the “Horse of the Year” debate was rekindled anew.  At question is how to properly award the top honor in U.S. racing when considering the miraculous campaigns of both Zenyatta and the 3-year-old filly sensation Rachel Alexandra. 

At this point in time, It’s become a question I’d really rather not address at all if it were not on the lips of nearly all I’ve spoken with these past few days.  My personal feeling being that this is still Zenyatta’s moment and that at least one full week should pass before we begin doing what horseplayers do – arguing incessantly with one another over our respective levels of insanity.  One can barely get so much as a word in about the Classic right now though without the issue coming up rather directly.  Emotions seem to be running high on both sides of the isle as the immediacy of a supreme moment still actively courses through the furiously beating hearts of racing fans the world over. 

In many ways, the pendulum seems to have swung almost completely.  Where once Rachel was considered (including by yours truly) a mortal lock to have already captured the honor as Horse of the Year by virtue of (most notably) her Preakness, Haskell, and Woodward victories, a new wind has begun to blow.  The much whispered “backlash” against team Rachel for having not attended the Breeders’ Cup had been one element of this change.  The true spark, however, is a bit more noble in nature and seems to stem from a desire to ensure that Zenyatta is properly awarded for the undefeated career she has blessed us with. 

As early as Saturday night, the battle lines were already being drawn.  Attending a post-Classic dinner with folks from the TVG Community (the organizers for which I owe a great deal of thanks to for a wonderful weekend, along with those at both the NTRA and the Breeders’ Cup), I was asked for my opinion, and admittedly I balked a bit – attempting to play the classical Switzerland “neutrality defense.”  Like many a smaller European nation state in the opening half the 20th century, I ultimately found myself being drawn, however unwittingly, into the great conflagration.

switzerland_flag_wave2

Not to be confused with the famous "French defense" in chess, the "Switzerland neutrality posture" in the great 2009 Horse of the Year debate is ultimately indefensible.

At the end of the day, I suppose someone does have to win the award, right?  

So whom do we chose?

As much as I’ve tried to play the Switzerland defense, it’s probably rightly noted that I’m an ever-so-slightly bigger fan of Rachel Alexandra than I am of Zenyatta.  I think that’s a fair assessment of my own emotional makeup.  That’s not to say I don’t love Zenyatta with all my heart – always have and always will – but my record of pro-Rachel Alexandra coverage is something I cannot deny being consciously aware of.  

That being said, I’ve loved Zenyatta since I spotted her profile prior to her maiden debut, noting “hey, that’s the same connections as Giacomo – I might take a shot with this girl!”  In time she became my “slow cheetah” – a name and a song that will forever have a special meaning to me.

 

I care about these two fillies so deeply that I consider it the honor of a lifetime to have been there for the finer moments of each one’s 2009 campaign;  Rachel in the Preakness and the Haskell, and Zenyatta in the Classic. 

Much like I had been calling for a dead heat had the two ever locked horns on the track, I find myself utterly divided over who I would select as Horse of the Year.  I suppose to extract a full answer from me, one might have to subject me to brutal interrogation, straight out of the famed Russian Roulette scene in The Deer Hunter.  Tying me to a chair, constantly slapping my face whilst shouting “Mao!” and demanding that I make a selection.  I believe what follows is what my ultimate decision would be under such duress (apart from arising from said chair and declaring “3 bullets!!! We play with 3 bullets!” in classical De Niro fashion):

  • Rachel Alexandra for 3-year-old filly champion
  • Zenyatta for Horse of the Year
Mao!

Mao! Robert De Niro in the famous Russian Roulette scene from The Deer Hunter

Truth be told, I actually do believe that Rachel Alexandra had the superior overall year (with “overall” being the operative term), however Zenyatta clearly won the superior race. 

Rachel’s year had more than one signature moment.  She was the first filly in 85 years to win the Preakness.  She was the 2nd filly in 42 years to win the Haskell.  She nearly broke the track record in the Mother Goose, coming close to the exploits of Secretariat at the same distance.  Then, of course, she became the first 3-year-old filly to defeat older males in a stakes race of more than a mile on dirt since the inception of graded stakes in the U.S.

 

Zenyatta’s overall campaign for 2009 was a bit less heralded – until her triumph in the Classic that is.  I doubt strongly that anyone will think back to her earlier races in the year and point to them as having been signature – but she did remain undefeated, even when carrying  ridiculous amounts of weight and when it seemed to all observing that her undefeated record was in it’s greatest peril at the hands of Anaaba’s Creation.  Somehow, someway, she ALWAYS found a way to win.

So if Rachel’s campaign is the one I believe to be more accomplished, why make Zenyatta Horse of the Year?

Because at some level, even if it has not historically been the case, the Breeders’ Cup Classic should be the deciding moment.  The quintessential test of an overall champion.  Moreover, the career that Zenyatta rewarded us with is one that is deserving of top honors.  And it’s not like she didn’t race in 2009.  She just didn’t race a whole heckuva a lot of times, nor did she put herself in tremendously challenging positions where victory was assumed to be anything other than a foregone conclusion until her date with destiny in the Classic.

I know that technically it isn’t right to attach emotional sentiment to that which she accomplished in 2008 and then factor that into the equation, but how can one not help but do so?  In all likelihood she left us with her career defining performance on the sports biggest stage (at least the biggest stage for true fans of racing, as opposed to the Warhol-esque 2 minutes of national attention associated with the annual running of the Kentucky Derby) – a perfect story book ending to a career that will from henceforth be the measuring stick for all older fillies and mares that attempt to follow in her hoofsteps.

Likewise, Rachel Alexandra will go down as the new barometer by which all subsequent 3-year-old fillies will be compared.  Make no mistake about it, we’ll still invoke memories of Ruffian as well, who will continue to be the greatest of the great fillies, but my sense of things is that Rachel’s ability to both win a 3-year-old Classic (the Preakness) and then follow that up with repeat performances over 3-year-old males in the Haskell and then older males in the Woodward will cement her legacy for years (if not decades) to come.

The mere fact that Rachel is sometimes mentioned in the same breath as Ruffian speaks volumes for how lofty her star has risen.  Just a year ago you probably would’ve been diagnosed as certifiably mad if you dared to publicly compare any filly to Ruffian.  Now people do so without batting an eye.   I’ve refrained from making any direct comparisons myself, as I think it wise to the let the historical greats stand alone, and if nothing else become larger than the legends they were in their own time rather than replaced by newcomers and diminished in legend, but certainly folks reading this have at least heard those comparisons elsewhere and know what I’m referring to.  The point being not whether they are warranted or not, but merely an acknowledgement that such comparisons do exist.

For Rachel, there will be a 2010, and a chance to show she is capable of winning a Breeders’ Cup Classic of her own.  For Zenyatta, the Classic was in all likelihood her swan song. 

What better way to send off a legend than to allow their final chapter to be an ultimate achievement?  It just feels like the right thing to do.

As much as I love them both and am torn asunder in attempting to make a definitive statement one way or the other – I think the right thing to do is to send Zenyatta off to retirement as the 2009 Horse of the Year.  After all, she started the year as the top older female in racing, and nobody was able to defeat her.  Looking at things that way, and reducing the equation to it’s most simplistic component, it’s a bit hard to justify knocking her from her lofty perch – doubly so in the immediate aftermath of her finest hour. 

And you know what?  At the end of the day it’s really just a silly award.  What these two ladies accomplished on the track will be remembered for years regardless of whether an additional trophy is added to their respective cases.

Respect for each of them has been EARNED on the track, not GIVEN at some awards ceremony.

That’s how I see things at least.  What say you?  Who do you think ought to receive the Eclipse Award for 2009 Horse of the Year?


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Categories : Breeders' Cup, Eclipse Awards, Horse Racing News, Preakness, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, horse racing

The Year of the Filly or a Year for All Time?

9 11 2009

 

The moment Zenyatta crossed the wire and became the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion, things went hazy.  I vaguely remember searching for people to hug, slapping high fives with everyone around, and letting loose a series of  ”rebel yell” style roars that any native Alabamian would be proud of.   Once that subsided, I began pondering whether everything we’d witnessed both in the immediacy of the Breeders’ Cup and from the entire year in general could possibly have been real, or if I was about to awake from some deep, REM filled dream?  It seems so unimaginably unthinkable that one calendar year could have presented us with such unprecedented historical significance as to have rendered the completely opposite emotions experienced just 17 months ago an almost perfect contrast.  And, of course, the ending was capped off in perfect story book fashion.

Close your eyes for one moment (albeit a brief one), and remember that awful, devastating, seemingly unconquerable feeling of grief and agony that cast a pall over all of racing following the 2008 Kentucky Derby.  Now contrast that memory with the euphoria and outright elation experienced many times over this year as racing’s dream girls Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra conquered races and dominated the headlines of the sport in a manner never before seen, nor likely ever thought imaginable.

The “Year of the Filly” it most certainly was – and for racing it could not have come at a more opportune time.  A veritable 180° turnaround.  A phoenix rising from it’s own ashes.  A reconstitution of passion, pride, belief, and affection.  A reaffirmation of all that can and should be good about the sport we love.

Looking back to the previous year, I recall being plagued following the death of Eight Belles with the thought “where do we possibly go from here?”  The obvious follow-up to that question that was even more painful to consider being once we figured out “where” we would go, having to determine “how” we might go about getting there?  It seemed a mountain that we might never be able to climb.  A hole we might never dig ourselves from.  After all, the sport was not exactly in a position of strength from which to deal with such a tragedy, especially having had the same type of nightmare play itself out in 2006 with Barbaro; again while the entire world watched in shock. It was doom and gloom; misery and pain; agony and heartache. 

As if on queue, the sports two biggest stars of 2008, Curlin and Big Brown, were defeated in their biggest moments of the season; Curlin failing to sustain his trademarked “giant strides” as Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator surged past him in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and Big Brown being pulled up in the stretch of the 2008 Belmont and denied his quest for Triple Crown glory.  The collective mood was rather somber.  One could find themselves asking not what the morrow might bring, but rather cynically ”what could possibly go wrong next?”

Thankfully, as the old axiom holds, time heals all wounds. Tomorrow, no matter how high or low the previous day may have been, is always another day. 

The horse racing gods seemingly took mercy upon us and decided to give fans a little something special for their troubles to help ease the pain.  At least that’s how I like to imagine it.  Something we couldn’t have possibly conceived we would be blessed enough to behold was about to unfold in 2009, although it’s seeds were first sewn in 2008.  As our eyes were largely focused elsewhere, a massive and lightly raced 4-year-old filly based in California was beginning to hit her stride, turning heads and causing people the world over to take notice.  Out in Kentucky, a  2-year-old filly with a unique blaze would break her maiden within a month of the Eight Belles tragedy at a rather nondescript 12/1 price on the tote board.  It’s hard to imagine that anyone realized what might lay ahead as these two began to lay the foundations for what would become two of the more memorable rides through North American thoroughbred racing history in recent memory.

By the time Zenyatta was being crowned 2009 Breeders’ Cup Classic champion, the “Year of the Filly” had become the dominant story in racing for the better part of the year.  Zenyatta becoming he first mare in history to win the Classic, finishing with a remarkable perfect record for her career.  Meanwhile, the 3-year-old sensation Rachel Alexandra had achieved the distinction of being mentioned in the same breath as the legendary Ruffian by becoming the first filly in 8 decades to win the Preakness, the 2nd filly in 4 decades to win the Haskell, and the 1st 3-year-old filly to defeat older males on a dirt route race in New York since Lady Primrose in the 1887 Manhattan Hand.

Horse racing prints commemorating Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta from artist Fred Stone:  http://www.fredstone.com

On a more personal level, the year was indescribably magical. Somehow I managed to be lucky enough to witness Rachel Alexandra’s victories against boys in the Preakness and Haskell as well as Zenyatta’s victory in the Classic LIVE.  Talk about the Trifecta of a lifetime, eh?  And that doesn’t even count the experience I shared with my wife on her birthday at Belmont as Rachel sped her way to a near track record in the Mother Goose. 

For a guy who had always assumed he was born about 3 decades too late to experience historically relevant moments in the annals of horse racing, 2009 has been a veritable feast of unprecedentia (note: I’m fairly certain I’ve just invented that word, but it sounds fitting enough to keep).  In fact, the year as a whole has been a reaffirmation of everything that is great about the sport – even with the obvious remaining imperfections.

Searching through my mind for a fitting quote from the ether of the past, I was struck by a question that begins the memoirs from Private Sam Watkins of Company “Aytch” (H), 1st Tennessee Volunteers as he began to reflect in his middle ages about the experiences he had bore witness to in the Civil War as young man.  Watkins had fought in nearly every major battle in the “Western” theater of the war from 1861 – 1865 and had somehow survived relatively unscathed.  He had felt the sting of defeat, the rush of victory, the agony associated with the loss of loved ones, the salvation of ultimate survival and the experience of fatherhood that was denied so many of his generation, as well as the struggle to put into terms for others what had happened in his life.

“Were these things real…or are they but the vagaries of mine own imagination?”  

Much like Watkins, I struggle with whether all that which I have seen has really happened, or been the figments of some fantastical dream.  That somehow this has been too good to be true.  That we couldn’t possibly be lucky enough to have witnessed all that we have seen in so short a period of time.  The immenseness of it all being almost beyond comprehension.

To the tune of the full quote that was much abbreviated above from Sam Watkins:

Did my wife and I really have the honor of watching Rachel Alexandra become the first filly in 8 decades to win the Preakness at Pimlico? Did I shake with excitement, nearly yelling myself into cardiac arrest as she willed herself through the stretch?  Had we shed mutual tears of joy and embraced anyone we could find in the shadows of the old clubhouse at Pimlico where so many of the all-time great 3-year-olds had stood over the years?

Were we really bestowed with the honor of being inside the paddock to see Rachel off to post in the Haskell at Monmouth Park?  Had I truly been able to stand with my 5-year-old son and marvel at the majestic beauty before us moments away from her becoming “a Haskell legend?”

Did I watch as my beloved Zenyatta, forever my “Slow Cheetah”, paused in front of the Grandstand to “paw” at and “dance” upon the Santa Anita Pro Ride to the delightful roar of the crowd as she went to post in the Classic?  Had I sprung to life in unison with nearly 60,000 other fans as she made her bid for greatness in the stretch?  Had I celebrated with friends and strangers alike, faces flushed with joy, hearts spilling with the pride of parenthood and the innocent joy of childhood?  Had I led my hotel shuttle from the park in a rousing rendition of “how ’bout that Zenyatta?!?!?!” as we left Santa Anita that magical day?

Surely this must be a dream.  To call 2009 the “Year of the Filly” does not give the year proper justice.  It was more than that – perhaps a year for all time.  A year that we will no doubt struggle to explain as the grandchildren sit on our knees many years from now and inquire why grandpa is so continually fascinated by this peculiar (from their vantage point at least) sport. 

“Gather ’round, kids”, we’ll say, “let your grandpa tell you the story of the Year of the Filly way back in two thousand and nine.”  

We’ll then reach for some dusty box of treasured keepsakes and begin to remove the momentos we’ve managed to keep (for me this would most likely be my $2 win tickets from the Preakness and Classic).

“Awe, man….do we have to hear that one again, Grandpa?” they will ask (children being honest to a fault at times).

If there’s enough magic remaining for us in this life, we just might be lucky enough to have one grandchild that “gets it” when we talk about horse racing.

“Shhhhhh!” that child might say.  “Let him tell the story again.  I want to hear about Zenyatta and Rachel.”

Yup, it’s been that kind of year.  Treasure it, my friends.  These kinds of years only come around once in a lifetime.


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Categories : Horse Racing News, Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, horse racing

Breeders’ Cup Classic Selections

5 11 2009

Finally – it’s Classic time.  The “race of the year” (although not necessarily for Horse of the Year, as evidenced by recent history) for an overall purse of $5 million.  Obviously the story of the race is the entry of the undefeated mare Zenyatta – one of the sports biggest stars in North America and a hometown hero that the masses will turn out to support in droves for her first try against the boys.

Last year we had another equally beloved North American horse coming in as the heavy favorite.  Of course I’m talking here of my beloved Curlin.  Despite a bold move as the field neared the top of the stretch that at first glance appeared to be trademarked, patented Curlin - he ultimately floundered through the final furlong and wound up finishing 4th, passed by two horses that had shipped in from Europe in both Raven’s Pass and Henrythenavigator. 

Will things be different this year?  It was supposed to be the “year of the filly” – but the Fighting Phils blew the World Series to the N.Y. Yankees last night.  Still, might that be a favorable omen for Zenyatta?  Think about it – if her biggest threats are coming from across the pond once again, then is it a good sign that the “Yankees” won?   We horseplayers are nothing if not superstitious, so it’s something to think about.

Speaking of which – I’d encourage ALL horseplayers to go to our TBA homepage right now and play along with our “BC Picks” feature.  Basically it’s just a google doc spreadsheet.  Contact Handride if you have any questions about how to enter your picks.  I see at least one regular reader (Mark Ripple) is already there – hopefully we’ll see more of you shortly. 

Since this post will also be featured until I return from the Breeders’ Cup Sunday evening, I’d also like to point out that I’ve updated the page entitled “2009 Breeders’ Cup” so that you can easily navigate to the selections/analysis for each of the BC races this weekend.  Basically it’s the old “2009 Triple Crown” page that used to be in the same spot – only that information has been moved down a few notches.  Just trying to keep things as easy as can be for the readers here.

Getting back to the Classic, the field sets up like this:

  1. Mine That Bird (12/1)
  2. Colonel John (12/1)
  3. Summer Bird (9/2)
  4. Zenyatta (5/2*)
  5. Twice Over (20/1)
  6. Richard’s Kid (12/1)
  7. Gio Ponti (12/1)
  8. Einstein (12/1)
  9. Girolamo (20/1)
  10.  Rip Van Winkle (7/2)
  11.  Regal Ransom (20/1)
  12.  Quality Road (12/1)
  13.  Awesome Gem (30/1)

“Slow Cheetah come, it’s so euphoric.  Looks like it’s on today…”  (“Slow Cheetah” being my pet name for Zenyatta)

MINE THAT BIRD – the 3-year-old “little gelding who could” that shocked the world with his stunning 50/1 upset in the Kentucky Derby back in May.  Sadly, that was the last time he found the winner’s circle, although he did come charging well late against Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness.  He just hasn’t seemed the same horse since then, and his relatively uninspiring effort over the Santa Anita Pro Ride in the Goodwood (Grade 1) last month does not leave me thinking he’s got much of a chance here.  He’s shocked us before – so keep that in mind before you toss him out, but as much as I like this gelding and his trainer, Chip Woolley Jr., I’m just not seeing it.

COLONEL JOHN was my original selection for the 2008 Kentucky Derby.  Since then I’ve had a bit of a tough love relationship with him.  He’s a Tiznow colt, and I’m nothing if not a Tiznow fan, so he’ll always hold a special place in my heart.  It just seems like whenever I expect big things from him, he struggles, and whenever I dismiss his chances, he runs huge.  He’s capable of running big here, but I’m going to consider others as more solid selections for win honors.  If my Colonel John conundrum continues, that might suggest he’s primed for his best performance.  For now, I’ll say he’s a contender and leave it at that. 

SUMMER BIRD might be the forgotten colt of the entire field.  This is likely due to his lack of previous racing experience over the synthetic surfaces.  The son of Birdstone did train over the Santa Anita Pro Ride before joining the barn of Trainer Tim Ice – a man who was beyond awesome to my entire family on Haskell day at Monmouth Park.  Since we got to meet Summer Bird that day, and since he was my wife’s Belmont pick, you best believe he’ll be on all my tickets.  Am I worried about the synthetics?  Nope, not at all – and my gut tells me this guy is one of the better North American horses in racing.  Case in point – immediately following the Haskell, our conversations with Ice revealed that he didn’t want to run into Rachel Alexandra ever again, but he’s confident enough again in his colt following his victories in the Travers and the Jockey Club Gold Cup that he now publicly states he wants another shot at her.  Not many folks would say such a thing – and Tim is a consummate gentlemen, so don’t mistake that for false bravado.  He’s sincere in everything he says, which tells me this colt is poised.  Big factor – and expect to see those odd s of 9/2 improve dramatically once the betting windows open up.

ZENYATTA - what’s left to say about my beloved “Slow Cheetah?”  The 50-foot woman…the undefeated super star who has been the poster girl for California racing for 2 seasons now.  This is her biggest moment, and while she’s facing boys for the first time and taking on a new distance as well, she’s simply one of the classiest animals I’ve had the pleasure of seeing.  If this is indeed her swan song (which recent discussions suggest it will not be), then it shall be with a watery eye that I bid her farewell.  My love affair with Zenyatta began the evening she broke her maiden in her debut in late 2007.  I had just decided to start posting picks online and experimenting with these peculiarities called “blogs.”  The rest, quite literally, is history.  I’m expecting her finest hour – and that’s exactly what it will likely take to prevail.  If this plays out the way she usually does things, expect a heart-stopping photo finish type of cliffhanger ending at the wire.  You KNOW she’ll be flying late. 

TWICE OVER is the sneakiest of the European invaders by virtue of being 20/1 on the morning line.  I’ll say this, given the fact that European shippers ran 1, 2 in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Classic, wouldn’t it make sense to at least take a flyer on a RIP VAN WINKLE/TWICE OVER exacta here?  We are, after all, talking about a horse that has won 3 straight overseas, including besting the filly Sariska in the Champion Stakes (Group 1).  He didn’t appear to run his best race when he tangled with RIP VAN WINKLE in the Eclipse Stakes back in July, but his running line denotes that he was “bumped’ in that race.  Further, he simply might be a better horse now than he was back then.  Very interesting and quite usable colt given the 20/1 value on the morning line.

RICHARD’S KID was the upset special for trainer Bob Baffert in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic in early September.  The son of Lemon Drop Kid shocked us all by beating EINSTEIN at 24/1, and then returned to run 3rd beaten only a length to COLONEL JOHN and Gitano Hernando.  In other words, he doesn’t appear to be a fluke, so you might want to keep him around on your tickets. 

GIO PONTI is probably the best North American turf horse at the moment.  So what’s he doing here rather than racing in the BC Turf?  I’m not entirely certain, although it would appear he does seem to favor the 10 furlong distance.  The son of Tale of the Cat did win here in the Sir Beaufort over the Pro Ride when that race came off the turf last December.  If you’re a believer that turf form translates well to the Pro Ride, then you shouldn’t have any doubts about his chances.  He has to be considered a player in here with a chance.

EINSTEIN is the hard trying son of Spend a Buck that has earned fans from all over the nation the past 3 years.  I’ll always remember the first time I saw him live on Preakness Day in 2007, when a spill caused him to toss jockey Robby Albarado just 2 races before Curlin’s date with destiny in the Preakness.  Ultimately we lost the colt Mending Fences that day, but since then Einstein has gone on to become one of the most versatile horses in all of racing.  His motto, if he could speak, would surely be something along the lines of “any surface, any track, any time.”  A rare Grade 1 winner on dirt, turf, and synthetics.  He’s run into some hard luck and close finishes this year, so it would be nice to see him fight his way back into the winner’s circle.  Ultimately I like him better as an underneath play here. 

GIROLAMO is the most lightly raced of the contenders, and a 3-year-old son of A. P. Indy.  He’s never been two turns before, but his pedigree suggests he’ll handle it.  For me the tougher question is figuring out where he might fit into the equation pace wise.  I’m guessing he’ll be right up there trying to go with Regal Ransom.  He’s definitely a nice colt that is on the improve and eligible to continue to move forwad, but he’ll be on a new surface, going two turns for the first time, and facing a level of competition he’s never seen before.  That might be asking just a tad too much here.

RIP VAN WINKLE is the main threat to ZENYATTA’s quest for glory here in the Classic.  The son of Galileo has been very sharp lately, taking both the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1 races both) in his last two efforts.  Prior to that he was only 1 length behind Sea the Stars in the Eclipse Stakes (and, notably, 4 1/2 lengths in front of Conduit – whom I just made top selection in the BC Turf….hmmmmm).  In fact, he lost 3 straight to Sea the Stars, but never finished worse than 4th and was never further than 2 1/2 lengths from the colt considered by many to be among the best they have ever seen in Europe.  Trainer Aidan O’Brien and jockey Johnny Murtagh will team up once again here and look to steal the victory from the hometown hero.  The obvious question will be how he handles the synthetics, and as always one must take a bit of a leap of faith in backing a runner like this, but he does look tough to deal with here.  In fact, he looks tougher than anything ZENYATTA has ever seen.  As much as it pains me to do it, he’s going to be the top pick. Don’t “sleep” on this guy (lame, I know, but I couldn’t resist).

REGAL RANSOM is a horse I was admittedly quite enamored with during the Triple Crown season earlier this year.  Things didn’t quite work out for him, as he finished 8th over the Churchill slop on Derby day, but he did return to wire the field in the Super Derby last out (Grade 2).  He seems to be a legit pace factor here, and that could have him in a favorable position if he were to get loose on the lead.  Of course, as mentioned earlier, GIRALOMO appears to want to have something to say about that, and so might QUALITY ROAD, so it’s not enough to make me think upset here.  Word is that he has been working extremely well here, so definitely think about using him underneath on the exotics.

QUALITY ROAD was once my top Derby selection for 2009.  This means that my top Derby picks for the last 2 years are now here in this race.  The speedy son of Elusive Quality has been unable to catch SUMMER BIRD in his last two starts over wet surfaces in New York.  I’d expect him to be on the muscle early on and looking to press REGAL RANSOM should that one try to waltz away with things untested early on.  It’s hard for me to think he’ll win this, but he can still be a factor.  One angle to keep in mind is that this is a colt who had some issues with his feet earlier in the year, and quite a few horses with similar problems have really taken to the softer synthetic surfaces. 

AWESOME GEM was the third place finisher in the 2007 Classic behind Curlin and Hard Spun. Last year he finished 6th in the BC Mile.  I’d give him a shot if we were on a true dirt surface and rain was in the forecast, but his 1 for 12 record on synthetics leaves me thinking he’s an outsider here.

How do I see this race playing out?  I think REGAL RANSOM, QUALITY ROAD, and GIROLAMO will contest things early on .  As the field nears the turn, ZENYATTA will start to uncoil and swing wide (like she always does) and start mowing down horses in front of her.  RIP VAN WINKLE will be a bit more forwardly placed along with SUMMER BIRD, EINSTEIN, and TWICE OVER.  This group will actually get frist run at the leading trio, with ZENYATTA, COLONEL JOHN, RICHARD’s KID, MINE THAT BIRD, and GIO PONTI further back. 

I like RIP VAN WINKLE and ZENYATTA to rise to the top, due to their respective class, and leave us with a finish for th ages.  I’m calling a photo finish that could go either way depending on the head bob.  Two gutsy, world class competitors leaving it all on the line.  No quarter shall be asked, and none shall be given.  God bless ‘em, this ought to be a good one.

Selections:

  • #10 Rip Van Winkle (7/2)
  • #4 Zenyatta (5/2*)
  • #3 Summer Bird (9/2)

Best of luck to all!  May this be a Breeders’ Cup to remember.  Don’t forget that we’ve got all 13 of the previous Breeders’ Cup races for the weekend covered as well.  For quick access, you can locate those posts here.


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Categories : Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup Coverage, Colonel John, Einstein, Handicapping Selections, Mine That Bird, Quality Road, Santa Anita, Summer Bird, TBA, Zenyatta, horse racing

Breeders’ Cup Turf Selections

5 11 2009

The 2009 running of the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf has come up extremely intriguing this year, thanks to the presence of the lightning quick Presious Passion, the classy European filly Dar Re Mi, fellow invader Spanish Moon, and the presence of defending champion Conduit.  A cool $3 million will be on the line as the horses go to post on Saturday for the 1 1/2 mile run over the Santa Anita turf. 

The field sets up like this:

  1. Telling (20/1)
  2. Conduit (7/5*)
  3. Red Rocks (20/1)
  4. Allegre (50/1)
  5. Dar Re Mi (3/1)
  6. Presious Passion (4/1)
  7. Spanish Moon (5/2)
  8. Monzante (30/1)

TELLING is a son of A.P. Indy who took many horseplayers by surprise when he suddenly broke out as a Grade 1 winner in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga this summer.  Prior to that race, the 5-year-old had struggled to find the winner’s circle for quite some time.  He wasn’t able to repeat that effort when he returned in the Grade 1 Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont last month, and has now drawn the dreaded rail post position.  This will be the toughest competition he’s ever seen, so he’ll need his absolute best to contest for win honors.

CONDUIT is the defending champion from last year’s BC Turf.  A year ago he was coming into this race off of consecutive victories at the Group 3 and Group 1 levels, respectively.  This year he’s got a Group 1 victory in the King George, and a very respectable 4th place finish to Sea the Stars in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind him as attempts to defend his crown.  If the Conduit we’ve come to know and love shows up, the others could be running for place and show.  In particular, the presence of Presious Passion in this field ensures he’ll have a target to run at.  Now the question will be whether he can run that target down.  With 12 furlongs to work with, he’ll have plenty of time to do so (although to be honest, the longer the race the slower the anticipated pace usually is).

RED ROCKS will forever be the “horse that spoiled my trip to see Curlin in the Man O’ War back in 2008.  I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to forgive him for that day.  Here’s a guy who is a previous Breeders’ Cup Turf winner, something you certainly have to respect.  I’m just not sure he’s capable anymore now at 6-years-old as things seem to have turned slightly southward this year. 

ALLEGRE is the longsthot of the field at 50/1, and a 4-year-old son of Orientate that would need to both move forward significantly and run his absolute best to factor here, although trainer Brian Koriner is usually good with turfers.

DAR RE MI is the European shipper I’m most fond of here.  The daughter of Singspiel was 2nd to Zarkava (2008 Arc de Triomphe champion) in the Group 1 Prix Vermeile last year and ran a respectable 5th (beaten by 3 1/4 lengths) to Sea the Stars in the 2009 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe – the richest turf race in the world.  In between she’s bested a filly that I’m extremely fond of named Sariska, as well as the talented Stacelita (although she was ultimately disqualified and placed 5th).  A major player in here for sure who could keep the filly and mare mojo flowing on Saturday with a brilliant performance.

PRESIOUS PASSION is the lightning in a bottle speed of the speed in here.  Remember that effort of his in the United Nations when he was 20 lengths clear of the field the first time around the track?  I don’t think he’ll go that crazy, but he will be looking to open things up quite comfortably in the early going in an attempt to build an insurmountable lead and then hang on for dear life as DAR RE MI, CONDUIT, and SPANISH MOON come charging.  Always dangerous if loose on the lead.

SPANISH MOON is a very intriguing European shipper that has run 6 straight solid races – with 4 of them being victories  – most notably the Group 1 Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.  Coming off back to back wins (including a defeat of Youmzain, the runner-up finisher in the 2009 Arc de Triomphe) signals that this son of El Prado is ready to run a big one in his first visit to the U.S.  Respect his chances.

MONZANTE rounds out the field for trainer Mike Mitchell, who will return the son of Maria’s Mon to the guiding hands of jockey Rafael Bejarano.  The pair teamed up for two of this horse’s better performances last year at Del Mar, and will look to recapture some of that previous magic.  Finished 7th, though only beaten by a collective 4 lengths to Colonel John and Gitano Hernando in the Goodwood last out.  Rates as an outside possiblity on his top stuff.

Overall I think CONDUIT is still the guy you’ve got to get passed here, and I’ll give the defending champ the nod.  You won’t hear any argument from me though to those who side with DAR RE MI, PRESIOUS PASSION, or SPANISH MOON as all 3 seem quite capable of winning.  In my mind, PRESIOUS PASSION leads the field into the stretch, when these 3 come charging home. I like CONDUIT getting home on top by a very slim margin, with PRESIOUS PASSION holding on to finish 2nd or 3rd, and either DAR RE MI or SPANISH MOON taking the other slice. 

Selections:

  • #2 Conduit (7/5*)
  • #6 Presious Passion (4/1)
  • #5 Dar Re M (3/1)

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Breeders’ Cup Sprint Selections

5 11 2009

The Grade 1 Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint has drawn a field of 9 to contest the 6 furlong sprint over the Pro Ride at Santa Anita.  An overall purse of $2 million will be on the line as California “zensation” Zensational as the morning line favorite will face off against Irish bred invader Fleeting Spirit as well as North American contenders like Fatal Bullet and Capt. Candyman Can.

The field sets up like this:

  1. Zensational (6/5*)
  2. Cost of Freedom (20/1)
  3. Fatal Bullet (9/2)
  4. Crown of Thorns (12/1)
  5. Gayego (5/2)
  6. Dancing in Silks (12/1)
  7. Join in the Dance (30/1)
  8. Capt. Candyman Can (15/1)
  9. Fleeting Spirit (8/1)

“Who can take the sprint race….come from off the pace?”  The Candyman can (perhaps)

ZENSATIONAL looms the favorite, and the 2nd most popular one whose name begins with the letter “z” on the day.  The son of Unbridled’s Song has rattled off 4 straight victories, as well as 5 of his last 6by steam rolling the local competition.  Quick out of the gate, he tends to either wire the field or press from 2nd position early on.  He’ll be fresh for this race, having not run since his victory in the Grade 1 Pat O’Brien in early September.  Like many a Bob Baffert trainee, his workout tab is filled with bullet drills.  Catch him to score.

COST OF FREEDOM is a 6-year-old son of Cee’s Tizzy that has only raced twice thus far in 2009.  The 2008 victor of the Grade 1 Ancient Title tried to repeat that performance last out in defense of his crown and came up short behind both GAYEGO and CROWN OF THORNS.  He could add some pace pressure to ZENSATIONAL, but probably wants to take back about a length or two behind him in the early going.  A 3 for 4 record at Santa Anita and a 5 for 7 record at the distance suggest he is not to be dismissed at 20/1 odds.

FATAL BULLET is a dangerous looking son of Red Bullet  coming off a Grade 3 victory in the Phoenix for trainer Reade Baker.  FATAL BULLET managed to finish 2nd in this race last year behind Midnight Lute, and a similar performance makes him a legit player here.  He’s another that tens to be forwardly placed throughout the race, and although two of his recent victories were in wire-to-wire fashion, he doesn’t need the lead to win.  Contender.

CROWN OF THORNS is a very lightly raced 4-year-old son of Repent that sill has room to move forward.  He was a fast rising star for trainer Richard Mandella in early 2008 before suffering an injury that had him on the shelf for over a year.  He’s returned this fall to run two very good races – even if they didn’t translate to victories.  Eligible for improvement in this his 3rd start of 2009, so don’t sell him too short.

GAYEGO – where do I begin with this guy?  Would you believe that in April of 2008 I had a dream that he would go on to win the Derby?  Yeah…shows how much stock I should probably put into such dreams.  Not only did he not win, he ran the two worst races of his life in the ‘08 Derby and Preakness races.  Since then he’s been on the redemption trail, having won 4 of his last 5 starts.  Godolphin Stables seems to have found a way to bring this guy back to life.  He can be a pace factor, as evidence by his run in the Preakness, but is probably a better horse now that he’s learned to rate effectively.  In seven lifetime races over synthetic surfaces, he’s been in the exacta six times. 

DANCING IN SILKS is a 4-year-old son of Black Minnaloushe that is coming off his career best performance against Cal-breds in the Cal Cup Sprint Handicap on October 3rd, a victory that marked his 3rd in a row.  He’ll need to prove he can “class up” with the rest of the field to prevail here, although he certainly seems capable on his best stuff.  Trainer Carla Gaines is hitting at 34% with last out winners.

JOIN IN THE DANCE actually was the early pace in this year’s Kentucky Derby – a fact that many forget in light of the shocking upset pulled off by Mine That Bird that day.  The son of Sky Mesa would appear to be the longshot of the field for trainer Todd Pletcher, although he should enjoy the cut back in distance from the route races he’s been running in.  Another runner capable of adding to the pace equation, if nothing else.

CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN has developed nicely into a very good sprinter in his 2009 campaign.  He’s got the kind of off-the-pace running style that could set up nicely here in the BC Sprint, and 15/1 is certainly enough value to warrant giving him some consideration.  He’s a Candy Ride, so he should do fine over the Pro Ride, but folks probably won’t be questioning that much given his game 2nd place finish at Keeneland last out.  I think the Capt. has a shot in here.

FLEETING SPIRIT will attract some curiosity and attention by virtue of being the only Euro of the field, as well as the only filly.  The daughter of Invincible Spirit is a Group 1 winner, having taken the July Cup at Newmarket (GB) in July.  Her running lines suggest she sometimes encounters trouble at the start, but you know what – that could actually help here considering the fact that we have a contentious pace possibility in this race.  My notes show that Dettori will be aboard this miss in her attempt to add yet another feather in the hat of the “year of the filly.”  Respect her chances.

Tough race to crack.  Things would obviously be much simpler if ZENSATIONAL could be expected to get an easy lead and make the rest academic, but I don’t think that’s the case.  Considering he’ll be hammered at the windows and is already 6/5 on the morning line, I’m thinking he’s a favorite you can try to play against here.  The three horses that stick out to me with the best shots would be FATAL BULLET, FLEETING SPIRIT, and CAPT. CANDYMAN CAN, so if you’re fond of one of those runners, go ahead and take a shot.  This being the year of the filly and all, I’m going to take a bit of a stab with FLEETING SPIRIT at 8/1 and hope for the best. 

Selections:

  • #9 Fleeting Spirit (8/1)
  • #1 Zensational (7/5*)
  • #3 Fatal Bullet (9/2)

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Breeders’ Cup Mile Selections

4 11 2009

Eleven contenders are set to line up for a surprisingly deep field in the Grade 1 TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile on Saturday at Santa Anita.  The field includes last year’s champion filly Goldikova, who will be taking on the boys again in her quest for repeat glory. 

The field sets up as follows:

  1. Court Vision (12/1)
  2. Whatsthescript (15/1)
  3. Cowboy Cal (6/1)
  4. Delegator (3/1)
  5. Karelian (20/1)
  6. Courageous Cat (20/1)
  7. Ferneley (20/1)
  8. Zacinto (8/1)
  9. Gladiatorus (20/1)
  10. Justenuffhumor (10/1)
  11. Goldikova (8/5*)

Can Goldikova match the legacy of Miesque and make it back-to-back victories over the boys in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile?

COURT VISION – his wins may be few and far between lately, but 12/1 feels like a steal on this guy.  The son of Gulch was once a contender for the 2008 Kentucky Derby, but has become one of the better  turf runners in the U.S. since that point in time.  He’s had trouble facing off against Presious Passion, Gio Ponti, and Einstein this year, but will thankfully avoid all three in this race.  On the other hand, he now runs into the likes of GOLDIKOVA and DELEGATOR.  Rick Dutrow took over training COURT VISION and promptly helped him return to the winner’s circle last out in the Shadwell Turf Mile over soft footing at Keeneland.  On his best stuff, he can certainly be a factor here, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Dutrow have him ready to run a big one.  I like that he was a bit closer up in the Shadwell Turf Mile, as that may have helped him out over the late closing style that Dominguez and Mott employed in his previous 2009 starts.  This is a solid horse, although contention runs deep in this race.

WHATSTHESCRIPT finished 3rd in this race last year behind GOLDIKOVA and KIP DEVILLE.  To be honest, I liked his form coming into this event last year much better than what we’ve seen this year. You have to to back to the 2008 Del Mar mile to find his last victory, and while he can definitely threaten for a minor award, a win would seem to be just a bit of a stretch to predict here.  This is clearly his best distance, and he has run well over the Santa Anita turf. 

COWBOY CAL is admittedly one of my favorite horses in training.  There’s just something about him that I love.  The son of Giant’s Causeway will likely attempt to wire the field once again – something that’s been difficult to do at this level for him.  In recent races, JUSTENUFFHUMOR has seemingly had his number, but he has finished ahead of COURT VISION and WHATSTHESCRIPT.  Could this be the day he hangs on for victory?  It’s interesting to note that GOLDIKOVA seemingly got torched a bit by a very fast pace in the Prix de la Foret last out at Longchamp.  I don’t think COWBOY CAL will be going as fast here, but it shows that it’s not entirely impossible to envision him exiting victorious.  He’ll be my rooting interest in this race.  I haven’t definitively made up my mind yet how much I’ll support him with my wallet.

DELEGATOR is the first in a series of very live foreign invaders looking to take the TVG Mile.  Yet again, we’re dealing with a Godolphin runner that has (who else?) Dettori aboard.  The 3-year-old son of Dansili is a Group 2 winner at Goodwood, having prevailed in the Celebration Mile over today’s rival ZACINTO.  The names of horses he’s faced in recent races reads like a who’s who in terms of 2009 Breeders’ Cup contenders from Europe, including Rip Van Winkle and Mastercraftsman (not to mention Sea the Stars).  A classy horse you’ve got to respect in this spot.

KARELIAN is one of the few horses in this field that I have trouble making a case for in terms of being a potential win candidate.  He’s a fine gelding, for sure, and seems to be running better now in his old age (7-years-old) than he did earlier in his career.  It’s just that he’ll be stepping up a bit in terms of class and would need the race of his life here to prevail.  Just about any of these guys could hit the board somewhere, but I wouldn’t recommend him as a win play.  Of course, if you do like him, then 20/1 is certainly worth a shot.

COURAGEOUS CAT – every time I type this horse’s name, I travel back to my childhood and the Saturday morning cartoon shorts of “Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse.”  Almost nobody seems to remember that, but it seems this guy’s connections do.  On paper the son of Storm Cat might not stand out, but keep in mind this is a relatively lightly raced 3-year-old who could be eligible to move forwarda bit. He’s got decent enough recent form, having won 3 of his last 4, but like others would probably need to run a career defining race here to prevail. 

FERNELEY managed to defeat Allicansayis Wow and Lethal Heat two races back in the Del Mar Mile, and then finished a game 2nd to Ventura in the Woodbine Mile.  That’s pretty good recent company to have kept.  The 5-year-old son of Ishiguru has fired fresh before back in April at Golden Gate, and would need a similar effort to have a shot here.  To that end, his workout tab is dotted with bullets lately.  Seems like an outsider at first glance but could be primed for a solid performance.

ZACINTO is a horse who might get overlooked a bit at the windows.  It’s hard to imagine that considering how the 3-year-old son of Dansili has classed up when facing Rip Van Winkle and DELEGATOR this year.  The morning line odds of 8/1 seem like a gift given this guy’s capability.  If you like DELEGATOR, don’t you have to like this guy as well?  I just question why the other is 3/1 and this guy is 8/1?  Seems a bit odd if you ask me, especially since ZACINTO was 3 1/4 lengths ahead of DELEGATOR at the wire in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot on September 25.  A major player in this race.

GLADIATORUS exits a victory in the Group 1 Premio Vittorio di Capua in Italy – a race I could tell you next to nothing about.  The son of Silic has faced off against GOLDIKOVA in the past, and did not turn in one of his more memorable performances (beaten by 20 1/2 lengths).  On the plus side, he has won 8 of 13 lifetime starts going 8 furlongs, and when he does run “his race”, he seems quite capable.  I just tend to prefer some of the other shippers a bit more.  He tends to lead early, according to his running lines, which suggests he may be a pace factor along with COWBOY CAL and perhaps COURAGEOUS CAT and/or KARELIAN.

JUSTENUFFHUMOR did not fire over the soft footing at Keeneland in the Shadwell Turf Mile last out, but prior to that flop had been 6 for his previous 6.  I think you draw a line through that last race and try to focus on his other races.  The son of Distorted Humor should be closing into the pace as they near the stretch, and if he can return to the form he showed in the Bernard Baruch Handicap (Grade 2), he can definitely factor here.  My main concern is that a mile just doesn’t seem on paper to be his best distance.  We shall see.

GODIKOVA - what can you say about one of the ladies who helped make the 2008/2009 seasons such a story book time for fillies and mares?  Far before the world went “Rachel crazy”, we had GOLDIKOVA defeating colts in the 2008 BC Mile.  Some folks might be ready to jump ship given her recent unexpected defeat in the Prix de la Foret (Group 1) at Longchamp last out, but I’m going to be forgiving here and assume that Goldi is still the horse to beat in this race.  She’s arguably the top miler in the world, and may have simply been too close to a hot pace last out in a race that she didn’t necessarily “need” to be ready here.  Trainer Freedie Head knows a thing or two about fillies in this race, having rode Miesque to victories in the 1988 and 1989 runnings of the BC Mile. She’s still the horse to beat, although this year seems to set up a bit more difficult than the 2008 race did – even with the presence of Kip Deville last year.

I’ll use GOLDIKOVA as top selection here.  ZACINTO and DELEGATOR would seem to be the top threats in my opinion, although I’m not going to count COWBOY CAL or COURT VISION out of this fight either.  A resurgent JUSTENUFFHUMOR looking to make amends makes this race much more competitive than folks probably thought prior to glancing at the past performances.  This seems like a great race to pick the horse(s) that you like the most and take a shot.  It should be a good one.

Selections:

  • #11 Goldikova (8/5*)
  • #8 Zacinto (8/1)
  • #4 Delegator (3/1)

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Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Selections

4 11 2009

These Breeders’ Cup races for 2-year-olds…they’re just so…oh, what’s the word I’m looking for?  JUVENILE!

As we turn our attention to the Grade 1 Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, the focus is on babies – babies who in just a few short months might be captivating the world in the Derby, Preakness, and Belmont.  Of course, that’s seldom the case, apart from Street Sense back in 2007, but the possibility is still one that gives the race a sense of mystique that makes it worth watching, even if it doesn’t exactly feature the biggest household names of the sport.  Give them time, and some of these guys are bound to leave their mark.  If nothing else, the sky is the limit – as we’ve doubtless yet to see the best this group has to offer. 

The field sets up as follows:

  1. Alfred Nobel (20/1)
  2. Piscitelli (50/1)
  3. Beethoven (20/1)
  4. Noble’s Promise (8/1)
  5. D’Funnybone (5/2)
  6. Pulsion (20/1)
  7. Vale of York (20/1)
  8. Eskendereya (10/1)
  9. Aikenite (8/1)
  10.  Aspire (30/1)
  11.  Radiohead (15/1)
  12.  William’s Kitten (30/1)
  13.  Lookin At Lucky (8/5*)

Radiohead – what the hell is he doin’ here?  He don’t belong here.

ALFRED NOBEL is the nobly named son of Danehill Dancer being sent to post for acclaimed trainer Aidan O’Brien.  Jockey Johnny Murtagh will once again climb aboard and thus present us with the same connections that we saw aboard Mastercraftsman in the Dirt Mile, and will see again with Rip Van Winkle in the Classic.  He won 3 in a row sprinting back ing Ireland earlier this year, with Murtagh aboard for each victory.  The question would seem to be whether he’ll like the 8 1/2 furlong distance of the Juvenile?  I’m admittedly not familiar with the 2-year-olds he’s faced across the pond, but it would seem this one has a chance at a square price.

PISCITELLI is a horse that I almost dismissed outright based on name alone.  He happens to share names with a much maligned defensive back for the equally much maligned Tampa Bay Bucs in the NFL.  Leaving that aside for a moment, he seems to be a gradually improving type, although he’s had trouble finding the winner’s circle since breaking his maiden. He does at least have some synthetic form to consider, although he was soundly beaten by a few of his rivals last out in the Breeders’ Futurity (Grade 1) last out.  Must continue to improve to score here.

BEETHOVEN tossed me for a bit of a loop when I first saw his name, as we had a horse with the same name among the U.S. 3-year-old crop this year.  Obviously this guy is different, and he could wind up being better.  With Murtagh opting to ride ALFRED NOBEL, Moore will take the mount on this entry for Aidan O’Brien.  He’s a Group 1 winner overseas, having taken the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket (GB) last out.  Like most, must also answer the distance question to prevail.

NOBLE’S PROMISE is a very intriguing son of Cuvee for trainer Ken McPeek, the man who is famously credited with first spotting Curlin.  A winner of 3 straight, he’s climbed steadily from the ranks of maidens to Grade 1 winners.  An old rule of thumb I abide bye is that the best horses make that climb very quickly, and this guy couldn’t have done so any faster.  Add to that his proven synthetic form and the juicy 8/1 morning line odds and I’m ready to make this guy my top pick.  He should be close up in 2nd or 3rd early on and will look to get first jump on the leader(s).

D’FUNNYBONE is the “buzz” horse for trainer Richard Dutrow Jr.  The son of D’Wildcat has won his last two efforts in Grade 2 races back in New York in highly impressive fashion.  The trouble for me is that Dutrow isn’t exactly known for being a top synthetic trainer. If this race were on dirt, I’d have to support him, but having to answer the synthetic question and going the seemingly always unpopular dirt-to-synthetic angle (the red-headed step child of synthetic handicapping angles, for whatever reason) makes me just a tad gun-shy.  Could well be the best horse in the field when all is said and done.

PULSION is an off the pace type who seems to be rounding into form nicely for trainer Patrick Biancone.  It took him 3 tries to break his maiden, and he wound up 2nd in his first try against winners – but that was a Grade 1, so don’t think for a moment he can’t move forward again.  Mike Smith stays aboard for Juvenile.  Could be a sneaky play if he continues to progress.

VALE OF YORK is the Godolphin invader for trainer Saeed bin Suroor.  Like ALFRED NOBEL, I know nothing about hat he’s faced, but this son of Invincible Spirit obviously has some talent under the hood as he’s been competing at the Group 1 and 2 levels lately.  Possibility.

ESKENDEREYA ships in from New York for trainer Todd Pletcher.  The son of Gian’ts Causeway romped to break his maiden at the stakes level in the Pilgrim ($152k) last month – a confident move from his connections considering he had lost in his maiden debut.  He’s been training well enough at Belmont building up for this.  Could be a surprise package if he takes to the Pro Ride.  The trouble for me (and most bettors) is that there simply isn’t a whole lot to go on to suggest that he will beyond gut instinct.  My gut tells me he handles the surface fine. 

AKENITE is a very interesting runner, again for trainer Todd Pletcher.  In fact, he appears to be Pletcher’s “A-horse” for this race, and will retain the services of jockey Alan Garcia – who was lights out this summer at Saratoga.  There’s a lot to like about this son of Yes It’s True.  He’s won on both dirt and synthetics (at Keeneland), which suggests he’ll transition to Santa Anita’s Pro Ride just fine.  Further, he’s won at this distance. I think he’s a very legit player in this race and the 8/1 odds are extremely attractive.

ASPIRE – if ever there was a horse named for this blog to support, it’s this guy.  The son of Tale of the Cat broke his maiden in his debut, and has since run 2nd in the Hopeful, and a close 3rd in the Champagne Stakes.  Two very nice looking colts have beaten him in those last two efforts; Dublin and Homeboykris.  Chalk this guy up as another contender in an extremely deep betting race.

RADIOHEAD - He’s so very special. He’s a creep. He’s a weirdo.  What the hell is he doing here?  He don’t belong here!  (Run Away!!!). All kidding aside, this guy has the coolest name of the field. In case you’re wondering about those first few sentences, they are part of the 90’s classic anthem “Creep” by the band of the same name as this son of Johannesburg.  Focusing on the horse for a moment, we’re looking at yet another apparently live European shipper that has been running competitively at the Group 1 and 2 levels overseas.  He’ll have to overcome the post position and take to the Pro Ride, but he’s yet another possibility.  As an added bonus, since like me you are no doubt handicapping the marathon that is the BC, enjoy the added music of “Creep” by Radiohead as a brief respite in honor of this, the most badassed named horse of the entire Breeders’ Cup.  Take the break – you’ve earned it if you’ve read this far! 

WILLIAM’S KITTEN is a longshot for trainer Michael Maker that appears outmatched on paper.  That being said, Maker is quite the accomplished horsemen, so who am I to question this placement?  Must step up big time to factor.

LOOKIN AT LUCKY is your 8/5 morning line favorite and will line up at the extreme outside post position #13.  Sure, he’s won all 4 of his lifetime starts, and the son of Smart Strike is also perfect over the California plastics, but has he ever had to break from out here in no man’s land?  On the plus side, with nobody to his outside, he’ll probably get a clean break – which is something you always have to worry about any time you line up 14 2-year-olds like this.  It actually might be a blessing rather than a hinderance.  I just can’t take 8/5 from all the way out here in a race this deep.  I think he’s a fine colt, and Bob Baffert has certainly proven he can prepare horses with the best of them, but I’ll be trying to beat him most likely. 

I’m going to use NOBLE’S PROMISE as my top selection here and then use one of the more obvious selections in LOOKIN AT LUCKY directly underneath.  AKENITE, ASPIRE, ESKENDEREYA, D’FUNNYBONE, and RADIOHEAD are all about equal in my next tier, but I really want to size up some of these Europeans with my eyeballs before finalizing things.  For now I’ll go with RADIOHEAD as my third choice, if only because he’s a creep and weirdo.  :)

Selections:

  • #4 Noble’s Promise (8/1)
  • #13 Lookin At Lucky (8/5*)
  • #11 Radiohead (15/1)

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Categories : Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup Coverage, Handicapping Selections, Santa Anita, horse racing

Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Selections

4 11 2009

It’s time for the not-so-aptly named (these past two years at least) Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.  From here on out we’re in Grade 1 territory.  Ten horses have lined up for a race that features another formidable favorite. I highly suspect this might be a race folks will be taking a stand on one way or another in the Pick 6 sequence.  The field sets up like this:

  1. Mastercraftsman (6/5*)
  2. Furthest Land (20/1)
  3. Midshipman (6/1)
  4. Bullsbay (3/1)
  5. Neko Bay (20/1)
  6. Mambo Meister (30/1)
  7. Pyro (10/1)
  8. Mr. Sidney (12/1)
  9. Chocolate Candy (15/1)
  10. Ready’s Echo (20/1)

Johnny Murtagh and Mastercraftsman loom the ones to beat in the 2009 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile

MASTERCRAFTSMAN comes into this race looking mighty tough to defeat.  The only horse to have bested this dude during the 2009 season has been a colt you may have heard of before; Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe champion Sea the Stars – who managed to defeat him 3 times in as many tries.  MASTERCRAFTSMAN never humiliated himself, even against that monster, and in fact ran 2nd to him in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York (GB) back in August.  Even more importantly, he demonstrated his ability to win over synthetics by winning the Group 3 Diamond Stakes at Dundalk (IRE) last out.  A force to be reckoned with.  Beat him if you can.

FURTHEST LAND is a 20/1 longshot son of Smart Strike exiting his best ever performance last out at Turfway Park.  He sports an impressive 2 for 2 record over synthetic racing surfaces, albeit at longer distances.  He could find himself up close early on due to the absence of any standout speed in this race on paper.  Trainer Michael Maker is having a banner season, hitting at nearly 30% or better in each of the categories displayed on his Daily Racing Form running lines.  Intriguing, especially considering his anticipated value.

MIDSHIPMAN is best remembered as the champion of the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.  He spent most of the 2009 season on the bench, but returned to defeat optional allowance claiming company at Belmont in September to signal his readiness for the 2009 Breeders’ Cup.  Godolphin Stables has been having a solid 2009 and you have to respect anything that they and trainer Saeed bin Suroor send to post, especially a 3-year-old that still has room for improvement.

BULLSBAY races for my main man, trainer Graham Motion.  The son of Tiznow sports a late closing kick that could be hampered if only a soft pace develops out in front of him.  Still, we’ve seen this guy run gamely against the likes of Rachel Alexandra, so you know he can hang with the best of ‘em.  His last synthetic effort in the Hollywood Gold Cup is the race that most California fans consistently pointed to throughout the year as  proof that horses Zenyatta had beaten (namely Life Is Sweet) had also defeated runners Rachel had beaten, but this guy totally flopped that day finishing 10th out of 13 and was clearly off his usual form.  Way back in 2008 he turned in a better performance finishing 3rd over the “plastics”, which is more along the lines of the type of performance he’d need to prevail here.  You know I’ll be rooting for Graham Motion and Bullsbay, but this one could be tough for BULLSBAY.

NEKO BAY seems to be a fairly consistent son of Giant’s Causeway for trainer John Shirreffs.   Mike Smith will hop aboard to complete the most popular human tandem in all of California racing at the moment, and this horse could make some noise here.  That last allowance race was tougher than it’s designation suggests, and he’s run gamely in both Grade 2 and Grade 3 efforts in the past.  Don’t take this guy too lightly.  He could be the sneak of this field – especially at 20/1.

MAMBO MEISTER is a son of King Cugat making his first synthetic start in the “Dirt” Mile.  Folks might shy away from him quite a bit due to the dreaded “dirt-to-synthetic” angle and the lack of proven Pro Ride form, but I like the fact that he’s won on both turf and dirt – horses that do that usually handle the synthetics just fine.  Whether he has the ability to run a career best coming off that last 100 Beyer figure performance is the bigger question.  One interesting angle to consider: what if this guy were to find himself on the lead?  His effort back in May in the Big Bubble suggests that’s possible. Just something to think about as you look at those 30/1 odds.

PYRO is a horse that folks seem to either love or hate.  Personally, I’ve always liked the guy.  He tries his best in each performance, even if he is something of a “plodder.” It’s interesting that he’s been effective since cutting back to the 7 furlong distance.   Trouble is, he has an attempt at the mile distance here over the Pro Ride, and it was not a performance to remember.  Still, Godolphin seems to have perked this guy back up since getting their hands on him from Steve Asmussen.  This is a horse who once trained alongside the mighty Curlin as that one prepared for the 2008 Dubai World Cup, and he was a Grade 1 winner at Saratoga this year in the Forego.  You could do a lot worse for your money.

MR. SIDNEY is an interesting turf runner (primarily) for trainer Bill Mott that will be giving it a second go on the synthetics here in the BC Mile.  His last effort resulted in a 2nd place finish at the allowance level last October at Keeneland.  It looks like he’s improved since then, having competed in numerous Grade 1 races, including a victory in the Makers Mark back in April.  Mott will obviously be hoping that newfound turf form translates into newfound Pro Ride form, and it’s certainly possible.  He seems to like to sit about 4 lengths back or so in the early going, so it’ll be interesting to see where he shakes out given the perplexing pace scenario here.  Probably needs a great trip from Kent Desormeaux to pull this one off.

CHOCOLATE CANDY is the son of Candy Ride that is owned by the famed Jenny Craig.  A steady diet of synthetic races since his couple of flops in the Derby and Belmont on dirt have resulted in improved performances, if not outright victory.  He’s an even running type that seems to not really have that extra gear that folks become enamored with on the race track, yet he’s a popular horse that seems to always generate a certain amount of buzz.  In his last four races, he’s run into Gitano Hernando, Grazen, Summer Bird, and of course Mine That Bird in the Kentucky Derby.  I don’t see him winning this race, but he can certainly hit the board.

READY”S ECHO is a rather nondescript (in terms of victories) son of More Than Ready that I best remember as one of trainer Todd Pletcher’s ubiquitous “shots” in the 2008 Belmont.  Since then he’s showed that he can hit the board, but would probably need the race of his life to win here.  Stranger things have happened, but I’m not biting – even though 20/1 is more than fair for a runner capable of 100+ Beyer figures.  One note in his favor – I actually think READY”S ECHO is a better synthetic runner than he ever was a dirt runner.  Just my humble opinion, althouth his 3-1-2-0 record over the stuff seems to support that claim.

I’ll use the obvious choice here in MASTERCRAFTSMAN for the win, as I don’t see anyone that instills confidence in me from an upset perspective.  Underneath I’m toying with playing some shots in both MAMBO MEISTER and NEKO BAY.  I’ll probably have to use my boy BULLSBAY here as well, and I’m sure my wife will talk me into using PYRO as well (she’s already mentioned “I saw Pyro is running!” excitedly….you know how that goes – now I can’t possibly let him beat me).  I think MIDSHIPMAN deserves a chance here as well, for like I said earlier, we still may have yet to see the best from this guy. 

Selections:

  • #1 Mastercraftsman (6/5*)
  • #6 Mambo Meister (30/1)
  • #5 Neko Bay (20/1)

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Categories : Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup Coverage, Handicapping Selections, Santa Anita, horse racing

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