A bit late in getting this posted, but here I am. Knew you all would be thrilled.

Last Saturday, April 4^th, was Aqueduct’s big day of the Spring Meet, the premier race and major Kentucky Derby prep being the Wood Memorial, for 3 year olds running a 1 1/8. Also that day was a strong undercard.

Capt. Candyman Can wins the Bay Shore Stakes

 The Grade III Bay Shore, at 7 furlongs was the first of the stakes races. The favorite was Capt. Candyman Can, who was on the Derby trail, whose connections realizing they did not have a “classic horse,” decided not to ruin the horse, and keep him short. The decision paid of as Javier Castellano guided the Candy Ride (ARG) colt to an easy 3 ¾ length victory.

Giant Moon (l.) battles with Cool Coal Man

Next up was the Excelsior Handicap, 1 1/8 for 3 year olds and up. The favorite was Barrier Reef, who was tearing it up all winter on the inner dirt track. But Barrier Reef had his share of problems - getting blocked and going five wide on the turn - and could do no better than third. That did not take away from a thrilling stretch drive between Cool Coal Man, who spurted away along the backstretch, and Darley’s Giant Moon, who pressed the pace all the way. In the end, Cool Coal Man grugingly gave way, and Giant Moon with Edgar Prado on board, won by ½ length.

Giant Moon with Edgar Prado up

The $750,000 Wood Memorial was one of four Kentucky Derby prep races across the country that day. It started off dramatic enough when Imperial Council got goofy in the paddock, freaked out a pick, reared up and promptly landed on his horsey ass, and had pretty much run his race right there.

I Want Revenge breaks in the air at the start

The there was the start. The gates opened, the horses broke - all except the favorite, I Want Revenge - who reared in the gate and broke when his front legs in the air. He immediately gave the field several lengths. But young Joe Talamo, all of 17 years old - or did he finally turn 18? - didn’t panic, and moved his horse into contention by the final turn. He encountered a wall of horses at the top of the stretch. Lucky for him, Atomic Rain, ridden by Joe Bravo, moved out from the rail, and bounced into I Want Revenge, and pin-balled him out to a just-opening hole. Joe put him into another gear, where he easily won by 1 ½ lengths over West Side Bernie.

I Want Revenge down the stretch

I Want Revenge and Joe Talamo over West Side Bernie

Too bad a lot of the crowd left. They missed a terrific finish in the Carter Handicap, a Grade I for older horses at 7 furlongs. Front running Fabulous Strike looked to be the winner, but Kodiak Kowboy, after going five wide, closed steadily to catch Fabulous Strike at the wire, and win by a head.

Kodiak Kowboy catches Fabulous Steike at the wire

For various reasons to remain unknown, I have not written on my blog. Interestingly, it took death of Alysheba to make me do so. At 25, Alysheba was the oldest living Kentucky Derby winner. That title now belongs to the 1992 derby winner Strike the Gold, who is 20 years old.

According to the press release, Alysheba suffered from a degenerative spinal condition, had fallen in his stall at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, and was unable to rise to his feet. He was taken to Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, where it was determined he had suffered insurmountable injuries, and was euthanized Friday night. He was buried at Kentucky Horse Park Saturday morning, across from the great John Henry, whose stall he occupied during his all-to-short stay at the Hall of Champions.

While not gaga over him like Secretariat, or Genuine Risk, Alysheba none the less holds a soft spot in my heart. Sired by one of my all time favorite horses, the great Alydar, Alysheba in my opinion, was one of his best offspring. A dual classic winner of the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness wins, and ending his career with a win in the 1988 Breeder’s Cup Classic, Alysheba was a winner of 11 of 26 career starts, and retired a winner of $6,679,242.

Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhKpqZyx1JI  , Jim McKay's favorite Kentucky Derby moment

Back in February, I was briefly in Lexington, and decided to go with my mom and our friend Carmen, to Kentucky Horse Park. There was the great champion, out in John Henry’s old paddock, with his blanket, was Alysheba. He was observing the progress we were making pushing mom, in a wheelchair, going up the hill towards the champion’s barn.

He looked good, he looked alert, and he appeared to be greatly amused. He will be greatly missed.

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.

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!"

Oh, there is nothing like Saratoga in summer - time to slow down and relax, leisurely read the form, take a drink from the Big Red Spring.  But mostly, it’s time for some of the best racing in the country.  From 2 year olds to Breeder’s Cup Champions to a second chance for the 3 year olds to the steeplechase races, you can see it all at Saratoga.  This weekend featured four stake races on Saturday - all Breeder’s Cup “Win and You’re In” races - and featuring the Jim Dandy on Sunday

Speaking of 2 year olds, Saturday’s 2^nd race featured just that, 2-year-old going six furlongs in a $62,000 Maiden Special Weight.  I now generally shout these races, as you never know who’ll come out of these races.  I was on the look out for an interesting prospect, by the name of Munnings, by one of my favorite sprinters, Speightstown, out of a Holy Bull mare.   I noticed the connections of Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith - as I do free-lance for the European paper The Irish Field, they are interested in any Euro connections, particularly anything to do with Coolmore.  I was surprised they had a sprinter; generally I see them with more “classic” type horses.

Munnings with Johnny V up

Anyway, Munnings was a definite looker, trained by Todd Pletcher, warranting his even money status.  I must say, he looks very much like his daddy - same coloring, similar body type but smaller I think.  Ridden by John Velazquez, Munnings broke well, and went for the lead, and was pressed by Just A Coincidence, and running fractions of 22.1, 44.1, and 5/8 in 57 flat, Munnings pulled away down the stretch and won in a final time of 1:09.4.  He was very impressive, and definitely one took look out for.  Add him to your virtual stable.

The first of the Grade I races was The Diana, fillies and mares on the turf going 1 1/8 mile. It was a very good field assembled, and featuring the return of Wait A While. Bayou’s Lassie jumped out to the lead and tried to get a jump on the field and opened up about 6 lengths on the field, but they were catching her on the far turn, with Dynaforce in second and Wait A While sitting forth.  Coming down the stretch, Kent Desormeaux - looking for his 5000^th career win - made the front with Dynaforce, whom I picked as a winner in a handicapping contest mind you, and looked like a sure winner. 

Forever Together goes last to first

But from last and flying down the center of the course Came Forever Together to catch Kent in the last 100 yards.  Kent was visibly pissed.  He really wants to get this 5000 win-thing over with already.

Kent had another chance in The Alfred G. Vanderbuilt, at 7 furlongs, aboard E Z Warrior. With Bustin Stones scratched due to a bruised foot, and that left a field of seven going to the gate.   

Abraaj with Alan Garcia

 Long shot Sammarco got the jump out of the gate and had the lead down the backside.  Black Seventeen took it to him around the far turn. But Sammarco kept up his show of speed, going the half-mile in 44.3, and 5/8ths in 56:4.  He was caught by the hard ridden favorite Abraaj, with a relentless ride by Alan Garcia.  First Defense finished 2^nd, with Sammarco barely holding on for 3^rd.

Next came the best race of the day for me.  I had assumed that the Go For Wand was a “gimme,” in that champion Ginger Punch was a sure thing in this race.  Bt as this is horse racing, there is no such thing as a “sure thing.” 

Ginger Punch - a true champion

Ginger Punch acted up a little in the gate, but broke on her toes, and went for the lead.  Rafael Bejarano got her to settle down and sit 3^rd down the backside.  But things got a little tight, as Ginger Punch got boxed in on the rail by Copper State, running second, and Runway Rosie running fourth. 

Ginger Punch was still bottled up at the head of the stretch by Edgar Prado aboard Moon Catcher to the inside and Copper State and Shaun Bridgmohan.  The gutsy mare finally punched her way between the two, with an eighth of a mile left, to win by 2 lengths.

She really is an incredible mare.

The featured race, the 81^st running of the Whitney Stakes, was a good betting race on paper, no Curlin running here, and there looked to be no standout, and could be anybody’s race to win.  I mean lets face it, this was barely a Grade II field - Cowtown Cat?  Oh please.  Commentator was the only legitimate Grade I winner, and he was looking to be a repeat winner, having beaten Horse of the Year, Saint Liam, in 2006. 

The 7-year-old gelding broke sharply for the lead, and was running comfortably down the backstretch. Solar Flare, my pick, made a run at him down there, and Commentator just opened it up a notch.  Coming around the final turn, Solar Flare was in an all out drive but could not catch Commentator, who spurted away by 3 lengths at the top of the stretch.  The only horse to make a run at him was Student Council, who was about 4 back at the finish.

7-year-old Commentator wins the Whitney a second time

I had to head back to the press box - which had to have the narrowest flight of stairs I ever had to go up and down.  I was lucky that it was 24 inches wide, built sometime in the 1890’s, when Americans were a much smaller people, then through a rat-like maze to get to the press box.

Oh yeah, got caught in those nasty lightning storms that passed through the area.  By the time I made it to the hotel in Queensbury, I was a cold & very wet rat.  A hot shower never felt so good.

Made it back to the spa on Sunday, which was a cap give away day - a black hat the red striped canopy logo on the front, with Saratoga on the back, rim trimmed in red.  Very nice.

Most of the day was spent checking to see which races Kent Desormeaux was riding, because he was still looking for career win 5000, as he had been stuck on 4,999 for about 2 weeks now.  All the photographers were grumbling, saying how selfish of Kent, making us wait and all, that it was taking so long to do this, standing by the rail of some claiming race, waiting for number 5000.

Well as of race number six, he was still at 4,999.  Kent’s riding in the 7^th race - a $62,000 Allowance, New York state-bred fillies and mares, on the turf.  And the good news, more rain clouds have rolled in, and it starts to rain … hard.

Now all the photographers are really annoyed.  And of course, I had to bitch about it - loudly - saying, “he got us out here for a lousy allowance, in the rain … he damn well BETTER win the %#@& race …”

 

Kent Desormeaux wins 5000th, in the rain, on Bella Attrice

 

And as most of us now know - Kent wins number 5000!  Aboard a dark brown mare named Bella Attrice.  NYRA had a big card announcing his 5000^th win, and they baked him a cake!  Well, NYRA didn’t really bake him the cake, but they had someone bake it, the previous Sunday to be exact, and presented it to Kent.  White with green lettering - kind of matched his silks. 

And as many of you know he was presented the cake … in the face.  I really need to get that guy’s name … I think Kent deserved that just for his ride on Big Brown in the Belmont.

Finally, it was time for the Jim Dandy.  My Derby horse, Pyro, was running here, and I must say, he gets all pumped up when it’s time to hit the track.  He’s a real nice looking horse, and I was rooting for him.  Da’Tara was out to prove that his Belmont was no fluke.  Macho Again was trying to show the good form he had while finishing 2^nd to Big Brown in the Preakness.

 Da’Tara went to the lead, as pretty much expected.  What wasn’t expected is that he was joined by Mint Lane, the Dwyer winner, whose jockey Eibar Coa was obviously hell-bent on getting to the lead.  Alan Garcia decided to join Coa on this suicidal run, the two of them opening up on the field, and going the ½ mile in 46.4, which is ridiculous for a 1 1/8 mile race.

Macho Again holds off Pyro

Mint Lane began to pull away from Da’Tara, but had nothing left as Tale of Ekati put his head in front, followed by Tiz Now Tiz Then.  Macho Again, who had been stalking in 4^th, got to the lead mid-stretch, and held on to win over the hard charging Pyro.

The Jim Dandy proved that, with the exception of Big Brown, and perhaps the top two finishers in this race, this year’s crop of 3-year old colts isn’t much.    Maybe some of these colts may turn out to be decent 4-year olds, but don’t expect a 3-year old to win the Classic this year. 

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Red Rocks wins the Gr. I  Man O' War at Belmont.

“We didn’t see that late kick from him today,” said owner Jesse Jackson, “I don’t know if that was because he is still getting used to the turf or what… My feeling right now is that he needs another turf test.”

Steve Assmussen seems a little less sure, saying,” We’ll just evaluate how he came out of the race.  I don’t want to rush to judgment … We’ll monitor his condition.”

Again Curlin didn’t have a bad race, it was just not a typical Curlin race.  It was a strangely run race as well.  Sudan and Mission Approved decided to get into a speed duel for the 1st mile, running an opening quarter in a ridiculous 22.69 for a 1 3/8 race.  They opened up 10 lengths on Red Rocks, running in 3rd, who had 3 to 5 lengths on Curlin, running fourth, down the backside.  Red Rocks got the jump on Curlin, and Curlin couldn’t get closer than a length to the winner. 2004 BC Turf winner Better Talk Now finished ½ length back in 3rd - the Breeder’s Cup winners finished 1-2-3. 

Curlin chases Red Rocks, Better Talk Now not even in picture yet

The crowd of 8,428 gave Curlin a warm reception in the paddock, and applauded him on his return to be unsaddled. The question remains - did Curlin like the turf, and just needs to adapt? Or did he run second on a surface he hated, and did it on class alone?

It seems Mr. Jackson and Robby Albarado want to give Curlin another shot on the grass.  Assmussen seems less inclined - but he will do what the man who pays the bills wants to do.  Jackson already said if it doesn’t work out they’ll go back to dirt.  What Jackson doesn’t want is to have his star “run on plastic.”  He is not a fan of synthetic surfaces, he feels horses have been running in turf and dirt for hundreds of years.  The Arc idea is his way of avoiding Santa Anita and it’s “plastic” track.

Mr. Jackson is a throw-back to the olden days of horse racing - recalling the days when he saw Seabiscuit running, and of bidding against the same horse as Bing Crosby at the sales.  I was listening to Jess Jackson in the press box, talking about what it is he wants for his horse.  He wants to do more than beat up on the same bunch of horses for the remainder of the year.  He wants to keep running his horse as long as he’s sound, and when he looks into your eyes and speaks to YOU, you come to understand what he wants, and that it’s more than a just line of  bullshit. He really wants to showcase his horse, and to show that horses can be bred to be sound, and have stamina.  That it’s not about the stud deals - some claim he couldn’t get a big deal because Curlin’s pedigree isn’t commercial enough - but as Jackson stated “I don’t need the money.”

Jess Jackson, majority owner of Curlin

Maybe if the turf experiment doesn’t work, maybe there is an alternate path for the Curlin crew.  If they are so opposed to running on Santa Anita’s synthetic surface of this year’s Breeder’s Cup, perhaps there is another race they can aim for, if they want to make their champion an international star.  It’s on the other side of the world - the Japan Dirt Cup.  It is at the end of November, and best of all, it’s run on dirt, a surface on which Curlin dominates. 

Kip Deville wins the pot in the Poker Handicap

The 4th Breeder’s Cup winner running this weekend at Belmont was the 2007 Mile winner, Kip Deville.  But as usual, Kip Deville was a true professional, and basically toyed with the field in the Grade III Poker Handicap on Sunday.  The field included Steppenwolfer, 3rd place finisher in the 2006 Kentucky Derby.

Kip Deville wins the Poker Handicap easy

Steppenwolfer was the looker in the paddock and the post parade - I loved his neck, and he was a very powerful looking individual - too bad he didn’t run a lick, and he finished last.

But Kip Deville is well on his way to make another run in the Mile, and might become one of the few back-to-back winners of a Breeder’s Cup race.

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 ….

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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

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.

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.

Big Brown works Friday morning 

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)

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.

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

 Are you excited?  I know I am.  Big Brown is the 4th horse of the new millennium, joining War Emblem, Funny Cide and Smarty Jones, who have won the first two legs of the elusive Triple Crown.  He seems to have the best shot to do it.

Being trackside, one does not have a good perspective of how the race is unfolding, I just know Big Brown won with the greatest of ease.  It was not until I returned home, and watched the race that I became a believer in Big Brown. I believe we are looking at the 12th Triple Crown winner.  Big Brown actually slipped in the break, but still managed to get out of the gate quickly, and settle in along the rail behind pace setters Gayego and Riley Tucker.  Kent Desormeaux was patient, waiting to move Big Brown off the rail, and out of trouble, in third, never more than 2 lengths off the leaders.

Desormeaux began moving Big Brown around the far turn, past the tiring pacesetters.  At the top of the stretch, Kent shook his reins, and Big Brown showed a burst of acceleration that took my breath away, and left the other contenders in the dust.  He galloped for most of the Preakness. He actually raced for maybe 3 furlongs, and he won by 5 ¼ lengths, and was gearing down at the finish.  Desormeaux was leaving plenty in the tank for the Belmont.

On now to New York, and the Belmont Stakes, where racing destiny awaits Big Brown.  Also awaiting him will be Casino Drive, winner of the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 10th.

Casino Drive is an interesting story - an American-bred son of Mineshaft, out of the broodmare Better Than Honor, was purchased by Japanese businessman Hidetoshi Yamamoto for $950,000. He is ¾ brother to 2007 Belmont winner Rags To Riches, and ½ brother to the 2006 Belmont winner Jazil. His owner and his trainer, Kazuo Fujisawa, decided to bring Casino Drive to New York for the specific purpose of running in the Belmont.

They decided to prep him by running him, in his second start, in the Peter Pan Stakes.  Casino Drive was impressive and professional, finishing under a hand ride the 1 1/8 in 1:47.87. What made his win impressive is he did it not only in his second career start, but off a two-month layoff, long trip, and quarantine. 

Casino Drive winning the Peter Pan

Interestingly enough, Kent Desormeaux piloted the colt, and said afterwards, “Yeah, he can run a lot.  It’s going to be fun.  He’s a phenomenal talent, and we’ve got our hands full with this one.  It’s going to be exciting for all of the fans.  He’s got that stride.” 

Question is does Kent believe all of that, or is he just being, shall we say, diplomatic?  My guess is a little bit of both.  The colt obviously has talent, but who did he beat really?  And is a  1½ race too much for the colt’s 3rd start?  Maybe not, he has the breeding to do it.  And it would be unprecedented for a broodmare, Better Than Honour, to have 3 consecutive winners in the same classic race.  I believe someone put the odds at 40 trillion to 1.

Now, come Belmont Stakes day, Casino Drive will have better odds than that, but I don’t think it will matter.  I think Big Brown will inhale him, just like he did with other 31 rivals in the last two legs of the Triple Crown.

I have become a believer in Big Brown.  I have come to believe that Big Brown will be the 12th Triple Crown winner.  I know he will probably never set foot on the racetrack again if he wins on June 7th, but I don’t care. This is a special animal - he is a freak.  And racing needs this horse to win the Triple Crown.  It would be tremendous for racing’s PR, which has been hurting as of late.  It would also prove that it can still be done, that the formula doesn’t need to bee changed.  That D. Wayne Lukas and others were wrong for calling for the shortening of the distances of the Triple Crown races, and spacing the running dates further apart, all to accommodate commercially bred horses that only gasp to the finish line in 1 1/8 route races.

134th Kentucky Derby - Big Brown is an easy winner     Copyright Sue K Photo

It was five weeks since his Florida Derby win - granted, Barbaro had five weeks before his Derby, but it was 50 years prior to that that a horse had won off a five week layoff.  He had only 3 previous starts, and the last horse to win the Derby off 3 starts was Regret in 1915. Even the 2007 Horse of the Year, Curlin,  couldn’t pull off a similar feat last year. The big thing for me though he was going from post 20 - no horse has won from that spot since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. No way I thought.

Big Brown, in the 4th start of his young career won this year’s edition of the Kentucky Derby, and remains undefeated.  Big Brown proved me wrong in a big way.

But Big Brown’s win was tempered with sadness.  The only filly in the race, Eight Belles, ran the race of her life and finished 2nd, 2 ¾ lengths in front of Denis of Cork, who rallied from last.  Eight Belles collapsed on the far turn, after crossing the finish line.  She broke both her front ankles after what looked like possibly a bad step.  The brave and talented filly was euthanized on the spot, before her trainer Larry Jones even left the stands.

It was several minutes before I heard that a horse was down.  It’s actually hard to get any accurate information when you’re trackside. Because a few minutes later I was told it was Tale of Ekati, and many of the photographers around me thought it was Tale of Ekati as well. It wasn’t until I got back to the media center that I heard it was the filly.  It explained why Kent Desormeaux was subdued while being lead back to the winner’s circle on Big Brown. There was none of the usual fist pumping and celebration that is customary when one wins the Derby.  It was a while before the crowd realized what happened, and that changed the mood for the day.

This is the sport of horse racing - you have the joy and elation of winning the most famous race in the world against the images of the filly laying prone on the racetrack. It is sad and tragic and is part of the sport.  Of course there were the cries that a filly should never run with the boys.  Nonsense I say.  Todd Pletcher's filly, Rags To Riches, winner of the 2007 Kentucky Oaks ran against the boys 5 weeks later in the Belmont Stakes, the grueling 1 1/2 "test of champions," where she ran a thrilling stretch duel with the eventual 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin, beating him.  And the rest of the world runs the girls against the boys all the time.  The great race mare Ouija Board springs to mind - she regularly faced the boys, and beat them too.  If a filly or mare is talented enough to face the boys, buy all means she should be given the chance.  

Eight Belles walks to the paddock

The PETA people and other anti-racing advocates will have a field day with this one.  PETA demanded that the jockey, Gabriel Saez, should have been arrested for murder, for excessive whipping down the stretch.   I’m sure PETA is aware of it, but Eight Belles was just a horse, not a human being - and the whipping had nothing to do with the breakdown - she wasn’t being whipped after the finish line, when the injury accured, and the jockey had nothing to do with her mishap.  PETA even demands an apology from Hilary Clinton, who bet on Eight Belles, for perpetuating such cruelty as horse racing.  Hell, PETA was have me arrested for owning tow cats as pets, be causing having pets is a cruel act in itself.  And as I mentioned in my post regarding George Washington, horses will always fin a way to get themselves killed, be it in a race, in a workout, in a paddock, running into a tree in their paddock, or being struck by lightning

Others are screaming for polytrack to be installed in all tracks, because it is safer for the horses. There is not enough long term studies done, but initial results have shown there is a slight decrease in catastrophic injuries (requiring euthanasia), but there is an increase in soft tissue injuries, some career ending.  I’ve spoken in length in previous post about synthetic surfaces, some trainers love it and some trainers hate it, such as Bob Baffert and Nick Zito, who both admit their disdain for the surface.  Baffert has moved most of his operations to the east coast, and Zito said God made dirt and grass for horses to run on, not your old tires and carpeting.

In the end, Eight Belles was given the chance of a lifetime, to run tin the biggest he race of her young life, and she ran the race of her life.  And she gave her life running that race.

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

Is there any doubt?

After all the hype, and the what if’s, and the if-something-goes-wrong so-and-so-can-pull-it-off , Curlin effortlessly powered down the Nad Al Sheba stretch to show HE IS THE BEST HORSE IN THE WORLD! 

In the desert night of Dubai, Curlin stalked the pace, staying out of trouble in the 3 and 4 path.  Robby Albarado knew what he had, he was patient, and with 400 meters to go, pulled away with ease to win by 5+ lenghts.  Japan’s Asiatic Boy and Well Armed ran a respectable 2nd and 3rd, but they were no match for the class of Curlin.

Curlin’s owner, Jess Jackson, will come back to the US with his champion, and attempt to make him the richest horse in the world.  His win today earned him 3.6 million dollars, and put him 3rd on the all-time north american money earners, behind Cigar and Silver Charm.  Two more races plus a win in the Breeder’s Cup Classic would put him over the 10 million dollar mark in earnings.  Not too shabby.

Curlin can do wonders for racing.  Curlin has the power to draw fans to the tracks - they will come to see the BEST HORSE IN THE WORLD.  And thank you, Mr. Jackson, for thinking of the racing industry, and the racing fans.  Thank you for not rushing your champion into the stud barn, like so many others do. Thank you for keeping your champion around, and racing him against the world.

Curlin - THE BEST HORSE IN THE WORLD!

The racing gods are pleased ….