Monday musings

29 06 2008

As the work week approaches and the weekend comes to a close, I thought I’d share a couple of tidbits courtesy of Ron Correll over at Tracksideview.com that I found rather interesting.

Source: http://articles.tracksideview.com/2008/06/28/what-do-you-have-to-say.aspx

Ron and company are looking to hear from racing fans what their opinions are on several hot button issues that have popped up recently. Namely:

  • If you were the owner of Curlin, with big plans mapped out for the remainder of 2009, would you move him to another barn in the event that Steve Asmussen draws a lengthy suspension?  If yes, to what trainer would you move him?
  • What one change that is the control of horse owners do you wish would happen to improve your enjoyment of horse racing?
  •  What is your opinion of federal regulation of the sport?

Regarding Curlin, I responded that it would be nice to see either Ken McPeek or  Helen Pitts get a shot to train the super-colt should Asmussen serve a lengthy suspension.  It was McPeek after all who “found” the colt for $56,000 at the auction.  McPeek has since returned to training horses and has put on quite a show thus far this year.  Pitts is of course famous for having trained the colt through is early setbacks (calcium deposit in his hoof, sore shins) and got him prepared for a smashing 3 year old debut – a debut so impressive that Jess Jackson arranged to buy him immediately afterwards.  Obviously it would be optimal to see Curlin continue down the path he’s on, as Asmussen and his staff haven’t made a wrong move with him since the Haskell last summer.  If Jackson had to go elsewhere – my vote would be for McPeek or Pitts.

As far as changes that horsemen have the power to make, I’m all about getting rid of as many drugs as we can.  I say copy the systems of Europe and Australia so that horses worldwide get a level playing field in terms of care and safety. 

Lastly, with respect to Federal regulation – I’m one of those types that doesn’t like the Federal government poking it’s nose around anywhere.  I highly doubt the motives of our elected officials in even the recent hearings on Capital Hill were anything but taking advantage of an opportunity to grandstand.  The real answer to me is that the game has to govern itself.  Something has to be done that gives more central authority to the NTRA over the individual stats and other conglomerations.  The NTRA needs to have the control capabilities that the commissioner’s of the NBA and NFL enjoy. 

Anyhow, that’s my take.  If you’ve got an opinion on these matters I’d highly encourage you to stop over at Tracksideview.com and sound off. 

While you’re there, check out a little heart-warming tidbit  to help start your week on the right foot.  It seems that Lael Stables and Michael Matz are busy training a 2-year-old brother of Barbaro named Nicanor. Can’t wait to see that guy hit the track. It also brings me special joy since they are training at Fair Hill – which is almost within sight of the house I grew up in.  Of course, Barbaro trained there as well – which is one of the things that first drew me to him.

Hope you enjoy, and don’t forget to look for Curlin’s first turf workout this week at Churchill.  What are the odds that I might post something about that?  1/9?   :)

 

 


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Categories : Barbaro, Curlin, Horse Racing News

Mast Track wires the field in the Hollywood Gold Cup

29 06 2008

Early speed, early speed, early speed.  How many times do we need to see it?  Mast Track put on another lesson for handicappers by wiring what appeared to be a highly competitive field of older horses in the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday as a 10-1 longshot.

I had pointed out in the day’s handicapping that he as a legitimate threat to wire the field as there didn’t appear to be anyone else with his kind of early zip.  True, he didn’t seem to be at the same level as some of his competitors – with folks mostly talking about Tiago, Go Between, Student Council, Big Booster, and even the 9-year-old Perfect Drift as likely win candidates.  Nobody bothered to tell Mast Track though as he simply broke out of the gate on top and never looked back. 

Mast Track got away with setting very slow fractions of 24.41 and 48.88 in the beginning of the race.  McCann’s Mojave, the eight horse, had every reason to go up and challenge him for the lead but never did.  This combination of a comfortable lead and slow fractions helped propel the 4-year-old son of Mizzen Mist to the wire in 2:01.37 to return a whopping $23.60 for the win. 

Off the-pace types like Tiago and Go Between were effectively neutralized by the early pace – although Go Between did run his heart out to get second place. Student Council proved his versatility on any surface by hanging on for show honors.

So what can handicappers learn from this race?  First and foremost, always respect lone speed – no matter how much better other horses appear on paper.  We had two synthetic races in the previous 3 efforts from Mast Track to build a case for him going to the front.  Toss in the fact that he was breaking from the rail, had added blinkers, and that nobody else appeared to want the lead based on past performances – and you can start to make a safe wager.  I had him third behind Tiago and Go Between in my rankings – so it’s not like I was confident with him, but how many times must we see situations like this.  Forgive me, but Da’ Tara comes to mind as a classic example as well.

With the spirit of the July 4th weekend fast approaching, we must here highly resolve that all horses are not created equal, and that when in the course of equine events a horse appears to be lone speed in a field (and I’d say especially in a route race) – that we will respect said horse’s chances of reaching the wire on top. 

 


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Categories : Hollywood Park, Horse Racing News

Music Note defeats Proud Spell in the Mother Goose

29 06 2008

Music Note, a highly regarded daughter of A.P. Indy, defeated the top filly of her division in Kentucky Oaks winner Proud Spell in Saturday’s running of the Grade 1 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park.

The trip for Proud Spell couldn’t have gone worse.  Right out of the gate she stumbled and had to run harder than desired to get back into the thick of things.  Meanwhile, Music Note was able to sit comfortably in a beautiful stalking position in third during the early going after stumbling badly at the start herself. She recovered a bit quicker than Proud Spell and was able to park herself just behind early pacesetter Never Retreat.

As the field entered the stretch, a fading Never Retreat caused Proud Spell to have to pull up in rather dramatic fashion for a moment, and then seek running room to the outside.  Music Note used this opportunity to her advantage by pulling away from the field.  Proud Spell was never able to catch her, and ended up banging into Never Retreat down the stretch – a move which ultimately caused her to be disqualified from 2nd to 3rd place.

I’m not sure if Proud Spell would’ve defeated Music Note without all the trouble. On the one hand Proud Spell was all over the place looking for running room and was never able to get it into a comfortable stretch run.  On the other hand Music Note herself overcame trouble at the start of the race. 

The up and down year for trainer Larry Jones and jockey Gabriel Saez seems to continue.  Many will remember that Proud Spell was once being considered for the 2008 Kentucky Derby, but that Jones ultimately went with the ill-fated Eight Belles in that race. 

Proud Spell will now find company atop the rankings for top 3-year-old filly as Music Note has definitely arrived on the scene and needs to be taken quite seriously.  Music Note covered the 1 1/8 miles in the Mother Goose in 1:49.75. Rumors have Music Note next pointing towards the Alabama Stakes at legendary Saratoga on August 16th.  Might we get a rematch between these two rivals that day?  We’ll just have to wait and see.  If nothing else the 3-year-old filly division just got more interesting.


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Categories : Belmont Park, Horse Racing News, Music Note, Proud Spell


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