Down the Backstretch ...

Rachel is gonna RUN!

2009-05-12T20:55:00.006-05:00

Finally! After the sale! After the jockey decision! After all the drama! All the ridiculous "collusion" and "plots" to keep her out of the race! It looks like she really is gonna make it to the Preakness on Saturday! Which means the BOYS had better WATCH OUT!

I honestly cannot imagine a horse on this EARTH - male, female or "other" LOL - beating this filly! Seriously. I have NEVER seen a horse like her in my lifetime! That's saying a lot! Granted I was not around when the ill-fated Ruffian ran, or Secretariat, or Seattle Slew or even Affirmed. But I think Rachel Alexandra might be right up there with that crowd - for sure!

Now I may be over hyping her just a bit because she didn't have a lot of competition in the Oaks on May 1st. Had Stardom Bound or Justwhistledixie made it maybe it wouldn't have been such a HUGE victory (I mean, 20 1/4 lengths is INSANE for ANY race ... let alone a race like the Kentucky Oaks!). We don't know if she could beat a proven mare like Zenyatta even ... boy would I pay good money to see that race! I'd fly across the WORLD to see it in person if I could!

But just as we saw Rags to Riches spin in the almighty Curlin's face on Belmont day two years ago ... I think we are going to see Rachel absolutely RUN AWAY from these boys in a few days. If not, I will gladly eat my words! I think the whole industry will. She is a freak. A tank. She is bigger than most of these colts (and geldings - counting the Derby winner, Mine that Bird). No reason at all to think she can't run with them ... and past them!

I cannot wait for Saturday afternoon! The sport needs this, desperately! A breath of fresh air! It's going to be great!! GO RACHEL!!! I just wish she had run on May 2nd instead of May 1st, because I swear ... not only would we be potentially looking at a superstar filly, we would be looking at our first Triple Crown winner in 29 years and our first Triple Crown winning FILLY in the history of the sport!

Just wait and see! :)

Calvin will be looking over his shoulder again on Saturday ... but it will be his Derby winning mount Mine that Bird, and the rest of the boys, who will be BEHIND him this time!

Speaking of Calvin, he's on Jay Leno tonight! Can't wait to see him ... love it when he gets this kind of recognition. The man is a legend, truly. Too underrated in our sport and I'm thrilled that he's getting the limelight again, just like he did in 2007 with Street Sense. Couldn't happen to a better guy!

Calvin FLIES!

2009-05-04T00:15:00.009-05:00

It's official! Calvin Borel is the KING of Churchill Downs!

Mine that Bird! From last to first to win by almost 7 lengths! The 2nd biggest long shot in the 135 years of Derby history!

Meant to post something about it yesterday but I was just so jubilant I couldn't form more than a single sentence! Definitely didn't see it coming, even though around 11:45 a.m. CST I had posted a "tweet" that mentioned how "on fire" Calvin was and that maybe he just might "fly" in the Derby as well. Little did I know how accurate that casual statement would turn out to be!

Between Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks and Mine that Bird in the Derby ... Calvin really had an incredible weekend! And it could not happen to a better guy! Who didn't fall in love with Calvin Borel in 2007 when he won the Derby astride Street Sense (my pick for that year!)?!? He is just a JOY to watch. No words can describe it ...

Just watch ... I know it is 10 minutes long but I promise you won't be sorry!!! If you haven't seen it ... which I can't imagine since people have been replaying it everywhere ... please take a few minutes just to check it out. Calvin is always fun to watch after a win, especially after a big win! Plus, you HAVE to appreciate the WAY he won. The way he came through on the rail - when there was virtually NO room to come THROUGH - is just unbelievably incredible. I promise you won't even see him coming until it's too late! Only Calvin Bo-RAIL could possibly pull off such a move! It's why he's such a legend in the sport!

I ended up sticking with Dunkirk, but I also had Pioneerof the Nile (finished 2nd), Friesan Fire, Chocolate Candy (finished 5th) AND Mine that Bird on my top list by 12 noon Saturday. Who knew I'd pick three of the top 5 finishers? Not bad. Dunkirk (finished 11th) stumbled at the start so within seconds of the break I knew he was out - unless he managed to pull off a miracle. My eyes were on him when the gate opened and I saw him go down to his knees. At that second I knew it was over for him, especially after he got caught behind a wall of horses on the first turn and didn't seem to settle well. Sadly, it wasn't meant to be. He ended up grabbing a quarter and injuring himself, though he didn't injure himself as badly as Friesan Fire (finished 18th) did. The post-time favorite finished 2nd to LAST, and was badly injured! Basically he came out of the race with only one good leg left. He will be fine, the injuries aren't life threatening or career-ending ... but will certainly set him back a while. Felt bad for Todd Pletcher and Larry Jones, respectively ... Todd at least will have another try but this was Larry's last Derby (since he is retiring this year). It really is too bad. :( Still believe they were two of the best horses in the race, but the big thing about the Derby is that you need a little LUCK to win it. Not just the best horse.

Waking up to the news that the morning-line favorite I Want Revenge had been SCRATCHED was the REAL shocker of the day, though, I must say. Even more shocking than Mine that Bird's ridiculous upset at 50-1 odds! Find out today that Revenge would be dead right now had they not taken precautions to scratch him from the race, so it certainly is a good thing they did. Felt really bad for Joe Talamo, the kid was really excited about his first Derby (at age 19, though, he has plenty of Derbys ahead of him). At least the horse is safe and all of the horses survived the race this year. The Eight Belles tribute they did had me with tears streaming down my face, more than once. Our industry has come a long way in the last year though, so credit must be given where credit is due. Eight Belles' death was NOT in vain.

Still could not be happier for Calvin Bo-RAIL. What a ride that was. Certainly one for the history books, and even more impressive than what he did with Street Sense two years ago. This guy deserves so much more respect than he gets, and I'm glad now that he has TWO Derby wins under his belt he is getting some. He is an enigma. We'll see if they really do go on to the Preakness. I don't believe for a moment that Mine that Bird is a Triple Crown contender, but if he is I will gladly eat my words! The best thing the little gelding has going for him is his jockey. If anyone can get it done ... it is Calvin Borel! What a horseman he is! No other jockey would have had the guts to get through the hole on the rail he squeezed that horse through ... it truly is awe inspiring! Just what this sport needs ... again! Love you Calvin!!

Still reeling over Rachel Alexandra in the Oaks. I don't believe we've ever seen a horse match what she did, and as impressive as Mine that Bird was in the Derby ... well ... Rachel Alexandra was easily 10 times better. Somehow the incredible field that ran Saturday evening in the most prestigious race in the sport all backed up and allowed Mine that Bird to dominate. But I truly believe that Rachel Alexandra is better than all of those boys put together. She was THAT great, she IS that great! I know they won't do it since word is they are pointing her toward the Acorn ... but it would be lovely to see her race in either the Preakness or Belmont (like Rags to Riches did in 2007).

Either way ... Calvin Borel is the man of the year! No doubt! Last time he had dinner with the Queen of England. Who will he meet now? The sky is the limit for this amazing, brave, humble, talented, colorful man!!

P.S. Here are my "tweets" from yesterday ... after Calvin won a race on the undercard at Churchill ... timestamped to prove that I'm not just blowing smoke LOL! Granted I wasn't totally serious, but I did have my eye on Calvin's horse after that!

Dunkirk, Friesan Fire, Chocolate Candy, Mine That Bird, Pioneerof the Nile.11:47 AM May 2nd from TwitterFon
Calvin Borel is on FIRE @ Churchill!!!! Maybe a "Bird" will fly in the Derby?!?11:44 AM May 2nd from TwitterFon

2009 Kentucky Derby Complete Finish

No. 1 --- Mine That Bird, by 6-3/4 lengths
No. 2 --- Pioneerof The Nile, by a nose
No. 3 --- Musket Man, by a head
No. 4 --- Papa Clem, by 6
No. 5 --- Chocolate Candy, by a head
No. 6 --- Summer Bird, by 6-1/4 (is another Birdstone son)
No. 7 --- Join in the Dance, by 1/2
No. 8 --- Regal Ransom, by 3/4
No. 9 --- West Side Bernie, by 2
No.10 --- General Quarters, by 1-1/2
No.11 --- Dunkirk, by 1-1/2
No.12 --- Hold Me Back, by 1/2
No.13 --- Advice, by 3/4
No.14 --- Desert Party, by 1-1/4
No.15 --- Mr. Hot Stuff, by 8-1/2
No.16 --- Atomic Rain, by 3-1/2
No.17 --- Nowhere to Hide, by 7-1/2
No.18 --- Friesan Fire, by 1-1/4
No.19 --- Flying Private

Derby less than 20 hours away ... but today was all about the LADIES (and WOW)!

2009-05-01T23:23:00.007-05:00

All I can say is ... Oh. My. GOD!

Rachel Alexandra might just be the best horse of my lifetime (so far). Just. WOW. There are no words. I knew she was good but ... holy crap! You just have to see for yourself! YOU REALLY HAVE TO SEE IT TO BELIEVE IT!!

The next Ruffian. Maybe even better. She is an absolute FREAK (for those who don't know, in horse racing, that is a GOOD thing)!

To win by 20+ lengths without Calvin Borel even TOUCHING her is just ... indescribable. Truly! Un-be-liev-able! We probably haven't seen anything that impressive since Secretariat's 31-length romp in the Belmont Stakes and that was 36 years ago!!! It's not the distance by which she won, it's HOW she won. Completely in-hand, with no urging at all. I swear she didn't even break a sweat! To win by that much with so little effort is almost frightening!

Calvin is always a joy to watch anyway, but to see him on this filly is even more exciting because she is just so ... above and beyond anything we've seen in so long! Can't imagine there is anything she CAN'T do!

Wow!

I highly doubt any of the colts running in a few hours in the Derby will come close to matching this performance. In fact, I can almost guarantee they won't touch what she has done here. That, my friends, is the safest bet you can make today - for certain!

As for the Derby itself ... the track conditions are screaming for Friesan Fire to waltz home with the roses. But I'm not giving up on Dunkirk, I Want Revenge or even Pioneerof the Nile quite so easily. I just wish all of my earliest favorites hadn't been pulled out of the race because I have NEVER been this indecisive about a Derby - at least not in recent memory. In 9+ years, not since FuPeg, have I not had a pick for the Derby on the night before. This is rare. We'll see what happens tomorrow!

Who do I like today?

2009-04-29T23:51:00.006-05:00

This is unusual.

I honestly cannot make my Derby pick. So many of the best horses are out. All of my favorites. All of the horses I WOULD have had at the very top of my list. Okay, maybe not ALL ... but most of them - for certain.

Old Fashioned, retired. The Pamplemousse, out for 6 months to a year. Stardom Bound, out. Square Eddie, was back in - now he's out again. Even Quality Road's quarter crack issues forced him to pull out. So WHO is going to win the Derby in just a few days? I have no freaking clue!

Dunkirk (left)is my "gut feeling" horse at this very moment in time. He's my Barbaro. My Street Sense. My Big Brown. Unless something changes before Saturday morning, I think my gut wants me to stick with him. I want Pletcher to win his first Derby, too. It's time for him to get his roses.

BUT ...

I Want Revenge (below) is just too damn impressive. Don't get me wrong, so are all the other horses. But Revenge just has that ability to get it done no matter WHAT. He's already shown he can overcome adversity, and that is a HUGE plus in the Kentucky Derby. Something most three-year-olds never even have a chance to prove before they enter that starting gate on the first Saturday in May. Well, he already has shown us that talent and more. Plus, Joe Talamo might be young but that kid is ON FIRE. His pledge to donate $25,000 to a Children's Hospital in New Orleans if he wins is just the icing on the cake.

Fresian Fire, Chocolate Candy, Hold Me Back, Pioneerof the Nile ... they all have my attention as well. So in the end, I just don't know. We'll see.

What I do know is that I am probably more excited for Zenyatta's return on FRIDAY right now than anything else! So that is good. That's almost a sure bet right there! ;)

I'll be glad when Saturday night comes along and I can start rooting for my Triple Crown horse ... instead of the Derby horse. That's always a little easier!

My current Derby contender list ...

2009-03-21T18:14:00.011-05:00

- This is random, in no particular order and of course VERY flexible ... with 6 weeks to go anything can happen ...

Friesan Fire - His performance in Louisiana last weekend literally blew my socks off! If the track is sloppy on May 2nd, we've definitely seen that he can separate himself from the field!

Old Fashioned - His loss in the Rebel doesn't deter me, just raised some questions. Dominguez had no business moving him as early as he did, and though I hate to say it I really believe his poor timing has cost him the mount.

Dunkirk (right) - If he wins the Florida Derby next week and gets the graded earnings to run in the Derby, I'm not sure there will be any stopping him. We'll see ... and I can't wait to find out if he can overcome that silly "no experience as a two-year-old" curse.

Quality Road - I doubt he can beat Dunkirk in the Florida Derby, but if he can then he will certainly earn a spot near the top of the list!

I Want Revenge - This horse is definitely on the improve, just wondering if we haven't already seen his peak performance. If he's truly great we should get those answers soon enough.

The Pamplemousse - Dominating in the Sham, and he's beaten the likes of Square Eddie. Definitely another gray to watch, the Santa Anita Derby is shaping up to be a big prep! Would like to see what happens if he doesn't go wire-to-wire.

Pioneerof the Nile - Can't wait to see his showdown with The Pamplemousse. April 4th will bring more answers for both horses.

Chocolate Candy - This horse has heart; gotta see what he does on April 4th as well.

Other horses worth mentioning: Theregoesjojo, Win Willy, Papa Clem, Patena, Beethoven, Imperial Council, Warrior's Reward

- Hold Me Back was a shocker today in the Lane's End, and Kent Desormeaux might have a tough choice to make if Theregoesjojo also makes it in - right now he is at #27 on the graded earnings list. A lot of "musical jockeys" going on, as Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss put it today. Should be interesting to see who ends up with which mount come May 2nd!

- Really disappointed in Bittel Road and West Side Bernie, though I admit Bittel Road was my choice and he finished 10th. I'd love for Todd Pletcher to get a Derby win this year, and right now it's looking like Dunkirk is his best shot.

- Larry Jones still has two incredible chances between both Friesan Fire and Old Fashioned. Not hard to imagine either horse running away with it at this point.

- Either way, this seems to be turning into one of the strongest three-year-old crops I think we've seen in a while. That makes it SO much harder to narrow down the choices. Happy we have a lot of high quality horses though, that's never a bad thing!

- Of course I have to bring up the Kentucky Derby Challenge. Mafaaz (left) will be coming over, and apparently might run in the Bluegrass before Derby - which makes me feel a little better about the whole thing. I'm thrilled that they have the desire to open the race up more by allowing an international horse a spot, but in all honesty it is a tough enough battle already. Every year there are well deserving horses who get kicked out of that 20-horse gate. Essentially now it is a 19-horse gate because one horse gets a "free pass." We'll see how that works out. I don't think anyone believes Mafaaz has a chance in hell of winning on May 2nd, myself included, but what a story it would be if he did!

- On a side note, Rags to Riches gave birth to a filly (right) last week and she is absolutely divine! Aside from her leg markings, she looks just like Mom! Thrilled that it's a filly. The bottom line always passes the genes on much better. Maybe next year we'll see a colt from her, but for now this little filly has some big horseshoes to fill!

Bound for Revenge?

2009-03-07T18:40:00.004-06:00

Today was all about TWO horses and two horses only.

I Want Revenge. And. Stardom Bound!

I Want Revenge (right) was absolutely DOMINATING in the Gotham. Not much to say, really. He was brilliant, and he simply pounded the rest of the field into the dirt!

Stardom Bound continues to blow my mind. She was caught a ridiculous SEVEN-wide (you could almost say eight-wide considering the gap) on the final turn - as always coming from last place with her stunning closing-style - but she triumphed in the end and REALLY had to fight for it this time!

There was no telling who had it, FOUR horses hit the wire all at once but she managed to squeak by. Barely!

Don't know what it says for her chances to come back on April 4th in the Santa Anita Derby ... but I really do hope she comes out of this well so they will consider it. I think she still has what it takes - the only real concern is whether or not this took too much out of her. We'll see. Either way, she is a champion in every sense of the word!

Just check out the SLOW replay - just amazing!

Midshipman injured!

2009-03-01T12:26:00.007-06:00

Another devastating blow to the up-and-coming champion three-year-old crop!

Midshipman is off the Triple Crown trail due to a soft-tissue injury.

What is it lately with the two-year-old champs? Last year it was War Pass who was knocked out with an injury, this year Midshipman (first place - image) is suffering the same fate. At least in his case it seems as though he will be able to return later this year, maybe in time for the Breeder's Cup ... but still.

Very sad news, indeed.

Still waiting to hear about Square Eddie's (second place - image) status. Considering they planned to give him 30 days off, if they have any intention to bring him back we should be hearing something by next week or so.

Feb. 22nd works/breezes

2009-02-28T21:41:00.004-06:00

Pioneerof the Nile, Stardom Bound, The Pamplemousse ...

All looking fantastic ...

The Pamplemousse!

2009-02-28T21:19:00.005-06:00

OK I spoke too soon. ;)

The Pamplemousse definitely was the star of the day today! Wow!

He made it look too easy in the Sham. Just one more to keep on the radar.

No doubt about it. A gray is probably going to win the Derby this year, keeping with the whole "4-year-gray" streak. The only hard part is going to be figuring out which one!

Capt. Candyman CAN'T?

2009-02-28T17:32:00.008-06:00

Well, that was disappointing.

Capt. Candyman Can finished a well-beaten fourth in the Fountain of Youth today.

Quality Road (right) was VERY impressive to win!

Even Beethoven ran well to come from last in the stretch to grab the third spot.

Theregoesjojo wasn't bad either in second, especially with that wide run around the turn.

Not really expecting any major players to come out of the other races today. We'll see ...

ESPN to air key preps ...

2009-02-27T15:47:00.006-06:00

All is quiet on the Triple Crown front at the moment while there is a normal gap between major prep races, so in the meantime I was happy to learn that ESPN hasn't completely abandoned the sport of kings!

The network will be covering some of the major upcoming Derby preps starting on March 21st.

With Larry Jones pointing Old Fashioned toward the Arkansas Derby, I'm especially looking forward to seeing that race live!

Is it too early to have my Derby horse?

2009-02-16T20:06:00.005-06:00

I still want to see what develops with horses like Stardom Bound, Pioneerof the Nile, Friesan Fire and even Capt. Candyman Can before I make it official ... but after the Southwest today I think I'm pretty set on Old Fashioned!

He just has something special, no doubt about it! Sure it was mainly two-horse race between Old Fashioned and Silver City the whole way ... the rest of the field never really came close to the front ... but he showed that he has heart. So far this horse can run just about anything down, in any fashion, and he still comes away looking like he doesn't even break a sweat. Just. Wow. Let's see how he comes back from this.

Weeding out the competition ...

2009-02-13T08:35:00.005-06:00

It's getting more and more difficult to weed through the names, as it does every year. Overwhelming, really.

Looking at the list of 401 Triple Crown nominees alone will make you cross-eyed!

If you pay attention to the first Future Wager, Old Fashioned and Capt. Candyman Can (right) are both co-favorites right now at 10-1. But a closer look and you'll see that the REAL favorite is every other three-year-old that didn't make the cut, at 5-2. Just one more sign that we're way too early in the game to be picking sides.

One thing is for certain, however. We will know a little more after this holiday weekend is over. More specifically, we will know more by the time Monday evening rolls around.

I think it is safe to say that I won't be the only one paying close attention to how Old Fashioned runs in the Southwest on Monday! If he wins, no matter how he does it ... I'm gonna have a hard time bumping him off the top of my list for anyone!

She did it!

2009-02-07T17:46:00.005-06:00

OK, I'll admit it. I got a little nervous. She got boxed in. She moved a little earlier than she normally does. But she prevailed! Boy did she ever! What an exciting race that was!!!! What a champion!

Let's see what she can do against the boys!

Stardom Bound + Big Brown = Champion!

2009-02-06T14:19:00.008-06:00

Well they aren't wasting ANY time!

Stardom Bound is already booked to Big Brown following her retirement!

No matter what the rest of her career looks like, I have a feeling that foal is going to have very high expectations.

You can bet I'll be keeping an eye out for him/her in a few years!!

Just imagine what the potential will be!

Old Fashioned BULLET!

2009-02-05T11:50:00.005-06:00

Just skimming through this article on Patena, I learn that "at Oaklawn Park Thursday, Old Fashioned, who arrived at Hot Springs recently, turned in a bullet half-mile breeze in :48 2/5, the fastest of six works at the distance."

WOW! That's one heck of a breeze!

What I wouldn't give to see video of that!

In and out ...

2009-02-05T10:29:00.013-06:00

Well, Saratoga Sinner is out of the Triple Crown bid. So much for that amazing performance in the Holy Bull. He looked promising too, but there are plenty of others to consider ... as always. Hopefully he'll heal up OK and they won't push him too hard. I know all too well, from very personal experience, what chipped knees can mean for thoroughbreds.

Seems even Square Eddie is facing some setbacks, which bums me out a bit because his last work was a nice one. Since horses don't have "shins" I'm assuming they're referring to either a digital extensor tendon injury or something more serious with the cannon bone (though I hope not). They could also be referring to his tibia, but less likely. Not a huge thing to miss 30 days this early in the season if that's all they're planning on and it's just a sprain or swelling of some sort. He could still rebound, but it definitely hurts his career and his development - physical and mental - toward preparing him for any chance at the Derby. Then again, look at what Big Brown did last year. Won't count Eddie out just yet. Still, it's not a good sign.

Finally some news on Midshipman (and Vineyard Haven) from Dubai. They are doing well and getting ready for their three-year-old debuts. I'm hoping the one they are planning to send back to the US is Midshipman, personally I think he is the most promising but I'm only basing that on his performance in the BC Juvenile. Since we haven't seen anything from either horse since they've been shipped overseas it's hard to judge, so clearly they know better what they are working with.

It's sounding more and more as though they might just be thinking about pointing Stardom Bound towards the Derby instead of the Oaks. And I quote ... "Her new connections have said they could tangle with males in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) this spring." So we might see a filly running with the boys this year again after all! Should definitely be exciting to see what she does on Saturday in the Las Virgenes!

Also looking forward to Pioneerof the Nile (right) making his three-year-old debut this Saturday in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Just one more to keep an eye on. There will be a few good horses in that race ... I Want Revenge, Brother Keith, Bittel Road, etc. ... so it should be fascinating to see who comes out on top.

The Risen Star should be another good race on Saturday. Lots of good horses there, or else a lot of equal quality horses. We'll find out. Friesan Fire, Indygo Mountain, Giant Oak, Uno Mass, Flying Pegasus. Take your pick.

They are already making Old Fashioned the early favorite for the Derby, which I hate since right now he's the one I'm focused on. I typically avoid the favorites, but then again the past few years have usually seen several co-favorites so we'll see. Plus Big Brown, Street Sense and Barbaro all were early favorites at one point or another ... and I typically stuck with them right along even after their support wavered. Eh, it's worked out for me so far. Looking forward to his Feb. 16th debut, and wondering if we'll hear anything about the breeze he was supposed to have this morning or not.

The list is going to get VERY long, as it does every year around this time, but hopefully by late March or early April it will start to thin out as the best horses rise to the top. ;)

More girl power?

2009-02-02T19:59:00.006-06:00

The more I watch Stardom Bound, the more I wonder whether or not they will point her toward the Derby or the Oaks.

Just look at this flawless workout she had yesterday:

She is maturing beautifully. She has a fantastic closing style, just like Zenyatta. She was brilliant in the BC Juvenile Fillies and just as spectacular in the Oak Leaf. Never out of the money (never worse than 2nd)!

Granted. She'd have to get the perfect trip in order to take the Derby ...

Then again, considering so many of the top three-year-olds seem to be front runners, she might be able to just sit at the back of the pack all by herself and wait for the huge wall to just break down in front of her!

It's been 21 years since a filly has taken the Derby (RIP my beloved Winning Colors). We almost saw it last year, but witnessed tragedy instead with Eight Belles collapsing after her impressive second place finish. Of course we had Rags to Riches winning the Belmont in 2007, not sure anything can ever top that brilliant moment - especially considering she beat the "almighty" Curlin in that thrilling stretch duel! Zenyatta was, and is, a pleasure to watch - but sadly she missed out on the fame of the Triple Crown races.

Who knows. Maybe Stardom Bound can get the job done. What would be really something is if a filly could go ALL the way. Whether she heads to the Oaks or hits the Triple Crown trail, one thing is for sure. The greys are looking mighty strong this year!!

Looking forward to her three-year-old debut this Saturday! Let's see what this girl can do!

Nicanor not quite able to fill his brother's horseshoes.

2009-01-31T23:42:00.015-06:00

Well, he had an excuse. A good excuse. But Nicanor didn't get the job done today. Not that I was expecting him to. Funny that he went off at even odds, though. Definitely getting the support from sentimental Barbaro fans who know nothing about horses or racing.

He finished 10th in a field of 12 in his debut. Apparently they are saying he grabbed his quarter (injuring himself) at the break, so Edgar (jockey) eased him back around the final turn and just let him finish without pushing him. Not sure I believe that because watching the race it seems like Edgar is still actively riding him ... but oh well. Either way, it wasn't meant to be. Hopefully he'll come back from the injury in good shape, but it will probably take some time for him to heal depending on how severely he broke through that quarter. They didn't really say. I'll be watching to see what they do with him next. The chart does list him as being bumped at the start, so I know they'll give him another shot if they can. He's probably off the Derby trail though, if nothing else because of the injury. Kinda sad for Matz, Prado and the Jacksons.

http://racing.bloodhorse.com/article/49033.htm

Maybe Lentenor, Barbaro's next little brother, will fare better. He seems to have a stronger build and he is maturing nicely from what little I've seen. Highly doubt any of them will match what Barbaro did, but we're going to end up watching them no matter what. The media and the fans can't help their fascination with the Barbaro family, and for good reason.

Warrior's Reward - a long shot at 30-1 - was quite impressive though, and I am thrilled for Calvin Borel! Who didn't fall in love with Calvin in 2007 when he was astride the Triple Crown trail with Street Sense? Kinda makes me hope he'll have another shot this year. He is probably the most underrated jockey in the business. His rail-riding style is always exciting to watch.

Albertus Maximus (above) was pretty impressive in the Donn Handicapp, and it will be exciting to see him travel to Dubai for the World Cup this year. He's looking fantastic; certainly has matured into a nice 5-year-old!

Saratoga Sinner (below) was quite an upset in the Holy Bull, but what a race that was! Was it a fluke? Dunno. Might have to keep an eye on that one. I was also impressed with Bear's Rocket who held strong under Kent Desormeaux to place after running pretty strong fractions and leading the race basically all the way from the gate to the 16th pole.

Still keeping my eye on Old Fashioned. Really looking forward to his next race. If he can continue to dominate, he is my early Derby pick. For sure. Been studying his two-year-old career and I've found that, even though he is a front-runner ... he can run with fast fractions or moderate. So I think he might have a shot. We'll have to see how the rest of the three-year-old crop develops ...

Imperial Council and Capt. Candyman Can are two more that have recently appeared as blips on my Derby radar. Gotta watch them as well. It's gonna be a busy season!

An "Old Fashioned" Crown?

2009-01-30T13:59:00.009-06:00

I like the big names.

Square Eddie caught my eye last year as a two-year-old. Still keeping him in my sights.

Midshipman sure is impressive; he has the stamina but we don't know what plans for him will be.

Stardom Bound brings the girl power.

Haven't had a chance to catch up on all of the top contenders yet ... but I am looking forward to a particular horse's three-year-old debut in a couple of weeks. He seems to have that "it" quality, very reminiscent of recent champions like Barbaro, Street Sense and Big Brown. Yes, I have actually picked the Derby winner successfully for the last 3 years in a row and I'm trying hard not to break my lucky streak!

I think I only have to say his name once.

Old Fashioned.

Can't wait to see what he brings as a three-year-old, but his career as a two-year-old was absolutely dominating!

A pleasure to watch. It will be fun to see what he does.

Case in point ...

The Remsen Stakes on November 29th ... and this wasn't even his most impressive winning margin!

Yes, he controlled the pace. Yes, he had easy fractions through the first half-mile. Still, he won with such ease that it's hard to ignore.

Now I learn he worked 5 furlongs in 58.80 yesterday morning!

Sure, he's a front-runner, but it seems as though he can hold off the competition and, in fact, he almost appears to accelerate further when they run at him!

Considering the tragedy Larry Jones had last year with Eight Belles, let's hope he has a winner this season with Old Fashioned. It sure would be a high note for him to retire on!

Nicanor's debut

2009-01-29T14:10:00.007-06:00

Nicanor is going to make his racing debut on Saturday!

Hard to believe the time has come for Barbaro's little brother to hit the track.

Even harder to believe it's been exactly TWO years since Barbaro lost his battle with laminitis? Wow. Where has the time gone? Guess it's almost fitting that they announced Nicanor's debut on the anniversary of his big brother's death.

So many hopes pinned on this little guy. In a perfect world he'd live up to his brother's legacy. I have no doubt he'll be a fascinating horse to watch, but the skeptic in me really fears that expectations are too great. He's got some winning connections and he certainly has millions of fans cheering him on. Heck, he's been a star since he was a yearling; nevermind the fact that he hasn't even seen a real starting gate yet.

All fear and doubt aside, I'll be rooting for him just like everyone else! I cannot wait to see what he does on Saturday and beyond! Run safe, little Nic!

Curlin, again? Really?

2009-01-26T22:41:00.006-06:00

I'll probably get into a bigger rant about it at a later date because I need to head off to bed ... but ... why? Oh why? Curlin? Seriously? Two years in a row? Sure, he's a great horse. Definitely the cream of the crop for his generation (though my favorite horse of '07 is still Street Sense by a long shot!). But he is NOT worthy of being honored in history with the likes of Cigar. Not even close. I was sad when he passed Cigar's North American earnings record. Now that he's won 2 HOTY titles in a row, I'm just downright depressed.

If he had won the BC Classic, maybe ... just maybe ... I would understand. But he failed. Miserably. Can't run on synthetics. Can't run on turf. Can't beat the fillies. I hate to quote Rick Dutrow Jr. because, well, like most people I can't stand the guy - as much as I love the horses he trains - but honestly ... "I don't know what's so great about Curlin!"

Sure he won the World Cup and the Gold Cup, yes he was always impressive. But he didn't run against anyone SUPER talented this year. Ultimately he ran against a bunch of "nobodys!" How does that qualify him to be the overwhelming choice for Horse of the Year? Other than his trip to Dubai, he didn't do anything that impressive IMHO!

Then you have Zenyatta who is PERFECT. Nine for nine. NEVER lost a race in her LIFE! Winning the Ladies' Classic in '08 in unbelievable fashion. Dessimating the field, wiping her hooves on any filly or mare she comes across. Never faltering. Poetry in motion. Nothing can keep that girl down. At the very least, I would have liked to have seen her get more votes than she did. Sigh.

Ah well. It was ineveitable, but I just don't understand the injustice of it all. Then to see Asmussen take the Eclipse Award for trainer as well just put an even more bitter taste in my mouth. Guh. Just ... guh. Hope I never get stuck working for THAT guy. Sure, he's better than Dutrow - who isn't - but I'm just not a fan.

At least Zenyatta took home Older Female, Big Brown took Three-Year-Old Male (like there was any doubt) and others like Proud Spell, Indian Blessing and Garrett Gomez got the recognition they all deserved. I just really wish Curlin didn't get so much hype. He is so overrated it's laughable. Too bad Big Brown had to retire two weeks before the Classic because it is so obvious he would have made Curlin eat his DUST. Then there would have been no competition to speak of. Sadly it was not meant to be.

For me, Big Brown will always be Horse of the Year and Zenyatta ... well ... she's in a class all her own! Can't wait to see her return this year, I just hope they made the right choice and that she runs safely. How awesome would it be to see her run against the boys? I think she would be spectacular and I cannot wait to see what she does next. Haven't been this excited about a mare or filly since Rags to Riches took the Belmont ... and oh yeah, who did she beat in that race? The invincible Curlin!?!? Hmmmmm. LOL! Since Rags had to retire early it would be a real treat to see Zenyatta go on to make an even BIGGER name for herself! Wouldn't want to see another George Washington tragedy unfold. :(

Congrats to all the winners, I just would have preferred it that Curlin only take home one trophy tonight instead of two. Oh well. He's done, retired, off to the breeding shed ... so guess they figured they'd let him go out with a bang. Even though they seem to forget his final race was a pretty pitiful loss. Like I said, "what's so great about Curlin?"

Get me Zenyatta back on the track and I'll be happy!

Someone get me up to Three Chimneys quick because I think I need to go visit Brownie to lift my spirits!! Still haven't gotten the chance to see him since he's been there and I'm DYING to. Have to remind myself what a fabulous year it was for racing in '08, and how close we truly came to a Triple Crown!

I say this every year and every year I have a little more hope in my heart ... but ... maybe this year will be THE year ...

Eclipse Awards

2009-01-26T19:11:00.005-06:00

Waiting for the Eclipse Award winners to be announced.

So far Midshipman and Stardom Bound have taken home the 2YO honors.

Really holding my breath for Zenyatta to clench HOTY from Curlin, but I know she's a long shot for that title. She certainly deserves it more than he does though!