Happily Unbridled

Casino Drive, Japan’s chance for a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (gr I), arrived at Hollywood California on Wednesday. He was quarantined at Hollywood Park on Thursday. He is scheduled to be released from quarantine on Friday and will likely go to the track at Santa Anita on Saturday or Sunday for exercise.

Casino Drive has started only two times in his career. He won a maiden race by 11 1/2 lengths in Kyoto, Japan, then shipped to the US and won the Peter Pan Stakes by five and 3/4 lengths at Belmont Park in May. He had been sent off as the 5-4 favorite and did not disappoint his fans with this impressive victory. He was being pointed towards the Belmont Stakes and was part of a much-anticipated match against Big Brown in that race, but was scratched the morning of the race due to a bruised foot.

Since returning to Japan, Casino Drive has not raced as the stone bruise took much longer to heal than was expected. His training has been picked up since September and there is an opportunity for him to run in an allowance race at Santa Anita on October 12. At this time, however, there is no indication whether or not he will actually have a race before the Breeders’ Cup Classic on October 25.

Can Casino Drive win the Breeders’ Cup Classic after just two starts and not running since May? The Breeders’ Cup Classic this year is a field deep with accomplished and talented runners including, but certainly not limited to, the best three-year-old in the country, Big Brown, and most likely the top older horse and reigning Horse of the Year, Culin, who is already at Santa Anita in preparation for the race. Casino Drive is obviously a very talented colt who is a half-brother to two Belmont Stakes winners, Jazil and Rags to Riches. However, with the long layoff and relatively little racing experience, I doubt that Casino Drive will be a factor in the this race. Of course he may be sent off at a very attractive price and, as often happens on this big racing weekend, a horse that has been dismissed by the wagering public does indeed get up to win.

Let’s keep an eye on how Casino Drive settles in to his new surroundings and if he does have a prep race before the Classic, watch how he handles the Santa Anita synthetic surface. If he runs well, he may be a good choice for at least your exotic wagers on the big day.

Go Baby Go!

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!

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!

Big Brown lived up to the faith of his devoted fans who made him the odds-on favorite in the Monmouth Stakes today. This was only his second race on the grass and he ran the race like the champion he is.

He won his first race on grass by over 11 lengths and today he again seemed to relish the surface as he held off ten other contenders and won by a determined neck over the Bobby Frankel trained Proudinsky. Big Brown broke sharply and went right to the lead accompanied by Get Serious who ran right with him to the first turn but then Get Serious went wide and Big Brown was out on the lead alone. Proudinsky got into contention around the turn and for a moment looked like he would run by Big Brown in the stretch, but Big Brown dug in and when the finish line came, it was Big Brown who had won the duel.

The turf may have been a bit softer than the connections of Big Brown had wanted, but it was still labeled as “good” and the race was just what trainer Rick Dutrow Jr wanted for this son of Boundary. He now has six weeks until the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita and if he can keep those tender feet of Big Brown in good shape, there should be nothing stopping him from running on October 25.

If Curlin does not run in the Classic and in spite of the European horses that will be coming to try their luck, Big Brown will likely be the wagering favorite at Santa Anita.

We’re happy that Big Brown won today and he looked to be much more the “old” Big Brown than he was when he ran in the Haskell. Even though he did rally in the stretch to win that race, he didn’t appear comfortable and seemed to get to the wire on sheer determination alone. Perhaps his problematic hooves are more of a problem than we’re aware of and running on the turf was the right decision. The Santa Anita track is a synthetic surface — Pro-Ride — and that should also be kinder to his feet than a regular dirt track.

Now we just need to have Curlin’s connections make the decision to run in the Breeders’ Cup and we’d have a horse race for the ages …

Go Baby 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!

Labor Day weekend was closing day at a bunch of tracks around the country … Del Mar, Saratoga, Arlington Park, and Canterbury Park among others. I’ve covered some of the best races in previous posts so this post will just be a potpourri of leftover news from various tracks.

Canterbury Park’s (Shakopee MN) 67-day meet closed with a decline in attendance and on-track handle. However, when factoring in results from all sources, total handle ended about on par from last year due to increased import wagering. This 2008 season had one less race day and 15 fewer total races than in 2007. The number of starters per race increased by 1.86% to 7.76. Daily purses were also up .53% to $125,969.

Mac Robertson won his fourth consecutive training title, Derek Bell was the champion rider for the sixth time with 93 wins. S E J Stables of Detroit Lakes MN won the Thoroughbred owner title for the third time in a row with 32 wins.

Ellis Park in Henderson KY’s closing day was an eventful one … three men wearing bandannas stepped behind the clerk’s counter in the Sky Theater Restaurant at the track and, brandishing a pistol, tried to take two money bags. One of the brave clerks knocked the gun out of the bandit’s hand while trying to grab back one of the bags. The clerks called for help while still struggling with the robbers and the cowardly robbers then ran from the restaurant, dropping the bags as they ran. There were no serious injuries to any of the clerks and there is conflicting information about whether the robbers actually got away with any money. I know it can be foolish to fight with a gun-wielding perpetrator but in this case, the clerks came away with the victory.

Should Peppers Pride have been scratched? That was a question that surfaced this week when Peppers Pride was scratched on Sunday from the Lincoln Handicap at Ruidoso Downs. She’s won 16 races in a row and this would have been her record-breaking attempt … the horse racing gods have not been kind to North American Thoroughbreds — Cigar, Citation, Hallowed Dreams and Mr. Frisky — attempting to win 17 straight races. The track came up sloppy on Sunday and her connections scratched her a couple of hours before the race. The owners said that because the track was so sloppy and slick, they didn’t feel it was worth risking a chance of injury by running that race. Peppers Pride was the only horse in the eight-horse field to be scratched but it should be noted that a horse in the previous race was injured and had to be vanned off.

Peppers Pride is a certainly a remarkable horse to have won 16 straight races and although she has only run in New Mexico, she deserves the respect that is accorded to an undefeated contender.

I have conflicting thoughts about the fact that Peppers Pride was scratched. Was she possibly scratched because she has never run on an off-track and the connections were concerned that she would lose? If that was the reason, then that was an unsportsmanlike move, but I also feel that due to the risk of possible injury to their prized equine, they made the right decision to keep her as safe as possible no matter what. There will be another race at another time and if Peppers Pride wins, she’ll have broken the 16-race curse. If she loses, it won’t be because she raced on an off track and she will have no excuse except that, on that day, another horse was faster than she was.

Big Brown is prepping for the Monmouth Stakes to be run over the turf course on September 13. This will be his final race before the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. Big Brown won his first race on the turf but has raced on dirt ever since. I’m guessing the connections are running him on the turf because Santa Anita has a synthetic surface (Pro-Ride) and horses that run well on the turf seem to run well on synthetic surfaces. This is not always true of dirt-specialists (like Curlin who will likely skip the Breeder’s Cup because of the artificial surface) so if Big Brown runs well, it will be a positive sign that he’ll be a major foe in the Classic.

Big Brown breezed easily for six furlongs in 1.15:3/5 on the Aqueduct turf on September 3. His last race was the Haskell Invitational (gr I) which was his 4th Grade 1 win of the year.

There’ll be more exciting news in the next few weeks until the Breeders’ Cup. Stay tuned for all the fun things to come …

Go Baby Go!

Although Curlin made his debut at Saratoga a winning one, it wasn’t as visually impressive as many of his races have been and it seemed to take all he had to get past the long shot front runner, Past the Point.

Past the Point, a 40-1 shot, set quick fractions in the 1 1/8 mile race and led into the upper stretch with Curlin “uncoiling” behind him. It looked like Curlin would run right by and win going away but once he drew even with the pacesetter, he seemed to tire and labored during the final 1/8 of a mile to finally prevail by 1 1/4 lengths. The plucky Past the Point was making his grade 1 debut for trainer Eoin Harty and proved the best of the rest by finishing 1 1/2 lengths ahead of Wanderin Boy with A P Arrow finishing fourth.

This was Curlin’s first start in seven weeks and the connections appear to be pointing him towards the 10-furlong Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr 1) at Belmont Park on September 27. There is apparently no decision to enter Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita in October; it is more likely that Curlin will ship overseas for the Japan Cup.

Even though the great Curlin appeared to be a bit less than his best yesterday, his determination and willingness to win prevailed and he was back in the winners circle where he belongs. This is possibly Curlin’s final year of racing so we need to enjoy every moment of his last few races … no matter what happens in the next few weeks, we know we’ve seen a champion that is one of the best horses racing fans have seen in the past 15 years.

Thanks for the thrills, Curlin!

If you haven’t heard, Curlin, reigning horse of the year, is back in action today at Saratoga in the Woodward Stakes. This superstar owned by Stonestreet Stable and trained by Steve Asmussen, has never run at Saratoga before but was installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite. He’ll be ridden again by Robbie Alberado and breaks from post 5.

Seven other horses are entered in the 1 1/8 mile race which is run on the dirt. Curlin’s last race was on turf in which he finished second to Red Rocks; his connections were considering a try at an international campaign on the turf prior to this second place finish but have apparently decided to keep Curlin on the dirt. This may also be the reason that Curlin may not run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic this year in Santa Anita since that track is no longer a dirt track but has been changed to a synthetic surface to comply with the State of California mandate. Turf horses seem to perform better on the synthetic surface than dirt horses do so the synthetic may not be to Curlin’s liking.

Curlin had a busy year in 2007 by winning the Rebel Stakes, the Arkansas Derby, the Preakness, the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic which was run (in the mud) at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. This year he traveled to Dubai to win the World Cup by a record 7 3/4 lengths and then returned to the US and won the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs in June.

Curlin is routinely outstanding in most of his races and the fans expect nothing less today … of course, this is still a horse race and anything can happen.

These are the horses in post position order, followed by trainer, jockey and morning line odds:
1. A.P. Arrow, Todd Pletcher, Cornelio Velasquez, 20-1
2. Loose Leaf, Ken McPeek, Eibar Coa, 15-1
3. Past the Point, Eoin Harty, Edgar Prado, 15-1
4. Divine Park, Kiaran McLaughlin, Alan Garcia, 3-1
5. Curlin, Steve Asmussen, Robby Albarado, 3-5
6. Dr. D.F.C., Rodrigo Ubillo, Aldo Arboleda, 50-1
7. Out of Control, Bobby Frankel, John Velazquez, 12-1
8. Wanderin Boy, Nick Zito, Julien Leparoux, 8-1
Each assigned 126 pounds

Go Baby (Curlin) Go!