The stars are abound! - Breeder's Cup 2013

This past Wednesday the pre-entries for this year's Breeder's Cup World Championships were drawn. A total of 172 horses were pre-entered, slightly down from 2012 and one less race carded (Breeder's Cup Juvenile Sprint). But, this year there is an upswing of pervious champions from the year before returning. Wise Dan (Mile), Fort Larned (Classic), Royal Delta (Distaff), Little Mike (Turf), Beholder (Juvenile Fillies), Groupie Doll (Filly & Mare Sprint), Trinniberg (Sprint), Mizdirection (Turf Sprint) and Flotilla (Juvenile Fillies Turf) are the nine 2012 winners pre-entered this year. It can be said that the "star power" will showcased this year at Santa Anita and the two day event looks better than ever!
Friday afternoon at 4:45pm eastern standard time, things get kicked off with the only non-million races of the 14 cup races, the Marathon at a mile and three quarters distance. I'd done very well in this race during it's short history and is a good money making way to kick off the championship races. The Breeder's Cup Juvenile Turf races are also carded with the Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile in between them. In this race, we have horses who didn't quite make the cut going the "classic" distance of a mile and a quarter. Graded stakes horses like; Alpha and Verrazano meet solid miler types like; Goldenecents, Fed Biz and Easter Gift. The highlight race on Friday evening is the Breeder's Cup Distaff with a short select field of just six runners. Five of these talented filly & mares can win this race. It's the second showdown between defending champion; Royal Delta and top three year old filly; Princess of Sylmar. This races begins a special Distaff / Classic double wager.
Saturday's races start with three filly and mare races. Some of the highlighted runners here are; Sweet Reason (Filly Juvenile) , The Fugue (Filly and Mare Turf) and Groupie Doll (F&M Sprint). The toughest race of the 14 over the two days, starts the Pick 6 with the Breeder's Cup Turf Sprint. The racing sequence this year is a bit juggled from previous years starting in the 8th race. The Juvenile and Turf have been moved backward earlier and the Sprint and Mile moved forward closer to the Classic. All the Juvenile runners from both days will be racing without lasix per Breeder's Cup anti-medication rules. The year's Turf edition has improved over the past few years and the Sprint is as wide open than ever. But, the final two races will showcase the big named marquee stars.
The defending Horse of the Year - Wise Dan seeks to defend his championship in the Turf Mile. With him in this race, it's opening act for the Breeder's Cup Classic that will be shown on NBC at 8pm. All the pervious 13 races will be on the NBC Sports Network. Here, 10 grade I or group I winners are assembled here with the defending champion; Fort Larned and runner-up; Mucho Macho Man, two Jockey Club Gold winners (Flat Out & Ron the Greek), a horse with a six race graded stake win streak (Game on Dude), a Belmont Stakes winner (Palace Malice) & Travers Stakes winner (Will Take Charge) entered. It will be interesting if Wise Dan wins the Mile again and Game on Dude wins the Classic, which runner has the inside track at this year's Horse of the Year honors. Next week, we look at the contenders and longshots with selections for both days races.

New York bred Showcase Day 2013 ....... and .50 cent triples debut!

Today is New York bred Showcase Day at Belmont Park , featuring seven state bred stakes highlighting two year olds, turf & dirt races sprinting and route distances. It's one of the biggest race cards on the NYRA circuit and great betting opportunities are abound. The first two stakes of the day are for the juveniles going seven furlongs. The Joseph A. Gimma Stakes (2nd) is wide open filly race with two maiden runners included in the seven horse field. My top selection is Daddy's Little Saint (#1) coming off a sharp closing victory going six panels here. The horse to beat is Miss Narcissist (#7) who went wire to wire in her second start at Saratoga late in the meet. My exotic and multi-race runners for the 2nd race are; Court Dancer (#6) & Champagne Ruby (#4). The Bertram F. Bongard Stakes (3rd) is the boy's counterpart and has a prohibited favorite in my top selection; Wired Bryan (#8) who is both a state bred stakes winner and the grade II winner of the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga . Empire Dreams (#6) is my second pick coming off a maiden victory here and gets lasix for the first time today. Exotic and multi-race runners for race 3rd; Sol the Freud (#5) & Sing the Dream (#3). The 4th race - Iroquois Stakes for filly & mares going seven furlongs, also has an odd-on favorite and my Best Bet of the day; Cluster of Stars (#5) who is undefeated in six starts and beat the brilliant Dance to Bristol in her last start versus open company. Willet (#6) seems to be her only competition here and is my second choice. Miss Valentine (#1) & Vicki's Dancer (#8) round out my exotic and multi-race runners in the 4th.

We jump ahead to the 8th race and the late pick four of stake races starting with the Ticonderoga Stakes on the grass for filly and mares. Top selection here is the far outside horse; Wholelottashakin (#10) who just missed in the John Hettinger Stakes here going slightly longer last time out. My close second pick is the rail horse; Effie Trinket (#1) who has been rock solid in all four turf starts this year. Exotic & multi-race runners for the 8th are; Inimitable Romanee (#3) & Mystic City (#8). We split the two rturf aces with the Hudson Handicap (9th) six furlongs on the dirt. Top selection here is B Shanny (#4) coming off a wire to wire victory at Finger Lakes in a overnight stakes sprint. Moonlight Song (#6) is my second selection and faces stakes competition for the first time after three solid races this year. The exotic and multi-race runners are; Night Maneuver (#2) & Mine Over Matter (#3).

The boys are on the weeds in the 10th race - Mohawk Stakes, maybe the widest open race of the seven stake card. I'll try to beat the speedy favorite here with the three year old facing older horses for the first time; Notacatbutallama (#11) trained by Todd Pletcher. For the runner-up spot, the consistent Lubash (#6) will be my pick. I'll be attempting to leave off totally King Kreesa (#8) off his last effort in the grade I - Hirsch Turf Classic in my exotic plays. I'll be using; Hear the Footsteps (#1) & Kharafa (#10). The Empire Classic (11th) is the feature race of the day and with another odd-on favorite and horse to beat in Readtheprospectus (#8) who has a seven race win streak leading into today's event. He gets my top pick here with a out of town longshot for second; Warrioroftheroses (#6) who just missed in a stake at Delaware Park last time out. My exotic and multi-race runners are; Saratoga Snacks (#7) & Awesome Vision (#4).

When the BC races, "jumped the shark"

We are three weeks away from thoroughbred racing's championship day; the Breeder's Cup. The event was created as a year-end championship day for thoroughbred racing, . The Breeders' Cup was founded in 1982 by pet food heir; John Gaines, a leading thoroughbred owner and breeder who wanted to clean up the sport's image. The intention was to gather the best horses in North America and Europe through nominations for seven grade I races. In 1984 was the inaugural running at Hollywood Park and the seven races were a staple from then until 1999 when the Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf was added. The total races remained at 8 until the event was split into two days in 2007 and the race total increased to 14. It was shortly after that when the Breeder's Cup would not only change, but would "jumped the shark" in my opinion.

Now for those who don't know the term; "jumped the shark", it comes for the 70's television show Happy Days. Coined by John Hien, it refers when television show begins a decline in quality. Then the writers use some type of "gimmick" in a desperate attempt to keep viewers' interest. The case in point, was when the Fonz water-skied over a shark tank. This was a idea to increase the show's dwindling ratings, which proved not good enough to bring back the show to it's formally high ratings. I believed in 2007, when the Breeder's Cup (now known as the Breeder's Cup World Championship races since 2002) was split into a two day event at Monmouth Park , the aura of this championship day would change forever!

First, the championships were run on two different days and nearly doubled to 14 races. That year was the first time in was at Monmouth Park and unfortunately both days were a complete wash out with heavy rains. It would also mark the last time that the Breeder's Cup would rotate from track to track, different each year. The past five years the races were only contested at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita Park. Then the days were split up by sexes with the filly and mares running on Friday and colts & geldings on Saturday. Throw in another race in 2011 to bring the total to 15 overall and change the name of the filly and mare dirt equivalent to the Classic, from the Distaff to "Ladies Classic" and you get ALL the makings of a championship that "jumped the shark."

Back in 1986; when I first played the championship, Capital OTB could only carry wagering on four of the seven races. Simulcast restrictions kept them from showing anymore. Once simulating regulations changed, more all the races were available. It was common knowledge that the event would be at a NYRA track on five year internals (1990, 1995, 2001 and 2005) but with the upheaval at NYRA the past decade, they were put out of the mix with being a site in the future. The other tracks beside Churchill Downs and Santa Anita were soon forgotten; Aqueduct only had it once in 1985, when Gulfstream was remodeled lost important seating, it was left out. Hollywood Park will close after this year and hasn't been there in years. Woodbine, Arlington Park, Lone Star Park & Monmouth were one shot deals. So we are left with only two sites from here on out.

To make things worst (in my opinion) the event will be held the next three straight years at Santa Anita Park. The modern Breeder's Cup World Championships is NOT what John Gaines envisioned over thirty years ago! Plus, too many races, do not always equal "championship" events. Two races for the Juveniles are enough, the filly sprint, marathon and dirt mile aren't really needed. But, most of all the original rotation of sites and tracks brought forward the sport to every racing venue. Don't get me wrong, I love the day...... just isn't as meaningful anymore, that's my opinion!

Two year old Stakes take front and center toward the Breeder's Cup

The action this weekend is of the two year old variety, with four stake races for both sexes on dirt & turf. We have grade I races at a mile, both preps for the Juvenile Breeder's Cup championship races and two grade III races on the "proper surface Sunday, also BC preps. Along with these four races, today is a three year old turf race that could have possibilities for either the turf mile or turf classic. It's interesting that many of the two year olds who did well at Saratoga and were most successful, did it on off-track surfaces. Last weekend Belmont Futurity winner; In Trouble never raced on a off-track and the same could be said for the Matron winner; Miss Behaviour. This along with today's dirt races being a one turn mile, may come into play.

In the Frizette Stakes (9th) for the fillies, seven are entered with the rail horse; Sweet Reason (#1) winning both her career starts on a sloppy sealed track. Along with Stopchargingmaria (#4) and Repecta (#7) they also showed good efforts on off-track surfaces. We have a filly trying "real" dirt for the first time in; Ria Antonia (#5) for a new trainer today and shipping down from Woodbine. And Triple Crown winning trainer; Michael Matz has longshot runner; Tea Time (#3) entered. But, my top two selections have shown talent at this distance and with big time in debut at the Spa. Artemis Agrotera (#2) is my top selection after her smashing debut versus statebred at Saratoga this summer. My second choice is; Divided Attention (#6) broke her maiden in last start going this distance over the track. My selections are: 2-6-4-5.

The Foxwoods Champagne (10th) has nine runners entered and I'll dismiss the following horses; Casiguapo (#1), Long On Value (#6), Grand Arrival (#8). With these three I factor in their off-track efforts. Debt Ceiling (#4) and Strong Impact (#7) are already graded stake winners, but once again tend to dismiss them because of their better efforts on sealed sloppy tracks. Ride on Curlin (#2) had a good effort in his last start going two turns at Churchill Downs in stakes action, but don't know much about his trainer and Intense Holiday (#9) has a win at this distance, but that was a maiden effort at Monmouth Park. My top selection is; Honor Code (#5) who's maiden breaker at Saratoga in the slop was an eye catching one. I mention him in my Saratoga wrap-up column and go back to the NYRA replays on August 31st in the 3rd race and you'll see what I mean. For second, I'll go with Havana (#3) who had an impressive debut victory at Saratoga sprinting. My selections are: 5-3-9-2.

On Sunday in the first stake; the Pilgrim (9th) at a mile and a sixteenth for the colts, Bobby's Kitten (#5) gets my top billing after quite a interesting maiden breaker in his second career start at Saratoga . He was collared in mid stretch and re-rallied to win. My runner-up selection is; Blue Pigeon (#7) trained by top turf conditioner Christophe Clement. He was totally over looked in his debut and scored at 21-1. My selections are: 5-7-4-9.

In the Ms Grillo Stakes (10th) the filly equivalent of the above race, my top selection is Testa Rossi (#8) first time stateside from Chad Brown, shipping in from France where she has won three straight grass races. For second, Granny Mc's Kitten won the PG Johnson Stakes at Saratoga with a impressive late close. My selections here are: 8-10-4-7.

Going back to Saturday's card real quick, in the Jamaica Handicap for three year old colts on the grass going a mile & a eighth, my top pick is my Travers selection; War Dancer (#2) who didn't care for the dirt, but excels on the weeds with a powerful late kick. In this wide open, great betting event, my second selection is the ever consistent, Balance the Books (#4). Notacatbutallama (#12) always gives his best on any surface, but gets killed from the far outside post. Stormy Len (#7) always figures too and doesn't have to carry his track by racing five different venues. The picks in the Jamaica Handicap are: 2/4 with 2/4 with 5/7/12.

Super Saturday 2013 @ Belmont Park!

The biggest racing day at Belmont Park is Super Saturday, a prelude of preps for the Breeder's Cup races on November 1st & 2nd. We have six graded stake races for both turf races going a distance of ground, the sprint and Breeder's Cup dirt mile and the Distaff & Classic. Even though this year's races are at Santa Anita Park, the east coast horses will play a vital role for the championship racing days.

The Beldame Invitational Stakes (5th) is at the Distaff distance of a mile & an eighth. It's a two horse showdown between the top three year old filly; Princess of Sylmar (#2) and the defending filly & mare champion; Royal Delta (#4). The big edge goes to the older of the two, Royal Delta on all fronts. She's been 1st or 2nd in 10 of her last 12 starts and has two wins & a second in three Belmont career starts. Princess of Sylmar could have raced last weekend at PARX in the Cotillion Stakes for straight three year old fillies. Here she faces older for the first time in her career and even tougher with Royal Delta in the field. My selections are: 4-2-6-5.

The Kelso Stakes (6th) is run at one mile and is a prep for the Breeder's Cup Dirt Mile. Formally ran on grass, horses who don't fit in the six furlong sprint or classic mile and a quarter distance fall in here. This marks the return of the Todd Pletcher trainee; Graydar (#2) who was last seen winning the New Orleans Handicap at the Fairgrounds on March 30th. After suffering a minor injury, he returns today at a distance he fits well at. But, I'm giving the edge to the Robert Lapenta entry of; Easter Gift & Jackson Bend (#1), with the Chad Brown runner showing two victories at a mile and his entry mate stretching out from sprint races. My selections are: 1-2-4.

The Vosburgh Stakes (7th) is the prep for the Breeder's Cup Sprint at the six furlong distance. Formally seven panels, this is now a turn back from the seven furlong Forego Stakes at Saratoga for older sprinters. A wide open event, I'm going with last year's winner of this event making his second start of a layoff and at a juicy 8-1 morning line odds; The Lumber Guy (#5) For second, I'll go to the far outside and California based shipper; Private Zone (#8) who is mighty quick and may lead them from the outside post. My selections: 5-8-2-1.

The first turf race is for filly & mares, the Flower Bowl Invitational (8th) at a mile and a quarter distance. These runners usually take turns beating each other and today should be no exception! With that said, my top selection is a runner who finally got her act together in her last start at Kentucky Downs, Mystical Star (#2). That victory was at a mile & five sixteenths in a field of 11 versus weaker competition though. Maybe that was the level she needed to get back on track. I'll use the entry for second; Tannery & Laughing (#1) with the filly facing boys in her last start finishing well and the mare on a three race win streak with last two coming wire to wire. My selections: 2-1-6.

The boys are next up in the Joe Hirsch Turf Invitational (9th) at the mile and half distance. There are seven betting interests with two entries and four grade I winners. But here I'm taking a shot with a runner who came off over a year layoff to win last time out at Saratoga . Slumber (#4) is now five years old and has a lot of gaps between starts. Trainer Bill Mott has thought enough of him to enter versus a tough group, so at the 6-1 morning line is worth a shot here! In the runner-up spot, the Ramsey entry of; Big Blue Kitten, Real Solution & Joe's Blazing Aaron (#2) look tough with the Sword Dancer & Arlington Million (placed first) winners. My selections: 4-2-1a-3.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup (10th) is the biggest prep race for the Breeder's Cup Classic in New York . Eight runners are assembled with six grade I winners. The battle comes down between the "old timer" Flat Out (#6) who has five victories at Belmont Park and is considered a "horse for the course"and the "new" face is Cross Traffic (#8) who came into his own last time out in the Whitney Handicap victory at the Spa. So guess what, I'm not selection either horse "on top". My top pick is the Kentucky Derby hero; Orb (#2) who faces older horses for the first time. In fact, my second selections isn't either the two horses I mention first. Palace Malice (#7) had a tough trip in the Travers Stakes and with a better getaway today, may set the perfect trip behind the speed entered here. My selections: 2-7-6-8.

The last BIG Derby of the season!

One of the biggest thoroughbred racing series of the year is the Road to the Triple from mid-February until the first Saturday in May. The next five week’s after that we have the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes which comprise the Triple Crown. These are the major races of three year old colts, geldings and sometimes fillies. The second season for the sophomore runners begins in late July, with the Haskell Invitational, Jim Dandy Stakes and Travers Stakes. In the past, the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs kicked off the final leg of three year old races within their own age group before facing older foes before the Breeder’s Cup. But now a new race has emerged as the final “big” three year old race before the fall championship series.

After being moved on the racing calendar from Labor Day to mid-September, the Pennsylvania Derby at PARX (formally Philadelphia racetrack) has emerged as the possibly “third leg” of the mid-summer three year old races. This year, we have a rematch of the top two finishers of this year’s Travers Stakes at Saratoga. But, before we discuss this year’s edition, I’ll look back at a little history of this mile and a eighth race in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Back in the day when I first started following thoroughbred racing in 1986, the Saratoga race meet ended in mid-August. Racing switched back to Belmont Park for the Labor Day weekend and on Labor Day, the biggest race at Philadelphia Park was run. In the 1986 edition, the race was run on a very sloppy track. The favorite that year was; Broad Brush, ridden by Angel Cordero Jr. During the running of the race, Broad Brush wasn’t handling the sloppy surface very well and bore out on the turn before the stretch. It looked like he was going to be beaten with this incident, but was righted by Cordero and won the race even with an eventful trip. I remember watching the race from the kitchen table with my dad in Fort Plain. I was never a big Broad Brush fan, but still was impressed that he won the race with a skillful ride from a Hall of Fame jockey. That was my first exposure to racing at Philadelphia Park and it was one I’ll never forget!

Today we have the aforementioned top two horses from this year’s Mid-Summer’s Derby; the Travers in Will Take Charge and Moreno. Both were longshots in this year’s running and surprising to me that they finished one/two. They have returned here as the “rematch” of three year olds that lay claim to possible year end honors in the sophomore division. Standing in the way of that “chance” are six other runners including an entry that they faced last time out and four other “new” shooters. Even though Todd Pletcher doesn’t have either Verrazano or Palace Malice entered here, he has longshot; Battier who is winless since switched to his barn, but has raced well over the PARX surface (5-3/1/1), Speak Logistics who was 2nd in the Smarty Jones Stakes here that was a prep for this race and Java’s War, a “stone cold” closer and now trained by Barclay Tagg.

My selections for this race will be the Godolphin stable entry of; Transparent & Romansh (#1). Transparent showed nothing in the Travers after being the “wise guy” horse and Romansh (who was a separate betting interest in the Travers) weakened late. I love their 8-1 morning line odds and will showed an improvement at a price today. For second, I’ll go with the Travers winner; Will Take Charge (#7) and his late closing kick. He’s been an honest runner all season long, but you’ll take a hit on his odds and price today! For show, I’m going with a bit of a longshot in; Fury Kapcori (#6) who has race exclusively on polytrack in California and only one “real” dirt try, a victory at the Fresno state fair circuit nearly a year ago. I’ll not be using the Travers runner-up; Moreno at all in any of my plays. I’ll reserve judgment on his trainer’s accusations about the Travers running and Will Take Charge's jockey……unless he wins today!

SARATOGA 2013 - wrap up

Last week we discussed the reasons why I don’t think expanding the Saratoga race meet was a good idea. This week we’ll look back at the highlights, the “good” things that transpired during this historic 150th meet season. We got to see the racing future with a whole lot of two year old events during the 40 day meet. A talented group of young juvenile runners were showcased throughout the meet. New trainer; Michael Dilger presented us with Wired Bryan, who won the Sanford Stakes and was a very game 2nd in the Saratoga Special. Todd Pletcher was loaded for bear with all his young runners during the meet, but it took his mentor; D. Wayne Lukas to make a quiet meet with victories versus starters a big upset victory in the slop on closing day in the Hopeful Stakes with Strong Mandate. The two year old fillies were quite eventful with the Schuylerville Stakes having a dead-heat result, an upset in the Adirondack Stakes by a Kentucky Derby winning trainer and a “slop” loving victory in the Spinaway Stakes for Leah Gyarmati and Sweet Reason. But, the biggest effort by far from any two year old runner this past Saratoga meet was from this year’s Kentucky Derby winning trainer.

On the final Saturday of the meet, on a very sloppy track there was quite an impressive winning effort by a son of AP Indy. In a maiden special race, Honor Code broke well, but settled in the back of the pack far from the leaders. Actually, losing touch with the field and in dead last place. He rallied up the rail in the stretch and drew off to win, much the best. Quite an effort first time out from a trainer who usually doesn’t have them really “cranked” in their debut. Even more impressive is that this colt’s first start was at seven furlongs, a very tough distance to debut at. I predicted after the lack of juvenile races downstate that there would be an overabundance of baby races carded at the Spa.

We were very fortunate to see several champions from last year and would-be champions for this coming year. Horse of the Year; Wise Dan continued his quest for back-to-back titles with a victory on the grass here. Last year’s Breeder’s Cup Classic champion and Whitney 2012 winner; Fort Larned was on the other hand, unsuccessful with a dull effort in the Whitney Stakes and late scratch from the Woodward. The Breeder’s Cup “Ladies” champion; Royal Delta continued her march toward defending her championship with an easy win in the Personal Ensign Stakes. New stars like; Cross Traffic, Dance to Bristol and Kentucky Derby champion; Orb all look to lay claim to year end honors and all but the this year’s Kentucky Derby champion were successful.

In the “human” category, the usual suspects dominated the 2013 Spa scene. Trainers, Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown were one / two in the standings. The jockey race was a runaway with Javier Castellano out distancing John Velazquez and Joel Rosario who had a really good meet until he was injured. But, it was two very visible gentlemen who were the talk of this year’s meet. The very flamboyant Ken Ramsey won his first Saratoga owners title and all but locked up year-end honors of top owner of the year and the seventy eight year old, Hall of Fame trainer; D. Wayne Lukas only winning a hand full of races. But made it count when he won two of the biggest, in the Travers Stakes with Will Take Charge and Hopeful Stakes with Strong Mandate.

The “highlights” for myself was the victory of my racing partnership; Dee Tee Stables had with My Pal of Pals. It was great to have yet another winner’s circle photo at the Spa and to be in person there to witness it and have my picture taken. My WCSS “Play of the Day” wager garnering $250 in winnings for the flood victims of my hometown of Fort Plain, N.Y. and once again this year reaching 100 total winners from the 420 races run at Saratoga with R.O.I return of $710 for those winning picks (5-2 average odds). Never got on track with my own “personal” bankroll, but had a lot of fun spite that! Now, if we could cut back just a little with the amount of races and win a little bit more money, things would be perfect!