tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-275238912024-03-07T01:52:51.541-05:00SuperfectaBlogBeing the musings of a life-long horse racing fan with too many advanced degreesSuperfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.comBlogger711125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-40726195979422020602010-01-22T11:44:00.002-05:002010-01-22T11:48:20.981-05:00Early Derby Preps & Comebacks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/content/FriesanFireLecomte09LH298.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/content/FriesanFireLecomte09LH298.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
</div>There's local interest in this weekend's Derby preps (and yes, we're officially at that point where just about any race for 3-year-olds can be called a Derby prep) thanks to a horse owned by Rick Porter and trained by Tony Dutrow (aka 'the Dutrow we like'). <b>Winslow Homer</b> is running in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream on Saturday, although Dutrow suggests that the one-mile distance will be a little short for him; <a href="http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20100122_Tony_Dutrow_in_position_to_put_two_horses_in_Kentucky_Derby.html">he told Dick Jerardi</a>:<br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;">"The Holy Bull is not a big deal for me, Mr. Porter or Winslow Homer," Dutrow said. "A one-turn mile is not what Homer wants."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">The goal, he is saying, is much bigger than tomorrow. Dutrow feels confident the colt will excel at two-turn racing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"He is going to come back in the Fountain of Youth at a mile-and-an-eighth in his next start regardless of how he runs in the Holy Bull," Dutrow said.</span><br />
</blockquote>While I'm not enthralled with the top half of the horse's pedigree (he's by <b>Unbridled's Song</b>), I like that he's out of a <b>Summer Squall</b> mare, and I'm always in favor of naming horses after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winslow_Homer">landscape painters</a>. However, he will have plenty to deal with in the form of likely favorite <b>Jackson Bend</b>, who picks up the services of Jeremy Rose. <b>Jackson Bend </b>was <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54939/holy-bull-florida-3yos-get-first-major-test">thoroughly professional</a> as a 2-year-old, winning all but one of his six starts. What remains to be seen is whether his fine form at Calder translates to Gulfstream - and whether he's still 'hot' as a 3-year-old. Rick Dutrow also has a horse in the race, the Maryland-bred <b>Homeboykris</b>; Todd Pletcher (currently <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54970/pletcher-gets-10-day-ban-fine-from-chrb">suspended in California</a>, but that's <i>an entire coast away</i>) trainee <b>Aikenite</b> has also shown talent.<br />
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With son of <b>Azeri</b>/<b>A.P. Indy</b> <b>Take Control</b> <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54942/take-control-off-derby-trail">off the Derby trail</a> (yes, already), those looking for a new horse to back may want to keep an eye on the LeComte at the Fair Grounds. It does not have quite the talent profile of the Holy Bull, but there are a few horses who could demonstrate they <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110268.html">deserve a shot</a> at the next level. <b>Maximus Ruler </b>and <b>Turf Melody</b> are those mostly likely to succeed.<br />
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But it will also be a weekend <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54912/friesan-fire-gen-quarters-make-4yo-debuts">of comebacks</a> - <b>Friesan Fire</b> (pictured) is looking to return to the winner's circle in the Louisiana Handicap, and so is <b>General Quarters</b>. Both had disappointing races in December, but for each horse, it was the first time back after layoffs for injuries. For <b>Friesan Fire</b>, it will be his <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110276.html">second time</a> facing <b>Good and Lucky</b>, who beat him last time out; whether that was, indeed, luck, may be demonstrated on Saturday.<br />
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There's also a Breeders' Cup champion in action this weekend - inaugural Marathon winner <b>Muhannak</b> is attempting to rebound from a terrible year last year in the rescheduled San Marcos at Santa Anita. Coming off a more promising year is <b><a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54971/loup-breton-one-to-beat-in-redrawn-san-marcos">Loup Breton</a></b>; he's an Irish-bred who has faced some <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=678309">serious competition</a> in Europe with varying degrees of success. His first start in the US late last year was a <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/horses/result_home.sd?race_id=497234&r_date=2009-12-27&popup=yes">close second</a> to <b>Proudinsky</b> in the San Gabriel (the somewhat infamous race in which <b>Lava Man</b> finished last). Also worth keeping an eye on <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=696500">is <b>Zappa</b></a>, although he's also been very inconsistent of late - he finished last in his most recent start, back in August - but perhaps the light has gone back on. He did beat <b>Well Armed</b> two years ago, so there's talent in there somewhere. Of course, <a href="http://www.santaanita.com/">the weather</a> will need to improve...Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-66165814643573673272010-01-21T11:36:00.003-05:002010-01-21T11:45:25.998-05:00The Barbaro Family Good News/Bad News<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thoroughbredtimes.com/images/Lentenor-coglianese.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 186px;" src="http://thoroughbredtimes.com/images/Lentenor-coglianese.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>First, the good news; little brother <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lentenor</span> <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54941/barbaros-brother-lentenor-breaks-maiden">broke his maiden impressively</a> at Gulfstream Park yesterday in a 1 1/16 turf race. Granted, he was only facing fellow maidens, but his finish was very nice indeed, noting especially how he pulled away on turf. While it's hardly time to start penciling him in for the Derby, he seems to be improving with each race and we may well be seeing more of him down the line.<br /><br />Now for the <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54955/la-ville-rouge-aborted-for-2010?utm_source=twitter">bad news</a> - if you've spent any time around broodmares, you know things can go wrong at any time - two years ago, a friend bred six mares, got confirmation most of them were in foal, but ended up with only two foals born - and one of them died shortly after birth. Happily, the situation resolved itself last year, with each mare delivering a healthy foal - but the same cannot be said for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Barbaro's</span> dam, <span style="font-weight: bold;">La Ville Rouge</span>, this time around. She <a href="http://twitter.com/TTimes/statuses/8032420297">lost the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dynaformer</span> filly</a> she was carrying just as we are approaching peak foaling season. Full details are forthcoming, but more often than not, it's one of those things that just 'happens' - I've seen a mare lose a foal near her expected due date simply because she had a mild infection, and I've also known a polo pony mare who lost a late-term foal because she got a little too fractious with a handler and ended up damaging the placenta.<br /><br />For small breeders, it can be a huge financial loss (although it's cheaper than losing a foal that did manage to 'stand and nurse') in addition to an emotional one. But as in the case above, things tend to resolve themselves the following year; with a bit of luck (provided all is well with the mare), the hoped-for full sister could appear in 2011.<br /><br />In the meantime, it's certainly encouraging that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lentenor</span> looks promising - but could he beat <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/triplecrowntalk/archive/2010/01/20/could-christine-be-the-next-rachel.aspx">Christine Daae</a>?Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-64844904185800696622010-01-19T11:32:00.006-05:002010-01-19T11:49:22.186-05:00Eclipse Awards: Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta And The Rest<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6y2MbRLrLHYZth-Ro1vFEqc_FRK7LqnfQYGFaGnpf1yPwbXuM0mE3Uk5N08jvhHq0BUUQrXjA_U025S1lQiyqflNDucIrueJKPGwYXWINjiZvH2QRLCMDc_6mRu-c50Ae8BuEA/s1600-h/rachel-alexandra.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP6y2MbRLrLHYZth-Ro1vFEqc_FRK7LqnfQYGFaGnpf1yPwbXuM0mE3Uk5N08jvhHq0BUUQrXjA_U025S1lQiyqflNDucIrueJKPGwYXWINjiZvH2QRLCMDc_6mRu-c50Ae8BuEA/s200/rachel-alexandra.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428492888384574546" border="0" /></a>Last night, they handed out a few awards for horse racing - you may have heard a bit about it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-year-old male: Lookin at Lucky</span><br />As per usual with the juvenile awards, there was no surprise here. His three G1 wins <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54890/champion-2yo-male-lookin-at-lucky">sealed the deal</a>, and he looks to improve this year. We'll soon find out if he likes real dirt, but trainer Bob Baffert seems <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=finley_bill&id=4765462">quite happy</a> with things thus far.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2-year-old filly: She Be Wild</span><br />While this category had a little more competition, <span style="font-weight: bold;">She Be Wild</span> has <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54889/champion-2yo-female-she-be-wild">a good backstory</a> - former claimer, unwanted at auction wins four out of five, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. Both dirt and turf could be <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110201.html">in her future</a> - versatility FTW!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turf Male: Gio Ponti</span><br />A well-deserved <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/109899.html">bit of recognition</a> for a horse who showed up <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54880/champion-turf-male-gio-ponti">just about everywhere</a> - but who truly excelled on the grass. And the night was just beginning for him...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turf Female: Goldikova</span><br />While I respect the notion that the Eclipse Award winner should have more than one start in the US, I am quite happy to toss that guideline out when the horse in question is as <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54879/champion-turf-female-goldikova">overwhelmingly superior</a> as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> is. Her repeat of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Miesque's</span> back-to-back Mile victories, under the tutelage of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Miesque's</span> former jockey, Freddie Head, completes an undeniably satisfying circuit - and the news that she's aiming to capture a third Breeders' Cup victory this year should certainly be rewarded. Given the excitement over <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span>, it may be difficult to recall that the opportunity to see a horse of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova's</span> caliber is rare indeed - and it should be celebrated.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steeplechaser: Mixed Up</span><br />How often does a 10-year-old PA-bred win an Eclipse Award? And hey, he <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54878/champion-steeplechaser-mixed-up">doesn't even take Lasix</a>. These are Good Things.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Breeder: Juddmonte Farms</span><br />These awards tend to follow the money, and it's certainly hard to argue with <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54873/champion-breeder-juddmonte-farms">Juddmonte's success</a> in producing top-level horses. There were a few stray votes for Dolphus Morrison for breeding <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> - even if he did not want to truly unleash her talents.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Female Sprinter: Informed Decision</span><br />The overwhelming pick of her division (although one has to assume that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ventura's</span> positioning in both this category and the Turf Female category may have hurt her chances), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Informed Decision</span> won at <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54883/champion-female-sprinter-informed-decision">nearly every track she visited</a>, under a variety of conditions - and the best news is that she'll be back later this spring to extend her winning streak.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Male Sprinter: Kodiak Kowboy</span><br />Although he had a respectable career as a 2 and 3-year-old, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kodiak Kowboy</span> truly had the chance to <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54884/champion-male-sprinter-kodiak-kowboy">prove himself</a> as a 4-year-old, winning as a sprinter and miler. He goes to stud with a <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110209.html">solid record</a> of achievement.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3-year-old Male: Summer Bird </span><br />This was <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54888/champion-3yo-male-summer-bird">a no-brainer</a> - but I am quite curious to know who cast the single vote for <span style="font-weight: bold;">I Want Revenge</span>. Trainer Tim Ice reiterated that we should be seeing him back on the track later this year; let's hope his recovery continues in such an encouraging fashion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3-year-old Female: Rachel Alexandra</span><br />The great filly took home the <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54887/champion-3yo-female-rachel-alexandra">least-suspenseful award</a> of the night - it was also the sole unanimous award (but more on that in a moment). Owner Jess Jackson's acceptance speech was thoughtful, but at something approaching seven minutes, it could have used some judicious editing. But given that the award winners can't speak for themselves, we can allow a little indulgence.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Owner: Godolphin Racing</span><br />This was one of the <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54877/champion-owner-godolphin-racing">most competitive</a> awards, with only five votes separating the winner from Jerry and Ann Moss. But as in the case of the Breeder category, the Eclipse voters tend to recognize revenue - but the narrow margin of victory demonstrates that there is also a desire to reward owners with a more personal touch.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Trainer: Steven Asmussen</span><br />Once again, you cannot argue <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54875/champion-trainer-steve-asmussen">with the numbers</a> - or his great good fortune in having <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> drop into his lap (although her original trainer, Hal Wiggins, also received a few votes). While I may not be a fan of his record of medication violations, his staff clearly loves the horses they work with, so the award is as much an acknowledgement of their hard work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Older Male: Gio Ponti</span><br />A double on the night for the versatile 4-year-old was clearly in the offing; as much as I love <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span>, based on this year's wins, it had to go to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gio Ponti</span>. He's still flying under the radar in the eyes of the general public, and even the racing press sometimes overlooks his accomplishments, so it was entirely justified that he be <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54886/champion-older-male-gio-ponti">doubly rewarded</a>. <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54886/champion-older-male-gio-ponti">The Blood-Horse points out</a> that he is the first horse to win this award without a win on traditional dirt - so it's particularly interesting. His future plans <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=4837811">may involve</a> the Dubai World Cup - that could end up a very competitive race indeed.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Older Female: Zenyatta</span><br />While this was another <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54885/champion-older-female-zenyatta">foregone conclusion</a>, there was a single (protest?) vote from someone at the Daily Racing Form for Icon Project - presumably the backstory there will be revealed at some point. While I still believe she should have been crowned Horse of the Year last year, the news that <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110214.html">she will return</a> to the track this year means she may finally get to take home that honor; in any case, winning two consecutive Eclipse Awards and making history in the Breeders' Cup Classic is certainly enough to consider without worrying about Horse of the Year - yet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Apprentice Jockey: Christian Santiago Reyes</span><br />Further proof that Puerto Rico knows what it's doing when it trains jockeys, this 19-year-old has <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54872/champion-apprentice-christian-santiago-reyes">a bright future</a> - he would be wise to study the next winner.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jockey: Julien Leparoux</span><br />It's hard to imagine he won the Eclipse for Apprentice <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54874/champion-jockey-julien-leparoux">only four years ago</a> - it seems he's had nothing but success since arriving in the US. Clearly, the title of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2223901527">his Facebook fan group</a> is on the right track.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Horse of the Year: Rachel Alexandra</span><br />In the end, it wasn't even close: the votes were <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54900/rachel-alexandra-named-horse-of-the-year">130 to 99</a>. That in no way reflects poorly on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta's</span> accomplishments - it simply honors the fact that during the past racing season, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> had more opportunities to show off her immense talent, in a wider variety of venues - she won for her efforts throughout the year, not for a single race (regardless of how impressive that race may have been). But as I have <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-zenyatta-rachel-alexandra-and-memory.html">said before</a>, while Horse of the Year honors are important to some, a firm place in history means more in the long run. If we are lucky enough to see <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> take on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span>, that would be tremendous - I'd like to see a Best of Five race series at a variety of different tracks. The difficulty will be getting other horses (male or female) into the gate to fill a race - but someone should certainly be working to set that up. Any takers?Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-76423578200315204962010-01-15T11:53:00.004-05:002010-01-15T12:04:08.204-05:00Welcome Back?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://nbcsportsmedia3.msnbc.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090209-stardom-bound-hmed2p.hmedium.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 154px;" src="http://nbcsportsmedia3.msnbc.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/090209-stardom-bound-hmed2p.hmedium.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Like so many promising 2-year-olds before her (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Halfbridled</span>, in particular, comes to mind), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stardom Bound</span> (pictured) has had difficulty replicating her early successes; luckily, though, she is being given the opportunity to try her luck at 4. She makes her first start of the year at Santa Anita in <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54813/stardom-bound-dixie-start-new-in-el-encino">the El Encino</a> on Sunday. She and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Justwhistledixie</span> will be co-highweights in the race, but they both have a large field to contend with; I'm interested to see how Kenny McPeek's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dream Empress</span> does here, given that she has a nice weight break. If <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stardom Bound</span> does not rebound here, she could end up being bred to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Brown</span> - so fingers doubly crossed, for her sake!<br /><br />Also looking for weekend redemption are <span style="font-weight: bold;">Papa Clem</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mr. Hot Stuff</span>; they are both back in <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110111.html">the San Fernando</a>. While <span style="font-weight: bold;">Papa Clem's</span> case is one of <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110111.html">looking to return</a> to his best form, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mr. Hot Stuff's</span> is a little more complicated - he seems to find ways to lose, despite clearly possessing at least some of his full brother <span style="font-weight: bold;">Colonel John's</span> talent. To that end, trainer Eoin Harty has been <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110069.html">working closely</a> with Joe Talamo (the latest in a long line of jockeys to take the reins on the horse) to see if they can get him into the winner's circle. The 8.5 furlong distance should suit him well - if his team can overcome his mental quirks.<br /><br />But let's take a closer look at <span style="font-weight: bold;">Papa Clem</span>; <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110112.html">Jay Hovdey praises</a> the horse's tenacity, and I also believe he's been extremely unlucky, yet he's always given his all in each race. In that respect, he reminds me a bit of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span> (who, like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span>, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=4812603">may or may not</a> really <a href="http://www.sgvtribune.com/sports/ci_14197072">be retired</a>) - hopefully he'll get a chance to demonstrate what he's really capable of at 4 (or perhaps beyond, if we get lucky). If all goes well, he could be taking the California route <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110111.html">to Dubai</a> via the Santa Anita Handicap - and given the new synthetic surface at Meydan, that may prove a wise course to follow.<br /><br />One imagines that many of this year's new 4-year-olds may follow a simple strategy - avoid <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer Bird</span> is <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/110078.html">coming back</a> as well - now may be the time for everyone else to pick up a few checks.Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-53806694890483892992010-01-12T13:44:00.003-05:002010-01-12T13:50:22.460-05:0024 Hour Party People<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7KJu4CUiXBUXeHQFLhg2iA0f4yR8B6inGyl27XK2Q-FaZxHsNEPxm2s09T04g6S5N7HUxY4sk_UERNc5kVykEjuT1ZSt_kjIddQC-A4MexZapXw5Yx07ii3saNDVXx3tTZeW0w/s1600-h/24_hour_party_people_fron.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN7KJu4CUiXBUXeHQFLhg2iA0f4yR8B6inGyl27XK2Q-FaZxHsNEPxm2s09T04g6S5N7HUxY4sk_UERNc5kVykEjuT1ZSt_kjIddQC-A4MexZapXw5Yx07ii3saNDVXx3tTZeW0w/s200/24_hour_party_people_fron.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425927326834534562" border="0" /></a>Many in the racing community were disheartened to learn of the removal of <a href="http://therail.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/horse-racings-digital-historian/">partymanners</a>' well-curated collection of racing videos from YouTube, and there has been some thoughtful commentary from the <a href="http://www.r2collective.com/content/2010/01/11/no-partymanners-the-web-vs-the-platform/">R2 Collective</a> and <a href="http://blog-beb.thoroughbredtimes.com/2010/01/mind-your-manners.html">Ed DeRosa</a> (among others). Having weighed in on the value partymanners adds to the racing world <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/06/archivists-take-on-partymanners.html">last year</a>, it only seems right to address the issue again.<br /><br />While it's not my place to delve into the full details, rest assured that no track or broadcaster complained or claimed copyright (although they would have been well within their rights to do so - clearly, they realized it was more helpful than anything else to have the videos out there) - the backstory is rather <a href="http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65518&page=1&pp=15">more petty</a> and <a href="http://thoroughbredchampions.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=40007.0">unfortunate</a>, and you are welcome to follow the links and make your own decisions about that.<br /><br />The current situation emphasizes the danger of relying solely on fan-created content: while there are a few other racing-related YouTube channels, partymanners' was by far the most extensive, and its loss is more deeply-felt as a result. In an ideal situation where an online archive were funded by some sort of industry program, there would be backups and alternate servers, along with full legal clearances. High-quality digital video would exist for more recent races, and older films would be restored, digitized and placed on a fully-searchable site using a simple solution like YouTube or Vimeo to deliver the videos.<br /><br />But we live in the real world; there is no industry body with the will or ability to deliver the kind of professional solution this would actually demand - it would be expensive and very time-consuming to do it the 'right way' - and given that there are clearly people out there with the skills and time to do it on the fly, there is no reason to discourage those efforts (even if certain individuals seem keen to try to torpedo them for their own ends).<br /><br />So, what's the next step? The immediate answer would be to create redundancy: ensuring that multiple copies of the videos exist somewhere (and can easily be found via a simple web search) would be the first goal. It's possible that YouTube may re-activate the partymanners account - if, indeed, that happens, a group effort to back up and re-distribute the videos (ideally via a number of different sites) would not be a bad thing.<br /><br />But to avoid such derailments in future, the videos could at the very least be cleared with their (actual) copyright holders, and that is where it would be nice to get at least a little help from the industry. Editing, hosting and tagging the videos can easily be handled by fans, but if the tracks, broadcasters and the NTRA could come together to craft some sort of blanket fair use statement for racing footage (which should not be necessary, but is a handy thing to have when these roadblocks come up), that would put things on a firmer footing. A suggested <a href="http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/fair_use_in_online_video/">Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for Online Video</a> is already out there - it's a quick and easy read - and it's not as though anyone is going to become rich by offering someone a chance to see allowance races from the 1980s.<br /><br />Let's get the party re-started.Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-79801887473426153372010-01-05T13:44:00.003-05:002010-01-05T13:50:39.149-05:00Hello 2010, Goodbye (again), Lava Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.drf.com/images/lava_248x350_010710.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 227px; height: 160px;" src="http://www.drf.com/images/lava_248x350_010710.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>While things are slowly gearing up in Florida and racing continues apace in California, one horse will most definitely be absent - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lava Man</span> <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/109915.html">has been re-retired</a> after his disheartening comeback race last month. His connections have remained true to their word that he would only remain in training if he could compete at the highest level, and so it's back to the farm for the 9-year-old gelding. Whether he will remain in California or head to Kentucky Horse Park has yet to be determined.<br /><br />Age has not stopped <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cloudy's Knight</span>, however, despite the fact that he is Lava Man's elder by a year - he was <a href="http://thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/December/26/Cloudys-Knight-earns-fourth-stakes-win-of-the-year-in-McKnight.aspx">in the winner's circle again</a> on Boxing Day in the G2 W. L. McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream. Usual stalwart <span style="font-weight: bold;">Presious Passion</span> was barely a factor in the race, but he'll be back later this winter - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cloudy's Knight</span> will have a break until the spring, and then he too will return to the track.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gio Ponti</span> is aiming to make <a href="http://ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=43985">his 2010 debut</a> sometime in February, with a view toward the Dubai World Cup; there's no official word yet on whether <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> may be Dubai-bound as well, but she's been back galloping, with <a href="http://ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=43985">real works</a> coming next month.<br /><br />Newly-four <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quality Road</span> demonstrated that he's learned <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/horse-racing/story/1409144.html">how to behave</a> at the gate - now that he's a grownup 4-year-old, he handled things quite professionally in the Hal's Hope (and one could argue that the mile distance suited him well). He may use the Donn Handicap as a route to Dubai - although I'd prefer to see him in the Godolphin Mile, rather than the World Cup.<br /><br />For those interested in what the 3-year-olds are up to, it's a bit too early to predict things - but it's certainly encouraging to hear that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Take Control</span>, offspring of two former Horses of the Year, <a href="http://thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/December/30/Azeris-first-foal-wins-career-debut.aspx">won his career debut</a> (back when he was just a 2-year-old, last week). It's easy to set the bar very high indeed when the parents in question are <span style="font-weight: bold;">Azeri</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">A.P. Indy</span>, and we have no real idea what sort of company he'll be keeping as his career gets going, but it's certainly a move forward for the Bob Baffert trainee.<br /><br />We're still a few weeks away from some of the season's major races, but planning is very much underway - welcome to 2010!Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-30651231092645532832009-12-29T12:01:00.005-05:002009-12-29T12:21:51.594-05:00The Official Superfecta 2009 Year in Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3783326324_154fe1441d.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 227px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/3783326324_154fe1441d.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>It almost seems we racing fans have experienced a karmic reversal this year; after the lows of the previous few years, we were treated to <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/chris-mcgrath-in-praise-of-the-golden-generation-of-the-turf-1850270.html">nothing less</a> than history - live. So, without further ado, here are the top ten moments in horse racing for 2009, as seen from Superfecta HQ:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10) Einstein wins the Big 'Cap</span><br />It was wonderful to see <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span>, a <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/search/label/Einstein">blog favorite</a> for years, pick up <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/49531/big-cap-win-a-no-brainer-for-einstein">a big win</a>; this may not have been his best season, but it certainly had high points - this being the top. Hopefully his versatility and record of sheer hard work will be rewarded with a successful stud career.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9) Bambera wins the Clasico del Caribe</span><br />Yes, the Venezualan filly is <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=4720932">the real deal</a>. <a href="http://sidfernando.wordpress.com/">Sid Fernando</a> is your man for all things <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bambera</span> - and he notes that we should see her Stateside in 2010. She's won <a href="http://www.pedigreequery.com/bambera2">15 of 17 starts</a> - 10 of those were G1s, including her nation's filly Triple Crown and most of the mixed-gender variety as well. Look out, Gulfstream!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8) Goldikova repeats in the Breeders' Cup Mile</span><br />Let's recall that the French mare was beating the boys long before it came into fashion this year - she handled them with no difficulty in last year's Prix du Moulin and, of course, the Breeders' Cup Mile. Trainer Freddie Head, who rode the great <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miesque">Miesque</a> to her back-to-back Mile victories thinks she's even better; she's on track to come back next year to aim for <a href="http://wwww.ntra.com/content.aspx?type=news&id=43484">a threepeat</a>. Fingers crossed!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7) Yeats wins his fourth Ascot Gold Cup</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Times</span> was right - it's hard to imagine a <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/racing/article6530743.ece">more perfect swansong</a> for the 8-year-old; he's demonstrated time and again why he's an all-time great. Here's hoping his stamina and quality is recognized at stud - it will be hard to live up to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrcrhEDMgys">the reception</a> he received from fans after his victory.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6) Rachel Alexandra wins the Kentucky Oaks</span><br />Can you remember seeing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRGvbUmqv-s">anything like it</a>? <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> would go on to demonstrate in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TJTnJSrSBc">the Mother Goose</a> that against her peers (including a perfectly nice filly like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gabby's Golden Gal</span>), that's just how she rolls - deal with it. Super filly? You bet.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5) Sea the Stars wins the Arc</span><br />That's a lot of Group 1 winners finishing behind him - and it's not every day you see a colt equal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_Sea">his mother's</a> success in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f824CU-F3rc">that particular race</a>. His win made him the first horse to win the 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and the Arc in the same year - and he did it all undefeated. While it's easy to see the allure of getting the half-brother to über-stud <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://coolmore.com/stallions-view.php?list=ireland&id=7">Galileo</a> into the shed, it's a shame we'll never really know what he might have been capable of.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4) Rachel Alexandra wins the Preakness</span><br />While I normally go to the Belmont, it takes something special to get me to Pimlico for the Preakness (largely because of the appalling state of the track) - but I was certainly not going to pass up a chance to see <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> take on the boys for the first time in person, and it was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Trbs6huAY&feature=related">a beautiful thing</a>. It's only the second time I've seen the entire crowd cheering for one horse (the other being <span style="font-weight: bold;">Smarty Jones</span> coming into the Belmont with a Triple Crown on the line); it was to be the first time I would see that faith rewarded.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3) Rachel Alexandra wins the Haskell</span><br />What, you want me, the Preakness winner, to beat the Derby and Belmont winners? Hey, you asked for it. Even with the miserable weather, this is by far the best performance I've ever seen live (sorry, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sunday Silence</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Easy Goer</span>!); once again, the crowd was there for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel</span>, and only <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel</span> - and she repaid them with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS1EG0zf8sk&feature=related">another runaway victory</a>. This race also receives special note for <a href="http://rockandracehorses.wordpress.com/">Sarah K. Andrew's</a> fantastic photo (right) - my favorite of the year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2) Rachel Alexandra wins the Woodward</span><br />Finally, some real competition - and the chance to see what <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel</span> would do when eyeball to eyeball with another horse. Apparently, the answer is <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsBJVuGAr78&feature=video_response">win</a> - yet again. I'm looking forward to seeing her as the 'older horse' - after all, in a few short days, she'll be all of 4.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1) Zenyatta wins the Breeders' Cup Classic</span><br />I'm one of Those People who wanted <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> to be Horse of the Year last year and I was not pleased by the rest of her campaign this year - but she proved she's more than just a great mare with a distinctive running (and, let's be honest, walking) style. She earned the number one spot with her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt-88DTxeYs">sparkling, historic performance</a>.<br /><br />While I've <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-zenyatta-rachel-alexandra-and-memory.html">already determined</a> that the Horse of the Year debate will not matter much in the long run - indeed, who, beyond the industry, even knows or cares that such a thing exists? - my own vote would go to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span>. I cannot think of another year when I would have listed the same horse more than twice, at most, in a year-ending review - to see the same name four times is not something I expect to see again anytime soon. However, as she'll be running next year, I may need to keep some slots vacant...but the truth remains that both <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> firmly stamped themselves into this history books in emphatic style.<br /><br />Here's hoping that 2010 will be half as exciting as 2009!Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-36736599919515753592009-12-23T10:23:00.003-05:002009-12-23T10:32:46.847-05:00Christmas Wrapping<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uMaHwh5CL._SS500_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 226px;" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uMaHwh5CL._SS500_.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>If you're a last-minute holiday shopper still looking to pick up a racing-related item, look no further than Jim Squires' <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Headless-Horsemen-Chemical-Subprime-Kentucky/dp/0805090606/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1261579947&sr=8-1">Headless Horsemen</a>. It's a thoughtful, often quite entertaining, look at the industry from the ultimate insider/outsider. While Squires is never going to be one of 'the Dinnies' whose portraits he rather deliciously paints in the book, it's also hard to maintain true 'outsider' status after breeder a Kentucky Derby winner - a story chronicled in his previous racing-related memoir, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Horse-Different-Color-Breeding-Secretariat/dp/B000C4T2HG/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b"><span style="font-style: italic;">A Horse of a Different Color</span></a> - also recommended. (And as an aside, I would submit that the horse in question, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Monarchos</span>, is one of the most even-tempered stallions I've ever had the good fortune to meet).<br /><br />While none of the issues regarding auctions, medication and the like will be new to most racing fans, his first-person perspective makes for interesting reading. I have some minor quibbles with the book in that it could have been a little more carefully edited (there is a bit of repetition here and there, and it's not always clear what audience Squires is speaking to), but it's an essential addition to one's racing library. It may be that in the future, it will be regarded as something of a period piece, capturing the industry in a particular moment of flux - and that would likely be no bad thing, by Squires' reckoning.<br /><br />Given the current state of breeding economics, that's almost what has happened to Kevin Conley's excellent <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.amazon.com/Stud-Adventures-Breeding-Kevin-Conley/dp/1582343322/ref=pd_sim_b_4">Stud: Adventures in Breeding</a> - it documented the high water mark of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Storm Cat</span> era earlier in the decade - and it's well worth re-reading now to reflect on where breeding trends had gone, and where they might go in the future.<br /><br />If it's memorabilia you're after (and don't mind it coming a bit after Christmas), you can still bid on Mike Smith's <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ZENYATTA-GOGGLE-AUTOGRAPHED-BY-JOCKEY-MIKE-SMITH_W0QQitemZ230413351379QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item35a5b4b9d3">autographed goggles</a>, a vest with a horse that <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ZENYATTA_W0QQitemZ110472722760QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item19b8aff948">vaguely resembles <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span></a>, a better <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> likeness on <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ZENYATTA-SANTA-ANITA-HORSE-RACING-STEIN-BREEDERS-CUP_W0QQitemZ150399076346QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item23047bc7fa">a beer stein</a> or this charming <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Zenyatta-Champion-Mare-Mouse-Pad_W0QQitemZ200407037080QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item2ea930b498">Zenyatta-themed mousepad</a>.<br /><br />For the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> fan, you can get a <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Rachel-Alexandra-Calvin-Borel-signed-racing-whip_W0QQitemZ380189009986QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item588507e842">Calvin Borel-autographed whip</a> or <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Autographed-CALVIN-BOREL-BOBBLEHEAD-RACHEL-ALEXANDRA_W0QQitemZ130353963125QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item1e59b3a075">bobblehead</a> - and, naturally, <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Rachel-Alexandra-Champion-Filly-Mouse-pad_W0QQitemZ200407049091QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item2ea930e383">a mousepad</a>. (It would seem that 'custom' mousepads are to horse racing memorabilia what fan fiction is to <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span>). Of course, if your pockets are a bit deeper (and you live in a state that doesn't prevent it), you can still snag a bottle of <a href="http://www.kj.com/auction/index.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> wine</a>.<br /><br />So, in the immortal words of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noddy_Holder">Noddy Holder</a>, merry Christmas, everybody - as well as good Yule, festive Festivus, <span style="font-style: italic;">Io Saturnalia</span>, and happy belated Hanukkah, Dōngzhì and Winter Solstice.<br /><br />Check back next week for our year in review!Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-8760773659713128652009-12-15T13:51:00.003-05:002009-12-15T14:00:07.555-05:00Epic Fail in the Making?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://lgo.mit.edu/blog/drewhill/files/fail-boat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 212px;" src="http://lgo.mit.edu/blog/drewhill/files/fail-boat.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The Breeders' Cup Board of Directors met last week to discuss a long-term strategic plan(!), and while I generally encourage such things, it sounds like the group did not come up with anything particularly earth-shattering – and a few ideas were simply not well thought out by this group largely comprised of older white men (with a few token exceptions). The four points the board agreed on were <a href="http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=43730">as follows</a>:<br /><ul><li>Explore the feasibility of a single permanent host site location for the Breeders' Cup World Championships</li><li>Establish a new Breeders' Cup Racing Series in partnership with North American and European racetracks to better define and market the road to the Breeders' Cup World Championships</li><li>Expand brand marketing and commercial development programs, with an emphasis on digital marketing and social media</li><li>Take a new approach to nominations to significantly expand the number of Breeders' Cup eligible horse</li></ul>We'll discuss the first point in considerably more detail below, but the fact that the other three were presented as 'new' ideas is a bit surprising (or not, depending on your point of view) - they should have been no-brainers that were adopted long ago. Let's take the point about establishing a new international racing series - wasn't that the point of Win and You're In? I agree that that whole concept could be improved and finessed, but establishing yet another new series will likely cause confusion in the short-term, possibly leading to a watered-down product.<br /><br />Even if we suppose that careful choices are made to include exciting, relevant races in this 'package,' the question of where they would actually be seen immediately comes to mind. Who is paying ESPN to broadcast Royal Ascot, for example? Do we assume the casual fan finds their way to TVG or HRTV (presuming they even receive the channels)? It would seem to me that creating a new racing series is getting ahead of the game - without a firm commitment from a major media outlet, it's not worth exploring. The fact that it's limited to the US and Europe is understandable, but I would be much more interested in something that included Japan and Australia - even if our seasons don't quite match up.<br /><br />The decision to focus on 'digital marketing and social media' sounds like one that was taken about five years ago - but I suppose it's better late than never. However, it is telling that these seem like Exciting New Concepts to the Breeders' Cup organization - their somewhat ham-fisted efforts over their 'social media award' were not inspiring, even if the intent was good. It's <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/08/not-epic-fail-but-needs-work.html">abundantly clear</a> there's no one on the board who understands How These Things Work - and that's unfortunate.<br /><br />The final issue of expanding nominations makes sense from a business perspective in that it continues to fill the coffers of the Breeders' Cup organization with nomination fees, which is fair enough - but it would have been considerably more forward-thinking if they had incorporated nomination changes that could keep top horses in training longer (as we've discussed <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2008/09/champions-league.html">here before</a>). If this is truly a long-term plan, it would make sense to think beyond the next five years.<br /><br />And so back to the single-site idea; before I explain why I think it's a terrible idea, let's examine some other opinions. <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/columns/story?columnist=moran_paul&id=4742192">Paul Moran suggests</a> that if there is to be a permanent location, Churchill Downs is the only option, and he makes some good points about the possibility of night racing. And while I would agree with him that choosing the same site two years in a row was misguided, I have less of a problem with the Breeders' Cup being run on synthetics - I just don't want to see it every year, although I love to see the European horses do well. <a href="http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2009/December/11/Breeders-Cup-Board-Approves-Strategic-Planning-Initiatives.aspx">Ed DeRosa reports</a> that Santa Anita has already been in talks with the Breeders' Cup Board - but whether that is a trial balloon or simply a case of having been in contact with the right people as 'outgoing' hosts is unclear.<br /><br />Putting aside the surface questions, I find a single site a very poor idea for a number of reasons. The first is simply the expense of getting fans to the location - I did not go to Santa Anita because I won't fly across the country for the Breeders' Cup - and I'm already a fan. When you point out that I did fly across the country a few short weeks later for <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/12/what-can-commissioner-do-ask-mls.html">the MLS Cup</a>, that highlights a separate issue: it was in a place I wanted to go anyway. Churchill Downs suffers from this problem - it's harder to get a casual fan to fly visit Kentucky, than, say, New York. If a fan is going to undertake the expense of traveling for more than a day trip to the Breeders' Cup, the track needs to be easily accessible from a major city so that they can make a worthwhile short vacation out of it - and that leaves Arlington, Belmont, Woodbine and Santa Anita in play (although the weather might have other ideas for Arlington and Woodbine).<br /><br />As an aside, I would lament here that there are not better tracks in more interesting cities - clearly, the Breeders' Cup is not going to go to Golden Gate Fields, Emerald Downs, Portland Meadows or Philadelphia Park (to name just a few). And while the weather may have been fine this year at Santa Anita, I actually found the Breeders' Cup at Monmouth Park one of the better I've been to - despite the wet, it was nowhere nearly as cold as Belmont can be in November.<br /><br />The other major problem with choosing a single site is that it eliminates the possibility that it could be held outside the US and Canada at some point - and I'd much rather go to a Breeders' Cup held somewhere in Europe and make a vacation out of it, over spending a long weekend in Kentucky (and, quite frankly, the airfare would probably be cheaper). If the goal is truly to expand the international nature of the event, taking that option off the table seems an odd move.<br /><br />It would seem, overall, that the Breeders' Cup Board of Directors is sorely lacking in creative thinkers - expanding beyond its monoculture should also have been a priority. Maybe next year...Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-52090287786353717702009-12-09T13:01:00.003-05:002009-12-09T13:14:45.367-05:00What Can a Commissioner Do? Ask MLS.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://web.mlsnet.com/images/2009/11/21/Kk8o3t7T.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 125px;" src="http://web.mlsnet.com/images/2009/11/21/Kk8o3t7T.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>With winter settling in in earnest, there's not a lot going on in the racing world Stateside. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra/Zenyatta</span> Horse of the Year debate continues apace, of course, with Jess Jackson suggesting <a href="http://blog.timesunion.com/horseracing/more-from-jess-jackson-on-the-rachel-alexandra-zenyatt-debate/3735/">he's happy</a> for a little controversy - after all, it keeps horse racing (somewhat) in the public consciousness. The same cannot be said of the NTRA Health & Safety Alliance, whose accreditation program has been deemed '<a href="http://thoroughbredtimes.com/national-news/2009/December/08/Thompson-deems-NTRA-accreditation-as-effective.aspx">effective</a>' - although what that really means is open to debate.<br /><br />Given the uncertainty that lingers over the Alliance and the future of similar programs, it seems a good idea to finally get around to something promised weeks ago - a discussion of what American racing could learn from American soccer. In the decade I have been following Major League Soccer, it has moved from something dangerously close to an international punchline to a viable, vibrant sport - and some of the lessons learned along the way could be useful ones for racing.<br /><br />But first, a step back; in 2000, as a fan of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Jose_Earthquakes">San Jose Earthquakes</a> (who suffered at the time from an uninterested ownership group, a recent name-change, bad management and well-deserved last-place ranking), it was hard to imagine a time when the excitement of the game on the pitch would exceed that of the small gathering of fans and players who had been forced to come out and mingle that took place after each (losing) game. Supporters often wore bags on their heads during segments of the game to emphasize the shame of supporting such a risible team - but it still demonstrated that someone cared. And we had a great goalie in Joe Cannon - but little else. One year later, we had a new manager, a rising star in a then-teenaged Landon Donovan and we managed to go from being the worst team in the league to hoisting the MLS Cup. The last home game, the semi-final that sent the team to Columbus for the big win, was considered quite successful - something like 4,000 people turned up (which was quite a bump up from the usual few hundred scattered around the tiny stadium). The players were still compelled to meet and greet with the fans, so those of us in the supporters' club enjoyed drinks, dinner and donuts with the team a few weeks later (so yes, I have split a donut with Landon Donovan - and that's not some sort of bizarre euphemism). Despite phenomenal growth, one of American soccer's advantages over its worldwide rivals continues to be access to stars - teams still regularly host events where fans can meet their players and coaching staff in a casual setting.<br /><br />Fast forward to this year: I went to the MLS Cup in Seattle, which had an attendance above 47,000 - largely comprised of local fans (even though their team did not make the finals) and supporters (like me) from across the country who bought their tickets well in advance, with no idea who would be playing. How did we get from a few hundred fans of a Saturday afternoon to full stadiums? With some careful planning, a willingness to learn from mistakes - and listen to fans.<br /><br />Each year, before the MLS Cup, the league hosts a Supporters' Summit - any fan is welcome to come, meet other fans, enjoy some cheap food - and to grill the Commissioner of MLS, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Garber">Don Garber</a>, about anything that's bothering them (also possible other times, as he's <a href="http://www.twitter.com/thesoccerdon">on Twitter</a>). Under Garber's auspices, the league has gone from having to buy time on ESPN (sound familiar, racing?) to making $20 million a year on television rights. At this year's Summit, Garber indicated that MLS was now in a position to dictate terms as well - they want to see every game broadcast in HD, and that's likely to happen for the next season.<br /><br />The league as a whole has gone from hemorrhaging money in 2000 to aiming for actual profitability next year - all while improving the quality of the American game, building soccer-specific stadiums and becoming more closely aligned with international soccer as a whole - and each element has helped to build the fan base. There were early tough decisions - some teams were eliminated (somewhat mirroring the less-product-higher-quality argument current in racing) to keep the league afloat in the early 2000s. Now that things are on a solid financial footing, expansion is continuing apace: this year's expansion team, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_Sounders_FC">Seattle Sounders</a>, sold all 22,000 season ticket packages before the season's first kick - and went on to win the US Open Cup (a tournament that includes teams from other leagues, including semi-professional ones - it's separate from the year-end championship - although it should be added here that the Sounders supporters' clubs and fans were extremely welcoming, generous hosts during the MLS Cup this year). In 2010, Philadelphia is the newest expansion team - and we've already sold more than 6,000 season tickets for our under-construction stadium, down economy and all - not bad for a team whose first players only arrived in town yesterday. Portland and Vancouver will be added in 2011, giving easily-traveled rivalries on both coasts.<br /><br />It would be difficult to imagine US racing operating under the sort of single-entity structure that has been so effective for turning around American soccer, but the lack of any sort of central control means there is no way to move forward as a united sport; piecemeal change is the only current option. But perhaps seeing the results possible with a strong commissioner could entice the various track ownership bodies to come together - after all, good decisions and a real long-term plan lead to more money for everybody. And with the news that MLS is exploring gambling options with a view to the future (although games are already available on a European platform) - getting a move on with regard to centralized, streamlined management should be a no-brainer. Soliciting real ideas from fans, creating real merchandising opportunities and learning from other sports is long overdue - creating committees comprised of the same fifteen people isn't a way to effect change.<br /><br />So, in a nutshell, the way forward is to finally get a commissioner and build from there; who wants to take that first step to make it happen?Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-91646147901267405042009-12-02T10:27:00.003-05:002009-12-02T10:31:51.710-05:00Musings on the Year of the Filly<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.racingpost.com/2009/Nov/12354.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 250px;" src="http://images.racingpost.com/2009/Nov/12354.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As many have noted, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vodka's</span> thrilling win <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/conduit-tokyo-japan-vodka-holds-on-to-take-japan-cup-by-a-nose/658381/latest/">in the Japan Cup</a> put yet another stamp on the Year of the Filly. With <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> Stateside, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> in Europe and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vodka</span> in Asia, it almost seems that the colts are an afterthought - indeed, even Down Under, the talk of the racing world is a filly (although one who has yet to <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/singo-gai-and-the-opera-house--how-to-pull-a-crowd-20091126-jura.html">make her professional debut</a>).<br /><br />While these stars (and, perhaps, a star in the making) are united by gender, there are major differences in the way they are handled and the ways in which their campaigns have been planned. Both <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vodka </span><span>(pictured)</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> have regularly faced males in their careers - and they've both shipped around the world to face the best competition on offer. While both mares have an impressive stack of G1 victories, their connections have not been worried about marring their records with the odd loss - even a closing fourth-place finish can demonstrate their class, while such a result might be seen rather differently in the US. Part of this is no doubt due to the differences between turf and dirt racing, but it's also worth considering whether we in North America are overly concerned with the notion of a perfect record - for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span>, a perfect eight-for-eight season, and of course <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta's </span>fourteen lifetime starts (and wins).<br /><br />This is not to denigrate our own stars, for both have achieved great things - but imagine what more might be possible if maintaining perfection were to be taken out of the picture. I suspect that even while cheering <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> to victory in the Breeders' Cup Classic, many fans thought, at least for a moment, of what more we might have seen from the big mare.<br /><br />Greatness does not require perfection, nor does perfection equal greatness - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vodka</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> have demonstrated that it comes in a variety of packages.Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-14701993570534940172009-11-24T15:34:00.004-05:002009-11-24T16:15:09.331-05:00A Return, and a Long Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.drf.com/images/einstein_200x300_112409.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.drf.com/images/einstein_200x300_112409.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Things are slowly getting back to normal here at Casa Superfecta, after a quick jaunt to the left coast for some soccer (but more on that later). The Breeders' Cup may be in the history books, but Thanksgiving weekend offers quite a variety of top-level racing.<br /><br />On Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Unbridled Belle</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Swift Temper</span> are in action in <a href="http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=16984">the Falls City Handicap</a>; it is likely the last start for both millionaire mares.<br /><br />The following day, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span> (picture, by Barbara Livingston) is aiming to return to winning form in the Clark Handicap; as Julien Leparoux will be in Japan, he'll have <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/109076.html">Rajiv Maragh aboard</a> as well as some stiff competition from <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=16966">Macho Again</a> and <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/109061.html">Bullsbay</a>. But it seems that it may not be the final start for the stalwart son of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Spend a Buck</span> - he's been<a href="http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/breeding-news/2009/November/24/Adena-sets-Tiagos-fee-adds-Einstein-to-Hong-Kong-Cup.aspx"> supplemented to the Hong Kong Cup</a> in December - however, it would still be lovely to see him win.<br /><br />Both coasts are in action over the weekend; in New York, <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more_sports/2009/11/22/2009-11-22_the_day_at_the_races.html">the Cigar Mile</a> is the headliner. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quality Road</span> has been working hard on his gate schooling, and the distance makes the race seem like a good fit for him - if he wants to start. It's a great lineup in any case - Bribon, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kodiak Kowboy</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Munnings</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vineyard Haven</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pyro</span> are all possible starters. The 2-year-olds will also be on display in the Demoiselle and the Remsen.<br /><br />In California, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ventura</span> has a chance to give Bobby Frankel a final win in the Matriarch; while she will run in the name of his longtime assistant, Humberto Ascanio, Frankel was still directing her career, <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53536/juddmonte-adjusts-to-life-without-frankel?utm_medium=email&uid=94CED1AE-5539-4ED8-ACAF-D4D3D265201D&utm_source=DailyNewsletter&utm_campaign=20091121">even at the end</a>:<br /><blockquote><span style="font-size:85%;">“Last Friday (Nov. 13), Bobby called me while I was at the barn and told me, ‘I’m going home tomorrow. I’m not going to take any more transfusions. I just don’t want to go on like this.’ And he said, ‘I’m scared.’<br /><br />“There was a silence, and then, Bobby said, ‘Talk to Humberto and just tell him, two easy halfs for Ventura and she’ll be fine for the Matriarch.’</span></blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ventura's</span> frequent rivals <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rutherienne</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Diamondrella</span> (who is now trained by Gary Stevens, which was apparently <a href="http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=16922">something of a surprise</a> to him) are also expected, but it would be nice to see <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ventura</span> end with a flourish. Also looking for a positive final race is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cowboy Cal</span> in <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/109105.html">the Citation</a>, but he will have competition in the form of <span style="font-weight: bold;">El Gato Malo</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Whatsthescript</span> and another Frankel horse - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Proudinsky</span>.<br /><br />And while she will not be running, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> will still be very much a presence in California over the weekend; she's expected to parade around Hollywood Park between races <a href="http://hollywoodpark.com/news/zenyatta-day-at-hollywood-park-on-nov-29">on Sunday</a>. There will be posters, DVDs and other collectibles on offer - although hopefully <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/Zenyatta-Winning-Classic-Horse-of-the-Year-Thongs_W0QQitemZ230397172389QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUS_SM_Fan_Shop?hash=item35a4bddaa5">these</a> are not part of the package.<br /><br />Overseas, Breeders' Cup Turf repeat champion <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conduit</span> will line against top Japanese mare <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vodka</span> in <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/scintillo-japan-conduit-made-5-2-favourite-for-japan-cup/656333/international/">the Japan Cup</a> - last year's winner, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Screen Hero</span>, will be on hand to defend his title. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conduit</span> will be retiring to stud in Japan after the race, but he could take home a <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/6646116/Conduit-chases-rich-payday-in-Japan-Cup-Horse-Racing.html">considerable bonus</a> if he wins on Sunday. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Interpatation</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Marsh Side</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Just As Well</span> will be <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/aussies-again-missing-at-japan-cup/story-e6frg7mf-1225801815469">representing the US</a> in the race.<br /><br />And while neither news item relates specifically to this weekend, there is welcome word that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> has begun to <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/109107.html">stretch her legs</a> again, and that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> will, as rumored, remain in training next year. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> will head to the Fair Grounds for the winter after leaving Churchill Downs, while <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova's</span> campaign to win a <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/f-head-churchill-downs-historic-third-breeders-cup-the-target-for-goldikova/656327/international/">third Breeders' Cup Mile</a> will begin again in France.<br /><br />Check back later (likely after the holiday weekend) for some thoughts on what racing might learn from American soccer - and have a wonderful Thanksgiving!Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-56980591023182465902009-11-10T14:43:00.005-05:002009-11-10T15:08:51.232-05:00Breeders' Cup Wrap-up, 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01518/zenyatta_1518769c.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 182px;" src="http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01518/zenyatta_1518769c.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>While <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta's</span> historic win in the Classic seems to eclipse the rest of the two-day event, there were many other interesting storylines - each race stood out in its own way this year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Marathon</span><br />What a fascinating result - nine-year-old <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cloudy's Knight</span> very nearly got there to be the oldest Breeders' Cup winner on record (and jockey Rosemary Homeister, Jr. would have been only the second female jockey to win a Breeders' Cup race), but he was run down by three-year-old <span style="font-weight: bold;">Man of Iron</span>. The Aiden O'Brien trainee was actually sold just before the race and will be moving <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/man-of-iron-to-join-luca-cumani-stable/651834/related/">to Luca Cumani's barn</a>, but he proved yet again that like his half-siblings, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rags to Riches</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jazil</span>, his dam's offspring like to run as long as possible. He will aim for the Dubai Carnival races next. Last year's winner, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Muhannak</span>, was no factor this year, but he also changed hands and will remain in California under the tutelage of Ben Cecil. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Man of Iron</span> was the only Ballydoyle horse who <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/a-p-obrien-man-of-iron-disappointed-o-brien-plans-to-review-lasix-use/651669/related/">ran on Lasix</a> - and their only winner this year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile Fillies Turf</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tapitsfly</span> rewarded her backers, professionally <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup09/news/story?id=4630392">taking on</a> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rose Catherine</span> in the stretch. Favored <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lillie Langtry</span> came out of the race with <a href="http://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=15237">a slab fracture</a>, but she should be back after some minor surgery and time off. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tapitsfly</span> gave trainer Dale Romans his <a href="http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2009/November/06/Tapitsfly-wins-Breeders-Cup-Juvenile-Fillies-Turf.aspx">first Breeders' Cup victory</a> - and so far American-based runners are two-for-two in this turf event.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile Fillies</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">She Be Wild</span> proved she enjoys running on synthetics, but she and the other top two finishes, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Beautician</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blind Luck</span>, will all be <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/108796.html">aiming for</a> the Kentucky Oaks on conventional dirt. Both the runner-up and third-place finishers had some bad luck during the race, as did wiseguy favorite <span style="font-weight: bold;">Biofuel</span>, who got pretty knocked around - luckily, all seemed to have only minor complaints and a few of them may run again before the year is out.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Filly & Mare Turf</span><br />Legendary trainer Henry Cecil scored his <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=712614">first Breeders' Cup win</a> when <span style="font-weight: bold;">Midday</span> took the Filly & Mare Turf - and perhaps she will be back to <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5hjhPbI9fw4OBr6WuW8kmvspYyh9A">defend her title</a>, as the plan is for her to remain in training next year. It's an exciting possibility.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Filly & Mare Sprint</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Informed Decision</span> gave jockey Julien Leparoux his second Breeders' Cup weekend win; as expected, it came down to <a href="http://blog.timesunion.com/horseracing/informed-decision-gets-filly-mare-sprint-win/3548/">a dogfight</a> between the winner and top-class mare <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ventura</span>. We should see <span style="font-weight: bold;">Informed Decision</span> next year <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup09/news/story?id=4630725">as well</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Filly & Mare Classic</span><br />Without stablemate <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> to waltz past her in the closing strides, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Life is Sweet</span> finally had a chance to <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/06/rancho-santa-fe-couple-life-sweet-lives-name/">demonstrate her class</a> - and trainer John Shirreffs plenty of confidence going in to Saturday's races.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile Turf</span><br />The first Breeders' Cup race on Saturday's card went <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=738145">to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pounced</span></a>; the American-bred, European-based colt had the always-welcome piloting services of Frankie Dettori. Trainer John Gosden (who was based at Santa Anita for many years) snagged his <a href="http://www.blogger.com/.%20http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/6522324/Breeders-Cup-Frankie-Dettori-keeps-Europeans-on-track.html">second victory</a> in this race, having won last year with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Donativum</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turf Sprint</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">California Flag</span>, who had given himself an <a href="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/11/breeders-cup-california-flag-throws-rider.html">impromptu workout</a> before the race, proved he suffered from no ill-effects from his adventure. Joe Talamo secured his <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup09/news/story?id=4632386">first Breeders' Cup win</a> aboard the California-bred speedball, with 'other' filly <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gotta Have Her</span> getting up for second (the well-traveled <span style="font-weight: bold;">Diamondrella</span> didn't fire on Saturday).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sprint</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dancing in Silks</span> scored a major upset - and made trainer Carla Gaines the <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ir5Aq9uWMOdlIXYTzIgSzcvRf9kwD9BQTPLO0">third woman</a> to train a Breeders' Cup winner in the process. All the 'big names' finished off the board, with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gayego</span> getting closest in fourth. Favorites <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zensational</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fatal Bullet</span> finished near each other in fifth and sixth, and global star <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fleeting Spirit</span> did not seem to take to the surface. It was a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup09/news/story?id=4632566">fantastic race</a> for longshot bettors!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile</span><br />Upset winner <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vale of York</span> gave up-and-coming Godolphin jockey <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/03/jockeys-uae-style.html">Ahmed Ajtebi</a> his <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup09/news/story?id=4632597">first Breeders' Cup win</a>. The horse may be pointed to the Kentucky Derby, but he'd be working against history by prepping in Dubai. Bob Baffert trainee <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lookin at Lucky</span> was not terribly lucky in the race, but he still finished a respectable second - and seems a <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/news/story?id=4639391">more likely</a> Derby contender.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mile</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> continued to display <a href="http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/general/sorry-zenyatta-but-timeform-rate-goldikova-the-best-old-101109.html">her brilliance</a> - matching the great <span style="font-weight: bold;">Miesque's</span> back-to-back Mile wins, and she did so by overcoming a difficult post position and not the easiest trip in this year's installment. It caps a year in which she's been (mostly) beating up on the world's best milers and it means she now has seven G1 wins. The suggestion that she could come back next year to aim for a third Mile win was <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/horses/horse_home.sd?horse_id=688825">not immediately ruled out</a> - let's hope it happens. For those who may grumble that it seems unfair to give an Eclipse award to a horse who has made a single US appearance this year, I'd say that's true - unless it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dirt Mile</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mastercraftsman</span> was billed as unbeatable, but obviously no one told <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/11/07/sports/s143818S10.DTL">longshot <span style="font-weight: bold;">Furthest Land</span></a>. Followed closely on by perpetual maiden <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ready's Echo</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Midshipman</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Furthest Land</span> gave Julien Leparoux his third win for this year's Breeders' Cup. And <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mastercraftsman</span>? <a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53381/mastercraftsman-retired-2010-coolmore-fees?utm_source=twitter">He's retired</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turf</span><br />Another repeat - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conduit</span> <a href="http://www.drf.com/news/article/108809.html">did it again</a>. What was perhaps almost as exciting was <span style="font-weight: bold;">Presious Passion's</span> gutsy effort for second in the race - running off like a sprinter at the beginning, yet still managing to get a big slice of the purse. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dar Re Mi</span> also ran a good race for third (overcoming some considerable traffic trouble), and we could see her <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/lord-lloyd-webber-turf-third-dar-re-mi-to-stay-in-training-next-year/651995/breederscup/">again next year</a>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conduit </span>will now retire to <a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/santa-anita-turf-conduit-reels-in-presious-passion-to-retain-crown/651310/breederscup/">stud in Japan</a>, and it's possible <span style="font-weight: bold;">Presious Passion</span> may also head to Asia - but in his case he'd be going to Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Vase.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Classic</span><br />Did <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rip Van Winkle's</span> feet bother him? Perhaps. But even if he had been in top form, it's difficult to imagine anyone having beaten <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> on the day, as she was perfection incarnate. It's easy to overlook the quality efforts put in by both <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gio Ponti</span> in second and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Twice Over</span> in third, but neither had any sort of chance against the giant mare. Poor <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span> had to check behind the slowing <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rip Van Winkle</span>, which essentially took him out of the race, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer Bird</span> did not have the best luck but still managed to be a closing fourth. But it was really all <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> - and while the Horse of the Year discussions will go on, they <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/11/on-zenyatta-rachel-alexandra-and-memory.html">really don't matter</a>; she's one of the greatest, and that's all anyone will remember.Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-37199011174317494802009-11-08T09:07:00.003-05:002009-11-08T10:58:31.256-05:00On Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra and Memory<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHOlt7g7gbbcIGp6DeazsFYZNNP5uVTe0dFYPo9NM14aDOp9P3offmjwgUxoC9rPpzaOvWdiS8TqEH65Hu4KLqTmkIaSHp4eQamePMavwb6smpjGfObXxQVfPhX4BSIN3pFyWMw/s1600-h/Picnik+collage.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 143px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHOlt7g7gbbcIGp6DeazsFYZNNP5uVTe0dFYPo9NM14aDOp9P3offmjwgUxoC9rPpzaOvWdiS8TqEH65Hu4KLqTmkIaSHp4eQamePMavwb6smpjGfObXxQVfPhX4BSIN3pFyWMw/s200/Picnik+collage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401742214207685826" border="0" /></a>Memory plays a very particular role in horse racing, and the journey from historical statistic into the realm of myth necessitates some editing of that memory.<br /><br />We remember that <span style="font-weight: bold;">Man o'War</span> won twenty out of twenty-one races, but we give special note to his single loss - losing to a horse named <span style="font-weight: bold;">Upset</span> only seemed that much more perfect; we often forget that loss came when he was a little-known two-year-old, and not the legend he would become. Like so much in horse racing folk-memory, it looks that much more predestined when seen in retrospect.<br /><br />We have similar blinkers on regarding <span style="font-weight: bold;">Secretariat</span> in that his rare losses also became part of his myth - <span style="font-style: italic;">of course</span> he lost at Saratoga, the Graveyard of Champions - how could he not? Even the nature of that loss is couched in the language of folklore - his vanquisher, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Onion</span>, was trained by "Giant Killer" Allen Jerkins. Although <span style="font-weight: bold;">Secretariat</span> was Horse of the Year at two, it's his three-year-old year we remember; nothing in Triple Crown history can compare to his Belmont victory, which is perhaps the most indelible image in the entire sport of horse racing. We do not ask what caliber of horse <span style="font-weight: bold;">Secretariat</span> beat, because, quite frankly, it does not matter.<br /><br />From our vantage point, it can be difficult to see <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ruffian</span> as anything other than the inevitably tragic heroine, hurtling toward her fate - we often overlook her record-shattering brilliance on the track because we know how the story ends, with a shattered leg. And yet she is still the benchmark for her sex - we still do not question what sort of competition she faced in the filly ranks, largely because she made any comparison to her peers irrelevant. Her memory had become part legend, part cautionary tale; despite considerable evidence that she was the product of a brilliant-but-fragile gene pool, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ruffian's</span> death came to be framed as the natural outcome of sending a filly against the colts - a useful bit of received wisdom to point to when explaining why American fillies so rarely faced off against colts in the modern era.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta </span>might be viewed as long-overdue avenging angels for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ruffian's</span> cause. One proved that a tough bay three-year-old filly can take on not only boys her own age, but could also emulate racing's heroines of old and beat older males; the other proved that it was possible for a mare of otherworldly size to beat males while maintaining a perfect record - both results which were denied <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ruffian</span>.<br /><br />We will not remember most of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra's </span>races against her own sex, save the Kentucky Oaks and her utter annihilation of the field by more than twenty lengths - we will remember her gritty Preakness victory, her runaway Haskell win and her hard-fought Woodward. The names of the other actors in her dramas may fade, but their roles will remain - we will remember that she beat the Kentucky Derby winner, the Belmont winner and the Stephen Foster winner. We will remember her milestones: the largest winning margins in Kentucky Oaks and Mother Goose history, the first filly to win the Preakness since 1924, the first filly or mare ever to win the Woodward.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta's</span> perfect record may have been curated by careful placement for much of her career, but the final gamble leading to her Breeders' Cup Classic victory proved that she had it in her all along to beat anything that came her way. The complaints about her relatively soft competition will not linger - we will only remember that she did not know how to lose, regardless of the field she faced. We will remember her quirks - her high-stepping, her pawing the ground in winner's circle after winner's circle, her sheer physical presence. We will remember how she towered over her competition, both literally and figuratively; given her size, coupled with her come-from-behind running style, she seemed like nothing less than a leviathan on the track, inhaling her lesser opponents in a final, devastating sweep.<br /><br />In the end, Horse of the Year will not matter; the votes of a select few will bestow that title on one (or, ideally, both) of these outstanding fillies, but our collective memory will do them a better sort of justice - we will count <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> among the very greatest horses ever to have graced the track.Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-65878179349901751602009-11-07T19:57:00.008-05:002009-11-07T21:26:05.783-05:00Zenyatta: Your Breeders' Cup Classic Champion<div align="center"><br /><img style="visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bT*xJmx*PTEyNTc2NDE4MzQ2MjImcHQ9MTI1NzY*MTg1MTQ*OCZwPTYyNTEmZD1jb2RlYm94Jmc9MSZvPTkzMWVjNDZiMTgzMDRlYWY4YmY5ZWZjMDM2ZGE1MDM3.gif" border="0" width="0" height="0" /> <a href="http://blingee.com/blingee/view/101939713-Zenyatta-2009" target="_blank" title="Myspace Glitter Graphics"><img alt="Zenyatta 2009" src="http://image.blingee.com/images17/content/output/000/000/000/613/521317639_767387.gif" title="Zenyatta 2009" border="0" width="400" height="285" /></a><br /></div><br />Some early press reports -<br /><br /><a href="http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/super-zenyatta-makes-breeders-cup-classic-history/651314/breederscup/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Racing Post</span>: Zenyatta Makes Breeders' Cup Classic History</a><br /><a href="http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/remarkable-zenyatta-takes-breeders-cup-classic-20091108-i381.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Age</span>: Remarkable Zenyatta Takes Breeders' Cup Classic</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/11/07/sports/sports-us-horse-racing-breeders-classic.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>: Zenyatta Stuns Males to Win Breeders' Cup Classic</a><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/sports/08racing.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>: Zenyatta Wins the Breeders' Cup</a><br /><a href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/53354/its-all-zenyatta-in-the-bc-classic"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Blood-Horse</span>: It's All Zenyatta in the BC Classic</a><br /><a href="http://drf.com/news/article/108810.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">Daily Racing Form</span>: Zenyatta Triumphs in Classic</a><br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/nov/08/zenyatta-wins-breeders-cup-classic"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Guardian</span>: Zenyatta Joins the Immortals with Sensational Win in Breeders' Cup Classic</a><br /><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/horseracing/6522867/Breeders-Cup-Zenyatta-provides-fairytale-finale-in-5m-Classic.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Telegraph</span>: Breeders Cup: Zenyatta provides fairytale finale in $5m Classic</a><br /><a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/racing/article6908265.ece"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Times</span>: Breathtaking Breeders’ Cup is all about the girl</a>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-38807110907217094352009-11-07T13:50:00.015-05:002009-11-07T21:29:28.950-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: SaturdayWe'll just go straight in for the commentary - latest updates always <a href="http://www.twitter.com/superfecta">on Twitter</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile Turf</span><br />I had <span style="font-weight: bold;">Viscount Nelson</span> with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pounced</span> in my exacta, so I won't be cashing any tickets, but it was a very professional effort by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pounced</span> (with more than a little help from Frankie Dettori). In any event, it's always fun to see Dettori in the winner's circle. Lady Serena Rothschild, his owner, reminds me of this:<br /><div align="center"><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TaAVtacOnic&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TaAVtacOnic&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turf Sprint</span><br />Nice to see Joe Talamo get a Breeders' Cup win - naturally, I had the other filly, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Diamondrella</span>, boxed in my exacta with <span style="font-weight: bold;">California Flag</span> - as well as <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cannonball</span>, who finished third. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gotta Have Her</span> put in a great run for second, even if she did ruin my ticket.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sprint</span><br />I only had <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fleeting Spirit </span>- obviously, she would have done better in the Turf Sprint. Wish I'd had the trifecta for this one! Still, Carla Gaines trains the winner, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dancing in Silks</span>, and I'm all for more female trainers winning Breeders' Cup races.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile</span><br />Ahmed Ajtebi is having <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/2009/03/jockeys-uae-style.html">quite a year</a> - he gave <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vale of York</span> a great ride.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mile</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GOL-D-KO-VA</span>! Clap, clap, clapclapclap! That's how it's done, folks.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dirt Mile</span><br />I had to dash out for that, but I'm glad I didn't bet it - I'd have had nothing. Really odd result.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Turf</span><br />What a great race - <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conduit </span>coming back to repeat, just like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> - and fine runs from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Presious Passion</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dar Re Mi</span>. At least I got $3 on her - but how exciting to see two champions successfully defend their titles.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Classic</span><br />The gate scratch of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quality Road</span> made everything peculiar - but what a result. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> proved everything and then some - and what great efforts from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gio Ponti</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Twice Over</span> as well.<br /><br />Let <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> share Horse of the Year - who needs the colts?Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-10628567004394925202009-11-06T15:09:00.011-05:002009-11-06T18:55:37.350-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Filly & Mare-athon Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/ntrastore_2079_11614522"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 222px;" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/ntrastore_2079_11614522" alt="Will I win enough to afford this handsome t-shirt?" border="0" /></a>The Breeders' Cup is finally upon us; from my vantage point (watching TVG), the weather looks perfect. We've had a few scratches - <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=43218">Kera's Kitten</a> in the Juvenile Turf, and <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.breederscup.com/content.aspx?id=43194">Allegre</a> from tomorrow's Turf - but at least in the case of the former race, the Ramsey barn has so many talented <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kitten's Joy</span> offspring floating around that they've been able to slot <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dean's Kitten</span> in as a replacement.<br /><br />While it does throw off our analysis a bit for that particular race (scroll down <a href="http://superfectablog.blogspot.com/search/label/Breeders%27%20Cup">here</a> if you missed any of 'insights' into each race), on the whole, we're sticking with our picks. Any exciting wagering wins will be reported - as will the usual 'why did I toss him/her out at the last minute?' wails.<br /><br />We'll be following along in real-time (except when day care pickup beckons) and will be posting some notes here, but you can get the most current thoughts <a href="http://www.twitter.com/superfecta">on Twitter</a>.<br /><br />Good luck and safe journeys to all the horses and jockeys - I do apologize for today's title.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Thoughts -<br /><br />Marathon<br /></span>What a fantastic finish - really outstanding efforts from both winner <span style="font-weight: bold;">Man of Iron</span> and runner-up <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cloudy's Knight</span>.<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Here's something to ponder: imagine what<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Better Than Honour's </span>stud fee would be if she were a stallion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile Fillies Turf</span><br />I'd gone off <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lillie Langtry</span> last night after hearing about how she'd been taking to California (not well); <span style="font-weight: bold;">Smart Seattle</span> didn't have a good trip, so I'd draw a line through this one for her, but I'm very glad I threw a last-minute bet on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tapitsfly</span>. I assumed she was going to be close to her morning-line odds, but when I noticed she drifted up, I was very excited. Nice win for the grey filly.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Juvenile Fillies</span><br />Well, I did get a piece of the action with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Blind Luck's</span> third - really good effort from <span style="font-weight: bold;">She Be Wild</span>. Poor <span style="font-weight: bold;">Biofuel</span> did not get the best of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Filly & Mare Turf</span><br />Should have stuck with my gut - I jumped off <span style="font-weight: bold;">Midday</span> before the race. Whoops.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Filly & Mare Sprint</span><br />So much for my<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Sara Louise/Ventura</span> exacta. I had no good reason to ignore <span style="font-weight: bold;">Informed Decision</span>, just didn't like her odds. Handicapping FAIL.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Filly & Mare Classic</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Life Is Sweet</span> is pretty sweet on her own. Without <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> to overshadow her, she was a game winner. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Careless Jewel </span>just ran off. Nice run from <span style="font-weight: bold;">Music Note</span> as well. One wonders if trainer John Shirreffs had any pressure to run his two star mares in different races - it's always a good idea to spread the risk!<br /><br />I'm very encouraged by Julien Leparoux's day so far - I would love to see him win the Classic on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span> tomorrow. See you then!Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-49518546663978410222009-11-05T10:20:00.001-05:002009-11-05T10:20:00.479-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Classic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2009/03-08/einstein101b_cp_400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 286px; height: 190px;" src="http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2009/03-08/einstein101b_cp_400.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mine That Bird</span>, Chip Woolley, C. Borel, 12-1<br />Perhaps unfairly overlooked; he does have the rail and Bo-Rail.<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Colonel John</span>, Eoin Harty, G. Gomez, 12-1<br />Solid runner is flying a bit under the radar.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Summer Bird</span>, Tim Ice, K. Desormeaux, 9/2<br />Gets better and better each time out - can't wait to see him again next year.<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span>, John Shirreffs, M. Smith, 5/2<br />Her numbers and recent competition are the biggest concern - she looks amazing. Perhaps she just does all she needs to? In any case, it's great to see her here.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Twice Over</span> (GB), Henry Cecil, T. Queally, 20-1<br />Tough European seems to offer great value here.<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Richard's Kid</span>, Bob Baffert, A. Solis, 12-1<br />The mystery horse; was his shock upset of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span> the beginning of a pattern? His works have drawn raves.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gio Ponti</span>, Christophe Clement, R. Dominguez, 12-1<br />Solid, honest horse who happens to beat just about everybody - without garnering much acclaim. Great spot here.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Einstein</span> (BRZ), Helen Pitts-Blasi, J. Leparoux, 12-1<br />He's got the ability, he just needs the luck - would love to see him (pictured) go out on a win, especially for Pitts-Blasi.<br /><br />9 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Girolamo</span>, Saeed Bin Suroor, A. Garcia, 20-1<br />Three-race win streak is more G2 level, but he does have talent.<br /><br />10 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rip Van Winkle</span> (IRE), Aiden O'Brien, J. Murtagh, 7/2<br />If his foot doesn't bother him, he wins - if it does, he finishes up the track.<br /><br />11 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Regal Ransom</span>, Saeed Bin Suroor, R. Migliore, 20-1<br />Came back from a post-Derby layoff with a win in the Super Derby; hard to evaluate where he sits.<br /><br />12 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Quality Road</span>, Todd Pletcher, J. Velazquez, 12-1<br />Would have preferred to see him in the Dirt Mile - or even the Mile, given his Aussie breeding. Next time?<br /><br />13 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Awesome Gem</span>, Craig Dollase, D. Flores, 30-1<br />Will he hit the board again? He did in the 2007 edition of this race.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ideal world: Einstein & Zenyatta DH for first, Gio Ponti takes second, Summer Bird third</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Rip Van Winkle, Einstein, Gio Ponti, Twice Over</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-3568588152560600172009-11-05T10:15:00.001-05:002009-11-05T10:48:57.208-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Turf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04_04/DaReMi2504_468x400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 248px; height: 211px;" src="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/04_04/DaReMi2504_468x400.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Telling</span>, Steve Hobby, J. Castellano, 20-1<br />Sword Dancer winner is competitive with American turf runners, if not often in the winner's circle.<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Conduit </span>(IRE), Sir Michael Stoute, R. Moore, 7/5<br />Wins almost every time he does not face <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea the Stars</span> - a worthy returning champion.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Red Rocks </span>(IRE), B.J. Meehan, J. Leparoux, 20-1<br />2007 winner of this race has struggled to find his best form this year.<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Allegre</span>, Brian Koriner, J. Velazquez, 50-1<br />Big step up in class; distance may also be a concern.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dar Re Mi</span> (GB), John Gosden, L. Dettori, 3-1<br />Second to<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Zarkava</span> last year and beat <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stacelita</span> (let's be honest) - good result in the Arc (pictured).<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Presious Passion</span>, Mary Hartmann, E. Trujillo, 4-1<br />Best US-based chance in the race; always gives his all.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Spanish Moon</span>, Sir Michael Stoute, K. Fallon, 5/2<br />Very solid European performer (although American by birth) is a strong threat here.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Monzante</span>, Mike Mitchell, R. Bejarano, 30-1<br />Recent form does not suggest a huge threat here.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Dar Re Mi, Conduit, Spanish Moon, Presious Passion</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-76088710500209500702009-11-05T10:07:00.000-05:002009-11-05T10:07:00.052-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Dirt Mile<a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2009/6/15/1245090443095/Mastercraftsman-ridden-by-001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 289px; height: 173px;" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2009/6/15/1245090443095/Mastercraftsman-ridden-by-001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mastercraftsman</span> (IRE), Aiden P. O'Brien, J. Murtagh, 6/5<br />Class of the field, no question (pictured).<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Furthest Land</span>, Michael J. Maker, J. Leparoux, 20-1<br />Won Kentucky Cup Classic last time, but he's not beaten much.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Midshipman</span>, Saeed Bin Suroor, G. Gomez, 6-1<br />Only blemish is a second in last year's Norfolk Stakes; second start off a long layoff.<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bullsbay</span>, H. Graham Motion, J. Rose, 3-1<br />His third behind <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rachel Alexandra</span> in the Woodward is closer than most horses can claim to have come.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Neko Bay</span>, John Shirreffs, M. Smith, 20-1<br />Always first or second at Santa Anita, but against lesser opponents.<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mambo Meister</span>, Philip A. Gleaves, M. Cruz, 30-1<br />Has a win last time out; seems more of a G3 performer.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pyro</span>, Saeed Bin Suroor, J. Velazquez, 10-1<br />Didn't do much in this race last year, but has done well since returning to the races late this summer.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mr. Sidney</span>, William Mott, K. Desormeaux, 12-1<br />Well-bred underachiever could use a win, but has faced some quality competition.<br /><br />9 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocolate Candy</span>, Jerry Hollendorfer, J. Rosario, 15-1<br />Has been earning his keep the hard way, but has more talent than that might indicate.<br /><br />10 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ready's Echo</span>, Todd Pletcher, C. Borel, 20-1<br />Remember how he dead-heated for third in the Belmont behind <span style="font-weight: bold;">Da'Tara</span>? No? Still winless.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Mastercraftsman, Bullsbay, Midshipman, Pyro; longshot: Chocolate Candy</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-2274521535341726882009-11-05T10:00:00.000-05:002009-11-05T10:00:04.717-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Mile<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2009/8/2/1249246645159/Goldikova-pictured-at-New-001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 164px;" src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/columnists/2009/8/2/1249246645159/Goldikova-pictured-at-New-001.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Court Vision</span>, Richard Dutrow, Jr., R. Albarado, 12-1<br />Looked good last time out, but this is a tall order.<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Whatsthescript </span>(IRE), John W. Sadler, K. Desormeaux, 15-1<br />Third in this race last year; has not won since August of the same.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cowboy Cal</span>, Todd Pletcher, J. Velazquez, 6-1<br />Won the Oak Tree Mile last time out; as with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Court Vision</span>, the distance seems a better fit for him, but it's a big stage.<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Delegator</span> (GB), Saeed Bin Suroor, L. Dettori, 3-1<br />A notch below horses like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sea the Stars</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mastercraftsman</span>, but could snag a win if <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> has an off day.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Karelian</span>, George R. Arnold II, R. Maragh, 20-1<br />Second to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Court Vision</span> last time out; big step up in class.<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Courageous Cat</span>, William Mott, G. Gomez, 20-1<br />3-year-old seems to be developing nicely - perhaps next year.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ferneley</span> (IRE), Ben Cecil, R. Bejarano, 20-1<br />Beat <span style="font-weight: bold;">Allicansayis Wow</span>, second to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ventura</span>. Likely to finish behind <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span>.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zacinto</span> (GB), Sir Michael Stoute, R. Moore, 8-1<br />Most recently second to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rip Van Winkle</span> at Ascot.<br /><br />9 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gladiatorus</span>, Saeed Bin Suroor, A. Ajtebi, 20-1<br />Formerly the world's highest-rated racehorse (according to Timeform), he's been hit and miss since then.<br /><br />10 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Justenuffhumor</span>, Kiaran McLaughlin, A. Garcia, 10-1<br />Ultra-consistent until last time out.<br /><br />11 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Goldikova</span> (IRE), O. Peslier, 8/5<br />The reigning champ (pictured) should equal <span style="font-weight: bold;">Miesque's</span> feat and repeat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Goldikova, Zacinto, Delegator, Ferneley</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-6186342700430881382009-11-05T09:52:00.001-05:002009-11-05T09:52:00.208-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Juvenile<a style="font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.racingpost.com/2009/Oct/10996.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 269px; height: 164px;" src="http://images.racingpost.com/2009/Oct/10996.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alfred Nobel</span> (IRE), Aiden P. O'Brien, J. Murtagh, 20-1<br />Has G1 and G2 wins in Europe, not as lucky his last few races.<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Piscitelli</span>, Gregory D. Sacco, K. Desormeaux, 50-1<br />Maiden by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Victory Gallop</span>.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Beethoven</span> (IRE), Aiden P. O'Brien, R. Moore, 20-1<br />Ten lifetime starts, has faced many tough European contenders (pictured).<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Noble's Promise</span>, Kenneth McPeek, W. Martinez, 8-1<br />Undefeated - in two starts, but one was a G1.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">D'Funnybone</span>, Richard Dutrow, Jr., E. Prado, 5/2<br />Has two G2 wins coming into this race.<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pulsion</span>, Patrick L. Biancone, M. Smith, 20-1<br />Second in one lifetime start.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Vale of York</span> (IRE), Saeed Bin Suroor, A. Ajtebi, 20-1<br />Competitive in solid company in Europe - last start in Italy.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Eskendereya</span>, Todd Pletcher, J. Castellano, 10-1<br />Regally-bred son of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Giants Causeway</span> has a win from 1 start.<br /><br />9 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aikenite</span>, Todd Pletcher, A. Garcia, 8-1<br />Third and second in two G1 races; aims for a win.<br /><br />10 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Aspire</span>, Eddie Kenneally, J. Leparoux, 30-1<br />Second in the Hopeful, third in the Champagne.<br /><br />11 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Radiohead</span> (GB), M. Dwyer, 15-1<br />Winner of the (British) Norfolk Stakes has not been as lucky since, but gets Lasix this time.<br /><br />12 <span style="font-weight: bold;">William's Kitten</span>, Michael J. Maker, R. Dominguez, 30-1<br />Ramsey homebred has one win from two starts.<br /><br />13 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lookin At Lucky</span>, Bob Baffert, G. Gomez, 8/5<br />Undefeated winner of the (California) Norfolk Stakes<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Beethoven, Lookin At Lucky, Radiohead, Aikenite</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-67403287971932398172009-11-05T09:47:00.000-05:002009-11-05T09:47:00.262-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Sprint<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/content/ZensationalBingCrosby09Ben298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 190px;" src="http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/content/ZensationalBingCrosby09Ben298.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zensational</span>, Bob Baffert, V. Espinoza, 7/5<br />Likely the fastest horse in training (pictured); will the post position hurt?<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost of Freedom</span>, John Sadler, T. Baze, 20-1<br />Won the Ancient Title here...last year.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fatal Bullet</span>, Reade Baker, E. Da Silva, 9/2<br />Speedy 4-year-old loves synthetics; second in this race last year.<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Crown of Thorns</span>, Richard E. Mandella, R. Bejarano, 12-1<br />Seems to be improving after a long layoff, but probably not ready for this company.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gayego</span>, Saeed Bin Suroor, G. Gomez, 5/2<br />Ex-Derby candidate successfully reborn as a sprinter; can he keep up with <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zensational</span>?<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Dancing in Silks</span>, Carla Gaines, J. Rosario, 12-1<br />Step up in class for improving gelding.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Join in the Dance</span>, Todd A. Pletcher, J. Velazquez, 30-1<br />Has yet to win a race.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Capt. Candyman Can</span>, Ian Wilkes, J. Castellano, 15-1<br />3-year-old has thrived at sprinting distances.<br /><br />9 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Fleeting Spirit</span> (IRE), Jeremy Noseda, L. Dettori, 8-1<br />Always competitive with the world's best turf sprinters; classy mare could pick up the pieces.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Zensational, Fleeting Spirit, Fatal Bullet, Capt. Candyman Can</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-930791419526207772009-11-05T09:32:00.003-05:002009-11-05T09:32:00.191-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Juvenile Turf<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.drf.com/images/interactif_274x350_110509.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 193px;" src="http://www.drf.com/images/interactif_274x350_110509.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zip Quik</span>, Patrick L. Biancone, M. Smith, 50-1<br />Has 1 win so far, from 5 starts; often in the money.<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Viscount Nelson</span>, Aiden P. O'Brien, J. Murtagh, 6-1<br />Lovely breeding, some nice European wins so far.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Codoy</span>, Mark Hubley, G. Gomez, 15-1<br />Second to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Interactif</span> (pictured) in the Bourbon at Keeneland.<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pounced</span>, John Gosden, L. Dettori, 9/2<br />Very American-bred colt returns from Europe; second in G2 company there.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gallant Gent</span>, Craig A. Lewis, J. Rosario, 30-1<br />Third in the Norfolk.<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Awesome Act</span>, Jeremy Noseda, R. Moore, 20-1<br />Another Euromerican, like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Pounced</span>, although only has a maiden win.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bridgetown</span>, Kenneth McPeek, R. Landry, 8-1<br />Won the G3 Summer Stakes at Woodbine.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">King Ledley</span>, Darrin Miller, R. Bejarano, 20-1<br />Yet another US-bred coming from Europe; has 8 lifetime starts, 1 win.<br /><br />9 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kera's Kitten</span>, Michael J. Maker, R. Maragh, 12-1<br />Ramsey homebred has a turf win.<br /><br />10 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Becky's Kitten</span>, Wesley Ward, J. Leparoux, 12-1<br />Another Ramsey Kitten, this one second in the Summer Stakes<br /><br />11 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Interactif</span>, Todd Pletcher, K. Desormeaux, 4-1<br />Has 2 G3 wins on turf - will that form translate?<br /><br />12 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Buzzword</span> (GB), Saeed Bin Suroor, A. Ajtebi, 6-1<br />G3 winner in France; not as lucky in G1 company.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Viscount Nelson, Pounced, Interactif, Becky's Kitten</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27523891.post-43922941995367210912009-11-04T10:52:00.005-05:002009-11-04T22:31:10.864-05:00Breeders' Cup 2009: Filly & Mare Classic<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/content/CarelessJewelAlabama09AC298.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 246px; height: 186px;" src="http://www.bloodhorse.com/images/content/CarelessJewelAlabama09AC298.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">#, Horse, Trainer, Jockey, ML odds</span><br /><br />1 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Careless Jewel</span>, Josie Carroll, R. Landry, 2-1<br />Looks absolutely outstanding here - and it would be great to see a female trainer score a big win.<br /><br />2 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Life Is Sweet</span>, John Shirreffs, G. Gomez, 8-1<br />Although she has a chance to step out of stablemate <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta's</span> shadow, this may not be her day.<br /><br />3 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mushka</span>, William Mott, K. Desormeaux, 12-1<br />Has a 2-win streak (of sorts - see below) and won over Keeneland's synthetic surface - will she like this one?<br /><br />4 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Lethal Heat</span>, Barry Abrams, A. Solis, 20-1<br />Her recent record of running in third and second will not help her here.<br /><br />5 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Proviso</span> (GB), Robert J. Frankel, J. Velazquez, 8-1<br />Gave Mushka her Spinster Stakes win - by DQ - but that was her 1st US start. Winner in France.<br /><br />6 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Cocoa Beach</span> (CHI), Saeed Bin Suroor, R. Migliore, 8-1<br />Second to <span style="font-weight: bold;">Zenyatta</span> in this race last year; her form this year isn't quite up to last year's standards.<br /><br />7 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Music Note</span>, Saeed Bin Suroor, J. Castellano, 9/5<br />Reeled off 2 G1 wins in a row and will be a strong contender.<br /><br />8 <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rainbow View</span>, John Gosden, J. Leparoux, 6-1<br />Second in her 1st North American start, she's been a few lengths behind the very best European competition.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Picks: Careless Jewel</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Music Note</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Rainbow View</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Life Is Sweet</span>Superfectahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13160193760814449962noreply@blogger.com2