Happily Unbridled

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!

There will be no more prep races for Colonel John. He’s going to train right up to the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

His last race was a testing one in which he won by a flaring nostril over Mambo in Seattle in the Travers Stakes (gr I) on August 23 and his connections feel he may bounce if he runs again before the Classic. Trainer Eoin Harty had initially said that either the Goodwood (gr I) at Santa Anita on September 27 or the Louisiana Super Derby (gr II) at Louisiana Downs on September 20 were options for this son of the great Tiznow. But co-owner Bill Casner said Wednesday that he will head straight into the Classic.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic will be Colonel John’s first start against older horses. Will the 62-days off without a race before the Classic help or hurt Colonel John? It’s possible that another race would take too much out of him if it’s a tough race like the Travers, but it’s also possible that he will not be able to keep his form for two months. He’ll be competing against some of the best horses in the world, including Big Brown (is it too much to hope that Curlin will show up too?) and the top horses from Europe and Japan — remember Casino Drive? — so he will have to be at the top of his game.

We’ve always liked Colonel John for many reasons, not the least of which is that his sire, Tiznow, won the Classic twice, so we think there’s a good chance that he will be able to run with the best. Can he win? I don’t know. Right now I’m not convinced that he can … but he’s a good horse and he always gives his all when he runs. He should be a decent price so you’ll want to use him in your exotics at least. A long shot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic can often be the best shot!

Go Baby Go!