June 2008 Archives

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve written and posted anything, so there’s a few things I needs to catch up on.

 

First let me say again - Curlin is THE BEST HORSE IN THE WORLD!

 

 

Curlin wins Stephen Foster  Equisports Photos 2008 

 

The 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin made his first North American start since winning in Dubai in the Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs on June 14th.  Racing under 128 lbs, and giving away 10 - 15 pounds to his rivals, Curlin was the easiest of winners, winning by 4 ¼ lengths over 2^nd place Einstein.  This was his fifth consecutive win, and makes Curlin the 3^rd richest horse in North America ($9.4 million), behind Cigar ($9.99 million), and Skip Away ($9.6 million).

 

The next scheduled workout for Curlin is due to be on the turf on July 1^st.  If he handles the turf, his next start will be on the turf in the Arlington Handicap, or the Man O’War at Belmont, on July 12^th.  If this experiment works, Curlin will be pointed to the Arc D’Triumphe in France.  

 

I would love to see Curlin take on the best in Europe, and possibly beat them.  I applaud Jess Jackson for thinking outside the box and trying to make Curlin, truly, the Best in the world.

 

Two other horses I want to note, won today as well.  The first was my original Derby Horse, Pyro,  was running in the Northern Dancer, against some other Triple Crown trail horses, such as Visionaire, Recapturetheglory, and Texas Wildcatter.  Pyro unleashed his patented kick down the stretch, and won easy.  I’m very glad he is back.

 

 

Ginger Punch wins Ogden Phipps At Belmont   2008 Sue K Photos

 

2007 champion older female, Ginger Punch ran that same day at Belmont in the Ogden Phipps.  The 5-year old daughter of Awesome Again made her 5 opponents look like a bunch of claimers, as she showed she was back, and in top form with an easy 7 ¾ length victory, after stalking the pace along the back stretch.  She came home under a hand ride by Rafael Bejarano.  Very glad Heir Stronach has kept her around as 5-year old.  Hopefully I can see her again in the Breeder’s Cup at Santa Anita in October.

 

BIG BROWN - IN SEACH OF AN EXCUSE …..

 

Seems the media, as well as Big Brown’s connections are still looking for a rhyme or a reason for the colt’s embarrassing last place finish in the Belmont stakes.  There have been a number of excuses, …uh, … I mean reasons put forth, such as:

1. The horse didn’t get his steroid shot;
2. The quarter crack caused discomfort;
3. 5 days missed training due to said crack;
4. The horse was too rank and tired;
5. The weather - it was too hot, and;
6. He was not sweating as he should in that heat;
7. Didn’t like the Belmont surface;
8. The starter on the track - I guess the starter’s fashion sense (White pants/dark blue jacket) frightened the horse;
9. The trash talk of Dutrow pissed off the racing gods;
10. Jim McKay died that morning - bad karma;
11. Kent was paid off and/or his family was threatened by thugs - it's the only explanation for THAT DREADFUL RIDE;
12. There was another shooter over on the grassy knoll.

 The newest reason/excuse put forth - a loose shoe with a nail jabbing him in his foot.  Bloodhorse published a photo that showed a loose shoe with a loose nail.  Mike Iavarone grabbed onto that like a dumb blond grabs onto a billionaire.

 

 

 

Now pictures don’t lie (unless of course, it’s been Photoshopped), and I’ve posted what I could of a photo taken by my assistant Brian.  It looks like the shoe is loose and/or bent a bit.  And it is possible that it could have caused the horse problems.  Maybe all of the above, or any combination of the above, caused Big Brown to run abysmally.

 

Maybe the problem is that Big Brown is a horse, and not a machine, and it was just not his day.  Maybe that is the reason, or not.  Maybe simply because it’s a horse race, and anything can, and usually does, happen.  It’s going to remain one of racing’s mysteries ….

My friend and co-photographer Jessie post images on a website under the name of B4theBelmont. I asked her about this name and her response was that the half hour before The Belmont Stakes was the best time of the year. As magical as Christmas. Indeed, as thoroughbred racing fans, this time of year is an exciting time, especially with the possibility of a Triple Crown going into The Belmont.

As a thoroughbred racing photographer (and fan) a lot of energy is spent during this time. When the Belmont is over, all the cameras are packed away and images are sent to editors. Then, a little down time sets in. The air has been let out of The Triple Crown balloon.

This year the low seems to be a bit lower. I was never a real Big Brown follower. My pick for The Belmont this year, Casino Drive, never made it to the gate. As the magical half hour before the race arrived, I had the feeling that, at long last, I would be focusing my Nikon on the first Triple Crown winner in thirty years. No one seemed capable of matching strides with the undefeated favorite.

Longshot winner Da'Tara wins the 2008 Belmont Stakes  copyright 2008 Bud Morton

The major disappointment I felt from the race was that Big Brown never even showed up. I'm not looking for excuses or pointing fingers, just feeling sad that he wasn't there to go around Belmont's sandy oval in the biggest race of his career. He just didn't fight the fight.

Congratulations to Da'Tara and his connections. With all the attention being directed to Big Brown, very little attention goes to the fact that he was the first horse under the wire in the 140th running of The Belmont Stakes

The events of this year's Triple Crown series have brought our sport a lot of attention, both positive and negative. One thing that surfaced that I was not aware of was the rampant use of steroids by many trainers. Racing needs to clean up its act, not only with steroids but the use of Lasix and Bute for race day medications.
Yup!! The Triple Crown balloon is deflated but another balloon is soon to be inflated. SARATOGA.

Bud Morton

http://www.gallery.budmortonphotography.com/main.php

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 140th Belmont Stakes was to be a coronation - a “forgone conclusion” that Big Brown would become the 12th Triple Crown champion.

Instead, it will forever be noted that Big Brown “DNF” - Did Not Finish.  The worst finish EVER by a triple crown contender.

There were many people looking to be play Monday quarterback, and now it’s my turn.

First congratulations are in order to Nick Zito, whose Da’Tara won it wire to wire, and staggered home in a time of 2:29: & change, and was the longest shot on the board at 35-1, even higher odds than the maiden Guadalcanal, at 22-1.  I never would have picked Da’Tara, who was ridden by Allan Garcia, to hold on for the 1 ½ mile.

Da'Tara is upset winner of the Belmont Stakes

What exactly was the reason for Big Brown’s embarrassing finish?

Could it have been the 96 degree temperatures, which made the day miserable for man and beast?  I’m sure it didn’t help, but Big Brown at least avoided heat stroke.  After the running of the True North, Saint Daimon, was suffering from heat stroke, kicking out wildly and fighting whenever asked to move forward.  He was doused continually with water, alcohol, and had an Artic horse blanket placed on his back in an effort to cool him down - which took about 10 minutes.  He was then able to walk of under his own accord.  In contrast, Big Brown was barely sweating when he came back.  Don’t think the heat was a major factor.

Was it the withdrawal from not receiving his monthly injection of Winstrol, a steroid that caused many an eyebrow to be raised when Dutrow freely admitted that all his horses got their monthly steroid shot?  Dutrow decided not to give Big Brown his May shot, due two days before his Preakness win.  He also didn’t give him his vitamin shot either. Maybe he lost a little bit of an edge having his traditional  pharmaceuticals being messed with.

The quarter crack was an issue after all.  Not that it caused him discomfort while running, but it did cause him to miss a number of days from training while it was being dealt with by Dutrow.  Training that is vital coming into a 1 1/2 mile race, can only hurt the fitness level of the horse.  Maybe he did indeed “run out of gas” as Desormeaux stated.  More on him in a few paragraphs.

Maybe the racing gods deemed that Dutrow and EIAH were not worthy of winning the crown.  That Dutrow, with his 33 page rap sheet, and Michael Ivorrone, with his slightly dubious Wall Street credentials, were shady enough that they were less than pure of heart, not deserving of such a prize.

Maybe the racing gods wished to punish Dutrow and all his crowing, boasts, dismissal of the competition, and proclamations of certainty doomed his horse to failure.  It would not be the first time that arrogance of a trainer doomed a horse to failure.  Look at Bud Delp, who proclaimed Spectacular Bid “the greatest horse to look through a bridle.”  He finished 3rd, in part due to stepping on that damned safety pin, and a crappy ride given by Ron Franklin.  Or in 1981, when Johnny Campo boasted in his daily newspaper how Pleasant Colony would beat up on the bums entered against him - he also finished 3rd.

Big Brown is eased

Both trainers had to eat humble pie, and they did immediately after their horse crossed the finish line.  Delp and Campo had a sense of class, unlike Dutrow, who immediately told members of the press “don’t even think about it”  when asked for a comment on his horses stunning loss.  He ran out of the stands and over to his barn faster than his horse ran around the track.  Total class act there - NOT!

Last but not least is Kent Desormeaux, the jockey of Big Brown.  Is it just me, or could Kent have given a more amateur ride than he gave Big Brown that first quarter mile of the race?  In five strides out of the gate, Big Brown was tossing his head and veering sharply left to the inside rail, tossing his head and almost running up on Da’Tara’s heels - I have a slightly fuzzy picture of him doing it - and he looked pissed off.  Desormeaux jerked him back, then tried to jerk him outside, then back inside before knocking into Anak Nakal in an attempt to get to the outside. 

I guess he forgot that he had a whole 1 ½ mile to work his way to the outside.  He also forgot that Big Brown won his very first race from the number 1 spot, that he won by over 12 lengths.  He can win from the one hole.

Big Brown fights Desormeaux down the stretch

But not this time.  After 1 mile, Desormeaux says he asked Big Brown to go, but the horse did not respond - “he was out of gas.” Kent said.  So Desormeaux decided to due the logical thing - he quit.  He felt the horse had no chance to get on the board, so he quit.  But interestingly enough, Big Brown did not want to quit - he fought Desormeaux all the way down the stretch as Kent try to keep him at a gallop, tossing his head the whole way.

I understand Kent did not want to harm the horse, but I feel if the horse was not in distress, he should have ridden him to the end.  At least beat the maiden for Christ Sake’s.  Plus it’s in the rules, unless a horse is in distress, he is supposed to be ridden out.  That’s what it says.  It to be fair to the bettors, who expect to be given a fair chance to win their bet.  They did not get a fair chance.  And neither did the 94,000 plus fans who braved the sweltering heat, and lack of working toilets, for a chance to watch history.  They were cheated.

Kent Desormeaux pulled a Roberto Duran, who when realizing he was getting a major ass- whooping at the hands of Sugar Ray Leonard, threw up his hands and said “No mas!”, and walked away -just quit.  Desormeaux said “no mas” and walked away, and I feel cheated.  We all should feel cheated.

One day and counting to the Belmont Stakes and possibly sports history. At this point only a hermit in a cave doesn’t know that Big Brown is trying to become the 12th horse to win the elusive triple crown.

Big Brown works Friday morning 

 

So I had some random thoughts on this, but first let me report on the post position draw. I had the opportunity to go to the press breakfast/post position draw on Wednesday morning. I brought along my assistant Brian Esola, a young man with a very good eye, who will be shooting the races with me on Saturday. I brought him to the press conference, his first, going on the that two are more effective working the room, getting different shots, plus I figured it was something he would enjoy.

Belmont fed us well while we waited for the big guns to show up to get the show started. The eggs were good, and I have to be in the mood to eat eggs. I wasn’t in the mood, but they were good none the less.

Nobutaka Tada, manager of Hidetoshi Yamamoto's racing stable (Casino Drive)

They also gave us a little media guide, with information on all the horses who would be entered into the Belmont Stakes. Big Brown and Casino Drive each had 1 1/3 pages, showing their importance in the scheme of things. Denis of Cork, the third favorite, had a 1 2/3 of a page, not because he was more important, but because of Robby Albarado’s bio. The rest of the entries had a page each, except for Guadalcanal, who had no pages.

Wait a minute! Gaudal-who?

Guadalcanal. Guadal-who? Guadalcanal. Shocked the hell out of everyone else too. So much so that he wasn’t printed up n the media guide.

His trainer, Frank Seitz, in what must have a moment of temporary insanity, decided to enter this maiden at the last minute, and also being the owner, put up $20,000 to run him. Good thing he’s also the owner, because it would be a hard sell to push for a maiden to run, especially against Big Brown. I guess he was thinking of Nolan’s Cat, the maiden who a few years ago, ran third in the Belmont. Hopefully this horse won’t get heat stoke on Saturday.

Tom Durkin, the track announcer, was the Master of Ceremonies, and trying to keep things moving along, and interesting. Now it’s not terribly exciting to watch one guy shaking a bottle drawing out little numbered balls and announcing the horses names, nor watching the young lady, someone’s daughter in NYRA I’m sure, putting up the name tags. It was interesting watching Rick Dutrow’s face when he realized he got the 1 hole. He was not happy with it, regardless of what he said for the benefit of the press.

Rick Dutrow, trainer of Big Brown

Had the chance to speak with Hank Goldberg, of ESPN. Asked him if he thought Big Brown could be beat. He said no, that these were second rate horses, not a particularly good bunch. He also thought Casino Drive would be over bet, and wasn’t going to use him at all in his exotics. I found Hank’s lack of respect, at least gambling wise, for Casino Drive interesting. But then this is the same guy who like Hey Byrne.

I had to agree with Hank regarding these other horses, although I think Denis of Cork will put in a good run in this race, and should be on the board. I really would like to see BB win the Triple Crown. Solely because of the horse, I keep telling myself it’s about the horse, not the connections. But I can understand why there are those rooting against the connections for various reasons.

There are those who don’t like investment banker types, and finds IEAH’s way of doing horse business repulsive. And wish for them to lose. Considering that they have a stud deal for at least $60 million, I’d say they are winners either way.

There are those who think Dutrow is a major sleaze, a big time juicer and fuck up, with 33 pages of violations on his “wrap sheet” going back to 1976, Dutrow rap sheet.pdf , and that it is just wrong for him to win, as he sends the wrong message.

What ever you’re opinion is, I would like Big Brown to win the Triple Crown. My reason's were given in my previous entry.

Triple Crown trophy