Waiting for Curlin

31 01 2008
Curlin Wins Preakness by G.Sweeney Jr (Baltimore Sun)
Curlin Winning the Preakness – photo by Gene Sweeney Jr. (Baltimore Sun)

Curlin Several days ago owner Jess Jackson announced to the world that he believed the sport of horse racing needed more heroes.  Jackson, of Kendall Jackson winery fame is the majority owner of Eclipse Award winner Curlin, who was recently voted Horse of the Year for 2007.  Jackson indicated that he felt the sport needed to give back to fans, and that they need their heroes to cheer for.  With this in mind they moved forward with the idea to return the super-colt to action in 2008, rather than follow all of his famous rivals from the 2007 campaign into his stud career.  

The feeling I had when I heard this was one of absolute pride.  As I’ve posted continually on this blog, Curlin is quite simply my favorite horse of all time.  The euphoria I experienced watching his triumph in the Preakness this past year ranks as one of the all-time greatest moments in my life.  Likewise, the disappointment of his defeats in the Belmont, Derby, and Haskell were things you might say I took rather personally.  I can’t help it…..this horse just sparks something in me that I can’t describe.   Nothing brings me more joy than watching him compete.    Some people have a favorite player in baseball or football, and for many of my formative years I was no different.  Now, however, my emotions are firmly invested in Curlin, and I long for the day when I can cheer him on again. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Curlin, Horse Racing News

Barbaro’s ashes headed to Churchill Downs

29 01 2008

Hat tip to Dissfunktional for pointing this article out from Fox Sports. 

It was one year ago today that the bad news came.  After months of “good news” circulating in the press, few had noticed that the great Barbaro’s health had taken a significant turn south  again.  It came then as a surprise as the emotional news conference broke which announced that America’s horse had passed.  The news hit me especially hard.  I grew up in Elkton, MD, and the Fair Hill training center that Barbaro had frequented was literally within walking distance from my house.  The idea that a horse that had achieved the super-star status that comes with a victory in the Kentucky Derby could have shared that small space of earth with me seemed larger than life.

In May of 2006, just two weeks after winning the Kentucky Derby and taking the horse racing world by storm, Barbaro suffered one of the most horrific injuries in the history of sports.  Most everyone is familiar with the tear jerking story by now.  The young colt fought on valiantly as the “catastrophic injuries” he had sustained that would ultimately cost him his life necessitated surgery after surgery until owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson mercifully agreed that Dr. Dean Richardson had done enough.  The decision was made.  It was time to put the great horse down.   Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Barbaro, Horse Racing News, Horses, Kentucky Derby

Ginger Punch Wins Sunshine Millions Distaff

27 01 2008

Ginger Punch, winner of a 2007 Eclipse Award, made her move on the far turn around Peach Flambe to open up a dominating lead in the stretch and an eventual 6 3/4 length victory in her first race of the 2008 season.  The 1 1/8 mile race went in 1:49.14, with Ginger Punch returning $2.60 for the win. 

The victory was fitting considering Ginger Punch’s owner, Frank Stronach, is the mastermind behind the Sunshine Millions day, which pits Florida and California breds against one another in an 8 race series with races at both Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita.   Thankfully the weather provided enough of a respite for the major races of the day to be run and the avoidance of a much feared cancellation of the Santa Anita card.  The Daily Racing Form is reporting that trainer Bobby Frankel has indicated Ginger Punch will be next pointed towards the Grade 1 Santa Margarita at Santa Anita on March 9. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Ginger Punch, Go Between, Horses, Nashoba's Key

Forecast For Sunshine Millions Still Cloudy

26 01 2008
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The annual Sunshine Millions races have become one of the favorite early betting events of the racing year for horseplayers across the country, but the recent weather experienced at Santa Anita has thrown a bit of a cloud over the event.  There 8 races of the sequence are split between Gulfstream and Santa Anita and are slated to feature some of the biggest names in racing, including Eclipse finalists Ginger Punch and Nashoba’s Key. 

As of Friday night, the situation at Santa Anita did not sound good, with afternoon racing cancelled for the day and the prospects of the track being open on Saturday for the big event looking dicey at best.   Three and a half inches of rain and hail have pelted the laughably named “all weather” surface that has been plagued by severe drainage problems all year.   The results have been brutal:  5 days of lost wagering in full card cancellations.   The cancellation of the Saturday card would be a huge blow to the track.  

Still, I just got back from California tonight, and I”m not about to handicap half a sequence when it includes the likes of Nashoba’s Key, so I’ve gone in assuming the sun gods will allow enough of a respite in the downpour to allow the track to miraculously drain enough for the races to be run as scheduled.   With that in mind, let’s take a look at the races, shall we?  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Ginger Punch, Gulfstream Park, Handicapping Selections, Nashoba's Key, Santa Anita

Quiz: What Thoroughbred Racing Legend Are You?

22 01 2008

i-am-secretariat.jpg

I thought this quiz might make a fun filler while I’m away on travels in California.  Just click on the link below and answer the questions and your responses will be equated to a legendary thoroughbred.     I’m not sure how updated the quiz is so don’t expect to see any of the more recent horses listed in the results. 

Click here to take the quiz for yourself.

I came out as : Secretariat (1979 – 1989)

If I had to be a race horse, who better to be than the great Secretariat?   “Big Red” won the triple crown in 1973, becoming the first horse to do so in 25 years and setting two all-time track records while doing so.   His records in the Belmont* and the Preakness still stand.  His run in the Belmont to bring home the triple crown stands as one of the best single performances by a race horse in history.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Curlin Wins Horse of the Year

22 01 2008

I’ve posted this video before when the blog first launched, but I thought it fitting to do so again today.  It may have been a foregone conclusion ever since his scintillating win in the Breeder’s Cup Classic last October,  but the National Thoroughbred Racing Association officially declared Curlin as the 2007 Eclipse Award winner for Horse of the Year last night in Beverly Hills, California.   His dominating performance in the Classic,  his courageous win in the Preakness, and his defeat of top older male Eclipse Award winner Lawyer Ron in the Jockey Club Gold Cup helping to distinguish Curlin from the rest of the pack.  Curlin also took home the title for top 3 year old male in the nation.  

As if all that weren’t enough, Curlin’s majority owner Jess Jackson, of Kendall-Jackson wine fame, officially announced that Curlin will race in 2008 as a 4 year old.  This was also widely regarded as a foregone conclusion ever since the colt began training again with Steve Asmussen earlier in the month.   Still, on a night when we focus our attention to the past in remembrance of all the best performances in 2007, it was nice to hear that confirmation regarding one of 2008′s biggest stars.  Owner Jess Jackson told the audience at the awards ceremony that the great sport of horse racing needs heroes for the fans.  With that in mind he announced that they would give a hero back to horse racing fans by allowing Curlin to return for his 4 year old campaign this year.  Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Curlin, Eclipse Awards

Sunday Santa Anita Picks – 1/20/08

19 01 2008
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Saturday was up and down for me at Santa Anita.  We hit 7 out of 9 races in the selections, but both pick 4′s were burned.   We had 3 double digit winners with Outlaw James, Trick’s Pic, and  P Town Princess, but particularly early in the first two races did not have the two long-shots of the day.  Sunday brings a chance at redemption with 10 races on the card.  The feature event of the day is The San Pedro for $75,000.

Race 1

  • #2 Lady in Love (5/2*)
  • #4 Debbie Ginsburg (4/1)
  • #1 Carly Effect (9/2)

The first race is an open claimer for $62k for fillies going 7 furlongs over the main track. #2 Lady in Love goes out for the Gomez/Hollendorfer jockey/trainer tandem and hast to be respected.   She excels on the synthetics and should be tough to beat.  #4 Debbie Ginsburg looks like she was simply outmatched in that last race.   I like the return to M.C. Baze who has been aboard for a winning trip at this distance back on 6/24/07.  #1 Carly Effect is a horse I tend to use even though she’s very hit or miss. If you scratch off that last race she seems playable with this field. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Handicapping Selections, Santa Anita

Saturday Santa Anita Selections – 1/19/08

19 01 2008
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Saturday brings us another exciting day at Santa Anita in California.  We did pretty darn good yesterday picking 7 of 9 winners, with numerous top choices finding the winner’s circle.  Sadly both pick 4 tickets got burned, but there were plenty of winning plays in between.   We’ve got 2 Graded Stakes events on the card with the  Grade 3 Tulza Handicap and the Grade 2 San Marcos.  So then, let us strike forward once more with our new-found confidence.  

Early Pick 4 ($36)

3, 5, 10/ 5, 9/ 1, 6, 7/ 2, 13

 Race 1

  • #3 Crosswalk (15/1)
  • #5 Five Golden Bars (7/2)
  • #10 Ava G (5/2*)

We start the day with a $25k maiden claimer for fillies going 6 1/2 furlongs over the main track.  I went with #3 Crosswalk here at 15/1 for the top selection.  Perhaps I’m a bit too aggressive with her, but she is a half sister to Street Sense and Zenyatta.  She should get some decent pace to run at as well. #5 Five Golden Bars had a nice debut race.  She’s liable to improve in her 2nd effort and can’t be ignored.  #10 Ava G is the morning line favorite at 5/2.  Based on her Beyer speed figures alone she should be the one to beat today, and it’s nice to see G. Gomez get the mount again. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Handicapping Selections, Santa Anita

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