Nope.
Raise your hand if you're shocked to find out Big Brown is being retired at three due to injury. Looks like we'll never get to see the big Curlin/Big Brown match race we were all looking forward to in this year's Breeder's Cup Classic. But guess what, Big Brown will soon be ensconced in a breeding shed where starry-eyed owners of classic racemares will spend millions for the chance to breed and race one of his sore-footed offspring.
Yay?
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Big Brown Got Served
Dutrow danced, then Jackson danced, and now it's on!
Yeah, yeah...so it's been a while. I've been busy. So shoot me.
Yeah, yeah...so it's been a while. I've been busy. So shoot me.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Weekend preview
And if you thought racing was all over for the year after last weekend, well, you were wrong. For your racing pleasure this weekend we have “Stephen Foster Super Saturday” live from Churchill Downs, as well as a bundle of other high class stakes races from across the country. I’ll profile a few of the more interesting ones (from my point of view anyways):
Stephen Foster Handicap
This week’s feature race showcases the triumphant return of Curlin. Fresh off a romp in the Dubai World Cup and with his sights set on Cigar’s all time winnings record, there’s not much to say against the champion. Steve Assmussen groused about the imposition of the relatively high 128 pound weight on his horse, but really, does anyone think he doesn't deserve that kind of handicap? Even if I didn’t love him to death, I’d have to pick him to win.
Primary among the mighty Curlin's contenders is Einstein, who if this race was run on any other surface, I might be backing instead of the favorite. I was truly bummed not to see Eistein on Belmont day and I currently think he's the best turf horse running in America. That being said, he'll be running on dirt come Saturday. His trainer, Helen Pitts of "I used to train Curlin" fame, decided that he needed a race to fit in his training schedule and that the Stephen Foster was it. His last time on dirt (the Donn Handicap last February) he ran an unimpressive, but not awful, sixth. Mind you, he's won over Churchill's dirt track before, so I've decided not to accord the racing surface all that much thought.
Brass Hat has been consistently in the money this year, but hasn't won anything since last September. Sam P, a one time 2007 Kentucky Derby contender, looks to regain his previous form and bounce off of a recent allowance win. Grasshopper underperformed on the Preakness undercard, finishing 5th. Whether that was just a flub or the shape of things to come remains to be seen. Delightful Kiss comes off a second place finish in the one mile Blazing Sword Stakes. Keep an eye on hard knocking former-claimer Red Rock Creek, who is full of consistency.
1. Curlin
2. Einstein
3. Sam P
Northern Dancer Stakes
Everything old is new again as the primary contenders of this year's Kentucky Derby face off in this grade III race on the Stephen Foster undercard. Heading the list of contenders is my one time baby, Pyro. He'll be meeting up with former competitors Visionaire, My Pal Charlie, Texas Wildcatter, Unbridled Vicar and Recapturetheglory. So, I'm taking the track of betting this race as if it were the Derby (minus some significant competition).
1. Pyro
2. Visionaire
3. My Pal Charlie
Fluer de Lis Stakes
I love (love, love) Hystericalady. That being said, I don't think this distance (9 furlongs) is right for her. Meanwhile, Cowgirls Don't Cry comes into the race off a win in the mile long Shuvee Handicap. Peach Flambe impressed me in the Cicada at this very distance, and though she was 4th last out on the Preakness undercard, I'm willing to give her a nod today. Apparently ignored by the cognescenti is Kathleens Reel, who has shown she can fight for the finish of a 9 furlong race before (finishing 3rd in the Sixty Sails Handicap).
1. Peach Flambe
2. Hystericalady
3. Kanthleen's Reel
Affirmed Handicap
All the talk in this race seems to be about Two Step Salsa, who was a solid winer his last time out in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial, but who will be trying distance for the first time today. It's one of my rules not to pick a horse in a route race who's never tried two turns. Now, sometimes this does bite me in the behind and a horse I would have labeled a confirmed sprinter turns out to be able to hold off a late challenge. But, knowing next to nothing else about this horse, I'm going to go with my normal picking style. Meanwhile, Dixie Chatter just couldn't catch up to Two Step in the Barrera. Perhaps an added furlong or two might give him some more time to shine. One horse I do know quite a bit about is Tres Borrachos. He didn't perform like I thought he would in the Preakness, but it took a stumbled start to put him in that position. I think he's got a good chance at returning to top form here. Trevor's Clever won by a neck his last time out at the slightly longer distance of the Alydar Stakes (wouldn't it be funny if he won both the Alydar and the Affirmed?).
1. Trevor's Clever
2. Tres Borrachos
3. Dixie Chatter
Eatontown Handicap
Okay, I'm not actually going to hanicap this one, I just like that one of the fillies is named Beatrix Kiddo. You go girl.
In other news
- If you wanted your own Derby fantasy stable, but were too late to participate in the Road to the Roses, you can now play the Road to the Breeders Cup!
- My Belmont pictures, though now in, were not what I had desired them to be. They will require some cleaning up (and significant whittling down) before I’m willing to post them here.
- Kent Desormeaux and Rick Dutrow have apparently mended their fences about Kent’s ride on Big Brown in the Belmont. For those who were asleep the past week the argument goes like this:
1. Kent pulled Big Brown up in the Belmont, saying the horse didn’t respond to his urging at all and that because of this he thought that there might be something wrong.
2. There was nothing wrong with Big Brown and, in fact, he fought Kent’s braking all through the stretch.
3. A lot of people, Dutrow included, questioned whether Kent really thought there was something wrong with Mr. Big, or if he just pulled him up because he knew he couldn’t win (or even place) and would rather have the race “thrown out” because of the horse’s possible injury than just stand to mark a poor performance by his colt.
Stephen Foster Handicap
This week’s feature race showcases the triumphant return of Curlin. Fresh off a romp in the Dubai World Cup and with his sights set on Cigar’s all time winnings record, there’s not much to say against the champion. Steve Assmussen groused about the imposition of the relatively high 128 pound weight on his horse, but really, does anyone think he doesn't deserve that kind of handicap? Even if I didn’t love him to death, I’d have to pick him to win.
Primary among the mighty Curlin's contenders is Einstein, who if this race was run on any other surface, I might be backing instead of the favorite. I was truly bummed not to see Eistein on Belmont day and I currently think he's the best turf horse running in America. That being said, he'll be running on dirt come Saturday. His trainer, Helen Pitts of "I used to train Curlin" fame, decided that he needed a race to fit in his training schedule and that the Stephen Foster was it. His last time on dirt (the Donn Handicap last February) he ran an unimpressive, but not awful, sixth. Mind you, he's won over Churchill's dirt track before, so I've decided not to accord the racing surface all that much thought.
Brass Hat has been consistently in the money this year, but hasn't won anything since last September. Sam P, a one time 2007 Kentucky Derby contender, looks to regain his previous form and bounce off of a recent allowance win. Grasshopper underperformed on the Preakness undercard, finishing 5th. Whether that was just a flub or the shape of things to come remains to be seen. Delightful Kiss comes off a second place finish in the one mile Blazing Sword Stakes. Keep an eye on hard knocking former-claimer Red Rock Creek, who is full of consistency.
1. Curlin
2. Einstein
3. Sam P
Northern Dancer Stakes
Everything old is new again as the primary contenders of this year's Kentucky Derby face off in this grade III race on the Stephen Foster undercard. Heading the list of contenders is my one time baby, Pyro. He'll be meeting up with former competitors Visionaire, My Pal Charlie, Texas Wildcatter, Unbridled Vicar and Recapturetheglory. So, I'm taking the track of betting this race as if it were the Derby (minus some significant competition).
1. Pyro
2. Visionaire
3. My Pal Charlie
Fluer de Lis Stakes
I love (love, love) Hystericalady. That being said, I don't think this distance (9 furlongs) is right for her. Meanwhile, Cowgirls Don't Cry comes into the race off a win in the mile long Shuvee Handicap. Peach Flambe impressed me in the Cicada at this very distance, and though she was 4th last out on the Preakness undercard, I'm willing to give her a nod today. Apparently ignored by the cognescenti is Kathleens Reel, who has shown she can fight for the finish of a 9 furlong race before (finishing 3rd in the Sixty Sails Handicap).
1. Peach Flambe
2. Hystericalady
3. Kanthleen's Reel
Affirmed Handicap
All the talk in this race seems to be about Two Step Salsa, who was a solid winer his last time out in the Lazaro Barrera Memorial, but who will be trying distance for the first time today. It's one of my rules not to pick a horse in a route race who's never tried two turns. Now, sometimes this does bite me in the behind and a horse I would have labeled a confirmed sprinter turns out to be able to hold off a late challenge. But, knowing next to nothing else about this horse, I'm going to go with my normal picking style. Meanwhile, Dixie Chatter just couldn't catch up to Two Step in the Barrera. Perhaps an added furlong or two might give him some more time to shine. One horse I do know quite a bit about is Tres Borrachos. He didn't perform like I thought he would in the Preakness, but it took a stumbled start to put him in that position. I think he's got a good chance at returning to top form here. Trevor's Clever won by a neck his last time out at the slightly longer distance of the Alydar Stakes (wouldn't it be funny if he won both the Alydar and the Affirmed?).
1. Trevor's Clever
2. Tres Borrachos
3. Dixie Chatter
Eatontown Handicap
Okay, I'm not actually going to hanicap this one, I just like that one of the fillies is named Beatrix Kiddo. You go girl.
In other news
- If you wanted your own Derby fantasy stable, but were too late to participate in the Road to the Roses, you can now play the Road to the Breeders Cup!
- My Belmont pictures, though now in, were not what I had desired them to be. They will require some cleaning up (and significant whittling down) before I’m willing to post them here.
- Kent Desormeaux and Rick Dutrow have apparently mended their fences about Kent’s ride on Big Brown in the Belmont. For those who were asleep the past week the argument goes like this:
1. Kent pulled Big Brown up in the Belmont, saying the horse didn’t respond to his urging at all and that because of this he thought that there might be something wrong.
2. There was nothing wrong with Big Brown and, in fact, he fought Kent’s braking all through the stretch.
3. A lot of people, Dutrow included, questioned whether Kent really thought there was something wrong with Mr. Big, or if he just pulled him up because he knew he couldn’t win (or even place) and would rather have the race “thrown out” because of the horse’s possible injury than just stand to mark a poor performance by his colt.
Some people have asked my opinion on this situation. My opinion is this- Rick Dutrow is an ass and shouldn’t complain. Yes your horse lost, but it was clear your horse wasn’t going to win at that point anyways. Boo hoo. That being said, I have the sneaking suspicion that Kent’s decision to pull up was not 100% founded upon concerns for his mount. That being said, I refuse to openly criticize Kent, because how am I supposed to know what went on in his mind, and if he did think there might be something off with Mr. Big, than he did the exact right thing. It would take balls to pull up a horse essentially to throw a race, it also takes balls to pull up a horse in a historic Triple Crown performance because you’re concerned for his health and safety. In other words, let’s just move on with our lives people.
Monday, June 9, 2008
This post has two titles
It's like a choose you own adventure novel! Pick which Belmont story you want to read. I'll give a more comprehensive re-cap later, but I want to be able to upload all the photos I took first. In the meantime, here's the short version(s):
1. OMG! Penny Chenery TALKED to ME!!!
This is the story of the various "Squeee!" type moments I had throughout the day.
So Mr. Blacktype and I arrived early at the track, having met with only one minor mishap on the way there (anyone know what the punishment is for accidentally not paying the toll on the Washinton Bridge?). It was pretty empty, so we were able to get a lot of neat photos. Including one with Hall of Fame Jockey Jerry Bailey, who had just finished a filming episode with co-star Randy Moss (who looked surly, so we didn't ask for his photo). I'd also get surreptitious photos of Hany Goldberg (who cares?) and our man Kenny Mayne. Oh, and this big old guy on a little girl's yellow Vespa. I assumed he was someone important, because only important folks can get away with that sort of nonsense.
But the big news is that Ron Turcotte (Secretariat's jockey, for those not in the know) was there signing stuff. The stuff they were selling for him to sign was pretty expensive, so I didn't bother (if I had known he would be there I would have brought something for signing). Anyways, later I reconsidered my decision, and decided I would go back and at least have him sign my program or something. Well, I walk around the corner and there...there was Penny Chenery (Secretariat's owner, for those not in the know). You'll have to excuse me, but I seriously freaked out for a minute there. Jimmy Gaffney (one of Secretariat's 2 major exercise riders...and no, even people in the know would generally not know who he was) was also there signing. This, I could not pass up.
So, I stood in line (totally missing out on the Just A Game Stakes), to buy an overpriced poster of Secretariat and get it signed by some of my heroes. I ended up having to tell some people not in the know why everyone was standing in line like that. One guy asked me if what I paid was worth it. I answered, "It is for me, because I'm an obsessed horse racing fan." This became a running theme, as people throughout the day kept asking me how I knew certain things (how to bet exotics, the location of Big Brown's birthmark, etc.).
The only thing that would have made this fangirl's day 100% perfect was if there had been a triple crown victory, but that's a story for the other section of this post.
2. Da'Tara- What the Hell?!?
Our tickets were far off on the right hand of the stands as you're looking at them. This put us really close to the final turn, but completely out of view of the finish line. No matter, it was relatively empty and cool there for most of the day, and it served as an excellent "home base" as we wandered around the track seeing different things. The one problem was that it was right by the ESPN broadcast booth. This was neat, because we got to see a bunch of the TV personalities filming, but it was bad because it effectively blocked a significant part of the view of the turn. No matter, I spent the better part of the day figuring out how to set up shots from near our seats so that I was 100% certain to get a good photo of the field as they passed the 3/16 pole. I chose my photo spot carefully and during the post parade I got a slew of shots of various horses from that location, including one of number 6, Da'Tara, who was lathered all to heck.
"Wow," I said to the random woman at my side, "Is that guy fractious." (Note to n00bs: fractious= sweaty and nervous, generally not a good sign).
She replied, "Yeah, a horse sweating that much before a mile and a half race in this heat has no chance."
A moment later she somewhat thoughtfully amended, "Watch him win now just to spite me."
I watched the race, cheering the start like everyone else and following the ant-size horses on their trip around the giant track. I flicked my eyes between their far off forms and the infield tote-board where you could actually see the action on the big screen. For some reason, I couldn't hear the announcer at all. They got to the point where I thought Mr. Big should make his move and under my breath I muttered "Now, go now!" At which point, the horses on the track disappeared from my view. I hunkered down at my rail, camera in place. I focused everything on the pole, ready to shoot the horses as they first came into view. The people around me were shouting, and suddenly a horse swam into my field of vision. I clicked the shutter. Immediately, I started resetting the camera for a second photo, tracking the leading horse. I was completely focused on my photography (it happens to be another obsessive hobby of mine), but I managed to register one fact about the horse in front of me.
He wasn't wearing saddle cloth #1.
A nice man on my left had brought his two young kids to the track. His son, who could not have been more than 7, was standing in front of me. I'm sorry, but I think I may have offended his tender ears.
In the end, it was Da'Tara, a longshot with little to recommend him who was victorious that day. Thanks a lot random woman at the rail, you totally jinxed us all. Or perhaps it was just me, my curse proving true once again. Oh well, better luck next year.
1. Big Brown- last
2. Macho Again- 5th
3. Icabad Crane- 8th
In all honesty, I'm not that broken up about it. Mr. Blacktype was considerably more depressed. I'm glad that I don't have to write this post about how happy I am Big Brown won the Triple Crown, while being secretly a little sad that he did and harboring the silent belief that he didn't really deserve it. And like I said before, now I have a cool T-shirt to wear for Derby day next year (and the year after that? and the year after that?). Plus I have a good reason to drag Mr. Blacktype to the Belmont again the next time there's a potential champion. All in all, it was a great trip and, lack of a crown aside, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
1. OMG! Penny Chenery TALKED to ME!!!
This is the story of the various "Squeee!" type moments I had throughout the day.
So Mr. Blacktype and I arrived early at the track, having met with only one minor mishap on the way there (anyone know what the punishment is for accidentally not paying the toll on the Washinton Bridge?). It was pretty empty, so we were able to get a lot of neat photos. Including one with Hall of Fame Jockey Jerry Bailey, who had just finished a filming episode with co-star Randy Moss (who looked surly, so we didn't ask for his photo). I'd also get surreptitious photos of Hany Goldberg (who cares?) and our man Kenny Mayne. Oh, and this big old guy on a little girl's yellow Vespa. I assumed he was someone important, because only important folks can get away with that sort of nonsense.
But the big news is that Ron Turcotte (Secretariat's jockey, for those not in the know) was there signing stuff. The stuff they were selling for him to sign was pretty expensive, so I didn't bother (if I had known he would be there I would have brought something for signing). Anyways, later I reconsidered my decision, and decided I would go back and at least have him sign my program or something. Well, I walk around the corner and there...there was Penny Chenery (Secretariat's owner, for those not in the know). You'll have to excuse me, but I seriously freaked out for a minute there. Jimmy Gaffney (one of Secretariat's 2 major exercise riders...and no, even people in the know would generally not know who he was) was also there signing. This, I could not pass up.
So, I stood in line (totally missing out on the Just A Game Stakes), to buy an overpriced poster of Secretariat and get it signed by some of my heroes. I ended up having to tell some people not in the know why everyone was standing in line like that. One guy asked me if what I paid was worth it. I answered, "It is for me, because I'm an obsessed horse racing fan." This became a running theme, as people throughout the day kept asking me how I knew certain things (how to bet exotics, the location of Big Brown's birthmark, etc.).
The only thing that would have made this fangirl's day 100% perfect was if there had been a triple crown victory, but that's a story for the other section of this post.
2. Da'Tara- What the Hell?!?
Our tickets were far off on the right hand of the stands as you're looking at them. This put us really close to the final turn, but completely out of view of the finish line. No matter, it was relatively empty and cool there for most of the day, and it served as an excellent "home base" as we wandered around the track seeing different things. The one problem was that it was right by the ESPN broadcast booth. This was neat, because we got to see a bunch of the TV personalities filming, but it was bad because it effectively blocked a significant part of the view of the turn. No matter, I spent the better part of the day figuring out how to set up shots from near our seats so that I was 100% certain to get a good photo of the field as they passed the 3/16 pole. I chose my photo spot carefully and during the post parade I got a slew of shots of various horses from that location, including one of number 6, Da'Tara, who was lathered all to heck.
"Wow," I said to the random woman at my side, "Is that guy fractious." (Note to n00bs: fractious= sweaty and nervous, generally not a good sign).
She replied, "Yeah, a horse sweating that much before a mile and a half race in this heat has no chance."
A moment later she somewhat thoughtfully amended, "Watch him win now just to spite me."
I watched the race, cheering the start like everyone else and following the ant-size horses on their trip around the giant track. I flicked my eyes between their far off forms and the infield tote-board where you could actually see the action on the big screen. For some reason, I couldn't hear the announcer at all. They got to the point where I thought Mr. Big should make his move and under my breath I muttered "Now, go now!" At which point, the horses on the track disappeared from my view. I hunkered down at my rail, camera in place. I focused everything on the pole, ready to shoot the horses as they first came into view. The people around me were shouting, and suddenly a horse swam into my field of vision. I clicked the shutter. Immediately, I started resetting the camera for a second photo, tracking the leading horse. I was completely focused on my photography (it happens to be another obsessive hobby of mine), but I managed to register one fact about the horse in front of me.
He wasn't wearing saddle cloth #1.
A nice man on my left had brought his two young kids to the track. His son, who could not have been more than 7, was standing in front of me. I'm sorry, but I think I may have offended his tender ears.
In the end, it was Da'Tara, a longshot with little to recommend him who was victorious that day. Thanks a lot random woman at the rail, you totally jinxed us all. Or perhaps it was just me, my curse proving true once again. Oh well, better luck next year.
1. Big Brown- last
2. Macho Again- 5th
3. Icabad Crane- 8th
In all honesty, I'm not that broken up about it. Mr. Blacktype was considerably more depressed. I'm glad that I don't have to write this post about how happy I am Big Brown won the Triple Crown, while being secretly a little sad that he did and harboring the silent belief that he didn't really deserve it. And like I said before, now I have a cool T-shirt to wear for Derby day next year (and the year after that? and the year after that?). Plus I have a good reason to drag Mr. Blacktype to the Belmont again the next time there's a potential champion. All in all, it was a great trip and, lack of a crown aside, I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
Friday, June 6, 2008
The last word
Before I take off for New York, I thought I'd leave you with a parting message intended to make you aware of just how much this trip actually means to me. This is the shirt I've created for tomorrow (so if you see someone wearing it, that's me!):
I've never known a triple crown winner, except what you can glean from grainy black and white photos and thoroughbred biographies. Sometimes I believe it's my curse to never see true greatness in my lifetime (well, that and to have something horrible happen in America every time I go overseas...long story). And I doubt even if Mr. Big was to win tomorrow, that I could really see him in the same way as I do the heroes of my youth. Maybe that's just a prejudice, the way everyone believes things were better "back in the day". People always look at the past through rose colored glasses (or at least, through fuzzy YouTube videos), but that doesn't mean that the past really was any better. If Big Brown takes it all tomorrow, few will say that he could have kept up with the likes of Secretartiat, Seattle Slew or Citation (and they're probably right), but it's entirely possible he could have given horses like Assault, Whirlaway and Sir Barton a run for their money. So he'll belong. Perhaps not in the highest choir of horse racing angels, but certainly up there.
So, if he does win, I'll probably cry. I can be an emotional little sucker like that sometimes. And if he doesn't, well I got a cool shirt out of it all which would remain relevant until next year...or the year after that. There's always a next year in the promised land of the Bluegrass, and that's why I keep coming back to this sport. That's why I keep watching year after year, although nothing in my 28 (soon to be 29) years of life has ever assured me that there would be a Triple Crown winner in my future. That's why I deal with heartrending breakdowns like Eight Belles, becuase I know that without the racing she would never have been given the chance to become more than 'just a horse' in the first place. We don't morn the loss of the pony down the road unless it's our pony; racing lets these horses to belong to all of us. It lets them live forever in our museums and memories and hearts. It gives them the chance, no matter how minute, to be somebody's hero.
So, I'll leave you with what I'd like to see tomorrow, with what we will probably never see the likes of ever again, with what cannot help but make me bawl every single time I see it (or read it, or think about it...yes I'm a sad, sad person).
Greatness is meant for the past, let us live in the now.
I've never known a triple crown winner, except what you can glean from grainy black and white photos and thoroughbred biographies. Sometimes I believe it's my curse to never see true greatness in my lifetime (well, that and to have something horrible happen in America every time I go overseas...long story). And I doubt even if Mr. Big was to win tomorrow, that I could really see him in the same way as I do the heroes of my youth. Maybe that's just a prejudice, the way everyone believes things were better "back in the day". People always look at the past through rose colored glasses (or at least, through fuzzy YouTube videos), but that doesn't mean that the past really was any better. If Big Brown takes it all tomorrow, few will say that he could have kept up with the likes of Secretartiat, Seattle Slew or Citation (and they're probably right), but it's entirely possible he could have given horses like Assault, Whirlaway and Sir Barton a run for their money. So he'll belong. Perhaps not in the highest choir of horse racing angels, but certainly up there.So, if he does win, I'll probably cry. I can be an emotional little sucker like that sometimes. And if he doesn't, well I got a cool shirt out of it all which would remain relevant until next year...or the year after that. There's always a next year in the promised land of the Bluegrass, and that's why I keep coming back to this sport. That's why I keep watching year after year, although nothing in my 28 (soon to be 29) years of life has ever assured me that there would be a Triple Crown winner in my future. That's why I deal with heartrending breakdowns like Eight Belles, becuase I know that without the racing she would never have been given the chance to become more than 'just a horse' in the first place. We don't morn the loss of the pony down the road unless it's our pony; racing lets these horses to belong to all of us. It lets them live forever in our museums and memories and hearts. It gives them the chance, no matter how minute, to be somebody's hero.
So, I'll leave you with what I'd like to see tomorrow, with what we will probably never see the likes of ever again, with what cannot help but make me bawl every single time I see it (or read it, or think about it...yes I'm a sad, sad person).
Greatness is meant for the past, let us live in the now.
Rick Dutrow says something intelligent
I know, I'm in shock too.
His comments on whether Mr. Big, should he be victorious tomorrow, will not achieve the noteriety of other thoroughbred heroes who have taken the crown:
I'm glad he realizes his position. He's sitting on a good horse, a very good horse. But certainly not a great horse. Just a horse who's got some style in a year when very few colts could put up a fight. That doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the crown, heavens no. You race against your generation, and currently he's the best there is in this one. However, in perhaps the most wonderful thing I have ever read him to say, Rick went on to suggest that maybe, just maybe (oh, please), Mr. Big might get pitted against the best of another generation...just to shake things up:
Me too Rick. Me too.
Oh, and incidentally, Suffolk Downs just announced that they will put up a $5 million purse for the Massachusetts Handicap should (1) Big Brown win the Triple Crown, (2) he and Curlin both remain undefeated this year, and (3) they both enter in the race. That's a bit of a tall order, but it's pretty hard to pass up a purse like that should everything else fall into place correctly. This makes me think of the match races of old. You know, despite the lackluster 3-year old season, this very well could end up being a very good year to be a horse racing fan.
His comments on whether Mr. Big, should he be victorious tomorrow, will not achieve the noteriety of other thoroughbred heroes who have taken the crown:
“I can’t imagine it is important to compare him to horses that have run years ago . . . It might be fun for (the media) to do that. But it just don’t make no sense. He is running with the horses he has been running with and that is all that he can be expected to match up against."
I'm glad he realizes his position. He's sitting on a good horse, a very good horse. But certainly not a great horse. Just a horse who's got some style in a year when very few colts could put up a fight. That doesn't mean he doesn't deserve the crown, heavens no. You race against your generation, and currently he's the best there is in this one. However, in perhaps the most wonderful thing I have ever read him to say, Rick went on to suggest that maybe, just maybe (oh, please), Mr. Big might get pitted against the best of another generation...just to shake things up:
"Hopefully, we get to face Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. That would be exciting. We are looking forward to that.”
Me too Rick. Me too.
Oh, and incidentally, Suffolk Downs just announced that they will put up a $5 million purse for the Massachusetts Handicap should (1) Big Brown win the Triple Crown, (2) he and Curlin both remain undefeated this year, and (3) they both enter in the race. That's a bit of a tall order, but it's pretty hard to pass up a purse like that should everything else fall into place correctly. This makes me think of the match races of old. You know, despite the lackluster 3-year old season, this very well could end up being a very good year to be a horse racing fan.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Belmont Preview
As if Big Brown (Boundary-Mien, by Nureyev) needed anything else to boost his spirits for Saturday’s coronation, winning the coveted rail position can’t have hurt. The one spot is the most consistent producer of Belmont winners, and it’s sure to allow Mr. Big the room he needs to get to the front fast. By and large, his competition are closers, so they’re likely to leave him alone regardless. (Speaking of which, where has Spark Candle, Casino Drive’s rabbit, got to? I mean, I don’t think any of us expect that Big Brown won’t push the pace unmolested, but do you want to leave that possibility to chance?) He seems to have recovered fine from his quarter crack. That doesn’t mean that it’s healed, as that will take quite a while, but he did work a bullet on Tuesday, going 5 furlongs in 1 minute and change. He reportedly left his workmate far in the dust. And really, do we expect anything less of him come Saturday afternoon?
Not I.
Mr. Big’s neighbor in the starting gate is a horse named Guadalcanal (Graeme Hall-Bassette, by Quest for Fame*GB). Never heard of him? Neither has anyone else. He’s a maiden (meaning he’s never won a race), and he’s certainly never seen anything like the competition being thrown his way this weekend. Puts me in mind of The Lark Twist (kudos to anyone who picks up on that obscure piece of horse racing trivia). Anyways, he seems to be on the improve lately and the longer the distances get, the better he runs. Last out he was a fast closing second in a mile and a half turf race. That gives him his sole distinction in this field- he’s the only horse to have run farther than a mile and a quarter. Mind you, his Beyer in that race was a ho-hum 82. But in this crazy year, when Derby favorites win from the 20th post position in their 4th lifetime start, can we really throw out anyone? At odds of 50-1, I’ll put a $2 show bet on him any day.
Macho Again (Macho Uno-Go Donna Do, by Wild Again) is, hands down, the most accomplished horse in this field. Sure, Mr. Big has won more, but Macho gets the nod for experience. Do I think he can beat Mr. Big? Hell no, but I am confident that, on a good day, he can show his heels to the rest of this field.
Denis of Cork (Harlan’s Holiday-Unbridled Girl, by Unbridled), fresh off of his third place finish in the Kentucky Derby looks to catch up to Mr. Big this weekend. Can I just say, “Ummm….no.” Sure, he looked pretty good rallying from dead last to finish in the money on Derby Day. But he had a very smooth trip to get there, and really, where did he rally to? That’s right, 3.5 lengths behind a filly who would be dead two minutes later and 8.25 lengths behind his chief competition today. There was a time earlier this year when this guy was looking like one of the best in the country. He still does. Isn’t that sad?
If Casino Drive wins it will be a triumph of pedigree over…well…just about everything else. Casino drive is by Mineshaft, a stallion who, though he did not win the Belmont Stakes (he started his career in Europe and was never entered), is the son and grandson of Belmont winners. His dam is Better Than Honor (who for those of you asleep since 2005, has suckled the last two winners of the race). But it’s hard to get too excited. Let’s face it, a horse undefeated in two starts is still a horse with just two lifetimes starts. Granted, he’s crushed his competition in both of those performances….and its not as though Big Brown had won many more races (try one) before taking the Derby…and his Beyer of 101 (91? 102? Seriously, why can the internets not agree on this number?) in the Peter Pan Stakes is nothing to shake a stick at. If anyone has a chance to put some tarnish on Mr. Big’s crown, it’s this monster.
Da’Tara (Tiznow-Torchera, by Pirate’s Bounty) looked sharp finishing second to Roman Emperor in the Barbaro Stakes on Preakness Day. But this front runner will have Mr. Big to contend with the entire mile and a half around the Belmont oval. If he couldn’t hold on for the win in his previous mile and one sixteenth start, how can you expect him to go even farther on Saturday?
Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat-Silence Beauty*JPN, by Sunday Silence) is like a box of chocolates. I’m sure you can finish the quote on your own. On Saturday, will he be the hard closing winner of Wood Memorial? The not to be ignored 4th place finisher of the Kentucky Derby? The abysmal plodder of the Louisiana Derby? Barclay wasn’t too happy with his last workout; and if Barclay ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.
Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop-Misk, by Quiet American). In the words of Cloud Strife “…” No seriously, why do they keep putting this horse in stakes races?
Ready’s Echo (More Than Ready-Menekineko, by Kingmambo) is the favorite of my work buddy’s handicapping friend. Apparently his opinion has something to do with the colt’s breeding, which I can’t knock, though I feel its weighted slightly in favor of sprinting (read: not the Belmont). But he's certainly no Casino Drive, or Anak Nakal for that matter, when it comes to the "Who's your daddy?" factor. And I'll admit, he looked good closing in on Casino Drive in the (considerably shorter) Peter Pan Stakes (after an absolutely awful start, too). And...well actually...the more I try to talk about why my friend is wrong to like him...the more I like him. Darn.
I knew Icabad Crane (Jump Start-Adorahy, by Rahy) would do something in the Preakness Stakes, and he ended up doing even better than I thought. WIth a record of 3-0-2 in 5 lifetime starts, it's hard not to like the guy.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and make a completely silly prediction. I’m going with the same finish we had in the Preakness. Call it woman’s intuition.
1. Big Brown
2. Macho Again
3. Icabad Crane
Betting wise, I think I’ll stick with my gut choices:
$2 on Mr. Big to win (for posterity)
$2 Trifecta of Mr. Big, Macho Again and Icabad Crane
$2 on Guadalcanal to show (for my great uncle who fought at the battle of the same name...mind you, I only have his word for that...and this is the same guy who was convinced that little green aliens/elves were living in his basement)
$2 on Tale of Ekati to show (for my grandmother, who’s 88, and always bets #7)
And some other completely random/weird specialized bet that I haven’t figured out yet, just for the heck of it.
In other news
- Screw the United Postal Service, Kent Desormeaux is shilling for HOOTERS!
- And now for something considerably more tasteful: It was recently announced that Eight Belles would be interred at the Kentucky Derby Museum, joining the ranks of other four prior Kentucky Derby winners. Additionally, Churchill Downs announced that they will be renaming the La Troienne stakes (a three-year old filly race on the Derby undercard) for Eight Belles. I think that’s a great change. I know I groused about the re-Christening of the Sir Barton, but in this case La Troienne (though a fine racemare in Europe) is really best known as a broodmare in the States. Her legacy has been the excellent sons and daughthers she produced, a feat which Eight Belles never got the chance to equal.
Not I.
Mr. Big’s neighbor in the starting gate is a horse named Guadalcanal (Graeme Hall-Bassette, by Quest for Fame*GB). Never heard of him? Neither has anyone else. He’s a maiden (meaning he’s never won a race), and he’s certainly never seen anything like the competition being thrown his way this weekend. Puts me in mind of The Lark Twist (kudos to anyone who picks up on that obscure piece of horse racing trivia). Anyways, he seems to be on the improve lately and the longer the distances get, the better he runs. Last out he was a fast closing second in a mile and a half turf race. That gives him his sole distinction in this field- he’s the only horse to have run farther than a mile and a quarter. Mind you, his Beyer in that race was a ho-hum 82. But in this crazy year, when Derby favorites win from the 20th post position in their 4th lifetime start, can we really throw out anyone? At odds of 50-1, I’ll put a $2 show bet on him any day.
Macho Again (Macho Uno-Go Donna Do, by Wild Again) is, hands down, the most accomplished horse in this field. Sure, Mr. Big has won more, but Macho gets the nod for experience. Do I think he can beat Mr. Big? Hell no, but I am confident that, on a good day, he can show his heels to the rest of this field.
Denis of Cork (Harlan’s Holiday-Unbridled Girl, by Unbridled), fresh off of his third place finish in the Kentucky Derby looks to catch up to Mr. Big this weekend. Can I just say, “Ummm….no.” Sure, he looked pretty good rallying from dead last to finish in the money on Derby Day. But he had a very smooth trip to get there, and really, where did he rally to? That’s right, 3.5 lengths behind a filly who would be dead two minutes later and 8.25 lengths behind his chief competition today. There was a time earlier this year when this guy was looking like one of the best in the country. He still does. Isn’t that sad?
If Casino Drive wins it will be a triumph of pedigree over…well…just about everything else. Casino drive is by Mineshaft, a stallion who, though he did not win the Belmont Stakes (he started his career in Europe and was never entered), is the son and grandson of Belmont winners. His dam is Better Than Honor (who for those of you asleep since 2005, has suckled the last two winners of the race). But it’s hard to get too excited. Let’s face it, a horse undefeated in two starts is still a horse with just two lifetimes starts. Granted, he’s crushed his competition in both of those performances….and its not as though Big Brown had won many more races (try one) before taking the Derby…and his Beyer of 101 (91? 102? Seriously, why can the internets not agree on this number?) in the Peter Pan Stakes is nothing to shake a stick at. If anyone has a chance to put some tarnish on Mr. Big’s crown, it’s this monster.
Da’Tara (Tiznow-Torchera, by Pirate’s Bounty) looked sharp finishing second to Roman Emperor in the Barbaro Stakes on Preakness Day. But this front runner will have Mr. Big to contend with the entire mile and a half around the Belmont oval. If he couldn’t hold on for the win in his previous mile and one sixteenth start, how can you expect him to go even farther on Saturday?
Tale of Ekati (Tale of the Cat-Silence Beauty*JPN, by Sunday Silence) is like a box of chocolates. I’m sure you can finish the quote on your own. On Saturday, will he be the hard closing winner of Wood Memorial? The not to be ignored 4th place finisher of the Kentucky Derby? The abysmal plodder of the Louisiana Derby? Barclay wasn’t too happy with his last workout; and if Barclay ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.
Anak Nakal (Victory Gallop-Misk, by Quiet American). In the words of Cloud Strife “…” No seriously, why do they keep putting this horse in stakes races?
Ready’s Echo (More Than Ready-Menekineko, by Kingmambo) is the favorite of my work buddy’s handicapping friend. Apparently his opinion has something to do with the colt’s breeding, which I can’t knock, though I feel its weighted slightly in favor of sprinting (read: not the Belmont). But he's certainly no Casino Drive, or Anak Nakal for that matter, when it comes to the "Who's your daddy?" factor. And I'll admit, he looked good closing in on Casino Drive in the (considerably shorter) Peter Pan Stakes (after an absolutely awful start, too). And...well actually...the more I try to talk about why my friend is wrong to like him...the more I like him. Darn.
I knew Icabad Crane (Jump Start-Adorahy, by Rahy) would do something in the Preakness Stakes, and he ended up doing even better than I thought. WIth a record of 3-0-2 in 5 lifetime starts, it's hard not to like the guy.
I’m gonna go out on a limb here and make a completely silly prediction. I’m going with the same finish we had in the Preakness. Call it woman’s intuition.
1. Big Brown
2. Macho Again
3. Icabad Crane
Betting wise, I think I’ll stick with my gut choices:
$2 on Mr. Big to win (for posterity)
$2 Trifecta of Mr. Big, Macho Again and Icabad Crane
$2 on Guadalcanal to show (for my great uncle who fought at the battle of the same name...mind you, I only have his word for that...and this is the same guy who was convinced that little green aliens/elves were living in his basement)
$2 on Tale of Ekati to show (for my grandmother, who’s 88, and always bets #7)
And some other completely random/weird specialized bet that I haven’t figured out yet, just for the heck of it.
In other news
- Screw the United Postal Service, Kent Desormeaux is shilling for HOOTERS!
- And now for something considerably more tasteful: It was recently announced that Eight Belles would be interred at the Kentucky Derby Museum, joining the ranks of other four prior Kentucky Derby winners. Additionally, Churchill Downs announced that they will be renaming the La Troienne stakes (a three-year old filly race on the Derby undercard) for Eight Belles. I think that’s a great change. I know I groused about the re-Christening of the Sir Barton, but in this case La Troienne (though a fine racemare in Europe) is really best known as a broodmare in the States. Her legacy has been the excellent sons and daughthers she produced, a feat which Eight Belles never got the chance to equal.
The week to end all weeks
Wow...so this week we have the possibility of:
1. A black man winning the Democratic nomination for presidency
2. The Detroit Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup
3. The first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.
Just...wanted to point that all out. An actual substantive post to come later today (when I'm not so incredibly busy).
1. A black man winning the Democratic nomination for presidency
2. The Detroit Red Wings winning the Stanley Cup
3. The first Triple Crown winner in 30 years.
Just...wanted to point that all out. An actual substantive post to come later today (when I'm not so incredibly busy).
Monday, June 2, 2008
Preparations begin
Some of the bloggers at right have Belmont Day easy. It's just a matter of rolling out of bed and heading to the track for them. We have a good 10-11 hour drive (both ways) to plan, which will necessitate 40 gallons of gas and what looks like two separate forays into Canada. Not that going to Canada is a big deal for those of us born and raised in southeastern Michigan (oh, by the way, GO WINGS!). Anyways, it looks to be a busy weekend, but then that's my favorite type.
-Today we got our tickets to the Belmont in the mail. Miracle of miracles, we appear to have done well in the seat lottery. Here is a diagram of the track with an arrow pointing to the section we'll be sitting in. And right down in front of us (and slightly to our left) is the finish line. Woohoo!
(Okay, actually...turns out it's not that cool. But somebody misspoke when they were talking to me about the tickets over the phone. So, ummm...yeah...we're actually at the top of the stretch...which could be a lot worse...right?)
-I've made up the logo for my shirt, now I have to print it on iron on paper and transfer it. Should have done that yesterday, but I was busy being lazy.
-Ferret boarder contacted (Did I mention I have a ferret? I love her, but she can be a pain.)
-Driving maps to and from NY (and two and from our hotel and the track) printed.
-In the process of figuring out how best to utilize the greater NYC area's transpotation system in order to spend a few qulaity hours downtown (DH has never been).
Still need to obtain: snacks, drinks, rain gear, binoculars (I know I have a pair somewhere), 1000 speed color film for good photos, extra APS film for mini point-and-shoot, small denomination money for toll roads (have no idea how much cash to take in general). Oh yeah, and at some point I should actually try and profile the race entrants (and those of the major undercard races...which look to be full of class).
-Today we got our tickets to the Belmont in the mail. Miracle of miracles, we appear to have done well in the seat lottery. Here is a diagram of the track with an arrow pointing to the section we'll be sitting in. And right down in front of us (and slightly to our left) is the finish line. Woohoo!
(Okay, actually...turns out it's not that cool. But somebody misspoke when they were talking to me about the tickets over the phone. So, ummm...yeah...we're actually at the top of the stretch...which could be a lot worse...right?)
-I've made up the logo for my shirt, now I have to print it on iron on paper and transfer it. Should have done that yesterday, but I was busy being lazy.
-Ferret boarder contacted (Did I mention I have a ferret? I love her, but she can be a pain.)
-Driving maps to and from NY (and two and from our hotel and the track) printed.
-In the process of figuring out how best to utilize the greater NYC area's transpotation system in order to spend a few qulaity hours downtown (DH has never been).
Still need to obtain: snacks, drinks, rain gear, binoculars (I know I have a pair somewhere), 1000 speed color film for good photos, extra APS film for mini point-and-shoot, small denomination money for toll roads (have no idea how much cash to take in general). Oh yeah, and at some point I should actually try and profile the race entrants (and those of the major undercard races...which look to be full of class).
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Horse Racing for n00bs
Lesson #2- Backstretch Lingo
I’ve had some requests for a brief tutorial in horse racing terminology. I have to admit, the sport does have a language all its own. It’s been around a loooooong time, enough time to develop its own dialect. However, if what you’re looking for is just a basic list of horsey words and their meanings, you can find that elsewhere on the web. Like here. Or here. No, what I’ll provide is a specific subset of terminology that bloggers tend to use, so that readers can better navigate the turbid waters of the internet horse racing community. I’ll start off with a short explanation of the clever names of some of my fellow blogger’s pages (which can be found at right), because they represent an interesting cross section of lingo:
Brooklyn Backstretch- The Backstretch is the term for the stretch of racing surface on the far side of the track (away from the grandstands). It is also used to refer to the barn areas at a track, because these are traditionally located behind the backstretch itself.
Curb My Enthusiasm- A Curb is a type of bit (the metal piece on a bridle that goes in the horse’s mouth). It may also be used as a verb meaning to slow or stop, as basically that is what a bit is used to do to the horse.
Down the Stretch- The Stretch is the piece of track between the two curves which is closest to the grandstand. The finish line is located there. Although they aren’t sloped (usually), horses running the final parts of a horse race are said to be moving ‘down’ the stretch (“And down the stretch they come!”).
Green But Game- A horse who has little training or experience is said to be Green. A horse that tries hard in a race, win or lose, is said to be Game.
Handride- A Handride is a ride performed without the use of a whip. It means that when the horse was racing down the stretch, the jock didn’t feel it was necessary to urge him on to the finish. Basically, an easy win.
Left at the Gate- Horses break from a starting gate in order to maintain some sort of control over the race by having them all theoretically start at the same time. But sometimes the horse just gets caught flat footed when the doors clang open. While the rest of the more precocious field takes off, the sleeper gets Left at the Gate.
Post Parade- This is the name for the walk the horses take from the saddling paddock to the gate. It’s usually done in single file and, for the bigger races, is associated with specific songs (My Old Kentucky Home) and other pageantry. In that way, it is sort of a parade. Basically, though, it’s intended to give bettors (and owners) a last chance to see the horses before the race.
Railbird- The Rail is a term for the fence that runs around the edge of a racetrack. Correspondingly, a Railbird, is someone who’s always sitting at the fence and watching horses…in other words, a horse racing fan.
Superfecta Blog- A Superfecta is a type of exotic bet where, in order to win, you have to pick the first four finishers in a race in order.
Tote Board Brad- The Tote Board is the large screen in the center of a racetrack infield which gives information about wagering, track conditions, and betting pools.
View from the Quarter Pole- This is a reference to one of the many poles situated around the track for measuring purposes. It’s situated a quarter of a mile (2 furlongs) back from the finish line. So when horses hit the Quarter Pole in a race, they have a quarter mile yet to run. There are equally non-inventive names for all the other poles as well (Half Mile Pole,Three Quarters Pole, etc.). Just remember to count backwards from the finish.
And of course…
Blacktype Blog- When a horse becomes a stakes winner his name is forever recorded in breeding charts in BOLD CAPITALS. If a horse places in a stakes race, his name gets written in bold, but without the caps. Collectively, this is phenomenon is referred to as Blacktype. When a horse gets blacktype, or is looking for the same, he’s a stakes quality animal.
I’ve had some requests for a brief tutorial in horse racing terminology. I have to admit, the sport does have a language all its own. It’s been around a loooooong time, enough time to develop its own dialect. However, if what you’re looking for is just a basic list of horsey words and their meanings, you can find that elsewhere on the web. Like here. Or here. No, what I’ll provide is a specific subset of terminology that bloggers tend to use, so that readers can better navigate the turbid waters of the internet horse racing community. I’ll start off with a short explanation of the clever names of some of my fellow blogger’s pages (which can be found at right), because they represent an interesting cross section of lingo:
Brooklyn Backstretch- The Backstretch is the term for the stretch of racing surface on the far side of the track (away from the grandstands). It is also used to refer to the barn areas at a track, because these are traditionally located behind the backstretch itself.
Curb My Enthusiasm- A Curb is a type of bit (the metal piece on a bridle that goes in the horse’s mouth). It may also be used as a verb meaning to slow or stop, as basically that is what a bit is used to do to the horse.
Down the Stretch- The Stretch is the piece of track between the two curves which is closest to the grandstand. The finish line is located there. Although they aren’t sloped (usually), horses running the final parts of a horse race are said to be moving ‘down’ the stretch (“And down the stretch they come!”).
Green But Game- A horse who has little training or experience is said to be Green. A horse that tries hard in a race, win or lose, is said to be Game.
Handride- A Handride is a ride performed without the use of a whip. It means that when the horse was racing down the stretch, the jock didn’t feel it was necessary to urge him on to the finish. Basically, an easy win.
Left at the Gate- Horses break from a starting gate in order to maintain some sort of control over the race by having them all theoretically start at the same time. But sometimes the horse just gets caught flat footed when the doors clang open. While the rest of the more precocious field takes off, the sleeper gets Left at the Gate.
Post Parade- This is the name for the walk the horses take from the saddling paddock to the gate. It’s usually done in single file and, for the bigger races, is associated with specific songs (My Old Kentucky Home) and other pageantry. In that way, it is sort of a parade. Basically, though, it’s intended to give bettors (and owners) a last chance to see the horses before the race.
Railbird- The Rail is a term for the fence that runs around the edge of a racetrack. Correspondingly, a Railbird, is someone who’s always sitting at the fence and watching horses…in other words, a horse racing fan.
Superfecta Blog- A Superfecta is a type of exotic bet where, in order to win, you have to pick the first four finishers in a race in order.
Tote Board Brad- The Tote Board is the large screen in the center of a racetrack infield which gives information about wagering, track conditions, and betting pools.
View from the Quarter Pole- This is a reference to one of the many poles situated around the track for measuring purposes. It’s situated a quarter of a mile (2 furlongs) back from the finish line. So when horses hit the Quarter Pole in a race, they have a quarter mile yet to run. There are equally non-inventive names for all the other poles as well (Half Mile Pole,Three Quarters Pole, etc.). Just remember to count backwards from the finish.
And of course…
Blacktype Blog- When a horse becomes a stakes winner his name is forever recorded in breeding charts in BOLD CAPITALS. If a horse places in a stakes race, his name gets written in bold, but without the caps. Collectively, this is phenomenon is referred to as Blacktype. When a horse gets blacktype, or is looking for the same, he’s a stakes quality animal.
El Prado
Edgar Prado was just named as the jockey for Casino Drive. Although I hadn't mentioned it before, Casino Drive was having a bit of a jockey problem recently. His rider in the Peter Pan Stakes recently was none other than Kent Desormeaux, Big Brown's regular rider. Casino Drive's jock in his only other start was some Japanese bloke, and the owers were concerned about using a jockey unfamiliar with the track or with American racing ways. Up comes Edgar Prado who, if he can pull off a win next week against Mr. Big, will rightfully earn the title (in my mind at least) of Triple Crown Killer. He was also aboard Sarava, who upset War Emblem's bid for the crown back in 2002, and Birdstone, who ran down Smarty Jones in his Belmont Stakes loss.
In other news
-It hasn't been a good week to be a filly. Hell, it hasn't been a good month to be a filly. Nashoba's Key, a quality turf racemare who I was rather fond of, broke her leg kicking the side of her stall in a freak accident and had to be euthanized. To all those racing detractors that say the sport is dangerous for horses, here's proof that just standing in a safe, homely barn can be dangerous to horses. Meanwhile, Panty Raid (and there is an excellent horse name if I've ever heard one), another good mare, was retired from a non-career threatening injury. Why would she be retired from something that was non-career threatening? I have no idea. Her connections say it was because she wouldn't be able to race until fall. Yeah, well, there are races in the fall. There's races in the winter too, and next spring and...oh, just leave it. If they don't try to rush her into a breeding shed for a late cover then I will just have to shake my head in dismay.
-Curlin returned to the track Monday and worked a smooth six furlongs in 1:12.20 in preparation for the Stephen Foster Handicap on June 14th. Wow, a great racehorse not retired before the prime of his 4-year old career. Who would have thunk it?
Next time I think I'll do another Horse Racing for N00bs installment. So which lesson would you rather have: "Who's Your Daddy?", "What's in a Name?", "Horse Race Slang", or "How to Read a Past Performace Sheet".
In other news
-It hasn't been a good week to be a filly. Hell, it hasn't been a good month to be a filly. Nashoba's Key, a quality turf racemare who I was rather fond of, broke her leg kicking the side of her stall in a freak accident and had to be euthanized. To all those racing detractors that say the sport is dangerous for horses, here's proof that just standing in a safe, homely barn can be dangerous to horses. Meanwhile, Panty Raid (and there is an excellent horse name if I've ever heard one), another good mare, was retired from a non-career threatening injury. Why would she be retired from something that was non-career threatening? I have no idea. Her connections say it was because she wouldn't be able to race until fall. Yeah, well, there are races in the fall. There's races in the winter too, and next spring and...oh, just leave it. If they don't try to rush her into a breeding shed for a late cover then I will just have to shake my head in dismay.
-Curlin returned to the track Monday and worked a smooth six furlongs in 1:12.20 in preparation for the Stephen Foster Handicap on June 14th. Wow, a great racehorse not retired before the prime of his 4-year old career. Who would have thunk it?
Next time I think I'll do another Horse Racing for N00bs installment. So which lesson would you rather have: "Who's Your Daddy?", "What's in a Name?", "Horse Race Slang", or "How to Read a Past Performace Sheet".
Monday, May 26, 2008
Fly in the ointment
Just when you thought it was safe to start talking about the Triple Crown as if it might actually, possibly, maybe (please?) be happening this year, you get news like this. Big Brown, has been diagnosed with a small quarter crack in his left front foot (which for horse trivia nuts, may also be referred to as the 'near fore' hoof). So, what does this mean? Is he out of the game? No probably not, but it is a concern.
A quarter crack, also known a bit more archaically as a 'sandcrack', is basically a split in the hoof wall. Horses hooves are the functional equivalents of the human figernail and although they seem to be made of pretty tough stuff to us (especially when we're getting stepped on or kicked) they really are a piece of soft tissue. In other words, they can split and tear, just like when you break one of your own fingernails. It's not an uncommon injury for a horse, especially given the temendous pressure a thoroughbred racehorse puts on its hooves.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I break a nail I usually just file the rough edges off, and often that is soemthing you can do when a horse gets a little split in its hoof. However, you really can't do that with a quarter crack, because they begin at the coronet of the hoof. That's the name for band of semi-hoof running around the top of a hoof where it meets meets the horse's leg. It's essentially where the hoof is formed, and as I sort of implied above, it's not entirely hoof itself. You could compare it to the 'quick' of your fingernails. So, yes, with a quarter crack the hoof is essentially cut to the quick.
Quarter cracks can vary in severity, and their severity may be measured by both their length and depth. Length as measured by how long the crack appears from looking at it on the outside of the hoof (in Mr. Big's case, about 5/8 of a inch). Depth because there's pretty much no way to tell how deep into the hoof wall a crack goes just by looking at it. It's possible for a crack to split all the way down to where the hoof stops and flesh and bone begins, in which case there is a significant chance of infection. Here's some photos of quarter cracks with a range of severities from Big Brown's personal hoofcare guru (thanks for the link Left at the Gate!).
So, is this life threatening? No. Career threatening? No. Is it painful? Usually not (Big Brown is reportedly fine). Does it hurt his chance of going to the Belmont? Well, his trainer seems to think he's okay to go in now...but these things can change rapidly. Will it hurt his chances in the Belmont? Who can say? This horse has run on cruddy hooves all his life, this shouldn't make for much of a change. He's missing training, and that's never a good thing. His trainer stated in an interview that he may need to blow out the horse on raceday. I think someone must have heard him wrong, because who ever blows out a horse on race day anymore? Regardless, the point is, it's messing with his intensive training schedule, and that, just like with human atheletes, will throw him off his game. Just how much remains to be seen. Rick Dutrow is confident, but then Rick Dutrow's got a nametag that says 'Hello, my name is Arrogant Ass', so that's no big surprise. We'll just have to wait as see if the treament regimen thye've put him on actually works. Only two weeks time will tell.
A quarter crack, also known a bit more archaically as a 'sandcrack', is basically a split in the hoof wall. Horses hooves are the functional equivalents of the human figernail and although they seem to be made of pretty tough stuff to us (especially when we're getting stepped on or kicked) they really are a piece of soft tissue. In other words, they can split and tear, just like when you break one of your own fingernails. It's not an uncommon injury for a horse, especially given the temendous pressure a thoroughbred racehorse puts on its hooves.
Now, I don't know about you, but when I break a nail I usually just file the rough edges off, and often that is soemthing you can do when a horse gets a little split in its hoof. However, you really can't do that with a quarter crack, because they begin at the coronet of the hoof. That's the name for band of semi-hoof running around the top of a hoof where it meets meets the horse's leg. It's essentially where the hoof is formed, and as I sort of implied above, it's not entirely hoof itself. You could compare it to the 'quick' of your fingernails. So, yes, with a quarter crack the hoof is essentially cut to the quick.
Quarter cracks can vary in severity, and their severity may be measured by both their length and depth. Length as measured by how long the crack appears from looking at it on the outside of the hoof (in Mr. Big's case, about 5/8 of a inch). Depth because there's pretty much no way to tell how deep into the hoof wall a crack goes just by looking at it. It's possible for a crack to split all the way down to where the hoof stops and flesh and bone begins, in which case there is a significant chance of infection. Here's some photos of quarter cracks with a range of severities from Big Brown's personal hoofcare guru (thanks for the link Left at the Gate!).
So, is this life threatening? No. Career threatening? No. Is it painful? Usually not (Big Brown is reportedly fine). Does it hurt his chance of going to the Belmont? Well, his trainer seems to think he's okay to go in now...but these things can change rapidly. Will it hurt his chances in the Belmont? Who can say? This horse has run on cruddy hooves all his life, this shouldn't make for much of a change. He's missing training, and that's never a good thing. His trainer stated in an interview that he may need to blow out the horse on raceday. I think someone must have heard him wrong, because who ever blows out a horse on race day anymore? Regardless, the point is, it's messing with his intensive training schedule, and that, just like with human atheletes, will throw him off his game. Just how much remains to be seen. Rick Dutrow is confident, but then Rick Dutrow's got a nametag that says 'Hello, my name is Arrogant Ass', so that's no big surprise. We'll just have to wait as see if the treament regimen thye've put him on actually works. Only two weeks time will tell.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
What the future holds
With Big Brown looking to make his 6th lifetime start ever in just over two weeks, with that performance possibly (nay, perhaps likely) to result in the first Triple Crown win in three decades, and with recent confirmation of his stud deal totaling $50 million dollars, the question on just about everyone's mind is what Big Brown is going to do after the Belmont. Clearly, the answer will be different if he loses, but I'm making the assumption at this point that he won't. There will be strong pressure to retire him right away to protect him (and his delicate footsies) from potential injuries that could occur later in the year. Some people would even agree with his connections for making such a decision (note: those people do not love horse racing as a sport).
However, it should be pointed out that there's no reason (other than to avoid potential injury) to retire Mr. Big this early in his 3-year old season. By mid-June all the mares that are going to conceive a 2009 foal already have. So Mr. Big won't have anything to cover until January as it is. Meanwhile, there's some lucrative races coming up that could line his owners pockets a little more. Finally, if Mr. Big does go on to take the crown, there will be only one solitary cloud darkening the horizon of his career (well, aside from his questionable feet), and that would be his failure to meet world-dominating 4-year old Curlin. If the two of them don't gear up for a match in the Breeder's Cup Classic this fall, this fan, at least, will be sorely disappointed. And I'm sure I'm not alone.
No one has yet to make any firm predictions for Big Brown's future, but Rick Dutrow did recently state that he's planning on the Travers and the Classic. Which is just fine by me.
In a completely unrelated matter, I'm thinking about making myself some designer Belmont wear for my big date in New York. Right now I'm caught between two proposed T-shirt ideas:
1. Election themed with stars and stripes (coincidentally mimicking the silks of Mr. Big) and the statement "Big Brown 2008"
2. Three crowns and the phrase "Born in 1979...Waiting ever since"
What do you think internets?
However, it should be pointed out that there's no reason (other than to avoid potential injury) to retire Mr. Big this early in his 3-year old season. By mid-June all the mares that are going to conceive a 2009 foal already have. So Mr. Big won't have anything to cover until January as it is. Meanwhile, there's some lucrative races coming up that could line his owners pockets a little more. Finally, if Mr. Big does go on to take the crown, there will be only one solitary cloud darkening the horizon of his career (well, aside from his questionable feet), and that would be his failure to meet world-dominating 4-year old Curlin. If the two of them don't gear up for a match in the Breeder's Cup Classic this fall, this fan, at least, will be sorely disappointed. And I'm sure I'm not alone.
No one has yet to make any firm predictions for Big Brown's future, but Rick Dutrow did recently state that he's planning on the Travers and the Classic. Which is just fine by me.
In a completely unrelated matter, I'm thinking about making myself some designer Belmont wear for my big date in New York. Right now I'm caught between two proposed T-shirt ideas:
1. Election themed with stars and stripes (coincidentally mimicking the silks of Mr. Big) and the statement "Big Brown 2008"
2. Three crowns and the phrase "Born in 1979...Waiting ever since"
What do you think internets?
Monday, May 19, 2008
Belmont Bound
The days are long at Belmont,
Speed they never learn,
And it's many a day since Man o' War
Has looped the upper turn.
Here I am, back to quoting poetry, but it fits, because apparently I'm going to New York. I've been to two Breeder's Cups in my day, but I've never seen a single leg of the Triple Crown while it was happenening. And, though I hesitate to say it becuase of my great fear of hubris, I do actually think it's happening...this year. Oh, yes, we've had close calls in the past, quite a few, in fact, in the last decade. Some, I knew wouldn't make it. When Real Quiet was making his run, I kept pointing at the horse perpetually in his shadow (Victory Gallop) and saying, "Watch that guy, he's gonna nip him in the end." Nip him in the end he did, though just barely. Same with Funny Cide, I really just didn't have any confidence in him. Smarty Jones I thought had a good chance, as good a chance as any I had ever seen. Charismatic was the first horse who ever broke my heart, breaking down in the stretch of that unforgiving mile and a half monster.
But Big Brown...I remember the first Derby edition of the BloodHorse I ever owned had a journalist recapping his favorite Kentucky Derbies. I don't remember the journalist, but I remember what he said about the Triple Crown. He said he thought Secretariat could do it, but he knew Seattle Slew would. At first I took that as him saying he thought Seattle Slew was the better horse, but now looking at it, I think it was really a comment on the various fields they faced. Secretariat knocked heads with Sham (who apart from his disadtrous Triple Crown defeats, was a darn good horse!), Forego (three time Horse of the Year), the persistent Our Native, the speedsters Angle Light and Ecol Etage, and Royal and Regal. Who did Slew face? Quality, yes, but not that kind of quality. And that's why the author thought Secretariat would win, but knew Slew would. It wasn't that the latter was better, just comparatively more dominant in his generation.
And that is Big Brown to a 'T'.
I didn't get to see much of the race, or even the pre-race coverage on Saturday. I was busy being a hostess. But, I did manage to take a few moments out from manning the stove to stand next to a TV turned to the race, and I caught it from about the beginning of the final turn on. I almost immediately was able to pick out Big Brown's now familiar silks. I saw him there, three wide around the curve, and I thought to myself, "Dear God, that horse is loafing." Well, it was either that or he was completely exhausted and being eased by Kent Desormaux, which I thought was highly unlikely. And so, as the field whipped into the straight away I found myself menatlly whispering, "Now. Now, is the time. Go right now!"
He heard me. He went. Race over. All that was left was to lean in close to the screen to hear the final order of finish. Back to the kitchen for the majority of the night. Excitement over.
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But then, really, the excitement is just beginning.
1. Big Brown- 1st
2. Gayego- 10th
3. Hey Byrn- 6th
4. Icabad Crane- 3rd
In other news
-My husband kept talking about this race they were showing on Today at Pimlico while I was busy baking. It was an impressive showing in the Peter Pan Stakes by a horse named Casino Drive, who I think you've heard me mention before. Currently, he's being touted as perhaps the last, best hope for knocking some sense into Big Brown. I'm not holding my breath. His jockey was quoted as saying that you often see a horse ship from overseas like that (Casino Drive had just come from Japan the week before his race) and then not do quite as well after they've had a rest. Mind you, his jockey may be biased, as he's got a different horse he'll be riding in the Belmont (cough, Big Brown).
-Okay, so one of my friends recently emailed me saying she heard that Big Brown was doped up during the Derby and was supposed to have been disqualified and now she's all mad because she doesn't think that it's fair he wasn't. To all of you out there in internets land- Big Brown tested clean for all illegal substances after the race. Yes there was some questions because his trainer is scum. We admit that, but that has no effect on how great his horse may be. No, there was nothing untoward. No, Eight Belles hadn't been given anything either. No, it is not the fault of her jockey/trainer/owner that she broke down. It was an awful accident.
Speed they never learn,
And it's many a day since Man o' War
Has looped the upper turn.
Here I am, back to quoting poetry, but it fits, because apparently I'm going to New York. I've been to two Breeder's Cups in my day, but I've never seen a single leg of the Triple Crown while it was happenening. And, though I hesitate to say it becuase of my great fear of hubris, I do actually think it's happening...this year. Oh, yes, we've had close calls in the past, quite a few, in fact, in the last decade. Some, I knew wouldn't make it. When Real Quiet was making his run, I kept pointing at the horse perpetually in his shadow (Victory Gallop) and saying, "Watch that guy, he's gonna nip him in the end." Nip him in the end he did, though just barely. Same with Funny Cide, I really just didn't have any confidence in him. Smarty Jones I thought had a good chance, as good a chance as any I had ever seen. Charismatic was the first horse who ever broke my heart, breaking down in the stretch of that unforgiving mile and a half monster.
But Big Brown...I remember the first Derby edition of the BloodHorse I ever owned had a journalist recapping his favorite Kentucky Derbies. I don't remember the journalist, but I remember what he said about the Triple Crown. He said he thought Secretariat could do it, but he knew Seattle Slew would. At first I took that as him saying he thought Seattle Slew was the better horse, but now looking at it, I think it was really a comment on the various fields they faced. Secretariat knocked heads with Sham (who apart from his disadtrous Triple Crown defeats, was a darn good horse!), Forego (three time Horse of the Year), the persistent Our Native, the speedsters Angle Light and Ecol Etage, and Royal and Regal. Who did Slew face? Quality, yes, but not that kind of quality. And that's why the author thought Secretariat would win, but knew Slew would. It wasn't that the latter was better, just comparatively more dominant in his generation.
And that is Big Brown to a 'T'.
I didn't get to see much of the race, or even the pre-race coverage on Saturday. I was busy being a hostess. But, I did manage to take a few moments out from manning the stove to stand next to a TV turned to the race, and I caught it from about the beginning of the final turn on. I almost immediately was able to pick out Big Brown's now familiar silks. I saw him there, three wide around the curve, and I thought to myself, "Dear God, that horse is loafing." Well, it was either that or he was completely exhausted and being eased by Kent Desormaux, which I thought was highly unlikely. And so, as the field whipped into the straight away I found myself menatlly whispering, "Now. Now, is the time. Go right now!"
He heard me. He went. Race over. All that was left was to lean in close to the screen to hear the final order of finish. Back to the kitchen for the majority of the night. Excitement over.
But then, really, the excitement is just beginning.
1. Big Brown- 1st
2. Gayego- 10th
3. Hey Byrn- 6th
4. Icabad Crane- 3rd
In other news
-My husband kept talking about this race they were showing on Today at Pimlico while I was busy baking. It was an impressive showing in the Peter Pan Stakes by a horse named Casino Drive, who I think you've heard me mention before. Currently, he's being touted as perhaps the last, best hope for knocking some sense into Big Brown. I'm not holding my breath. His jockey was quoted as saying that you often see a horse ship from overseas like that (Casino Drive had just come from Japan the week before his race) and then not do quite as well after they've had a rest. Mind you, his jockey may be biased, as he's got a different horse he'll be riding in the Belmont (cough, Big Brown).
-Okay, so one of my friends recently emailed me saying she heard that Big Brown was doped up during the Derby and was supposed to have been disqualified and now she's all mad because she doesn't think that it's fair he wasn't. To all of you out there in internets land- Big Brown tested clean for all illegal substances after the race. Yes there was some questions because his trainer is scum. We admit that, but that has no effect on how great his horse may be. No, there was nothing untoward. No, Eight Belles hadn't been given anything either. No, it is not the fault of her jockey/trainer/owner that she broke down. It was an awful accident.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Preakness Preview
I haven't posted here in almost two weeks. I've all but stopped reading other people's racing blogs and my morning BloodHorse update. I haven't even managed to crack the Kentucky Derby re-cap edition of my BloodHorse subscription. It's sitting on my counter at home, gathering dust. Clearly, the Kentucky Derby has left me depressed this year.
And no, it's not just Eight Belles's loss. And it's not the having to explain to my co-workers and friends and random people who find out I'm a horse racing fan that- yes, it is horrible when a horse goes down like that, but accidents happen, and no there's really nothing you can do about it sometimes. And its not finding myself in the position of having to defend my favorite sport and training techniques and suspect racing surfaces and jockeys and less-than-squeaky-clean trainers and greedy owners. No, I've been through that before. I knew it was coming the instant I saw that grey form lying prone on the Churchill dirt.
I think it's more that I hate Big Brown.
I do, I admit it. I always feel a little resentment towards the winner of the Derby (which is invariably not the horse I would have chosen to win), but this year it's been worse than normal. I've had years where I didn't think the Derby winner would go on to win the Preakness, let along the remainder of the Triple Crown. Giacomo would be a good example. But never once have I not wanted the Derby winner to go on to wear the Black-Eyed Susans. So strong is my desire for another Triple Crown winner.
But I seriously want Big Brown to lose.
And it's not his fault. Not the horse at all. He's a cutie! He's got that weird white spot behind his left elbow. And he's done so much in what little time he's been on the track. He overcame what I personally saw as near insurmountable odds (the inexperience, the post position, etc.) to win with style. He went four wide that whole way around the Churchill track, and still finished like a champion. He proved that he was head and shoulders above the other horses in the race that day. And now he's going to Maryland to meet lesser (though fresher) competition.
It's hard to make a case for why he shouldn't win.
And my dear husband has promised, if he does sweep the Preakness, to take me to New York for my birthday present, to see a potential Triple Crown winner run. If only I could get excited.
I guess it's that there's nothing I hate more than arrogance. Nothing I hate more than the self-aggrandizing attitude his connections were exuding before the Derby. Nothing I hate more than people who invite the gods to strike them down for their presumption. And it kills me when people like that win. When it turns out that all their self-proclaimed superiority turns out to be correct. When they do things like deciding to retire their stud at 3, even before he's run his 5th race ever. When they can say, "Not only am I the greatest thing since sliced bread, but also, I told you so!"
But horses don't do that. They just love running. And this is something I just need to get over. And get over fast, because the Preakness is tomorrow. I'll be watching it on the little cabinet mounted TV in my parents kitchen as I roll endless rumaki and stuff countless mushrooms in preparation for my mother's 60th Birthday/Retirement party later that evening. Definitely not how I'd choose to watch the race for the Woodlawn Vase, but what can you do. Mom's only turn 60 once. So, without further ado, here is your Preakness pre-race analysis:
Preakness Stakes
When I started this analysis, Behindatthebar was one of my favorites for the race. However, it now appears he's been scratched because of a bruised foot. Alas, nothing can go right in this Triple Crown season. Thank goodness the Red Wings are still in the playoffs!
So, I've heard there's a horse named Big Brown in this race. Unfortunately, he makes the rest of the players look like amateurs. Undefeated in four lifetime starts, Beyer's consistently over 100, Kentucky Derby champion, blah-blah-blah. Let's just assume he's going in just about everybody's top spots and look at this as a race for second place.
Gayego (Gilded Time-Devil's Lake, by Lost Code) never had a chance in the Derby. He was one of the few horses in the race whose actual performance exactly matched what I had imagined in my pre-race mental constructions. Breaking from post 19, he was cut off by the rocket on his right and got lost in the shuffle of the 18 other horses on his left. He never got a chance to find his stride. But this time, he's on the outside of Big Brown. I think he perfectly represents the good horse with the horrible Derby trip, a not uncommon experience. And if anyone can bounce back from a bad prior performance and take Big Brown while he's busy planning his post-Preakness celebration, I think he's it. It's telling that his connections decided to keep him on the Triple Crown trail to threaten Big Brown when every other Derby starter flinched away to lick their wounds in the corner.
Another top contender, in my mind, is Giant Moon (Giant's Causeway-Moonlightandbeauty, by Capote). I loved this horse way back at the beginning of the season. He put in an awful performance in the mudddy Gotham (g.III), and though he managed to get up for 4th in the Wood Memorial (g.I), it was nothing spectacular. I can't say I really think he would have advanced much (or at all) on the top three Wood horses if given an extra 1/16th of a mile to run at them (which the Preakness would provide), but it did prove to me that his awful Gotham performance was not in the norm. I still like him, and he posted a bullet 4 furlongs in 47 and change on Tuesday to back me up.
I used to like Yankee Bravo (Yankee Gentlemen-Vicky Jane, by Royal Academy) too, but unlike Giant Moon, his recent disappointing performances have been...just that. Disappointing. No excuses. No signs of improvement. He's always there driving at the end, but without any apparent desire to make it there first. Of course, now that I've made this entirely arbitrary (and somewhat character based) assessment of him, he's probably going to do really well.
Tres Borrachos (Ecton Park-Pete's Fancy, by Peteski) made a good racde of it when he finished third behind Gayego and one of my Kentucky Derby favorites, Z Fortune, in the Arkansas Derby. But he likes to be near the pace, and if he does that in here that means he'll be butting heads with Mr. Brown (Mr. B? Big B? Double B? BB Gun? Seriously, Big Brown needs a good nickname). I think he'll lose that pissing contest.
My mom laughed at Icabad Crane (Jump Start-Adorahy, by Rahy) when he won the Frederico Tesio Stakes in an impressive stretch duel. She liked his name. She was an English teacher before she was an administrator and she used to teach American myths and legends to her high school students. I think it would be amusing for Mr. Crane to make an appearance for her retirement party. That and he's won over the Pimlico surface before. I think he pulled a good post position for his kind of running, and I think he was unlucky finishing 3rd in the Rushaway.
Kentucky Bear and Stevil both did pretty well in the infamous Bluegrass (g.I), finishing third and fourth respectively. But the winners of the Bluegrass turned out to be not all that come Derby Day (as I had predcited), so this doesn't mean too much. Mind you, the losers of the Bluegrass didn't turn out to be all that either (which I did not predict), and so I guess I can't really say anything about these two one way or the other. Macho Again is too inconsistent for me to back solidly. Racecar Rhapsody is...actually, I don't know why Racecar Rhapsody is in this race. Same with Riley Tucker.
Finally, Hey Burn (Put It Back- Restraining Order, by Skip Trial). He's been crushed by Big Brown before, but then who hasn't at this point? Before that he was a rapidly improving, rising star of the horse racing world. He came back from his Florida Derby (g.I) to do very well in the Holy Bull Stakes (g.III), admittedly against moderate company.
1. Big Brown (sigh)
2. Gayego
3. Hey Burn
4. Icabad Crane
Oh, and can I mention again how much I hate that they re-named the Sir Barton Stakes after Barbaro? Last year's inaugural winner (well, inaugural in that it was the first time the race had ever been run under its new name) was Chelokee, who was trained by Barbaro's former trainer, Michael Matz. Chelokee broke down in the stretch of the Alysheba Stakes on Oaks Day and is still touch and go. Do you see a pattern here? I think Barbaro, and all things associated with him, must be cursed. Do you know its bad luck to re-christen a ship? I think it may be the same thing with horse races.
And no, it's not just Eight Belles's loss. And it's not the having to explain to my co-workers and friends and random people who find out I'm a horse racing fan that- yes, it is horrible when a horse goes down like that, but accidents happen, and no there's really nothing you can do about it sometimes. And its not finding myself in the position of having to defend my favorite sport and training techniques and suspect racing surfaces and jockeys and less-than-squeaky-clean trainers and greedy owners. No, I've been through that before. I knew it was coming the instant I saw that grey form lying prone on the Churchill dirt.
I think it's more that I hate Big Brown.
I do, I admit it. I always feel a little resentment towards the winner of the Derby (which is invariably not the horse I would have chosen to win), but this year it's been worse than normal. I've had years where I didn't think the Derby winner would go on to win the Preakness, let along the remainder of the Triple Crown. Giacomo would be a good example. But never once have I not wanted the Derby winner to go on to wear the Black-Eyed Susans. So strong is my desire for another Triple Crown winner.
But I seriously want Big Brown to lose.
And it's not his fault. Not the horse at all. He's a cutie! He's got that weird white spot behind his left elbow. And he's done so much in what little time he's been on the track. He overcame what I personally saw as near insurmountable odds (the inexperience, the post position, etc.) to win with style. He went four wide that whole way around the Churchill track, and still finished like a champion. He proved that he was head and shoulders above the other horses in the race that day. And now he's going to Maryland to meet lesser (though fresher) competition.
It's hard to make a case for why he shouldn't win.
And my dear husband has promised, if he does sweep the Preakness, to take me to New York for my birthday present, to see a potential Triple Crown winner run. If only I could get excited.
I guess it's that there's nothing I hate more than arrogance. Nothing I hate more than the self-aggrandizing attitude his connections were exuding before the Derby. Nothing I hate more than people who invite the gods to strike them down for their presumption. And it kills me when people like that win. When it turns out that all their self-proclaimed superiority turns out to be correct. When they do things like deciding to retire their stud at 3, even before he's run his 5th race ever. When they can say, "Not only am I the greatest thing since sliced bread, but also, I told you so!"
But horses don't do that. They just love running. And this is something I just need to get over. And get over fast, because the Preakness is tomorrow. I'll be watching it on the little cabinet mounted TV in my parents kitchen as I roll endless rumaki and stuff countless mushrooms in preparation for my mother's 60th Birthday/Retirement party later that evening. Definitely not how I'd choose to watch the race for the Woodlawn Vase, but what can you do. Mom's only turn 60 once. So, without further ado, here is your Preakness pre-race analysis:
Preakness Stakes
When I started this analysis, Behindatthebar was one of my favorites for the race. However, it now appears he's been scratched because of a bruised foot. Alas, nothing can go right in this Triple Crown season. Thank goodness the Red Wings are still in the playoffs!
So, I've heard there's a horse named Big Brown in this race. Unfortunately, he makes the rest of the players look like amateurs. Undefeated in four lifetime starts, Beyer's consistently over 100, Kentucky Derby champion, blah-blah-blah. Let's just assume he's going in just about everybody's top spots and look at this as a race for second place.
Gayego (Gilded Time-Devil's Lake, by Lost Code) never had a chance in the Derby. He was one of the few horses in the race whose actual performance exactly matched what I had imagined in my pre-race mental constructions. Breaking from post 19, he was cut off by the rocket on his right and got lost in the shuffle of the 18 other horses on his left. He never got a chance to find his stride. But this time, he's on the outside of Big Brown. I think he perfectly represents the good horse with the horrible Derby trip, a not uncommon experience. And if anyone can bounce back from a bad prior performance and take Big Brown while he's busy planning his post-Preakness celebration, I think he's it. It's telling that his connections decided to keep him on the Triple Crown trail to threaten Big Brown when every other Derby starter flinched away to lick their wounds in the corner.
Another top contender, in my mind, is Giant Moon (Giant's Causeway-Moonlightandbeauty, by Capote). I loved this horse way back at the beginning of the season. He put in an awful performance in the mudddy Gotham (g.III), and though he managed to get up for 4th in the Wood Memorial (g.I), it was nothing spectacular. I can't say I really think he would have advanced much (or at all) on the top three Wood horses if given an extra 1/16th of a mile to run at them (which the Preakness would provide), but it did prove to me that his awful Gotham performance was not in the norm. I still like him, and he posted a bullet 4 furlongs in 47 and change on Tuesday to back me up.
I used to like Yankee Bravo (Yankee Gentlemen-Vicky Jane, by Royal Academy) too, but unlike Giant Moon, his recent disappointing performances have been...just that. Disappointing. No excuses. No signs of improvement. He's always there driving at the end, but without any apparent desire to make it there first. Of course, now that I've made this entirely arbitrary (and somewhat character based) assessment of him, he's probably going to do really well.
Tres Borrachos (Ecton Park-Pete's Fancy, by Peteski) made a good racde of it when he finished third behind Gayego and one of my Kentucky Derby favorites, Z Fortune, in the Arkansas Derby. But he likes to be near the pace, and if he does that in here that means he'll be butting heads with Mr. Brown (Mr. B? Big B? Double B? BB Gun? Seriously, Big Brown needs a good nickname). I think he'll lose that pissing contest.
My mom laughed at Icabad Crane (Jump Start-Adorahy, by Rahy) when he won the Frederico Tesio Stakes in an impressive stretch duel. She liked his name. She was an English teacher before she was an administrator and she used to teach American myths and legends to her high school students. I think it would be amusing for Mr. Crane to make an appearance for her retirement party. That and he's won over the Pimlico surface before. I think he pulled a good post position for his kind of running, and I think he was unlucky finishing 3rd in the Rushaway.
Kentucky Bear and Stevil both did pretty well in the infamous Bluegrass (g.I), finishing third and fourth respectively. But the winners of the Bluegrass turned out to be not all that come Derby Day (as I had predcited), so this doesn't mean too much. Mind you, the losers of the Bluegrass didn't turn out to be all that either (which I did not predict), and so I guess I can't really say anything about these two one way or the other. Macho Again is too inconsistent for me to back solidly. Racecar Rhapsody is...actually, I don't know why Racecar Rhapsody is in this race. Same with Riley Tucker.
Finally, Hey Burn (Put It Back- Restraining Order, by Skip Trial). He's been crushed by Big Brown before, but then who hasn't at this point? Before that he was a rapidly improving, rising star of the horse racing world. He came back from his Florida Derby (g.I) to do very well in the Holy Bull Stakes (g.III), admittedly against moderate company.
1. Big Brown (sigh)
2. Gayego
3. Hey Burn
4. Icabad Crane
Oh, and can I mention again how much I hate that they re-named the Sir Barton Stakes after Barbaro? Last year's inaugural winner (well, inaugural in that it was the first time the race had ever been run under its new name) was Chelokee, who was trained by Barbaro's former trainer, Michael Matz. Chelokee broke down in the stretch of the Alysheba Stakes on Oaks Day and is still touch and go. Do you see a pattern here? I think Barbaro, and all things associated with him, must be cursed. Do you know its bad luck to re-christen a ship? I think it may be the same thing with horse races.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
What can you say?
You can say that Big Brown is a true champion. That he overcame his inexperience, a deathly post position and the perils of overhype to win the day and immortality.
You can say that he deserved every once of press he received prior to the race, and he will deserve every iota thrown his way in the aftermath.
You can say that you hope to see him again in two weeks and, though you're not quite sure how things will fall out there, it would be nice to see him win again.
You can say you're sorry that a great filly had to die. That the absolute worst aspect of your sport...the part that makes even the die hard fans turn away with tears in their eyes...the part that makes the greatest critics of the sport justified in their anger...had to mar what otherwise would have been such a fine example of what makes racing great.
Alas, there's not really anything you can say after a race like that. Nothing that matter anyways. That there will be fallout of many kinds following this race is for certain. And it is one we will all remember. Not just for the way it was won, but also, for how it was lost.
You can say that he deserved every once of press he received prior to the race, and he will deserve every iota thrown his way in the aftermath.
You can say that you hope to see him again in two weeks and, though you're not quite sure how things will fall out there, it would be nice to see him win again.
You can say you're sorry that a great filly had to die. That the absolute worst aspect of your sport...the part that makes even the die hard fans turn away with tears in their eyes...the part that makes the greatest critics of the sport justified in their anger...had to mar what otherwise would have been such a fine example of what makes racing great.
Alas, there's not really anything you can say after a race like that. Nothing that matter anyways. That there will be fallout of many kinds following this race is for certain. And it is one we will all remember. Not just for the way it was won, but also, for how it was lost.
Saturday, May 3, 2008
D-Day
For years before I could legally drink, I threw a yearly Derby party. Once I could legally drink (okay, maybe a little before then) I started making mint juleps to fortify my friends through a long day of racing coverage. I learned very quickly that mint juleps suck. No seriously, I firmly believe that no one in their right mind would ever actually drink these horrors on purpose, were it not traditional. Long ago, they were a Southern "medicine", sipped on long back porches by invalids. Everyone knew back then that the worse medicine tasted, the more effective it was. And so why anyone would, in modern times, drink such a concoction for pleasure, continually eludes me. However, after years of trial and error, I finally managed to develop a mint julep recipe which, if not good, is at least palatable.
The key, apparently is good bourbon. During my years living in the student ghetto, I could not comprehend spending $30-$40 dollars on any form of alcohol, and that seems to have been the root of my problem. I now buy Woodford Reserve ($35), which is the official bourbon of both the Kentucky Derby and Playboy, so you know it has to be good. Now, without further ado, here it is:
Becky's Not Too Horrible Mint Julep Recipe
8 cups water
4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons mint extract
Bourbon (Woodford Reserve, or similar good quality)
Crushed Ice
Fresh Mint
Combine water and sugar in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. When water is fully boiled, remove saucepan from heat and allow to cool. Add mint extract. Chill mixture for at least 2-3 hours (I prefer overnight). To make drink fill official 1973 Kentucky Derby mint julep glass with ice. Add 1 part bourbon to 2-3 parts mint syrup. Garnish with fresh mint.
In other news
- On my way home from work yesterday I called my parents, had them put the Kentucky Oaks on their TV, turn up the volume, and hold the phone close up so I could hear the race live. All the way around the track I was hearing my two favorites...Bsharpsonata and Proud Spell...neck and neck for the lead. Until the final furlong, when suddenly I didn't hear my girl Bsharpsonata's name being called anymore. At the wire, it was Proud Spell, followed by Little Belle and Pure Clan. Bsharpsonata was fifth. My co-worker, and man on the ground in Louisville, who had been calling and texting me all day for choices, was displeased. Luckily, I'd also told him to bet on Little Belle (who had also won on mud before). His wife had put her to show, so they won some money. Oh well, good job Proud Spell! Let's see if your stablemate can make it happen with the big boys today.
- On a much more somber note, yesterday Chelokee broke down in the stretch of the Alysheba. His rider, Ramon Dominguez, walked it off. Chelokee was thought to have broke his right front cannon bone and was vanned to Rood and Riddle equine hospital. It must have been like a nightmare replaying itself for trainer Michael Matz, who saw a very similar thing happen to his champion Barbaro two years ago in the Preakness. Chelokee, strangely enough, was also the inaugural winner of the Barbaro Stakes last year. Luckily, it turns out that Chelokee only dislocated his ankle, so it looks as though the tough colt will be all right.
- Hall of Fame trainer Frank Whitely Jr. died yesterday. Famous for training such greats as the ill-fated filly Ruffian, near Triple Crown winner Damascus, and three time Horse of the Year Forego, he will be missed.
The key, apparently is good bourbon. During my years living in the student ghetto, I could not comprehend spending $30-$40 dollars on any form of alcohol, and that seems to have been the root of my problem. I now buy Woodford Reserve ($35), which is the official bourbon of both the Kentucky Derby and Playboy, so you know it has to be good. Now, without further ado, here it is:
Becky's Not Too Horrible Mint Julep Recipe
8 cups water
4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons mint extract
Bourbon (Woodford Reserve, or similar good quality)
Crushed Ice
Fresh Mint
Combine water and sugar in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. When water is fully boiled, remove saucepan from heat and allow to cool. Add mint extract. Chill mixture for at least 2-3 hours (I prefer overnight). To make drink fill official 1973 Kentucky Derby mint julep glass with ice. Add 1 part bourbon to 2-3 parts mint syrup. Garnish with fresh mint.
In other news
- On my way home from work yesterday I called my parents, had them put the Kentucky Oaks on their TV, turn up the volume, and hold the phone close up so I could hear the race live. All the way around the track I was hearing my two favorites...Bsharpsonata and Proud Spell...neck and neck for the lead. Until the final furlong, when suddenly I didn't hear my girl Bsharpsonata's name being called anymore. At the wire, it was Proud Spell, followed by Little Belle and Pure Clan. Bsharpsonata was fifth. My co-worker, and man on the ground in Louisville, who had been calling and texting me all day for choices, was displeased. Luckily, I'd also told him to bet on Little Belle (who had also won on mud before). His wife had put her to show, so they won some money. Oh well, good job Proud Spell! Let's see if your stablemate can make it happen with the big boys today.
- On a much more somber note, yesterday Chelokee broke down in the stretch of the Alysheba. His rider, Ramon Dominguez, walked it off. Chelokee was thought to have broke his right front cannon bone and was vanned to Rood and Riddle equine hospital. It must have been like a nightmare replaying itself for trainer Michael Matz, who saw a very similar thing happen to his champion Barbaro two years ago in the Preakness. Chelokee, strangely enough, was also the inaugural winner of the Barbaro Stakes last year. Luckily, it turns out that Chelokee only dislocated his ankle, so it looks as though the tough colt will be all right.
- Hall of Fame trainer Frank Whitely Jr. died yesterday. Famous for training such greats as the ill-fated filly Ruffian, near Triple Crown winner Damascus, and three time Horse of the Year Forego, he will be missed.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Final Analysis
All right, this is what it has all been about. All the obsessing. All the composing of witty blog posts while laying awake in bed. The dog earred Blood Horse copies. The scribbled upon past performance sheets. The sitting in the shower trying to determine whether or not Visionaire has the guts to really close that final furlong. The pedigree research. The near constant reading of other people's (much better) blogs.
Tomorrow is the Derby, and here is your pre-race analysis.
#1- Cool Coal Man (20-1)
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This bay colt out of the first crop by former Horse of the Year, Mineshaft, is looking to be that's sire's first Triple Crown race winner. He's raced three times in 2008; the first was an easy allowance score, but he soon followed that up with a win in the Fountain of Youth (g.II), where he just held on to beat out one of my prior favorites Elysium Fields and co-Derby starter Court Vision. He finished 9th in the crazy Bluegrass, but even if we throw that debacle out, I still have some questions about his ability to run a mile and a quarter. Coming from Mineshaft, you'd think he would be able to handle it, but then he sure looked strained after the Fountain of Youth.
#2- Tale of Ekati (15-1)
This Tale of the Cat colt (out of the Sunday Silence mare, Silence Beauty) was a top colt in his 2 year old season, but has failed to really equal his juvenile form since then. He failed to fire in his first start as a three year old in the Louisiana Derby (g.II). His win in the Wood guaranteed him a spot in the Derby, but it's a questionable win at best. Despite having the pace set up for him perfectly, Tale of Ekati closed in a sauntering14 second final eighth of a mile, and only managed to beat the still game War Pass by half a length, despite the fact that War Pass had injured himself near the top of the stretch.
Anak Nakal, Indonesian for 'Devious Child', was a monster at two, but has failed to return to that form this year. He has never fared better than 5th place in his three 2008 starts, despite racing at 3 different tracks in an attempt to find a surface/atmosphere/competition mix that he could handle. That being said, there's no question this son of the former Belmont winner Victory Gallop, out of a Quiet American mare, will be able to go the distance. And he did put in a monster work last week over the Churchill surface, running four furlongs in 46 and 3/5.
#4- Court Vision (20-1)
Court Vision is by Gulch, who has previously shown his ability to get a Derby winner out of a Storm Bird mare with his son Thunder Gulch. Court Vision's dam is also by Storm Bird, and if that weren't enough to make you love his pedigree, his granddam is the consummate broodmare Weekend Surprise, a daughter herself of Secretariat and dam of leading sire A.P. Indy. Can you tell I love this horse's breeding?.jpg)
Though Court Vision has danced every dance this season, coming in third in both the Wood Memorial (g.I) and the Fountain of Youth (g.II), he's yet to cement himself into my heart with a win. He had every excuse in the world after the Fountain of Youth, going 7 wide on the turn and being kept much farther back at the start than he's used to. However, the Wood was set up perfectly for him, with War Pass bobbing heads with the rabbit specifically put in by Court Vision's trainer to push the pace, and he still couldn't threaten the first two horses at the finish (one of which was both exhausted and injured). Although I really (really) like Court Vision, and he has been training extremely well over the Churchill surface, his performance in the Wood has become my deciding factor against him. Now watch him go and win it all and make me hate myself forever.
Photo: EquinePhotoArt.com
#5- Eight Belles (20-1) 
#7- Big Truck (50-1)
The kiss of death for Pyro will not be his failure to get a placing (or even a good workout) from the Bluegrass Stakes (g.I). It won't be the fast pace put up by a Big Brown/Bob Black Jack combo. It won't be the track, whatever the state of the (real) dirt. No, it will be my undying affection for him.
Pyro had what was, in my opinion (and in several others' opinions as well, including that of Randy Moss) the most impressive prep race this whole spring. Yes, even more impressive than Big Brown's cruise to a 5 length win in the Florida Derby. Don't believe me? Just take a gander at the Risen Star (g.III) for yourself. Perhaps, in this 20th anniversary of Risen Star's near Triple Crown triumph, a winner of a race named in that classic colt's honor will take the roses on his behalf.
His breeding for this distance cannot really be faulted, though he may be a tad short on the underside. His Beyers may not be very impressive, but then he has never had to run any faster to beat out his opponents in the final eighth of a mile. He's split horses, he's slipped behind horses and run them down from the outside, he's raced well in mud, he's faced big fields and screaming fans, and he is tried and tested against the best of his generation. The only thing he's done wrong is run abysmally once on a synthetic track that wasn't in any way set up for his style of running.
Randy Moss asked recently which Pyro would show up on Derby Day: the victor of the Risen Star or the also ran of the Bluegrass? The truth is there is only one Pyro, the only question is whether even that will be enough to grab the roses.
#10- Colonel John (4-1)
If Pyro has done only one thing wrong this year, Colonel John has yet to make a single mistake. He won the Sham Stakes (g.III) in a stretch duel against the tough El Gato Malo. He followed that up with a win in the Santa Anita Derby (g.I) over the tenacious speedster Bob Black Jack which, to me at least, looked almost effortless. He's been getting steadily stronger all along. He's bred to go the distance, being by California's favorite son and two time Breeder's Cup Classic winner Tiznow, and he's bred to run on dirt. The fact that he's never given the real stuff a try is, to me, just a formailty. His work of 4 furlongs in 47 and change last week tells me he feels the same way. In his life, he's never been worse than second. You can say you don't think he'll win, but there's no way you can count this horse out of the money.
#11- Z Humor (30-1)
Z Humor, I have to admit, heads my list of horses that really shouldn't be in the Derby. His best race this year is a 3rd place in a questionable Illinois Derby (g.II), over a questionable speed favoring track, against questionable company. His sire, Distorted Humor, has recently been putting himself forward as the sire of the next century and his damsire, A.P. Indy, cannot be faulted as a classic producer. But other than his pedigree and a couple nice races at two (including a Breeder's Cup Juvenile performance where he cruised home in the slop to a 5th place almost 20 lengths behind the winner), what's there to say about him? How about 'What have you done for me lately?'
#12- Smooth Air (20-1)
One week ago today, Smooth Air's connections were terrified their feverish colt wouldn't make it into the Derby field. Now, one week, some antibiotics and a couple of easy works later, he's chomping at the bit. Although not bred to go the traditional distance, he's not slacked off in his two mile and 1/8 starts this year; finishing a solid thid in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, and a not to be ignored second behind Big Brown in the Florida Derby (g.I). Not to be overlooked is the fact that he's two for two over sloppy tracks (though both were, notably, sprint races); and the heavens look to open up on Derby Day.
#13- Bob Black Jack (20-1)
Bob Black Jack is a speed demon. Current holder of the world record mark for 6.5 furlongs, he will blow you by if he gets a track fast enough. The question is, what kind of track will he have on Saturday? Like so many starters this year, he's never felt real dirt beneath his feet. He's certainly never felt the cuppy, energy slagging pull of mud. And can he carry that blazing speed for the full mile and a quarter? I'll tell you, looking at his breeding and figures, I was shocked to see him hold on for third in the mile and 1/16 San Felipe Stakes (g.II). I was still more surprised to see him dig in gamely during the stretch of the mile and 1/8 Santa Anita Derby (g.I), to finish second behind Colonel John. If he makes it all the way around the Churchill Downs oval I'll be surprised once again, but you cannot deny this horse has grit. And that, plus speed, is what the Derby is all about.
#14- Monba (15-1)
Monba had a horrible trip in the Fountain of Youth (g.II). He was squeezed, battered, stepped on, and came home bleeding. If that's not an excuse for his 12th place finish, I don't know what is. He then followed this performance up with a stylish win in the Bluegrass Stakes (g.I). But that was over polytrack, and may just be his grass roots showing.
Monba's sire Maria's Mon is, usually, known as a grass sire (though he proved his ability to get a Derby horse when Monarchos took the 2001 Derby in the fastest running time since 1973). Additionally, Monba's got Derby performer and Belmont Stakes winner Easy Goer as his damsire. So there's no genetic reason he couldn't run well on dirt. But on Bluegrass day when all the classy traditional dirt horses failed, Monba and his stablemate (and consummate grass performer) Cowboy Cal carried the day. I'm sorry, that's a bit too much of a coincidence for me. Toss that race out, there's not much left to say about Monba.
#15- Adriano (30-1)
Adriano's trainer was quoted this week as saying "I must be the only trainer in America with an A.P.Indy that can't run on dirt." It's a good point. Everyone has been saying that Adriano is a grass horse through in through. They cite his high front action, and the fact that he's only ever won on grass and synthetic track. But he certainly was driving in the fake dirt during his Lane's End Stakes (g.I) win. And really, there could have been many factors (like his far outside post-position) responsible for his 9th place finish in his sole dirt attempt.
Or it could just be that he's a grass horse.
#16- Denis of Cork (20-1)
Denis of Cork posted an easy win in his first stakes performance ever earlier this year in the Southwest Stakes (g.III), and he looked to follow that up with equally impressive wins in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. But then his trainers decided not to put him in those races. They cited the fact that he's not the toughest of horses, and needed a bit of a break. So they found a little race several weeks farther on, which looked to have a field of only moderate quality (and thereby saved their horse from having to face the monsters that were War Pass and Pyro). The Illinois Derby (g.II) should have been a soft touch for Denis of Cork. It was not. He finished 5th in a performance that, if I were a track handicapper, I would label 'floundering'. On the Derby bubble for the longest time, he just sneaked into the gate because of Behindatthebar's late dropout.
#17- Cowboy Cal (20-1)
Cowboy Cal is a turf horse. There's no question here like there is for Adriano. His best performances have all been on turf. He got into the Derby based on his gutsy second place finish to Monba in the Bluegrass (g.I), run over synthetic track. His sire, Giant's Causeway, did his best running on grass, and has sired a significant amount of grass stakes winners. Add to all of this that he needs to be near the front, he grabbed the 17th post position, and that even then he still has 3 speedy horses to the right of him, and I think Todd Pletcher is looking at another bottom finisher this year.
#18- Recapturetheglory (20-1)
Two months ago, in his penultimate race, Recapturetheglory could barely manage a weakening and tired third in allowance company over the turf. One race later, and he's on top of the world, having triumphed in the Illinois Derby (g.II) over the likes of fellow Derby entrants Denis of Cork and Z Humor. He'll have to outrun more than those two pretenders, though, to win the Derby. He also has a solid sprinting pedigree to contend with, not to mention the other speed horses in the auxillary gate. You never know, this may be the year his flamboyant owners recapture the glory they had 20 years ago with Risen Star. If so, be ready for a winner's circle seranade. If not, it's back to the drawing board.
#19- Gayego (15-1)
Gayego was the only West Coast originator to head East to try both the real dirt and the eastern competition prior to the Derby, and he did not disappoint. After finishing a strong second to Georgie Boy in the San Felipe Stakes (g.II), Gayego headed to Arkansas, where he showed that neither the dirt nor the competition in the east would give him any pause. His win in the Arkansas Derby, over a late closing drive by Z Fortune, was impressive. However, one might imagine the number two horse that day catching up to him, if given an extra furlong to work on the leader. And, with post 19 and a definite need to be at or near the lead, Gayego may not make quite as good an impression on the east coast socialites as he may desire.
#20- Big Brown (3-1)
Never has so much been said about a horse that has done so little. Although I hate to agree with Hank 'The Hammer' Goldberg on just about anything, I like his moniker of 'Little Beige' for this thoroughly overhyped colt.
Yes, he ran a darn impressive Florida Derby (g.I). His win seemed pitifully easy, and you cannot deny his Beyer's are the best in the field. Yes, he's won his races by a combined margin of 29 lengths. But really, what have those wins been over
In the Florida Derby he beat Smooth Air. Prior to that, he beat allowance horses, turf horses, who had all been switched to a dirt track because their chosen surface was flooded. Prior to that he broke his maiden...that was in September of 2007, by the way. His pedigree screams sprinting, his feet are questionable. His stellar performance breaking from the 12 post of the Florida Derby does not equate (in any way shape or form) to him being able to win the Derby from the 20 spot. The handicapper's comment after his third lifetime race says it all 'Drew away; greenly'. And his trainer, though understably awed by the horse which has given him his first real chance at the Derby, needs to keep his big trap shut.
If Big Brown wins tomorrow, I will say the nicest things about him that anyone can say about a horse. If not, I'll be smugly silent. Serves him right
1. Pyro
2. Colonel John
3. Z Fortune
4. Bob Black Jack
So eat your burgoo. Drink your mint julep. Let your eyes tear up to the strains of My Old Kentucky Home. This is what it's all about folks, the most eciting 2 minutes in sports.
Etiam delenda est Carthago.
Tomorrow is the Derby, and here is your pre-race analysis.
#1- Cool Coal Man (20-1)
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This bay colt out of the first crop by former Horse of the Year, Mineshaft, is looking to be that's sire's first Triple Crown race winner. He's raced three times in 2008; the first was an easy allowance score, but he soon followed that up with a win in the Fountain of Youth (g.II), where he just held on to beat out one of my prior favorites Elysium Fields and co-Derby starter Court Vision. He finished 9th in the crazy Bluegrass, but even if we throw that debacle out, I still have some questions about his ability to run a mile and a quarter. Coming from Mineshaft, you'd think he would be able to handle it, but then he sure looked strained after the Fountain of Youth.#2- Tale of Ekati (15-1)
This Tale of the Cat colt (out of the Sunday Silence mare, Silence Beauty) was a top colt in his 2 year old season, but has failed to really equal his juvenile form since then. He failed to fire in his first start as a three year old in the Louisiana Derby (g.II). His win in the Wood guaranteed him a spot in the Derby, but it's a questionable win at best. Despite having the pace set up for him perfectly, Tale of Ekati closed in a sauntering14 second final eighth of a mile, and only managed to beat the still game War Pass by half a length, despite the fact that War Pass had injured himself near the top of the stretch.
Anak Nakal, Indonesian for 'Devious Child', was a monster at two, but has failed to return to that form this year. He has never fared better than 5th place in his three 2008 starts, despite racing at 3 different tracks in an attempt to find a surface/atmosphere/competition mix that he could handle. That being said, there's no question this son of the former Belmont winner Victory Gallop, out of a Quiet American mare, will be able to go the distance. And he did put in a monster work last week over the Churchill surface, running four furlongs in 46 and 3/5.#4- Court Vision (20-1)
Court Vision is by Gulch, who has previously shown his ability to get a Derby winner out of a Storm Bird mare with his son Thunder Gulch. Court Vision's dam is also by Storm Bird, and if that weren't enough to make you love his pedigree, his granddam is the consummate broodmare Weekend Surprise, a daughter herself of Secretariat and dam of leading sire A.P. Indy. Can you tell I love this horse's breeding?
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Though Court Vision has danced every dance this season, coming in third in both the Wood Memorial (g.I) and the Fountain of Youth (g.II), he's yet to cement himself into my heart with a win. He had every excuse in the world after the Fountain of Youth, going 7 wide on the turn and being kept much farther back at the start than he's used to. However, the Wood was set up perfectly for him, with War Pass bobbing heads with the rabbit specifically put in by Court Vision's trainer to push the pace, and he still couldn't threaten the first two horses at the finish (one of which was both exhausted and injured). Although I really (really) like Court Vision, and he has been training extremely well over the Churchill surface, his performance in the Wood has become my deciding factor against him. Now watch him go and win it all and make me hate myself forever.
Photo: EquinePhotoArt.com
#5- Eight Belles (20-1) Who doesn't love a filly in the Derby? Especially a physically imposing grey filly on the 20th anniversary of Winning Colors' triumph. A number of people have pointed out that she lacks something that all three fillies to ever have won the run for the roses share, that being a previous race against colts. However, Rags to Riches had never raced the boys before the Belmont Stakes last year, and look what happened with her. Others question her ability to go the full mile and a quarter, given that she has never previously raced farther than a mile and one sixteenth. But she's from Unbridled's line, and I can't help thinking, from the way she runs, that she'll just improve with distance. Eight Belles has posted Beyers equalling the best of the boys' this year. She's dominated the girl's division. Putting her in the Oaks would be nothing more than a foregone conclusion. And maybe (maybe) she'll make history.
#6- Z Fortune (15-1)
Z Fortune just can't get any respect. He was undefeated in three starts going into the Risen Star (g.III) this spring, where he ran into a late closing wonder named Pyro. Trying to make a comback (and running to Oaklawn park to escape his nemesis), he finished a tired 5th in the Rebel Stakes (g.II). Making a last ditch effort, he chased Gayego in the Arkasas Derby (g.II), and after going waaaaay wide on both turns, still almost caught the flying west coast phenom. This spring has been a season of learning for him and, I will go out on a limb and say, a season for overall improvement. He's shown me exactly what I want to see in a blooming three year old. This year has been a litany of bad trips and excuses. Either he'll grow up and be a man on Saturday, or he'll slip into obscurity.
#7- Big Truck (50-1) Although not what one might call regally bred, or for that matter, bred in any way to go the classic distances, Big Truck proved his mettle earlier this year when he burst on the scene with a win in the Tampa Bay Derby (g.III), edging out Atoned and leaving a distressed War Pass in his wake. If one throws out his dismal performance in finishing 11th in the Bluegrass Stakes in his first time over synthetic track, he looks like nothing more than a steadily improving colt sitting on a monster race. And in the picture at left, he looks exactly like what I like to see in a racehorse: leggy, athletic, alert.
#8- Visionaire (20-1) 
Another horse not bred along traditional staying lines, Visionaire has been having something of a Cinderella season (the part before the slipper, anyways). He kicked in late in the Risen Star (g.III), a little too late to catch the flying Pyro and the hard knocking Z Fortune. He came back to shock sense into the New York horses, diving like a mud splattered hawk out of the cloudy Gotham (g.III) field to nip Texas Wildcatter at the wire. He, like so many others, failed to show up in the Bluegrass (g.I), but of all the quality horses embarrassed that day, he finished the best. Although very wide on the final turn, he still managed to finish 5th, and was gaining on the leaders at the end. I seriously considered betting him across the board, but my husband doesn't like him at all...and I do respect Mr. Blacktype's opinion.
#9- Pyro (6-1)
#9- Pyro (6-1)
The kiss of death for Pyro will not be his failure to get a placing (or even a good workout) from the Bluegrass Stakes (g.I). It won't be the fast pace put up by a Big Brown/Bob Black Jack combo. It won't be the track, whatever the state of the (real) dirt. No, it will be my undying affection for him.
Pyro had what was, in my opinion (and in several others' opinions as well, including that of Randy Moss) the most impressive prep race this whole spring. Yes, even more impressive than Big Brown's cruise to a 5 length win in the Florida Derby. Don't believe me? Just take a gander at the Risen Star (g.III) for yourself. Perhaps, in this 20th anniversary of Risen Star's near Triple Crown triumph, a winner of a race named in that classic colt's honor will take the roses on his behalf.His breeding for this distance cannot really be faulted, though he may be a tad short on the underside. His Beyers may not be very impressive, but then he has never had to run any faster to beat out his opponents in the final eighth of a mile. He's split horses, he's slipped behind horses and run them down from the outside, he's raced well in mud, he's faced big fields and screaming fans, and he is tried and tested against the best of his generation. The only thing he's done wrong is run abysmally once on a synthetic track that wasn't in any way set up for his style of running.
Randy Moss asked recently which Pyro would show up on Derby Day: the victor of the Risen Star or the also ran of the Bluegrass? The truth is there is only one Pyro, the only question is whether even that will be enough to grab the roses.
#10- Colonel John (4-1)
If Pyro has done only one thing wrong this year, Colonel John has yet to make a single mistake. He won the Sham Stakes (g.III) in a stretch duel against the tough El Gato Malo. He followed that up with a win in the Santa Anita Derby (g.I) over the tenacious speedster Bob Black Jack which, to me at least, looked almost effortless. He's been getting steadily stronger all along. He's bred to go the distance, being by California's favorite son and two time Breeder's Cup Classic winner Tiznow, and he's bred to run on dirt. The fact that he's never given the real stuff a try is, to me, just a formailty. His work of 4 furlongs in 47 and change last week tells me he feels the same way. In his life, he's never been worse than second. You can say you don't think he'll win, but there's no way you can count this horse out of the money.
#11- Z Humor (30-1)
Z Humor, I have to admit, heads my list of horses that really shouldn't be in the Derby. His best race this year is a 3rd place in a questionable Illinois Derby (g.II), over a questionable speed favoring track, against questionable company. His sire, Distorted Humor, has recently been putting himself forward as the sire of the next century and his damsire, A.P. Indy, cannot be faulted as a classic producer. But other than his pedigree and a couple nice races at two (including a Breeder's Cup Juvenile performance where he cruised home in the slop to a 5th place almost 20 lengths behind the winner), what's there to say about him? How about 'What have you done for me lately?'
#12- Smooth Air (20-1)One week ago today, Smooth Air's connections were terrified their feverish colt wouldn't make it into the Derby field. Now, one week, some antibiotics and a couple of easy works later, he's chomping at the bit. Although not bred to go the traditional distance, he's not slacked off in his two mile and 1/8 starts this year; finishing a solid thid in the Sam F. Davis Stakes, and a not to be ignored second behind Big Brown in the Florida Derby (g.I). Not to be overlooked is the fact that he's two for two over sloppy tracks (though both were, notably, sprint races); and the heavens look to open up on Derby Day.
#13- Bob Black Jack (20-1) Bob Black Jack is a speed demon. Current holder of the world record mark for 6.5 furlongs, he will blow you by if he gets a track fast enough. The question is, what kind of track will he have on Saturday? Like so many starters this year, he's never felt real dirt beneath his feet. He's certainly never felt the cuppy, energy slagging pull of mud. And can he carry that blazing speed for the full mile and a quarter? I'll tell you, looking at his breeding and figures, I was shocked to see him hold on for third in the mile and 1/16 San Felipe Stakes (g.II). I was still more surprised to see him dig in gamely during the stretch of the mile and 1/8 Santa Anita Derby (g.I), to finish second behind Colonel John. If he makes it all the way around the Churchill Downs oval I'll be surprised once again, but you cannot deny this horse has grit. And that, plus speed, is what the Derby is all about.
#14- Monba (15-1)
Monba had a horrible trip in the Fountain of Youth (g.II). He was squeezed, battered, stepped on, and came home bleeding. If that's not an excuse for his 12th place finish, I don't know what is. He then followed this performance up with a stylish win in the Bluegrass Stakes (g.I). But that was over polytrack, and may just be his grass roots showing.
Monba's sire Maria's Mon is, usually, known as a grass sire (though he proved his ability to get a Derby horse when Monarchos took the 2001 Derby in the fastest running time since 1973). Additionally, Monba's got Derby performer and Belmont Stakes winner Easy Goer as his damsire. So there's no genetic reason he couldn't run well on dirt. But on Bluegrass day when all the classy traditional dirt horses failed, Monba and his stablemate (and consummate grass performer) Cowboy Cal carried the day. I'm sorry, that's a bit too much of a coincidence for me. Toss that race out, there's not much left to say about Monba.
#15- Adriano (30-1)Adriano's trainer was quoted this week as saying "I must be the only trainer in America with an A.P.Indy that can't run on dirt." It's a good point. Everyone has been saying that Adriano is a grass horse through in through. They cite his high front action, and the fact that he's only ever won on grass and synthetic track. But he certainly was driving in the fake dirt during his Lane's End Stakes (g.I) win. And really, there could have been many factors (like his far outside post-position) responsible for his 9th place finish in his sole dirt attempt.
Or it could just be that he's a grass horse.
#16- Denis of Cork (20-1)
Denis of Cork posted an easy win in his first stakes performance ever earlier this year in the Southwest Stakes (g.III), and he looked to follow that up with equally impressive wins in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. But then his trainers decided not to put him in those races. They cited the fact that he's not the toughest of horses, and needed a bit of a break. So they found a little race several weeks farther on, which looked to have a field of only moderate quality (and thereby saved their horse from having to face the monsters that were War Pass and Pyro). The Illinois Derby (g.II) should have been a soft touch for Denis of Cork. It was not. He finished 5th in a performance that, if I were a track handicapper, I would label 'floundering'. On the Derby bubble for the longest time, he just sneaked into the gate because of Behindatthebar's late dropout.
#17- Cowboy Cal (20-1)
Cowboy Cal is a turf horse. There's no question here like there is for Adriano. His best performances have all been on turf. He got into the Derby based on his gutsy second place finish to Monba in the Bluegrass (g.I), run over synthetic track. His sire, Giant's Causeway, did his best running on grass, and has sired a significant amount of grass stakes winners. Add to all of this that he needs to be near the front, he grabbed the 17th post position, and that even then he still has 3 speedy horses to the right of him, and I think Todd Pletcher is looking at another bottom finisher this year.
#18- Recapturetheglory (20-1)
Two months ago, in his penultimate race, Recapturetheglory could barely manage a weakening and tired third in allowance company over the turf. One race later, and he's on top of the world, having triumphed in the Illinois Derby (g.II) over the likes of fellow Derby entrants Denis of Cork and Z Humor. He'll have to outrun more than those two pretenders, though, to win the Derby. He also has a solid sprinting pedigree to contend with, not to mention the other speed horses in the auxillary gate. You never know, this may be the year his flamboyant owners recapture the glory they had 20 years ago with Risen Star. If so, be ready for a winner's circle seranade. If not, it's back to the drawing board.
#19- Gayego (15-1)Gayego was the only West Coast originator to head East to try both the real dirt and the eastern competition prior to the Derby, and he did not disappoint. After finishing a strong second to Georgie Boy in the San Felipe Stakes (g.II), Gayego headed to Arkansas, where he showed that neither the dirt nor the competition in the east would give him any pause. His win in the Arkansas Derby, over a late closing drive by Z Fortune, was impressive. However, one might imagine the number two horse that day catching up to him, if given an extra furlong to work on the leader. And, with post 19 and a definite need to be at or near the lead, Gayego may not make quite as good an impression on the east coast socialites as he may desire.
#20- Big Brown (3-1)
Never has so much been said about a horse that has done so little. Although I hate to agree with Hank 'The Hammer' Goldberg on just about anything, I like his moniker of 'Little Beige' for this thoroughly overhyped colt.
Yes, he ran a darn impressive Florida Derby (g.I). His win seemed pitifully easy, and you cannot deny his Beyer's are the best in the field. Yes, he's won his races by a combined margin of 29 lengths. But really, what have those wins been over
In the Florida Derby he beat Smooth Air. Prior to that, he beat allowance horses, turf horses, who had all been switched to a dirt track because their chosen surface was flooded. Prior to that he broke his maiden...that was in September of 2007, by the way. His pedigree screams sprinting, his feet are questionable. His stellar performance breaking from the 12 post of the Florida Derby does not equate (in any way shape or form) to him being able to win the Derby from the 20 spot. The handicapper's comment after his third lifetime race says it all 'Drew away; greenly'. And his trainer, though understably awed by the horse which has given him his first real chance at the Derby, needs to keep his big trap shut.
If Big Brown wins tomorrow, I will say the nicest things about him that anyone can say about a horse. If not, I'll be smugly silent. Serves him right
1. Pyro
2. Colonel John
3. Z Fortune
4. Bob Black Jack
So eat your burgoo. Drink your mint julep. Let your eyes tear up to the strains of My Old Kentucky Home. This is what it's all about folks, the most eciting 2 minutes in sports.
Etiam delenda est Carthago.
Almost like Christmas
Seriously finding it hard to concentrate what with all the Derby buzz going around.
-Smooth Air finally worked today, and seems to have come out of his slight sickness last week A-Ok. Although he didn't exactly set the track on fire, one wouldn't really want him to really push himself this close to the race. I think he's got a good chance, especially if the precipitation level is high on Derby day.
- Big Brown, whose trainer is quite possibly the most arrogant person I've ever come across, rebounded from said trainer's surprising choice of post 20 (otherwise known as the Post of Death) for his horse this morning with a true pre-race blowout. The colt went 3 furlongs in a smooth 35 and 2/5th's. Remember what I said above about not wanting horses to tire themselves out just before the big race, well, even Big Brown's trainer has to admit that this was a little faster than he wanted his boy to run. So, let's do a pro/con comparison for Big Brown
Pro-
Unbeaten
Huge margins of victory in his wins
Ran a 110 Beyer in the Florida Derby
Wow...not too shabby. That, you would think, would be a horse worth another look. Now the Con's.
Con-
Only raced 3 times in his life (handicapper's comment from his last race, "greenly")
Beat Smooth Air in the Florida Derby, and that's about it
Pedigree says sprinting all the way
Chronic hoof issues
Inbred 3x3 to Northern Dancer, 3x4 to Damascus
Starting from post of death
Had a perhaps too fast blowout 2 days before the Derby
Morning line odds of 3-1
Nemisis fluttering about his head with a nasty gleam in her eye (trainer apparently has no concept of hubris)
In fencing terms, it looks to me like Big Brown is running on negative 6 indicators. Go ahead and bet him...if you're crazy.
-Smooth Air finally worked today, and seems to have come out of his slight sickness last week A-Ok. Although he didn't exactly set the track on fire, one wouldn't really want him to really push himself this close to the race. I think he's got a good chance, especially if the precipitation level is high on Derby day.
- Big Brown, whose trainer is quite possibly the most arrogant person I've ever come across, rebounded from said trainer's surprising choice of post 20 (otherwise known as the Post of Death) for his horse this morning with a true pre-race blowout. The colt went 3 furlongs in a smooth 35 and 2/5th's. Remember what I said above about not wanting horses to tire themselves out just before the big race, well, even Big Brown's trainer has to admit that this was a little faster than he wanted his boy to run. So, let's do a pro/con comparison for Big Brown
Pro-
Unbeaten
Huge margins of victory in his wins
Ran a 110 Beyer in the Florida Derby
Wow...not too shabby. That, you would think, would be a horse worth another look. Now the Con's.
Con-
Only raced 3 times in his life (handicapper's comment from his last race, "greenly")
Beat Smooth Air in the Florida Derby, and that's about it
Pedigree says sprinting all the way
Chronic hoof issues
Inbred 3x3 to Northern Dancer, 3x4 to Damascus
Starting from post of death
Had a perhaps too fast blowout 2 days before the Derby
Morning line odds of 3-1
Nemisis fluttering about his head with a nasty gleam in her eye (trainer apparently has no concept of hubris)
In fencing terms, it looks to me like Big Brown is running on negative 6 indicators. Go ahead and bet him...if you're crazy.
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