Three year olds ~ the best in the 2014 edition of the BC Classic

There is an old saying; "what goes around, comes around". In this case, it's a good thing. My first column of this year in March was the subject of the Triple Crown trail and three year old horses pointed to it. Spring hopes eternal for the future and eight months ago, there were over two dozen horses vying for a spot in the gate the first Saturday in May. We mention horses like; New Year's Day, Honor Code, Havana, Cairo Prince, Strong Mandate and Top Billing, all who failed to make the Kentucky Derby or even any Triple Crown races. While others like; Intense Holiday, Tapiture, Wildcat Red, General A Rod and Vicar's in Trouble all made one dance or another and without major success. When the smoke cleared though and we've reached year's end, it is the class of 2014 three year olds that stand tall in this year's biggest race; the Breeder's Cup Classic.

Of the 14 horses entered in the 20th edition of the Classic, over half of the field are three year old runners. Included is duel Triple Crown winner; California Chrome, the horse that foiled his Triple Crown bid; Tonalist, last year's two year old champion and likely Horse of the Year 2014 with a victory today; Shared Belief, the speedy; Bayern, Travers winner; VE Day, European invader; Toast of New Year and longshot; Candy Boy. Five grade I winners and two others who are grade II, a group of sophomores who face the older handicap horses that lack runners like; Will Take Charge, It's My Lucky Day, Palace Malice and Game on Dude, all retired. If any year can be the year of the three year old, this year is the year!

Who would have thought eight months ago that a horse that didn't race in the Breeder's Cup last year and didn't appear in any Triple Crown race would be the top candidate for Horse of the Year honors. But if Shared Belief wins the Classic, not only does he remain undefeated, but is the top horse in the thoroughbred world. California Chrome remains the leading candidate for top honors also, off his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. We have the Cup on the west coast and it's fitting that the best thoroughbred in 2014 is also based in California. But, a east coast invader may upset the apple cart if he has anything to do with it. Tonalist who upset California Chrome's Triple Crown bid by winning the Belmont Stakes and beat older in the premier Fall race in New York (Jockey Club Gold Cup) last time out, may the one to do it. These three should be the top three betting choices.

Then there is the other four three year olds entered here. Bayern could be the one to catch, the biggest question mark with him is; does he want to go the classic distance of a mile and a quarter? His two previous tries going that long were bad. VE Day has been a second half runner who overcame the shadow of his stablemate; Wicked Strong. It was a last minute decision to enter him in this spot and has a lot to prove today versus this field. Candy Boy hasn't lived up to his expectations and it would be a major upset if he turned it around and win in this spot. That leaves the European runner; Toast of New York as the wildcard with him making his real dirt debut in this spot.
The older horses in this race seem a cut below their younger counterparts. Moreno on paper is the best of the bunch competition wise with his speed. The NY bred; Zivo is as classy as it gets with his late closing style only out of the money once in his career. Cigar Street has only two starts this year and could be any kind, but he gets the "acid test" today versus this competition. As far as the remaining runners; Majestic Harbor, Imperative, Footbridge and Prayer For Relief, are longshots at best. The 2015 20th edition of the Breeder's Cup Classic goes through the "youngsters" with my selections being; Tonalist #11 ~ Toast of New York #9 ~ Shared Belief #6 ~ California Chrome #13

30 years of the Breeder's Cup ...... what to look for!

We're one week away from thoroughbred racing's biggest day, the Breeder's Cup World Championships. It's once again at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It's been a familiar theme since 2008, with the Cup only rotating between Santa Anita Park and Churchill Downs. We get a reprieve from the west coast Cup next year when it's at Keeneland Racetrack, but it returns to Santa Anita in 2016. The days of the championship day revolving track to track are long gone in the memories of most players. What was originally set up to showcase thoroughbred racetracks throughout the country, has become a event for good weather with Hollywood influence plus a three hour time difference from the east coast. The perfect mix for promoting the sport in the eyes of Breeder's Cup Limited. I've told you in the past how I feel about this situation and how much it has gotten away from it's original intent. Nevertheless, when it comes to making money on the sport, the Breeder's Cup is the way to go!

Other than the Kentucky Derby with twenty horses entered almost each year, only the Breeder's Cup do you get full fields in each race and great payouts each time. Plus with the advent of exotic and multi-race wagering, the right combinations can sometimes be life changing events. I've also found with knowing the pre-entries 10 days before the event can be a useful tool in sorting out the contenders in each race. A two day event since 2007 also gives you a chance at building a bankroll for the Saturday card, the day before. You don't have to go "deep" into the fields to make money these two days. Also with fifty cent minimum bets, you can score a nice play with minimal investment.

In races with lukewarm favorites, payouts score several hundred dollars if not more. This year, the prospects of "odds-on" runners will be at a premium. We don't have either a Wise Dan or Beholder in two of the marquee races this year. Some of the other highly talented runners from earlier in the year (Close Hatches and California Chrome) have tailed off in their last start and could be a square price this time around. There is always the European flavor also, which this year will play a major outcome in many of the races in my opinion. Fields in all the Juvenile races are wide open and may be the best paying fields in my opinion. Take advantage of the dime superfecta plays and fifty cent pick three and pick four wagers, little investment could have major payouts when including the right odds runners.

When it comes to the straight; win, place and show wagers, it doesn't hurt sometimes making a show wager on a longshot in these full fields. In the past I've have double digit show prices with logical runner up horses. Anyway you look at it, Breeder's Cup Day is a event where money can be made with a little work and a minimum money investment.

I'll be giving my plays for Breeder's Cup Friday in Thursday's edition of the Recorder. There only four races on Friday this year; the Juvenile Turf for colts (6th) post time 5:25pm EST, the Dirt Mile (7th) 6:05pm, the Juvenile Turf for fillies (8th) 6:50pm and the Distaff (9th) 7:35pm with these four races shown on the NBC Sports Network (channel 44 ~ TWC). The format I'll be using for my selections will be like I use for Saratoga with my top two selections plus comments and three horses to use underneath in exotic and multi-race wagers.

The toughest job in thoroughbred racing

Many times when I talk about the "Sport of Kings", it's about the gallant thoroughbreds who grace us with their presence. But, today it's about the human aspect. The jockeys who ride these magnificent animals. Without the skill of these hundred pound athletes, the thoroughbreds are just like a car without a driver. The credit is never given enough for the men and women who make the sport of kings, what it is. This past week, our sport lost three up and coming stars in the jockey world. Two of the young and finest women jockeys in Australian died in separate racing incidents. Carly-Mae Pye and Catlin Forrest both were killed riding on the Australian circuit this week. While neither were well known here stateside, on Tuesday evening a talented young ride here would become a victim of a horrific accident at Indiana Downs.

Seventeen year old apprentice rider; Juan Saez , brother of Luis Saez who has ridden here on the NYRA circuit was killed in a spill at Indiana Downs. Saez's horse clipped heels and he was thrown from his mount. Gravely injured, he was thought dead from the impact and was revived several times on track before being sent to a never by hospital. Late Tuesday evening, Juan succumbed from his head injuries and was pronounced dead. He was the 153rd jockey since 1940 to be killed in a race in North America. He is the first to lose his life since Jorge Herrera died in July 2012 at Pleasanton in Northern California. The young jockey from Panama started his riding career this past June at Ellis Park in Kentucky. He was the leading rider there for the summer meet and had been turning heads in the sport in just a short time. It was just this past weekend, when a well known and respected racing writer said that Luis Saez could be the top apprentice jockey this year and a future superstar. But in a blink of an eye, that all changed.

It was 29 years and one day to the time that veteran NYRA jockey; Mike Venezia was killed in a race at Belmont Park 1988. I remember the day well. When the race calls were broadcast on WWWD 1240am in Schenectady, the staff announcer from Capital OTB said that the remainder of the Belmont race card was cancelled because jockey Mike Venezia had succumbed from his injuries in the previous race. I was in a state of shock that a jockey had died on the racetrack during a race. It gave me a new perspective on the sport and also showed me how dangerous it could be for jockeys.

Just a few weeks ago, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup there was a similar incident to the one that killed young Juan Saez. Jockey Rajiv Maragh's mount, Wicked Strong clipped heels during the running and he was thrown from the mount. He was very lucky to escape with just a broken arm. But, most time horses going down in tight quarters and the jockey is thrown, the outcome is much worst. This was the case of the young talented Juan Saez. So, next time the horse you played doesn't run well and your upset about your wager and blame the jockey for the ride, think about Juan Saez. Think about all the jockeys who put there life on the line every time they get on a horse. Remember, these little guys on thousand pound animals and what they do. It will give you an new perspective on the sport most people don't think about.

2014 Empire Showcase Day @ Belmont Park - 20th edition

Sleepy Hollow (2nd) 2-5-3-1
Maid of the Mist(3rd) 5-9-7-6
Mohawk (4th) 3-9-8-1
Iroquois (5th) 8-4-2-7
Empire Distaff (7th) 5-4-1-10
Empire Classic (8th) 8-2-3-5
Ticonderoga (9th) 5-9-10-7
Hudson (10th) 10-4-5-7

"The unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable ...... Cigar"

We are very fortunate and blessed to have so many stars in the sport of thoroughbred racing. After all, they are what make the sport what it is. Today we have Wise Dan and he's showed this past weekend why he's is the reining two-time Horse of the Year. In recent years, fillies like; Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra captured the sport with their brilliance. When I started following the sport nearly 30 years ago, the "heyday" of the fantastic 70's with runners like; Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Spectacular Bid were a distant memory. While the Breeder's Cup was created to showcase thoroughbreds in the mid 80's, there wasn't just one horse to capture the sport of kings attention. That was until Fall of 1994.

There was a very mediocre turf runner from the west coast, who changed trainers and shipped to New York trying to find an identity. It was apparent that grass wasn't his game with only one victory in eleven starts. So, his new trainer Bill Mott decided to switch him to dirt for the first time since his two year old season. That was October 28, 1994 at Aqueduct in a non-winners of two allowance test at a mile. That was the birth of a superstar and his name was Cigar.

This past Tuesday, the two-time Horse of the Year - Cigar past away at the age of 24 after complications from neck surgery. The scope and impact this son of Palace Music had on the sport in a time when it needed a superstar was just the shot in the arm thoroughbred racing needed. That surface switch started an incredible journey that lasted through the summer of 1996 and a streak of 16 straight victories. Cigar along with Bill Mott and Jerry Bailey became a household name.

After winning on dirt for the first time since his two year old season, he ran next in the 1994 NYRA Mile (a race which is named for him now) and that would be the last time he ever paid over $10 to win. He took the torch from Holy Bull by winning the 1995 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park and only ran in grade I events after that expect his two Massachusetts Handicap wins at Suffolk Downs, who closed down for good also this past weekend. His 1995 season was one for the record books, 10 straight wins at six different tracks. Beside the Donn Handicap, he won the Gulfstream Park Handicap, Oaklawn Handicap, Pimlico Special, Mass Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Quite a resume for any horse. The wonder year of '95 was topped off by his victory in the Breeder's Cup Classic at Belmont Park. I was there in person to see the "the unconquerable, invincible, unbeatable Cigar" as Tom Durkin called it, complete an undefeated racing season. That streak would continue four races into the summer of '96 with aim to break Citation's consecutive race win streak from 1948. But in the Pacific Classic, Dare and Go defeated him and stopped the streak at 16. After racing 13 of the last 17 months, Cigar would only race three more times after the streak ending defeat. He ended his career with two straight loss and 19 victories in 33 lifetime starts, earning just under 10 millions for his career.

He would retire to stud in 1997, only unable to successful cover any mares. He spent his remaining years at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champion until his death. Cigar was a horse that truly saved thoroughbred racing during a time the sport was trying to find a identity. He became a household name and transcended the sport. Even though he never had any offspring to carry on his legacy, Cigar was a champion both on and off the track. Cigar captured the mines of the fans with his will to win. Cigar brought the sport of thoroughbred to many people, Cigar saved racing.

Juvenile two year old action - gearing up for the Breeder's Cup in less than a month

It's all about the two year old runners this weekend as we march toward the Breeder's Cup which is less than one month away. Last weekend, the west coast juveniles cemented their spots with victories at Santa Anita, who plays host to the championship days once again. In both races, it was the favorites prevailing with the Bob Baffert runner; American Pharoah going wire to wire in the mile and a sixteenth, FrontRunner Stakes and Angela Renee (trained by Todd Pletcher) in the Chandelier Stakes for the girls as the second choice stalking the pace. Today and tomorrow both at Belmont and Keeneland, these young lightly raced runners will try to punch their ticket to California.

The Fall Keeneland meet opened yesterday with a new main track surface. After trying polytrack the past few years, the Kentucky boutique meet returned to a "real" dirt surface in preparation of hosting next year's Breeder's Cup Championships. The mile and a sixteenth Claiborne Breeder's Futurity (8th) assembles a evenly matched field of 12 runners. Lots of speed is signed on here and in the past Keeneland always tended to favor front end horses. Last time out in the Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs, Bold Conquest (#6) made the lead in mid stretch just to be beaten at the wire going this distance. It was his first time going two turns and he'll be my top pick here today. Selections for the Keeneland (8th)

6-5-10-1.

Belmont Park hosts four two year old races the next two days. Today, are the major preps for the Juvenile Breeder's Cup races with the Frizette Stakes for the girls and Champagne Stakes for the boys both races at a one turn mile. The ladies are first up in the Frizette (6th) with a field of seven nice looking runners. My top pick here, Cavorting (#1) was flattered with Angela Renee's victory last weekend. She looked good winning the Adirondack Stakes at Saratoga sprinting and should have no problem stretching out to the mile distance. Picks for the Belmont (6th) 1-4-6-5.

In the colts division, the Champagne Stakes (8th) Churchill Downs recent maiden breaker; Holy Boss (#5) was impressive in his debut winning by 10 lengths. With Competitive Edge on the sidelines until next year, this runner is nicely spotted here and my top selection at a decent price. Selections for the Belmont (8th) 5-3-1-6.

Tomorrow, the more sprinter oriented runners will be on showcase in the Futurity Stakes for the colts and Matron Stakes for the gals going six furlongs. The Futurity (4th) has only five colts entered and Cinco Charlie (#1) looks tough to go past here with the experience of five career starts under his belt including three victories. PARX undefeated shipper; Hebbronville (#5) is my second choice in this short field. The Matron Stakes (10th) is a little more wide open with eight entered. Empressive Humor (#7) was no factor in the Adirondack Stakes with a rough trip. I'm taking a price with her and hoping she'll improve off that effort. Picks for the Matron Stakes (10th) 7-4-3-2.

Also on Sunday at Keeneland on the turf, nine two year old colts are entered on the grass in the Bourbon Stakes (8th) going also a mile and a sixteenth. Conquest Tsunami (#7) is a Woodbine shipper who is undefeated in four lifetime starts and is a major speedster. He's the one to catch and top pick here. Selections for the grassy Bourbon Stakes (Keeneland 8th) 7-8-9-3.