Benny was retired???

His ears must have been ringing as we communicated about Fabulous Strike.

WOW !!!

Such a shame.

He was tremendous and was surely the top contender.

What he did in Dubai was awesome.

With Benny the Bull and Elite Squadron being retired along with Midnight Lute's poor performance at Del Mar, I've got to give the upper hand to Street Boss since he is a California horse and has run exclusively on synthetics. While Bustin Stones, Lucky Island, J Be K and Fablous Strike's chances of winning go up and how bout' some love for Abraaj and Visionaire.

Bustin Stones is going to give a good run.

Loved to watch Benny run; he was all heart.  It was such a shock to read about his injury and retirement.  Going to miss him.  He was special.  Sincerely hoping that Midnight Lute needed a race and will make a comeback. May he please not go the way of Declan's Moon.

Jason... I am not so sure about that. I think Visionaire has found his calling.  There are lots of good speed horses out there but to close like that after going "10 wide" on the turn you have to think Visionaire may be the real deal. He may be the one to beat in the Breeders Cup Sprint.

Jason,

Please correct me if I am mistaken.

Not sure if it was in an article online or if Randy mentioned it on TV Sunday.

Did Bob say he would run Midnight Lute in the Vosburgh if he had a poor showing?

If so, that should be quite a nice race.

The front running Fabulous Strike setting the track on fire and the defending champion Midnight Lute closing strong in the final yards.

Perhaps that race will be the 'East-Coast' version of the BC Sprint.

Fabulous Strike has had bad luck: heat stroke, lung infection, foot bruise and the layoff time from each infirmity.

The Vosburgh is not exactly an easy spot for a first race back.

And, although, I believe he IS the fastest (when healthy) who knows how he'll take to the synthetic?

His running style may be his undoing on the multiple artificial, yet-to-be-tested Santa Anita track.

Let's just hope everybody stays healthy from here on out and we get the best field possible.

Midnight Lute tore a quarter in the race. In all likelihood it affected his ability to run, hence his poor showing.

Lute had won on the synthetic before, too.

The only thing I'm looking forward to now is the Distaff-oh, excuse me, the "Ladies' Classic".

I don't think we need to give up on Lute. It was his first race back since last year and he was boxed in all the way around the track. I do agree with Dray in that Visionaire has found his calling going short, but how short. I'm not sure how long the BC sprint is 6 or 7 furlongs? I think 6 furlongs might be too short for him. Anyway, look forward to Lute redeeming himself the next time he runs and maybe we'll get some decent odds this time.

No way Visionaire ever wins a graded stakes at 6f...you heard it here first.  

Benny will be greatly missed by me. He was sucha class act,and was so true. I will miss seeing that funny little how run. Right now I'm having to go with Street Boss though,with Benny gone.

No way huh Art ? Wow... I feel better now that you told me.  Visionaire won that race with ease and did not need all 7 furlongs to do it. I doubt he will need to go 10 wide ever again. He just won a Graded Stakes at 7 furlongs I doubt 6 is impossible.

You forgot about In Summation.  He's a synthetic specialist and 6 furlongs is no problem for him.  Some speed in front of him and he can be dangerous.

Pollas:

Thanks for reminding me of In Summation, I completely forgot about him.

Hey, does anyone know what happened to Idiot Proof or Talent Search because I haven't seen them for a while.

HEY ART:

YOU HAVE YOUR OPINION,I HAVE MINE REGARDING VISIONAIRE.i THINK HE'S THE REAL DEAL,PERIOD!!!!

After watching the King's Bishop time and time again it appears that Robby was laying into the whip pretty hard to get Visionaire moving. I'm not going to say he cant win at 6 furlongs. He may need to know its time to move at the turn at this new distance. Visionaire has a ton of class, and Art I think you've gone too far out on a limb to say he can't win a graded stakes going 6.

I was not surprised at all about Benny. A red flag was up after the extremely slow time at CRC-other heats went faster than his.  Street boss is a prohibitive favorite in my eyes. Year in and Year out West coast sprinters are superior to east coast animals. Now they have even more of an advantage racing on synthetic. No brainer here. In summation has a shot also.

I'm still hoping for a resurgence in Midnight Lute.  He seemed to have starting gate issues this weekend.  Maybe they need to build him his very own starting stall so he doesn't get "squished in there like a sausage" as Baffert said.  If Lute isn't up to par, I'll take Indian Blessing against the boys.

Visionaire, the BC Sprint or the BC Mile? Talk amongst yourselves.

In other news, I'm back at the Spa tomorrow to close out the meet and hopefully (hah!) have a joyous reunion with the big whack of cash I left behind on Travers Day.

Slambino be damned! I'm still a Pyromaniac!

Sprint races are a joke.  I will tell you all why.  A good classic horse can shorten up on distance and kill a sprinter going 6 to 7 furlongs.  For example Forego killed Mr. Prospector, Precisionist, Gulch, Dancing Spree, cut back on distance and desroyed all sprinters.  Ferdinand and Rock Hard ten when shortened up on distance, destroyed their sprinting opposition. Or more recently the brilliant Congaree,  who would go short after winning a mile and a quarter and destroy the likes of Aldebaran.  Just this past weekend Visionaire proved me right once again.  Sprinters are a joke, and will never beat a good classic horse at any distance from 6 furlongs on up.

It's likely that Lewis Michael will opt for the Sprint versus the Dirt (Synthetic) Mile...even though he will, most assuredly, be cross pre-entered in both events. The 325 foot short run into the first turn of the Mile limits the number of starters to twelve. Even the most sporting could be prevented from risking an outside draw if other options are at hand. It is also predictably probable that Lewis has not yet run his very best race. The Midnight Lute camp likened their steed to Olympic sprint specialist Usain Bolt. But the real thunder took the gold in the Pat O'Brien Hcp.-G3. His trainer, WMC, should not be underestimated solely because of his Midwest lodgings. Should Catalano have this horse as "good as hands could make 'em" on 10/25, the fire he breathes could burn the mutuel tickets of the punters that wager against him.

Draynay, when you've followed this sport as much as I have, you'll learn to tell the difference between a true sprinter and a talented cut-back miler.  Visionaire is definitely the latter, and his trainer has also stated that publicly.  

Now that the competition is beginning to thin out in the sprint ranks maybe they will move Big Brown there. The thinner it gets the more likely they will follow their pattern of looking for the easiest race with little competition. He'd fit well there.

Take note... Visonaire ran on  the Poly at Keenland in the Gotham.  Again he had to go 10 wide and did close on the winners finishing a respectable 5th.  I think he will take to the surface at Santa Anita and could be the sprint favorite.

Draynay; the Gotham is staged at Aquaduct in New York on dirt no less..Street Boss IS the Real Deal!

I believe Dray means the Blue Grass

Regarding Visionaire, he beat elders in a race before the King's Bishop.  I can't recall the distance of the race.  Anybody else know?

BlueGrass is right ... thanks Teaser

Pollas... Visionaire beat Knights Cross and Out of Gwedda in the slop at Saratoga at 6 1/2 furlongs right before the KingsBishop.

Here is the question.... if he wins the Breeders Cup Sprint does he win Sprint Champion of the Year ? Winning the King and the Cup should do it for him right ?

Hey Art: I don't care what his trainer said. If trainers knew everything they would be rich... they have a hard time picking winners too.

Visionaire just won the Kings Bishop and won it with ease.  Should he win the Breeders Cup Sprint what will you say then ? Bet against him at your own risk.

Two words: Kodiak Kowboy

Fabulous Strike was recently moved out of his Penn National barn due to the failing surface, which a crack BloodHorse reporter, some guy named Jason Shandler, writes elsewhere today, has resulted in 14 catastrophic breakdowns at Penn National in just the past 22 days, commencing August 7th. The PA HBPA offered to make a substantial contribution towards installation of the proven Tapeta synthetic surface, but the all-knowing management team at Penn National, who probably understand slots better than horses and racing, turned the offer down sans comment. Makes you want to move back to Maryland, where the industry is dying (if not dead) and you have to put up with Frank Stronach and his revolving merry-go-round non-management style of the Magna Entertainment crowd, but at least the horses are not dropping like flies on the tracks.

Dray, you're obviously new to racing.  It's quite alright - you'll learn.  

Just been reading for a while, I don't know what the deal was with Lute, seems like he's going thru similar drama that the coach he's named for has been dealing with.

As far as Draynay, I think you preached that same story about the trainer not knowing what's up. I just have a couple questions. Do you think these horses train themselves? Who do you think has insight into what the horses do and who do you think has input into where they run if not the trainer?

Street Boss or Silky Sullivan.  The Ancient Title is the next stop for this crack sprinter.  He owns the Southern California tracks and has a knack for overcoming troubled trips.  Trips much like the BC Sprint/Rodeo.  

Right on Draynay, I think Visionaire is a one turn horse regardless of sprint distance, yet I think his turn of foot is not as quick as Street Boss's, who is flying somewhat under the radar and ran his best race at Santa Anita.....also Abraaj definitely contends for it all--three closers, it's a trip race!! I never thought Benny The Bull would beat Street Boss but agree, Visionaire looks real live in the Sprint....

Tropic Storm although he hasn't done much yet, is just coming into his own and I think that maybe he could become a force to be recken with come sprint time.

Also, I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Forego winner First Defence as a top sprinter, I mean he already won a G1 and who cares it was a race without Benny the Bull, he still won.

JordanA let me tell you something... I think many trainers have NO IDEA what they are talking about! Let me give a example... all week Mr. McLaughlin has been saying Lucky Island was the one to beat... and "he" was the one to fear. To tell you the truth I thought he was nuts and I threw Lucky Island out because I didn't think he would hit the board I had my money on a very good First Defence and Ferocious Fires in my Exacta.  Now who new more me or McLaughlin?  McLaughlin may know horses but he is no Handicapper if he is ask him how much money he had on Lucky Island to win...

I had Ferocious Fires in the Forego

and I've never seen a more terrible ride than what I saw. The horse broke great and Cornelio Velasquez started pulling him up immmediately. You can't see this on the replay but at the simulcast you get a bird's eye view. He kept battling this horse all the way around the turn, standing up on him and yanking him to the inside when the outside was open. The horse was full of run but the jock wouldn't let him go. At the eighth pole he finally laid the whip to him and hung on to finish a game third. If I was the trainer I wouldn't let this jock back on my horses.

Many thanks, Jason-- appreciate your efforts in following up one what seems to border on criminal neglect at Penn National. A friend of mine had to retire a filly based up there earlier this year-- just could not keep her ligaments/soft tissue sound--the surface was looking poor even then, and that was back in the Spring-- guess this is what happens when you get slotters running a race track as a side-line business?

Well, Visionaire isn't heading for the Sprint.  Won't even be at the Cup.  Too bad the Great Draynay isnt training LOL

Well people here's another example of the connections doing the right thing by the horse. Visionaire is not BC Sprint bound. Despite the arm chair trainers saying otherwise, these guys figured out he's a one turn miler. Good for them. I hope to see him run this fall and into next year.