ZENYATTA PROVES STRONG; CURLIN DISAPPOINTS HIS FANS
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Starting three days ago were the Breeders' Cup World Championship races. First Friday, then Saturday.
On Friday, the Filly and Mare Sprint went to Ventura.
Forever Together won the Filly and Mare Turf.
Stardom Bound won the Juvenile Fillies.
Maram won the Juvenile Fillies Turf.
In the last race, Zenyatta surprised everyone when she won the Ladies Classic from last place. We knew she could do it, yet we didn't have enough belief that she really could.
She was the favorite breaking from post number one. She broke slowly, and jockey Mike Smith slowed her even more to last place as they went around the first turn in a little over 23 seconds. Ginger Punch, who was supposedly Zenyatta's biggest rival, was fourth.
The half mile was slow, in just over 58 seconds (generally half miles are run in 47 or under).
Coming around the far turn, it looked as if Zenyatta wouldn't do it. But she was not about to let everyone down. She gave all she had, passing horses and going five wide around the turn. Going so wide took away a lot of time, and by the time she was around the far turn, the other fillies and mares were about four or five lengths ahead. It looked as if this would be the first loss for the undefeated four-year-old.
But Zenyatta still had more.
After about two suggestive whips from her jockey, she reached into herself and pulled out a little bit more speed. With her ears pricked forward, looking for more competition, the speed she had given was enough to move her in front and past the finish pole.
Zenyatta had done it again.
On Saturday, Muhannak captured the Breeders' Cup Marathon.
Donativum captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Conduit won the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Albertus Maximus won the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.
Goldikova, a filly, won the Breeders' Cup Mile in a surprising race.
Midshipman won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Midnight Lute captured the Breeders' Cup Sprint for a second time (he won it last year).
Desert Code captured the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.
And, as many of you know, Curlin disappointed everyone (except me) when he was fourth in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
He was in the nine starting position. Right from the start, he wasn't the same Curlin. He broke slowly, and he was rather far back for most of the race. When the last turn came, jockey Robby Albarado pushed Curlin to his top speed. Curlin came somewhat wide, in a race much like that of Zenyatta; he was leading halfway down the stretch, and then Raven's Pass, Henrythenavigator and Tiago began to gain on him. It looked as if Henrythenavigator would win, but Raven's Pass gave an extra effort at the end and won the race. This was jockey Frank Detorri's second win today.
Most say that the synthetic surface of the racetrack, which Curlin had never raced on, was what had happened. Some say he was pushed to early. But I personally think that yes, the synthetic was the problem, and also his jockey was probably under a lot of pressure, so was more likely to make a mistake, like he did in pushing Curlin too early. I also think Big Brown could've won it. He's raced and won on turf, which is almost exactly like synthetic. Curlin never has.
The leading jockey of the 2008 Breeders' Cup World Championships was Garret "Go-go" Gomez. He won four Breeders' Cup races.
Now for the Kentucky Derby!! ~Equine Lover
Monday, October 27, 2008
Equine Daily--The Equine World's Top Headline of the Day
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Equine Daily--The Equine World's Top Headline of the Day
CURLIN PULLS POST NINE
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Horse of the Year and defending champion of last years Breeders' Cup Classic (GI) Curlin drew post nine October 21.
The son of Smart Strike, he is the current favorite at 7-5 odds. He will be facing eleven rivals in this year's Classic. Unfortunately, as we all know, these rivals do not include Big Brown, winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI) and Preakness Stakes (GI).
Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Curlin, stated it was a perfect position. "It's a fine draw; there is plenty of run to the first turn. It's a perfect spot."
The Classic will be run at 1 1/4 miles on Santa Anita's Pro-Ride synthetic surface. This marks the first time that the race will be run on this surface.
Curlin made his last start September 27 in Belmont Park's Jockey Club Gold Cup (GI), which he won by three quarters of a length. He is stabled and worked at Santa Anita, but has never been run on synthetic surfaces. This apparently does not phase him or his fans, however.
Asmussen stated, "He's trained on the synthetic, here and at Keeneland. I think a higher percentage of horses train well over it than run over it. However, we are excited about the opportunity to race here."
Asmussen will also send out Grade I winner Student Council, who drew the number seven post and won the Pimlico Special (GI).
Curlin races for Stonestreet Stables and the stable's principal, Jess Jackson. Barbara Banke, his wife, said at the post position draw, "This is a great field, but we have confidence."
When asked if this would be Curlin's last race, she replied, "We hope not, but that's up to my husband. We'll see. Let's get through Saturday first."
Among the eleven challengers are Raven's Pass (odds of 6-1), Henrythenavigator (10-1), and Duke of Marmalade (10-1). These are all European horses, and are in the quarantine barn to avoid the spread of foreign diseases. Duke of Marmalade is rated as the top Thoroughbred in Europe, but he surrendered to the field in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) in which he finished a disappointing seventh.
Colonel John also appears, with Edgar Prado on top. He won the Travers Stakes by a nose over Mambo in Seattle, and although his owner thinks highly of him, the fans do not, and have put him at odds of 20-1.
Get ready for Saturday! ~Equine Lover
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Equine Daily--The Equine World's Top Headline of the Day
TOE GRABS BANNED AT CHURCHILL
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Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby (GI), has banned the use of toe grabs on their track.
The ban is in effect now. The policy applies to all horses in training and/or racing at Churchill Downs, Arlington Park, Calder Race Course, and Fair Grounds Race Course. It states:
"Front horse shoes which have toe grabs greater than two millimeters shall be prohibited from racing or training on all racing surfaces at all Churchill Downs Incorporated racetracks. This includes but is not limited to the following: toe grabs, bends, jar calks, stickers and any other traction device worn on the front shoes of Thoroughbred horses. Any hind shoe with a turndown of more than one-quarter inch will not be allowed on the dirt courses. Hind shoes with calks, stickers, blocks, raised toes or turndowns will not be allowed on the turf courses. This includes quarter horse shoes or any shoe with a toe grab of more than one-quarter inch.
"Our change in policy is another positive step toward improving the welfare and safety of our equine and human athletes, and it's consistent with the recommendations of The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Safety Committee, TOBA's Thoroughbred Action Committee, and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission to address safety in horse racing," said Donnie Richardson, senior vice president of racing at Churchill Downs Inc. ~Equine Lover
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Equine Daily--The Equine World's Top Headline of the Day
BREEDERS' CUP POST TIMES ANNOUNCED
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The post times for the 14 (plus 8 others, not Breeders' Cup races) races in the Breeders' Cup World Championships were announced September 29.
The official race order of the 25th running of the events will be announced Thursday, October 16. Each race will feature a maximum of fourteen horses, with the exceptions of the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, the Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf and the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, which will feature a maximum of twelve racers.
On the Friday program are a total of 10 races. Five of them are Breeders' Cup races. The first post time is 2:05 pm ET and 1:05 pm CT. The Breeders' Cup race post time begins at 3:35 pm ET, 2:25 pm CT. ESPN2 will host all five, which include the $1 million Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; $1 million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf; $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies; $2 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf; and the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic.
On Saturday, October 25, eleven races will take place, nine of them Breeders' Cup races; they are: $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon; $1 million Grey Goose Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf; $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile; $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint; $2 million Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile; $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile, $2 million Sentient Flight Group Breeders' Cup Sprint, $3 million Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf and the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic. Coverage will be on ABC at 1:00 pm ET, 12:00 pm CT. ~Equine Lover
