2007 Triple Crown class post-Breeders' Cup

[miss_critic]

2 Races eliminated from Street Sense's option....not sure why.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/racing-news/2007/September/06/Nafzger-narrows-options-for-Street-Sense-final-prep.aspx

[Glimmerglass]

re: Breeders' Cup program: Win and You're In*

*sorta - provided you are already nominated ....

DRF: "Steep fees make BC decisions difficult" (http://www.drf.com/news/article/88414.html)

Ginger Punch had already secured a spot in the $2 million Distaff when she won the Grade 1 Go for Wand at Saratoga. That race was part of the Win and You're In series that the Breeders' Cup initiated this year. Owner Frank Stronach would still have to pony up $180,000 to get Ginger Punch into the Distaff.

Regarding Curlin he is still working towards the JCGC:

On Monday [9-10-07], Curlin breezed six furlongs in 1:13.16 over the Oklahoma training track as he continues preparations for the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont on Sept. 30.

[miss_critic]

Where the heck is Tiago?

[Glimmerglass]

Where the heck is Tiago?

His last big entry was going to the Pacific Classic, then scratched from it. As of late he's drilled a seven-furlong bullet work out at Del Mar in the last week of July. I'm not sure they'll ship him to say Belmont for a JCGC only to ship back to California and maybe go to the Breeders' Cup. That is a lot of additional travel considering he's done a fair amount of it already in 2007.

[miss_critic]

I looked it up on NTRA-they are thinking the Gooodwood or Super Derby for Tiago. I guess I could have looked it up beforehand!! I'm looking foreward to seeing him next year. They say those Pleasant Tap's mature later-here's to hoping! Unless of course SS AGS or HS run next year....hahaha.

[Glimmerglass]

Is ESPN going to air the running of the Gazelle Handicap on Saturday?

They have a huge day of tv coverage at the end of the month when I'll be in La Jolla, CA and may try to go to Santa Anita for the Goodwood.

Beldame Stakes (Belmont) ESPN Sun, September 30 4:00 PM EST
Vosburgh Stakes (Belmont) ESPN Sun, September 30 4:00 PM EST
Goodwood Handicap (Santa Anita) ESPN Sun, September 30 4:00 PM EST
Jockey Club Gold Cup (Belmont) ESPN Sun, September 30 4:00 PM EST
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (Belmont) ESPN Sun, September 30 4:00 PM EST

What is rather interesting is very good chance of Hard Spun matching up against Street Sense one more time:

ESPN 9-12-07 "Sophomore Side-Step" (http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/horse/breederscup07/columns/story?columnist=plonk_jeremy&id=3016072)

Hard Spun
Next race projected: Kentucky Cup Classic

Street Sense
Next race projected: Hawthorne Gold Cup, Kentucky Cup Classic, Jockey Club Gold Cup

I think the JCGC is out for Street Sense and while I'll go to Hawthorne if SS runs there I really doubt it yet the money is there. The KY Cup Classic suits him better because "... [it] offers more plusses. Keep the travel limited and the surroundings familiar until judgment day"

[miss_critic]

Is ESPN going to air the running of the Gazelle Handicap on Saturday?


No, I don't think they want to get burned again. But the Masters Stakes from Erie is on ESPNNEWS at 8:10, although I've never had any success catching a race when it is advertised there.

[Glimmerglass]

Looks like Tiz Wonderful making the comeback is not going to happen. His race yesterday in $75,250 More Than Ready Stakes (Belmont Park) while on paper resulting in a second place ultimately resulted in an injury:

Tiz Wonderful was vanned off the track with a possible injury to his right hind leg, according to New York Racing Association chief veterinarian, Anthony Verderosa. He said Tiz Wonderful was scheduled to be X-rayed by Dr. James Hunt once he returned to his barn. John Velazquez, who rode Tiz Wonderful, told Verderosa he felt “something pop” as he was galloping back to be unsaddled.

Stunt Man, who was impressive at his Spa win in late August, took the win (http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40763)

[Glimmerglass]

Tiz Wonderful - retired and still in danger of being euthanized (http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40775)

Very serious :(

There are no fractures,” Blasi said. “There is 90% damage to the suspensory outside and 75% on the inside. They have put a Kinsey splint on him to stabilize the leg and to get some connection in the tissue. It’s a day-by-day process."

Blasi said doctors Liberty Getman and Michael Ross from New Bolton are attending to the 3-year-old.

Said Getman: “It is a complete disruption of the suspensory ligament. It is a severe breakdown injury involving the soft tissue around the fetlock. It is definitely career-ending.”

Getman said Tiz Wonderful is outfitted in a Kinsey splint to stabilize the injury. She said a major concern is laminitis, a hoof disease that can lead to death and occurs when a horse displaces his weight more heavily on a non-injured limb.

[Glimmerglass]

So, for now, it looks like Rags to Riches will start in the Gazelle Stakes (Grade 1) on Saturday Sep 15 at Belmont Park:

Race 9 on the Card; going off at 5:12 pm EST
1 1/8 mi on dirt for a total purse of $250,000

PP Horse - Jockey - Weight
1 Lear's Princess - Coa E M - 115lbs
2 Dorm Fever - Gomez G K - 115lbs
3 Tough Tiz's Sis - Bejarano R - 119lbs
4 Le Chateau - Bridgmohan S X - 115lbs
5 Rags to Riches - Velazquez J R - 122lbs

The race prior (#8) will be the Futurity Stakes (Grade 2) for the promising 2-yr old class with the very well respected Kodiak Kowboy breaking from the 6th in a field of 6

Another race for 2-yr olds will be the 2nd race for maidens with Marylou Whitney's Stone Bird - out of Bird Cage and by Grindstone - making his 2nd start I believe.

For the older crowd, Lieutenant Danz will run in the 5th race on Turf in a claiming effort at 6 furlngs

[Glimmerglass]

Rag's to Riches upset in the Gazelle Stakes!

Final (1-5-3)

1st Lear's Princess
2nd Rags to Riches
3rd Tough Tiz's Sis

Well I hate to say it again, but is Rag's to Riches following Jazil down the same path? Plagued with delays then when returning not performing at Belmont levels?

She didn't have that fight in her ...

[Drvmb1ggl3]

At level weights (i.e the Distaff), I think I'd still give the nod to RtR. The 7lbs she was giving to LP had to be a factor.

[miss_critic]

Maybe she had a headache? Just kidding :) Maybe she needed a race which might set up for the BC...or not.

It looked like for a second she was gonna fight back. But kudos to the winner.

[WhiteCamry]

Rags to Riches fractures right front pastern, sidelined until 2008

http://tinyurl.com/2rpqew

:no:

[Glimmerglass]

Any Given Saturday returns to racing with just five weeks before the BC and after his big victory in the Haskell. We'll see if he's as strong as everyone was saying after that race in Jersey.

DRF 9-21-07 (http://www.drf.com/news/article/88709.html) made the following remark:

When one sees Any Given Saturday in Saturday's Grade 2, $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont Park, it's fair to ask what is a horse like that doing in a race like this? Its placement, just eight days out from the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup, is an indication the Brooklyn is for second-tier horses.

Grade 2, $150,000 Brooklyn Handicap
PP Horse + Jockey + Wt.
1 Sightseeing + Castellano J + 114
2 Any Given Saturday + Gomez G K + 118
3 Tasteyville + Luzzi M J + 114 L 8-1
4 Helsinki + Garcia Alan + 112 L 15-1
5 Awesome Twist + Desormeaux K J + 114

Even at 1 1/8 mi - shorter then Helsinki had to work with in the Travers - I will still say AGS is vulnerable. Giving 6 lbs to Helsinki who came in 3rd in the Travers Stakes will be tough to overcome.

[miss_critic]

I think if AGS doesn't get this one, it makes Street Sense look that much better. If he blows this crowd away...well, then it goes the other way. Same for the Super Derby (with Grasshopper).

Can't wait to hear tomorrow if we get to see a Hard Spun/Street Sense match up again.

[miss_critic]

SS on to Kentucky Cup Classic.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/88780.html

[Glimmerglass]

Can't wait to hear tomorrow if we get to see a Hard Spun/Street Sense match up again.

Major Props to Hard Spun and his connections - they go to the mountain! Time and time again Larry Jones doesn't shy away from the challenges and again they will take on Street Sense!!

BloodHorse 9-22-07 "Street Sense, Hard Spun to Meet in Kentucky Cup Classic" (http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40933)

Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Street Sense and Derby runner-up Hard Spun will meet for the third time in next Saturday’s $350,000 Kentucky Cup Classic (G2) at Turfway Park, it was announced Sept. 22.

WONDERFUL to know battles do happen outside of the Breeders' Cup!

[Glimmerglass]

The Brooklyn Handicap (G2) is done:

1 - Any Given Saturday
2 - Tasteyville (who put in insane speed fractions to lead most of the race)
3 - Helsinki

AGS wasn't asked exceptionally hard and a win is a win but it seemed lackluster.

[Glimmerglass]

$500,000 Super Derby (G2) at Louisiana Downs wasn't the day for Grasshoper who (IMHO) was getting far too much praise for a one-off effort against Street Sense. Accordingly I wasn't shocked when Going Ballistic came from out of the clouds - after having been the trailer throughout - and sprinted by him in the stretch. Going Ballistic, the gray colt, has been a big graded-stakes runner with plenty of impressive runs. No idea why he was barely cited in advance of the race ....

[miss_critic]

They showed Grasshopper's previous races prior to the Travers and he is a nice horse. They commented that if you thought his Trvrs was a one hit wonder, then you just don't know the horse. They did also show Going Ballistioc's last coiuple of races on grass and his kick has certainly improved since the spring. I was dissappointed in terms of Street Sense but that's racing. Grasshopper had no chance at the end to catch GB.

I don't know what to make of the Brooklyn. I was expecting AGS to draw away a little more, a little easier. However, he might not have been cranked.

Next Saturday, for the KC, like the Haskell, is a race I wish ESPN had on. I don't expect SS to win but I sure hope he does. As long as he shows up Oct 27 :) A dead heat between HS and SS would be cool!

[ravenclaw]

Is Curlin going to be in the Jockey Club Gold Cup next weekend? I believe this was the plan, but I haven't heard any news about him for a while.

[miss_critic]

That's the plan until we hear otherwise ;)

[Glimmerglass]

ESPN will have plenty of coverage of next weekend's action from Belmont, although I agree that just as did with trying to add Rag's to Riches first post-Belmont effort onto the airing schedule they [ESPN/ABC Sports] should try to add the blockbuster Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway Park. As of right now it appears that TVG will have it

ESPN's ongoing Road to the Breeders' Cup coverage:

Sept. 30, Belmont Park, ESPN, 4 - 6 p.m. ET
Race (Grade) - Applicable BC Division
Jockey Club Gold Cup (I) - Classic
Beldame S. (I) - Distaff
Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (I) - Turf
Vosburgh S. (I) - Sprint
Goodwood H. (I) (9/29, at Oak Tree) - Classic

An interesting point regarding the Kentucky Cup Classic: Street Sense and Hard Spun are eligible - because each had a Grade 1 win in either 2006 or 2007 - to take home an extra $150,000. However all is not equal ;)

Street Sense if he wins takes home $360,000 in first-place money, inclusive of the above cited bonus.

Hard Spun if he wins takes home "just" $270,000 in first-place money, inclusive of the above cited bonus.

So why less for Hard Spun? Because there is additional money for Kentucky-bred horses and Hard Spun was born in Pennsylvania. Accordingly a non-KY horse only runs for winner's check of $120,000.

[miss_critic]

Does anybody know of a website that will have the Turfway races on this Saturday for free (my cable only has HRTV :( ) before Bloodhorse posts it?

[Glimmerglass]

Does anybody know of a website that will have the Turfway races on this Saturday for free (my cable only has HRTV :( ) before Bloodhorse posts it?

I'm not sure if youbet.net will carry the video, but if you like the old school way of horse racing you can listen to it via the internet live via Lexington, KY based HRRN:

http://www.equineforum.net/live.htm

September 29 Turfway Park: 3-6 PM EDT
Kentucky Cup Classic (G2)
KY Cup Juvenile (G3)
KY Cup Sprint (G3)
KY Cup Juv. Fillies
Turfway BC (G3)

I met and talked with one of the guys from the network on a flight to Albany/Saratoga for the Travers Stakes this year.

[Glimmerglass]

DRF 9-24-07 (http://www.drf.com/news/article/88807.html)

Tiago, the winner of the Santa Anita Derby and Swaps Stakes, is scheduled to take on older horses for the first time in the $500,000 Goodwood Stakes, a prep for the Oct.o27 BC Classic at Monmouth Park. ... at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting.

This summer at Del Mar, Shirreffs agonized over whether to run Tiago in the Pacific Classic, and finally decided against it because - like many other trainers - he was not pleased with the Polytrack surface there. So, when Tiago races in the Goodwood, it will be his first start since the Swaps on July 14 on Hollywood Park's Cushion Track surface.

Tiago won the Santa Anita Derby in only his fourth start, then was seventh in the Kentucky Derby and a deceptively good third in the Belmont Stakes.

"He's gotten through all those big races," Shirreffs said. "The experience will help a horse like that if it doesn't destroy them. He was always playing catch-up in the spring. He didn't have a lot of races going into the Triple Crown. Being by Pleasant Tap, he should get better with age.

[miss_critic]

I'm not sure if youbet.net will carry the video, but if you like the old school way of horse racing you can listen to it via the internet live via Lexington, KY based HRRN:

I've never done that before!!!! That could be too nerving...I dunno.

Nice little article on the DRF site about HS and SS. I couldn't believe my eyes when it cited Jones as saying the dirt mile would be an option if he didn't run well.

http://www.drf.com/news/article/88840.html

"Jones said that a good race by Hard Spun most likely would earn the colt a trip to the BC Classic. If he runs poorly, Hard Spun would have to settle for the $1 million BC Dirt Mile on Oct. 26. As for Nafzger, the BC Classic clearly is the more important of the two races that remain in Street Sense's career, but he isn't about to concede the Kentucky Cup to Hard Spun."

[Glimmerglass]

I'll be in La Jolla, CA when this weekend's action is on but with the Kentucky Cup Classic my view is: (1) Street Sense won without much daylight back to second in either effort at Spa plus (2) having never won on poly track and with (3) Hard Spun underestimated as a rugged horse ... I suspect HS might just rock the house.

As for the Grade 1 $750k Jockey Club Gold Cup I'll say this: unless the Pletcher's current black cloud now extends to Laywer Ron (it hasn't yet) he'll knock the stuffing out of Curlin like he's never been rocked before.

No idea why Steve Asmussen thought pointing him to that race against the big dogs like LR was the best prep race out there. Why not the Hawthorne Gold Cup? His biggest challenger would've been Student Council or Jonesboro the son of late champion and Hall of Famer mare, Mom's Command.

[Texarkana]

As for the Grade 1 $750k Jockey Club Gold Cup I'll say this: unless the Pletcher's current black cloud now extends to Laywer Ron (it hasn't yet) he'll knock the stuffing out of Curlin like he's never been rocked before.



Pletcher's black cloud didn't affect him too badly last weekend at the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival... out of the 3 entries he had running, he took 2 wins and a DH for second. Granted he wasn't actually there, maybe that's the secret...

Here's Quiet Royal from Pletcher's barn leaping to victory in the Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf Stakes:

http://www.kentuckydowns.com/images/LadisTurfBG.jpg

[Glimmerglass]

Here's Quiet Royal from Pletcher's barn leaping to victory in the Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf Stakes:

http://www.kentuckydowns.com/images/LadisTurfBG.jpg

Texarkana - a brilliant photo! We have ourselves a future steeplechaser :D

It looks like per the DR (http://www.drf.com/news/article/88840.html) the field will be little for this big race, so they think it maybe a good ol' match race

In his lone start over Polytrack, the surface in use at Turfway, Hard Spun was impressive in his March 24 Lane's End triumph. Conversely, Street Sense has been defeated in both of his starts over Polytrack, both at Keeneland, in the Breeders' Futurity last fall and in the Blue Grass Stakes in the spring.

Furthermore, the field for the KC Classic will probably be very small - officials at the Florence, Ky., track expect four to six runners - and it is widely accepted that a speedier horse such as Hard Spun tends to have a tactical edge over a late-runner such as Street Sense in something that could easily boil down to a match-race scenario.

[sing]

Is it a coincidence or does Quiet Royal go back to Somethingroyal, and another big red horse who had quite a hop in his front end git-along????

[Glimmerglass]

I like to hear confidence finally in this sport :D

“We would have run even if Street Sense, Curlin, and Hard Spun had all shown up. This was the race that came up best for him. He looks magnificent, and he’s done well since the Woodward (gr. I). He thrives on action and just keeps coming back for more. I decided to run him before the Breeders’ Cup because I don’t want him too fresh going into the Classic.”

- Todd Pletcher on Lawyer Ron in the JCGCP (http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=40978)

[Glimmerglass]

As suggested - a small field and quasi-match race possible!

Kentucky Cup Classic (G2)
post 5:42 PM EST- Sat Sep 29
1 1/8-miles over Polytrack
3-year-olds and upward

PP Horse, Jockey, Wt
1. Hard Spun, Mario Pino, 118
2. Cat Shaker, Charles Woods Jr., 118
3. Street Sense, Calvin Borel, 120
4. Stream Cat, Julien Leparoux, 118
5. Muqbil, Willie Martinez, 118

[miss_critic]

Everybody just clear the way for Street Sense!!!!!!!:D

[Glimmerglass]

You can see Going Ballistic's rally like the proverbial bat out of hell zooming past the entire field in just a few winks at Calracing.com/replays (http://calracing.com/replays.php) which can be fun to see :)

Only at about the 1:14 time mark in the video you'll see him just past his first horse from last place.

Daily Racing Form Oct 22, 2007 "Going Ballistic rallies from 20 lengths back" (http://www.drf.com/news/article/89651.html)

Just call him the Silky Sullivan of the Southwest. After trailing the Oklahoma Derby field by more than 20 lengths, Going Ballistic unleashed an explosive rally on the final turn en route to a 3 1/4-length win in the $300,000 race run Sunday at Remington Park.

"I was impressed with his move," said Donnie Von Hemel, who trains Going Ballistic for Kindred Thoroughbreds. "He had the race in hand at the eighth pole and cruised on in from there."

[Glimmerglass]

Actually reviewing the status of the starters from the 133rd Kentucky Derby (3rd largest Derby crowd ever to witness the race's running - with 156,635 people) the percentage of runners still active is substantially higher then from the 132nd Derby class at this same time last year!

As of Nov 7, 2007, those in bold are done racing, for the others I've listed their last race start, the grade of the race, and their finish

By order of finish in the Kentucky Derby:

Street Sense: retired to stud
Hard Spun: retired to stud
Curlin: likely to be sold/retired to stud

Imawildandcrazyguy: active (last: Calder Derby in Oct – G3 – finished 2nd)
Sedgefield: active (last: Indiana Derby in Oct – G2 – finished 9th)
Circular Quay: active (last: Virginia Derby in July – G2 – 6th place)
Tiago: active (last: BCC – G1 – 5th place)
Any Given Saturday: retired to stud
Sam P.: active (last: Penn Derby in Sep – G2 – finished 5th)
Nobiz Like Shobiz: active (last: BC Mile – G1 – finished 4th)
Dominican: active (last: WV Derby in Aug – G3 – finished 6th)
Zanjero: active (last: Indiana Derby in Oct – G2 – won)
Great Hunter: active but in recovery mode (last start: Kentucky Derby)
Liquidity: unclear – injured after Kentucky Derby (tendon); expected to be 6-months sidelined
Bwana Bull: active (last: Pegasus Stakes late Oct – G3 – finished 5th)
Storm in May: undetermined (last: Hill Prince Stakes in June – G3 – finished 5th)
Teuflesberg: injured, career ended, will stand in 2008
Scat Daddy: injured/retired in late June, standing at stud
Stormello: retired following colic just prior to the Haskell
Cowtown Cat: active (last Penn Derby in Sep – G2 – finished 8th)

[miss_critic]

Circular Quay was retired.

[miss_critic]

I think I am going crazy. After posting that above, I knew I needed to cite my source. I know I saw that CQ was retired in a sentence amoungst other breeding news a couple weeks ago - but I can't find that story for the life of me. Another message board posted it as well. Then, in my frantic googling, just posted TODAY, it says he is coming back. This is going to drive me mad.

[Glimmerglass]

Yep Circular Quay is going to return (http://www.drf.com/news/article/90156.html) most likely as part of Pletcher's West Coast crew per the DRF today (11-7).

So just 7 of the 20 Kentucky Derby runners are officially retired, for now :)

[Glimmerglass]

As suggested and now confirmed: Nobiz Like Shobiz will run November 25th at Hollywood Park in the $500k Grade-1 Hollywood Derby

BloodHorse 11-11-07 "Shobiz Has Date in Hollywood Derby" (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41974)

Tagg won the Hollywood Derby last year with prohibitive favorite Showing Up in stakes-record time of 1:59.35 for 1 1/4 miles. Tagg seeks to become the first trainer to win the race in consecutive years since it was moved to the Autumn Meet and grass in 1981. The only trainer to win back-to-back runnings in its 65-year history is Bill Molter in 1948 and 1949 with Solidarity and Pedigree, respectively.

The trainer said Showing Up has returned to training after being sidelined for the summer.

German star Axxos was going to be shipped in for the race, but that plan has been nixed due to him not being 100%

[Texarkana]

As suggested and now confirmed: Nobiz Like Shobiz will run November 25th at Hollywood Park in the $500k Grade-1 Hollywood Derby

BloodHorse 11-11-07 "Shobiz Has Date in Hollywood Derby" (http://news.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=41974)



German star Axxos was going to be shipped in for the race, but that plan has been nixed due to him not being 100%

It'll be interesting to see if he fires with Castellano back in the irons!

As far as the 7/20 number of Derby starters retired... I don't think that number is much different than other years. It would be interesting to see the numbers if someone tracked the trend of derby starters retiring after their 3 y/o year over time.

[Glimmerglass]

As of Nov 7, 2007, those in bold are done racing, for the others I've listed their last race start, the grade of the race, and their finish

By order of finish in the Kentucky Derby:

Storm in May: undetermined (last: Hill Prince Stakes in June – G3 – finished 5th)


I incorrectly put him in the 'not racing again' group:

From Sunday Nov 11, 2007's Miami Herald (http://www.miamiherald.com/624/story/303769.html)

$150,000 Jack Dudley Sprint Handicap for 3-year-olds and up: Finallymadeit went gate-to-wire under Eduardo Nuñez in 1:11.08. Storm in May came charging at the end, but came up short at the wire.

So only 6 of the 20 horses (who ran in the '07 KY Derby) are now retired.

[miss_critic]

Hmm, I must have posted in the wrong thread. In addition to SinM, Imawildandcrazyguy got a second at Calder as well and elsewhere Slews Tizzy got third (I think) and Sedgefield, well, last maybe?

Lots of action last weekend for our old friends.

[miss_critic]

What the heck happened this weekend??? Seemed like there was upset after upset.

[Barnfairy]

re: Midnight Lute:excerpted from http://www.drf.com/news/article/90604.html

Midnight Lute was pulling Garrett Gomez early on in the race, but Gomez did not want him to move too soon and kept him back. That, according to trainer Bob Baffert, may have been a mistake.

"He would have been better off . . . to let him go," Baffert said. "We're still learning about the horse. Next time let him do his thing - let him go."


Daaher is on a roll, with this his third straight win. They call it "developing late".

I always get a chuckle at that. Oh sure, it's "late" when the standard is getting your act together before the first Saturday in May (so you can retire right about now :lol:) -- but in the big picture he's still just 3 years old.

[Texarkana]

I was just watching the Hollywood Cup replay... Nobiz just didn't fire. Couldn't see any visible excuses.

Something that caught my eye, though. Bold Hawk, who finished 3rd, has a really, er, interesting running style.

I think Daaher has one of the most "Canadian" pedigrees I have ever seen. The topside is all Canadian for at least four generations back, eh? So of course he would upset Midnight Lute at Thanksgiving. ;)

[miss_critic]

re: Midnight Lute:

Daaher is on a roll, with this his third straight win. They call it "developing late".




So of course he would upset Midnight Lute at Thanksgiving




:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[Barnfairy]

:o :lol:

Nothing like a good double entendre!

[Glimmerglass]

Imawildandcrazyguy might run again in 2007 - on the turf no less (http://racing.bloodhorse.com//viewstory.asp?id=42745), although at this point he is only "eligible". Assigned a feather weight of 113-lbs you'd think he was 0-20!

With the rain likely in the Calder, FL area the turf will be soft for the G2-T $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap, so 9-yr old Revved Up will likely scratch. If he does then there is an open slot.

Dave, a NY-bred, trained by Barclay Tagg is pointed to this race as well.

[Texarkana]

Imawildandcrazyguy might run again in 2007 - on the turf no less (http://racing.bloodhorse.com//viewstory.asp?id=42745), although at this point he is only "eligible". Assigned a feather weight of 113-lbs you'd think he was 0-20!

With the rain likely in the Calder, FL area the turf will be soft for the G2-T $200,000 W.L. McKnight Handicap, so 9-yr old Revved Up will likely scratch. If he does then there is an open slot.

Dave, a NY-bred, trained by Barclay Tagg is pointed to this race as well.

The half-blind derby starter, Storm In May, is also entered in the Kenny Noe, Jr. Handicap at Calder on Saturday.

[miss_critic]

Imawildandcrazyguy is also entered in the race after Storm in May as well, so I guess he is running no matter what!

[Glimmerglass]

A few names from the Kentucky Derby chase are going to appear in December 26th's $250,000 Malibu Stakes (gr. I) at Santa Anita for 3-yr olds.

PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Desert Code (KY), 117, Richard Migliore
2. Les Grands Trois (KY), 115, Rafael Bejarano
3. E Z Warrior (KY), 115, Mike E. Smith
4. Unusual Suspect (CA), 119, Tyler Baze
5. Johnny Eves (CA), 117, David Romero Flores
6. Ididn'tdoanything (FL), 115, Joseph Talamo
7. Hurry Up Austin (FL), 115, Alex O. Solis
8. Carrilero (ARG), 117, Jose Valdivia, Jr.
9. Great Hunter (PA), 119, Corey S. Nakatani
10. Horse Greeley (KY), 115, Victor Espinoza
11. Silver Stetson Man (KY), 117, Edgar S. Prado
12. Cobalt Blue (FL), 119, Garrett K. Gomez
13. Incriminate (KY), 115, Brice Blanc
14. Divine Park (KY), 117, Alan Garcia

[Texarkana]

Say hey! It's like a class reunion for the San Fernando this weekend. Although who knows what the footing will be like...

Tiago, Johnny Eves Vie in 'Fernando (http://racing.bloodhorse.com/viewstory.asp?id=43075)
$200,000 San Fernando Stakes (gr. II, Race 10, 4:15 p.m.), 4-Year-Olds, 1 1/16 Miles (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Ravel (KY), 116, Garrett K. Gomez
2. Big Bad Leroybrown (CA), 118, Tyler Baze
3. Air Commander (KY), 116, Aaron T. Gryder
4. Johnny Eves (CA), 120, David R. Flores
5. Monzante (KY), 116, Michael C. Baze
6. Sahara Heat (KY), 118, Rafael Bejarano
7. Tiago (KY), 122, Mike E. Smith
8. Frank the Barber (NJ), 118, Victor Espinoza
9. Smooth and Savvy (KY), 116, Jon K. Court
10. Great Hunter (PA), 120, Corey S. Nakatani
11. Hurry Up Austin (FL), 116, Alex O. Solis
12. Monterey Jazz (KY), 120, Joseph Talamo

[Glimmerglass]

Imawildandcrazyguy in his second 2008 start will be dropped into an allowance race, again (http://www.drf.com/news/article/91949.html).

... returns to allowance company [Feb 1] Friday's $49,000 feature at Gulfstream Park.

Imawildandcrazyguy held his own against the best of a strong 3-year-old division on several occasions in 2007, when he was graded-stakes-placed twice as well as fourth in the Kentucky Derby, Haskell, and Louisiana Derby. His only victory, however, came when Kaplan snuck him into a second-level allowance race and was rewarded with an easy victory last summer at Calder.

Imawildandcrazyguy, a son of Wild Event, is coming off one of the poorest performances of his career, a distant 10th-place finish in the Canadian Turf Handicap here Jan. 4.

[Texarkana]

Hey, hey, the gang's all here...

Along with Imawildandcrazyguy running in Florida, the rest of the Cali class of '07 is running in the Strub (GII) this weekend. The field includes Tiago, Great Hunter, and Slew's Tizzy, as well as Air Commander, who crushed them all last month.

$300,000 Strub Stakes (gr. II, Race 9, 4:07 p.m.), 4-Year-Olds, 1 1/8 Miles (All Weather)
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Great Hunter (PA), 119, Victor Espinoza
2. Slew's Tizzy (KY), 119, Joseph Talamo
3. Tiago (KY), 123, Mike E. Smith
4. Monzante (KY), 117, Garrett K. Gomez
5. Air Commander (KY), 121, Aaron T. Gryder
6. Sahara Heat (KY), 117, Tyler Baze
7. Giant Gizmo (KY), 117, Rafael Bejarano
8. Warning Zone (VA), 117, Joel Rosario
9. Monterey Jazz (KY), 121, David R. Flores

[Glimmerglass]

.. the rest of the Cali class of '07 is running in the Strub (GII) this weekend. The field includes Tiago, Great Hunter, and Slew's Tizzy, as well as Air Commander, who crushed them all last month.

Save for Ravel who finished 4th in that San Fernando Stakes ;) I really doubt Bob Baffert's Air Commander will go off with massive long-shot odds like he did to yield a win payout of $106.80!

[Texarkana]

Save for Ravel who finished 4th in that San Fernando Stakes ;)

He wasn't even nominated for the Strub. Aside from an allowance win, he hasn't done a whole lot of anything impressive since he's been back.

I have to wonder why they keep trying with Great Hunter at this level. Maybe Saturday will be his day.

[Glimmerglass]

Hey, hey, the gang's all here...

Along with Imawildandcrazyguy running in Florida, the rest of the Cali class of '07 is running in the Strub (GII) this weekend. The field includes Tiago, Great Hunter, and Slew's Tizzy, as well as Air Commander, who crushed them all last month.

It wasn't commented before but that was a great effort by Monterey Jazz in the Strub to crush the field easily. Tiago got up for second but that was rather far back from the easy cruising 'Jazz'.

BloodHorse 2-2-08 "'Jazz's Solo Steals Strub in Style" (http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=43476)

Great Hunter got up for 4th which is better but still not up to a form he once had.

[hipsdontlie]

barclay tagg puts the horse first unlike many. realistic would be the word that comes to mind. he deserves a lot more credit than he is given.

[miss_critic]

It wasn't commented before but that was a great effort by Monterey Jazz in the Strub to crush the field easily. Tiago got up for second but that was rather far back from the easy cruising 'Jazz'.

BloodHorse 2-2-08 "'Jazz's Solo Steals Strub in Style" (http://www.bloodhorse.com/articleindex/article.asp?id=43476)

Great Hunter got up for 4th which is better but still not up to a form he once had.


Well, we kind of did, or tried to anyway (bottom)
http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=2982437#post2982437
I thought he stole the race.

I was so happy for the connections of Well Armed today. But Heatseaker was sooooo close!!!!!! Awesome Gem looked like he needed the race.
I think we need a Handicap Division thread.

[Glimmerglass]

Circular Quay returned to racing in the (G2) $480k New Orleans Handicap (http://www.brisnet.com/cgi-bin/editorial/news/article.cgi?id=10774) and with his return came the win over Grasshoper. The latter being a strong contender in last year's Traver's Stakes.

Win - Circular Quay
Place - Grasshopper
Show - Reporting for Duty
4th - Brass Hat

Having won the Louisianna Derby last year, Circular Quay, clearly likes this track.

[miss_critic]

...little bugger...:)