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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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).

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).