Interesting title, huh? Wait a minute…what’s going on here? Have I lost my mind and joined the dark side of the force? Apologizing to Rick Dutrow? Well, not exactly an “apology” in the proper sense of the term, just a little change of direction and an indication that perhaps it’s time to give credit where credit is due.
For months I’ve been blasting back at Dutrow whenever he’s made a classless comment about defending 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin. I guess at some level hearing him talk brashly about Curlin not being any good just gets under my skin. I don’t mind him thinking the world of his horse, Big Brown, but I’ve never seen a reason that he should be disrespectful of the competition. Of course, until now Curlin hasn’t been the direct competition. That honor has been relegated to a decidedly weak crop of 3-year-olds that the jury remains out on despite the fact that we’re now in October.
One thing I may have missed with this attitude is the role Dutrow’s mouth would play in cementing a showdown between these two famous colts. Without Dickie’s hubris and penchant for sticking his foot in his mouth, it’s highly possible we wouldn’t be pondering a “showdown of the year/decade/millennium.” I’m not sure that owner Jess Jackson would’ve felt as compelled to send his colt to Santa Anita to consider running the Breedes’ Cup Classic if not for the building excitement being generated over the prospects of seeing these two warriors battle it out for Horse of the Year honors.
I’m still not a fan of Dutrow’s comments and don’t think there’s any place for that nonsense in horse racing, but I’m willing to concede that in this case it may have pushed the envelope. We can’t underestimate how badly the sport needs such a marquee matchup at this point in time. The global economy is reeling, and nearly all “entertainment” venues are suffering. A Breeders’ Cup without the defending Horse of the Year might well have been devastating.
Thankfully, at least for now, it appears we will indeed get the much anticipated matchup. Curlin has been at Santa Anita since the day after his Jockey Club Gold Cup win at Belmont Park made him “racing’s $10 million man.” In fact, he’ll have a public workout tomorrow afternoon at Santa Anita that will be shown live on TVG at 2:45 PM. Meanwhile, Big Brown has been training back east and will ship for the Classic about a week before the race.
So were Dutrow’s comments just what the doctor ordered? Perhaps. It would certainly seem that they played at least some role in the happenings of recent weeks. Still, I’d hesitated from giving him too much credit. Doing so nullifies the class of guys like Jess Jackson, who has given horse racing fans everything they’ve hoped to see without the hoopla that Dutrow has seen fit to revel in. One thing’s for sure - In a year marked by a heated Presidential election, it seems only fitting that the contentions for Horse of the Year should so assuredly go down to the final matchup in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
With that in mind, I’m thankful for anything, including Dutrow’s comments, that has helped turn this possibility into an increasingly more likely reality. In the end, it’s the way things are supposed to be. Let’s let the horses decide who’s best and let the humans take a back seat for a moment. We’ll know who the champion is just two Saturdays from now.
Just watched Casino Drive win without breaking a sweat…oh, the Classic just soooo much more interesting.
Yup – he look briliant today. I was surprised. I figured with CD “not needing” to win today he might run easier, but in the end it was enough against that competition. That’ll be one heck of a training job if Casino Drive pulls off the upset.
I’ve been one Rick’s biggest supporters—all that bluster about Brown—LOVED it. But when he starts getting into critiquing other trainers, it kind of hurts my heart.
Rick is fun, exciting, and, I think, an excellent trainer. But he has those class lapses, no question. And I can’t argue with drug-related suspensions, etc.
I met him only once—only one real lengthy conversation—and he was incredibly gracious and RIGHT. He, like Frankel, is a great handicapper.
Thanks for your blog
Casino Drive is a very nice propsect. Has a great future in 2009. Does anyone think he can get two seconds faster in two weeks?
BMC
Considering he merely galloped nearly the entire race, and Espinoza only asked him to run in the last couple yards…I’d say yeah, Casino Drive will be more than ready in two weeks. Two seconds faster? Are Big Brown or Curlin known as speed horses? Their times this year haven’t set any records.
Americans just can not seem to grasp that Australian/Asian training and racing methods actually work. Their horses run with faster turn-around times, sometimes only 7 days, and for many consecutive weekends. It is not unusual for top horses to run successfully 4 times in 5 weeks, so don’t think for a moment that the two week turn-around leaves him at a disadvantage.
[...] of all of this is rather funny to me. Just yesterday I swallowed some pride and wrote the “with apologies to Dutrow” piece giving him a bit of credit for his role in engineering the big showdown between Curlin [...]
Casino Drive may have just taken the place of Big Brown as the ultra-talented three year old looking to de-thrown the king. What a shame that Big Brown is out, forever. This is going to be a serious blow to the racing industry. Thank God Curlin is going to the Classic, and lets hope he makes it look like a joke!
@Ernie – indeed you have, and I know how much Big Brown means to you. I’m deeply saddened for you about today’s news.
@BMC – I think Casino Drive can improve, sure, but it’ll need to be a major improvement or a major regression from Curlin (or both) to capture the Classic.
@Val – Amen, not only that, but they also know overseas that fillies/mares can beat the boys with regularity (Zarkava anyone?).
@Brian – Yup, tragic news. We really needed that marquee matchup between BB and Curlin. Truth be told, Big Brown actually has more “star power” amongst the non regular fans by virtue of winning the KY Derby (much like Street Sense last year). I sure hope Curlin gets it done, but man we lost a shot at national relevance with this blow.