Comments on: Raven’s Pass knocks off Curlin in the Classic

By: Breeders’ Cup Classic Selections « THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER

Breeders’ Cup Classic Selections « THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:48:55 +0000

[...] 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 [...]

By: In support of Jess Jackson’s decision to skip the Breeders’ Cup Classic « THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:33:51 +0000

[...] remembered with disgust the sight of watching Curlin, the world’s undisputed best dirt horse, struggle over a turf impersonating Santa Anita Pro Ride in the 2008 Classic. As a testament to his courage, heart, and talent, he managed to get to the front as the field [...]

By: Kevin Stafford

Kevin Stafford — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:14:45 +0000

Good to see you, Roblejeune! Hope you had a blast at BC. I’m thinking the same thing as you – we’ll clean freakin’ house next year!!!! Mwahahahahaha!!!

Of course, we have to hope at some level that the 3-year-old crop of Europeans is as good as this year’s was. That may have had “something” to do with it.

Would love to hear what you look for visually. I know the obvious stuff, like sweat, ear positioning, and checking out how they walk. Beyond that I just try and judge if they look comfortable/professional, or nervous and perhaps a bit uninterested.

By: roblejeune

roblejeune — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:25:47 +0000

Well folks, I will give you all my comments about the BC from my trackside viewpoint at Santa Anita. I have just returned home from So Cal so… one answer is yes, that surface runs like turf, but mainly in the stretch drive. The first part of the race it runs a little closer to dirt. Santa Anita is still a beautiful old track. Curlin’s loss derives more from the jockey and his bad positioning as per THAT track surface (he should have known). I can’t tell you how much track surface affects horse racing. He had to make his move too early, and that gave the Euro style runners the advantage in the stretch. Early in my race track/handicaping experience, I was at the track and over heard the jockeys talking after a race. They were saying, and pointing to the track surface and saying, “well its that time of day again it’s changing”. From that point on I have really paid a LOT of attention to surface. I didn’t win many bets at BC, because I didn’t realize HOW that surface would be. Next year I will clean up! Ha ha. Hummmm unless they CHANGE it again, huh… what ?? Pure good dirt is USA best, but in truth really good dirt tracks are hard to find and maintain. We have one really good one here in N. Cal, and that’s at a Fair racing track at Alameda Co Fair site. It is because of synthetic that we lost our best track here at Bay Meadows, and, partially at least that Curlin lost. That’s TWO strikes against synthetic, Three strikes and your out (I hope) ??? GO PHILLIES good luck tonight !! I can give a full answer that the discussion about what to look for in a horse in the saddling paddoc (as per that discussion you had) when I punch in here later in the week. Actually it came true on two races at the BC, that I knew by looking that the horse was READY to run/win. The only problem there is you actually have to watch them in saddling, and then in post parade and the whole time, and then it’s only 1 or 2 of ten that you could hit via that method and they have to hadicap well also.

By: shelton

shelton — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:32:30 +0000

I am not bitter at all or anything, just hate the surface! I just won’t even look at it anymore! Doubt my horse will be making the trip to Fairhill anytime soon! Peace out!