Posts Tagged ‘Big Brown’
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.
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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 »
Wednesday, October 29th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
The head of security for the New York Racing Association told the Paulick Report Tuesday that no security resources were used to protect IEAH president Michael Iavarone on Belmont Stakes Day, June 7, the day Iavarone said he had been the subject of a “serious death threat.”
Iavarone said in an interview during ABC’s telecast of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships last Saturday that  New York Police Department detectives came to his house June 7 to notify him of the threat, which he said came from “an extremist” in Tallahassee, Fla. A letter from this individual allegedly stated that if anything happened to Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes, neither Iavarone nor his family would be safe. The threat was said to have been relayed to the NYPD by the Tallahassee Police Department.
Kenneth Cook, vice president of security for the New York Racing Association, indicated that he was not made aware of any threat to Iavarone from the NYPD or FBI. “In the weeks and months (leading up to the Belmont Stakes), we had continuous contact between myself, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, NYPD, Nassau County Police Department and the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority),” said Cook. “We did not divert a single resource to heighten protection for Michael Iavarone.”
Cook, a former deputy superintendent of the New York State Police who joined NYRA in 2003, added: “There’s a reason why you coordinate your efforts with all the agencies — there was so much information shared that day. Chiefs of police and bureau commanders participated. It would have been a catastrophic error not to communicate that kind of threat. We had celebrities here, along with the governor. Not a single asset was diverted (to protect Iavarone).
Asked if that meant NYRA was not aware of any death threat against Iavarone, Cook said, “You can read between the lines.”
An FBI agent contacted by the Paulick Report would neither confirm nor deny the existence of a death threat: “We don’t comment on this type of inquiry.”
Kelly Wietsma, a publicist for IEAH, said the threat was very real. In a comment posted on the Paulick Report article recapping Iavarone’s revelation during the ABC telecast about the alleged threat, Wietsma said: “In total, there were at least eight detectives on hand at Belmont Park that day that were sent by the NYPD. It was explained to me, by one of the plain clothes detectives, upon their arrival that the NYPD and FBI had received a letter that was forwarded to them from the Tallahassee Police Department, threatening the lives of the owners and trainer of Big Brown if the horse were hurt or killed. I was able to view the letter, and read it myself. It went on to say that no one at Belmont Park would be safe.
“This was extremely troubling as we did not know who sent the letter or how serious the threats were. They were obviously serious enough to the NYPD to send officers to Mike’s house and to Belmont Park. Michael Iavarone knew nothing of the threats until the officers showed up at his house that morning. You may not have seen detectives with him but they were by his side at all times throughout the day. He was not allowed to go to the paddock area, men’s room, the jockeys room or anywhere on the premises without them.”
The Paulick Report has been unable to confirm the incident with the NYPD’s office of public information.
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Tags: belmont park, belmont stakes, Big Brown, fbi, iavarone death threat, IEAH, kelly wietsma, ken cook, kenneth cook, Michael Iavarone, New York Racing Association, nypd, nyra, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick
Posted in Big Brown, Horse Racing, New York Racing Association, People | 15 Comments »
Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
In the nine hours of Breeders’ Cup telecasts last Friday and Saturday, the strangest segment by far came during a brief interview between comedic sportscaster Kenny Mayne and Michael Iavarone, president of the IEAH stable that owns a majority of Big Brown, when Iavarone said he and members of his family had been the subject of a death threat more than four months earlier on the morning of the Belmont Stakes.
Mayne opened the interview by saying Iavarone showed a lot of emotion after jockey Kent Desormeaux pulled Big Brown out of the race at the top of the stretch when the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner was hopelessly beaten.
Iavarone picked it up from there.
“The morning of the (June 7) Belmont Stakes, I had been woken up around 10 a.m.,” he told Mayne. "There was a knock on my door and there were several New York City Police Department detectives. They asked me to come outside because they didn’t want to talk to me in front of my family. They told me there had been a serious death threat lodged against me, basically from Tallahassee, Florida, from an extremist saying that if anything should happen to Big Brown in the race, myself and my family were not safe. Basically I was followed by eight to nine New York detectives all day, everywhere I went. Obviously after the horse was pulled up the rest is obvious.”
 Mayne said ESPN/ABC learned of Iavarone’s story the day before the live interview aired and suggested that Iavarone’s emotional reaction to Big Brown’s defeat was “painted by that threat, not what the shortfall was of not winning the Triple Crown.”
“My immediate reaction was split in half,” Iavarone told Mayne. “Obviously there was concern for the horse and concern for my family. I was headed in both directions and both of them were catastrophic at the time. The first thing I did was grab my daughters and make sure we were out of the way and safe and tears were falling. It was just a terrible day for us.”
With 24 hours lead time before the interview, Mayne said ESPN/ABC “tried to contact the detective you said investigated the case and were unable to reach him.” He then asked Iavarone, “Did they ever follow up with you and say the case was closed? Do you feel comfortable now?”
“Obviously the horse is sound and is retired so I would not believe they would have any reason to harm myself or my family,” Iavarone said. “They have not told me the case is closed.”
The strange timing of Iavarone’s revelations notwithstanding, there are some details about his story that just don’t add up. I was seated directly behind Iavarone in the box section of Belmont during the running of the Belmont Stakes, and saw just one person who was clearly serving in a security capacity – a burly African-American man wearing a dark suit, an open collared white shirt and a “Big Brown” button on his lapel. It appears to be the same individual who has traveled with Iavarone to other races, including last weekend’s Breeders’ Cup.
Immediately after the race, while Big Brown was being unsaddled, I stood directly below the IEAH box and took a series of photographs of a shocked Iavarone, who was surrounded by his family members and fellow IEAH executive Richard Schiavo. There appeared to be no additional security around Iavarone and his family, only the same bodyguard described above. Certainly, I didn’t see “eight or nine New York detectives” in the immediate area.
I’m not accusing Iavarone of making up a story about a death threat. There were a series of incidents and revelations that made Iavarone something of a lightning rod with individuals within and outside of the racing community, some of which inflamed animal rights activities. There was the revelation that Big Brown raced legally on anabolic steroids when he won the Derby, the disclosure that Iavarone had lied about his past life as a “high profile banker on Wall Street,” the fact he had been fined and suspended by the National Association of Security Dealers, and the determination to run Big Brown in the Belmont despite suffering a quarter crack and missing training before the race.
Attempts by the Paulick Report to contact New York Racing Association officials to determine their knowledge of the alleged death threat and increased New York Police Department security detail were not successful.
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Tags: belmont park, belmont stakes, Big Brown, espn, Horse Racing, iavarone death threat, IEAH, IEAH stable, kenny mayne, kentucky derby winner big brown, Michael Iavarone, New York Racing Association, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, richard schiavo, Triple Crown
Posted in Big Brown, Horse Racing, New York Racing Association, People | 23 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 »
Monday, October 13th, 2008
Ray Paulick will be live blogging the teleconference featuring trainer Rick Dutrow and IEAH president Michael Iavarone as they discuss the foot injury that ended Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown’s racing career earlier today. The teleconference, organized by the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. UPDATE: Only Michael Iavarone will participate in the conference call.
(For detail on the type of injury Big Brown suffered, click here.)
2 p.m. … Eric Wing of the NTRA outlines the week ahead. Jess Jackson will be on a teleconference Tuesday to discuss whether or not Curlin will be pre-entered in the Breeders’ Cup; on Wednesday, someone from the NTRA will discuss safety and welfare recommendations resulting from industrywide meetings on Thursday the Breeders’ Cup pre-entries will be announced in a teleconference.
The first speaker on the call is Michael Iavarone, president of IEAH Stable, co-owner of Big Brown with Paul Pompa Jr.
2:05 p.m. … Michael Iavarone said "today was a tough day." He was there to watch the work with his family and co-owner Paul Pompa Jr. He said Big Brown worked in company with Kip Deville on the turf and both horses went well. "I had my daughter in my arms," Iavarone said as he walked back to the barn. When he got there, trainer Rick Dutrow told Iavarone, "I think we are in big trouble with Big Brown." Dutrow said a large chunk came out of the right front foot and blacksmith Alex Leaf said there was no chance the horse could run in the Breeders’ Cup. The injury, called grabbing a quarter, occurs when the back foot strikes the back of the front hoof.
"This was a tremendous blow to the gut of all of us," said Iavarone. He said Big Brown would have a few tough days ahead, though this is not a life-threatening injury. Iavarone expects him to remain in New York for about a month before leaving for Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Ky., where he will take up stallion duty in 2009.
2;10 pm. … The injury would have required a minimum of 60 -90 days to heal, said Iavarone. "Horses grabbing quarters happens in Thoroughbred racing all the time," said Iavarone. "He tore it up so bad that even if he had wraps he could grab right through there. … We have done everything we could to keep this horse going in the right direction. … To have this come up just shocks all of us."
2:12 p.m. … "He’s a one in a million as an owner and as far as the fans are concerned, there are going to be more Big Browns that come down the road. Continue to market and advertise them. Horses like Big Brown and Curlin are great for the sport. As long as we continue to advertise and market these kinds of horses, the game is going to be OK."
2:15 p.m. … "As a fan I want horses to stay around forever, naturally. But I’m a fan and an owner and have responsibilities to the other owners. As much as I am a fan, I have to look at this as a business. … We capitulated to the agreement (whereby Three Chimneys insisted Big Brown go to stud as a 4-year-old)."
2:17 p.m. … Iavarone is asked to describe how the injury happened. "What I’ve heard is that someone said he may have taken a funny step at the 3/8 pole." Iavarone didn’t see it from his vantage point. "To me the work looked outstanding." The bulb on the back of the front foot was split right in half, Iavarone said, and a piece of the hoof also got caught up in the injury.
2:20 p.m. … Was this related to other foot problems? "It’s unrelated. It’s not even a foot problem. He grabbed his quarter and it’s not related to any pre-existing conditions. It’s the first time it’s happened to me in a work. It’s just a stroke of bad luck."
A question about Curlin and the anticipated matchup. "The banter that went on between the two camps was almost like professional wrestling. Rick and I were having fun with it. We have no problem with Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen. ,… Curlin is a special horse and I hope he makes it to the race. I’m devastated today. I felt going into it we didn’t have a lot to lose. We had a lot to gain."
2:22 p.m. … "The key right now is we have to prevent infection. He’ll heal. That’s the only way thiis could become serious." The injured area has to be cleaned out and Big Brown will be given antibiotics. "He’s walking very sore but he can stand on it."
2:23 p.m. … Iavarone describe watching today’s work as two F-16s in formation.
2:24 p.m. … "We still own a significant piece of Big Brown. … They (Three Chimneys) were great in structuring a deal that kept us in the game."
2:25 p.m. … Iavarone said he and his wife stayed up late last night watching a replay of the Kentucky Derby and he admitted getting a little tear in his eye, but said to his wife there’s still one big race ahead.
2:26 p.m. … "He had no front shoes on," Iavarone said in response to a question about whether or not Big Brown was wearing toe grabs for the turf workout. "No bandages, no wraps, no (toe) grabs, nothing."
2:27 p.m. … "Rick Dutrow is a genius around a racehorse. He got more out of this horse in my eyes than any trainer in the world would have. What we were starting to see was a changeover from (Big Brown’s) utter brilliance to his heart. He developed a heart as big as his physical ability was. If we got to the point where he could put the two together you would have seen something breathtaking. It kills me at this point, it kills me, to get this close and not to see it happen."
2:30 p.m. … "Rick handled this with incredible class," Iavarone said, when asked about the mood at the Dutrow barn. He said it was a time to reflect on the good times and not dwell on the bad luck that ended Big Brown’s career.
2:31 p.m. … Iavarone is asked about whether or not he’ll be cheering for Curlin if he goes in the Classic. "I am completely in Curlin’s corner. If they give me a Curlin hat I’ll wear it."
Almost simultaneously, a statement was distributed from Jess Jackson, the majority owner of Curlin: "My family and I are saddened to learn of Big Brown’s career ending injury during his morning workout. I have always said what an incredible horse Big Brown is and that the bay colt brought energy and excitement to our industry, especially during his run at the Triple Crown.
"I am equally disappointed that Big Brown and Curlin will never compete against each other. It was a dream of mine and thousands of other fans of the sport. Now, we all join together in wishing Big Brown a speedy recovery."
END OF TELECONFERENCE
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Tags: Big Brown, breeders' cup classic, Curlin, grab a quarter, grabbing a quarter, Horse Racing, jess jackson, kentucky derby, kip deville, Michael Iavarone, paul pompa, Paulick Report, quarter crack, Ray Paulick, rick dutrow
Posted in Big Brown, Breeders' Cup, Curlin, National Thoroughbred Racing Association | 16 Comments »
Friday, October 10th, 2008
The 15-day suspension against Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Rick Dutrow for an alleged Clenbuterol positive in Salute the Count, a horse that ran at Churchill Downs on May 2, should be overturned by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, hearing officer James Robke has ruled.
Clenbuterol has a permissible threshold level of 25 picograms per ml of serum, according to state guidelines. Iowa State Laboratory reported a finding of 41 picograms; the documentation packet was labeled: “Confirmation for Clenbuterol in Plasma.” But the hearing officer ruling said there was no evidence presented by Iowa State or a secondary, confirmatory lab at Louisiana State University that confirmed the presence of Clenbuterol in serum. “Neither was there any evidence to explain the difference between serum and plasma,” the hearing officer recommendation states. Because of this, the administrative officer said the commission had "not met its burden" to prove the allegations against Dutrow were true.
The recommendation (click here to read the complete ruling) said the commission “failed to prove that the amount of Clenbuterol was above the threshold of ‘25 picograms per ml of serum.’ The commission proved that the amount of Clenbuterol in Salute the Count was indeed 41 picograms per ml of plasma. No evidence was presented to explain the difference (between plasma and serum). When dealing with two amounts … it is imperative that there is specificity as to the amounts.”
Lisa Underwood, executive director of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, issued the following statement: “The staff of the KHRC has reviewed the hearing officer’s recommendations to the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission regarding the steward’s ruling against trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. We have concluded that we have a strong basis for filing exceptions to the recommended order, and we intend to do so promptly.”
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Tags: Big Brown, clenbuterol, Horse Racing, horse racing regulations, iowa state lab, james robke, kentucky horse racing commission, lisa underwood, louisiana state university lab, Medication, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, richard dutrow jr., rick dutrow, salute the count, withdrawal guidelines
Posted in Big Brown, Horse Racing, Kentucky, Medication, Regulatory Issues | 4 Comments »
Friday, October 10th, 2008
The following opinion piece on the Breeders’ Cup and the suggestion fans consider skipping the Friday “Ladies Day” program and that Jess Jackson run Curlin in the Breeders’ Cup Turf was submitted to the Paulick Report by a longtime California racing fan and an omnipresent online contributor who goes by the pseudonym Indulto. His guest editorials and comments have appeared on numerous forums and blogs, including journalist Paul Moran’s Web site.
Indulto shares the frustration of many racing fans regarding the need to maintain multiple advance deposit wagering accounts (ADWs), and he is not a fan of what he calls the “misguided mass conversion to synthetic surfaces” mandated by the California Horse Racing Board.
The views of the writer do not necessarily represent those of the Paulick Report.
The decision to conduct Breeders’ Cup races formerly run on dirt over Santa Anita’s supposedly safer synthetic surface has created a dilemma for some owners of dirt-proven division leaders. Should they accept the risk of experimenting with their equine stars’ ability to handle this type of racetrack when it’s clear that few horses have achieved success on both? Or should they risk losing an Eclipse Award to a BC divisional event winner with an arguably lesser resume?
Jess Jackson initially claimed to be unaffected by such concerns, and repeatedly dismissed the possibility that Curlin would contest a synthetic Classic. Yet after months of casting doubt that the BC’s decision was appropriate, “America’s richest racehorse” is now stabled at the scene; scheduled to test his proclivity for Pro-ride prior to his widely-anticipated entry in the HOTY sweepstakes.
Some. including Ray Paulick in his “Well played Mr. Jackson, well played,” are praising Jackson as a marketing genius who has spurred discussion and created public demand for this once unlikely, but apparently inevitable matchup of racing stars on a surface neither has competed on. Others feel his machinations have stifled enthusiasm and lowered expectations for the event by undermining its status. Either way, with a Hitchcock-like mastery of suspense, Jackson has extended his own appearance in the spotlight. It remains to be seen whether he will be illuminated as a showman, a sportsman or something else.
In a press conference four days before Curlin’s Jockey Club Gold Cup victory, Jackson’s reluctance didn’t appear diminished:
“One race doesn’t determine a champion. You guys are sold on what the Breeders’ Cup has been saying about what the Classic does worldwide for the reputation of a horse. But you have to look at the overall performance of a horse over the year. … But the one race, the Breeders’ Cup, should not a champion determine.
“They used the Gold Cup as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup last year. This year is pretty tight and had they not changed the surface, we’d have been happy to show up to the Breeders’ Cup. But they only had less than four weeks to get prepared this time. So it’s not an entirely novel thing to go to the Breeders’ Cup for us, we’ve been there and done that. … And the Clark (at Churchill Downs in November) might be a great way to finish the season for both Big Brown and Curlin.
“The problem (with running ‘where the public appetite and interest in the sport is’) is, it’s an increase in the sport once a year. What we need is a league that shows an interest in the sport year round.”
One might now wonder whether Jackson’s testimony at the Congressional hearings advocating industry oversight represented convictions more strongly held, and whether there was any substance to his conjecture that he might run Curlin as a 5-year-old under certain circumstance that might benefit the sport.
Why am I holding Jackson’s feet to the fire? Because I agree with him that the racing industry desperately needs oversight by a central governing authority. While I don’t fancy him a friend of the horseplayer, I respect his having been instrumental in achieving reform regarding the sale of Thoroughbreds. His willingness to race Curlin as a 4-year-old — and to initially resist the BC decision to switch surfaces — suggested he was a man of principle willing to sacrifice the dollar to revitalize the sport. An effective industry governing board will require persons of demonstrated integrity.
The BC as originally implemented was an inspiration. When the “Showcase of Champions” became the crowner of champions based on a single performance against competitors they had never previously faced– under conditions which may have compromised the chances of some contestants — it lost its luster. Last year’s farce known as BC Friday has become this year’s folly labeled Filly Friday, which has fueled unprecedented negative fan reaction including a boycott-threatening on-line petition.
Handle has declined from its peak in 2003 and attendance continues to defy promotion. Yet industry leadership refuses to listen to its customers who aren’t professional players. Racing fans have always wanted to see the best face the best as often as possible, to confirm champions who have repeatedly demonstrated their superiority over their closest competition, and to be able to compare championship performances between generations of both horses and fans.
Today, they crave full, competitive, sound fields to bet on without chemically enhanced performances. They seek a level playing field on which to compete in the pari-mutuel pools for as long as their skills permit and not be sent to the sidelines prematurely by unconscionably high takeout from which only whales get relief. They long to be able to bet on-line on any race at any track through any ADW and watch the race live no matter how remote their location or what infirmities prevent them from being in attendance.
But nothing will change if fans keep opening their wallets to play while owners, tracks and ADWs ignore their existence, much less their importance. The only thing current industry leadership including the BC understands is lack of receipts. The first step in taking corrective action is to not expose one’s BC bankroll until Saturday; saving time, energy, and money while sending a message that needs to be heard.
We’re hearing a lot recently about what a good thing it is to be a maverick. Jackson seemed worthy of that title as a supporter, ironically, of tradition; and restoring the BC’s more appropriate role in championship racing. By running in the Turf instead of the Classic, Curlin’s master would not only maintain his personal credibility, but would also assume a leadership role in righting racing’s course.
Finishing second in his lone turf start — sandwiched between two previous BC Turf winners — Curlin’s defeat in the Man o’ War appeared to be more a function of riders than horses. Curlin could redeem himself against the returning Red Rocks and add to his Horse of the Year resume in the process. The best part would be that Curlin’s fans would be able to bet him with the confidence they would be getting a competitive as well as sporting effort from both horse and owner.
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Tags: advance deposit wagering, ADW, Big Brown, Breeders' Cup, breeders' cup classic, breeders' cup turf, churchill downs, clark handicap, Curlin, indulto, jess jackson, jockey club gold cup, pari-mutuel handle, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, santa anita park, synthetic surface
Posted in Big Brown, Breeders' Cup, California, Curlin, Horse Racing, Synthetic surfaces | 9 Comments »
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
The horse business is Kentucky’s signature industry, employing tens of thousands of people, generating over a billion dollars of revenue throughout the year, and putting the international spotlight on the Commonwealth each spring at the Kentucky Derby. Yet, in many ways, legislators and other government officials have been dealing with the industry almost as an afterthought.
Tax breaks given to lesser industries have not been granted to farmers whose agricultural product happens to be a horse instead of a cow. Kentucky’s legislature was late to the party to create an incentive fund to reward breeders for doing business in the Bluegrass State rather than shipping their breeding stock (and jobs) out of state where more lucrative incentives have been created. And now, one of the most troublesome challenges the racing industry faces – questions about the integrity of the sport and its pari-mutuel wagering foundation – has been hampered by ongoing budgetary shortfalls at the state agency that regulates racing.
Simply put, the integrity of racing in Kentucky is being jeopardized by indifference by some at the legislative and executive level to properly fund the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission.
The problem goes back nearly eight years ago to the administration of Gov. Paul Patton, who cut $1 million dollars – nearly one-third – out of what was then known as the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority. Frank Shoop, then the chairman of the regulatory body, told the Paulick Report he thought the cuts were temporary and would be restored; they weren’t. Instead, the Racing Authority began assessing racetracks as much as $3,500 a day to pay for many of the functions that would previously have been funded by the state. “It’s so important to the signature industry of the state,” Shoop said. “They should have proper money to regulate the industry: transportation, insurance and other departments have proper regulatory budgets. This department has been short of money and short of money for years.
“I don’t know what the proper funding action should be,” Shoop added, “but something needs to be done that the legislature and governor can agree on.”
If something isn’t done, the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission will run out of money by Jan. 1, according to Tracy Farmer, a Thoroughbred owner and breeder and high-level operative in the Democratic Party that helped elect Gov. Steve Beshear last November. Farmer was named by Beshear to the current horse racing commission, where he serves as vice chairman, and is heading up a special Task Force on the Future of Horse Racing examining numerous issues related to racing and breeding.
Farmer told the Paulick Report that Kentucky’s General Assembly had $2 million set aside for the racing commission for the current fiscal year but they subsequently “raided our accounts to balance the (state) budget.” Farmer said he and others are looking at ways to fund the commission through such revenue items as the tax on claiming horses, which he estimated generates $2 million per year. “Money is being generated that’s not being put back into the industry,” Farmer said. “We’re looking at several different methodologies and will recommend one of them. This is the largest industry in the state. We have to fund the people who oversee it.”
State Sen. Damon Thayer, a Republican from Georgetown and a consultant in the racing industry who helped create the breeders’ incentive fund through existing revenue drawn from the tax on stallion seasons, pushed for legislation that would have Kentucky’s General Fund provide for the commission’s budget. That legislation failed, Thayer said, despite bi-partisan efforts to get it passed.
“The racetracks are struggling, the commission is without money, and the state is in a budget crisis,” Thayer said. “We need more money for the commission to have boots on the ground to do their job. And we were saying this before Eight Belles and Big Brown.”
The death of Eight Belles in this year’s Kentucky Derby and the admission by trainer Rick Dutrow that Derby winner Big Brown raced on anabolic steroids (then legal) has prompted an outcry for tighter regulations, stricter medication rules, and more comprehensive drug testing. Anabolic steroids have recently been banned in Kentucky and several other states, and that ban requires additional testing be added to the existing drug testing program.
Thayer plans to introduce new legislation during the next session of the General Assembly.
“What needs to happen is Gov. Beshear needs to get behind legislation drafted by Sen. Ed Worley (D-Richmond) and me that would set up a reliable, recurring source of revenue for the racing commission so the tracks do not pay for drug testing and their own regulation. The racing commission needs to be funded by the pari-mutuel excise tax so we can expand drug testing to a respectable level.”
According to Thayer, the pari-mutuel tax currently helps fund the Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund, equine drug research and the University of Louisville’s equine business program.
The lack of funding came to a head at a recent meeting of the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission when it was disclosed testing was not conducted for performance-enhancing milkshakes (TCO2 levels or bicarbonate loading) at Ellis Park this summer because of a personnel shortage. Since that disclosure, the commission’s chief veterinarian resigned his position.
“We were shocked to learn that no testing was conducted,” said Farmer.
It may have taken weeks for commission members to learn that there was no testing for milkshakes, but trainers probably knew instantly, permitting cheaters to prosper. The absence of testing shook the confidence of many horseplayers about whether the state is doing enough to stop performance-enhancing drugs from giving an edge to some trainers.
The racing commission’s executive director, Lisa Underwood, who was hired during the previous administration of Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher, has plans to expand the size of the staff if funding is provided. She has submitted a plan to add investigators, state veterinarians and other full and part-time staff to better regulate racing and ensure its integrity.
Ed Martin, president of the Association of Racing Commissioners International, told the Task Force on the Future of Horse Racing when he became aware of how little was committed to Kentucky’s commission that he was “shocked at how low a priority the integrity of racing apparently was, especially considering how important the racing industry is to the state’s economy and identity.”
Martin compiled a study of how much is committed to integrity issues in other major racing states and found that Kentucky, “instead of being first, is last.”
His study showed Kentucky commits $7,692 per race day, less than half of the $17,948 committed by Florida for integrity enforcement. Martin said the Kentucky commission is sorely lacking investigators to monitor backstretch activities. Kentucky has two investigators, he said, compared with 14 in New York, 15 in Pennsylvania, 17 in Florida, and 18 in California.
“ Perhaps the most glaring weakness in the funding can be seen in the fact that no resources have been dedicated to policing the pari-mutuel system,” Martin said.“Kentucky in the past has dedicated nothing in this area while other major racing states have made a considerable commitment in this area, not only in terms of staff, but to ensure that an independent computerized monitoring system is deployed to protect against past posting, odds manipulations, cyber crime, and larceny. In public forum after public forum, large bettors have expressed a growing concern about the lack of commitment to wagering security.
“ While some states have committed as many as six people to wagering security and made arrangements for independent monitoring, Kentucky has yet to commit one.”
Many bettors are convinced the technology used in today’s pari-mutuel wagering system is archaic and able to be exploited by techno-savvy players who are making bets after the gates to a race have been opened. One member of the Kentucky Racing Commission who asked not to be named agreed: “There is no question people are betting after the horses are out of the gate,” he said. “They are somehow getting into the pool. It’s frightening.”
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: association of racing commissioners international, bicarbonate loading, Big Brown, bluegrass state, churchill downs, damon thayer, drug testing, ed martin, ed worley, eight belles, ellis park, ernie fletcher, frank shoop, Horse Racing, Keeneland, kentucky horse racing, kentucky horse racing authority, kentucky horse racing commission, kentucky thoroughbred development fund, lisa underwood, pari-mutuel wagering, paul patton, Paulick Report, Ray Paulick, RCI, steve beshear, task force on the future of horse racing, tco2, thoroughbred racing, tracy farmer, turfway park, university of louisville equiine business program, wagering integrity
Posted in Horse Racing, Industry Organizations, Kentucky, Medication, Regulatory Issues, Tote System, Wagering | 2 Comments »
Saturday, September 13th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
Big Brown went to the lead at the start and never looked back in winning Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile Monmouth Stakes, a $500,000 turf race designed by Monmouth Park for the two-time classic winner. The Rick Dutrow-trained colt, sent off the 3-5 favorite, opened a clear lead down the backstretch, then held off a determined stretch run from second choice Proudinsky to win by a neck in 1:47.41 on a turf course rated good. Shakis circled the field to be a fast-closing third, another half-length back.
(VIDEO, EQUIBASE CHART)
The Monmouth was Big Brown’s first race agaist older horses, and he was the only 3-year-old in the nine-horse field, carrying 120 pounds, one more than the 5-year-old German-bred Proudinsky.
"Couldn’t have been better," said Michael Iavarone, who manages the IEAH Stables that owns Big Brown in partnership with Paul Pompa Jr. Big Brown used the Monmouth race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic.
Kent Desormeaux rode Big Brown confidently, rating him on the lead and in the clear down the backstretch and around the far turn after getting a modest early challenge from longshot Get Serious, who was hustled up to engage Big Brown in the run to the first turn. Proudinsky tracked Big Brown into the stretch and moved up to engage him inside the furlong pole, but was never able to seriously challenge the winner, who was under a hand ride down the stretch and got only a few under-handed taps on the right shoulder from Desormeaux’s whip, Fractions of the race were : :23.46, :46.83, 1:11.21, and 1:35.39. The final time of 1:47.41 gave Big Brown a final eighth in a snappy 12.02 seconds.
Big Brown was making his first start on grass since breaking his maiden by 12 ¾ lengths going 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga turf in his career debut Sept. 3, which turned out to be his only start as a 2-year-old. He was trained then by Pat Reynolds, who picked him out of the Keeneland April 2-year-olds in training sale, where he was purchased by Paul Pompa Jr. for $190,000.
After Big Brown’s maiden win, IEAH Stables purchased a 75% interest in the colt and turned him over to Dutrow, who handles most of IEAH’s runners. It was expected he would run in the Pilgrim Stakes on grass, followed by the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, but a quarter crack sidelined him for several months.
Big Brown returned to win a March 5 allowance race at a mile on the Gulfstream Park dirt after the race was taken off turf, and, with the exception of a series of grass workouts, it’s been dirt ever since for the son of Boundary out of Mien, by Nureyev. He won the Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness before losing his bid for the Triple Crown while being eased in the Belmont Stakes. He came back to win the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park Aug. 3 and is using the Monmouth race as a prep for the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the new Pro-Ride synthetic track at Santa Anita Oct. 25.
The win at Monmouth was Big Brown’s seventh in eight starts. He was bred in Kentucky by Gary Knapp’s Monticule Farm. Big Brown paid $3.20 to win. Big Brown will retire at the end of the year to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clay’s Three Chimneys Farm to stand the 2009 breeding season. Three Chimneys reportedly purchased a 10% interest in the colt midway through the Triple Crown. At that time, the colt’s value was estimated at $50 million.
Tags: belmont, Big Brown, boundary, gary knapp, IEAH, keeneland 2-year-old sale, kentucky derby, mien, monmouth park, monmouth stakes, monticule, pat reynolds, paul pompa jr., preakness, rick dutrow, Triple Crown
Posted in Big Brown | 8 Comments »
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
By Ray Paulick
Turns out that wasn’t an illusion earlier this year when Colonel John seemed to catch another gear just as the wire was approaching in the 1 1/8-mile Santa Anita Derby. The rest of the field looked to be in deep water and the muscular bay son of Tiznow was skipping along on the surface as if he had just entered the fray. His margin of victory that day was only a half-length, but it was the way he did it that was so impressive.
That’s why I thought the mile and a quarter of the Kentucky Derby would be right up Colonel John’s alley. There was some skepticism because it didn’t appear to be a very strong group of 3-year-olds in California prepping for the Classics, and the horse he caught in the final sixteenth of a mile, Bob Black Jack, was a stretching-out sprinter. Nevertheless, I thought Colonel John had what it took to become the 134th winner of the Run for the Roses.
Big Brown ran Colonel John and everyone else off the track that first Saturday in May. It was no contest, really, especially when you consider how much ground Big Brown lost. Colonel John had a nightmare trip, getting virtually eliminated right after the start, when he was pinched back and steadied, then raced into a wall of flying dirt down the stretch the first time. Midway down the backstretch, Colonel John put in a strong run from 16th in the 20-horse field to get as close sixth, but he had nothing left for the final quarter mile.
The team of WinStar Farm and trainer Eoin Harty went back to the drawing board after Colonel John’s disappointing sixth-place result in Kentucky, bringing him back two months later in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park (he finished a close third in a four-horse field) but circling Aug. 23 on the calendar as THE day to seek redemption in the 139th running of the Travers. For despite winning four of his first six races, being a Grade 1 winner, and going into the Kentucky Derby as the second betting choice, Colonel John was still carrying that dreaded new moniker: Synthetic Horse. He had yet to win on a racetrack made of real dirt.
Outside of Churchill Downs, no dirt is more hallowed than that which covers the main track oval at Saratoga racetrack in upstate New York. But Harty kept Colonel John in California almost up to the last minute, working him like clockwork every six or seven days on Del Mar’s Polytrack. Garrett Gomez, racing’s current “go to” big race jockey, would travel east for the mount after replacing Corey Nakatani in the Swaps following the disastrous Kentucky Derby run.
In the crowded, 12-horse Travers field, Gomez didn’t get the smoothest of trips, either. Belmont Stakes winner Da’ Tara led for the first mile of the mile and a quarter “Midsummer Derby,” with Gomez and Colonel tracking him all the way. At the top of the stretch, Colonel John was ready to take off, but Gomez was in tight and had to angle out sharply to avoid clipping the heels of Tale of Ekati to his inside and Da’ Tara, who was directly in front of him. Once clear, Colonel John took dead aim at Da’ Tara and put that stubborn rival away. But quickly joining the fray after rallying around horses on the turn for home was Mambo in Seattle, a late-developing Kingmambo colt who ran on Derby day at Churchill Downs, finishing second in an entry-level allowance race. He breezed through his allowance conditions after that and won a restricted stakes at Saratoga in late July, his first-added money effort. Trainer Neil Howard, who is always dangerous with a loaded gun, had Mambo in Seattle ready for the race of his life, and the colt did everything but win the Travers.
In fact, jockey Robbie Albarado thought he’d won the race, waving his whip in celebration at the wire, and ESPN commentators took the bait, interviewing him as the apparent winner as he jogged back to have his picture taken. But the bob of the head went to Colonel John, whose margin of victory could be measured in millimeters.
The Travers is the second most coveted race for a 3-year-old colt after the Kentucky Derby – at least among breeders. The victory, though the margin could not have been narrower, was huge for the stallion potential of Colonel John, who threw the synthetic monkey off his powerful shoulders. The result also sets up the potential for a most interesting Breeders’ Cup Classic on Santa Anita’s new Pro-Ride synthetic surface, if (and it’s a big if) Big Brown shows up. Right now, the connections of Big Brown say that’s where they are heading after the son of Boundary preps in a specially created turf race at Monmouth Park next month.
As for Mambo in Seattle, he is a colt of great talent who was unlucky to lose. He’ll have his chance at Grade 1 glory down the road, and will be to a force later this year and in 2009 for co-owners Will Farish and Mrs. William Kilroy. His pedigree (Kingmambo out of Weekend in Seattle, by Seattle Slew) assures that he will have every opportunity at stud when his racing days are over.
Copyright © 2008, The Paulick Report
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Tags: Big Brown, Breeders' Cup, breeders' cup classic, colonel john, da' tara, eoin harty, espn, garrett gomez, kentucky derby, kingmambo, mambo in seattle, neil howard, polytrack, pro-ride, robbie albarado, santa anita, saratoga, Synthetic surfaces, tiznow, travers, winstar
Posted in Horse Racing, Synthetic surfaces | Comments Off
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