Happily Unbridled

Evening Attire, the 10-year-old gelding whose campaign earned him nearly $3 million over his racing career, has been retired. His connections cite a suspensory injury that led to their decision to retire this well-loved champion who had fans all over the country.

Evening Attire’s last win came just a few months ago, on July 19 in the $250,000 Goodwood Cup Stakes at Philadelphia Park. He romped to an 8 1/4 length victory in the 1 1/2 mile race; because this was a “Win and You’re In” race, the win also earned him a berth in the newly-created Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita in October. In addition, he also broke a 16-year-old track record in the process, covering the distance in 2:29.90 on the fast main track. The previous record was 2:31 flat set by Laugh A Minute on January 4, 1992.

Sired by Black Tie Affair and out of the Our Native mare, Concolour, Evening Attire retired with 15 victories, 16 seconds, and nine thirds from 69 starts.  He placed in 17 stakes. There was no word yet on where Evening Attire will spend his retirement but the connections are looking for a good home for him where he will get the love and care he deserves.

Another old warrior, nine-year-old Perfect Drift has also been retired. A special ceremony in his honor was held at Turfway Park in Florence, Kentucky on September 27. It was at Turfway that Perfect Drift broke his maiden and won the Lane’s End Stakes (gr II) and the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr II).  Perfect Drift was led to the paddock by his long-time groom, Richard Anderson. Murray Johnson, who trained Perfect Drift for all but his last four races, saddled him and then lifted retired jockey Pat Day into the saddle to lead the field for the Kentucky Cup Classic to the track.

Perfect Drift is a gelded son of Dynaformer and out of the Naskra mare, Nice Gal. He raced at the highest level throughout his career and earned $4,714,213. He started 50 times with 11 wins, 14 seconds, and seven thirds.

My personal favorite memory of Perfect Drift was when I watched from the grandstand in disbelief as he bested the great Mineshaft in the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Of course my wager had been on Mineshaft who looked to be unbeatable in that race but Perfect Drift ran him down in the stretch.

Perfect Drift will be retired at his home in Kansas City, MO, at Stonecrest Farms.

There are other gutsy older horses still running and we’ll most likely see some of them running in the Breeders’ Cup races in October, but we’ll miss Evening Attire and Perfect Drift. They always gave their best in every race and no matter who else was running — or who else we had wagered on — we always secretly cheered them on hoping that they’d find their way to the finish line first.

Those of us who have enjoyed watching Evening Attire and Perfect Drift over the years will remember them fondly. We hope they have many years of grazing in green pastures and sleeping in the sun, and feeling the love from the people all across the country who love them.

Curlin, the richest racehorse ever in North American history with earnings of over $10 million, arrived at Santa Anita on Sunday, September 28. It was just one day before, on Saturday, September 27, that Curlin ran over a muddy track at Belmont to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr I) by 3/4 length over Wanderin Boy.

Curlin’s connections like to give the big red horse a little time to adjust to his surroundings. They certainly want to see how he’ll take to the Pro-Ride synthetic surface at Santa Anita. Plans were to walk him today (Monday) and Tuesday. He’ll probably go to the track on October 1 for the first time.

Curlin, trained by Steve Asmussen, has settled in at Barn 27 at Santa Anita. Zanjero, another horse in the Asmussen training empire, was expected to arrive on Monday. Zanjero was last seen winning the Kentucky Cup Classic (gr II) at Turfway Park.

Thus begins the countdown to the Breeders’ Cup Classic (g I) on October 25. With Curlin safely stabled at Santa Anita, we will now wait for the best three-year-old in the country, Big Brown, to make the journey to Arcadia, California. This is the match-up horse racing fans around the country have been hoping to see and we have to give credit to Jess Jackson, owner of Curlin, for making the decision to run his horse in the Classic.

Of course, the reality is that if either Big Brown or Curlin win the Classic, that horse will be crowned Horse of the Year. If Curlin did not run here and Big Brown wins the race, then Big Brown is the Horse of the Year and Curlin will not have had his opportunity to win that title for the second straight year.

Obviously, the Classic is not just a match race between these two champions, there will be many other competitors in this race, and as so often happens in a Breeders’ Cup race, the winner could come from anywhere and we’ll all be wishing we’d bet on that longshot that crossed the wire first, ahead of both Curlin and Big Brown. Ok, that’s probably not going to happen but anyone who’s watched the Breeders’ Cup races knows that favorites are often vulnerable and that 99-1 shot does sometimes get the photo.

Go Baby Go!

Curlin ran through the mud in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup Invitational (gr I) on Saturday at Belmont Park splashing his way to victory … and to the distinction of becoming the richest racehorse ever in North America.

Curlin, with $10,246,800 in winnings, is the first North American Thoroughbred to surpass the $10 million mark in earnings. He bested the earnings of the great Cigar who now ranks second at $9,999.815.

Wanderin Boy took the early lead in the 1 1/4 mile race with Curlin, the 2-5 favorite, running in fifth down the backstretch. Mambo in Seattle, who recently gave Colonel John all that he could handle in the Travers Stakes and lost only by a flaring nostril, moved up on the inside passing Curlin, and for a moment, I think everyone caught their breath at the sight of the big red horse losing ground on the backstretch. Jockey Robby Alberado moved Curlin in between horses with a half mile left to run and as the field turned for home, Mambo in Seattle began retreating. Merchant Marine, who had pressed the pace setter from the start, was still in second with the gutsy Wanderin Boy still in the lead.

With a big outside move, several paths wide, Curlin got to Merchant Marine and then Wanderin Boy at the top of the stretch. Wanderin Boy did not give up easily and continued to run hard all the way to the wire but Curlin passed him and won by 3/4 length.  The margin could have been much larger but Alberado only did enough to get his colt to the finish line first; Wanderin Boy was being ridden vigorously while Curlin was being hand-ridden to the wire.

Curlin’s owner, Jess Jackson, announced shortly after the race that Curlin would indeed go to Santa Anita to prepare for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr I) at the Oak Tree Meet in October. This was the announcement for which all racing fans have been hoping; a greatly anticipated match-up of Big Brown, the best three-year-old in the country, and Curlin, the reigning Horse of the Year, and without question, the best older horse in the country.

Curlin, by Smart Strike out of the Deputy Minister mare, Sheriff’s Deputy, has now won 11 races from 15 career starts. His remarkable career has resulted in two back-to-back $5 million years. He is scheduled to leave for Santa Anita on September 25.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic is now shaping up to be possibly the best Classic ever in the history of the Breeders’ Cup races. Let’s hope everybody stays happy and healthy until October 25 … and then …

Go Baby Go!

The main prep race for the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr I), the Goodwood Stakes (gr I), will be run this year on the same surface on which the Breeders’ Cup Classic will be run. This synthetic surface is called Pro-Ride and has recently been installed at Santa Anita in California. This is the first test of the racing surface and should tell us a lot about how which horses will handle the track and move on to the Breeders’ Cup.

The Goodwood is a Breeders’ Cup Challenge race which means that the winner will automatically earn an entry into the Classic race on October 25.

Well Armed appears to be the horse to beat in the Goodwood. The 5 year old gelded son of Tiznow scored wire-to-wire victories in the San Diego Handicap (gr II) at Del Mar and the San Antonio Handicap (gr II) at Santa Anita. In his last start, the Pacific Classic (gr I), Well Armed lost by a neck to Go Between.

The defending champion of last year’s Goodwood, Tiago, is coming into the race without a start in nearly three months. Trainer John Sherriffs, who also trained Tiago’s half-brother Giacomo to victory in the 2005 Grade I Kentucky Derby, doesn’t think the colt will be at a disadvantage in the 1 1/8 mile race. Of course the surface is the main factor; Tiago has been training at the Hollywood Park Cushion Track and Sherriffs is unfamiliar with the Australian-manufactured Pro-Ride.

In addition to Tiago and Well Armed, the other Goodwood entrants include Spirit Won, Mast Track, Albertus Maximus,Tres Borrachos, Zappa, Informed, Surf Cat, Slew’s Tiznow, and Mostacoll Mort.

The Goodwood is shaping up to be a very competitive race. It will be a great race to watch and also should give us some idea of who’s going to be a major player in the big race at the end of October.

Go Baby Go!

Proud Spell, that game filly that shows up every time she’s asked, is not headed to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita next month. Instead, she’ll be turned out to rest and just be a horse for awhile at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky.

Proud Spell finished second in her last race, the $750,000 Fitz Cotillion Stakes (gr II) in her most recent start. She had previously won the Grade I Kentucky Oaks and the Alabama this year. She has won seven of twelve starts with earnings over $2 million.

Trainer Larry Jones indicated that once Proud Spell has had a rest, they will evaluate her for a possible four-year-old campaign.

It’s unfortunate that this stellar filly will not be seen in the Breeders’ Cup this year but she’s run every month since February against some of the best competition in the nation and it’s good to know she’s going to get a well-deserved break.

Speaking of Larry Jones, he announced this week that he plans to retire by the end of 2009. He says the tragedy of Eight Belles breakdown after her amazing second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby has taken a lot of fun out of training for him and he thinks about her every day. There have also been tampering incidents and personnel problems at his barns which contributed to his decision to retire.

Obviously Larry Jones is a man who loves the horses in his barn as he loves his children, and we can only imagine the pain he has endured these past months following Eight Belles death. In 2007 he campaigned the plucky Hard Spun who looked like the winner in the Kentucky Derby that year until Street Sense flew up the rail, passing about 17 horses in what seemed like a dozen strides, to overtake Hard Spun right before the wire.

Larry Jones is an excellent trainer, and more importantly, a true horseman, so no doubt anything he does will include working with the horses he loves so much. We are sad to see him go and we wish him well in the future.

The amazing filly, Indian Blessing, continued her routine domination of her sprint competitors by cruising easily to a 6 1/4 length victory in the Gallant Bloom Handicap (gr II) at Belmont on Saturday.

Sugar Swirl, her chief rival, was scratched by trainer Bobby Frankel which reduced the field to four for 6 1/2 furlong race.

Indian Blessing was the 3-10 favorite and broke from the rail. She was briefly pressured by Zada Belle in the early part of the race and by Elope in the upper stretch but responded to her jockey, Corey Nakatani’s, urging and drew away quickly from her rivals.This was the first time Nakatani had ridden the filly in any of her races.

The Bob Baffert trainee may now be heading for the Breeders’ Cup. She’s been so superior to female sprinters that it’s possible she will take on the boys in the Sentient Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr I) on October 25 at Santa Anita.

This talented daughter of Indian Charlie has now won eight of ten starts with two runner-up finishes. She has five Grade I wins and was the front running winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last year which, along with the fact that she was undefeated at 2, wrapped up the 2007 Eclipse Award honors.

Fillies have always done pretty well when taking on the colts in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint races. Indian Blessing may just be the next female to best the boys in this prestigious arena. Let’s hope she stays healthy and happy and we’ll be looking for her in the Breeders’ Cup next month.

Go Baby Go!

Commentator showed all his class in the Mass ‘Cap today … winning by an amazing 14 lengths with the jockey, John Valazquez, sitting quietly in the irons. Trained by Nick Zito, this 7 year old gelded son of Distorted Humor showed the Suffolk Downs crowd why he was the 1-10 favorite.

Riversrunrylee set the pace with Commentator running in second on his outside but after 6 furlongs, Commentator took the lead and continued widening his advantage with every stride. The 1 1/8 mile race was completed in 1:48.97. Commentator earned $750,000 for this win and has now won 13 times out of 20 starts.

There was no indication from Zito after the race as to where Commentator will run next. His owner, Tracy Farmer, appears to want to run him in the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita in California in October. The horse has not run 1 1/4 miles, the distance of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but it’s always possible he may be entered in either that race or in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, which may be a better distance for him.

Wherever we see him next, we know we’ll see a great race from a great horse. It’s always exciting to see an older horse compete and win with such decisive style.

Go Baby Go!

Just a few weeks ago all us horse racing fans were wondering about the
Breeders’ Classic race and the fact that some of the best horses in the
country may not show up there to run for the Championship race. Well,
that seems to be changing a bit … this could possibly turn out to be
one of the best Classic races of all time.

There’s still a long time to go before October 25 and the most important
decision is whether or not the reigning Horse of the Year, Curlin, will
be running at Santa Anita that day. Majority owner Jess Jackson has made
some comments recently that make it appear that they are at least
considering this race for their outstanding colt.

Commentator, who is racing in the Massachusetts Handicap this weekend,
may also be pointing towards the big race at the end of October per his
owner, Tracy Farmer. Commentator has never run on the synthetic surface
but has trained over the Keeneland track and seemed to like it.
Commentator’s trainer, Nick Zito, is not a fan of the synthetic surfaces
but if Farmer wants to run in the Classic, the horse will probably be
there.

Other horses that appear to be headed for California are Colonel John
who will not run again until the Classic and will just train up to the
race. He will have been off for 62 days by that time, but he did have a
very hard race in the Travers a few weeks ago – which he won by a
nostril – so the rest may do him good. Pacific Classic winner, Go Between, will be running as will the top Japanese horse, Casino Drive. A couple outstanding European horses, Henrythenavigator and Duke of Marmalade should be there. The Travers runner-up, Mambo in Seattle, may be rounding into top form at the right time and bears watching. Curlin’s stable mate Pyro will be there as well as the San Antonio Handicap winner, Well Armed, the always tough Student Council, and the Larry Jones trained Honest Man. Just to keep things even more interesting, the undefeated filly Zenyatta could take her shot at the boys.

Let’s hope all these excellent prospects stay happy and healthy for the
next few weeks and we may just see one of the most exceptional fields
ever assembled running in this year’s Classic race.

Go Babies Go!

Majority owner of Curlin, Jess Jackson, recently indicated they might send their horse, the reigning Horse of the Year, to the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita next month after all. Previously all signs from the connections of this super-horse led us to believe they would not make an appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic race but perhaps were pointing Curlin to a race overseas, most probably the Japan Cup. This would certainly be good news for all us horse racing fans … Big Brown is expected to run in the Classic and the horse racing public has been hoping for an opportunity to see these two talented colts run in the same race.

Curlin’s next race will be the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr I) at Belmont on September 27. He’s been working beautifully for this race and the 4-year-old son of Smart Strike is attempting to become horse racing’s biggest money earner. Currently, the great Cigar holds that title with just under $10 million and a win in the JC Gold Cup would put Curlin over that mark.

Now Larry Jones, trainer of that amazing filly Proud Spell, has announced that they too may take their horse to the Breeders’ Cup. Proud Spell is running this weekend at Philadelphia Park in the $750,000 Fitz Dixon Cotillion (gr II). If she does ship to California for the Breeders’ Cup, this would be her last race before she runs at Santa Anita.

Neither Jones, nor the trainer of Curlin, Steve Asmussen, particularly like the synthetic track at Santa Anita … Jones does not believe his filly runs as well over a synthetic surface and Curlin has never tried a track that was not dirt or turf.

Let’s hope that both these impressive horses come out of their respective races well and that their connections do decide to send them to the Breeders’ Cup. Their presence at Santa Anita would certainly enhance the already stellar quality of horses that will be running in the championship races.

Horse racing needs these exciting stars shining at the Breeders’ Cup …

Go Baby Go!

For the first time in its history, the Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita next month will have an also-eligible list. This means that if a horse scratches after the post positions have been drawn, another horse will then be able to get into the race to take the place of the horse that was scratched.

This also-eligible list will be designated following the close of entries for all oversubscibed races for the Breeders’ Cup. An oversubscribed race is one in which there are more than 14 horses (except for three races which are limited to 12 entrants) entered to run.

The also-eligibles are limited to two horses for each race that is oversubscribed. Fourteen championship races are scheduled over two days, October 24 and 25, at Santa Anita in Arcadia, California. Eleven of those races are limited to 14 horses per race and three races, the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, and the Grey Goose Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf are limited to 12 starters.

This will enable the Breeders’ Cup to have as many full fields as possible. It gives as many top-quality horses as possible an opportunity to run in the Breeders’ Cup and provides horse racing fans more wagering options.

At the pre-entry stage on October 14, an also-eligible list of all overscribed races will be created. If a race is still oversubscribed at entry time on October 21, a maximum of two also-eligible will be chosen from the entries in the ranked preference order determined by a panel of Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors and Secretaries.

If a horse scratches following the post-position draw on on October 21, horses may be moved into a designated race until 7 a.m. Friday October 24.  No horses may move into any race on Friday or Saturday after scratch time.

In previous years, all the Breeders’ Cup races were closed following entry time.

I think this is a great addition to the Breeders’ Cup as it will give more of these talented horses an opportunity to run if, for some reason, a horse that was entered needs to be withdrawn.

Now, we just need to also have an also-eligible list for the Kentucky Derby … c’mon Churchill Downs, let’s give all those three-year-olds who didn’t quite have enough earnings to get into the first draw have an opportunity to run if there’s a scratch after the post position draw.

It’s going to be an exciting two days at the end of October … Go Baby Go!