Move over Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra; also my friend Quality Road , you too! Because there’s a “new” sheriff in town for the 2010 Horse of the Year honors and there is only one colt to “Blame”. That’s right, last Saturday evening the four year old son of Arch; Blame, moved to the top of the class as the best thoroughbred in training with his hard fought over current division leader; Quality Road. He was the “now” horse coming into the Whitney Handicap with four straight grade stake victories and a ton of talent that has been overlooked by many throughout the country.
I can never take anything away from Quality Road . He was last year “head and shoulders” the BEST three year old colt with raw talent. He got over looked with his fragmented schedule, but was able to return as a four year old colt (unlike last year’s three year old champion; Summer Bird) and continue to show his brilliance on track with three overwhelming victories. The path that this horse takes is a calculated one by his connections and sometimes looks as if he is treated with “kid gloves”. The questions have always been abounding that Quality Road is good up to distances under a mile and an eighth. Quite possibly that question has arose again with his narrow defeat to Blame last Saturday. He’ll live to fight another day and most likely in the Woodward Stakes on closing weekend. But, on Saturday a “new face” made his presence felt and opened some eyes.
Blame was making his 11 career start, the same as Quality Road . They both came into the race with nearly identical records (7 victories with three other finishes in the money). Although Quality Road had slightly better Beyer speed figures, Blame’s running style was a big advantage last Saturday afternoon. There was enough speed in the race from Haynesfield, to soften up Quality Road . This route distance seem to be Quality Road ’s best, but nearing the wire with that pressure which Haynesfield applied to Quality Road turned out to be the difference. The current top handicap horse was game in defeat, but finally the talent of Blame was shown to the whole racing world.
As we move forward to the fall races, Blame should continue to be a force and the Breeder’s Cup Classic his ultimate goal at Churchill Downs this Fall. He should have no problem getting the mile and a quarter distance, although the 3-1 odds we got with him in the Whitney Stakes won’t be seen again. It’s nice to be right about a horse and since Blame’s Stephen Foster Handicap victory at Churchill Downs , I have been touting this horse. He did not disappoint and now is the leader of the pack. So while they argue who’s better; Rachel or Zenyatta, right now we know that Blame leads the scoring over Quality Road; one to nothing. That could change down the road, but for now; there’s no one but......Blame!
Today is the midway point of the 2010 Saratoga race meeting. As of the writing of this column on Thursday night, I have set personal best mark in the 12 years of handicapping for the Amsterdam Recorder. 54 winners have been tabbed “on top” with a money return of $414 for 18 days into the meet. Although many of the top selections could be considered on the “chalky” side (average 2-1 win mutual) in the 2nd race on Thursday I selected 30-1 shot, Valiant Passion for a $63.00 win payout. This horse was my highest price “top selection” winner chosen in the 12 years of handicapping for the Recorder by far. If I can continue the “three winners a day” and still come up with decent prices and exotic payouts, this year will be my crowning achievement in 25 years of following thoroughbred racing.
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