Archive for the ‘Racing Greats’ Category
Wednesday, November 19th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
Lane’s End Farm is expected to announce that reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will enter stud at the Versailles, Ky., farm in 2009 for a live foal stud fee of $75,000, the Paulick Report has learned. Lane’s End is owned by William S. Farish, vice chairman of the Jockey Club and former ambassador to Great Britain for President George W. Bush.
Jess Jackson owns 80% of the son of Smart Strike—Sherriffs Deputy, by Deputy Minister, with the other 20% owned by the Midnight Cry Stable of disbarred attorneys Shirley Cunningham and William Gallion. That share has been the focus of a complicated legal battle resulting from a $42-million judgment against Cunningham and Gallion in a civil case. The two also face criminal charges.
Jackson and wife Barbara Banke have offered to buy Midnight Cry’s 20% for $4 million, based on an appraisal by bloodstock expert Ric Waldman that set a $20-million fair market value on Curlin. While Curlin may have been insured for an amount in excess of $40 million, Waldman’s appraisal took into account the current global economic crisis and recent trends in the bloodstock market. The just-concluded November breeding stock sale at Keeneland resulted in a 46% decline in gross revenues.
Jackson announced Nov. 15 that Curlin would enter stud in Kentucky in 2009, though he did not name a farm. At the time, he said various offers were being considered, and also indicated Curlin could become the first stallion to stand at the Stonestreet Farms in Lexington that he owns. The late-season announcement, made after matings for many broodmares already have been planned, may also have contributed to Waldman’s appraisal, which Andre Regard, an attorney for Gallion and Cunningham, said was below the horse’s true value.
No decision is expected on the Midnight Cry share of Curlin prior to a Dec. 1 court date in Franklin County, Ky. If a judge rules that the share should be sold to Jackson for $4 million, an appeal could extend the legal battle well into 2009.
It is believed Gainesway Farm was a “finalist” in the bidding for Curlin’s stud services. Jackson owns a large share of dual 2005 Classic winner Afleet Alex, who stands at Gainesway, owned by South African Graham Beck and run by his son, Antony. Jackson and the Beck family are both involved in the wine business, Jackson in California as the owner of Kendall-Jackson vineyards and the Becks primarily in South Africa. Jackson sells many of his horses through Gainesway and Taylor Made Sales Agency, which is also believed to have been a finalist to stand Curlin. Jackson also is part owner of 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, who stands at Adena Springs. It isn’t known whether Adena Springs, owned by Frank Stronach, actively recruited Curlin.
With a fee of $75,000, Curlin would be the highest-priced first-year stallion entering stud in Kentucky in 2009. Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Big Brown will stand at Three Chimneys Farm for $65,000, the same amount as Coolmore/Ashford’s multiple European Group 1 winner Henrythenavigator, who finished second to Raven’s Pass in the Breeders’ Cup Classic in which Curlin was fourth.
“Curlin has proven himself across two continents with 16 starts, the honor of 2007 Horse of the Year and the greatest North American money-earner in racing history,” Jackson said in the Nov. 15 announcement that Curlin would enter stud in 2009. “He always gave it his all and has done everything we have asked of him. I am proud to announce that he will start a new career in 2009 and contribute his soundness, stamina, durability and athleticism to the breed. I am looking forward to seeing his foals compete and possibly exceed his unequaled racing record.”
At the time of the announcement, Jackson said he would consider one more race in 2008 for Curlin if “an appropriate venue and purse are offered.” Curlin has been ruled out of the Clark Handicap at Churchill and Cigar Mile at Aqueduct, the two most likely races for him, so it’s extremely doubtful he will run again.
Curlin, who began his career under the care of Helen Pitts and was transferred to trainer Steve Asmussen after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream Park early in 2007, retires with record earnings of $10,501,800. He won 11 of 16 starts, with two seconds and two thirds. He won seven Grade 1 races: the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Dubai World Cup, consecutive runnings of the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Woodward, Preakness and Stephen Foster Handicap. Bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm, he sold for $57,000 at the Keeneland September yearling sale. Jackson, Satish Sanan and George Bolton bought at 80% interest in Curlin through bloodstock agent John Moynihan for about $3 million after the colt’s maiden win. Jackson eventually bought Sanan and Bolton’s interests.
Curlin’s sire, Smart Strike, stands at Lane’s End for $150,000. Also joining the 2009 roster at Lane’s End is War Pass, the 2007 2-year-old male champion and winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile who will stand for $30,000 live foal.
Kevin McGee, legal counsel for Jackson’s Kendall-Jackson Vineyards in California, would neither confirm nor deny that a deal with Lane’s End was imminent. Attempts to reach Will Farish were unsuccessful. Bill Farish, son of the Lane’s End owner, said he could not comment on the matter.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: adena springs, afleet alex, andre regard, ashford, barbara banke, Big Brown, Bill Farish, cigar mile, clark handicap, coolmore, coolmore/ashford, Curlin, dubai world cup, fares farm, Frank Stronach, gainesway, gainesway farm, george bolton, ghostzapper, helen pitts, henrythenavigator, horse of the year, horse of the year curlin, Horse Racing, jess jackson, jockey club gold cup, john moynihan, Keeneland, keeneland november breeding stock sale, kevin mcgee, Lane's End, midnight cry stable, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, Ric Waldman, satish sanan, shirley cunningham, smart strike, steve asmussen, stonestreet farms, taylor made farm, taylor made sales agency, Thoroughbred industry, thoroughbred stallions, war pass, Will Farish, william gallion, William S. Farish
Posted in Breeding, Curlin, Horse Racing, Racing Greats, Stallions | 10 Comments »
Sunday, November 16th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
Curlin will be retired to stud in 2009 to a yet-to-be-determined farm and his racing career is over unless “an appropriate venue and purse are offered" for one more race in 2008, the reigning Horse of the Year’s majority owner Jess Jackson said.
In a press release distributed late Saturday night, Jackson said offers from various stallion farms will be considered but that the son of Smart Strike out of Sheriff’s Deputy, by Deputy Minister, could end up at Jackson’s Stonestreet Farms, which currently does not stand any stallions.
All inquiries for breeding seasons to Curlin for qualified mares should be directed to Stonestreet Farms director Lesley Howard (e-mail address Lesley.Howard@stonestreetfarms.com, or by calling 859 244-2306).
Still unresolved is a 20% ownership interest in Curlin that has been tied up in a legal case involving his original owners, William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham of Midnight Cry Stable, who sold 80% of Curlin to Jackson, Satish Sanan and George Bolton after the colt won his maiden race. Jackson later bought out the interests of Sanan and Bolton, but the Midnight Cry portion was put under the control of a court-appointed receiver last year after Gallion, Cunningham and another attorney were slapped with a $42-million judgment for their handling of a diet drug class-action lawsuit.
Curlin, the richest North American-trained horse in history with earnings of $10,501,800, will be kept in training for one more potential race in 2008, though in a report in the New York Times Jackson ruled out a run in the Dec. 7 Japan Cup Dirt because of quarantine complications. He also told the Times he plans to breed at least 20 of his best mares from a total of over 100 that Stonestreet Farms maintains.
“If an appropriate venue and purse are offered, we would consider one more race in 2008 for Curlin,” Jackson said in a statement.
“Curlin has proven himself across two continents with 16 starts, the honor of 2007 Horse of the Year and the greatest North American money-earner in racing history,” he continued. “He always gave it his all and has done everything we have asked of him. I am proud to announce that he will start a new career in 2009 and contribute his soundness, stamina, durability and athleticism to the breed. I am looking forward to seeing his foals compete and possibly exceed his unequaled racing record.”
Curlin’s Accomplishments:
- 2007 Horse of the Year.
- Greatest North American money-earner in racing history with earnings of $10,501,800.00
Major wins:
2007 Preakness Stakes
2007 Jockey Club Gold Cup
2007 Breeders’ Cup Classic
2008 Dubai World Cup
2008 Jockey Club Gold Cup
Race Record:
2007 2008
Gulfstream Park Maiden Race — First
Rebel Stakes — First
Arkansas Derby - First
Kentucky Derby - Third
Preakness Stakes - First
Belmont Stakes - Second
Haskell Invitational - Third
Jockey Club Gold Cup - First
Breeders’ Cup Classic - First
Jaguar Trophy Handicap - First
Dubai World Cup - First
Stephen Foster Handicap - First
Man o’ War Stakes (turf)- Second
Woodward Stakes - First
Jockey Club Gold Cup — First
Breeders’ Cup Classic (synthetic track) — Fourth
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Curlin, curlin retired, curlin retired to stud, curlin to retire, eclipse award, george bolton, horse of the year, Horse Racing, japan cup dirt, jess jackson, lesley howard, midnight cry, midnight cry stable, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, richest thoroughbred, satish sanan, sheriff's deputy, shirley cunningham, smart strike, streetstreet farms, william gallion
Posted in Curlin, Racing Greats, Uncategorized | 12 Comments »
Friday, October 24th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
Top to bottom, this may not be the most talented group of Breeders’ Cup horses that’s ever been assembled, but it’s the biggest handicapping challenge I can ever recall, especially considering new races like the Marathon, Turf Sprint, Dirt Mile and Juvenile Turf.
As mentioned yesterday, the Breeders’ Cup Web site has loads of good information, including race schedules and post times, wagering menu, free Equibase past performances, a useful wagering calculator, a list of simulcast locations and advice for beginners. You can bet the Breeders’ Cup races through any of the approved account wagering companies.
My handicapping philosophy is to beat the favorite whenever possible, since the average percentage of winning favorites is around 33%. You might discern from the following selections that I think the Europeans are going to have a big day on Saturday. The factors leading me to believe that will be true are 1) the synthetic surface that some Europeans train on; 2) the tighter medication rules that specifically ban anabolic steroids for the first time; 3) the quality of European horses being sent to this year’s event.
Here’s my advance prognostication on the day’s nine championship races. Good luck and safe racing to all.
Special note: please be sure to check back in to the Paulick Report, beginning around 3 p.m. Eastern, for my live blog of Filly Friday. I’ll also be live blogging Saturday’s nine races, beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern.
Marathon
This looks like a two-horse race between European runner Sixties Icon and Zappa (whose namesake, the late rocker Frank Zappa, was the founder of the Mothers of Invention and was a real-life sixties icon). That works for me, but it’s an all chalk exacta. I give the edge to Sixties Icon, in part because of jockey Frankie Dettori’s experience edge at mile and a half races. Zappa is sharp and may try to steal the race under Garrett Gomez. Muhannak has plenty of synthetic track experience in Europe and likes the distance. Cedar Mountain will be closing late.
Selections: 1-Sixties Icon 2-Zappa 3-Muhannak 4- Cedar Mountain
Turf Sprint
One of the great things about the Breeders’ Cup is finding a horse you absolutely love and then discovering that it’s a longshot. That’s the case with Only Answer, a French-based filly in the care of the legendary horseman Andre Fabre, who is in top echelon of Breeders’ Cup trainers. I think she has an excellent chance to beat the boys in this spot, and Santa Anita’s ace morning line maker Jeff Tufts has her pegged at 20-1 on the morning line. Jockey Olivier Peslier, in my opinion, is as good a big-race rider as there is in the world, and he knows this filly well. The downhill turf course is a tricky one for horse and rider, with the run across the main track causing difficulty for some. It’s one of the best “horses for the course” plays in racing, which makes local runners California Flag and Get Funky formidable challengers in here. Fleeting Spirit has a lot of class, as does Diabolical, either of whom are good enough on their best days to win. I’m going for the price play.
Selections: 1-Only Answer 2-Fleeting Spirit 3-Get Funky 4-Diabolical
Dirt Mile
The status of Mast Track is in doubt as I write this, and I would be very surprised if trainer and owner Robert Frankel runs him on Saturday. If he is scratched, that’s going to make things a lot easier for Well Armed, a Tiznow gelding who seems to have found a perfect spot here, though I’d prefer him to have drawn more of an inside post position. The Eoin Harty runner can go to the lead or rate, depending on the circumstances, and the mile distance suits him perfectly. Surf Cat should be more effective at this distance, too, after running dull races in his last two starts. Bruce Headley has tightened the veteran up with some quick works. No one seems to have more confidence in his horse than Wayne Catalano, and there’s a lot to like about Lewis Michael, who grabs the advantageous rail post. Pyro’s a tough one to assess in here. His only synthetic track try at Keeneland was a disaster, but all synthetic tracks aren’t the same.
Selections: 1-Well Armed 2-Surf Cat 3-Lewis Michael 4-Pyro
Turf Mile
Irish-bred filly Goldikova has made few mistakes in her eight-race career for French trainer Freddie Head, who has enough confidence to run her against colts here at her best distance. She’s drawn perfectly in the four post and has big-race rider Olivier Peslier in the saddle. It’s not the strongest Mile field we’ve seen. Shakis is a game old-timer who always finishes with a rush. If Alan Garcia can avoid traffic problems from the rail, he won’t be far away at the finish. Kip Deville ran a puzzler last time out in Canada on a yielding track for Rick Dutrow. I’d throw that race out as he goes for a defense of his crown. U S Ranger doesn’t win very many but usually gets up for a share of the money and has been facing tough company all year. Whatsthescript got an impossible post position on the outside.
Selections: 1-Goldikova 2-Shakis 3-Kip Deville 4-U S Ranger
Juvenile
Post positions really come into play here, with the two horses I like the most, Bushranger and Midshipman, drawn way outside, a distinct disadvantage in the relatively short run to the first turn. Munnings, who has chased juvenile division leader Vineyard Haven (not entered in the Breeders’ Cup by trainer Robert Frankel) in his last two starts, draws the much friendlier rail post for his first try around two turns. That’s enough to give him the edge in this spot for trainer Todd Pletcher, especially in a race without much early speed. The son of Speightstown should get the best trip under John Velazquez. Bushranger may be the best horse and he’ll have to be overcome his 11 post. Street Hero has been steady since breaking his maiden in June and remains in top form for Myung Kwon Cho.
Selections: 1-Munnings 2-Bushranger 3-Midshipman 4-Street Hero
Juvenile Turf
Westphalia looks to me like the obvious choice here, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he is bet down to near favoritism from his 5-1 morning line. He’s in top form and has had a bit of a rest since his last win at Doncaster in mid-September. Coronet of a Baron obviously has is precocious and talented, and the shift from synthetic to turf by trainer Eoin Harty is an interesting move. Darley already has Midshipman going in the Juvenile and this gives them a good chance to sweep the two races. Of course, arch-rival Coolmore has Bushranger in the Juvenile and Westphalia in here, giving them a strong hand as well. The Darley-Coolmore rivalry will be interesting to follow throughout the two days. Bittel Road is unbeaten on turf and is the morning line choice, but he hasn’t seen this kind of competition yet. Donativum is in the more than capable hands of trainer John Gosden, who knows how to have a horse at peak form when it matters most.
Selections: 1-Westphalia 2-Coronet of a Baron 3-Bittel Road 4-Donativum
Sprint
Smallest number of runners in this race since 1986, obviously a byproduct of two new races: the Filly and Mare Sprint and Dirt Mile. I doubt that defending champ Midnight Lute scared anyone away based on his only start of the year, a dismal 10th in the Pat O’Brien at Del Mar. He’s worked sensationally for Bob Baffert since then, but it’s hard to see him up sharp enough to beat the likes of Street Boss or In Summation. I give the clear nod here to the California horses, led by the Bruce Headley-trained Street Boss. My intuition tells me Bruce Headley didn’t have the son of Street Cry cranked to the max for the Ancient Title when second to Cost of Freedom, and recent works suggest he’s ready to roll here. In Summation is a thorough professional who can be counted on to run his race. Midnight Lute will be running late. Fatal Bullet has the best chance of upsetting the local horses’ applecart.
Selections: 1-Street Boss 2- In Summation 3-Midnight Lute 4-Fatal Bullet
Turf
While Europe’s bigshots were locking horns in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Oct. 5, Mike de Kock was bringing the top-class Eagle Mountain back to the races from a fractured pelvis and year layoff at Newmarket. The Rock of Gibraltor colt won the comeback, a Group 3 race at Newmarket, and some big money subsequently came in on the horse with a British bookmaker to win the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The former Coolmore/Aidan O’Brien runner looked sharp in a morning spin at Santa Anita is primed for a big effort. Soldier of Fortune comes off a hard-fought defeat for O’Brien in the Arc. That was just his third race of the year and he might have another good one in him. Winchester turned in a monstrous performance at Arlington Park to win the Secretariat for Dermot Weld, far surpassing his European form. This is a big step up, but he showed a fondness for American style racing in that effort. Conduit completes my all- European superfecta. American turf horses appear weak again this year, but let’s not forget how English Channel romped in the 2007 Turf over supposedly superior Europeans.
Selections: 1-Eagle Mountain 2-Soldier of Fortune 3-Winchester 4-Conduit
Classic
By the time the finale rolls around, we should have a pretty good idea how European turf horses have adapted to Santa Anita’s synthetic Pro-Ride surface. I don’t have the benefit of knowing that right now, so I can only speculate how Duke of Marmalade, Henrythenavigator and Raven’s Pass will take to the track. But I guess we can say the same thing about Curlin, who has trained well on the track but never raced on a synthetic strip. Curlin may be the best horse we’ve seen in the last 10 years, in terms of his accomplishments if not his brilliance. But based on his last two victories over relatively weak competition, I think he’s beatable here. But who will beat him? Go Between, a synthetic track specialist who’s logged thousands of miles this year going from coast to coast? Casino Drive, the unbeaten but lightly raced, Japanese-trained sibling to two previous Belmont Stakes winners? Colonel John, the best 3-year-old in training following the retirement of Big Brown? The Aidan O’Brien duo of Duke of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator, who have combined for nine Group 1 victories on European turf this year? All have a realistic chance, but I’m taking the John Gosden-trained Raven’s Pass for the upset under Frankie Dettori. The Elusive Quality 3-year-old colt hasn’t gone beyond a mile, but Gosden knows from his previous experience in California that most top-class Europeans can stretch their ability out in the U.S. Raven’s Pass has had a month off since defeating Henrythenavigator in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and is in absolute top form. Curlin will run hard as always, but he’s had a long year for trainer Steve Asmussen. Go Between is a steady performer for Mott, who’s handled him intelligently all year. Colonel John may be the best 3-year-old, but the jury is still out on how good this year’s sophomore crop really is.
Selections: 1-Raven’s Pass 2-Curlin 3-Go Between 4-Colonel John
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Tags: aiden o'brien, andre fabre, Big Brown, bittel road, Bob Baffert, Breeders' Cup, breeders' cup handicapping, breeders' cup selections, breeders' cup wagering, Breeders' Cup World Championships, bruce headley, bushranger, casino drive, colonel john, conduit, coolmore, coronet of a baron, cost of freedom, Curlin, darley, dermot weld, dirt mile, duke of marmalade, eagle mountain, eoin harty, Fatal Bullet, fleeting spirit, frank zappa, freddie head, free past performances, get funky, go between, goldikova, handicapping the breeders' cup, henrythenavigator, Horse Racing, in summation, john gosden, juvenile, juvenile turf, kip deville, lewis michael, marathon, mast track, michael de kock, michael stoute, midnight lute, midshipman, mile, mothers of invention, muhannak, olivier peslier, only answer, pari-mutuel wagering, Paulick Report, pyro, raven's pass, Ray Paulick, rick dutrow, robert frankel, shakis, sixties icon, soldier of fortune, sprint, street boss, surf cat, todd pletcher, turf spring, u s ranger, well armed, westphalia, winchester, zappa
Posted in Breeders' Cup, Curlin, International Racing, Racing Greats, Ray Paulick, Synthetic surfaces, Wagering | 5 Comments »
Sunday, October 19th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
I’m sure I wasn’t the only one holding his breath when the gates opened for the fourth race Saturday at the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting from Santa Anita. Seven “old” men and one still young woman, all of them Living Legends who have retired from professional race riding, were set to show that their skills had not all faded.
This wasn’t like one of those Old Timers Day baseball games at Yankee Stadium I remember watching on television in the 1960s, when pitches were lobbed up to the plate and spikes weren’t sharpened for slides into second base. These eight Living Legends would be aboard racehorses still in the prime of their careers in a game that can be dangerous for even the youngest, fastest-thinking and quickest-reacting athletes.
Thankfully, the eight horses and riders made the seven-furlong course safely, with 59-year-old Canadian Sandy Hawley, one of the all-time great riders and gentlemen of the game, romping to victory aboard the race favorite, Tribal Chief. (Click here to view the race.) Hawley took his charge wire to wire to win by 6 ½ lengths, looking every bit as good as he did in his prime 30 years ago, when he was nine times Canada’s champion jockey and four times led all North American riders by wins. Tribal Chief gave Hawley his 6,450th career victory, 10th on the list of all-time North American leaders.
Following Hawley across the finish line were horses ridden by Living Legends Jerry Bailey, Gary Stevens, Pat Day, Julie Krone, Jacinto Vasquez, Chris McCarron and Angel Cordero Jr. (Equibase chart.) All are members of the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame. Not riding but participating in autograph sessions were three other Hall of Famers: Eddie Delahoussaye, Laffit Pincay Jr. and Jorge Velasquez.
Turns out I wasn’t the only nervous one. “I was a little nervous going into the starting gate, because I haven’t been out of a gate in 10 years,” Hawley said afterwards. “That was the part that I was worried about, so I grabbed a big handful of mane.”
The Living Legends race turned out to be a popular promotion for the riders and racing fans, and was a clever way to kick off a week featuring the 25th Breeders’ Cup world championships. Fans in the Los Angeles area and at tracks across did more than watch the Living Legends; they bet on them to the tune of over $1 million, with the $438,012 in the win, place and show pool the highest on the 10-race card.
There was immediate talk of holding another similar event in the future.
“If I was invited back again, I would do it again in a minute,” said Hawley, whose biggest personal challenge came in 1987 when he beat skin cancer. “I was 122 pounds two months ago, and when I got invited, I started working out and got on a few horses, and the weight came right off. I weighed 110 in the room today.
“Being back with these guys was a thrill. I’ve been with them the last few days, and you really don’t get to see them more than maybe once or twice a year at the Derby or the Breeders’ Cup. To be able to ride with them … when I got the call, I was like, ‘Holy cow, yeah, it would be an honor.’ The field of riders they ended up getting was tremendous, and I never thought in a million years that I had an opportunity to win, but I got on a good horse.”
I kept waiting for track announcer Trevor Denman to say that Hawley had the Living Legends race “in the bag” as they came down the stretch. Back in 1983, when Denman was just getting started as a racecaller in the United States, that’s exactly what he said about Hawley and a horse named Shanekite when they opened a big lead in the Morvich Handicap, run on the hillside turf course. “Sandy Hawley and Shanekite have this one in the bag,” Denman announced as they hit the sixteenth pole.
Unfortunately, Hawley heard Denman’s call and eased up a bit on Shanekite as they approached the wire, only to get beat on the money by a John Longden-trained runner named Kangroo Court, who was charging hard to the wire under a young apprentice rider, Joe Steiner. It was a rare mistake in an outstanding career for Hawley, and a racecall Denman would like to be able to do over. “I heard the announcer say I had it in the bag,” a fuming Hawley said afterwards, explaining the loss to reporters.
There was no letting up on Saturday. On this occasion, Hawley was the best of the Living Legends.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: angel cordero jr., Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup World Championships, chris mccarron, Gary Stevens, hall of fame jockeys, Horse Racing, jacinto vasquez, jerry bailey, joe steiner, john longden, Julie Krone, kangroo court, living legends, living legends race, oak tree racing association, oldtimers day, oldtimers games, pat day, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, sandy hawley, santa anita, shanekite, trevor denman, tribal chief, yankee stadium
Posted in Breeders' Cup, California, Horse Racing, People, Racing Greats | 1 Comment »
Thursday, October 16th, 2008
At 1 p.m. Eastern Ray Paulick will be live blogging today’s National Thoroughbred Racing Association teleconference focusing on the 25th Breeders’ Cup from the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park Oct. 24-25, pre-entries for which were announced earlier. Click here to get the list of pre-entries.
Scheduled guests on the conference are:
. Greg Avioli, President and Chief Executive Officer, Breeders’ Cup Limited
. Sherwood C. Chillingworth, Director & Executive Vice-President, Oak Tree at Santa Anita
. Tom Robbins, Chairman, Breeders’ Cup Racing Directors/Secretaries Panel
. Rick Hammerle, Racing Secretary, Santa Anita Park
. Trainer Steve Asmussen.
. Trainer Eoin Harty
. Owner Jerry Moss
. Alastair Donald, Director of the International Racing Bureau
1:04 p.m. … Before the conference begins, let me send a cautionary note to readers of today’s blog. In the event any of the participants starts talking about Joe the Plumber, I am out of here. That is, unless there is actually a pre-entered horse named Joe the Plumber. It comes to mind that we could have used Joe the Plumber at this year’s Belmont Stakes. If you were there, you’d know what I mean.
1:06 p.m. … It’s post time! Where are the horses?
1:12 p.m. … Still no tellie conference! While we are waiting, let me remind everyone that post positions will be drawn for the Friday and Saturday races next Tuesday, Oct. 21. TVG will have the live draw of some of the races that afternoon. Let’s hope the draw is as dramatic and entertaining as the Kentucky Derby draw! (Actually, it’s a pretty serious and busineslike affair, given the number of races that will be drawn, and they do it the old-fashioned way.)
1:16 p.m. … We begin! Jim Gluckson, the Breeders’ Cup publicist gets on the call and we immediately hear someone’s cell phone going off.
1:18 p.m. … Jimmy G. says there is a record number of pre-entries from overseas (I guess it helps that three races were added.) There should be a lot of records with the expansion. Greg Avioli is giving introductory remarks now. "Strongest fields in the 25 year history of our event….$25 million in purses. We are particularly pleased that the six new races (three in 2007, three this year) all have been oversubscribed." Avioli says he could talk for a long time but won’t. Good news. More good news. Advance forecast…83 degrees and sunny. No fires in sight this year, thankfully.
1:20 p.m. … Sherwood Chillingworth of Oak Tree takes the phone and mentions that this is a year of firsts: first time on synthetic, and first time without steroids (thanks for that reminder…does that mean we should put an asterisk in front of all previous Breeders’ Cup champions like baseball may do with Barry Bonds and that shameless dude from the St. Louis Cardinals?
1:25 p.m. … A little humor is injected into the call. Gluckson asks if Jerry Moss is on the line (he isn’t yet), then asks if trainer Eoin Harty is on the line. Harty says he is, and is ready to answer questiions anyone has for Jerry Moss, too.
1:30 p.m. … Steve Asmussen on the call says he was a little concerned with the hot weather when Curlin first arrived in California but it’s cooled off. Synthetic tracks can be very different day to day, says Asmussen, but he is satisfied with how Curlin has handled it so far. Asmussen isn’t going to judge anyone else’s horses (no trash talk against Duke of Marmalade, given a question about that horse from a writer).
1:31 p.m. … Does Eoin Harty have a home field advantage on synthetic surfaces with Well Armed and Colonel John? "Only in that I don’t have to ship," he replied.
1:32 p.m. … Jerry Moss talks about Zenyatta. "It’s not that we weren’t aware she didn’t have great talent. John Shirreffs always said she was special. … We don’t consider anything’s in the bag. Mike’s (jockey Smith) going to have to be lucky and she’s going to have to run her best race to win. … "We had a really nice filly that won the (Kentucky) Oaks in 1994, Sardula, and unfortunately she contracted an illness and didn’t make it past her fourth year. So we don’t take anything for granted. When I think of the great fillies I think of Personal Ensign, and the great race she had with Winning Colors back in the 1980s. I remember how she went to the breeding shed undefeated and that would be great if we could do something like that." Moss said he and wife Ann have not made any decision yet about 2009 with Zenyatta, as to whether or not she will run. Talking about Tiago, Moss said he will be "running against some the greatest horses of our time."
1:37 p.m. … A question about why the Breeders’ Cup came to a track with synthetics. Avioli said the Breeders’ Cup board made "an intentional decision" to have the races on a synthetic surface. "I don’t foresee going back to an era when you only have traditonal dirt tracks. … I expect you are going to see many, many more Breeders’ Cups held on synthetic tracks in the future."
1:39 p.m. … Back to Moss. He isn’t thinking about Horse of the Year for Zenyatta in the event Curlin is beaten in the Classic.
1:40 p.m. … Is Asmussen concerned Curlin may be vulnerable on a synthetic track. "There’s a lot out there…horses as accomplished as Tiago is a longshot. It’s competitive and we have nothing but respect for the horses involved. Having said that we are very proud of Curlin and very proud to be on his side."
1:41 p.m. … Did Moss ever consider the Classic with Zenyatta? "It never really entered our minds. We were always pointing toward this race, the Ladies’ Classic. OK she’s an undefeated filly and she might do well against colts, but this would be the first time she runs a mile and a quarter. Maybe there’s another time for that if she runs next year, and there’s some mile and quarter races for fillies we can try."
1:42 p.m. … Edgar Prado will ride Colonel John after Garrett Gomez chose to ride Go Between in the Classic. Harty said he wasn’t surprised by the deicison by Gomez and his agent.
1:43 p.m. … "Curlin looked absolutely fabulous in the California sun," Asmussen said about Curlin’s afternoon work on Monday. "The crowd erupted in the work," he said, "and Curlin jumped into the bridle." Asmussen said Curlin "has spoiled us with his consistency and ability. … I felt the track was very quick that afternoon. We were very pleased with the result." It was just a breeze, however, he added, a race is a completely different thing.
1:45 p.m. … Well Armed’s comeback from a serious health problem was a testament to the "owner’s perseverence," Harty said, then referred to WinStar Farm co-owner Bill Casner as a "hard-headed Texan." Veterinarians had recommended to Casner that Well Armed be euthanized.
1:47 p.m. … Asmussen has two others in the Classic… Student Council and Pyro."Student Council is a tremendous horse mentally and physically. He will show up and run his best race in the Breeders’ Cup. … Pyro deserves a chance at a mile and a quarter again (especially after the trouble he had in the Derby and Travers). The synthetic surface is a huge question because of his disappointing Blue Grass. But Polytrack isn’t Pro-Ride, and we’ll go from there." Asmussen refers to Curlin as a "Baby Huey" kind of horse early last year.
1:49 p.m. … Moss named many of his horses after the music business he’s in. How was Zenyatta named? "Zenyatta is named after the third Police album, Zenyatta Mondatta, which means absolutely nothing. We thought this would fit her and it has," he says.
1:51 p.m. … "Candidly after last year’s event we spent a lot of time thinking about what we could do to bring more European horses and Asian horses," Avioli said in response to a question about the increase in International runners this year. Avioli said it has to remain a "world championship." He said Breeders’ Cup officials actively recruited foreign runners. "There are more and more of these late fall championships in the world. The Arc, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Melbourne Cup. There’s a lot of competition out there for international horses."
1:54 p.m. … Tom Robbins said the Juvenile Fillies Tur f was a very difficult race to sort through and choose the field.
1: 56 p.m. … Someone asks Jerry Moss how he feels to have his unbeaten filly relegated to a Friday afternoon race (Filly Friday). "I’m just thrilled we are in the race," he says. "So in that sense whenever they decide to hold the race would be just fine with me. Whenever they scheduled it is up to them. They have the whole picture, and I’m just concerned about our horses and how they are doing. I really don’t have a comment on that. It’s not my place to ruminate about that."
1:58 p.m. … How much will be the economy going in the tank hurt this year’s Breeders’ Cup? "We will not be able to do the same level of handle that hypothetically we would have done if the economy not taken the nosedive it did.," said Avioli. Any estimate on this year’s handle? "It’s an inexact science," Avioli says. (Trust me: they have projections, they’re just not going to say what they are.)
2:00 p.m. … "European horses in the Turf are fast-ground horses," says Alastair Donald of the International Racing Bureau. He thinks the synthetic track will give Europeans a better chance to win the non-turf races, but adds, "I still think that we may put out our best performances on the turf." As for European horses coming to California, Donald said it isn’t the heat that gets to the European horses or the firm surface, but the farther distance horses must travel (as opposed to Belmont or Churchill Downs). It’s also the end of a long year for many of them, he added. "The steroid situation is greatly improved and there is consensus that we are on a level playing field. The synthetic surface helps level the playing field, too."
END OF TELECONFERENCE
Tags: 25th anniversary breeders' cup, alastair donald, Breeders' Cup, breeders' cup classic, california racing, colonel john, Curlin, cushion track, eoin harty, european horses, Greg Avioli, Horse Racing, international racing bureau, jerry moss, joe the plumber, oak tree racing association, Paulick Report, police, pro-ride, Ray Paulick, rick hammerle, santa anita park, sherwood chillingworth, steve asmussen, sting, synthetic surface, synthetic track, tom robbins, well armed, world championships
Posted in Breeders' Cup, California, Curlin, Horse Racing, International Racing, Racing Greats | 6 Comments »
Thursday, September 25th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
No horse has ever done what Exceller did 30 years ago when he defeated two Triple Crown winners, Seattle Slew and Affirmed, in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. Given the unlikelihood that the sport will ever see two Triple Crown winners racing at the same time again, it’s hard to see how Exceller’s accomplishment will ever be matched. The son of Vaguely Noble may be the greatest horse never to win a year-end championship in the United States. He was an accomplished runner in Europe and in the U.S., winning 15 of 33 starts for Nelson Bunker Hunt (including seven of 10 starts in 1978), and earning in excess of $1.6 million — when million-dollar winners were rare.
Take a few minutes and enjoy this video of the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup. It was a fascinating contest. Seattle Slew broke through the gate before the start. Then, Affirmed’s saddled slipped, compromising his chances. Seattle Slew was pushed to unbelievably fast fractions for a mile and a half race, yet he fought as gamely as any horse has ever fought, right to the finish. And Exceller, under Bill Shoemaker, rallied from 22 lengths off that rapid pace to get the win.
Sadly, neither the Jockey Club Gold Cup nor the many other outstanding victories are why Exceller is known to a generation of racing fans who never had the good fortune to see him run. This grand Thoroughbred, who gave so much for our pleasure, wound up in a slaughterhouse in Sweden in April 1997, less than 20 years after his greatest racing achievement.
Exceller’s crime? Failure to succeed as a stallion?
(Read more about Exceller’s racing career and his death in a Swedish slaughterhouse. Elected to the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 1999, two years after his death, Exceller’s biographical information and Hall of Fame plaque fail to state his cause of death.)
Whether you believe that slaughter is a viable alternative for unwanted horses or are sickened by the thought that thousands of Thoroughbreds are led to slaughter for human consumption every year, the story of Exceller is a tragic one. No horse who did for the sport what Exceller did should have such an undignified death.
The same is true of the 1986 Kentucky Derby winner, Ferdinand, who is believed to have died in a Japanese slaughterhouse in 2002 after not living up to expectations as a stallion.
Exceller became a cause célèbre for some racing fans who were frustrated that the Thoroughbred industry and its leaders were doing next to nothing for so many former racehorses who failed to generate revenue for their owners and ended up being slaughtered. A group of them decided they would do something about it, forming the Exceller Fund, pooling their own resources and raising additional funds, and volunteering their time to save horses from slaughter and help them transition to a second career off the racetrack. The Exceller Fund is one of many such organizations struggling to make a difference on behalf of the horses and the Thoroughbred industry.
This Saturday, to honor Exceller’s Jockey Club Gold Cup victory, a number of racetracks across the U.S. will host a “Toast to Exceller Day,” in order to raise awareness and donations for the Exceller Fund and many other equine charity groups. A special cocktail, “The Exceller,” is being sold at several tracks, including Mountaineer, Finger Lakes, Laurel Park and Presque Isle Downs, with proceeds benefting the Exceller Fund.
“I cannot thank our partner tracks enough for their support with this and I wish to especially thank the New York Racing Association for their commitment to the Exceller Fund that will be a lasting relationship for many years to come,” said leading New York trainer Gary Contessa, who in August was named president of the Exceller Fund.
Exceller did a great deal for Thoroughbred racing — then and now.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: affirmed, bill shoemaker, exceller, exceller fund, ferdinand, gary contessa, hall of fame, Horse Racing, horse slaughter, japanese slaughterhouse, jockey club gold cup, kentucky derby, national museum of racing and hall of fame, seattle slew, swedish slaughterhouse, Triple Crown
Posted in Horse Racing, Horse Slaughter, Horse Welfare, New York Racing Association, Racing Greats | 7 Comments »
Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
In the winter and spring of 1980, as a relatively new racing fan living in Southern California I was confident that I had discovered the certain winner of that year’s Kentucky Derby: a colt named Rumbo, who had a few mental quirks but possessed a powerful stretch run.
Rumbo finished second in the Santa Anita Derby and Hollywood Derbies, but I was convinced the extra furlong of the Kentucky Derby would be all this colt would need to get the job done and confirm my brilliance as a handicapper. Besides, Codex, the winner of the two Derbies in Southern California who was trained by a new hotshot from the Quarter horse world named D. Wayne Lukas, wouldn’t be in the starting gate at Churchill Downs come the first Saturday in May. His connections didn’t think to nominate him to the Derby, and there were no supplemental entries to the race back then.
The field for that year’s Run for the Roses didn’t seem particularly strong, especially in comparison to the decade that had just ended, one that produced Triple Crown winners Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed, along with Spectacular Bid, who in my opinion should have won the Triple Crown in 1979.
Rockhill Native was the tepid Derby favorite and reigning 2-year-old champion, but just didn’t strike me as a real Derby horse. Besides, he was a gelding, and no gelding had won America’s great horserace since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929. Second choice was Plugged Nickle, winner of the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial. It just didn’t seem right to me that a horse with that name (and misspelled at that) could join the ranks of Kentucky Derby winners.
In fact, the biggest threat I saw to Rumbo was another California colt, but this one had a girl’s name, Jaklin Klugman, the sorta namesake of actor Jack Klugman.
Oh, yes, there was a real filly in that race, too, Genuine Risk, but I hardly gave her a second thought. Fillies couldn’t win the Derby. That hadn’t happened since Regret in 1915, and no filly had even tried to beat the boys since Silver Spoon finished fifth to Tomy Lee in 1959. The image of the tragic injury to the great filly Ruffian in her match race only a few years earlier against Derby winner Foolish Pleasure was still fresh in my mind. Trainer LeRoy Jolley had already tried Genuine Risk against colts, finishing third to Plugged Nickle and Colonel Moran in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct in New York. Though it was her first career defeat after six consecutive wins, I couldn’t see Genuine Risk improving off that effort.
Besides, I was certain she’d be helpless against the mighty Rumbo down the long stretch of Churchill Downs.
That wasn’t the first time I was wrong about a horse race, and it certainly wasn’t (nor will be) the last.
Rumbo, under Laffit Pincay Jr., dropped back to trail the 13-horse field, just as I expected him to do, but he came with a strong rally around the final turn. He flew by the dueling pace-setters, Rockhill Native and Plugged Nickle and caught Jaklin Klugman inside the furlong pole. But there was nothing he could do about the filly. Jacinto Vasquez deftly guided her through early traffic, moved to the lead before reaching the top of the stretch, then easily held off Rumbo to win by a length as a 13-1 long shot.
My only consolation to being wrong was that it took an historic achievement to beat me. But my appreciation for Genuine Risk was just beginning.
Two weeks later, in the Preakness Stakes at Baltimore, Genuine Risk proved that her Derby win was no fluke. Codex, benefitting from his owner’s forgetfulness to nominate him to the first leg of the Triple Crown, was a fresh horse. On his back that day was Angel Cordero Jr., a sometimes controversial jockey who could have written a book about the tactics of race riding. The duo got the jump on Genuine Risk, stalking the early leaders and taking command on the turn for home, just as Vasquez had done on the filly in the Derby.
But as Genuine Risk launched her move on the turn for home, Cordero peeked back over his right shoulder and saw the filly coming. He allowed Codex to drift far off the rail and almost directly into the path of Genuine Risk, then flashed the whip in his right hand as the two horses brushed together at the top of the stretch. It was a move clearly intended to intimidate the filly, and it worked. Vasquez later said Cordero hit Genuine Risk in the head with his whip and did it on purpose.
Codex went on to win by 4 ¾ lengths, with Genuine Risk second. A claim of foul was dismissed by track stewards, as was an appeal to the Maryland Racing Commission by Bert and Diana Firestone, the owners of Genuine Risk. Many fans of the filly felt cheated.
Flash ahead to 2008 and ask yourself, how many owners today would persevere and run a Kentucky Derby-winning filly in the Belmont Stakes after two hard races at Churchill Downs and Pimlico, one who had no hope of becoming a Triple Crown winner? It’s hard to imagine anyone would be that sporting. The Firestones were.
But Genuine Risk was no ordinary filly. She ran back three weeks later in the Belmont in a rematch against Codex, who was made the 8-5 favorite. Rumbo, who had skipped the Preakness, was there, too, as the second choice in the betting. The fans had virtually given up on Genuine Risk, who was sent off at odds of 9-1.
Genuine Risk ran gamely over the mile and a half of the Belmont, battling Rockhill Native much of the way over a muddy racetrack. She put that foe away at the top of the stretch, but couldn’t hold off Temperence Hill, a 53-1 outsider who hadn’t contested either of the two prior Triple Crown events and was the only horse in the field wearing mud calks. Codex and Rumbo were non-factors. Genuine Risk finished a gallant second, securing her place as the greatest filly ever to compete in all three Triple Crown races.
This Kentucky-bred filly by Exclusive Native out of the Gallant Man mare Virtuous wasn’t finished yet. After a short break, she came back to narrowly lose the Maskette to Bold ‘n Determined, then won the Ruffian Handicap by a nose over Misty Gallore and It’s in the Air. It was a great year for fillies, one that also included Davona Dale and Love Sign.
But none was greater than Genuine Risk, who was made that year’s 3-year-old champion and was a first-ballot inductee in the Hall of Fame.
Genuine Risk never duplicated her racing performances as a broodmare before her death this week at the age of 31. Her fertility difficulties were a frustration to all. The expectations placed on great fillies by the public somehow don’t seem fair anyways.
Genuine Risk did more than enough in that five-week stretch in the spring of 1980 to secure her place in history.
VIDEO: Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: angel cordero, belmont stakes, bert firestone, codex, d. wayne lukas, diana firestone, genuine risk, Horse Racing, jacinto vasquez, jack klugman, jaklin klugman, kentucky derby, laffit pincay, leroy jolley, Paulick Report, plugged nickle, preakness, racing hall of fame, Ray Paulick, rockhill native, rumbo, temperence hill, Triple Crown
Posted in Horse Racing, Racing Greats | 4 Comments »
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