There was considerable change to the Super Six Derby Pix following the three major prep races this past weekend. Brethren dominated, Comma To The Top looked a little short, and Tapizar looked a little nuts. It has now come out that Tapizar has a bone chip following his disappointing run in the Robert Lewis this weekend and is now off the Road To The Roses. There will, of course, be more to come this weekend on the Derby Trail with the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes looking very promising with a strong field of ten scheduled to go to the post. So without any further ado, here are the Super Six Derby Pix:
#1- Uncle Mo- He finally seemed to get back into form with his workout on Sunday, going four furlongs in 47.45 seconds. His previous two workouts had not been up to snuff, according to reports. There are also questions as to whether his lineage supports the 1 1/4 mile distance he will need to get on the First Saturday In May. Of course, he has been nothing short of brilliant on the racetrack. We just have to wait until the Tampa Bay Derby on March 12 to see where he is.
#2- To Honor And Serve- Continues to live off his impressive win in the Remsen last fall and he is scheduled to return to the races in the Fountain Of Youth in Florida on February 26. The Sire, Bernardini, has been in the news a lot lately due to the pending pairing with Zenyatta. He is also, you must remember, a classic winner in his own right with the 2006 Preakness to his credit. It will be just as interesting to see where this Bill Mott trainee is when he returns as the top pick.
#3- Machen- The two horses closest to him in his sensational maiden-breaking win, Sour and Birdie Beats Par, have both come back to win equally impressively. Machen followed up that first score with a route victory at 1 mile and 70 yards. He is listed at 6-1 on the morning line in the Risen Star Saturday at the Fair Grounds. I think it is a pipe dream to believe you will get anything close to 6-1 come post time. He has been the hot horse in Louisiana since the season opened in New Orleans. It wouldn't surprise me if he were the favorite in the Risen Star.
#4- Brethren- Did you see the Sam F. Davis this weekend at Tampa Bay? This horse was brilliant in victory from the outside post and made the nice win he had at Churchill Downs last fall look like a preamble to what was to come. I appreciate the field was not the strongest in the Davis last weekend. However, an impressive win is an impressive win. Keep in mind that he will likely go in the Tampa Bay Derby next and that means a matchup with Uncle Mo.
#5- Santiva- He will go postward for the first time in 2011 in the Risen Star on Saturday at Fair Grounds. He needs to build off the gutcheck win he scored in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs over Astrology last autumn. The Beyer number for that race didn't dazzle, but the heart he showed in repelling the challengers did. I will be anxious to see if he repeats that kind of determination again on Saturday if presented with another tough spot.
#6- Dialed In- The star of the Gulfstream season so far after his come-from-behind tour de force in the Holy Bull on January 30. He appeared hopelessly beaten at points in this race and when the finish line rolled around, he had won by a healthy margin. Nick Zito has won the Derby twice, but not since 1994. He has had many chances to get that third Derby victory on his record, but this one could be one of the more likely opportunities of them all.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Grade 3 $225,000 Sam F. Davis
As mentioned earlier this week on this blog, Uncle Mo will begin his three-year-old campaign in the Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs. If you would like a preview of some of the potential competition that the Champion Two-Year-Old will face, then the Grade 3 $225,000 Sam F. Davis on Saturday is for you. It features a field of ten going 1 1/16 miles over the main track at Tampa. Here is the analysis:
The top selection for me will be the 12-1 shot, #4 Too Experience. This will be his 2011 debut effort, but the last few workouts have been quite good. It is almost like trainer Mark Passley has been gearing the horse to be ready to debut in full flight on Saturday. Also, those horses that have run at Calder seem to have a great deal of success at other venues in recent days. Plus, you get Daniel Centeno aboard and he is always one to watch at Tampa. For second, I will go with Super Saver's brother, #10 Brethren. He is also making his 2011 debut here, but he is an undefeated 2 for 2 in his career. His win in a one-turn mile at Churchill on November 27 was certainly eye-catching. His works have also been strong leading into this go and while his brother didn't win the Tampa Bay Derby last year, I think the experience at Tampa Bay Downs clearly didn't hurt Super Saver on the way to the Roses. #3 Washington's Rules will be the third choice off a nice maiden-breaker at Gulfstream Park on January 22. Kent Desormeaux will be aboard on Saturday, as he was for the first two starts by this gelding. There are two Derby winners just a generation back in the lineage (Fusaichi Pegasus and Silver Charm). The last workout on February 5 was a bullet, going five furlongs in 59.3 seconds. I will use #8 Monzon to complete the top four selections here. Edgar Prado was up for the last two tries, which included a win in the Count Fleet over the inner track at Aqueduct on New Year's Day. This gelding has won three times in his six-race career, including both tries over main track surfaces. Here is the play for the Grade 3 $225,000 Sam F. Davis:
$5 WP #4
$1 EX BOX 2-3-4-8-10
TOTAL- $30
For the record, the blog is now MINUS $52 for the year. We are hopeful we can reverse that downward trend. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
The top selection for me will be the 12-1 shot, #4 Too Experience. This will be his 2011 debut effort, but the last few workouts have been quite good. It is almost like trainer Mark Passley has been gearing the horse to be ready to debut in full flight on Saturday. Also, those horses that have run at Calder seem to have a great deal of success at other venues in recent days. Plus, you get Daniel Centeno aboard and he is always one to watch at Tampa. For second, I will go with Super Saver's brother, #10 Brethren. He is also making his 2011 debut here, but he is an undefeated 2 for 2 in his career. His win in a one-turn mile at Churchill on November 27 was certainly eye-catching. His works have also been strong leading into this go and while his brother didn't win the Tampa Bay Derby last year, I think the experience at Tampa Bay Downs clearly didn't hurt Super Saver on the way to the Roses. #3 Washington's Rules will be the third choice off a nice maiden-breaker at Gulfstream Park on January 22. Kent Desormeaux will be aboard on Saturday, as he was for the first two starts by this gelding. There are two Derby winners just a generation back in the lineage (Fusaichi Pegasus and Silver Charm). The last workout on February 5 was a bullet, going five furlongs in 59.3 seconds. I will use #8 Monzon to complete the top four selections here. Edgar Prado was up for the last two tries, which included a win in the Count Fleet over the inner track at Aqueduct on New Year's Day. This gelding has won three times in his six-race career, including both tries over main track surfaces. Here is the play for the Grade 3 $225,000 Sam F. Davis:
$5 WP #4
$1 EX BOX 2-3-4-8-10
TOTAL- $30
For the record, the blog is now MINUS $52 for the year. We are hopeful we can reverse that downward trend. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Mig
Retired jockey Richard Migliore won over 4,400 races during his career that lasted many, many years through stops at most major racing circuits around the country. Migliore never won a Triple Crown race during his extended career, but he did capture one Breeders' Cup race, the 2008 Turf Sprint aboard longshot Desert Code. Migliore did also score in a couple of major Kentucky Derby prep races (the 1985 Wood Memorial with Eternal Prince and the 2004 Florida Derby with Friends Lake). He just never had the horsepower to win on the sport's biggest stages.
Anyone who ever sat through a handicapping seminar during my time as an announcer and handicapper in Texas will know that I was no great fan of Migliore for these large-scale events. I regularly discounted his horses, his chances, and his riding abilities. Now, Migliore is returning to racing as an employee of NYRA as a "broadcast analyst and racing office associate", according to the press release on his hiring. His racing office duties will include educating apprentice riders as to safe riding techniques and riding skills. He also will be educating owners to increase their participation in the industry.
I think this is a tremendous job by NYRA to bring aboard someone who has seen it all and done just about it all in racing to enlighten the next generation. Migliore might never have been my favorite, but I certainly had to respect his ability to work with what he had and get the most of his horses and himself. By doing this, NYRA is hopefully creating a new generation of intelligent and safe jockeys who will know the ins and outs of what they are doing before they ever get themselves into a dangerous situation and, more importantly, what is right course of action once they find themselves involved in something precarious. I also think Migliore will be invaluable to the NYRA television presentation in his analyst role through his experience aboard countless horses and in countless races. Again, Migliore's experience will be invaluable to the betting public at what was basically his home stomping grounds. All in all, NYRA should be commended for bringing Migliore into the fold by not only the racing insiders, but also the betting public.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Anyone who ever sat through a handicapping seminar during my time as an announcer and handicapper in Texas will know that I was no great fan of Migliore for these large-scale events. I regularly discounted his horses, his chances, and his riding abilities. Now, Migliore is returning to racing as an employee of NYRA as a "broadcast analyst and racing office associate", according to the press release on his hiring. His racing office duties will include educating apprentice riders as to safe riding techniques and riding skills. He also will be educating owners to increase their participation in the industry.
I think this is a tremendous job by NYRA to bring aboard someone who has seen it all and done just about it all in racing to enlighten the next generation. Migliore might never have been my favorite, but I certainly had to respect his ability to work with what he had and get the most of his horses and himself. By doing this, NYRA is hopefully creating a new generation of intelligent and safe jockeys who will know the ins and outs of what they are doing before they ever get themselves into a dangerous situation and, more importantly, what is right course of action once they find themselves involved in something precarious. I also think Migliore will be invaluable to the NYRA television presentation in his analyst role through his experience aboard countless horses and in countless races. Again, Migliore's experience will be invaluable to the betting public at what was basically his home stomping grounds. All in all, NYRA should be commended for bringing Migliore into the fold by not only the racing insiders, but also the betting public.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
It Makes "Sense"
Uncle Mo is the current prohibitive favorite of the "winter books" for the 2011 Kentucky Derby. I would say that honor is most deserved, given the crushing manner in which he toyed with the competition in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Should he go on to win the Kentucky Derby on May 7, Uncle Mo would become only the second winner of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to win the Kentucky Derby, joining 2006 Juvenile and 2007 Derby winner, Street Sense, with those laurels. That would be fitting, since it seems that the connections of Uncle Mo are following the example set by the connections of Street Sense four years ago.
To begin with, Street Sense won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in 2006, the same venue that Uncle Mo won his Juvenile at several months ago. While it might be true that Street Sense might have had a little help from the inside track bias the day of his Juvenile win, he still made it to the Winner's Circle, just like Uncle Mo. I think Uncle Mo's win was certainly the more visually impressive of the two performances. Trainer Carl Nafzger elected to only give Street Sense two prep races between the Juvenile score and the Kentucky Derby. Uncle Mo's trainer, Todd Pletcher, is also only allowing two prep races before the First Saturday In May for his charge. You might take note at this point that both Nafzger (Unbridled in 1990) and Pletcher (Super Saver in 2010) had a Derby victory on their resumes.
Nafzger went with the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes as his selections for Street Sense's prep races. Street Sense won the Tampa Bay Derby overcoming a game Any Given Saturday. He then went to Keeneland and ran on the Polytrack there, losing narrowly to artificial surface favoring Dominican in the Blue Grass. Pletcher is choosing the Tampa Bay Derby and the Wood Memorial as his two preps for Uncle Mo. The reasons for this difference should be obvious to everyone, since Uncle Mo's owner, Mike Repole, is a New Yorker who prefers the Wood Memorial anyway and they get to avoid the tricky Polytrack surface so close to the big day.
Street Sense would rally from well off the pace and get a ground-saving rail ride from Calvin Borel to carry him past the underrated Hard Spun and into the Kentucky Derby Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs. He would come up a little bit short in the Preakness, getting tackled by eventual 2007 Horse Of The Year, Curlin, in the shadow of the wire. Street Sense would skip the Belmont, but come back later in the summer to win both the Jim Dandy and Travers at Saratoga. The historian in me feels that Uncle Mo, like Street Sense, might come up short in the remainder of the Triple Crown with only two prep races before the Derby, which is a shame since he could possess the qualities of a Triple Crown winner. The practical side of me says that the connections are currently only interested in winning the first leg of the Triple Crown (and the most historically significant anyway) in the Kentucky Derby. I guess in the final analysis, you cannot question anything that Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher have done so far with Uncle Mo, at least to this point in time anyway. If they don't win that Derby they are expected to win, there will be plenty of time for everyone to second-guess them in the aftermath.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone...GOODBYE!
To begin with, Street Sense won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs in 2006, the same venue that Uncle Mo won his Juvenile at several months ago. While it might be true that Street Sense might have had a little help from the inside track bias the day of his Juvenile win, he still made it to the Winner's Circle, just like Uncle Mo. I think Uncle Mo's win was certainly the more visually impressive of the two performances. Trainer Carl Nafzger elected to only give Street Sense two prep races between the Juvenile score and the Kentucky Derby. Uncle Mo's trainer, Todd Pletcher, is also only allowing two prep races before the First Saturday In May for his charge. You might take note at this point that both Nafzger (Unbridled in 1990) and Pletcher (Super Saver in 2010) had a Derby victory on their resumes.
Nafzger went with the Tampa Bay Derby and the Blue Grass Stakes as his selections for Street Sense's prep races. Street Sense won the Tampa Bay Derby overcoming a game Any Given Saturday. He then went to Keeneland and ran on the Polytrack there, losing narrowly to artificial surface favoring Dominican in the Blue Grass. Pletcher is choosing the Tampa Bay Derby and the Wood Memorial as his two preps for Uncle Mo. The reasons for this difference should be obvious to everyone, since Uncle Mo's owner, Mike Repole, is a New Yorker who prefers the Wood Memorial anyway and they get to avoid the tricky Polytrack surface so close to the big day.
Street Sense would rally from well off the pace and get a ground-saving rail ride from Calvin Borel to carry him past the underrated Hard Spun and into the Kentucky Derby Winner's Circle at Churchill Downs. He would come up a little bit short in the Preakness, getting tackled by eventual 2007 Horse Of The Year, Curlin, in the shadow of the wire. Street Sense would skip the Belmont, but come back later in the summer to win both the Jim Dandy and Travers at Saratoga. The historian in me feels that Uncle Mo, like Street Sense, might come up short in the remainder of the Triple Crown with only two prep races before the Derby, which is a shame since he could possess the qualities of a Triple Crown winner. The practical side of me says that the connections are currently only interested in winning the first leg of the Triple Crown (and the most historically significant anyway) in the Kentucky Derby. I guess in the final analysis, you cannot question anything that Mike Repole and Todd Pletcher have done so far with Uncle Mo, at least to this point in time anyway. If they don't win that Derby they are expected to win, there will be plenty of time for everyone to second-guess them in the aftermath.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone...GOODBYE!
Friday, February 04, 2011
The Grade 1 $500,000 Donn Handicap
Gulfstream Park's season doesn't really begin for me until the running of the Donn. Yes, I know Dialed In was exactly that last weekend in the Grade 3 Holy Bull, but that's really a prep for the Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth, which is a prep for the Grade 1 Florida Derby. The Donn always seems to be the first big race of the year on the calendar and it kinds of kickstarts the true racing season. This year's version of the Donn features a field of nine going 1 1/8 miles and here is the analysis:
I might have a screw loose with this one, but I actually think #1 I Want Revenge is due to return to his form from the spring of 2009 and put forth a big effort in here on Saturday. In both of his 2010 starts, you will notice trouble at the start in the notes for each race. He finished behind Haynesfield in the Grade 2 Suburban after a year plus away from the track and the Grade 3 Iselin was just a dull effort. Is he sitting on a big race or not? I am not sure, but with a morning line of 6-1, he is an attractive enough price for me to consider it a possibility. For second, I will go with #3 Morning Line. He was sent off at even-money in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope at Gulfstream last time out on January 8, but I tend to want to write that one off given the strenuous Breeders' Cup effort he put forth and the heartbreaking defeat he endured. I know the story this week of the Sheikh purchasing part of him with the idea of pointing him to the Dubai World Cup. It remains to be seen if he can go that far against the caliber of field he will be facing at Meydan, but for Saturday, I find him second-best. I will use #8 Rule. Rule is just one of those horses for me that we all encounter during our wagering adventures. I always seem to be on the wrong side of the aisle with him. When I don't like him, he runs big, and when I do like him, he doesn't. He posted a bullet workout on January 30 and is making the second start off the last layoff here. That means I find some things to like, I just feel I need to be cautious with him in this spot. Finally, I will round out the top four with #6 Fly Down. Remember what I said about Morning Line losing his first start after the Breeders' Cup. Well, that same theory can be applied to Fly Down. His works since the Cup have been quite good, but this will be his first real action since Churchill Downs. That Cup race was a big effort for Fly Down, closing smartly to finish within four lengths of Blame and Zenyatta and get third. Does he rebound today or not? Here is the play for the Grade 1 $500,000 Donn Handicap:
$5 WP #1
$1 EX BOX 1-3-6-8
$1 TRI 1-3 with 1-3 with 4-5-6-8-9
TOTAL- $32
By the way, the tally for 2011 right now is MINUS $20. We hope to get back on the plus side Saturday. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
I might have a screw loose with this one, but I actually think #1 I Want Revenge is due to return to his form from the spring of 2009 and put forth a big effort in here on Saturday. In both of his 2010 starts, you will notice trouble at the start in the notes for each race. He finished behind Haynesfield in the Grade 2 Suburban after a year plus away from the track and the Grade 3 Iselin was just a dull effort. Is he sitting on a big race or not? I am not sure, but with a morning line of 6-1, he is an attractive enough price for me to consider it a possibility. For second, I will go with #3 Morning Line. He was sent off at even-money in the Grade 3 Hal's Hope at Gulfstream last time out on January 8, but I tend to want to write that one off given the strenuous Breeders' Cup effort he put forth and the heartbreaking defeat he endured. I know the story this week of the Sheikh purchasing part of him with the idea of pointing him to the Dubai World Cup. It remains to be seen if he can go that far against the caliber of field he will be facing at Meydan, but for Saturday, I find him second-best. I will use #8 Rule. Rule is just one of those horses for me that we all encounter during our wagering adventures. I always seem to be on the wrong side of the aisle with him. When I don't like him, he runs big, and when I do like him, he doesn't. He posted a bullet workout on January 30 and is making the second start off the last layoff here. That means I find some things to like, I just feel I need to be cautious with him in this spot. Finally, I will round out the top four with #6 Fly Down. Remember what I said about Morning Line losing his first start after the Breeders' Cup. Well, that same theory can be applied to Fly Down. His works since the Cup have been quite good, but this will be his first real action since Churchill Downs. That Cup race was a big effort for Fly Down, closing smartly to finish within four lengths of Blame and Zenyatta and get third. Does he rebound today or not? Here is the play for the Grade 1 $500,000 Donn Handicap:
$5 WP #1
$1 EX BOX 1-3-6-8
$1 TRI 1-3 with 1-3 with 4-5-6-8-9
TOTAL- $32
By the way, the tally for 2011 right now is MINUS $20. We hope to get back on the plus side Saturday. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Thursday, February 03, 2011
A Truly Rising Star
Machen, who is 2 for 2 at the Fair Grounds following another strong victory this past weekend, is now logically being pointed to the Grade 2 Risen Star at the New Orleans oval. One can only believe that the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby on March 26 will follow for the relatively inexperienced, but very capable colt.
The Beyer figure for the win on Sunday was only 76, which didn't come close to the 95 he posted in his six furlong debut win on January 2. The Sunday race was one mile and 70 yards, so you might be able to chalk it up to the aforementioned inexperience, especially going around two turns.
Whatever the reason for the slower effort in the second start, Machen has so far earned the right to be the most exciting thing in New Orleans since the Saints were winning the Super Bowl about this time last year. Now, whether he goes on to improve from here is a question that trainer Neil Howard and jockey Jamie Theriot will have to address. I am certainly thinking he will be the favorite in the Risen Star and deservedly so.
Of course, he will have to come through in both the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby if he is to take the next step after that, which would be the Kentucky Derby on May 7. The sad fact, though, is that only two horses have won the Louisiana Derby and then added the Roses afterward (Black Gold in 1924 and Grindstone in 1996). Maybe Machen will be the horse to make it a Triple Crown of Louisiana Derby winners to win the big one on the First Saturday In May.
Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
The Beyer figure for the win on Sunday was only 76, which didn't come close to the 95 he posted in his six furlong debut win on January 2. The Sunday race was one mile and 70 yards, so you might be able to chalk it up to the aforementioned inexperience, especially going around two turns.
Whatever the reason for the slower effort in the second start, Machen has so far earned the right to be the most exciting thing in New Orleans since the Saints were winning the Super Bowl about this time last year. Now, whether he goes on to improve from here is a question that trainer Neil Howard and jockey Jamie Theriot will have to address. I am certainly thinking he will be the favorite in the Risen Star and deservedly so.
Of course, he will have to come through in both the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby if he is to take the next step after that, which would be the Kentucky Derby on May 7. The sad fact, though, is that only two horses have won the Louisiana Derby and then added the Roses afterward (Black Gold in 1924 and Grindstone in 1996). Maybe Machen will be the horse to make it a Triple Crown of Louisiana Derby winners to win the big one on the First Saturday In May.
Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
Super Six Derby Pix
It is a tradition unlike any other here at They Are Off. From the very first days of this blog, I have offered my Super Six Derby Pix in the weeks leading up to the big day in Louisville. Now, Mine That Bird and Super Saver weren't really what I call "prominent" in my opinions in the weeks preceding the Derby, but we are ready to go again with the first edition of the 2011 Super Six Derby Pix:
#1- Uncle Mo- His definitive win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile earned him this spot a long while ago. He destroyed a strong contingent of two-year-olds in that race and great things are expected out of not just him, but the connections as well. Owner Mike Repole is being hailed as a new brand of owner and just the tonic an "ailing" Thoroughbred industry needs. Now, just how "ailing" the industry is remains a subjective thought, but that is another story. Trainer Todd Pletcher got off the Derby donut with Super Saver's win last year. Can he make it two in a row?
#2- Boys At Tosconova- The runner-up to Uncle Mo in the Juvenile was allegedly supposed to run in the Grade 3 Holy Bull this weekend, but the connections opted to skip it. Of course, this decision leads to a plethora of "What's wrong with Boys At Tosconova?" ideas fermenting in everyone's head. A valid point, though, was raised on The Paulick Report Derby Index as to whether an offspring of Officer can get the Derby distance. It promises to be worth watching.
#3- To Honor And Serve- The winner of the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes last fall in New York, To Honor And Serve accomplished that win so impressively that he became a de facto contender for the Derby the moment he hit the finish line. It was his second straight graded victory following the score in the Grade 2 Nashua. Now, the question becomes just how good are those victories after the runner-up in both, Mucho Macho Man, got drilled by Nick Zito's Dialed In in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park on Sunday?
#4- Comma To The Top- The West Coast's leading Derby candidate overcame an exceedingly long shoe situation in the rainy paddock at Hollywood Park to win the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. The win in the CashCall was the third in a row for the gelding (keeping in mind that Funny Cide in 2003 and Mine That Bird in 2009 are the only two gelding's to win the Derby since 1929), but now the question is what next. The original thought, I believe, was to go to the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby in the Bay Area over the Grade 2 Robert Lewis in Southern California. What does that express about the connections confidence in the horse? Are they searching for an easier spot in Northern California and potentially ducking a tougher spot at Santa Anita? I don't think that is the reason, but I find it a questionable decision if it comes to pass.
#5- Tapizar- Steve Asmussen has been the leading trainer in North America so many times, I am losing count. Heck, he might be losing count. One thing he has not won yet is the Kentucky Derby. Yes, he has a Classic win (Curlin in the 2007 Preakness), but we all know the Preakness is not the Derby. Pletcher broke his Derby jinx last year, is it Asmussen's turn this year? The winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, it would be unique to see Asmussen going the Western route to Louisville. Normally, you think of him more as an Eastern guy. In reality, he is just a winning machine everywhere. The Sire, Tapit, has been producing strong progeny almost from the get-go.
#6- Santiva- I know his highest career Beyer figure doesn't nearly match the other horses on this list and I know he hasn't raced since breaking his maiden in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November at Churchill Downs. However, I was truly impressed by his tenacity in repelling the challenge of Astrology in that race and Astrology certainly isn't a slouch either. It is likely that Santiva will be appearing in Florida shortly, possibly to run in the Fountain Of Youth. I, for one, will be keenly piqued to see how he does in his return to the races.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
#1- Uncle Mo- His definitive win in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile earned him this spot a long while ago. He destroyed a strong contingent of two-year-olds in that race and great things are expected out of not just him, but the connections as well. Owner Mike Repole is being hailed as a new brand of owner and just the tonic an "ailing" Thoroughbred industry needs. Now, just how "ailing" the industry is remains a subjective thought, but that is another story. Trainer Todd Pletcher got off the Derby donut with Super Saver's win last year. Can he make it two in a row?
#2- Boys At Tosconova- The runner-up to Uncle Mo in the Juvenile was allegedly supposed to run in the Grade 3 Holy Bull this weekend, but the connections opted to skip it. Of course, this decision leads to a plethora of "What's wrong with Boys At Tosconova?" ideas fermenting in everyone's head. A valid point, though, was raised on The Paulick Report Derby Index as to whether an offspring of Officer can get the Derby distance. It promises to be worth watching.
#3- To Honor And Serve- The winner of the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes last fall in New York, To Honor And Serve accomplished that win so impressively that he became a de facto contender for the Derby the moment he hit the finish line. It was his second straight graded victory following the score in the Grade 2 Nashua. Now, the question becomes just how good are those victories after the runner-up in both, Mucho Macho Man, got drilled by Nick Zito's Dialed In in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park on Sunday?
#4- Comma To The Top- The West Coast's leading Derby candidate overcame an exceedingly long shoe situation in the rainy paddock at Hollywood Park to win the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity. The win in the CashCall was the third in a row for the gelding (keeping in mind that Funny Cide in 2003 and Mine That Bird in 2009 are the only two gelding's to win the Derby since 1929), but now the question is what next. The original thought, I believe, was to go to the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby in the Bay Area over the Grade 2 Robert Lewis in Southern California. What does that express about the connections confidence in the horse? Are they searching for an easier spot in Northern California and potentially ducking a tougher spot at Santa Anita? I don't think that is the reason, but I find it a questionable decision if it comes to pass.
#5- Tapizar- Steve Asmussen has been the leading trainer in North America so many times, I am losing count. Heck, he might be losing count. One thing he has not won yet is the Kentucky Derby. Yes, he has a Classic win (Curlin in the 2007 Preakness), but we all know the Preakness is not the Derby. Pletcher broke his Derby jinx last year, is it Asmussen's turn this year? The winner of the Grade 3 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita, it would be unique to see Asmussen going the Western route to Louisville. Normally, you think of him more as an Eastern guy. In reality, he is just a winning machine everywhere. The Sire, Tapit, has been producing strong progeny almost from the get-go.
#6- Santiva- I know his highest career Beyer figure doesn't nearly match the other horses on this list and I know he hasn't raced since breaking his maiden in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club in November at Churchill Downs. However, I was truly impressed by his tenacity in repelling the challenge of Astrology in that race and Astrology certainly isn't a slouch either. It is likely that Santiva will be appearing in Florida shortly, possibly to run in the Fountain Of Youth. I, for one, will be keenly piqued to see how he does in his return to the races.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Monday, January 31, 2011
New Shooters...Already?
The Kentucky Derby is now 96 days away. Of course, you have the prohibitive set of favorites that have already established themselves through their doings in the waning days of 2010. Uncle Mo won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in about as devastating a fashion as possible. Even with that, the runner-up, Boys At Tosconova, might still be considered one of the favorites, although his absence from the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Sunday at Gulfstream is considered a glaring one. To Honor And Serve's victory in the Remsen last fall stamped him as one to definitely consider, although the way that runner-up Mucho Macho Man disappointed at Gulfstream yesterday might lessen that victory a tad. The West Coast is not without its candidates either with CashCall Futurity winner, Comma To The Top, and Sham Stakes winner, Tapizar, considered in the vanguard.
This weekend DID produce some new faces to the Kentucky Derby picture, mainly in the southeast. Machen, trained by Neil Howard, repeated his devastating maiden victory in an Allowance score at Fair Grounds, winning by a widening five lengths and paying a salty $2.10 to win. The horse that ran second to Machen in the maiden race, the Al Stall-trained Sour, broke the maiden at less than even-money on Monday at Fair Grounds. It is my opinion that one of those two horses will likely be the winner of the Louisiana Derby, if not complete the Risen Star-Louisiana Derby double. Nick Zito might have another solid Derby candidate in Dialed In, who came from well off the pace to run past everyone and win the Holy Bull. His style seems reminiscent of Zito's 2010 Derby horse, Ice Box, another stone closer. The runner-up in the Holy Bull was Gourmet Dinner, winner of the Delta Jackpot late in 2010 to clinch a spot in the gate at Churchill Downs. All he did yesterday was re-establish his credentials as a possible Derby horse with a respectable second-place that makes one think his poor effort in the CashCall was likely caused either by the artificial surface or the interminable wait he experienced in the saddling paddock.
I just rattled off ten possible Derby candidates in two paragraphs and it is likely that in the next 96 days, we will see one or more establish themselves as chalk for the Roses, one or more disappear from the Derby Road without leaving an oil slick, and several more step up from the background and make their cases most emphatically. 96 days seems like forever, but believe me, it will go by before you know it.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
This weekend DID produce some new faces to the Kentucky Derby picture, mainly in the southeast. Machen, trained by Neil Howard, repeated his devastating maiden victory in an Allowance score at Fair Grounds, winning by a widening five lengths and paying a salty $2.10 to win. The horse that ran second to Machen in the maiden race, the Al Stall-trained Sour, broke the maiden at less than even-money on Monday at Fair Grounds. It is my opinion that one of those two horses will likely be the winner of the Louisiana Derby, if not complete the Risen Star-Louisiana Derby double. Nick Zito might have another solid Derby candidate in Dialed In, who came from well off the pace to run past everyone and win the Holy Bull. His style seems reminiscent of Zito's 2010 Derby horse, Ice Box, another stone closer. The runner-up in the Holy Bull was Gourmet Dinner, winner of the Delta Jackpot late in 2010 to clinch a spot in the gate at Churchill Downs. All he did yesterday was re-establish his credentials as a possible Derby horse with a respectable second-place that makes one think his poor effort in the CashCall was likely caused either by the artificial surface or the interminable wait he experienced in the saddling paddock.
I just rattled off ten possible Derby candidates in two paragraphs and it is likely that in the next 96 days, we will see one or more establish themselves as chalk for the Roses, one or more disappear from the Derby Road without leaving an oil slick, and several more step up from the background and make their cases most emphatically. 96 days seems like forever, but believe me, it will go by before you know it.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, January 28, 2011
The $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic
The Sunshine Millions is Saturday afternoon at Gulfstream and Santa Anita. It will match up some of the finest Florida and California-breds in training right now in a series of six races, three at each racetrack. The highlight of the Gulfstream card is the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic, which will consist of ten Florida-breds led by morning line favorite, First Dude. None of the races in the Sunshine Millions are graded and in fact, there is only one graded race on the docket on Saturday, one that doesn't really interest me that much, so let's take a look at the Sunshine Millions Classic:
The top choice is 12-1 shot, #4 Black Hills. Black Hills should benefit from what promises to be a hot pace in the Classic from First Dude, Tackleberry, and Birdrun. It is my thought that those three will burn each other out and set things up for a nice closer to get up and take it late. Black Hills is my choice to do exactly that. He managed to do that job nicely in his last nine races in New Mexico, finishing either first or third in each of them. Don't be fooled by the fact that these races were in New Mexico. I think that Mine That Bird proved that racing in the Land Of Enchantment has come a long way in a short period of time. For second, I will use the morning-line choice, #1 First Dude. I find it interesting that despite the number of excellent races this colt put forth in 2010, he has not won since breaking the maiden at Gulfstream Park on January 30. That's right, the Preakness runner-up and third-place finisher in races like the Grade 1 Travers, Grade 1 Haskell, and even the Belmont Stakes, is still eligible for non-winners of two. Of the expected speed horses in this race, I think he might be the most apt to sit back off the pace a touch and try to make a middle move for the lead, but that still be not be enough to hold off the cavalry here. John Velazquez rides the third choice in here, #10 Honour The Deputy. The grey gelding has not raced since a victory at one mile at Laurel. He has won three times in four lifetime starts and has that come-from-behind running style which should work in this spot. I do find it odd that this horse trained up to this race at Santa Anita before shipping east for it. This will be his first start for new trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. For fourth, I will use #5 Birdrun, a Bill Mott trainee making his first start of 2011. His last two workouts were bullets and his last win at Calder in a state-restricted stakes race was impressive and he defeated some of those he will be facing here. Here is the play for the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic:
$5 WP #4
$1 EX BOX 1-4-5-9-10
TOTAL- $30
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
The top choice is 12-1 shot, #4 Black Hills. Black Hills should benefit from what promises to be a hot pace in the Classic from First Dude, Tackleberry, and Birdrun. It is my thought that those three will burn each other out and set things up for a nice closer to get up and take it late. Black Hills is my choice to do exactly that. He managed to do that job nicely in his last nine races in New Mexico, finishing either first or third in each of them. Don't be fooled by the fact that these races were in New Mexico. I think that Mine That Bird proved that racing in the Land Of Enchantment has come a long way in a short period of time. For second, I will use the morning-line choice, #1 First Dude. I find it interesting that despite the number of excellent races this colt put forth in 2010, he has not won since breaking the maiden at Gulfstream Park on January 30. That's right, the Preakness runner-up and third-place finisher in races like the Grade 1 Travers, Grade 1 Haskell, and even the Belmont Stakes, is still eligible for non-winners of two. Of the expected speed horses in this race, I think he might be the most apt to sit back off the pace a touch and try to make a middle move for the lead, but that still be not be enough to hold off the cavalry here. John Velazquez rides the third choice in here, #10 Honour The Deputy. The grey gelding has not raced since a victory at one mile at Laurel. He has won three times in four lifetime starts and has that come-from-behind running style which should work in this spot. I do find it odd that this horse trained up to this race at Santa Anita before shipping east for it. This will be his first start for new trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. For fourth, I will use #5 Birdrun, a Bill Mott trainee making his first start of 2011. His last two workouts were bullets and his last win at Calder in a state-restricted stakes race was impressive and he defeated some of those he will be facing here. Here is the play for the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic:
$5 WP #4
$1 EX BOX 1-4-5-9-10
TOTAL- $30
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Perfect Match
That is what most of the people associated with the two horses in question seem to think. Zenyatta, the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic winner and 2010 Horse Of The Year, will be bred to Bernardini, the 2006 Preakness winner and Champion Three-Year-Old the same season, for her first mating session.
There had been some question as to who the Sire would be for the most famous Dam to come along in many a moon. Bernardini's Sire, A.P. Indy, was given consideration from what I understand, but the connections thought better of a May-December romance for Zenyatta's first foal. In fact, the connections seem to think that Bernardini and Zenyatta fit together nicely. According to the drf.com story on the situation, David Ingordo, advisor to the Mosses, said "There were physical reasons, the two complement each other,” he said, “and there were pedigree reasons, the two complement each other. Everybody agreed.”
Certainly, Bernardini is the logical choice for such a tall order. In the last two years, Bernardini has covered 255 mares with a relatively successful live foal rate, according to The Jockey Club and the drf.com story. His pedigree is impeccable and his racing record nearly so. It will be most interesting to see what this pairing will produce when the time comes. There should be some interest in what the foal will be named. Zendini, Bernardyatta, or maybe Sting will have an idea or two?
It will also be interesting to see who would be next in line for Zenyatta. Certainly, a horse like Tapit has established himself as an outstanding Sire in a relatively brief time, and wouldn't it be a hoot if Blame and Zenyatta were to produce a foal after all the feisty discussion that captivated the racing public since the Breeders' Cup Classic. Certainly, there is a part of me whimsical enough to want to see an all-Moss affair with Giacomo getting his chance to mate with Zenyatta. Whichever way those that make such decisions lean, they must be aware that these decisions are crucial to many racing and Zenyatta fans. If ever anyone earned the title, "The People's Horse", it was the mighty Zenyatta.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
There had been some question as to who the Sire would be for the most famous Dam to come along in many a moon. Bernardini's Sire, A.P. Indy, was given consideration from what I understand, but the connections thought better of a May-December romance for Zenyatta's first foal. In fact, the connections seem to think that Bernardini and Zenyatta fit together nicely. According to the drf.com story on the situation, David Ingordo, advisor to the Mosses, said "There were physical reasons, the two complement each other,” he said, “and there were pedigree reasons, the two complement each other. Everybody agreed.”
Certainly, Bernardini is the logical choice for such a tall order. In the last two years, Bernardini has covered 255 mares with a relatively successful live foal rate, according to The Jockey Club and the drf.com story. His pedigree is impeccable and his racing record nearly so. It will be most interesting to see what this pairing will produce when the time comes. There should be some interest in what the foal will be named. Zendini, Bernardyatta, or maybe Sting will have an idea or two?
It will also be interesting to see who would be next in line for Zenyatta. Certainly, a horse like Tapit has established himself as an outstanding Sire in a relatively brief time, and wouldn't it be a hoot if Blame and Zenyatta were to produce a foal after all the feisty discussion that captivated the racing public since the Breeders' Cup Classic. Certainly, there is a part of me whimsical enough to want to see an all-Moss affair with Giacomo getting his chance to mate with Zenyatta. Whichever way those that make such decisions lean, they must be aware that these decisions are crucial to many racing and Zenyatta fans. If ever anyone earned the title, "The People's Horse", it was the mighty Zenyatta.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Call Me Ismael...
That is the opening line of one of the most famous pieces of American literature ever penned, Moby Dick by Herman Melville. It is the gripping story of Captain Ahab and his constant, fruitless pursuit of The Great White Whale, Moby Dick. Ismael ends up being the lone survivor of the quest of the Pequod at the end of the tale when The Great White Whale destroys the ship and Captain Ahab ends up lashed to the whale to meet his doom.
Well, dear reader, I have my own Moby Dick now. Yes, I am hapless Captain Ahab railing against the devastating force of The Great White Whale that has threatened to become an albatross around my neck. My Moby Dick is the 50-cent Pick Five wager at Turf Paradise, which I believe would double as the Pequod if the comparison is to go to the n-th degree. I have yet to hit this wager despite numerous attempts since its introduction at the start of this current season. I have gotten 4 of 5 I cannot tell you how many times, but of course, never one of those times that it actually pays 4 of 5 and creates a carryover.
My first effort to try and harpoon the whale came early in the season. As a matter of fact, it was the first time it had generated a significant carryover and I had secured the first four races in the sequence and faced a six-horse field, scratched down from a field of nine. I should mention that when I originally handicapped this particular race all the horses I initially would use in the wager ended up scratched, so I reconfigured the last leg before I placed the wager and ended up picking three of the six horses. In addition to the three I had used on my ticket, two of the three I didn't use were paying 4 of 5 for decent returns. My three selections were paying anywhere from $1,500 to $7,000, depending on who won. Of course, the one horse I did not include in the ticket or receive the 4 of 5 consolation from wound up winning the final leg of the Pick Five. I don't know if any of you have ever described to those listening over a public address system yourself NOT winning $3,500 (the amount the Pick Five paid to the horse that won), but I can assure you it is not a pleasant experience.
Since that day, as I have already mentioned, there have been numerous other encounters with near glory with 4 of 5 winners on my ticket. Today was the latest such occurrence. There was a carryover in excess of $7,000 in the Pick Five pool today, so I handicapped and put together a modest ticket using two horses in the first four legs and three in the final leg. This time, I was put out of my misery early as my third choice won the first leg and knocked me out right away. However, my top overall choice won three of the next four legs (including the leg I went three-deep in) and my second choice won the other leg. The Pick Five paid $2,488. Had I went three-deep in the first leg rather than the last leg, I have the winning ticket. Had I singled one of those three top choice winners and spread out in the first leg, I have the winning ticket. I ended up with three top choices, a second choice and a third choice winning and still managed to NOT hit the Pick Five. I am able to rationalize this myself, though, because in that first leg, I thought the two horses I did include in the wager stood out above the field more than the rest, so I am actually comfortable with the fact I didn't go three-deep.
So, dear reader, I am Captain Ahab, lashed to the side of The Great White Whale until the day comes that I finally exact sweet victory from these repeated tales of woe. To paraphrase from another piece of classic American literature, Gone With The Wind, "As God is my witness, I will cash the winning ticket on the Pick Five before the end of the season." I don't care if it pays $4.80 or $4,800, I will hit the Pick Five before Sunday, May 8.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Well, dear reader, I have my own Moby Dick now. Yes, I am hapless Captain Ahab railing against the devastating force of The Great White Whale that has threatened to become an albatross around my neck. My Moby Dick is the 50-cent Pick Five wager at Turf Paradise, which I believe would double as the Pequod if the comparison is to go to the n-th degree. I have yet to hit this wager despite numerous attempts since its introduction at the start of this current season. I have gotten 4 of 5 I cannot tell you how many times, but of course, never one of those times that it actually pays 4 of 5 and creates a carryover.
My first effort to try and harpoon the whale came early in the season. As a matter of fact, it was the first time it had generated a significant carryover and I had secured the first four races in the sequence and faced a six-horse field, scratched down from a field of nine. I should mention that when I originally handicapped this particular race all the horses I initially would use in the wager ended up scratched, so I reconfigured the last leg before I placed the wager and ended up picking three of the six horses. In addition to the three I had used on my ticket, two of the three I didn't use were paying 4 of 5 for decent returns. My three selections were paying anywhere from $1,500 to $7,000, depending on who won. Of course, the one horse I did not include in the ticket or receive the 4 of 5 consolation from wound up winning the final leg of the Pick Five. I don't know if any of you have ever described to those listening over a public address system yourself NOT winning $3,500 (the amount the Pick Five paid to the horse that won), but I can assure you it is not a pleasant experience.
Since that day, as I have already mentioned, there have been numerous other encounters with near glory with 4 of 5 winners on my ticket. Today was the latest such occurrence. There was a carryover in excess of $7,000 in the Pick Five pool today, so I handicapped and put together a modest ticket using two horses in the first four legs and three in the final leg. This time, I was put out of my misery early as my third choice won the first leg and knocked me out right away. However, my top overall choice won three of the next four legs (including the leg I went three-deep in) and my second choice won the other leg. The Pick Five paid $2,488. Had I went three-deep in the first leg rather than the last leg, I have the winning ticket. Had I singled one of those three top choice winners and spread out in the first leg, I have the winning ticket. I ended up with three top choices, a second choice and a third choice winning and still managed to NOT hit the Pick Five. I am able to rationalize this myself, though, because in that first leg, I thought the two horses I did include in the wager stood out above the field more than the rest, so I am actually comfortable with the fact I didn't go three-deep.
So, dear reader, I am Captain Ahab, lashed to the side of The Great White Whale until the day comes that I finally exact sweet victory from these repeated tales of woe. To paraphrase from another piece of classic American literature, Gone With The Wind, "As God is my witness, I will cash the winning ticket on the Pick Five before the end of the season." I don't care if it pays $4.80 or $4,800, I will hit the Pick Five before Sunday, May 8.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Monday, January 24, 2011
Mighty Miesque
With the prominence of Goldikova over the last three years in the Breeders' Cup Mile and the fact that she is now probably the finest horse currently in training in the world, it is ironic that we all learned of the passing of Miesque last week at the age of 27. It is all the more ironic when you consider that Freddie Head, the man that rode Miesque in all but one of her sixteen lifetime starts, is the trainer of Goldikova. That means that Head has been associated with two of the finest distaff milers that we have seen since the advent of the Breeders' Cup in the 1980s.
Miesque was the first horse ever to win the same Breeders' Cup race in back-to-back years, scoring in the Mile in 1987 and 1988. Goldikova is the first horse ever to win the same Breeders' Cup race in three consecutive years, winning the Mile in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The connections between the two are nearly uncanny. You must remember that Miesque was more than just those two straight wins in the Mile. She was maybe the finest miler produced by Europe until her near-doppelganger, Goldikova, came along twenty years later. She lost twice at the distance, it is true, but one of those came over soft going at Longchamp and the other came in the lone race that Head didn't ride her, the 1987 Group I Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, in what was a rare trip outside of France for her. Oddly enough, both of those losses came in the starts immediately preceding her triumphs in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Maybe that is why she entered both of those Cup races as not the betting favorite. In 1987, she cruised to a 3 1/2 length victory, while the favorite, Sonic Lady, ran third. In 1988, she dominated the field and won by four widening lengths in a tour-de-force performance, while the favorite, Warning, ran 11th of twelve starters, one of which was the winner of the Belmont Stakes the year before, Bet Twice. It was a fitting way to put an exclamation point on her magnificent career. By the way, her nearest competition in the 1988 Mile, Steinlen, would return to win the race in 1989.
Here is the link to watch the replay of the 1988 Mile victory by Miesque: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA_itXjfcFw. Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Miesque was the first horse ever to win the same Breeders' Cup race in back-to-back years, scoring in the Mile in 1987 and 1988. Goldikova is the first horse ever to win the same Breeders' Cup race in three consecutive years, winning the Mile in 2008, 2009, and 2010. The connections between the two are nearly uncanny. You must remember that Miesque was more than just those two straight wins in the Mile. She was maybe the finest miler produced by Europe until her near-doppelganger, Goldikova, came along twenty years later. She lost twice at the distance, it is true, but one of those came over soft going at Longchamp and the other came in the lone race that Head didn't ride her, the 1987 Group I Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot, in what was a rare trip outside of France for her. Oddly enough, both of those losses came in the starts immediately preceding her triumphs in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Maybe that is why she entered both of those Cup races as not the betting favorite. In 1987, she cruised to a 3 1/2 length victory, while the favorite, Sonic Lady, ran third. In 1988, she dominated the field and won by four widening lengths in a tour-de-force performance, while the favorite, Warning, ran 11th of twelve starters, one of which was the winner of the Belmont Stakes the year before, Bet Twice. It was a fitting way to put an exclamation point on her magnificent career. By the way, her nearest competition in the 1988 Mile, Steinlen, would return to win the race in 1989.
Here is the link to watch the replay of the 1988 Mile victory by Miesque: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RA_itXjfcFw. Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Fitting Farewell
The Eclipse Awards in Miami on Monday night provided the storybook finish to Zenyatta's career that the racing public was denied at the Breeders' Cup, when she missed out on finishing her career a perfect 20 for 20. Of course, she lost that night to Blame by a head in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
In the final Horse Of The Year balloting, Zenyatta's margin of victory was slightly more substantial than that. She received 128 votes to Blame's 102 votes. The third finalist, Goldikova, received five votes. There were three voters, who returned ballots with no choice for Horse Of The Year, which I cannot fathom for the life of me. It makes me think of members of the Baseball Writers Association of America voters that return blank ballots for the Hall Of Fame in a given year. It is a PRIVILEGE to have a vote for these honors, the very least you could do is have the decency to return a selection.
Granted, in the piece I did where I documented my Eclipse Award thoughts, I begged off on the Steeplechase Division because I had insufficient knowledge of the nominees. If you don't have sufficient knowledge of Zenyatta, Blame, or Goldikova, then really you shouldn't have a vote in the first place.
Getting off of that tangent and back to the main point, Zenyatta is the Horse Of The Year and her connections, owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs, and jockey Mike Smith were all in attendance for the ceremony and they received a well-deserved standing ovation from their contemporaries after the announcement was made. While Zenyatta was also named Champion Older Mare, the Mosses did not win the Owner category (WinStar Farm did) and Shirreffs did not win the Trainer category (Todd Pletcher did). Somehow, I think that all of them were quite content in the aftermath of those individual defeats to go home with the biggest prize of the evening when all was said and done.
If you would like to watch the announcement of Horse Of The Year, here is the link to the DRF website page on the Eclipse Awards: http://www.drf.com/news/zenyatta-takes-horse-year-over-blame.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
In the final Horse Of The Year balloting, Zenyatta's margin of victory was slightly more substantial than that. She received 128 votes to Blame's 102 votes. The third finalist, Goldikova, received five votes. There were three voters, who returned ballots with no choice for Horse Of The Year, which I cannot fathom for the life of me. It makes me think of members of the Baseball Writers Association of America voters that return blank ballots for the Hall Of Fame in a given year. It is a PRIVILEGE to have a vote for these honors, the very least you could do is have the decency to return a selection.
Granted, in the piece I did where I documented my Eclipse Award thoughts, I begged off on the Steeplechase Division because I had insufficient knowledge of the nominees. If you don't have sufficient knowledge of Zenyatta, Blame, or Goldikova, then really you shouldn't have a vote in the first place.
Getting off of that tangent and back to the main point, Zenyatta is the Horse Of The Year and her connections, owners Jerry and Ann Moss, trainer John Shirreffs, and jockey Mike Smith were all in attendance for the ceremony and they received a well-deserved standing ovation from their contemporaries after the announcement was made. While Zenyatta was also named Champion Older Mare, the Mosses did not win the Owner category (WinStar Farm did) and Shirreffs did not win the Trainer category (Todd Pletcher did). Somehow, I think that all of them were quite content in the aftermath of those individual defeats to go home with the biggest prize of the evening when all was said and done.
If you would like to watch the announcement of Horse Of The Year, here is the link to the DRF website page on the Eclipse Awards: http://www.drf.com/news/zenyatta-takes-horse-year-over-blame.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, January 14, 2011
The Grade 2 $150,000 San Fernando Stakes
Unfortunately, the big horse in this year's edition of the Grade 2 San Fernando, Sidney's Candy, has been scratched and will not run. Fortunately, that might make the race a little bit more competitive and bettor friendly since Sidney's Candy would have been an overwhelming favorite in here and likely would have run like it. So, with Sidney's Candy out, where do we go? Here is the analysis:
I will go with the apparent speed horse in this field, the Bob Baffert-trained #1 Tweebster. This horse is currently working a three-race winning streak and while none of those wins have come against anything like he will be facing here, I think he just might steal the whole thing on the front end. The offspring of the current prime Sire, Tapit, might have to contend with the other Baffert trainee in here, but I think that he could be the best one in this field on Saturday. For second, I will select #2 Paris Vegas, who might come running late to inject a price into the proceedings at 15-1 on the morning line here. His race in the Grade 1 Malibu was a disaster, as he finished way behind the track record pace of Twirling Candy that day. However, he stretches back out in distance here and gets Brice Blanc in the saddle. For third, I will AGAIN return to the well and select #6 Thiskyhasnolimit. I was on his side in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and was rebuked. I had him in the mix in the aforementioned Malibu and again denied. I will include him here and make myself feel like that guy that keeps waiting for the girl to out with him (Maybe it's today, Maybe it's today). Thiskyhasnolimit has broken my heart before and I half-expect him to do it again here. Finally, I will go with #5 Do It All, who gets Pat Valenzuela in the saddle on Saturday. The Eoin Harty runner has not actually crossed the finish line first yet in his career, but a win off of a DQ is still a win. The last work on the Cushion track at Hollywood is enough to pique my interest. Here is the play for the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes:
$5 WP #1
$1 EX BOX 1-2-5-6-7
$1 TRI 1 with 2-5-6-7 with 2-5-6-7
TOTAL- $38
Last week's Bet Three at Gulfstream was a total failure, so the loss of $24 there reduces our 2011 profit to $7.40. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
I will go with the apparent speed horse in this field, the Bob Baffert-trained #1 Tweebster. This horse is currently working a three-race winning streak and while none of those wins have come against anything like he will be facing here, I think he just might steal the whole thing on the front end. The offspring of the current prime Sire, Tapit, might have to contend with the other Baffert trainee in here, but I think that he could be the best one in this field on Saturday. For second, I will select #2 Paris Vegas, who might come running late to inject a price into the proceedings at 15-1 on the morning line here. His race in the Grade 1 Malibu was a disaster, as he finished way behind the track record pace of Twirling Candy that day. However, he stretches back out in distance here and gets Brice Blanc in the saddle. For third, I will AGAIN return to the well and select #6 Thiskyhasnolimit. I was on his side in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile and was rebuked. I had him in the mix in the aforementioned Malibu and again denied. I will include him here and make myself feel like that guy that keeps waiting for the girl to out with him (Maybe it's today, Maybe it's today). Thiskyhasnolimit has broken my heart before and I half-expect him to do it again here. Finally, I will go with #5 Do It All, who gets Pat Valenzuela in the saddle on Saturday. The Eoin Harty runner has not actually crossed the finish line first yet in his career, but a win off of a DQ is still a win. The last work on the Cushion track at Hollywood is enough to pique my interest. Here is the play for the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes:
$5 WP #1
$1 EX BOX 1-2-5-6-7
$1 TRI 1 with 2-5-6-7 with 2-5-6-7
TOTAL- $38
Last week's Bet Three at Gulfstream was a total failure, so the loss of $24 there reduces our 2011 profit to $7.40. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
My Eclipse Award Picks
There are 17 Eclipse Awards that will be given out on Monday night, January 17 at the Fountainbleau Hotel in Miami, Florida. Did you know that Jerry Lewis filmed his classic comedy, "The Bellboy" at this hotel? Maybe you don't care, but I figured I would throw that in as a "fun fact". So, without any further ado, here are my selections for 16 of the Eclipse Award categories (I am not familiar enough with the Steeplechase division to make any kind of pick in that category):
Apprentice Jockey: Omar Moreno, who has won more money and more races than any other apprentice in 2010. Those two points outweigh anything else in this category.
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez, who finished 2010 second in wins with 369 and earnings of $17,411,880. That is the most for any jockey in the country. If I am going to base the first selection on this criteria, I feel I should be consistent, especially since Dominguez is second behind a rider not nominated against him and he dominates the toughest circuit in the land in New York.
Breeder: Adena Springs. I know it is in vogue to bash Frank Stronach lately for his management of Magna and the situation that some of this countries most glorious or historic racetracks (Gulfstream, Pimlico, and Santa Anita) find themselves in, however, that should not take away from the fact that the man runs the finest breeding program on the continent. Adena Springs has won this Award the last seven years and I see no reason that it shouldn't be eight straight. Adena Springs horses won 506 races in 2010 and earned $13,369,852 in purse money.
Owner: WinStar Farm gets my selection here over Ann and Jerry Moss. Yes, the Mosses did a wonderful thing bringing Zenyatta back for another campaign, but the pickings after her were a little light for the couple. WinStar won two of the big three in 2010 with Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby and Drosselmeyer in the Belmont Stakes. WinStar was also the leading owner by earnings in North America with $5,183,379.
Trainer: This might actually be the toughest category of the entire program for me, but I will side with Bob Baffert. In all likelihood, Baffert was robbed of another Derby win by the post position draw of Lookin At Lucky, who was the best three-year-old by a long way this year. Baffert also won 124 races from 500 starters and earned $11,103,463 in purses. Baffert also picked up his 2,000th career victory in 2010, which is quite a landmark for any trainer.
Apprentice Jockey: Omar Moreno, who has won more money and more races than any other apprentice in 2010. Those two points outweigh anything else in this category.
Jockey: Ramon Dominguez, who finished 2010 second in wins with 369 and earnings of $17,411,880. That is the most for any jockey in the country. If I am going to base the first selection on this criteria, I feel I should be consistent, especially since Dominguez is second behind a rider not nominated against him and he dominates the toughest circuit in the land in New York.
Breeder: Adena Springs. I know it is in vogue to bash Frank Stronach lately for his management of Magna and the situation that some of this countries most glorious or historic racetracks (Gulfstream, Pimlico, and Santa Anita) find themselves in, however, that should not take away from the fact that the man runs the finest breeding program on the continent. Adena Springs has won this Award the last seven years and I see no reason that it shouldn't be eight straight. Adena Springs horses won 506 races in 2010 and earned $13,369,852 in purse money.
Owner: WinStar Farm gets my selection here over Ann and Jerry Moss. Yes, the Mosses did a wonderful thing bringing Zenyatta back for another campaign, but the pickings after her were a little light for the couple. WinStar won two of the big three in 2010 with Super Saver in the Kentucky Derby and Drosselmeyer in the Belmont Stakes. WinStar was also the leading owner by earnings in North America with $5,183,379.
Trainer: This might actually be the toughest category of the entire program for me, but I will side with Bob Baffert. In all likelihood, Baffert was robbed of another Derby win by the post position draw of Lookin At Lucky, who was the best three-year-old by a long way this year. Baffert also won 124 races from 500 starters and earned $11,103,463 in purses. Baffert also picked up his 2,000th career victory in 2010, which is quite a landmark for any trainer.
Female Sprinter: Dubai Majesty won the big one in this category, the Grade 1 Filly And Mare Sprint on Friday at the Breeders' Cup and she deserves the honors here. She defeated her closest competitor in the division (Champagne D'Oro) at the Breeders' Cup and she even prevailed in an ungraded turf sprint at Monmouth Park. She is a versatile and deserving champion in this division.
Male Sprinter: While Big Drama won the Sprint at the Breeders' Cup, I still feel that Majesticperfection proved he was the better horse when he crushed the entire field (including Big Drama) in the Vanderbilt at Saratoga over the summer. It is not his fault he was injured and denied the chance to finish off what was a championship season. Majesticperfection is my pick.
Female Turf: Goldikova is maybe the most brilliant horse currently running on the planet and to deny her this award simple because she made only one start here is ridiculous. Anyone voting against her for that reason is wrong, in my opinion. Her third straight win in the Breeders' Cup Mile was maybe the most impressive of the three and she gets the edge in here.
Male Turf: You know it strikes me as odd that many of the same scribes who won't vote for Zenyatta for Horse Of The Year because it isn't a lifetime achievement award are going to vote for Gio Ponti here. I don't get that because he really didn't impress in 2010, winning just twice and not being super awesome either time. I actually think Winchester's season was better and he beat Gio Ponti to boot in the Manhattan.
Older Female: Zenyatta, do I really need to go on?
Older Male: Blame, see Zenyatta comment above.
Three-Year-Old Female: Blind Luck won the Kentucky Oaks, the Alabama, and ran second behind the older Unrivaled Belle in the Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic. She beat her closest rival in the division, Havre De Grace, every time they met save one. Blind Luck is the deserving selection here.
Three-Year-Old Male: I know what I said about Majesticperfection's injury not costing him my vote earlier, however, I still go with Lookin At Lucky over Eskendereya. Lookin At Lucky was the Champion Two-Year-Old coming in and had a magnificent 2010, winning the Preakness, Haskell, Indiana Derby, and running a strong fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic. He never seemed to run a really poor race all year and he gets my selection.
Two-Year-Old Female: Awesome Feather went six for six in 2010 and won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. There really is no alternative to picking her here.
Two-Year-Old Male: Uncle Mo won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in dominating fashion, a performance that stamped him as the early favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby to run over the same track in May. By the way, he drilled his closest competition for this honor (Boys At Tosconova) in the Juvenile. No contest, Uncle Mo wins.
Horse Of The Year: I have already made my feelings for the category known in a previous post. I am picking Zenyatta and I really don't care if you think I am a bozo or not for doing it. I don't care that she lost by a head (or less) to Blame in the Classic. For all she did for racing and for coming as close to perfect as anyone ever could, Zenyatta is the Horse Of The Year.
There will be no post on Thursday since I am going to enjoy a Hockey Night In Arizona. Tune in again on Friday for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Martha's Oaklawn Preview
Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas will be starting its 2011 racing season this Friday afternoon and their always-entertaining meeting will last through April 16. Terry Thompson was the leading rider in 2010 and Steve Asmussen was the leading trainer last year. Both will be on hand to try and repeat those titles. SureBet Racing News' Martha Claussen has a preview of the 2011 Oaklawn season in the latest issue of the magazine. Here is the link to read the article, starting on Page 5:
http://www.surebetracingnews.com/Newspaper_pdf/SureBet_1-11-2011_final.pdf
Hopefully, everyone will have a profitable and enjoyable season at Oaklawn Park. Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
http://www.surebetracingnews.com/Newspaper_pdf/SureBet_1-11-2011_final.pdf
Hopefully, everyone will have a profitable and enjoyable season at Oaklawn Park. Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, January 07, 2011
A Gulfstream Park Bet Three
There are two Stakes races on the Gulfstream Park program Saturday afternoon and they are separated by a very competitive turf race in the middle, so that tells me that we need to investigate a Pick Three (or as Gulfstream calls it, The Bet Three) on races 7, 8, and 9 from Hallandale on Saturday. Here is a brief look at each of the three races and the horses that will be used for the wager:
Race 7- The $100,000 Spectacular Bid- Named for the 1979 Derby and Preakness winner (not to mention the 1980 Horse Of The Year), this is a six-furlong sprint that should feature quite a bit of speed. The top pick is #5 Leave Of Absence, who is coming off of a Beyer figure of 94 in his last go, a maiden breaking six-furlong win at Aqueduct on November 10. He went the six furlongs in 1:09.2 that day. I also like #1 Winchill, who gets Johnny Velazquez aboard and whose two wins were both at six furlongs, #7 Dual Exhauzt, who posted a 93 Beyer at Calder last time out and you cannot discount those Calder horses anywhere they go anymore, and #8 Cane Garden Bay, who is 8-1 on the morning line and ran in a route Grade 2 at Churchill Downs last out behind Santiva, who was one of my Three To Watch in 2011.
Race 8- Optional Claimer on Turf (1 Mile)- This could be quite the difficult spot to trip up on in this sequence. The top selection in this one will be #11 Vanquisher, who is entering this easier spot (based on his recent races) out of Stakes company, running third in the Diliberto at Fair Grounds. He has two blistering Tampa workouts entering this try today. I also like #5 Rogue Victory, who has been off since the Saratoga summer season, but he has been working lights out also recently. I don't think you can ignore#4 Guys Reward, who might end of going off as the favorite in this one. He ran third in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Churchill Downs in November over the turf there and gets Kent Desormeaux up Saturday. I am also going to include #8 Saint Dynaformer, who won last out with Paco Lopez aboard and looks to live to leave out at 12-1 on the morning line, #6 Jimmy Simms, who could steal it on the front end with Eibar Coa, and #10 Asphalt, who won in a similar situation at Gulfstream almost one year to the day.
Race 9- The Grade 3 $100,000 Hal's Hope- I think this could shape up a couple of ways. Either the speed of the speed (Morning Line) is going to run the other speed (Tackleberry and Rule) into the ground and win going away or the closers are going to make this very interesting when they hit the finish. I am going to side with Situation A here and single #3 Morning Line in the Bet Three. I just think he is going to be far too classy for these when it counts on Saturday.
Here is the Bet Three play on Races 7-9 at Gulfstream Park on Saturday:
$1 BET THREE: 1-5-7-8 with 4-5-6-8-10-11 with 3
TOTAL- $24
By the way, this year I will be tracking profit and loss on these suggested wagers. So far for 2011, the blog shows a profit of $31.40. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Race 7- The $100,000 Spectacular Bid- Named for the 1979 Derby and Preakness winner (not to mention the 1980 Horse Of The Year), this is a six-furlong sprint that should feature quite a bit of speed. The top pick is #5 Leave Of Absence, who is coming off of a Beyer figure of 94 in his last go, a maiden breaking six-furlong win at Aqueduct on November 10. He went the six furlongs in 1:09.2 that day. I also like #1 Winchill, who gets Johnny Velazquez aboard and whose two wins were both at six furlongs, #7 Dual Exhauzt, who posted a 93 Beyer at Calder last time out and you cannot discount those Calder horses anywhere they go anymore, and #8 Cane Garden Bay, who is 8-1 on the morning line and ran in a route Grade 2 at Churchill Downs last out behind Santiva, who was one of my Three To Watch in 2011.
Race 8- Optional Claimer on Turf (1 Mile)- This could be quite the difficult spot to trip up on in this sequence. The top selection in this one will be #11 Vanquisher, who is entering this easier spot (based on his recent races) out of Stakes company, running third in the Diliberto at Fair Grounds. He has two blistering Tampa workouts entering this try today. I also like #5 Rogue Victory, who has been off since the Saratoga summer season, but he has been working lights out also recently. I don't think you can ignore#4 Guys Reward, who might end of going off as the favorite in this one. He ran third in the Grade 3 Commonwealth at Churchill Downs in November over the turf there and gets Kent Desormeaux up Saturday. I am also going to include #8 Saint Dynaformer, who won last out with Paco Lopez aboard and looks to live to leave out at 12-1 on the morning line, #6 Jimmy Simms, who could steal it on the front end with Eibar Coa, and #10 Asphalt, who won in a similar situation at Gulfstream almost one year to the day.
Race 9- The Grade 3 $100,000 Hal's Hope- I think this could shape up a couple of ways. Either the speed of the speed (Morning Line) is going to run the other speed (Tackleberry and Rule) into the ground and win going away or the closers are going to make this very interesting when they hit the finish. I am going to side with Situation A here and single #3 Morning Line in the Bet Three. I just think he is going to be far too classy for these when it counts on Saturday.
Here is the Bet Three play on Races 7-9 at Gulfstream Park on Saturday:
$1 BET THREE: 1-5-7-8 with 4-5-6-8-10-11 with 3
TOTAL- $24
By the way, this year I will be tracking profit and loss on these suggested wagers. So far for 2011, the blog shows a profit of $31.40. Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Martha's 2010 Bloopers
Martha Claussen of SureBet Racing News is a frequent contributor to this blog and the time has come for her look back at 2010. Specifically, her look back at what went wrong in 2010. Her bloopers and blunders article in this month's edition of SureBet Racing News starts on Page 7 of the following link, enjoy!
http://www.surebetracingnews.com/Newspaper_pdf/SureBet_1-4-2011-final.pdf
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
http://www.surebetracingnews.com/Newspaper_pdf/SureBet_1-4-2011-final.pdf
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Monday, January 03, 2011
Behind The Bagel
A couple of my friends e-mailed me a message last week detailing the NHC Tour Handicapping Contest scheduled for Sunday afternoon and advised me to sign up to play. I like to think of myself as at least an adequate handicapper, so I ponied up my $45 (down from $100 last year) and signed up for the NHC Tour. After all, I have the same dreams that many of you do of going to Las Vegas and winning the National Handicapping Championship myself.
Having done that, I took out my copy of the Sunday Racing Form and started to handicap the ten necessary races for the contest from Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, and Santa Anita. I actually took the time to also check out the weather for New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles to see if any precipitation was expected for those areas on Sunday and got down to business. My previous handicapping tournament experience is limited to say the least. I have participated in just two live tournaments (one at The Orleans in Las Vegas and one at Louisiana Downs) and have dabbled only here and there online. I determined that I would use a mixed strategy of favorites and longshots to try and at least make sure I was on the board at some point and would be able to avoid the embarrassment of going oh-fer, while still taking the approach of looking for an available price to try and pad the bankroll.
The first race in the contest was one of those races I elected to take a chance on to start the contest with a big shot. The horse that came out with the best figure according to my handicapping was #6 Three In The Bag. However, I thought the #9 End Of The Gulch had a chance to spring the upset and used him instead. I was feeling good about things at the top of the stretch when the #9 took the lead, only to quickly feel my stomach turn when the #6 surged on past and went on to win, paying $9.10 to win and $3.80 to place. No matter, it was just the first race and there was plenty of more action to come. Have you ever heard of the term "a harbinger of things to come"? Well, there couldn't have been a more glaring example of this as race after race passed and I was getting nothing for my efforts. The worst of the worst from my perspective came in the third race of the contest, the sixth of the day from The Big A. I used the #10 Pin as my selection and he was actually bet down from the morning-line of 8-1 to a still reasonable 6-1. The favorite, #1 Fuhrlang, dug in to win a neat stretch duel with the second-place finisher, #8 Pegasus Papou at 66-1. I have an annoying habit of looking back at the past performances to see what I missed in my handicapping after a particular race and I did that here. To my horror, I finally noticed that #8 Pegasus Papou had finished AHEAD of my selection the last time the two horses faced each other. I normally look for things like that when I handicap and had missed that and missed a chance to get a $37.40 place payoff for that #8 horse or whatever the payoff would have been capped at. It was at this point that I realized what I was up against on Sunday.
Essentially, it went from bad to worse as the day progressed. The sixth race of the contest, I selected a nice 15-1 shot from the Fair Grounds, #6 Birdie Beats Par. I watched as that one ran a good third behind the impressive win of #4 Machen. Third place means bupkus when you are in a contest that pays win and place only. I even inhaled poor Katie Mikolay into my afternoon of misfortune. She had selected the same horse I liked in the ninth race of the contest at Fair Grounds as a possible longshot candidate, #14 Bud Is Choice. She didn't pick it to win, but she did have it to hit the board. Needless to say, #14 is still running and searching for the finish line at Fair Grounds. Katie, I can only offer my sincere apologies for gathering you up as an unsuspecting victim in this miserable vortex.
So, for all of my mighty efforts, I ended up with a big, fat zero as my total for the contest. That's right, a zero, not one win or place, nothing. I finished in a multiple tie for 1,372nd place with my colossal earnings of zero with the rest of the schmoes who got nothing and liked it. Does this dissuade me from trying again? Do I feel like I wasted my $45 for joining the NHC Tour? Absolutely not on both counts. I will be back in there plugging again, just like any handicapper who has an atrocious day at the track and with any luck (and maybe a 4-5 shot here and there), I will lift myself out of the abyss. It was fun to focus on some other races while I was busy calling races and trying to hit the Pick 5 at Turf Paradise (getting 4 out of 5 for the 8,000,000th time this meet, I might add). I can't wait to do it again and I am sure that every last one of those other schmoes stuck at zero feels the same way I do.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Having done that, I took out my copy of the Sunday Racing Form and started to handicap the ten necessary races for the contest from Aqueduct, Fair Grounds, and Santa Anita. I actually took the time to also check out the weather for New York, New Orleans, and Los Angeles to see if any precipitation was expected for those areas on Sunday and got down to business. My previous handicapping tournament experience is limited to say the least. I have participated in just two live tournaments (one at The Orleans in Las Vegas and one at Louisiana Downs) and have dabbled only here and there online. I determined that I would use a mixed strategy of favorites and longshots to try and at least make sure I was on the board at some point and would be able to avoid the embarrassment of going oh-fer, while still taking the approach of looking for an available price to try and pad the bankroll.
The first race in the contest was one of those races I elected to take a chance on to start the contest with a big shot. The horse that came out with the best figure according to my handicapping was #6 Three In The Bag. However, I thought the #9 End Of The Gulch had a chance to spring the upset and used him instead. I was feeling good about things at the top of the stretch when the #9 took the lead, only to quickly feel my stomach turn when the #6 surged on past and went on to win, paying $9.10 to win and $3.80 to place. No matter, it was just the first race and there was plenty of more action to come. Have you ever heard of the term "a harbinger of things to come"? Well, there couldn't have been a more glaring example of this as race after race passed and I was getting nothing for my efforts. The worst of the worst from my perspective came in the third race of the contest, the sixth of the day from The Big A. I used the #10 Pin as my selection and he was actually bet down from the morning-line of 8-1 to a still reasonable 6-1. The favorite, #1 Fuhrlang, dug in to win a neat stretch duel with the second-place finisher, #8 Pegasus Papou at 66-1. I have an annoying habit of looking back at the past performances to see what I missed in my handicapping after a particular race and I did that here. To my horror, I finally noticed that #8 Pegasus Papou had finished AHEAD of my selection the last time the two horses faced each other. I normally look for things like that when I handicap and had missed that and missed a chance to get a $37.40 place payoff for that #8 horse or whatever the payoff would have been capped at. It was at this point that I realized what I was up against on Sunday.
Essentially, it went from bad to worse as the day progressed. The sixth race of the contest, I selected a nice 15-1 shot from the Fair Grounds, #6 Birdie Beats Par. I watched as that one ran a good third behind the impressive win of #4 Machen. Third place means bupkus when you are in a contest that pays win and place only. I even inhaled poor Katie Mikolay into my afternoon of misfortune. She had selected the same horse I liked in the ninth race of the contest at Fair Grounds as a possible longshot candidate, #14 Bud Is Choice. She didn't pick it to win, but she did have it to hit the board. Needless to say, #14 is still running and searching for the finish line at Fair Grounds. Katie, I can only offer my sincere apologies for gathering you up as an unsuspecting victim in this miserable vortex.
So, for all of my mighty efforts, I ended up with a big, fat zero as my total for the contest. That's right, a zero, not one win or place, nothing. I finished in a multiple tie for 1,372nd place with my colossal earnings of zero with the rest of the schmoes who got nothing and liked it. Does this dissuade me from trying again? Do I feel like I wasted my $45 for joining the NHC Tour? Absolutely not on both counts. I will be back in there plugging again, just like any handicapper who has an atrocious day at the track and with any luck (and maybe a 4-5 shot here and there), I will lift myself out of the abyss. It was fun to focus on some other races while I was busy calling races and trying to hit the Pick 5 at Turf Paradise (getting 4 out of 5 for the 8,000,000th time this meet, I might add). I can't wait to do it again and I am sure that every last one of those other schmoes stuck at zero feels the same way I do.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Grade 3 $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap
The graded stakes races for the weekend didn't look too great from a handicapping or making money perspective outside of South Florida, so we go to Calder to try our luck on the main track in the Grade 3 $100,000 Stage Door Betty Handicap. Also on the card on Saturday is the Grade 3 Tropical Park Derby, but we'll stick to the main track and not worry about the turf on Saturday. Here is the analysis:
From what I can tell, there just doesn't seem to be a tremendous amount of pace in this race, so I will go with what appears to the best of the speed and #5 Amazing. She has not been to the races since getting run down at this distance in an ungraded Handicap at Calder on November 13. Elvis Trujillo takes over the ride for trainer Marty Wolfson here. This mare has been in the top two in nine of her eleven lifetime tries at Calder Race Course. For second, I will go with the horse that ran down the top pick on November 13 in #10 Joanie's Catch. She followed up that victory at Calder with a fourth place in the Grade 1 Gazelle at Aqueduct on November 27. Given that information, I find it slightly curious that she is a generous 10-1 on the morning line. I would think that number will be lower at post time. Her last work on December 26 was a strong half-mile in 49 and 2/5 seconds. For third, I will use the likely favorite, #4 Funny Moon. She has been running in graded company all year, including facing the likes of Life At Ten, Acoma, and Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner, Unrivaled Belle. Alan Garcia rides this mare that is winless in her last five, but was up for the last victory in the Grade 2 Shuvee at Belmont Park in mid-May. Finally, I will ride the hot horse with #1 Toocleverforwords. She won her last two starts before the break in October at Calder, including the Cinnamon Girl with a 99 Beyer speed figure. Luis Saez has ridden this horse four times and all four have resulted in either first or second place finishes for this classy mare. Here is the play for the Grade 3 Stage Door Betty Handicap:
$5 WP #5
$1 EX BOX 1-4-5-8-10
$1 TRI 5-10 with 5-10 with 1-4-6-8
TOTAL- $38
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and a safe one as well. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
From what I can tell, there just doesn't seem to be a tremendous amount of pace in this race, so I will go with what appears to the best of the speed and #5 Amazing. She has not been to the races since getting run down at this distance in an ungraded Handicap at Calder on November 13. Elvis Trujillo takes over the ride for trainer Marty Wolfson here. This mare has been in the top two in nine of her eleven lifetime tries at Calder Race Course. For second, I will go with the horse that ran down the top pick on November 13 in #10 Joanie's Catch. She followed up that victory at Calder with a fourth place in the Grade 1 Gazelle at Aqueduct on November 27. Given that information, I find it slightly curious that she is a generous 10-1 on the morning line. I would think that number will be lower at post time. Her last work on December 26 was a strong half-mile in 49 and 2/5 seconds. For third, I will use the likely favorite, #4 Funny Moon. She has been running in graded company all year, including facing the likes of Life At Ten, Acoma, and Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic winner, Unrivaled Belle. Alan Garcia rides this mare that is winless in her last five, but was up for the last victory in the Grade 2 Shuvee at Belmont Park in mid-May. Finally, I will ride the hot horse with #1 Toocleverforwords. She won her last two starts before the break in October at Calder, including the Cinnamon Girl with a 99 Beyer speed figure. Luis Saez has ridden this horse four times and all four have resulted in either first or second place finishes for this classy mare. Here is the play for the Grade 3 Stage Door Betty Handicap:
$5 WP #5
$1 EX BOX 1-4-5-8-10
$1 TRI 5-10 with 5-10 with 1-4-6-8
TOTAL- $38
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and a safe one as well. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
ESPN Eclipse
No, ESPN and Bristol, Connecticut aren't passing between the Earth and the Sun. ESPN actually has been awarded an Eclipse Award For Live Racing Programming for their two-day coverage of the Breeders' Cup World Championships at Churchill Downs this November.
Quite a lot, of course, happened during the two days of racing, including the big upsets by Shared Account and Dakota Phone, the Life At Ten debacle involving her not being scratched as should have, Golidkova winning her third Breeders' Cup Mile in a row, Uncle Mo stamping himself as the favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby, the front-running triumph of Big Drama, the near-miss of Zenyatta and, of course, the brawl between bug-eyed Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano. ESPN was right on top of everything for the two days and they are to be congratulated for both their coverage and the honors that it received. Now, if only, they could expand that coverage to include more racing during the year, but I guess that is only wishful thinking. By the way, it is worth mentioning that ESPN won the same award in 2009 for their coverage of the Belmont Stakes.
HRTV also deserves some kudos for an Eclipse Award For Television Feature for their documentary of Swale, the 1984 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, who tragically died within days of winning the 'Test Of Champions". This is third win for HRTV in this category, having notched the hardware in both 2006 and 2008.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Quite a lot, of course, happened during the two days of racing, including the big upsets by Shared Account and Dakota Phone, the Life At Ten debacle involving her not being scratched as should have, Golidkova winning her third Breeders' Cup Mile in a row, Uncle Mo stamping himself as the favorite for the 2011 Kentucky Derby, the front-running triumph of Big Drama, the near-miss of Zenyatta and, of course, the brawl between bug-eyed Calvin Borel and Javier Castellano. ESPN was right on top of everything for the two days and they are to be congratulated for both their coverage and the honors that it received. Now, if only, they could expand that coverage to include more racing during the year, but I guess that is only wishful thinking. By the way, it is worth mentioning that ESPN won the same award in 2009 for their coverage of the Belmont Stakes.
HRTV also deserves some kudos for an Eclipse Award For Television Feature for their documentary of Swale, the 1984 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, who tragically died within days of winning the 'Test Of Champions". This is third win for HRTV in this category, having notched the hardware in both 2006 and 2008.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Monday, December 27, 2010
Horse Of The Year
I have stated numerous times on this blog that I do not have a vote for Horse Of The Year. However, that fact does not prevent me from offering my opinion on who should be Horse Of The Year. Firstly, I think there are only three legitimate candidates for the award: Blame, Goldikova, and Zenyatta. Oddly enough, each of these three candidates have something in common: they each lost once in 2010. Blame finished behind Haynesfield in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup, Goldikova finishes behind Makfi in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois, and Zenyatta finished behind Blame in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic.
To begin with, I will address the candidacy of Goldikova since I think she might have the most working against her. She did something no other horse has ever done in 2010, she completed a three-peat of victories in the same race in the Breeders' Cup, turning the trick in the Mile once again at Churchill Downs. Her closing kick in the Mile was one of the more tantalizing sights of the Saturday card of racing in the Cup, as she ate up the ground and drove past Gio Ponti, The Usual Q.T., and everyone else to win under a perfect ride from Olivier Peslier. However, that was her only start in America, and while she did win at three different distances in 2010 (seven furlongs, one mile, and one mile and one eighth), I just don't think she is in the same class as the other two candidates for Horse Of The Year this year.
Next is Blame, who most observers seem to think will win the award. He started in five races this year and is the only one of the three candidates to run with less than Grade or Group 1 company, winning the Grade 3 Schaefer at Pimlico on Preakness day to kickstart his season. From there, Blame was a force in every race he ran in sans one. He ran down Battle Plan to win the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, he ran down Quality Road to win the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga, he won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic by holding off the best horse we might have seen in the last ten years to score by a scant nose. However, he was absolutely trounced by Haynesfield in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Haynesfield was able to set the pace and win by a convincing margin that day and while it is true that Haynesfield was among those beaten by Blame in the Classic, it is also true that the Classic just did not set up for Haynesfield's style and his bid was doomed from the start.
Finally, we have Zenyatta. She ran six times in 2010 and won five them, all with Grade 1 company. I know that the competition didn't always merit Grade 1 consideration, but those are the facts. She ran over five different racetracks in 2010 and several different types of surface (Pro-ride, Cushion, Polytrack, and conventional dirt). She tackled all comers until the last race and she lost by the narrowest and bitterest of margins. Her other conventional dirt race resulted in her tremendous win in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, a race her connections still sent her to even after the defection of the horse we all wanted her to face, Rachel Alexandra. She provided us with heart-wrenching excitement in nearly every other race she ran in, whether it was running down a gritty St. Trinians in the Grade 1 Vanity at Hollywood or doing the same to Switch in the Grade 1 Lady's Secret during the Oak Tree meeting at the same racetrack.
I think we also need to evaluate what Zenyatta has done for the entire sport of racing over the past year. She was profiled on "60 Minutes", she was featured by Oprah Winfrey as one of the "Women Of The Year", she created an atmosphere around her every time she went to the track that no horse has been able to replicate since the days of Secretariat. I think it might be true that even if you didn't bet a nickel on Zenyatta, you inevitably found yourself rooting for her.
In the final analysis, does her losing by a nose to Blame devalue all those other accomplishments she blessed us with in 2010? Does Blame getting drilled by Haynesfield outweigh the fact that he managed to defeat Zenyatta on the biggest stage the game has to offer? As I said earlier, I don't have a vote for Horse Of The Year, but if I had one I would give it to Zenyatta. She was clearly the Horse Of The Year in everyone's heart and she also was the Horse Of The Year at the racetrack. The devoted fans she has proved it every time she went out to do what she did and I think that even in defeat, she gave us her greatest performance of all twenty of her starts.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
To begin with, I will address the candidacy of Goldikova since I think she might have the most working against her. She did something no other horse has ever done in 2010, she completed a three-peat of victories in the same race in the Breeders' Cup, turning the trick in the Mile once again at Churchill Downs. Her closing kick in the Mile was one of the more tantalizing sights of the Saturday card of racing in the Cup, as she ate up the ground and drove past Gio Ponti, The Usual Q.T., and everyone else to win under a perfect ride from Olivier Peslier. However, that was her only start in America, and while she did win at three different distances in 2010 (seven furlongs, one mile, and one mile and one eighth), I just don't think she is in the same class as the other two candidates for Horse Of The Year this year.
Next is Blame, who most observers seem to think will win the award. He started in five races this year and is the only one of the three candidates to run with less than Grade or Group 1 company, winning the Grade 3 Schaefer at Pimlico on Preakness day to kickstart his season. From there, Blame was a force in every race he ran in sans one. He ran down Battle Plan to win the Grade 1 Stephen Foster at Churchill Downs, he ran down Quality Road to win the Grade 1 Whitney at Saratoga, he won the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic by holding off the best horse we might have seen in the last ten years to score by a scant nose. However, he was absolutely trounced by Haynesfield in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Haynesfield was able to set the pace and win by a convincing margin that day and while it is true that Haynesfield was among those beaten by Blame in the Classic, it is also true that the Classic just did not set up for Haynesfield's style and his bid was doomed from the start.
Finally, we have Zenyatta. She ran six times in 2010 and won five them, all with Grade 1 company. I know that the competition didn't always merit Grade 1 consideration, but those are the facts. She ran over five different racetracks in 2010 and several different types of surface (Pro-ride, Cushion, Polytrack, and conventional dirt). She tackled all comers until the last race and she lost by the narrowest and bitterest of margins. Her other conventional dirt race resulted in her tremendous win in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, a race her connections still sent her to even after the defection of the horse we all wanted her to face, Rachel Alexandra. She provided us with heart-wrenching excitement in nearly every other race she ran in, whether it was running down a gritty St. Trinians in the Grade 1 Vanity at Hollywood or doing the same to Switch in the Grade 1 Lady's Secret during the Oak Tree meeting at the same racetrack.
I think we also need to evaluate what Zenyatta has done for the entire sport of racing over the past year. She was profiled on "60 Minutes", she was featured by Oprah Winfrey as one of the "Women Of The Year", she created an atmosphere around her every time she went to the track that no horse has been able to replicate since the days of Secretariat. I think it might be true that even if you didn't bet a nickel on Zenyatta, you inevitably found yourself rooting for her.
In the final analysis, does her losing by a nose to Blame devalue all those other accomplishments she blessed us with in 2010? Does Blame getting drilled by Haynesfield outweigh the fact that he managed to defeat Zenyatta on the biggest stage the game has to offer? As I said earlier, I don't have a vote for Horse Of The Year, but if I had one I would give it to Zenyatta. She was clearly the Horse Of The Year in everyone's heart and she also was the Horse Of The Year at the racetrack. The devoted fans she has proved it every time she went out to do what she did and I think that even in defeat, she gave us her greatest performance of all twenty of her starts.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, December 24, 2010
The Grade 1 $250,000 Malibu Stakes
Dirt racing returns to Southern California starting on Sunday with the opening of the new meeting at Santa Anita. Their traditional Boxing Day opener has their traditional feature on it in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs. A field of eleven will go postward with some very compelling runners, including some from the Breeders' Cup, Triple Crown, and some more lightly raced than the others. Here is the analysis for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes:
I will select the horse I think might be the speed of the speed in the Malibu with #11 Smiling Tiger, who drew the far outside post position, which all in all might not be a bad thing here. He has not run since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, less than two lengths behind the winner, Big Drama. That race was run on conventional dirt, which was the first experience he had on such a surface. He also posted a strong, six-furlong bullet workout on December 12, going the distance in 1:12.2 at Golden Gate. Speaking of Golden Gate, Russell Baze is in to ride Smiling Tiger. For second, I will go with a horse I fancied in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile that did not live up to my expectations, #3 Thiskyhasnolimit. The Asmussen trainee ran seventh at Churchill Downs and lost ground in the stretch after being close to a hotly-contested pace at the top of the stretch. Things should be a little more spread out here and I think if you can get the morning-line of 12-1 with Asmussen and rider Garrett Gomez, you have to take it. For third, I will go with the inexperienced #2 Alcindor. The Bob Baffert trainee is undefeated in two starts, breaking the maiden during the Oak Tree meeting at Hollywood at six furlongs and then coming back to win during the regular Hollywood meet at seven furlongs, today's distance. Rafael Bejarano was up for the seven-furlong score, which was by a daunting margin of seven and a half lengths. The colt is well-bred with Unbridled on the top side and Storm Cat on the bottom side. Finally, I will go with #4 Caracortado to round out the top four selections. Caracortado was one of the Southern California contingent for the Triple Crown earlier this year. He ended up running seventh in the Preakness after being somewhat close to the pace. He took time off after the Preakness and came back in a turf sprint at Hollywood Park, which he won on November 11. Joe Talamo was up for that win on the turf and gets the call again here. He posted a quick, seven-furlong workout, going the distance in 1:23. Here is the play for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes:
$5 WP #11
$1 EX BOX 2-3-11
$1 TRI 11 with 2-3-4-9 with 2-3-4-9
TOTAL- $28
They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. They Are Off wishes all of you a very Merry Christmas. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
I will select the horse I think might be the speed of the speed in the Malibu with #11 Smiling Tiger, who drew the far outside post position, which all in all might not be a bad thing here. He has not run since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, less than two lengths behind the winner, Big Drama. That race was run on conventional dirt, which was the first experience he had on such a surface. He also posted a strong, six-furlong bullet workout on December 12, going the distance in 1:12.2 at Golden Gate. Speaking of Golden Gate, Russell Baze is in to ride Smiling Tiger. For second, I will go with a horse I fancied in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile that did not live up to my expectations, #3 Thiskyhasnolimit. The Asmussen trainee ran seventh at Churchill Downs and lost ground in the stretch after being close to a hotly-contested pace at the top of the stretch. Things should be a little more spread out here and I think if you can get the morning-line of 12-1 with Asmussen and rider Garrett Gomez, you have to take it. For third, I will go with the inexperienced #2 Alcindor. The Bob Baffert trainee is undefeated in two starts, breaking the maiden during the Oak Tree meeting at Hollywood at six furlongs and then coming back to win during the regular Hollywood meet at seven furlongs, today's distance. Rafael Bejarano was up for the seven-furlong score, which was by a daunting margin of seven and a half lengths. The colt is well-bred with Unbridled on the top side and Storm Cat on the bottom side. Finally, I will go with #4 Caracortado to round out the top four selections. Caracortado was one of the Southern California contingent for the Triple Crown earlier this year. He ended up running seventh in the Preakness after being somewhat close to the pace. He took time off after the Preakness and came back in a turf sprint at Hollywood Park, which he won on November 11. Joe Talamo was up for that win on the turf and gets the call again here. He posted a quick, seven-furlong workout, going the distance in 1:23. Here is the play for the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes:
$5 WP #11
$1 EX BOX 2-3-11
$1 TRI 11 with 2-3-4-9 with 2-3-4-9
TOTAL- $28
They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. They Are Off wishes all of you a very Merry Christmas. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Lone Star Derby
The Lone Star Derby will not look the same when its 2011 renewal is run on May 30. First of all, it was one of the races that the Graded Stakes Committee downgraded from a Grade 3 to an ungraded race. Now, the race will be run on the turf for the first time ever. Each of the previous renewals of the Lone Star Derby took place on the dirt track.
That date is something new as well. Normally, the Lone Star Derby filled the open weekend between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. This year, the Lone Star Derby will be part of the Lone Star Million Day card, which is part of the Memorial Day weekend. Ironically enough, two other races on the Million Day program are graded. The Grade 3 $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap and the Grade 3 $200,000 Ouija Board Handicap are both part of the richest single-day program during the Lone Star Park meeting.
Lone Star Park's meeting begins on April 14 and will go through July 10. Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
That date is something new as well. Normally, the Lone Star Derby filled the open weekend between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. This year, the Lone Star Derby will be part of the Lone Star Million Day card, which is part of the Memorial Day weekend. Ironically enough, two other races on the Million Day program are graded. The Grade 3 $300,000 Lone Star Park Handicap and the Grade 3 $200,000 Ouija Board Handicap are both part of the richest single-day program during the Lone Star Park meeting.
Lone Star Park's meeting begins on April 14 and will go through July 10. Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Three To Watch For 2011
At the end of 2009, I offered up a list of three horses to watch in 2010. One of those was Blame, who in all likelihood, will be voted Horse Of The Year. The others were Rachel Alexandra and Piscitelli. Rachel couldn't possibly hope to match her 2009 season and as for Piscitelli, well, you can't be right all the time. It is in this spirit that I now offer my three horses to watch in 2011.
#1- Dancinginherdreams- I thought her win at Churchill Downs during the two-year-old Stars Of Tomorrow program in the Grade 2 Pocahantas was one of the more visually impressive wins by a two-year-old this year. She won that race by over five lengths and if Julien Leparoux had not geared her down near the end, she could have won by much more. Her Sire is Tapit, who is just turning out to be the "bomb" when it comes to recent Sires. There are so many horses of consequence coming along in recent days from Tapit that he is moving quickly to the top of the available Sire list. I, for one, will be watching Dancinginherdreams' development during what should be a spectacular three-year-old campaign.
#2- Santiva- It is entirely possible that Santiva could be the real deal as the Derby Fever season starts to rear its head. Santiva was a most impressive winner in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on November 27 at Churchill Downs. He prevailed in a draining stretch duel with the more fancied Astrology and Major Gain in that race and I found his grit in not being denied the victory to be an admirable quality. The only downside to Santiva I can see is the rider for that win was Shaun Bridgmohan, who I admit I have never been a large fan of. The Sire of Santiva is Giant's Causeway, who was a darn strong racehorse and has proven to be a darn strong Sire.
#3- Blind Luck- She was clearly the best three-year-old filly in the land this year and she has a crack rival in Havre De Grace. Blind Luck won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and the Grade 1 Alabama in 2010 and she was second in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, behind Unrivaled Belle. She might be the kind of horse to step into the Older Mare void left by the departures of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta going forward. Yes, I think she is just going to be that good the longer she continues her career. I also hope Havre De Grace sticks around because it would be nice for these two to square off several more times and develop a rivalry that racing might be able to hang its hat on.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
#1- Dancinginherdreams- I thought her win at Churchill Downs during the two-year-old Stars Of Tomorrow program in the Grade 2 Pocahantas was one of the more visually impressive wins by a two-year-old this year. She won that race by over five lengths and if Julien Leparoux had not geared her down near the end, she could have won by much more. Her Sire is Tapit, who is just turning out to be the "bomb" when it comes to recent Sires. There are so many horses of consequence coming along in recent days from Tapit that he is moving quickly to the top of the available Sire list. I, for one, will be watching Dancinginherdreams' development during what should be a spectacular three-year-old campaign.
#2- Santiva- It is entirely possible that Santiva could be the real deal as the Derby Fever season starts to rear its head. Santiva was a most impressive winner in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on November 27 at Churchill Downs. He prevailed in a draining stretch duel with the more fancied Astrology and Major Gain in that race and I found his grit in not being denied the victory to be an admirable quality. The only downside to Santiva I can see is the rider for that win was Shaun Bridgmohan, who I admit I have never been a large fan of. The Sire of Santiva is Giant's Causeway, who was a darn strong racehorse and has proven to be a darn strong Sire.
#3- Blind Luck- She was clearly the best three-year-old filly in the land this year and she has a crack rival in Havre De Grace. Blind Luck won the Grade 1 Las Virgenes, Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks and the Grade 1 Alabama in 2010 and she was second in the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic, behind Unrivaled Belle. She might be the kind of horse to step into the Older Mare void left by the departures of Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta going forward. Yes, I think she is just going to be that good the longer she continues her career. I also hope Havre De Grace sticks around because it would be nice for these two to square off several more times and develop a rivalry that racing might be able to hang its hat on.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, December 17, 2010
The Grade 1 $750,000 CashCall Futurity
In 2009, a little ol' horse named Lookin At Lucky rebounded from a disappointing loss in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile to come back and win the CashCall Futurity to wrap up a Champion Two-Year-Old season. Lucky should be named the Champion Three-Year-Old of 2010 following his wins in the Preakness and Haskell and a fourth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Saturday is the 2010 edition of the CashCall Futurity and the question is will one of the ten in this field stand out quite like Lookin At Lucky did this year. Of course, that question is for the future, the question for Saturday is who do you like? Here is the analysis of the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity:
My top pick will be #2 J.P.'s Gusto, who enters this race off of a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. That was this one's first-ever race over a non-synthetic surface, which he returns to here. His five-furlong workout on December 14 was promising. Joe Talamo gets the ride on Saturday. For second, I will use #10 Comma To The Top. He was a winner on the turf last time out in the Grade 3 Generous at Hollywood and I am always fond of the turf-to-dirt switch. The gelding's win streak has now reached four, including the Real Quiet at this distance. Corey Nakatani was up for the last two wins and is aboard again in the Futurity. The upset winner of the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot was #7 Gourmet Dinner, who scored a win at Delta Downs at 20-1. He is already in the field for the Kentucky Derby with those graded earnings, but I find it admirable of the connections that they are continuing to campaign him for improvement. He has never been worse than second in five lifetime starts, but this might be the toughest spot of his career thus far. He could be the most interesting horse in the gate on Saturday. For fourth, I will throw a 20-1 morning-line horse in with #8 Riveting Reason. The offspring of 2000 Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus, broke the maiden at Hollywood last time out at this distance on November 25. However, he also ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, finishing a well-beaten eighth. He also could be sitting pretty if there is any kind of speed duel ahead of him in here. Here is the play for the CashCall Futurity:
$5 WP #2
$5 EX BOX #2+ #10
$1 TRI 2-10 with 2-10 with 5-6-7-8
TOTAL- $28
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these picks. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
My top pick will be #2 J.P.'s Gusto, who enters this race off of a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs. That was this one's first-ever race over a non-synthetic surface, which he returns to here. His five-furlong workout on December 14 was promising. Joe Talamo gets the ride on Saturday. For second, I will use #10 Comma To The Top. He was a winner on the turf last time out in the Grade 3 Generous at Hollywood and I am always fond of the turf-to-dirt switch. The gelding's win streak has now reached four, including the Real Quiet at this distance. Corey Nakatani was up for the last two wins and is aboard again in the Futurity. The upset winner of the Grade 3 Delta Jackpot was #7 Gourmet Dinner, who scored a win at Delta Downs at 20-1. He is already in the field for the Kentucky Derby with those graded earnings, but I find it admirable of the connections that they are continuing to campaign him for improvement. He has never been worse than second in five lifetime starts, but this might be the toughest spot of his career thus far. He could be the most interesting horse in the gate on Saturday. For fourth, I will throw a 20-1 morning-line horse in with #8 Riveting Reason. The offspring of 2000 Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus, broke the maiden at Hollywood last time out at this distance on November 25. However, he also ran in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, finishing a well-beaten eighth. He also could be sitting pretty if there is any kind of speed duel ahead of him in here. Here is the play for the CashCall Futurity:
$5 WP #2
$5 EX BOX #2+ #10
$1 TRI 2-10 with 2-10 with 5-6-7-8
TOTAL- $28
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these picks. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Mack Miller
Racing lost one of its finest people when Hall Of Fame trainer Mack Miller passed away last week at the age of 89. Miller's most famous victory came in 1993 when he finally got his long-awaited Kentucky Derby victory with Sea Hero. That Derby win was not only the first for Miller, but also the first for owner Paul Mellon and the first for jockey Jerry Bailey.
Mellon owned Rokeby Stables, which had become renowned worldover for their Thoroughbred exploits. Rokeby owned Mill Reef, who won both the Epsom Derby and the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe in 1971. Miller took over as the Rokeby trainer in the mid-1970s and the pair proved to be quite successful. Miller would be inducted into the Horse Racing Hall Of Fame in 1987 for his excellent work throughout his training career, which started in 1950, with horses like Snow Knight and Fit To Fight, who is the last horse to win the New York Handicap Triple Crown (Metropolitan, Suburban and Brooklyn) in 1984. Fit To Fight would join a nice horse named Kelso on the list of Handicap Triple winners.
However, the 1993 Derby is the bit of nostalgia that capped off Miller's career. He finally won the Roses after 43 years as a trainer. He eventually retired from training two years after the historic Derby win. To watch the 1993 Kentucky Derby, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geL5IHZKAmQ.
Tune in again this week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Mellon owned Rokeby Stables, which had become renowned worldover for their Thoroughbred exploits. Rokeby owned Mill Reef, who won both the Epsom Derby and the Prix de L'Arc de Triomphe in 1971. Miller took over as the Rokeby trainer in the mid-1970s and the pair proved to be quite successful. Miller would be inducted into the Horse Racing Hall Of Fame in 1987 for his excellent work throughout his training career, which started in 1950, with horses like Snow Knight and Fit To Fight, who is the last horse to win the New York Handicap Triple Crown (Metropolitan, Suburban and Brooklyn) in 1984. Fit To Fight would join a nice horse named Kelso on the list of Handicap Triple winners.
However, the 1993 Derby is the bit of nostalgia that capped off Miller's career. He finally won the Roses after 43 years as a trainer. He eventually retired from training two years after the historic Derby win. To watch the 1993 Kentucky Derby, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geL5IHZKAmQ.
Tune in again this week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Fab Four Races Of 2010
The 2010 racing season was one of remarkable highs and one of remarkable lows, much like any of the racing seasons that preceded it. The one race that all sports fans recognize, the Kentucky Derby, was run over a quagmire at Churchill Downs for the second straight year, and for the second straight year, Calvin Borel was aboard the soggy champion. However, in my opinion, the Derby didn't qualify for me as one of the Fab Four Races Of 2010. Here are the four that do:
#4- The Arlington Million- Gio Ponti had won the Arlington Million in 2009 and was trying to become the first horse in the history of the event to win it in back-to-back years. For a while in the Chicago stretch, he appeared that he was going to accomplish the feat. Then. Debussy, who looked as if he was defeated at the top of the stretch, suddenly burst through the rail in the stretch and ran down the defending champion, Gio Ponti, to get up and win in the shadow of the wire. It was a magnificent performance by the European invader and his rider, William Buick. To watch the 2010 Arlington Million, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnaJ99ckUY.
#3- The Tampa Bay Derby- This was the race that the eventual Kentucky Derby champion, Super Saver, used as his key prep for the big day in May. However, the story of this race was the three-horse photo finish that came at the end of it. Super Saver was there with Schoolyard Dreams and Odysseus. In fact, Super Saver would end up in the third position behind the other two. Odysseus appeared defeated on the far turn, only to re-rally and run down Schoolyard Dreams for the victory in a photo finish that I still cannot believe that Odysseus was the winner of. Sadly, Odysseus would not survive the summer. He was euthanized in August for complications from laminitis. Still, he provided the most memorable prep race of the 2010 Kentucky Derby season. To watch the 2010 Tampa Bay Derby, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr98xT193IE.
#2- The Preakness Stakes- I wrote about this race not too long ago when the connections of the winner, soon-to-be Three-Year-Old Champion Male Lookin At Lucky, announced his retirement. Lookin At Lucky had all kinds of bad luck through the spring, culminating with his disaster in the Derby. Trainer Bob Baffert, however, knew that he had the horse primed for a big effort two weeks later in the Preakness. Certainly in recent years if anyone knows when his horse is going to run a big race during the Triple Crown, it is Bob Baffert. However, the best race of the day came from Jackson Bend, who would end up third. When you watch the replay, watch Jackson Bend and see what he had to overcome just to get to where he finished. It was a noble effort. To watch the 2010 Preakness Stakes, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPJFs24BeDA.
#1- The Breeders' Cup Classic- Anyone that knows anything about anything knew this one was going to be in the top spot. It became a de facto race for Horse Of The Year between Blame and Zenyatta. Zenyatta was so far behind early on that many people felt she was going to be pulled up, but she gathered herself and gave us a race for the ages. It has been said that her greatest performance came in the one race she did not win. I think that might be accurate, but Blame's performance was pretty darn great as well. Which one deserves to be Horse Of The Year? Well, each only finished behind one horse all year. However, while Blame finished behind Haynesfield in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (whom he subsequently dusted in this Classic), Zenyatta finished behind Blame. I am just thankful that I don't have a vote in this election. I still think that it is absolutely too close to call when it comes to Horse Of The Year. To watch the replay of the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Et15M6wsPo.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
#4- The Arlington Million- Gio Ponti had won the Arlington Million in 2009 and was trying to become the first horse in the history of the event to win it in back-to-back years. For a while in the Chicago stretch, he appeared that he was going to accomplish the feat. Then. Debussy, who looked as if he was defeated at the top of the stretch, suddenly burst through the rail in the stretch and ran down the defending champion, Gio Ponti, to get up and win in the shadow of the wire. It was a magnificent performance by the European invader and his rider, William Buick. To watch the 2010 Arlington Million, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKnaJ99ckUY.
#3- The Tampa Bay Derby- This was the race that the eventual Kentucky Derby champion, Super Saver, used as his key prep for the big day in May. However, the story of this race was the three-horse photo finish that came at the end of it. Super Saver was there with Schoolyard Dreams and Odysseus. In fact, Super Saver would end up in the third position behind the other two. Odysseus appeared defeated on the far turn, only to re-rally and run down Schoolyard Dreams for the victory in a photo finish that I still cannot believe that Odysseus was the winner of. Sadly, Odysseus would not survive the summer. He was euthanized in August for complications from laminitis. Still, he provided the most memorable prep race of the 2010 Kentucky Derby season. To watch the 2010 Tampa Bay Derby, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jr98xT193IE.
#2- The Preakness Stakes- I wrote about this race not too long ago when the connections of the winner, soon-to-be Three-Year-Old Champion Male Lookin At Lucky, announced his retirement. Lookin At Lucky had all kinds of bad luck through the spring, culminating with his disaster in the Derby. Trainer Bob Baffert, however, knew that he had the horse primed for a big effort two weeks later in the Preakness. Certainly in recent years if anyone knows when his horse is going to run a big race during the Triple Crown, it is Bob Baffert. However, the best race of the day came from Jackson Bend, who would end up third. When you watch the replay, watch Jackson Bend and see what he had to overcome just to get to where he finished. It was a noble effort. To watch the 2010 Preakness Stakes, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPJFs24BeDA.
#1- The Breeders' Cup Classic- Anyone that knows anything about anything knew this one was going to be in the top spot. It became a de facto race for Horse Of The Year between Blame and Zenyatta. Zenyatta was so far behind early on that many people felt she was going to be pulled up, but she gathered herself and gave us a race for the ages. It has been said that her greatest performance came in the one race she did not win. I think that might be accurate, but Blame's performance was pretty darn great as well. Which one deserves to be Horse Of The Year? Well, each only finished behind one horse all year. However, while Blame finished behind Haynesfield in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (whom he subsequently dusted in this Classic), Zenyatta finished behind Blame. I am just thankful that I don't have a vote in this election. I still think that it is absolutely too close to call when it comes to Horse Of The Year. To watch the replay of the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Et15M6wsPo.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Grade 1 $300,000 Hollywood Starlet
Hollywood Park during the next two weeks will have races for the younger set, this Saturday is the Hollywood Starlet and next Saturday is the CashCall Futurity. The Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet presents what promises to be an interesting field of eight. The two favorites will be coming from different routes to getting to this point. Turbulent Descent is 2-1 on the morning line after two career starts, both wins, but both at sprinting distances. Tell A Kelly is 5-2 and was the hot horse in California late in the summer after her explosive victory in Grade 1 Darley Debutante. Subsequently, she failed to menace in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, where she ran seventh. Here is the analysis of the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet:
My top selection in the race will be #3 May Day Rose. The Bob Baffert trainee is 2 for 3 in her career and unlike so many of her counterparts in this field, she has a win at the distance. She accomplished that in the ungraded Sharp Cat over this Hollywood oval. Her last two workouts have been bullets. The only fault I can find with her is that she might end up in a speed duel with the horse directly to her inside. She almost arrived in that spot for me by default since the longest race most of the other contenders in here I can find is seven furlongs. In fact, that was the distance of the last race for #5 Turbulent Descent. She is unbeaten in two tries and worked a quick five furlongs six days ago. I think she will be a deserving favorite. I just have an issue selecting a horse at short odds to do something she has never done before. 1992 BC Classic winner, A.P. Indy, is present on the Sire side. Therefore, one would think the distance would not be a tremendous issue. I just want to see her do it before I commit my cash. This race might set up for a big race from #7 Zazu, who ran 2nd to Turbulent Descent in the Moccasin last time out. She might be able to sit off the pace and strike if that pace duel I referenced earlier falls apart. Of course, she lost ground to Turbulent Descent in that Moccasin race and ended up a length and a half behind her. For fourth, I will restore my faith in #8 Tell A Kelly. I was all over her in the Darley Debutante at nearly 5-1. Her loss to Rigoletta in the Oak Leaf was more the fault of the jockey than anything else. I tend to throw out the Breeders' Cup race due to a wide trip and a wild jockey (Calvin Borel in the aftermath of the fight). She has a recent bullet workout and gets Joel Rosario to take the mount. I think she might be poised for a nice effort. One thing Tell A Kelly shares with Zazu is the same Sire, Tapit, who has impressed thus far in his post-racing career. Here is the play for the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet:
$10 WP #3
$1 TRI 3-5 with 3-5 with 2-7-8
TOTAL $26
As always, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
My top selection in the race will be #3 May Day Rose. The Bob Baffert trainee is 2 for 3 in her career and unlike so many of her counterparts in this field, she has a win at the distance. She accomplished that in the ungraded Sharp Cat over this Hollywood oval. Her last two workouts have been bullets. The only fault I can find with her is that she might end up in a speed duel with the horse directly to her inside. She almost arrived in that spot for me by default since the longest race most of the other contenders in here I can find is seven furlongs. In fact, that was the distance of the last race for #5 Turbulent Descent. She is unbeaten in two tries and worked a quick five furlongs six days ago. I think she will be a deserving favorite. I just have an issue selecting a horse at short odds to do something she has never done before. 1992 BC Classic winner, A.P. Indy, is present on the Sire side. Therefore, one would think the distance would not be a tremendous issue. I just want to see her do it before I commit my cash. This race might set up for a big race from #7 Zazu, who ran 2nd to Turbulent Descent in the Moccasin last time out. She might be able to sit off the pace and strike if that pace duel I referenced earlier falls apart. Of course, she lost ground to Turbulent Descent in that Moccasin race and ended up a length and a half behind her. For fourth, I will restore my faith in #8 Tell A Kelly. I was all over her in the Darley Debutante at nearly 5-1. Her loss to Rigoletta in the Oak Leaf was more the fault of the jockey than anything else. I tend to throw out the Breeders' Cup race due to a wide trip and a wild jockey (Calvin Borel in the aftermath of the fight). She has a recent bullet workout and gets Joel Rosario to take the mount. I think she might be poised for a nice effort. One thing Tell A Kelly shares with Zazu is the same Sire, Tapit, who has impressed thus far in his post-racing career. Here is the play for the Grade 1 Hollywood Starlet:
$10 WP #3
$1 TRI 3-5 with 3-5 with 2-7-8
TOTAL $26
As always, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Here We Go!!
One of the more visually stunning performances on Breeders' Cup Saturday at Churchill Downs this year came in the Juvenile, when Uncle Mo just kept pulling away from Boys At Tosconova and posted a crushing, four and a quarter length victory to stamp his claim as the Champion Two-Year-Old for 2010. His trainer, Todd Pletcher, finally got the Derby Donut off his resume' in 2010 with Super Saver for WinStar Farm. It certainly appears highly possible that Pletcher could make it 2 for 2 under the Repole Stable flag.
Uncle Mo is now in Florida to begin his preparation for the 2011 Triple Crown campaign. While Pletcher is undecided as to where Mo will make his 2011 debut, you can bet it will probably be in the Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream or the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Tampa might make sense for Pletcher since that is the race Super Saver came out of last year to win the Roses. Granted, he didn't actually win the Tampa Bay Derby, but he DID win the one that mattered in May. Also, remember that the last Juvenile winner at Churchill Downs, Street Sense, didn't return to the races until Tampa and he eventually won the Roses as well. For the record, the date of the Tampa Bay Derby is March 12.
As far as on the track, the next round for the top two-year-olds on the West Coast comes on December 18, when Hollywood Park offers up the CashCall Futurity. In case you don't remember, that race was won last year by the expected Champion Three-Year-Old Male, Lookin At Lucky.
Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Uncle Mo is now in Florida to begin his preparation for the 2011 Triple Crown campaign. While Pletcher is undecided as to where Mo will make his 2011 debut, you can bet it will probably be in the Grade 2 Fountain Of Youth at Gulfstream or the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Tampa might make sense for Pletcher since that is the race Super Saver came out of last year to win the Roses. Granted, he didn't actually win the Tampa Bay Derby, but he DID win the one that mattered in May. Also, remember that the last Juvenile winner at Churchill Downs, Street Sense, didn't return to the races until Tampa and he eventually won the Roses as well. For the record, the date of the Tampa Bay Derby is March 12.
As far as on the track, the next round for the top two-year-olds on the West Coast comes on December 18, when Hollywood Park offers up the CashCall Futurity. In case you don't remember, that race was won last year by the expected Champion Three-Year-Old Male, Lookin At Lucky.
Tune in tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Best In Sprint
One of the more interesting divisions that Eclipse Award voters may have to consider in 2010 is the Champion Sprinter of the Year. Clearly, the late season winner was Big Drama, who turned in a magnificent front-running performance in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs. It turned out to also be a tremendous ride from Eibar Coa in the Sprint for Big Drama. He realized that he might get swallowed up by the speed of the speed down on the rail, so he gunned Big Drama to the front and stayed off the rail. Big Drama turned in a quarter-mile of 21.34 seconds, which is quick, but if you watch the replay, he didn't have any challengers right with him pressing him. It was somewhat of an easy lead, if you can have an easy lead racing against the world's fastest horses. The half was covered in 44.55 seconds, so the middle frame resulted in about as much of a breather as you could get in the Sprint. The final time turned out to be a credible 1:09.05. To watch the replay of the Breeders' Cup Sprint, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-qp_D5cidI.
However, how good does that performance make Majesticperfection's performance at Saratoga look in the summer? Majesticperfection quite simply toyed with Big Drama and many other top sprinters in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap, winning that race by nearly three lengths in 1:08.63. Majesticperfection was subsequently retired after suffering a fracture during a workout not too long after the rout in the Vanderbilt. Keep in mind that Majesticperfection did exactly what Big Drama in the Sprint, seizing the lead right away and never looking back. The other thing to consider here is that Majesticperfection went 22.80 for the quarter and 45.60 for the half, exactly the same time for each of the first two stanzas. The final quarter of the Vanderbilt is really where Majesticperfection stakes his claim for any end of the season honors. He actually got faster as the race went on. I think that adds quite a bit to the impressiveness of the performance. The one argument you can make against Majesticperfection is that he carried four pounds less than his main competitors in the Vanderbilt. There might also be something to be said for actually being around for the big dance at the end of the season, but I tend not to want to penalize a horse for an injury. To watch the replay of the Vanderbilt Handicap, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beKmX4HSM7s.
Watch both races and then make up your mind. I think if Majesticperfection had been able to last to the Breeders' Cup, he would have made the race a great deal more interesting. Would he have gone out with Big Drama and created a speed duel that either went down in history or a speed duel that causes someone to close from the clouds and win with a majestic close? It is my thought that Big Drama will likely receive the accolades at the end of the year, but I also think Majesticperfection should not be forgotten.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
However, how good does that performance make Majesticperfection's performance at Saratoga look in the summer? Majesticperfection quite simply toyed with Big Drama and many other top sprinters in the Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap, winning that race by nearly three lengths in 1:08.63. Majesticperfection was subsequently retired after suffering a fracture during a workout not too long after the rout in the Vanderbilt. Keep in mind that Majesticperfection did exactly what Big Drama in the Sprint, seizing the lead right away and never looking back. The other thing to consider here is that Majesticperfection went 22.80 for the quarter and 45.60 for the half, exactly the same time for each of the first two stanzas. The final quarter of the Vanderbilt is really where Majesticperfection stakes his claim for any end of the season honors. He actually got faster as the race went on. I think that adds quite a bit to the impressiveness of the performance. The one argument you can make against Majesticperfection is that he carried four pounds less than his main competitors in the Vanderbilt. There might also be something to be said for actually being around for the big dance at the end of the season, but I tend not to want to penalize a horse for an injury. To watch the replay of the Vanderbilt Handicap, here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beKmX4HSM7s.
Watch both races and then make up your mind. I think if Majesticperfection had been able to last to the Breeders' Cup, he would have made the race a great deal more interesting. Would he have gone out with Big Drama and created a speed duel that either went down in history or a speed duel that causes someone to close from the clouds and win with a majestic close? It is my thought that Big Drama will likely receive the accolades at the end of the year, but I also think Majesticperfection should not be forgotten.
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Friday, December 03, 2010
The Grade 2 $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap
Hollywood Park will be the center of the racing world on Sunday due to the retirement ceremony for the great Zenyatta. She will be paraded by the grandstand for the final time before she heads off to her second career as a broodmare at Lane's End Farm. The feature event at Hollywood on Sunday is the Grade 2 $150,000 Bayakoa Handicap. This is a race named for a horse that stands as one of a very short list of horses that have won the same Breeders' Cup race in consecutive years. Of course, the second of those triumphs was overshadowed by tragedy when Go For Wand broke down in the stretch drive, marring what had promised to be a legendary edition of the Distaff. However, Bayakoa's accomplishments should not be lessened because of those tragic circumstances. She was a great racehorse in her day and this race is a fitting tribute to her.
This is a tough race to settle on a win with, especially given the fact that Zenyatta's trainer is part of the connections of one horse I like and her jockey is aboard the other horse I like. I will go with the defending champion here, trained by John Shirreffs, #3 Zardana. She was ridden to victory in this race last year by Victor Espinoza and he gets the call again here. I expect her to rebound nicely after a disappointing trip to Keeneland and a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Spinster. She is back in familiar surroundings and if you look at her past performances, you will notice some of the names she has run against. Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Unrivaled Belle, St. Trinians, Life Is Sweet are on the list of her competitors. It is certainly not a bad resume'. For second, I will go with her neighbor, #4 Silver Swallow. Her Sire is 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Alphabet Soup. Mike Smith rides her on Sunday and it is worth noting that Silver Swallow has never missed the money in eleven lifetime starts at Hollywood Park. That includes an Allowance win with Smith aboard in July and a third in the Playa Del Rey last time out on November 14. My third choice will be #8 Lady Railrider. She has been top three in 18 of 21 lifetime appearances, but this will be some tall cotton she is facing here. She posted two scorching bullet workouts within a week of each other at Golden Gate, at five and six furlongs respectively. She also should be comfortable with this distance given her recent history. Finally, I will put #6 Sweet August Moon in the fourth spot. Joel Rosario gets the riding assignment Sunday. This mare ran fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Sprint on November 5 and was passing horses at the end despite a wide trip. She was a winner in the Grade 2 A Gleam at Hollywood Park back in July at 13-1. Here is the play for the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap:
$5 WP #3
$1 EX BOX 3-4-6-8
$1 TRI 3-4 with 3-4 with 5-6-7-8
TOTAL- $30
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
This is a tough race to settle on a win with, especially given the fact that Zenyatta's trainer is part of the connections of one horse I like and her jockey is aboard the other horse I like. I will go with the defending champion here, trained by John Shirreffs, #3 Zardana. She was ridden to victory in this race last year by Victor Espinoza and he gets the call again here. I expect her to rebound nicely after a disappointing trip to Keeneland and a ninth-place finish in the Grade 1 Spinster. She is back in familiar surroundings and if you look at her past performances, you will notice some of the names she has run against. Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Unrivaled Belle, St. Trinians, Life Is Sweet are on the list of her competitors. It is certainly not a bad resume'. For second, I will go with her neighbor, #4 Silver Swallow. Her Sire is 1996 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Alphabet Soup. Mike Smith rides her on Sunday and it is worth noting that Silver Swallow has never missed the money in eleven lifetime starts at Hollywood Park. That includes an Allowance win with Smith aboard in July and a third in the Playa Del Rey last time out on November 14. My third choice will be #8 Lady Railrider. She has been top three in 18 of 21 lifetime appearances, but this will be some tall cotton she is facing here. She posted two scorching bullet workouts within a week of each other at Golden Gate, at five and six furlongs respectively. She also should be comfortable with this distance given her recent history. Finally, I will put #6 Sweet August Moon in the fourth spot. Joel Rosario gets the riding assignment Sunday. This mare ran fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly And Mare Sprint on November 5 and was passing horses at the end despite a wide trip. She was a winner in the Grade 2 A Gleam at Hollywood Park back in July at 13-1. Here is the play for the Grade 2 Bayakoa Handicap:
$5 WP #3
$1 EX BOX 3-4-6-8
$1 TRI 3-4 with 3-4 with 5-6-7-8
TOTAL- $30
Remember, They Are Off accepts no responsibility for any wagers placed in conjunction with these selections. They are merely suggestions. Tune in again next week for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Dakota Phone
Perhaps there was no more stunning result on Breeders' Cup day than the one that is pictured here. Calm down, Zenyatta fans, after all, Blame WAS the second choice in the wagering in the Classic. However, Dakota Phone's triumph in the Dirt Mile at odds of 37-1 was an epic upset. He was obviously ignored by the betting public and ran down one of the top contenders in Morning Line to win an incredibly close victory. He went last-to-first to do and triggered outlandish exotic payouts like an $816 exacta, a $6,634 trifecta, and a $36,883 superfecta (by the way, that last one translates to $3,688 for the 10-center).
Dakota Phone will return to the racetrack for the first time since that shocking victory on Saturday afternoon at Hollywood Park in the Grade 3 Native Diver Handicap. This race will be a little different for Dakota Phone than the Breeders' Cup score was. First of all, the Native Diver will be run at 1 1/8 miles. Secondly, he will be the high weight in the field carrying 123 pounds, which is six pounds heavier than the next closest weight (117 pounds for Soul Candy). Finally, the pace of the Dirt Mile was incredibly fast, going a quarter in 22.53 and a half-mile in 44.94. It is highly doubtful that Dakota Phone will have such a maniacal pace to close into in the Native Diver, which could hamper his chances.
It is also worth noting that Dakota Phone has not won back-to-back races since November 2008. So, there will be a lot going against the Dirt Mile winner on Saturday, but then again, how often does a 37-1 shot in the Breeders' Cup not have a lot going against him? He's overcome a seemingly impossible set of circumstances before and done it, why can't he do it on Saturday?
Tune in again tomorrow for more from They Are Off. For right now, I am Gone... GOODBYE!
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