THE ASPIRING HORSEPLAYER

What a Saturday it’s been. It was an odd day, filled with the ups and downs that accompany horseplaying. Things didn’t go particularly well for my top selections in the pre-race handicapping, yet it sill seemed totally enjoyable to play along.  Usually I’m a bit “bummed out” if we’re losing, but today didn’t seem to effect me that much.  Most likely this is attributable to the fact that we did manage to get 5 second choices home (with one technically being a top selection by virtue of a scratch), but I digress.  Let’s look back for a moment on the afternoon that was:

Early in the afternoon, Game Face got back to her winning ways by taking her first Grade 1 stakes in the Princess Rooney Handicap.  I had mentioned her as a “possible play against” in the pre-race handicapping, but that was when I was focusing on Marina Ballerina, who ultimately scratched.  That left the class of Game Face to deal with what turned out to be a field of pretenders.  She seemingly won for fun and in doing so ads luster to the very strong contingent of female runners in North America at the moment.  I dubbed last year the “year of the filly” with the impressive performances of Zenyatta, Zarkava, and Goldikova (not to mention the Philadelphia “Phillies” becoming World Champions again for the first time since 1980), but this year could still wind up more impressive for the gals when all is said and done. 

Gio Ponti made it a hat trick of Grade 1 victories for the year by outlasting a fairly deep field of contenders in the Man O’ War at Belmont Park. The son of  Tale of the Cat just keeps on going strong, and with 3 Grade 1 turf wins now joins the discussion with Einstein for top male turf horse in the nation.  It’ll be interesting to see what the future plans are for this fall, as Gio Ponti owns a victory (with a 98 Beyer) over the Pro Ride at Santa Anita.  I’m fairly certain he’ll stick to the grass and point to the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but stranger things have happened.

Heavy 1/9 favorite Benny the Bull was upset in the Smile Sprint Handicap at Calder in the “Summit of Speed” event.  This was one of the races I totally crapped out on, as neither my 2nd or 3rd choice were able to pull the upset.  Instead, longshot Eaton’s Gift stunned everyone by holding off a late run from Benny the Bull in the stretch.  Many (including me) had been anticipating a big run from Benny, but his late punch just didn’t have quite the same “oomph” that we’d seen in previous efforts such as the 2008 True North Handicap on Belmont Stakes day.  To put this in perspective, Eaton’s Gift hadn’t cracked the 82 Beyer level in any of his last 3 efforts, and was running into a perennial 100+ Beyer figure monster in Benny.  None of that mattered in the stretch at Calder.  I guess Benny just can’t catch a break at there, as it was at Calder last year that he was injured and ulimtately sidelined for 11 months.

Last, but certainly not least, Rail Trip was able to upset the highly acclaimed Parading and the filly Life is Sweet to run away with the TVG/Betfair Hollywood Gold Cup.  The son of Jump Start (A.P. Indy) joins the likes of esteemed former champions Seabsicuit, Affirmed, and Cigar as horses who have taken the premier race of the Hollywood Park summer meet.  Who knows for sure if we’ll see another Gold Cup at Hollywood? 

I’ve got to tip my hat here to Superterrifc from Green But Game, who was tweeting  her support of the horse and mentioned that she did the “digital walk of shame” to fire up her betting account with more cash just to bet him.  Nice job, Dana!  No shame in that what-so-ever! Rail Trip sure did look good in the post parade!  Here’s hoping her bank account is now totally “ranch” (it’s an inside joke that she and a few other twitter followers will get…but do expect an occasional and totally gratuitous “ranch” reference in posts going forward).

Getting back to the Gold Cup, I thought Life is Sweet also looked fantastic in the post parade.  It’s nice to see that the filly was running on well for show when seemingly all of the other off-the-pace types and closers were running in place and not really doing much.  My initial thought was that they may have waited a moment too long to ask for Life is Sweet’s run, but I’m not sure it would’ve made a real difference either way considering how smoothly Rail Trip was gliding to the wire.  Still, hats off to the Wygod family for having the courage to race her against the boys.  She proved she could hold her own as the post time favorite, Parading, wound up totally out of the money (and looked rather sweaty and anxious in the post parade).  Little by little you can see that notion that “fillies shouldn’t run against colts” being seriously challenged, and in my mind rightly so. 

In other action throughout the day Just as Well took the Arlington Handicap (G3).  Atomic Rain upset Papa Clem in the Long Branch ($175k), and would appear to be bound for the Haskell next.  Might he run into the super filly Rachel Alexandra if he does?  Only time will tell.  And of course, Giant Oak pulled another “Giant choke” routine as the heavy favorite in the American Derby.

One other race struck me as rather noteworthy today – a race that, as Foolish Pleasure opines, might be somewhat “less heralded” than the above races.  Like an unstoppable rebel force, the procession of winners sired by Medaglia d”Oro continued today with a victory from 2-year-old daughter Dashing Debby in the 34th running of the JJ’s Dream ($100k) at Calder.  We’ve already seen Rachel Alexandra make history with her Preakness victory, which came hot on the heels of fellow Medaglia d’Oro offspring Payton d’Oro winning the Black Eyed Susan at Pimlico.  Add to that Gabby’s Golden Gal, C.S. Silk, Renda, and She’s our Annie.  That’s quite an impressive list for a sire who is only this year experiencing his first 3-year-old crop to go to post.

It would appear to be a two horse race between “Medags” (and yes, before anyone corrects me, I’m aware that the “g” is silent in Medaglia d’Oro) and Birdstone for top sire of the year honors.