Regal Return

One of the most visually impressive performances of 2009 for me was one I was actually privileged to be at in person. The 2009 Super Derby featured a compelling victory by Godolphin Stable's Regal Ransom, who just crushed a quality field of three-year-olds that included Blame, who has gone on as a four-year-old to be considered one of the handful of best horses in training.

Regal Ransom pointed to the Breeders' Cup Classic after that win in Louisiana, which I thought was an error. If anything, I thought he was better suited to the Dirt Mile and had he run in that race, I certainly would have backed up that belief at the betting windows. As it was, he ran eighth in the Classic behind the epic victory scored by the brilliant Zenyatta at Santa Anita. It would appear that Regal Ransom might not be a fan of racing on synthetic surfaces anyway, given that performance in the Breeders' Cup and the fact that his training over the Tapeta in Dubai was apparently less than stellar, according to reports.

Therefore, his connections have decided to bring Regal Ransom back to the races this weekend in the Grade 2 $300,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park over their conventional dirt surface at 1 1/8 miles. Also expected to be in the field is the morning-line favorite for the 2009 Kentucky Derby, I Want Revenge, who was scratched on the morning of the Derby and has not raced since his win in the 2009 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. These two should be the headliners of the Suburban, a race that has had its share of headliners on its winners list. Great names from the past like Nashua, Dr. Fager, Kelso, Forego, Easy Goer, and Skip Away have all won the Suburban. It would certainly be a feather in the cap of any in the field this Saturday to add his name to the honor roll.

Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!