Entries tagged with “horse racing” from Picture This

Last week was to be the big day of Aqueduct’s Fall meeting.  This was to be Aqueduct’s premier race day, with 2 Grade II races - the Demoiselle and the Remsen, culminating with the Grade I Hill “N” Dale Cigar Mile.  Instead it ended with one horse dying and another fighting for her life.

The Demoiselle

The Demoiselle start      Copyright 2008 SueK Photos

The Demoiselle for 2-year old fillies featured Sky Diva, the heavy favorite, after a solid third in the Breeder’s Cup Juvenile Fillies.  But she would again finish third, more than 10 lengths behind the eventual winner, Springside.  This daughter of Awesome Again, who was racing in Woodbine, went last- to-first, blowing by the other fillies in the stretch, to win by 9 ½ lengths. 

Springside wins by 9 lengths

Then 1/16th of a mile past the wire, during her gallop out, the filly took a misstep, and in flash-backs of  Eight Belles, broke her right pastern.  She was swiftly attended to, a stabilizing cast was put on her leg and she was vanned off.  She was moved down to the New Bolton Clinic in Pennsylvania - same clinic where Barbaro was sent - where she fights for her life.  Surgery went well, the bone is intact, she remains in guarded condition.

The Remsen

Old Fashioned with jockey Ramon Dominguez and trainer Larry Jones

Next was the boys’ turn.  The favorite was a Larry Jones’ trained called Old Fashioned.  Old Fashioned took this field wire-to-wire, pulled aways by 9 lengths, and was the most visually impressive winner of the three stake races.  He wasn’t even breathing hard when he stood in the winners circle.

This handsome grey son of Unbridled Song seems to have a lot of talent, and is probably on the list of Kentucky Derby prospects.  Plus he has one of those names that would sound good when followed by he phrase “Kentucky Derby winner.”

Old Fashion easily wins the Remsen    Copyright 2008 SueK Photos

But I have to wonder if Old Fashioned will hold up to the riggers of the Triple Crown Trail.  While Ubridled Song does produce big, talented offspring, there is also a soundness issue with his get - see horses like Rockport Harbor and Eight Belles for starters.  I do wish all involved well, but I can never get behind an offspring of Unbridled Song when it comes to the Kentucky Derby.  As far as my derby horse, I'll pass.

The Hill “N” Dale Cigar Mile

The Cigar Mile is the last grade I race of NYRA’s racing season.  A field of Grade I & II winner’s would contest the one-turn mile.

California invader Monterey Jazz was winging it on the front end, with fractions of 22:4 and 45:1, Storm Play and Wandering Boy tracking behind. Around the far turn Harlem Rocker took over the lead with Tale of Ekati in hot pursuit.  They where head and head down the stretch, with Harlem Rocker prevailing by a head.  

Tale of Ekati (outside) and Harlem Rocker are heads apart at finnish     Copyright 2008 SueK Photos

But that was not the end, as the inquiry sign went up.  Five minutes went by until it was made official - Harlem Rocker was taken down, and Tale of Ekati was declared the winner - the stewards decided that Harlem Rocker came in to the path of Tale of Ekati, who had to re-rally, and they decided that Harlem Rocker’s infraction changed the outcome of the race.  Robin Smullen, Barclay Tagg’s assistant trainer, in response to a question regarding Tagg’s record of 0-for-48 at the Aqueduct meet, said of the win, “We’ll take it any way we can get it.”

Tale Of Ekati with Edgar Prado in winners circle     Copyright 2008 SueK Photos

But tragedy marred the race as 7-year old Wanderin Boy, winner of $1.2 million in his career, and running in his last race before going off to stud, broke down on the far turn, shattering the sesmoids in his left front leg.  He was vanned off the track but later euthanized.  His trainer Nick Zito, who trained him for 5 years, said he had lost a friend, as Wanderin Boy was one his barn favorites.

Wanderin Boy with jockey Johhny Velazquez            Copyright SueK Photo

Wanderin Boy was one of my favorites as well.  Wanderin Boy was an honest horse, who always tried.  He has run second to four champions - Lawyer Ron, Invasor, Bernardini, and Curlin in 4 different Grade I races.  He earned his retirement after 5 years of racing, but whether he should have been passing down his genes is another story. 

This was a horse who was injured 4 separate times in two different legs - broken sesmoid, broken leg, bucked shins - before he even had his first race. He had subsequent injuries, including another broken leg.  But each time he healed, and went back to work.  I guess this was just an instance of going one too many times to the well.  Wandering Boy was a ticking bomb, and time and circumstance were not on his side.

R.I.P. Wanderin Boy

The day belonged to Curlin - the best dirt horse in the world, who became North America’s richest Thoroughbred by winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup.  “Beyond Cigar and into the record books!”  Tom Durkin would exclaim.

Curlin ran leisurely down the backstretch, started moving around the turn - Mambo in Seattle could not keep up and flattened - ran down the middle of the track, and was hand ridden by Robbie Albarado to the finish over a very game, pace-setting Wandering Boy.  Nick Zito, the runner-up’s trainer, said, Curlin is in a different league.  I take my hat off to him. He had to be that good today.”

During the press conference, when asked about the Breeder’s Cup, Barbara Banke, Jess Jackson’s wife, said, “We’ll see.  He just won this.  We’ll see how he comes out of this race. … We’ll wait for our wonderful team to discuss everything, and the course at Santa Anita is also a factor.”  The Breeder’s Cup was still up in the air, and the Japan Cup was mentioned.

Within 15 minutes of the press conference, Barbara Banke came down into the press box to specifically announce that come Monday morning, Curlin would be on a plane headed for Santa Anita, to “see if he likes the track.”

Well it’s about time.  Jess Jackson has been trying since the beginning of the summer to get Big Brown to meet Curlin on a traditional dirt course, but IEAH have not fallen for the bait.  They have always said that the Breeder’s Cup Classic was the goal for their Derby winner.  Jackson and company had to face the fact that they had to go to California at some point; I guess they figured the sooner the better, see if he likes the Pro Ride surface at Santa Anita.  If not, they have said they can go to the Clark Handicap at Churchill or the Japan Dirt Cup in the beginning of December.  But they had to at least see if their champion likes the track.

Either way Curlin is on his way to another Horse of the Year, unless of course, Big Brown proves to be a SUPERHORSE and destroys the Classic field.  I don’t see this happening.

Because I’m biased, and feel Curlin is the BEST HORSE IN THE WORLD.

THE UNDERCARD

IN THE BELDAME, I would have said was another “gimme” race.  Ginger Punch was supposed to be the ‘gimme’, was supposed to beat up on that field. 

Ginger Punch was leading the field all the way around, Lemon Drop Mom at her flank.  Ginger Punch shook her off, only to be challenged by Cocoa Beach, those two battling down the stretch, with Cocoa Beach finally winning by ½ length.

With Zenyatta winning today, I don't think Ginger Punch will get another eclipse, unless she beats Zenyatta in the Ladies' Classic.

THE FLOWER BOWL INVITATIONAL

Mauralakana was the favorite, not quite a “gimme,” but pretty darn close.  But it was Dynaforce, the 2nd choice, who lead most of the way around the soft turf, withstood a challenge from Mauralakana, and pulled away the last furlong.

VOSBURGH

Probably the deepest field of the Grade I races on the card, some very good sprinters were in this race.  But an upset at 23 - 1 surprised everyone, with another exciting stretch drive.  Black Seventeen fought with Fabulous Strike to win by a head, and paying $49.60.

Black Seventeen upsets at 23 to 1

JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC INVITATIONAL

Another good field, this race had no real pace, but the eventual winner, Grand Couturier, was a surprise to me.  He’s won 2 races since 2007, the 2007 & 2008 editions of the Sword Dancer at Saratoga.  He hasn’t won at Belmont, and according to past performances, hasn’t won on soft or yielding turf.  I liked this horse, but thought no way he wins this race.

And of course, he won laughing, by 10 lengths.

Forget the boys - the girls ruled yesterday at Saratoga.  The best 3-year old fillies in the country met to fight it out in the Grade I Alabama.

And what a thrill these ladies gave us - an all-out down the stretch battle between the Larry Jones trained Proud Spell, and Gadolphin owner Music Note. 

Music Note (left) battles Proud Spell 

I was yelling on the photographer's platform, "C'mon little girl! C'mon!  Do it!"  And down the stretch they ran, Proud Spell was NOT letting Music Note get by - no way,.  She dug in and prevailed by a head.

I will admit a bias towards Proud Spell.  I've been following her since last year.  I was a fan of her daddy, Proud Citizen.  She is the essence of eficiency, never running worse than 3rd.  She was the best of the best yesterday, the best fillies in the country ran 1-2-3 (Music Note 2nd, and pace setter Little Belle running 3rd).  

Gabriel Saez celebrates aboard Proud Spell

This is what racing is all about - the best meeting the best to do batttle where it counts - on the track, as these ladies did, not a continuing battle of words, as the connections of Big Brown and Curlin continue to do.  All this jive talking about who's horse is faster.

A bunch of blow hards I say.  They talk the talk, but they don't walk the walk.

It seems to me the connections of Big Brown are desperately seeking a turf race to designed for them to run their colt in.  Anything so as not to have to face Curlin, on the dirt, where Curlin rules.  Michael Iavarrone keeps talking about these well laid plans for Big Brown, like these "plans" are on a set-in-stone that cannot be changed.  And Jesse keeps talking about the doubt in running Curlin in the classic on the new, and yet untested synthetic suface of Santa Anita, home of this year's Breeder's Cup. 

Hey guys!  PLANS CAN BE CHANGED!  IEAH is probably concerned with a Big Brown lose before the Breeder's Cup Classic my decrease his stud fee.  Jesse Jackson is concerned about running Curlin on an untested "plastic" surface, and damaging his "legacy" or something as such.  I say put up or shut up.

I briefly spoke to Jerry Bossert, who covers horse racing for the New York Daily News, regarding an article he wrote last week in the paper, in which I am in total agreement over, where he basically says that boths camps - for all their trash talking - are basically ducking each other.

Did someone say "Quack!"

War Pass looks like a winner of the far turn in the Wood Memorial

Brian Esola/Sue K Photo

Well you know it’s spring when Derby fever is in the air.  It's three weeks until the first Saturday in May, until the most exciting two minutes in sports. Over the last several weeks, many derby hopefuls and wanna-be’s have been running in their final prep races. Some have been impressive and some have been dud’s, and a few have been a surprise.

Two weeks ago the Florida Derby, 5 weeks out from the first Saturday in May, was won by a lightly raced colt named Big Brown.  The horse with the uninspired name ran an inspirational race by running away from the field that included some decent horses, in a good time of 1:48.1 for the 1 1/8 mile.  He is the likely favorite for the Derby, but the derby will be his 4th start. He’ll be facing 19 other horses, in which he’ll be bumped and jostled at the start of a cavalry charge to the first turn.  I think he may be good enough to run a decent race, but I don’t believe he has the experience to win - just remember Curlin last year, his talent and class managed to get him 3rd in the race.  I’d look for Big Brown to have more favorable conditions in the Preakness.

Last week, on Saturday, April 5th, were three prep races.  The Wood Memorial was run at Aqueduct on a beautiful sunny day.  This is where War Pass was to redeem himself after his last placed finish in the Tampa Bay Derby. He faced probably one of the better prep race fields, and was the favorite.  War Pass broke in fine fashion and went to the lead, which is where he likes to be, being pressed by the rabbit Inner Light, who was part of the entry with Court Vision.  The early fractions were fast for the early part of the race, running 22.2 and 46 flat, as Inner Light dropped back, War pass looked like a winner off the far turn.  But Tale of Ekati was stalking the pace, and caught a tired but game War Pass at the wire, winning by a half length as they staggered home to finish in 1:52.2 . 

I actually was quite surprised that it was Tale of Ekati who won - I thought maybe War Pass would hold on, or that perhaps Court Vision, Texas Wildcatter or even Giant Moon would take the day.  But War Pass and Tale of Ekati were clearly the best of the rest, and are moving on to Louisville.

The Illinois Derby was run at Hawthorne outside of Chicago, in which big things were expected from Denis of Cork and Atoned.  Well, both disappointed finishing 5th and 4th, respectively, and both were soundly beaten by 15-1 long shot Recapturetheglory (who?), where the top three finishers went around 1-2-3 like a conveyor belt.  This was probably the least impressive of the prep races.

The Santa Anita Derby was won by Colonel John, who has showed an explosive turn of foot in his races, and is very impressive as he dug in to catch Bob Black Jack at the wire.  I would be all over Colonel John as one of my derby favorites but for one thing.  He has only run over synthetic surfaces, and will be running for the first time on the dirt in the derby.  And while synthetic surfaces have a nice bounce to them, the dirt of Churchill is deep and tiring.  And I have my doubts about picking a horse who is running on dirt for the first time in the biggest race in America.

This past Saturday a California hopeful decided to try dirt for the first time. Trainer Paulo Lobo decided to try Gayego on the dirt for his final prep in the Arkansas Derby, to see if he actually like it.  He did. He beat a full field of 12 runners, including Z Humor, to earn his spot in the Derby Field.  I don’t think he’ll win, but he’s a versatile enough horse to use under in exotic bets.  We'll have to wait and see if Colonel John fares as well.

Don’t have much to say about the Holy Bull Stakes, which was run on it’s new date on the Gulfstream calendar.  Gulfstream used to have the Holy Bull run the same day as the Donn, in late January.  It was the race that Barbaro used as a springboard for his first dirt start winning this on his way to winning the Fountain  of Youth, Florida Derby and the Kentucky Derby. Now it’s being used as anther Derby prep.  And this year was won by Hey Byrn, named after owner Beatrice Oxenberg’s late husband Bernie.  In Hey Byrne’s last start, two weeks ago in the Florida Derby, he could do no better than 4th, 15 lengths behind Big Brown.  He is the least impressive of the prep winners, beating a bunch of allowance horses and maiden winners. 

Remember last year, when polytrack specialist Dominican beat the eventual Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense?  Remember where Dominican finished in the Derby?  Remember Dominican at all?
I’m kind’ a glad Pyro ran in a stinker - means I’ll get better odds when he runs in the Derby, which is run on the dirt, which Pyro actually runs pretty good on. 

He’s still my Derby horse