Posts Tagged ‘Beldame’
Monday, October 19th, 2009
By Ray Paulick
One or two million dollars just doesn’t get you what it used to.
Was it that long ago that felonious financier Robert Brennan shook up racing’s Triple Crown with a $2-million bonus linking victories in three stakes at the now-defunct Garden State Park in New Jersey with a win in the Kentucky Derby? Spend a Buck went after and won that bonus following his runaway victory in the 1985 Kentucky Derby, leaving officials at the three Triple Crown tracks apoplectic when he skipped the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. They were so worried they went out and did the unthinkable: working together to create their own bonus scheme (which has now lapsed after Visa dropped its Triple Crown sponsorship).
The original Triple Crown Challenge bonus would pay a total of $5 million in purses and bonus money to any horse that won the Triple Crown (it was upped to a $5-million bonus plus purse money in 1997), and a $1-million bonus to the horse accumulating the most points from top three finishes in all three races. The latter bonus was dropped after the 1993 Triple Crown.
The absence of a bonus hasn’t hurt the Triple Crown, although without a participation bonus there have been fewer 3-year-olds running in all three races. I guess the feeling is that the owner of a horse that wins the Triple Crown will get his bonus when he retires him to stud (assuming he’s not a gelding or filly).
This past year, several entities clamored to get 3-year-old filly superstar Rachel Alexandra and older female champ Zenyatta in the same race. Jim McIngvale, the Houston furniture store owner better known as Mattress Mac, made the first run by offering to put up $2-million for a match race at Sam Houston Race Park in his home town. That gave McIngvale 15 minutes or so of free publicity, but it was a match race that was never going to happen. (McIngvale’s Gallery Furniture recently announced it is sponsoring a new $100,000 race on the Texas Day Champions program Dec. 5 at Sam Houston, proving he’s more than a publicity seeker. McIngvale and the Houston track haven’t given up on a race involving the two fillies, either, and offered $1.5 million if they showed up to face one another during the track’s winter meeting.)
TVG then teamed up with the New York Racing Association in an effort to get Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta to both contest the Oct. 3 Beldame at Belmont Park. TVG offered to put up $400,000, which would increase the purse for the Grade 1 race to $1 million. That at least got some consideration from both camps, but it wasn’t in the cards for either Rachel Alexandra or Zenyatta.
Finally, the Breeders’ Cup gave it the old college try, offering to pad the winner’s share of the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic if both Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta were in the starting gate. That would have resulted in a $3.7-million winner’s share of the Classic. But Rachel’s majority owner, Jess Jackson, had already made it clear he wouldn’t run his filly on the synthetic track at Santa Anita which he disparagingly calls “plastic.”
It’s no wonder, then, that the Japan Racing Association is having a hard time getting much buzz over its Autumn International series of four Grade 1 races on consecutive Sundays, beginning Nov. 15 with the Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Cup, and continuing with the Nov. 22 Mile Championship, the Nov. 29 Japan Cup and Dec. 6 Japan Cup Dirt. The four races offer about $13 million in total purses, plus lucrative bonuses for horses that have won or finished second in major stakes in North America, Europe, Australia or Dubai.
For example, if Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird won the Japan Cup Dirt, a 1 1/8-mile race run clockwise at Hanshin racecourse in Osaka, he would receive $1.37 million of the $2.9-million purse but also get a bonus of $1.37 million for his Derby win, making the victory worth a total $2.7 million. That’s about the same as the Breeders’ Cup Classic’s winner’s share of its $5-million purse. I’d venture to say Mine That Bird would face a much softer field in Japan than he’ll see on the Pro-Ride track at Santa Anita. Of course, he could run in both races.
The Derby is but one of 12 American races whose winners would qualify for a bonus ranging from $525,000 to $1.37 million for winning the Japan Cup Dirt. Even a second-place finish for those horses in Japan would pay them a bonus between $210,000 and $550,000. Click here to see the bonus scheme for the Japan Cup Dirt.
The Japan Cup on turf has similar bonuses. That race winner could take home more than $4 million in purse money and bonuses and the second-place finisher could win as much as $1.6 million in purse and bonus money. Click here for complete information on the Japan Cup’s purse and bonus details.
Nevertheless, based on recent interest in the Japanese races from American horsemen, it’s doubtful many serious contenders will be shipped to Tokyo or Osaka to contest these rich races, bonuses or not. No American horse has won the Japan Cup since 1991, when the late Charlie Whittingham sent Golden Pheasant postward for a victory. Golden Pheasant was the fourth American horse to win the Japan Cup in the race’s first 11 years.
In recent years, the Japanese have dominated the race with horses they bred or bought in the West as yearlings, winning nine of the last 11 runnings. The quality of Japanese-bred horses has improved, largely through the importation of stallions and broodmares from Europe and the United States in the 1980s and ‘90s. I think Americans have gotten tired of sending their horses over to Japan and getting their butts kicked.
The Japan Cup dirt, inaugurated in 2000, has had just nine runnings, with eight going to Japanese-trained horses. The lone exception was in 2003 when the Doug O’Neill-trained Fleetstreet Dancer, a previously unheralded runner in California, posted a huge upset.
American horsemen have been leery of sending good horses to the Japan Cup dirt, in part over legitimate concerns that the dirt tracks in Japan are deep and sandy. In fact, when Fleetstreet Dancer won, it may have been due in part to the fact rain tightened up the racetrack.
There’s a lot of money at stake in the Japan Racing Association’s Autumn International races, but purse money apparently doesn’t carry as much weight as it used to for some horse owners. Either that, or American horses ain’t what they used to be.
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Tags: autumn international, Beldame, breeders' cup classic, fleetstreet dancer, gallery furniture, horse racing bonuses, japan cup, japan cup dirt, japan racing association, jim mcingvale, jra, match races, mattress mac, mile championship, mine that bird, New York Racing Association, Paulick Report, queen elizabeth ii commemorative cup, Rachel Alexandra, Ray Paulick, robert brennan, sam houston park, spend a buck, Triple Crown, triple crown bonus, triple crown challenge, tvg, zenyatta
Posted in Breeders' Cup, International Racing, Japan, Purses | 5 Comments »
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
By Ray Paulick
Belmont Park offers five Grade 1 races today, beginning with the Beldame (you remember, the race where TVG boosted the purse in hopes of getting Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra, connections for neither of which appeared to take very seriously). I’ll be writing a live blog providing results of Belmont’s races (following the Beldame is the Vosburgh for sprinters, the Flower Bowl for fillies and mares on turf, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational for male turf horses, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which pits the top-class 3-year-olds Summer Bird and Quality Road against Macho Again, who nearly caught Rachel Alexandra in the Woodward Stakes. I’ll provide some of the other day’s graded stakes activity from Hawthorne, where the Grade 2 Hawthorne Gold Cup is being run, as the serious final prep races for the Breeders’ Cup World Championships get under way.
(All photos by Eric Kalet.)
Here is a link to today’s Belmont Park Equibase charts.
Post time for the Beldame is 3:23 p.m. Eastern.
 The rains came midway through the Belmont card, and though the main track was still called fast when Music Note entered the gate as the 1-5 favorite in the Beldame, it was a very wet, fast track. Music Note may have had a few nervous moments, as track announcer Tom Durkin said, when she was pinned down on the rail in the long run down the backstretch while tracking pacesetter Unbridled Belle. But jockey Rajiv Muragh, moved the daughter of A.P. Indy to the outside around the turn and she wore down Unbridled Belle to get the win by 2 1/4 lengths, covering the distance in 1:48.49. Unbridled Belle (who set soft fractions of :24.24, :47.99 and 1:11.66) held second, with Copper State third and Captain’s Lover fourth in the five-horse field. Captain’s Lover and Unbridled Belle were coupled, and Captain’s Lover and John Velazquez did their best to keep Music Note down on the rail, but Captain’s Lover couldn’t keep up after five furlongs.
Music Note was winning for the seventh time in 11 starts for Godolphin. This was just her third start of the year, following a fifth-place finish in the Ogden Phipps at Belmont Park and a victory in Saratoga’s Ballerina. She finished third behind Zenyatta and stablemate Cocoa Beach in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (formerly the Distaff). The Saeed bin Suroor-trained filly paid $2.50 for the win.
Couple of college football notes: Michigan State upset previously unbeaten Michigan, 26-20, in overtime. Alabama crushed the University of Kentucky Wildcasts 38-20.
 3:58 p.m. … The rain at Belmont has gotten worse, making it tough to even pick up the horses on the television feed. Good luck Tom Durkin, though the fact the Vosburgh is a four-horse field makes it a lot easier for him.
Kodiak Kowboy got up in the final strides to beat odds-on favorite Fabulous Strike by a half-length in the six-furlong Vosburgh under Shaun Bridgmohan. The 4-year-old son of Posse owned by Rick Porter Fox Hill Farms and Tom Simon’s Vinery Stables was back in the care of trainer Steve Asmussen for the Vosburgh after being transferred from Asmussen to Larry Jones a little over a year ago.
Fabulous Strike got a stalking trip, settling just off the pace of Go Go Shoot, with Munnings in third and Kodiak Kowboy the trailer. Go Go Shoot went a quick opening quarter-mile in :22.33 over a very rain-soaked track. Fabulous Strike moved to the lead on the turn under Ramon Dominquez, but Kodiak Kowboy was beginning his rally before straightening out for the stretch run. He appeared to have all the momentum, but hesitated when he was getting the muddy kickback from Fabulous Strike. Bridgmohan shifted Kodiak Kowboy to the outside and he quickly regained his best stride and went on to win by a half length. Munning was third after never really threatening.
This was the 10th win from 22 starts for Kodiak Kowboy and the second in a Grade 1 race, following his victory earlier this year in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct. He had finished second to Pyro in the Forego and third behind Fabulous Strike and Go Go Shoot in the Aflred G. Vanderbilt Handicap in his previous two starts. Kodiak Kowboy ran third for Jones in last year’s Vosburgh.
Kodiak Kowboy covered the six furlongs on a sloppy main track in 1:10.08 and paid $11.60.
4:15 p.m. … When Matt Carothers sings Happy Birthday to Ken Rudulph on TVG, that can mean one of two things: mute button or HRTV. We’ll go for the latter. I have a feeling I’m not alone.
4:30 p.m. … Congrats to Equibase for putting together a useful late changes/scratches service. I won’t ask what took so long. Here is the link to Belmont’s late changes. Presious Passion wasn’t listed as a scratch from the Joe Hirsch last time I looked, but that was the word from the television talking heads. Carribean Sunset has been scratched from the Flower Bowl, while Gio Ponti’s entrymate Winchester and Ready’s Echo have been scratched from the Hirsch.
The rains are still falling heavily at Belmont Park as the field of fillies and mares heads toward the gate for the Flower Bowl.
 4:40 p.m. … Julien Leparoux gave the ever-consistent Pure Clan a perfectly timed ride in the Flower Bowl, getting up in the final sixteenth of a mile, then pulling away to beat Criticism by 2 3/4 lengths over a boggy Belmont turf course. Queen of Hearts was third and Moneycantbuymelove fourth.
Leamington took the early lead in the Flower Bowl, putting up very slow splits of :26.81 for the quarter, :53.81 for the half-mile and 1:20.43 for six furlongs on the soft turf, with Criticism tracking her. Leparoux had Pure Clan in good position in fifth, then rallied on the final turn and took dead aim at Criticism and jockey Javiar Castellano.
It was the eighth victory in 15 starts and 14th 1-2-3 finish for the Lakland Farm runner trained by Bob Holthus. The daughter of the Storm Cat stallion Pure Prize was coming off a third in the Beverly D. Stakes at Arlington and had one previous Grade 1 victory in last year’s American Oaks on the Hollywood Park turf course. Pure Clan was never a factor in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
Final time of the 1 1/4 mile Flower Bowl was 2:12.43 after a mile fraction of 1:46.63. It was a bog out there, but Pure Clan didn’t seem to mind it one bit.
5:08 p.m. … It’s true that you don’t see the Phipps Stable silks at Thistledown that often, but the trip by Gone Astray from Belmont Park to Cleveland was well worth it as the son of Dixie Union sat off the early pace set by War Fighter, moved to the lead at midstretch and drew away impressively by 2 1/4 lengths. The Shug McGaughey-trained colt was coming off a big win in the Pennsylvania Derby. Gone Astray covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.56 War Fighter was second, with Ice Road third. Gone Astray was the 2-5 favorite.
 5:15 p.m. … Gio Ponti looked like a winner in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational when he cruised up alongside pacesetter Interpatation at the top of the stretch, but the Bobby Barbara-trained 7-year-old gelding by Langfuhr found a second wind in the final furlong and rerallied to beat Gio Ponti by 1 3/4 lengths on an extremely soft turf course.
Robbie Albarado rode the winner, who was getting just his sixth career win from 50 starts for owner Elliot Mavorah. He set all the fractions of :26.01, :54.22, 1:22.20 and 1:48.77 for the opening mile After a mile and a quarter time of 2:14.59, Interpatation completed the 1 1/2 miles in 2:41.22, about 17 seconds slower than the course record.
Interpatation hadn’t finished in the top three in his last seven starts. His last in the money finish came when second to Grand Couturier in the 2008 Joe Hirsch Turf Invitational. Gio Ponti, on the other hand, came into the Joe Hirsch off four consecutive Grade 1 victories, but the 1 1/2 miles of the race and the soft conditions may have exposed the 4-year-old son of Tale of the Cat’s distance limitations, as he had never raced farther than 1 3/8 miles.
Interpatation paid $89.50 on a $2 wager to win. Telling, the original third-place finisher, was disqualified and placed fourth behind Grand Couturier for interference.
5:30 p.m. … Awesome Gem and David Flores ran down Nite Light to win the $500,000 Hawthorne Gold Cup going away at Hawthorne Park, giving West Point Thoroughbreds the first leg of a big potential parlay that could culminate with a victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup only a few minutes from now with Macho Again. Going Ballistic was third and You and I Forever fourth in the mile and a quarter Gold Cup, a Grade 2 event.
 5:50 p.m. … The rain has subsided as the field entered the gate for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, which begins midway around the clubhouse turn on this 1 1/2 mile oval.
Summer Bird and Quality Road put on a show, racing together the length stretch while well off the rail, but Summer Bird prevailed by one length to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup on a sloppy dirt track. Pacesetting Tizway was third, with Macho Again never really getting untracked and finishing fourth.
Summer Bird only has four career victories to his credit, beginning with a maiden win at Oaklawn Park in March. But the son of Gainesway stallion Birdstone, owned and bred by Drs. K.K. and Devi Jayaraman and trained by Tim Ice, has built quite a resume with the other three victories, all Grade 1–the Belmont Stakes in June, the Travers in August, and now the Jockey Club Gold Cup in early October–to make him the clear leader for an Eclipse Award in the 3-year-old male division.
Kent Desormeaux allowed Summer Bird to settle off the early pace set first by Tizway through the opening quarter mile in :24.96 and then by Quality Road through a half mile in :49.73 and six furlongs in 1:13.12. Sensing that Quality Road might have it too easy on the front end, Desormeaux moved Summer Bird toward the lead before hitting the far turn, and engaged Quality Road in earnest when the pair hit the top of the stretch, the mile in 1:37.62. With Summer Bird on the outside, the pair raced together to the final sixteenth, when Summer Bird edged away gradually for the win, the 1 1/4 miles in 2:02.51 on the sloppy track.
There were plenty of other races on the day that I didn’t blog about, but George Jacob and Jill Baffert’s Misremembered won the Grade 2 Indiana Derby, which offered a $500,000 purse. Victor Espinosa rode the winner, a son of Candy Ride. Giant Oak finished second, a half length back, with Karama third. Win Willy, the slight favorite over Misremembered, finished fifth.
POST RACE COMMENTS, COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK RACING ASSOCIATION MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE
BELDAME QUOTES
Saeed bin Suroor winning trainer of favored Music Note (No. 2): "She was really happy, relaxed, in condition. She showed her good turn of foot. I was waiting for him to take her outside. When he did, I was happy. We’ll take her to the Breeders’ Cup. Nine furlongs (in the Ladies Classic) will suit her. She looked better than ever."
Rick Mettee, assistant to winning trainer Saeed bin Suroor of favored Music Note (No. 2): "It was good race riding on the part of the entry’s riders. It wasn’t unexpected, but luckily she got separation off the turn. I was a little concerned about how well Unbridled Belle was traveling. When they got head-to-head, Ramon (Dominguez, jockey on Unbridled Belle) had gone to the stick and Rajiv (Maragh, jockey on Music Note) had not. This is the fifth Grade 1 for this filly and four of them are here (at Belmont)."
Rajiv Maragh, winning rider aboard favored Music Note (No. 2): "I was comfortable because I didn’t want to go too early. I wanted to get my filly to relax. Once I was behind the horses, she was getting into a nice, high cruising speed. I was pretty happy. I knew they were going to spread out at some point in the race. Once they did, that’s when I made a move to get clear. There was a lot of racetrack left by the time I got open."
Ramon Dominguez, rider aboard runner-up Unbridled Belle (No. 1a): "I had a good trip. My filly was relaxed and the other filly was just much the best."
VOSBURGH QUOTES
Scott Blasi, assistant to winning trainer Steve Asmussen, of Kodiak Kowboy (No. 4): "It set up great for him. There was plenty of speed up front. He’s been such a top horse his whole career."
Shaun Bridgmohan, winning jockey aboard Kodiak Kowboy (No. 4): "I was on him when he won the Saratoga Special. He was a pro even back then. When he was transferred to Steve Asmussen’s barn, I was excited because I knew I had a shot at getting back on him. Today, when I hit him left-handed, he really dug in gamely."
Todd Beattie, trainer of favored runner-up Fabulous Strike (No. 5): "We’re disappointed with the way he broke through the gate. I thought we were home free until Kodiak Cowboy caught him. Kodiak Cowboy is a tough customer. We have been battling with him for quite a long time. It was obvious he ran well today. You cannot knock my horse’s effort. He made a good, solid effort. I knew he handled the off going. I was surprised they finished in 1:10. I will have to talk to the owner about the Breeders’ Cup."
Ramon Dominguez, rider aboard favored runner-up Fabulous Strike (No. 5): "Tough beat, unfortunately it didn’t work out our way today. We had an ideal trip. I sat right off [Go Go Shoot] in front and made the lead with ease when I wanted, I just couldn’t hold off the winner."
FLOWER BOWL QUOTES
Bob Holthus, winning trainer, Pure Clan (No. 3): "She ran a great race. I’m glad it’s over. She showed more speed today than normal. She was in the race all the way. [Jockey] Julien [Leparoux] had confidence. It’s always good to get Grade 1’s."
Julien Leparoux, winning rider aboard Pure Clan (No. 3): "She ran well today. We wanted her behind the pace so she would make a big run at the end. The turf course was really soft and she had to work hard at it in the stretch. Still, she got the job done."
Tom Albertrani, trainer of runner-up Criticism (No. 5): ""We were pleased with her. She came back to her previous races [and] found her best stride. We were really happy with the way she had been coming into this race since she was training so well. Today, she fired her shot. She is definitely better going longer. We are considering bringing bring her to the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf."
Javier Castellano, runner-up jockey, Criticism (No. 5): "I’m very satisfied with the way she ran. She was stalking, just like we wanted. Unfortunately, she was second best, but I’m very happy."
JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC QUOTES
Bobby Barbara, winning trainer, Interpatation (No. 3): "It was great. Great! I just loved the way he looked going down the backside. In front of me, over here, he was just galloping on the lead and Robby just said he was having fun doing it. I was waiting for him one day to pick his head up and do it right. He did it right, on the perfect day. This horse made $700,000 the hard way, and now he’s over a million in one day! I don’t know what’s next for him."
Robby Albarado, winning rider aboard Interpatation (No. 3): "I had never ridden him before. Bobby said in the paddock, he’s a stayer. He said a mile and a half is his distance, he ran his best race here last year, when he was second. I had the intention of being forwardly placed, and I ended up on the lead, galloping, in a canter. At every point, I had plenty of horse. When Gio Ponti ran up to me, I thought, ‘Gee, maybe I can get second.’ But he didn’t get away from me, and my horse hit his stride."
Christophe Clement, trainer of beaten favorite and runner-up Gio Ponti (No. 1): "Second best in that one, but I thought he ran a very good race - he really tried. The idea is to go from there to the Breeders’ Cup, use the race and move on."
Ramon Dominguez, jockey aboard beaten favorite and runner-up Gio Ponti (No. 1): "He handled the going well. He just got a little tired at the end."
JOCKEY CLUB GOLD CUP QUOTES
Tim Ice, winning trainer of Summer Bird (No. 3): "When Kent swung him to the outside I knew he had the spot he wanted. He had said in the paddock the inside wasn’t that good so he wanted him about four or five off the rail. When Summer Bird took the lead I was very confident that no one was going to get in front of him. Summer Bird was hanging a little bit on him; Kent said it was easier than it looked. He was in no doubt he was going to win the race. [The last sixteenth] I was thinking no one was going to get by him. He’s that kind of a racehorse. He’s going to dig back in. I was feeling pretty confident."
"It means a lot to win the three races in New York. It’s been 20 years since a three-year-old won the Belmont Stakes, the Travers, and the Jockey Club Gold Cup. I think it puts him in an elite group and he should be named [champion] three-year-old colt."
"The goal is the Breeders’ Cup [Classic]. We’ll take a couple of days and see how he is."
Kent Desormeaux, winning rider aboard Summer Bird (No. 3): "Unlike the Travers, he was completely off the bridle, just cruising along. Once I positioned him, he was floating, completely turned off. I think he was idling in the stretch. At the quarter pole, he spit past Quality Road and he was idling. He’s trying to be the best horse I’ve ever ridden. [Best effort yet?] "By far. He was awesome today. He pulled up quietly like nothing had ever happened."
Todd Pletcher, trainer of runner-up Quality Road (No. 7): "He ran well. I don’t think [his acting up] before the start had any bearing on the race. I think he’s better on fast track. Summer Bird relishes this kind of surface. [Breeders' Cup?] We will talk with Mr. [Edward] Evans. It’s run on synthetic so we have some thinking to do."
John Velazquez, rider aboard runner-up Quality Road (No. 7): ""He put in a good effort. I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. I’m not knocking the other horse [Summer Bird]. The other horse ran a great race, too. I think my horse is better on a dry track. I would like to see both horses on a dry track to see which one is the best horse. [Summer Bird] had an advantage over my horse. He had been running all summer long. My horse was stopped twice and came back at 6 1/2 [furlongs] then went to a mile and a quarter over a wet track. I’m not frustrated. I just think my horse is better than [he was today]."
H. James Bond, trainer of third-place finisher Tizway (No. 4): "A good effort. The other horse just loves the mud."
Rajiv Maragh, rider aboard third-place finisher Tizway (No. 4): "My horse earned respect for finishing third. We had a clear shot with a nice pace. The race really took off at the half-mile pole and he couldn’t keep up with the top two. We were clearly third best. This was a good group of horses. To be third-best in this race, it’s not disappointing because there were good horses behind us."
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Tags: Beldame, belmont park, Flower Bowl, gio ponti, hawthorne, Hawthorne Gold Cup, interpatation, jockey club gold cup, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, kodiak kowboy, Macho Again, music note, Paulick Report, paulick report live blog, pure clan, Rachel Alexandra, Ray Paulick, Summer Bird, Vosburgh, zenyatta
Posted in Live Blogs, Stakes Results, breeders' cup preps | 12 Comments »
Friday, October 2nd, 2009
The pace really heats up this weekend. Eleven graded stakes will be televised on HRTV or TVG in just under three hours on Saturday, including five G1 events from Belmont Park (shown on both HRTV and TVG). On Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. (all times Eastern), HRTV will televise several races from Longchamp in Paris, France, including the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, one of the world’s great races which this year will showcase the world’s No. 1 ranked horse according to the World Thoroughbred Rankings compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities. Post time for the Arc is scheduled at 10:15 a.m.
But wait– as they say on those TV commercial pitches—there’s more. Saturday also features the California Cup program from the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita, host for the second consecutive year of the Breeders’ Cup world championships. On Sunday, the West’s biggest preps for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Juveniles Fillies, the Norfolk and Oak Leaf Stakes, will be contested at Oak Tree, and three key turf preps for the Breeders’ Cup, the Kelso Handicap and a pair of grass stakes, the Pilgrim and Miss Grillo, will be run.
Saturday’s 91st running of the Jockey Club Gold Cup features a rematch between 3-year-olds Summer Bird, winner of the Belmont Stakes and Travers, and Florida Derby winner Quality Road, who was third in the Travers. The 4-year-old Macho Again, whose stretch rally against filly sensation Rachel Alexandra came up a head short in the Woodward at Saratoga, is the most accomplished older horse in the line-up.
Post time for the Jockey Club Gold Cup is 5:43 p.m. A little more than a half-hour earlier, at 5:09 p.m., Gio Ponti guns for his fifth consecutive G1 victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational at a mile and a half, the longest distance the son of Tale of the Cat has ever raced.
Don’t forget about Chicago’s big race, the 73rd Hawthorne Gold Cup, which goes at 5:14 p.m. Saturday. If Awesome Gem runs the kind of race he is capable of, it could be the start of huge parlay for owner West Point Thoroughbreds, which also campaigns Macho Again.
Shifting out West to Sunday, the Norfolk will feature the unbeaten Lookin at Lucky, a Bob Baffert-trained 2-year-old colt coming off a victory in the Del Mar Futurity, a one-turn race at seven furlongs. The Norfolk and the Oak Leaf will be the West Coast’s first major tests for 2-year-olds going around two turns at the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Juvenile Fillies distances of 1 1/16 miles. The Norfolk goes at 7 p.m., one hour after the Oak Leaf, which became a wide-open affair following the injury earlier this week of Mi Sueno, the likely favorite.
Tags: Beldame, belmont park, Flower Bowl, Hawthorne Gold Cup, Hawthorne Race Course, Hoosier Park, Indiana Derby, jockey club gold cup, Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, KBC Horse Supplies, Meadowlands, Norfolk Stakes, Oak Leaf Stakes, oak tree, Ohio Derby, Paulick Report, Philadelphia park, Ray Paulick, Thistledown, Vosburgh Stakes, Weekend Stakes: Where to Watch
Posted in Weekend Stakes: Where to Watch | Comments Off
Friday, August 21st, 2009
Jess Jackson issued the following statement in the wake of TVG and BetFair’s agreement to add $400,000 to the purse of the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park Oct. 3 if unbeaten champion Zenyatta and 3-year-old filly sensation Rachel Alexandra both are in the starting line-up for the 1 1/8-mile dirt race at the New York Racing Association track:“Our strategy has not changed in scheduling Rachel Alexandra’s campaign this year. We will always take it one race at a time.
“Right now, we are focused on her next start. I hope to have a decision on that early next week. After that race, we will need to see how she recovers and then determine her next start.Â
“I understand the growing excitement around a race that involves these two magnificent athletes competing but both camps need to do what is in the best interest of the horse. And for us, that means waiting until she completes and soundly recovers from her next race before any decisions are made about the Beldame Stakes or any other venue.†– Jess Jackson
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Tags: Beldame, belmont park, betfair, jess jackson, New York Racing Association, Paulick Report, Rachel Alexandra, Ray Paulick, tvg, zenyatta
Posted in New York Racing Association, Rachel Alexandra, zenyatta | 8 Comments »
Sunday, November 30th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
When IEAH Stables bought an interest in 2007 Remsen Stakes winner Court Vision from WinStar Farm earlier this year, the son of Gulch had the look of a Derby horse. He eventually lived up to that billing, though his Grade 1 Derby victory came not on the dirt at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May but on the Hollywood Park turf on the last Sunday in November. Under Ramon Dominguez, who earlier in the day won the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes with Godolphin Racing’s Cocoa Beach, Court Vision made an eye-catching run from last at the top of the stretch to win the Hollywood Derby by three quarters of a length, defeating Cowboy Cal and Midships.
Trained by Bill Mott, Court Vision covered a mile and one-quarter on firm turf in 2:01.43 as the 7-2 second choice in the betting. It was his fifth win in 12 starts and first in a Grade 1 event.
After winning three of four starts as a 2-year-old, Court Vision regressed somewhat on the road to the Triple Crown, finishing third in both the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. After a disappointing 13th behind IEAH’s Big Brown in the Kentucky Derby, Mott switched the colt to turf, where he finished fourth in the Colonial Turf Cup and an unlucky second, beaten a nose, in the Virginia Derby, both races at Colonial Downs.
Back on dirt in the Travers at Saratoga, Court Vision was never a factor when sixth behind WinStar’s Colonel John, then ended his six-race losing streak with a victory in the Jamaica Handicap on turf at Aqueduct (the first time Dominquez rode him).
Muny set the pace from the outside post position in the Hollywood Derby, going a half mile in :49.41, six furlongs in 1:13.40, and a mile in 1:37.56. Cowboy Cal overtook the frontrunner in midstretch, but didn’t have enough to withstand the fast-finishing Court Vision, who caught him in the final strides. Midships closed well to get third. Based on Court Vision’s position at the one-mile call on the Equibase chart, he flew home his final quarter-mile in about 22 3/5 seconds.
Bred in Kentucky by the W.S. Farish and Kilroy Thoroughbred Partnership, Court Vision was produced from the Storm Bird mare Weekend Storm, a half sister to leading sire A.P. Indy.
Video of the Hollywood Derby.
Earlier in the Hollywood Park Turf Festival program, favored Cocoa Beach rallied in the stretch to catch the front-running second-betting choice Precious Kitten and win the Matriach by three-quarters of a length. Juddmonte Farms’ Visit was third.
Cocoa Beach, second to Zenyatta in her last start, the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic, was trying the grass for the first time since her maiden victory in Chile in January 2007. She was purchased by Godolphin last year and sent to Dubai, where she won two of four starts and was third in the UAE Derby. The 4-year-old daughter of Doneraile Court won her first two American starts, including the Grade 1 Beldame at Belmont Park, before running second in the Breeders’ Cup on the synthetic Pro-Ride track. She is trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Cocoa Beach covered the mile on firm turf in 1:35.49.
Matriarch chart.
Video of the Matriarch.
Video of the Hollywood Turf Festival graded races.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Beldame, Big Brown, bill mott, Cocoa Beach, colonel john, court vision, cowboy cal, Doneraile Court, dubai, farish and kilroy, Godolphin, gulch, hollywood derby, IEAH, jamaica handicap, kentucky derby, ladies' classic, matriarch, midships, muny, Paulick Report, precious kitten, ramon dominguez, Ray Paulick, remsen, saeed bin suroor, uae derby, visit, William S. Farish, winstar farm, zenyatta
Posted in California, Horse Racing | Comments Off
Saturday, September 27th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
Curlin passed Cigar to become North America’s all-time earnings leader and first $10-million horse with his second consecutive victory in the $750,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup on a sloppy Belmont Park track on Saturday afternoon.
Ridden by Robbie Albarado, Curlin raced in midpack early as Wanderin Boy set the pace under Alan Garcia — his fractions in :24.67, :48.79, 1:13.08, and 1:36.70. Curlin ommenced his rally on the turn, swung out wide at the top of the stretch and wore down Wanderin Boy late to win by three-quarters of a length. Merchant Marine was third, 3 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up. Mambo in Seattle was fourth, followed by Ravel, Stones River, A.P. Arrow and Angliana. Time of the race on a sloppy track was 2:01.93.
(VIDEO), (CHART)
The win, worth $450,000, was Curlin’s 11th in 15 lifetime starts (all as a 3- and 4-year-old in 2007-08), and moved his earnings to $10,246,800, surpassing Cigar’s previous record of $9,999,815.
Curlin, a 4-year-old son of Smart Strike out of Sherriff’s Deputy, by Deputy Minister was bred in Kentucky by Fares Farm. He is owned by Jess Jackson’s Stonestreet Stables and the Midnight Cry Stable of Shirley Cunningham and William Gallion, is trained by Steve Asmussen. Curlin began his career racing for Midnight Cry and was trained by Helen Pitts. An 80% interest in Curlin was purchased following his maiden win by Jackson, Satish Sanan and George Bolton, but Jackson eventually bought out those partners and now owns 80%.
There is great speculation about whether Curlin will face Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner Big Brown in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, but Jackson would not commit to the race during a teleconference earlier this week. He indicated Curlin could race two more times this year, leaving the door open for the Breeders’ Cup and a possible subsequent appearance in either the Clark Handicap at Churchill Downs in late November of the Japan Cup Dirt at Hanshin race course in Japan in early December.
"As to going out to Santa Anita, we’ll probably load him up, but first we’ll have to get him adjusted," Jackson said. "But it is up to him whether he likes the track and the surface. So those are concerns we still have. But we’ll consider it now that we’re past this hurdle. That’s the next prospect for us, and we’ll give it every bit of attention."
Albarado never appeared to use the whip on Curlin, who seemed to lose ground down the backstretch, but quickly moved into contention when asked by his rider. "Robby was really comfortable down the backside," Asmussen said. "I think he knows who he is on, and he let it sort out in front of him. He lost a little bit of position on the backside when Robby decided he didn’t want to be that wide. He immediately moved up in the bridle and came into the stretch the way you wanted him to be. He looked fabulous through the stretch."
"I can’t say how proud I am to be part of what’s just happened," Asmussen said. "To make history — the all-time money-winning horse in North America — it’s very special. The job that (assistant) Scott Blasi and (exercise rider) Carmen Rosas have done with him on a day-to-day basis enabled him to maintain the consistency. For him to be able to carry the weight of expectation, I’m very proud."
The 3-year-old Kingmambo colt Mambo in Seattle, a narrowly beaten second in the Travers Stakes to Colonel John, was never a factor in the Gold Cup.
Results from Saturday’s other major Breeders’ Cup prep races from Belmont Park, Turfway Park, Oak Tree at Santa Anita and Hawthorne. Updates from each race as they are run.
KENTUCKY CUP JUVENILE FILLIES (Turfway Park): Sugar Mom made a late run in the two-turn mile race to make it three straight wins on synthetic tracks for the owner-trainer combination of Frank Calabrese and Wayne Catalano. First stakes win for daughter of Monarchos out of Plenty of Sugar, by Ascot Knight. Winless in first three starts at Churchill Downs, including her last for a maiden claiming tag of $30,000. Complicity finished second, a length back, with Saxxy Rose Lee third and favored Bold Union tiring to be fourth. Time for the mile was 1:37.86.
KENTUCKY CUP SPRINT (Turfway Park): Fatal Bullet completely dominated his rivals as the 6-5 favorite, setting fast fractions and pulling away in the stretch for an impressive7 3/4-length victory in track-record time 1:08.03 for six furlongs on Polytrack. This was the seventh win in 10 starts for 3-year-old Red Bullet gelding out of Sararegal, by Regal Classic. Owned by Bear Stables and trained by Canadian Reade Baker, Fatal Bullet was coming off stakes victories on Polytrack at Woodbine and Tapeta track at Presque Isle Downs. Silver Sword and No Advantage finished second and third, respectively. Baker said it’s on to the Breeders’ Cup Sprint for Fatal Bullet.
KENTUCKY CUP JUVENILE (Turfway Park): West Side Bernie rallied into the stretch and pulled away by three lengths under Stewart Elliott. The 2-year-old by Bernstein out of Time Honored, by Gilded Time, is unbeaten in two starts for trainer Kelly Breen and owners Lori and George Hall, having broken his maiden by 1 ½ lengths at Monmouth Park Aug. 28. He covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.22 as the 9-5 favorite, with Retap and Gresham finishing second and third.
KENTUCKY CUP DISTAFF (Turfway): Getting their second stakes win of the day, Bear Stable, trainer Reade Baker and jockey Eurico Da Silva teamed up for a four-length victory with Bear Now (Tiznow–Controlled, by In Excess), who sat just off the pace of Devil House, moved to the lead at the head of the stretch and drew off by daylight. Unforgotten rallied late for second, with Devil House holding third. Bear Now, eighth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, has won three of six starts this year, her two previous wins coming on Woodbine’s Polytrack. She covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.37. Baker said he would give Bear Now another chance in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (formerly the Distaff).
KENTUCKY CUP CLASSIC (Turfway): Well-traveled Zanjero pulled away in the final furlong to win the Kentucky Cup Classic by 1 1/2 lengths under Shaun Bridgmohan. Trained by Steve Asmussen and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Zanjero was winning for the sixth time in 18 starts. He is a 4-year-old by Cherokee Run out of Checkered Flag, by A.P. Indy. Extreme Supreme finished second, followed by Canela and 8-5 favorite, Honest Man. Time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.27. Owner Ron Winchell said Zanjero will be pointed to the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile Oct. 25.
BELDAME (Belmont Park): Godolphin’s Cocoa Beach wore down odds-on favorite Ginger Punch, the reigning Eclipse Award-winning older filly and mare to make it two straight in the U.S., following an easy win in the ungraded Love Sign Stakes at Saratoga. The 4-year-old Chilean-bred daughter of Doneraile Court out of Visionera, by Edgy Diplomat, raced four times in Dubai over the winter, including a third-place showing in UAE Derby, after beginning career unbeaten in four starts in native Chile. She is trained by Saeed bin Suroor. Ginger Punch was second, beaten a half length, after setting fractions of :24.61, :48.18, :1:12.26; and 1:36.76. Final time was 1:49.50 on a sloppy track.
FLOWER BOWL INVITATIONAL STAKES (Belmont): Alan Garcia coaxed Dynaforce to a four-length wire-to-wire victory over heavily favored Mauralakana, who was gunning for her fifth straight win. The 5-year-old daughter of Dynaformer was winning on U.S. soil for the first time in four starts after racing in France for owner-breeder John Chandler.Mauralakana made a bold early run going into the far turn under Kent Desormeaux, but the Bill Mott-trained Dynaforce had too much in reserve, winning by daylight after setting fractions of :26.23, :52.87, 1:19.22 and 1:43.45. Comminque was third in the four-horse field. Time for 1 ¼ miles was 2:07.59 on a yielding track.
VOSBURGH (Belmont): Black Seventeen shipped in from California for trainer Brian Koriner to score a major upset over defending champion Fabulous Strike. The 4-year-old son of Is It True out of Fuzzy Navel, by Strike the Anvil, won the Carry Back Stakes at Calder in July for his only previous stakes win. Black Seventeen raced just behind a three horse duel (Fabulous Strike, J Be K, First Defence), moved to the lead in the stretch, and overtook Fabulous Strike late. Kokiak Kowboy rallied late to get third.
JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC INVITATIONAL (Belmont): Alan Garcia guided Grand Couturier to a 10 1/4-length victory, his second Grade 1 turf triumph in a row for trainer Robert Ribaudo and owner Marc Keller. The 5-year-old son of Grand Lodge out of Lady Eigar, by Sadler’s Wells, comes off a victory in the Sword Dancer over Better Talk Now Aug. 16 at Saratoga. Grand Couturier won last year’s Sword Dancer and then finished sixth behind English Channel in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Turf. Interpation edged Summer Patriot for second. Kent Desormeaux, aboard Interpation, filed a complaint against the winner alleging interference on the turn, but it was not allowed. Precious Passion set the pace in the Hirsch, with slow fractions of :24.97, :50.52, 1:16.84, and 1:42.35 for the opening mile of the 1 1/2-mile event. Strike a Deal took a brief lead with a quarter mile to go, the 1 1/4 miles clocked in 2:09.07, but Grand Couturier charged past to win in hand, getting the distance on yielding turf in 2:34.84.
CLEMENT L. HIRSCH MEMORIAL TURF INVITATIONAL STAKES (Oak Tree at Santa Anita): Making just his second start of the year, Peachtree Stable’s Red Giant (by Giant’s Causeway) set a new track and world record of 1:57.16 for 1 1/4 miles on the Santa Anita turf while edging Out of Control by a head. Transduction Gold was third. Trained by Todd Pletcher, Red Giant was winning for the sixth time in 12 starts. Last year he won the Virginia Derby and was second in the Secretariat Stakes. In his 2008 debut at Saratoga, Red Giant took the Fourstardave by a neck Aug. 3.
LADY’S SECRET (Oak Tree at Santa Anita): Zenyatta tracked from last in the four-horse field under Mike Baze, swung wide into the stretch and pulled away down the stretch under a hand ride to win by 3 1/2 lengths — her eighth straight without a defeat. Pacesetter Hystericalady was second, with Santa Teresita third. The daughter of Street Cry out of Vertigineux out of Kris S, is trained by John Shirreffs and owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Moss. She was odds-on to win her sixth consecutive graded stakes and eighth overall and will be a solid choice in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic Oct. 24 at Santa Anita. Time for the 1 1/16 miles on the new Pro-Ride synthetic track was 1:40.30.
ANCIENT TITLE STAKES (Oak Tree at Santa Anita): Cost of Freedom made the first run under Tyler Baze, getting the lead at the top of the stretch, and then holding off the late charge of 9-10 favorite, Street Boss, to win by a half-length in 1:07.53 for six furlongs (fractions were :21.27, :43.57, :55.50) . In Summation was third. Cost of Freedom was a $50,000 claim by Gary and Cecil Barber in late July at Del Mar. Formerly owned by Harris Farms and trained by Carla Gaines, he is now under the care of John Sadler. A 5-year-old California-bred gelding by Cee’s Tizzy out of Freedom Dance, by Moscow Ballet, Cost of Freedom has now won six of 10 starts, but the Ancient Title was his first stakes victory.
OAK LEAF STAKES (Oak Tree at Santa Anita): Making her 4-5 odds look generous, Stardom Bound overwhelmed her 11 2-year-old filly rivals, rallying from far off the pace to win by 3 1/2 lengths over pacesetter Palacio de Amor. The gray daughter of first-crop sire Tapit (out of My White Corvette, by Tarr Road) broke behind the field and was allowed to settle near the back of the pack by Mike Smith as Palacio de Amor set fractions of :23.32, :46.37, 1:10.61 and 1:35.90 for the opening mile. Stardom Bound swung widest of all into the stretch and easily moved to the lead under a hand ride, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.44. Oro Blanco was third. The winner, owned by Charles Cono and trained by Christopher Paasch, broke her maiden in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante after running second in a maiden race and second in the Sorrento Stakes — all at Del Mar. The Oak Leaf was her first race around two turns.
YELLOW RIBBON STAKES (Oak Tree at Santa Anita): John Velazquez registered career win No. 3,999 aboard Wait a While for Arindel Farm and trainer Todd Pletcher, racing from just off the pace, taking command in mid-stretch and holding Vacare at sway to win by about three-quarters of a length. Black Mamba was a fast-closing third. Final time for the 1 1/4 miles on firm turf was 1:59.16 after fractions of :24.53, :47.83, 1:12.31, and 1:35.63. Longshot Live Life showed the way for the first six furlongs, then gave way to Solva, Velazquez used Wait a While’s good tactical speed to overcome the No. 10 post position, and raced just off the lead before moving to the front. This was the 12th win in 23 starts and pushed Wait a While (a 5-year-old by Maria’s Mon, out of Flirtatious, by A.P. Indy) over the $2-million mark in career earnings. It Wait a While’s first Grade 1 victory since taking the Yellow Ribbon in 2006.
GOODWOOD (Oak Tree at Santa Anita): Using new off-the-pace tactics, Aaron Gryder guided7-10 favorite Well Armed to a one-length victory over Tiago. Rating in third position most of the way as Mast Track and Informed volleyed for the lead, Well Armed swung to the outside at the head of the stretch, drifted out with a furlong to run, but switched leads and kept to his task to get the win for trainer Eoin Harty. Final time was 1:47.11 for the 1 1/8 miles. Albertus Maximus finished third.It was the sixth victory in 19 starts for Well Armed, and his first in a Grade 1 race. He won the San Antonio and San Diego Handicaps (both Grade 2) going wire to wire earlier this year. Well Armed is a 5-year-old gelded son of Tiznow out of Well Dressed, by Notebook. Harty said Well Armed would be pointed for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, along with another WinStar runner in his barn, Santa Anita Derby and Travers Stakes winner Colonel John.
HAWTHORNE GOLD CUP (Hawthorne): Richard Migliore gave Team Valor’s Fairbanks a perfect trip in the 1 1/4-mile Gold Cup, racing just off the pace, moving between horses on the turn for home, and drawing away down the stretch for an easy 2 3/4-length victory as teh 7-10 favorite. Magna Graduate finished second, with Wayzata Bay third Fairbanks (by Giant’s Causeway out of Alaska Queen, by Time for a Change), was winning for the sixth time in 18 starts. He is trained by Todd Pletcher.
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Tags: aaron gryder, Add new tag, Alan Garcia, Beldame, bill mott, Breeders' Cup, Breeders' Cup Challenge, breeders' cup classic, breeders' cup preps, Breeders' Cup Win and You're In, cee's tizzy, charles cono, christopher paasch, cigar, clement hirsch, Cocoa Beach, cost of freedom, Curlin, Doneraile Court, Dynaforce, eoin harty, fairbanks, Fatal Bullet, Flower Bowl Invitational, Frank Calabrese, gary and cecil barber, ginger punch, Godolphin, goodwood, grand couturier, grand lodge, Horse Racing, is it true, jess jackson, John Chandler, john sadler, john velazquez, Kentucky Cup, Kentucky Cup Sprint, Kentucky Juvenile Fillies, lady's secret, mauralakana, monarchos, Oak leaf, Paulick Report, polytrack, Ray Paulick, Reade Baker, Red Bullet, robbie albarado, stardom bound, steve asmussen, street boss, Sugar Mom, tapit, team valor, tiago, todd pletcher, tyler baze, wait a while, Wayne Catalano, well armed, west side bernie, winstar farm, Yellow ribbon, zenyatta
Posted in Breeders' Cup, Curlin, Horse Racing | Comments Off
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