Well said, Jason. The one thing you missed regarding what the synthetic detractors complained about early on was that those surfaces were going to screw up the times by being MUCH slower. MAYBE Friday and Saturday have proven THAT theory closely resembles that stuff that gets cleaned out of a horse's stall????

And, of course, you are correct that the safety of the horses, and their jockeys, over these surfaces was proven this weekend, as well. I'm not crazy enough to say there will be no breakdowns on this stuff, but I AM heartened that the numbers of catastrophic breakdowns will PROBABLY be greatly reduced. IT'S ABOUT TIME SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAME ALONG.

The "Ladies' Day" thing still sticks in my craw; if it's going to be a Ladies' Day, then let the women in for free!

And, finally, ZENYATTA IS THE HORSE OF THE YEAR! NO QUESTION!!

Great weekend of racing....... safe for all, exciting, amazing finishes, marvelous horses, talented jockeys, visions of future champions, farewells to some old timers, and the most interesting configuration of a sprint race I've EVER seen!!

Cheers to all.

I love Zenyatta and Stardom Bound!  I also had Desert Code/Diabolical and I wanted Curlin to win very much!

Not sure how you can say the surface "played fair" though when not a single "dirt only" horse won yesterday and I don't think there were any on Friday either.  The only winners were grass horses and horses that are accustomed to running on the surface. That was expected and was the reason why so many horses came from Europe to begin with.  I love the international competition but not at the expense of our dirt horses - that's why there are turf races offered also.  I am not yet a synthetic fan since they are not yet proven - note the 8 breakdowns at Del Mar and the 4 breakdowns the first week at Oak Tree - but NO breakdowns at Saratoga or Belmont's recent meets.  I loved the filly/mare championship day though I wish it had been Sat/Sun but I guess football probably hinders that.  The only people I heard complain about "filly Friday" were women who want equal rights for the horses too evidently which I thought was absolute silliness (and yes I am a woman too).

Curlin shouldn't be horse of the year this year - he was beaten by some of the best in the world on a surface he didn't like, and in any other year he might still be able to get HoY with the wins he had.  But it's not any other year, it's Zenyatta's year.  A filly that has beaten EVERYTHING in her path with the utmost ease, grace, and class, showed up on the day she was supposed to show up, and did what she had to do.  Curlin was beaten by a 3YO, last year was beaten by a filly.  He has NOT had a hard, tough campaign, he's been managed SO carefully, spotted SO carefully so he wouldn't have to face some of the big horses, and I'm sorry. But if some of your wins you have to be all out to beat an allowance horse  in Past the Point and you can only beat Wanderin Boy by a half to 3/4 of a length, and Zenyatta has done absolutely NOTHING wrong?  Zenyatta should have this by a LANDSLIDE.

Well Jason, I ignored the surface and handicapped the pro-ride races as according to "dirt calculations" to my shame.  Only the F&M sprint(Ventura-Indian Blessing) and the "Distaff"(Zenyatta)obliged.  I agree with Trainer Steve Asmussen that the surface played like Turf (no malice intended).  Curlin should be untouchable for Horse of the Year since he "danced every dance" with distinction and lost the Classic after a long hard campaign including the trip to Dubai.  Considering how the surface played it is a pity that Big Brown did not make the race.  Being four or five lengths better than Colnel John would have put him in contention no doubt and given the 3-y-os a clean sweep.

Like you I hope that Zenyatta takes on the colts next year perhaps beginning with the Dubai World Cup.  I cant see her eclipsing Curlin for the HOY title.  That would be a grave injustice.  

I guess that the floodgates have been opened now for the Europeans to invade the Breeder's Cup next year.  We might see the return of the best of the French runners (remember Arcangues).

It was a great day of racing! I pulled for Curlin in the Classic but the Europeans had their game face on. the way i figure it though, is that if this race was on dirt it would have been a different outcome but a champion needs to run on all surfaces. He still is my guy but Ravens Pass is phenomenal. Americans need to breed more stayers for synthetic surfaces. Great Job Breeders Cup!!!

Jason:

We are a non-racing experienced Canadian family, but fans of Curlin. In our opinion, his performance yesterday did not diminish our favourable opinion of this phenomenal athlete. We thank Jess Jackson, Steve Asmussen and Curlin himself, for giving all of us the opportunity to witness such a champion. He may not be perfect, but he is STILL a champion in our eyes. I'm sure that his connections knew that they were taking a tremendous risk by running him on the Pro-Ride surface. However, you have to give all of them kudos for allowing him to run for all of his fans. We wish him well in the future...Go Curlin!

I feel sad today because our much "needed" HERO CURLIN failed to be his best on Sat.I'm sorry he didn't take to the Pro-Ride as well as the turf lovers.

I want to send a public message to Mr. Jess Jackson: YOU DID THE RIGHT THING by running him in the classic, you showed everyone that you would try!!! Thank you for running him in his 4 year old season. The ride was unbelievable!!!What ever you decide to do now will be fine with me. Curlin is a fabulous horse and will be remembered accordingly.

God Speed my beautiful CURLIN!!!

Does anybody wonder what Big Brown would have done on that track? Maybe have been a monster.  

Well, a couple of days of some really good racing. People who've been making a big deal about the Europeans winning because of the surface must have forgotten about Friday's races. The lessons learned this year should make for better races next year. It looks like artificial is here to stay and horses should be trained for it. And you're right about Curlin - he is a very good horse, but he hasn't looked at his best since he got back from Dubai. Zenyatta's win was amazing and if she doesn't win HOY, it will be for two reasons: an anti-artificial bias and/or a sexist bias. She has done everything asked of her and more.

Great two days of racing. I enjoyed most every minute.

Curlin is still great and gets my vote.

Hey Jason, Great analysis of this weekends races and previous BC blogs. At first, I was against the Ladies Day concept, even though according to Peter Land, that wasn't their intent (Anyway)... but I got to say by attending and seeing the quality of horses that showed up, they really held their own against Saturday's races. Very impressed by all the winners, although personally I thought E. Prado could've relaxed Laragh a lot better than that 45 n' change clip he threw up. The only negative with Friday's races is that it's on Friday during the day. I had to take off work to get to the races. Even though it was way worth it, it's still inconveniant. How about this idea. Santa Anita installing some lights and running ladies day under the lights in Prime time? I know that everyone's talking about how that wouldn't work with the difference in time zones with the east coast but Zenyatta really should've been advertised as much or even  more for that matter as with Curlin. She delivered and he didn't. And the nation loves the "Battle of the Sexes" concept or that women can perform at the same level as men and within a sporting event, we can really only see that with race horses (Goldikova). I'd say a 430 post time would work well with everyone. First BC  race @ 6..... So Bring it on and lets get the lights and have Chris Berman host the BC in "Primetime"! Also, one last note, can we kill the camera angles that ABC and ESPN had? I was watching these horses at as bad as an angle as you would watchinig horses cross the finish line while standing at the 1/16th pole wondering where my horse placed! Keep it simple boys or just take some notes on how Japan, HK, and Austrailia film their races. And lets get rid of these crappy personalities on ABC and ESPN sans Kenny Mayne and the Hammer. Lets bring that crazy british guy every now and then and mix in the TVG & HRTV personalities to handle the Breeders Cup. These guys they have now are horrible! Or throw some other well known perosonalities that ESPN employs to shake things up a bit (Chris Berman or Trey Wingo). The only time I had it on ESPN was when the race went off and had it on TVG for the analysis. I could go on n on but its Sunday Football so I gotta jet. btw, I'm glad the BC is looking into sponsors to cover the shipping cost for BC participants. If they can pull this off, the pre-entries mark will be shattered for next year! And guys get ready, next year, there's going to be a HUGE European invasion for next years' BC after what happened this year. Gotta love the Pro-Ride... it played very fair. Sheeh, can I sit down with Peter Land and tell him my thoughts on advertising the BC! lol. If anyone knows how to get in touch with him, I would appreciate it,

Alex (The Rock)

This was a very good year. I hope that Stardom Bound, who is reported to be in one of the breeders sales next month, winds up in the right hands and is not shipped off to Dubai or Japan. I hope she's able to stay here, as she's something special.

Would it not be neat to see her and Zenyatta face off in next year's Ladies Classic? (should Zenyatta stay in training). Midnight Lute is a superstar and I have heard that they are going to retire him. We will not see the likes of him for a long time. One in a million.

Although he didn't show up on Saturday, I hope Darley's connections keep Pyro in training as they have the final say on whether not he will race or retire.

And being Canadian, I was extremely thrilled with Sealy Hill's second place run in the Filly & Mare Turf. No one was going to deny Forever Together, but Sealy ran beautifully.

All in all, very exciting two days of racing.

I, too, enjoyed both Breeder's Cup days. I thank God that there were no injuries - no breakdowns. I cannot understand horsemen who decry a racing surface that keeps their horses alive. I believe that Barbaro's an Eight Belle's connections would be thankful if they still had their beloved horses alive and well and they wouldn't be carping about the track. I think Zenyatta is deserving to be named Horse of the Year. She danced every dance. I do not understand why some find it necessary for a filly to win against males in order to win this award. Rags to Riches defeated Curlin in a grueling mile and a half race and even that wasn't good enough to get her the title. There is a definite bias against females when voting for HOY. Females must win against males. What, then, must males win against to prove themselves superior? Other males? The most deserving horse should win, period, not the flashiest one, the most popular one, or the one who gets the best reviews by biased racing reporters. Zenyatta has done nothing wrong during her whole racing career. If it was that easy for a filly to win all the time against other fillies, there would be many more like her. It is time for those who vote for the Eclipse awards to change their biased way of thinking and vote based on accomplishments, not on personal sentiment. Our fillies give every bit as much as our colts, maybe even more. I am tired of hearing them dismissed because they are "just fillies."

And we thought the original "British Invasion" was amazing!  That one gave us the Beatles.  This one gave us Raven's Pass, Henry The Navigator, etc.   Wait until next year when they really come in force. This could be really interesting.  John Gosden is remembered as the trainer of Bates Motel - one of the best handicap horses of his time.  He deserves our congratulations.

I thought Richard Migliori ran his usual fine race, getting the longest shot in the Breeders' Cup, Desert Code, to collar Diabolical. The Turf Sprint was sure fun to watch. They were really flying!

The best performance I saw during the two days was certainly Goldikova, who just blew everybody's socks off with that incredible acceleration of hers.

Midnight Lute was also remarkable, and he won the Sprint in pretty much the same way that he did last year. I was actually rooting for Fatal Bullet who ran his heart out! Midnight Lute will be retired , but I think we'll be hearing a lot more from Fatal Bullet. He put in a great effort.

The Classic left me with mixed emotions. It's sad that Curlin didn't do well, he's such a wonderful horse and a true champion. I commend him and his connections for dancing every dance, not ducking anybody--or any surface--for having the guts to experiment and take risks, even when they didn't pay off. I have nothing but affection for this  courageous and beautiful horse, and gratitude for his very sporting owner.

Kudos to Raven's Pass and Henrythenavigator, for a job well done in the Classic.

I'm surprised at Casino Drive's poor performance.

Thankfully there were no breakdowns, although I had heard on another forum that Casino Drive was vanned off after the race. Do you have any information about this? Is he OK?

Just to point out, Curlin hasn't really ever lost a race against a lucky horse. Street Sense, Hard Spun, and Any Given Saturday were all very talented. Red Rocks was a BC turf winner and Raven's Pass, Henrythenavigator, and Tiago all tear up the track on there right days. He's a champ and I still give him Horse of the year. Zenyatta should get a new award. Biggest and freakiest horse of the year. Hat's off to all the winners.

I think Curlin has nothing left to prove. He has shown grit, class and heart. What more can a horse do? Zenyatta is great but I would not put her up there with Curlin. I think he still desreves to be Horse of the YEar.

I am a long time racing fan, who loves the sport and particularly the horses.  I must also add that I am not a gambler.  I attend the races for the competition and the grace, bravery, and character of the animals and most of the people involved.

I hate to be negative also, BUT -- the Pro-ride Breeders Cup was a disgrace to the traditions of American racing.  

I will readily accept Curlin getting beat -- Tiago clearly beat him, and could very well have beaten him at Churchill Downs, Belmont, or Saratoga.  However, the other two horses who finished in front of him would not even have been entered had it not been for Pro-ride.  That seems to be a "bias" in and of itself.

What we will do, if we insist on one more year of Breeders Cup at Pro-ride Santa Anita, is yield the most important day of racing to Dubai, where they at least can guarantee that all horses will have an even chance of performing to their best capabilities.

Horses breaking down is the most grotesque and unaccetable aspect of ANY sport. However, I do not buy into the "safety" argument for synthetic tracks, as most horsemen agree that a good, well-maintained dirt track is as safe as any synthetic, and safer than a poorly maintained synthetic.

The only positives I see from this year's Breeders Cup were Zenyatta, and (again I don't want to sound negative, but I believe most will understand this sentiment) Richard Dutrow got beat!

As Randy Moss said after the race, Curlin's performance does not diminish his accomplishments at all.  What was diminished, in my view, was the Breeders Cup itself.

I agree: It's sad to see Curlin finish fourth, but his close Jockey Club win may have said something.  That trip to Dubai really wears a horse down, and victory-Curlin, Pleasantly Perfect and Cigar-may cost a Breeders' Cup win later in the season.  Still, from the triple crown preps on, his has been a great story.  And hats off to Baffert/Midnight Lute, a real thriller.  But it begs the question:  is one win/two starts deserving of a championship?  Just putting that out there.  

Midnight Lute's run was awesome. Wtg, Baffert. Goldikova is incredible. Please let her stay in training (but she should NOT get grass mare of the year off one race). Btw, I guess Dutrow's 2007 Breeders Cup winner Kip Deville really wasn't that good since he got beat by a girl and all.

i think zenyatta would have put it up to ravens pass in the classic

All I can say is WOW!

This Breeder's Cup was the most unpredictable two race days that I have ever attended. As a race fan, I want to gratefully acknowledge everyone who raced. Your dedication to the sport must be commended. No one knew how the synthetic track would play out, but I think it gave everyone a fair chance to shine.

And to everyone who came to California from afar, thank you, what a treat to see all of you! I enjoyed talking to so many who came from across the continents. It was very refreshing to have all of the top-notch horsemen and racing aficionados there.

See you next year!

Even though Curlin didn't win, he was magnificant! Thank you, Mr. Jackson. I will always remember this Breeder's Cup and the emotional drama, even though it was so disappointing.

Wouldn't it be something to have offspring from Curlin and Zenyatta?

Well, I went back and read your posts before the Breeders Cup and you called it when you said Raven's Pass was the one you thought had a real chance to beat Curlin et.al. I would still give Curlin my vote for Horse Of The Year hands down. He beat some very tough competition out there, in some very tough Grade 1 stakes. Although Zenyatta is right up there, I think Curlin deserves it more because of what he has been up against and because he travelled here, there and everywhere to compete. Plus, this guy has raced pehnomenally for 2 years in a row. That should count for something. I agree with you his last two competitions prior to the Breeders Cup showed he was slowing down. I wish BB had been able to compete. Although he may not have won, he was good on turf and that might have bode well for a good finish on the Pro-ride.

CD was a HUGE disappointment for  me.  I just cant believe they put him to the front like that.  Watching him die off so fast the way he did was totally unexpected from my point of view.  I could deal with 5 or 6 position but last was just a mind blower.

I won with Conduit-Midnight Lute-Goldikova-Midshipman-Zenyatta and Stardom Bound, which helped me on the CD loss.

Overall the Euro's came and took names and kicked A*&!

I was also glad not to see any negativity on the Pro-Ride as well.

Bob said that half of Midnight Lute's foot was torn off at Del Mar, the horse has guts and so does Bob.

After the first race then

we decided to go a different direction stop handicapping and bet on Euros and hunches and of course the Brad method. He usually bets with his heart and it was with Coach Olson and Arizona so we had a gimmick, not much skill involved. WE had Desert Code and Diabolical both. Then We decided to go with Midnight Lute and Fatal Bullet, another Olson connection. Midshipman, Bob went to UA. Had Goldikove that was Brad's pick, he put it on the Friday Picks because he was out of it trying to find out about the rumors, wasn't she little and what a kick. We finally figured out that the Euros were the force to be reckoned with and went with Raven's Pass, Henry, The Duke and Tiago in our Trifecta, had a few on that and across the board. Missed the darn super we left Curlin off completely who would've thought 10 g's on a $ All in all a good betting day. Friday was just too chalky we threw some longshots in but bet very little on Zenyatta's race or Stardome Bound's race, just a small wager.

We actually had more fun once we decided to stay down from our box. It was okay, but lot's of complaints about ticket prices and the track being hot. If something doesn't change by next year I think the Euro's/UAE will win even more than this year. That and the Cal horses who run on nothing but out here. Should've known Vlad would get Albertus Maximus there, good for you Jason.

JSHANDLER: Atleast you were nice enough not to rub the CD loss in REAL BAD.

I just want to add real quick that I still expect great things from CD and I feel alot like the Curlin fans right now.  Just because the horse lost doesnt mean that he isnt a good horse.  

Also I wanted to say that STARDOM BOUND was my highlight for the two day event, she ran an absolutely stunning race.  When it came her time to move she found a whole new gear and just impressed the heck outta me!  Flawless race from her-loved it...... For all of those that missed it, you got to check it out.

Just a simple thanks to Mr. Jackson.

I hope you are right, Jason, in that we have not seen the last of Curlin.

- Paul

First of all i think ravens pass was terrific in the BBC and Frankie did an absolutly fantasic job. Jason i don't think it was the surface so much as the jockey that did curlin in. In my thought i think RA moved curlin way to soon and way to fast. I would think running that fast while turning and going that wide takes a lot more than if you were going straight. Curlin made up eight to ten lengths on the turn moving like a bullet. Don't you think if Robby had waited until the top of the stretch to unleash that onslaught that curlin might have won? In a turf race isn't the rule wait wait wait count to three then go. Robby did niether, Franki did a masterful job and did both and won. In turf racing the horse that normally wins is the one who closes fastest, not the one with the first move. Robby has been doing that a lot lately, when in my oppinion he should've had curlin laying closer to the lead in his last two races. He did it in Dubia and blew them away, why should't he have been able to race that style and win again? Your thoughts and oppinion would be greatly appriated.

50,000 people showed up in the last two hours to watch the races. Did anyone but me notice until around the classic the stands were mostly empty and the grounds as well? I enjoy horse racing everyday of the week, not just championships. But I was disappointed with the synthetic track and I am sick of columnists trying to say Curlin had no excuse. Sorry, there was bias towards the turf horses and those that had won on synthetics. You cant say there wasnt. Lets see next year which of the top juveniles in the BC do well in the Derby preps on dirt and the Derby itself.

As an owner and fan Im totally annoyed with people who think this was a successful BC. You have to be kidding yourselves.

I could not begin to whittle the turf sprint, so I bought the whole field in a pick 3....singled Maximus and took Goldikove and Kippy....almost $2400.  After much painful experience in the BC, I've learned that Pick 3s are the only way to go.

I liked the Juvenile, because I was at the Del Mar Futurity and bet Midshipman to win on a whim (or was it a hunch?). When he did it by a nose he got me as a fan! In the Juvenile I was rooting for him all the way but I was worried by his leading most of the way around. He held on and brought it home. Way to go!

I just don't see how you can say there was no bias.

Except for the juvenile, how many horses in the top four positions after the first quarter ended up in the money?

I don't want to go as far as to say the Pro-Ride played like turf, but (as John Gosden said) it definitely favored horses with a strong closing kick.

That's a bias.

Becrux won a main track race on Friday.  That should tell you all you need to know.

HI JASON:

GOOD WORK! LAST WEEK IN YOUR BLOG I SELECTED ZENYATTA,STARDOM BOUND,BUT WAS WRONG WHEN I PICKED CASS. DRIVE TO WIN.

I won't use the words Curlin and disappointment in the same sentence. It was a fantastic two days of racing because no horse or rider was hurt. Every horse that showed up deserves praise. They all ran their hearts out. We all know by now that anything can happen in a BC and upsets are the norm. I am already looking forward to the KDerby and BC in 2009.

I'm glad there's no negitive spin on the Pro-Ride. I thought the same thing it was fair to all. I think some NA trainers are going to have to rethink the amount of starts for horses on the BC trail. My personal best race was the Filly&Mare Turf. Man did they duke it out. Wasn't Fatal Bullet quick away from the gate? If he'd had the 2-3 hole it might have been closer. There's a Florida bred who should be pointed to the Sunshine Millions don't you think?

How 'bout that Goldikova?  I can't remember when I last saw a horse display such acceleration.  What a thrill to see that little filly outrun the boys!

I hate to "whip a tired horse" but, Curlin did not run his best race (and maybe others didn't as well-esp. Casino Drive...).

My pick, HenrytheNavigator could have done a bit better as well even though 2nd Place in the Classic "ain't half bad". As far as I noticed noone, not anyone seriously thought Henry had a chance..how wrong. Maybe Henry will be back next year, I hope.

I was thrilled with Zenyatta & Midnite Lute's performances over the weekend!  I have been a fan of Midnight Lute since he started racing and was ecstatic to see him run as brilliantly as he did on Saturday!  I was a little sad that Curlin didn't win the BC Classic, but Raven's Pass is a spectucular horse and ran a tremendous race!  I could tell early on that Curlin was having trouble with the surface, he didn't look as sharp as he normally does.  I really hope he'll be back, I remember reading that Mr. Jackson hasn't seriously considered any stud options, so hopefully he'll bring him back as a 5 year old.  It isn't too surprising that he didn't win, when you consider that in less than 2 months, he ran 3 races.  The poor boy must be exhausted.

The thing I liked the best over the weekend is that, for the first time in a few years, there were no breakdowns in any race.  After Pine Island and George Washington, that was a refreshing change.

It'll be interesting to see who wins HOY, Curlin or Zenyatta.  Both are very deserving of it, as they are both brilliant horses.  I think Zenyatta will edge Curlin out of it, since she won her race and he didn't.  

It was a thrilling weekend of races, and I couldn't be happier that every horse came out sound, with nothing worse than a few scratches & body soreness.  That is amazing!  

HE SHOULD GET ANOTHER SHOT @ RAVEN & HE WILL on the real deal... DIRT...all going to find out its not the surface they run on as much as the folks that really don't NO how to train or take PROPER CARE a RACE HORSE!!!80% couldn't teach a DOG to bark!!!Long Live Curlin!!!

I hope both Raven's Pass and Curlin stay in training and both go for the Dubai World Cup. It would be closer but I wouldn't bet against Raven's Pass confirming the form on any surface with Curlin.

Zenyatta was fantastic, but Curlin's HOY. He lost the BC Classic to two turf-Euros and a synthetic-Californian. Of 9 races that day, 5 were won by turf-Euros and 4 by synthetic-Californians. Although Zenyatta ran great, Curlin’s 7-length Dubai World Cup romp offsets her BC win. He made history by becoming the richest NA horse and the first to earn $10 million. He was undefeated on dirt, 5-for-7 overall, and raced well on all surfaces on two continents. Curlin would certainly beat Zenyatta on the track. She faced weaker competition, never tried turf, and never tried  males, the true test for any filly to become HOY.

In 1988, a 7-for-9 Alysheba became the richest horse and was voted HOY over the undefeated filly Personal Ensign. In 1996 Cigar won the Dubai WC, became the richest horse, then lost his last 2 races, including the BC Classic, to finish 5-for-8. He was voted HOY. Like Alysheba and Cigar, Curlin, the richest thoroughbred, deserves to be voted HOY.

Furthemore, Jess Jackson and Steve Asmussen have set an admirable example to other owners/trainers. They risked alot by coming back this year (anyone remember Street Sense? Hard Spun? Any Given Saturday?). They risked even more by going to Dubai, then attempting turf for possible Arc glory, and trying for a repeat Classic, even on synthetic. True sportsmen in the mold of Allen Paulson. In this day and age when the Smarty Joneses, Empire Makers and Big Browns of the world are all retired at 3, thus ruining the sport for fans, Jackson, Asmussen and Curlin gave us a thrilling ride. Thoroughbred racing is the better for it. The sport can thank them by voting Curlin, the richest racehorse, Horse Of the Year.      

I was disappointed to see Curlin, Horse of the World, go down in defeat in the Breeder's Cup Classic.  I know some will blame the surface; however, I think the trainer and jockey both should have realized, regardless of the surface, the Europeans would be in an all out sprint at the finish.  In my opinion, I believe Mr. Asmussen and Mr. Albarado should share blame for what happened to my beloved Curlin.

Well, if I was the owner of a great dirt horse there is no amount of "good sportsmanship" (and Mr Jackson is a sportsman) that would get me to run my great horse next year on synthetic.

I'll just speak to the Classic, (and give HOY to Zenyatta) but when 2 Turf horses and Tiago (who I love), a synthetic lover but who is not in Curlin's class,  beat a horse who always runs excellent triple beyers and has never been off the board and was swimming the whole race...

It is what it is.

How many times has Zenyatta raced outside of California?  I think giving her HOY would be ashame.  She tried nothing outside of her comfort zone and was raced only in spots where it was a pretty sure thing she'd win.  Not so for Curlin.  They took chances with him.  He finished 4th in this international field, but he kicked butt in the last international race he was in in Dubai.  I'm sorry, but Curlin's 2008 resume is much more impressive than Zenyatta's.  

Jason,

I thought the Breeders'Cup was great. It's one of my top 5 days of the year. Won a few on Friday and was shutout til the Turf and then had the exacta in the Classic. I think ABC/ESPN's coverage was pretty good, you have to love Jerry Bailey's breakdown of the races afterwards, he explains stuff so well that a child could understand. I do love the Hammer/Kenny Maine's antics, they're pretty funny but anyone who thinks Chris friggin Berman or Trey Wingo should be allowed even near a horsetrack should have their freaking head examined!! I do think there is a bias though, clearly Curlin would have won that race on dirt, just my opinion. Great two days of racing.

Your comment, Jason, that most horses got over the synthetic Pro-Ride surface well misses the point. Did you see the remarks of Ginger Punch's rider about how well she got over the surface ??? Ginger Ponch was never a factor in the Filly and Mare Classic and the joc attributed it solely to the horse's distaste for the Pro-Ride surface. I suppose Hysterical Lady had no problem with the synthetics as well. When truly class horses fail to show up and are never in the race, racing fans have been deprived of a true test of  champion American race horses who compete primarily on dirt. No American race horses that had never raced on synthetics performed well in the BC.  You go on to say that you're mystified as to what happened to Fabulous Strike, the conqueror of Discreet Cat, who was no factor in the BC Sprint. He'd never run on a synthetic surface before, and it would stretch credulity to believe the surface wasn't some factor in his dull performance. He had not worked well on the Pro-Ride as Chris McCarron aptly commented on the TVG show The Works. McCarron described his work as without energy at the finish - a good indication that the horse had little relish for the surface. How about Gosden's comments that a high cruising speed horse like Curlin who gallops his opponents into submission was vulnerable to horses with a quick burst of speed on the Pro-Ride synthetic surface ? Steve Asmussen said it well when he commented that the Classic on the Pro-Ride made it a European turf race, contributing to Curlin's defeat. Curlin was far back in the Classic as he was in the Man O' War, Asmussen commenting that he was out of the bridle coming past the stands the first time causing the trainer real concern. That Curlin did as well as he did on the Pro-Ride surface which plays like the turf is attributable to his talent alone just as Albarado said of his second place finish in the Man O' War where Curlin clearly did not relish the surface as he did the dirt and, as Robby said, where his type of acceleration was not the same as on a dirt surface. The fact is European grass horses came in greater number to the 2008 BC because synthetics play like turf courses and that fact is born out by their dominance in the races. It was not a stroke of genius to have the Breeders Cup on a synthetic surface. It resulted in this European dominance and to lackluster performances by some of America's best with no synthetic experience, sorely disappointing many racing fans. Well, what the heck. Maybe, the Europeans will reciprocate and run some of their top Grade 1 races like the Arc on dirt and allow American horses a chance to dominate their best races. Fat chance ! As for your "I told you so" remarks about Casino Drive, it was clearly no surprise that a lightly raced 3 year old who had not been overly impressive against allowance horses only two weeks ago wilted on the lead in fast fractions in the Classic against the world's best and finished dead last.

Profound thanks to the Euros for making this a BC a worth remembering (include Rebellion in this list given trainer's HG Motion's own English "pedigree").

I now happily retire from the Blood Horse t-bred racing scene generally, to include this blog, to the understandable relief of Jason and all the rest of you, to devote more time to the care of t-bred who have finished their racing careers and moved one to the next. Thanks for the ride, and good trips to Jason and all of you in the future (to include the Euro who makes the Derby field by virtue of "win and you are in" (sorry, could not resist one final "lip twitch" on that subject).

One final and closing thought-- although given little notice in the swirl of first the silly  "Curlin versus BB" and then the equally unconvincing "Curlin versus the World" marketing hype distractions, all conducted against the background of the Pro-Ride surface diatribes, I would suggest one of the reasons you saw the level of Euro participation you did is this was the first BC run "'roid free". Suspect you may well be seeing more Euros in the future as a consequence....

Johnny, Casino Drive was vanned off to Hollywood Park, where he was staying when he arrived from Japan.  I suspect he'll be back in quarantine and shipped back to Japan as soon as possible.  Honestly, I don't think he was deserving of being in the BC Classic, having won nothing other than the Peter Pan Stakes, which was not a Win and You're In race and he finished about how I expected.  A lot of people were impressed with him in the spring, but I never thought he was that great and my impression of him got worse after his allowance race earlier in the month.  He is definitely not in the same class as his half siblings Jazil & Rags to Riches.

Disappointing BC for me, as all my faves lost. I will say one thing, though, & that's that Curlin still deserves HOY!

I am so glad to hear someone else state that Albarado's ride on Curlin wasn't as good as it should have been.  In every other synthetic race, the jockey that won waited until they had cleared the final turn before unleashing the horse to the wire.  I think that Albarado got scared and moved on him too quickly.  Curlin still has the kick, but it was used too early.  Seriously, the Pro Ride was good in that there weren't any catastrophic breakdowns, but except for Midnight Lute, only grass horses or Synthetic horses won.  I guess now, the Breeder's Cup can add even more races to their list, Breeders Cup Classic Dirt, Breeders Cup classic Synthetic, and Breeders Cup Classic Turf.  Then try to figure out which horse is the best?

I TOTALLY agree with you, LDP! I thought Curlin needed to be closer to the pace like he was in Dubai, and then my heart sank when Robby made his move GOING INTO the turn instead of waiting and letting him go in the stretch. I think Robby was over-confident, underestimating the Euros as Curlin has always done what he asked. But these were world class horses.  Curlin is versatile enough to adjust his tactics. I really feel that Curlin would have won the Classic if he had used the same strategy used in Dubai! Too much ground was lost on the corner.

Anyway, loved performances by VENTURA, STARDOM BOUND, ZENYATTA, MIDNIGHT LUTE,but was especially blown away by GOLDIKOVA! Trevor Denman nailed the calling of that race - WOW!

I also am not one who believes the girls should be separated from the boys! That really is only done here in America, right? Goldikova's only loss was to ZARKAVA (I think that is what I heard them say on TV) - now that is another filly I would love to see race! Unfortunately, she has been retired as an undefeated filly over in Europe.

Anyway, I don't bet any races, but I thoroughly enjoy watching them, researching pedigrees, and of course, have my faves. I love Ginger Punch, but did not expect her to give Zenyatta any trouble. I don't think her best efforts come on synthetic tracks, but wanted to give her connections credit for bringing her back as a defender. I also don't feel the BC should be held in the same venue 2 years running.

My vote for HOY is Curlin because of the travel, competition, and because of outstanding performances made on unknown surfaces (for him). It won't hurt my feelings if Zenyatta gets HOY, but just feel Curlin proved more in his campaign. If Zenyatta had won Classic, then yes, HOY. Shirreffs made some comments sort of indicating that 8 Belles broke down because she crossed over to challenge the boys, and I don't agree with that at all.

Anyway, thanks for letting me have my say! It was a great weekend of racing!

CURLIN - what a Champ you are!!!! Even when you're not first, you still give it your all.  Love you PRETTY BOY. I would love to see you race again but I'd rather you be safe and happy somewhere than risking an injury or worse.  I also congratulate The Duke and Henry for great careers and for being such wonderful Champions ...Have fun in your retirement boys!!!!!

Great Presidents abounded in BC-08:

Zenyatta's connections didn't run her as a 2 year old-and look at her now! Pro-Ride surface-no breakdowns! BC-next year again at Santa Anita! Let trainers/fans grumble all they want about synthetic surfaces, the silent majority of us do not wish to relive the horror of Barbaro.

The horses who had never run on Pro-Ride or turf did not do well. The ESPN team commented on it several times. Curlin's accomplishments present a greater body of work than Zenyatta's. He carried up to 130lbs. while travelling throughout the world and his next race was always announced well ahead of time. If owners/trainers chose not to run against him, then he had to race with the given field. They suspected he would not do well on the Santa Anita surface--Steve never sounded very positive about the prospect. In their efforts to give him every opportunity, they may have done him a disservice. He is the champion and should again be Horse of the Year.

How can you say the surface played fair when the Euros were dominating? Clearly, it played more like turf than dirt.

I'm glad the posse had a good day betting. I was a nose and 3/4 length out from getting the early Pick 3 on Fri. Sealy Hill got a great ride and came up just short of winning. My other pick in the Juvi Turf Fillies missed by a nose.I was puzzled by Daytona's poor showing then read the trainers comments,I guess he bled pretty bad.I love Steve.A's comments"no excuses". Well done shows class.

Jordan your filly was amazing to watch.Off the bridle at the back of the field and the run she made took my breath away.I think she's figured the game out now. I can't ever recall  watching a 2 year old gallup along that relaxed and then explode like she did.That was to much fun to watch. I went to the track to watch and they had the Jumbo Tron on outside. The weather was pretty good so I watched some of the races from outside.All in all it was a great day.

If they're going to run the races on synth, the qualifiers should be on synth.  But of course there aren't enough marshmallow courses out there for that.  Keeneland being the only "big race" track east of Cal that runs big races on synth.

Great performance by Midnight Lute, but can you call him your "Champion Sprinter" when he runs 2 races all year?  

Where were all the people?  The stands looked remarkably empty Sat, with the announced attendance of 51000, looks like people said screw the $250 2 day tickets and opted for the $20 general admission sans seating.  

BC seems pleased about the handle, but it would seem to be spin.  If they had $155 mil all sources this year with 2 days, 14 races, that's only a 10% increase over the 2006 8 race 1 day BC at Churchill.  

Jason, We had a great betting day overall on Saturday. But, it wasn't any real handicapping skill. Just hunch and gimmick on most of the races. The Cal and Euro horses did great. We run on nothing but synthetic out here and have an advantage but with The TRIPLE CROWN races,most notably the DERBY being the focus of the public and therefore the premier trainers, unless they put synthetics down at Churchill and the other TC tracks, the focus will still be on getting a good horse to run on dirt. Yes maybe a great horse can run on any surface, but maybe not and usually not a 3 year old early on in their 3 yo campaign.

I'm interested to see the final TV ratings. It definitely was pretty empty on Friday and on Saturday early on. The track was set up to handle 80,000 we had like 30 on Fri and 50+ on Saturday.

Sure there were no breakdowns, there have been other BC's with no breakdowns, all it takes is a misstep and any surface becomes suspect. You going to tell me there's no breakdowns on Turf?  The Pro-ride definitely seemed to be advantage Euro's at least on Saturday. Stardom Bound and Zenyatta, don't think they would have gotten beat by anybody.

I must say it didn't have the same feel and excitement of some I've been to at Churchill Downs, no matter how many movie/tv stars/hasbeens they trotted out to say "riders up" and present awards. Although I must say Lisa Rinna was into it. Kurt Russell was cool and love Gary Player but he's a horseman too. Frankie sort of shocked Bo with that kiss but then he was kissing everybody. Too bad, he's a superstar in Europe and is a riot people missed a show there. No offense to Trevor but Tom Durkin should be brought in whenever his contract with NBC expires. Some of the names sounded garbled, with the Euro's winning and listening to him you kind of wondered where the race was being held. That was the comment of a few people around us.

Even though we won a bundle, I won't say this ranked right up there with my fav BC of all time.

Bellweather, if you really are in marketing like you claim, you just alienated 80% of the participants in your product and another large percentage of people you'd market to, when you just told them that most of the people in racing don't know what they're doing. Why would anyone want to be involved in supporting it? Not sure where you got your marketing degree but I'd sign back online and demand my money back.

Jason I have to respectfully disagree with you. Nearly every Breeders Cup winner on Saturday except for Midshipman came running from the back at the end. Goldikova was up close, but still 4th at the top of the stretch, the Marathon winner was 4th all the way round and the rest of them came from far back and gunned it. Even Zenyatta and Stardom Bound won their races that way. To me that is a track bias.

I think that's been said about Keeneland, Turfway, Del Mar etc. They all have some sort of track bias whether it's speed favoring or whatever. The one thing I thought was interesting when I went back and watched my recording of the raees yesterday was Ian Pearse said he didn't want to water the track because it changes the surface and it's less predictable (I think that's the words he used) even though the temps were pushing 150 degrees?

You go, CB. I agree 100% that Zenyatta is the Horse of the Year 2008. I was also rooting for Curlin as they came for home. However when Curlin tails off and loses 2 races (even if on surfaces that were not his best) and Lady Z. is untouchable all year, my vote is with Zenyatta. She did not only win she beat the best all year long and ws never threatened.

By the way, I cannot believe that anyone would say that the Pro Ride "played fair" when you look at the race results.

I agree with all you CURLIN fans! Long live the champ - magnificent CURLIN!  What a race! What an effort on his part! What a beautiful horse! Fortunately, I saw him at the Stephen Foster in person June 14 and got lots of beautiful photos. He has raced every month since June, and it adds up, guys! The horse must be getting tired.  I thought Robby rode him well - although he might have put him up closer on the back stretch so as not to run so wide so fast on the last turn - losing lenghts and tiring. Curlin has done us all proud and given us so much; so, I too, want to thank CURLIN, Mr. Jackson, Asmussen, and Robby for all the time(s) they have let us enjoy this spectacular horse in the last nearly 2 years. It has been a treat.  Even seeing him not win was a treat in that we got to see him before, during, and after the race.  And did you get the stand-up ovation for him?

In my opinion, CURLIN deserves HOY because of all he has given so many of us fans and because of so many more fans he has acquired in his racing career.  Please add up all his accomplishments just this year!

I sure hope this was not his last race and that we get to see this superstar race again!

Thanks you, CURLIN! We love you!

GO CURLIN!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree HOY should go to Zenyatta. 9 for 9 & 4 Grade One wins. I was glad to see Cocoa Beach and Music Note put in good showings. I was not thrilled with the "Ladies Day" media coverage, but the fillies & mares certainly put on a prime time show. The media coverage was better on Saturday. The turf sprint was incredibly fun to watch & congrats to Richard Migliore on his first BC win. All in all, 2 great days of racing, but please put the girls back on Saturday!!!!

I think Steve Haskin made some great points about how the Europeans train their horses. They train for stamina. Stamina is what is needed racing on synthetic. It was clear not only with Curlin but with Casino drive. Casino drive was cooked. His lack of experience also took its toll on him. He used up a ton of energy before he even loaded in the gate. The pro-ride surface was said to be 146 degrees if I remember correctly. Can you imagine getting that kicked up in your face? That can really make a difference. Curlin is the man but I didn't have high hopes for him to win this race. In fact, I told my girlfriend to put her money on Ravens pass earlier this week. To bad I don't bet. Thank the racing God's that all horses came out o.k. but I am still not a fan of synthetic and I certainly don't think a championship race should be run on one. Just my opinion. Curlin should get HOY honors. Not to take anything away from Zenyatta, but Curlin gets my vote. Zenyatta should have raced with the colts. She simply has no competition with the girls. She is a monster. She probably would have cleaned house.

I must say the most impressive winners of the two days are as follows - Stardom Bound, Zenyatta, Goldikova, Midnight Lute, Conduit, and Midshipman.

You've got to give Midshipman credit for being on the lead for most of the race, especially with the great majority of the front runners getting burned in their races.

It was an awesome Saturday. Everything except the heat was fantastic, especially the crazy excitement as the Classic commenced.

It was an wonderful experience.

Hey, Bill, from yesterday, thanks for mentioning John Gosden as the trainer of Bates Motel - Had forgotten that, but, I remember Gosden, fondly, for the classy training on many, including, his BC winner Royal Heroine, with Toro up.  However, do remember Bates Motel because of two things - First, after Terry Lipham won the Big Cap, some media types tried to degrade him by asking how he liked winning his biggest purse.  He replied that, "Well, I did win the $1,000,000 All-American" - The other time was when they shipped to Belmont and Cordero tried to race ride them off the track, only to have another come from nowhere to beat both of them.

But, my biggest disappointment was getting to Portland Meadows too late to bet on Desert Code - Ye olde horse for the course type bet.  That "Sprint" moniker on the downhill race has cost many a bettor.  Took me long enough to realize that milers win that race, not sprinters.  Many a runner in that downhill run come back and win at a flat mile.

And speaking of flat miles, McCarron said it best when asked about Raven's Pass never running more than a mile - He said that mile runs in Europe are different from flat miles, here in the US.  Their tracks have more turns and up and down hills, so more stamina is built up in running one of their mile races, than in our flat ones.

ProRide seems to be a good surface (except for the heat)but as Andy Beyer points out in today's  Washington Post, all of the BC winners were turf specialists or had won previously on synthetics. Apparently many dirt horses have a hard time transferring their form. At least one European trainer has already said that in future they will only bring horses to Breeder's Cups run on synthetics, not dirt, and some pro-dirt trainers (Zito)sat this one out. So it is obviously a factor for horses and trainers.  

I think too many pepole are giving Mr Jackson to much credit for keeping curlin running.We all know its because the owners that are in trouble keeping him from turning him to stud.Plus lets give Kenny McPeat and Helen Pitts some credit

One last thought about the "fairness" of dirt.  How often do punters go to the dirt track and try to figure out what bias will prevail for the day?  Or how long will a bias last during the day?  Or is the track still sloppy, or has it turned muddy, or is it drying out and tiring?  Did the track crew prep it for closers or front enders?  Or do you have a situation such as Gulfstream before and after their first BC, when the track was graded and the only place to run was in the first two lanes?  It became so bad, that in a two turner MdCl, two longies out of the one and two holes wired the field and paid little for the exacta.  The wise guys had thrown out everyone except the inside.

Or track management allowing the surface to become concrete, or at beloved CD, cuppy.  Track bias at CD? One of the biggest things to look for prior to the Derby is who is working well over the track and who is not taking to the track.  So fairness???  And, I just love this knock on So Cal polys - I remember hearing over and over,prior to poly, "Oh that horse can only run on hard California tracks"  Lava Man, anyone?  And, is Saratoga aptly named the graveyard of champions, because of it's deeper track?  So, once again, fairness, anyone?

Take nothing away from the winner but I agree that RA moved to soon.Frankie Dettori said that following Curlin was HALF the battle. Ravin Pass's trainer said the surface helped his horse and compromised Curlin.  

BELLWETHER:

I hope to god you are not implying that John Gosden does not now how to train a racehorse, because I remember when he was stabled here years ago and managed to win plenty of races here and around the world... Several of his assistants have gone on to sucessfully train(Murray Johnson-Perfect Drift!) and I sure that some are unhappy about Curlin getting beat, the horse DID not win his last race in impressive fashion, but he's had some tough races and maybe the tanks not full. Good horses get beat all the time and to slander other trainers and blame the surface is just lame.

Raven's Pass was awesome on Sat and Curlin was not, it happens, Col. John did not run well either( on his prefferred surface) but that doesn't mean Eoin isn't a good trainer because the horse got beat.  As for the surface, Someone made a comment ealier about the 8 breakdowns at Del Mar, gee, that's down from like 25 on the dirt, and wasn't it nice to see nobody being vanned off after the Breeder's Cup races, This is probably the first year that has happened!  The only problem is the need to bump the BC back a week or two to mid November, that way the horses from climates where there is actually a winter don't have to contend with the crappy Oct. heat here. It is 10 degrees in Ireland now so those poor horses had to deal with an immediate 80 degree change and I notice they didn't run well...

My curiosity is eating at me….. Would anyone be able to guide/answer what the pick 6 payout would have been if Curlin would of won the BC Classic?

Zenyatta ran a great race ( I hate her "walking" in the paddock area though)But Sorry she's not worth Horse of the Year - She never left Ca. She should get top mare honors no doubt. As for Curlin, his owner, and trainer didn't want to be there and as you can see for good reason. I don't think with all of Big Brown's made to order season that he would have won either. Curlin still gets Horse of the Year in my books.

50 COMMENTS so far!!!great like this BLOG...great work to all here & Jason too!!!Long Live The Dirt!!!ps Keeneland not to keen on DIRT!!!

I was in Horse Heaven for two days!  What fun it was to have all those races televised - I couldn't be there and yet I loved every minute.  I wish all of them could win HOY.  But the best was all those lovely fillies - it was great to have the focus on the fillies for awhile.  There seems to be quite a few extraordinary fillies this year and I actually felt they got some attention.  Like ZJ I hope Stardom Bound stays here - she is a treasure.  Curlin didn't win but he ran well and safe - no horse wins them all.  All his connections can be very proud of all they and Curlin have contributed to racing. My one disappointment - I missed Big Brown.  He deserved to be there; such a huge talent.  I hate the question marks left by his absence.  No matter - I love him anyway.

I wish that ESPN would show the horses more pre-race.  I found myself switching back to TVG until post time so I could see the horses more in the paddock and warming up.  

Jason,

My heart was broken last year when Fab Strike had to sit out.  

Not so sure how he would have dealt with the slop, but, who knows?

I'm glad to hear you talked to Todd.

Props to Bob, GG and Lute, but I was so disappointed for FS.

I've been such a big fan for so long and was so eager for him to get his chance.

Like you said, sometimes horses just get beat.

Todd has done a nice job.

Do you have an opinion on Ramon's ride?

Just wondering?

Thanks again.

- Paul (from Philly)

Are you serious? The track played fair ... you can handicap with confidence!!!

A 3 YO that's never been further than 1 mile wins the Classic - right! Yeah, anybody that "handicapped" Raven's Pass is lying. The "Classic" is an American race that tests the speed, stamina, and heart of the thoroughbred on dirt - that's why we called it the classic.

- you can't train a horse to like a surface ... synthetic surfaces cater to a smaller, lighter athlete that doesn't "bounce" on impact. A larger, muscaular athlete - like Curlin - has no shot.

Keep that synthetic  in CA and CA TBred racing will be as irrelevant as ever. What a joke.

Can't wait until Churchill 2010!

If you are a professional gambler you have to be very disappointed int he outcome. Time and time again logical contenders were out run.Where do you want to start?? In the filly and mare turf..you through out a track record performance..G1 and G2 winners and none hit the board...you come to the classic and in 25 years only one horse (foriegn) wins..now we have a Euro exacta THat is a statiscally improbabliity..in fact you bet against each and every time..look the handle was good the coverage was good some people got lucky. I am a professional handicappper and I cant bet the RUBBER Tracks..wont. I dont mind loosing a bet.."winners loose" but this is not a venue i can support in the future. Dont get me wrong it was great to see the EUROS...would have love to see zarkava race in the classic..How do you think we would fair at LongChamp..that thier turf...OUR TURF is real dirt.

About Curlin not winning was disappointing, but he was heading the wrong way after a long campaign and was really laboring across the track. The fact that Tiago beat him tells me more about track bias and how he liked the surface. No Track Bias for late closers? It seems to play to tactical speed and late closers to me. Stardom bound is a great filly that overcame the track bias unlike Curlin. It took me a day of losing to figure that out. Did much better Saturday.

AFA horse of the year:

Using past “standards”, they should give horse of the year to Raven’s Pass. I would only care about this if it was my horse up for consideration. My wife feels different. Zenyatta could be horse of the year, but Curlin earned it. He has one more grade 1 victory than Zenyatta. He has as least as many 3 digit Beyers. If you don’t think it is tough going to Dubai and then keeping a horses form together, you are crazy. He had one less race than Cigar did after Dubai. Where did Cigar finish in the BC? Third. I guess Cigar sucked too.

If her connections wanted HOY they would have ran her in the classic. Why didn’t they? …easy money. Ali didn’t become the greatest by beating up the girls.

Mokey, Oh thanks for the clarification, I wasn't aware that they moved Oaklawn to California when Zenyatta won The Apple Blossom G1, on the dirt. Those darned tornadoes just picked up the field and dumped them in California. All these HORSE RACING fans who don't even know what's happened before they give their opinions, at least do a little research if you're going to pretend to be a fan.

What really struck me about this BC was how close the finishes were. I don't think any of the winners (save one - Ventura) finished more than two lengths ahead of their nearest competitor. I don't know whether that speaks to the stiffness of the competition or the fact that the Pro-Ride played like a turf course. Either way, it made for some very exciting racing this weekend.

Which reminds me...I don't understand how anyone can denounce a surface that prevented any breakdowns this weekend. I think the Pro-Ride played fair and the times were fast. If it seemed to favor turf horses, all the better. It only makes the BC's claim to be a WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP more legitimate; newsflash: most of the racing world races on turf. If more international horses come to the BC because the synthetic surfaces play like turf, it makes for a more legitimate world championship.

I grudgingly have to admit the Ladies' Day was a success, and it makes sense to try to boost make Friday a more substantial BC day by making it a fillies and mares championship. I still object to the "Ladies' Classic", though. Go back to Distaff. Seriously.

The highlight of the weekend was the Sprint for me. I've always loved Midnight Lute, partially because I'm a big fan of his daddy - Real Quiet. What a training job by Baffert! The horse has practically been out of competition all year and yet he comes back to win the big one, against the likes of Fabulous Strike and Street Boss. Very impressive.

Finally, I think Zenyatta has a good shot at taking HOY. I wouldn't be surprised if it went to Curlin, but his Classic performance was a bit of a letdown. He was simply tired from a long season of campaigning. (Btw, Curlin-bashers, it's time to let go of the whole Curlin-got-beat-by-a-girl argument. How childish. I think we all know that Rags to Riches was an exceptional filly.) It'll be interesting to see how the Eclipse awards play out between these two.

First of all, hats off to HRH Princess Haya of Jordan for two fabulous wins on Saturday with Raven's Pass and Donativum. I hope that she will consider running Donativum in the Kentucky Derby next year, since his options in Europe as a gelding are aparently limited. I would have liked to have seen Curlin win back-to-back Classics, but to see the two Euro rivals winning was great. And Tiago! That horse never stops amazing me.

Second, as much as love that remarkable filly Zenyatta (may she come back to race next year!), I would lean more to Curlin (Who I would also like to see race as a 5 year old), since he did have a more demanding schedule. Curlin was sucessful against many different horses in different countries, and on different surfaces. That isnt to take anything away from Zenyatta, but Curlin's racing record needs to be considered, and should give him the edge.  

Zenyatta shipped to Oaklawn Park and destroyed last years' Champ,Ginger Punch on Dirt fair and square.And won when it counted the most!.yet and still,there's people commenting about: Zenyatta is a synthetics specialist,she only raced out West,blah,blah,blah!..CRAP!!..She's undefeated and deserving of being HOY..I'm sick and tired of the this East Coast bias towards Cali. stabled horses.Other than Dubai,Curlin has raced exclusively back east(against so-so opponents)..and Lost when the chips where down(no excuses please)..give Zenyatta HOY,she deserves it.

I must cast my vote (though I don't really have one) for Curlin for Horse of the Year.  As a big Curlin fan, I regret that he lost, but it wasn't totally surprising because he's not as good as he was a year ago or in the World Cup.  

It looked to me like he ran the same race he did the last two times (Saratoga and JCGC).  That was enough to beat whoever the two horses were that were second in those races (I forget already), but not these Euro stars.  The surface and the ride were factors in Curlin's loss, but IMO, the main one was the competition.

I kind of agree with Dr. Marv, that HOY would be a nice way to reward Mr. Jackson for keeping Curlin in training.  It's true that legal entanglements might have made it difficult to begin a stud career, but still ... Curlin brought a lot of fans out when he ran, and owners need to realize  that they might have a superstar too, if they give their horse more of a chance.

I adore Zenyatta.  Who doesn't?  This is a tough choice this year.  I know she will (deservedly) attract a lot of support, but I think you have to go with Curlin for all the different things he tried.  I know how hard it must be to keep a horse on top of his game for two years, and in this case a great job was done by all.

One final thought:  Quite a few synthetic "specialists" such as Student Council, Go Between, Well Armed, Colonel John didn't win either.

jmewill, no this wasn't the first BC that didn't have any breakdowns.

As for the comment about the breakdowns at Del Mar, I believe that was a direct correlation to Saratoga and the fact that they had NO breakdowns and that DIRT can be made safe if as much time, effort and MONEY was put into that as is put into synthetics.

I’m here to tell ya now, don’t bet against Kip Deville. I don’t know if Kip could have beaten Goldikova on this day head to head. He didn’t see her until it was too late.

I want a rematch!

Here is a question, why doesn’t anyone talk about the jockeys when discussing handicapping the BC? Do the experts really think they are just going along for the ride? Re-watch the Juvy and get back to me. Midshipman beat the track bias and so should move forward from this race, but I still think Square Eddie has more upside.

Too bad about Fab S, Midnight Lute just did something no horse has done before in the sprint. Thanks goes out to Chris Mc. for this tip. Loved ML anyway but it was good to hear how well he was training up to this race!

I'm still abuzz from the BC!

Bryce Be Quick,

Hasta La Vista, enjoyed sparring with you but I'm sure you'll be back in time for the Derby.

One thing though, the Euro trainers were saying they will be back in force when the races are run on synthetics, guess that tells us something.

As for the person saying that the race should be run in November, it has been. Why should we worry about making it more fair for the Euro horse? They can come in 2010 when it's in Kentucky and a lot of the time the weather is very temperate in late Oct early Nov.

You can't give a filly HOTY unless she BEATS the colts (Lady's Secret, All Along), or has had a dominant campaign while there were NO male handicap standouts (Azeri). Racing History dictates that's the way it has always been.

Zenyatta is a great filly, but she is no Curlin. He won way more money, more G-1's and has by consistantly higher Beyer ratings than the filly, despite his all around the world campaign. (Zenyatta, by the way, has run all of her races in California except one).

She therefore has to beat the reigning champ to be champ. It would be nice if they could set it up for the Clark at Churchill on Nov. 28th. Unless she beats him,

Curlin gets HOTY

My prediction following Curlin's disappointing run in the BC Classic is that Mr.Jackson will keep him in training in 2009 and race him exclusively over conventional dirt tracks,  primarily at Churchill, Belmont and Saratoga. A repeat appearanc in Dubai will not be targetted as it probably compromises his form for the remainder of the year. He will be HOY in 2008 and will repeat in 2009.

  With all the dispute of the Pro Ride surface bias for a dirt horse you have Ralph Beckkett the trainer of Muhhanna saying next year the Euros will probably bring 50 horses to the B.C. versus the 30 they brought this year because they know they can win. When asked about 2010 when B.C. goes to dirt they'll bring a lot less.

  To me that puts it all in a nut shell Pro Ride is turf!! So put the turf runners on it and dirt horses can pretty much forget it.

  Zenyatta was awesome. What a performance she put on.

  Hat's off to Curlin and his connections for running him in that race and surface. He's still the CHAMP!! After all the dances he's danced this year he deserves a rest and HOY!!!

It is really quite embarrassing how much better the european horses are compared to the american horses.  There is no comparison.  The americans should consider developing some european breeding techniques,  because the techniques used here in the U.S. are only good enough to win the sprint races. Maybe the americans should start buying their yearlings over in europe where they know how to breed a race horse.. BUT how embarrassing for the american breds;  Kip Deville couldn't even match strides with that little tiny mare that beat him, how humiliating is that?

I LOVED IT WHEN GOLDIKOVA RAN BY KIP DEVILLE LIKE HE WAS STANDING STILL!!! HEY DUTROW HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GET BEAT BY A 980lb GIRL????????????????!!!

I was at Santa Anita on Saturday and had a wonderful day - Goldikova and Raven's Pass were special and Eagle Mountain is the most handsome TB I have ever seen.

I only wish Big Brown had been there.

One complaint - the prices were way out of line - I didn't realise that my $50 just got me into the club house - not a seat and I wasn't allowed in any of the sit down restaurants - The industry should be doing more to encourage people to attend the races - not keep them at home with high 'seat' prices

Thanks for the post. It was a great 2 days but I'm not so keen on keeping the top Filly & Mare races on a workday. They don't play the Superbowl on a Friday or run the KY Derby on a Monday, and Zenyatta' perforance proved this year's fillies and mares are at least as fan worthy as the boys.  

I'm in the group that believes the Classic would have had a different outcome on dirt. If it's been carded as a dirt race since the beginning, what do we call it on synthetic?    

What we really have in racing now may be three competition surfaces: Turf, dirt, and synthetic, and some variations within those three categories at different tracks. Turf and dirt haven't been interchangable on the card; why would dirt and synthetic be?

Zenyatta's a great horse but she didn't hop a plane to Dubai as an ambassador for American racing and win the richest race in the world. It's a tough call, but if HOY is an annual (not just month of October) award, Curlin's accomplishments in Dubai, his top worldwide rating and passing Cigar's all time earnings record a month before the first BC run on something besides dirt are significant accomplishments  worthy of recognition.  

Thanks again for the wrapup post!

For the people who want to complain about Curlin's rider please don't.You disrespect a very good rider and as the Shoe once said when asked how long he had to make a decision he said" one two three that long". The trainer offered no excuse nor did the owner. It's easy to blame the ride he got but you know what? he got beat plain and simple. That's horse racing period.

This shows that all the American horses, trainers, and jockeys are overrated. They cannot train or ride unless the horses are on steroids or other drugs. This was the first of many beatings.  

Some random thoughts on a great weekend of racing:

1. Only three horses of any note (Commentator, Proud Spell, Vineyard Haven) passed up the synthetic, and European horses like Raven's Pass, Henrythenavigator, and Duke of Marmalade more than made up for their absence.

2. This was a great year for European 3YOs: Zarkava, Goldikova, Raven's Pass, Henry, and New Approach. Conduit wasn't too shabby, either. Of the American 3YOs, only Big Brown could be mentioned in the same breath.

3. The dirt and especially the turf seemed to favor closers. Did Midshipman run a big race against the bias? Did Laragh actually run a huge race, considering that she went much too fast against the bias?

4. Don't eliminate the also eligibles from consideration. Two winners, Desert Code and Donativum, had to wait to draw into the race.

5. Another big winner: how about Gone West as a sire of sires? Elusive Quality certainly looks like a hot sire, since he's had Smarty Jones winning the Derby and now Raven's Pass winning the Classic. Gr. I winners on dirt, turf, and synthetic.

Drove 90 minutes from my house to watch both days live.  I thought Zenyatta showed yet 1 more dimension in getting the jump on Cocoa Beach at the top of the stretch despite going wide.  Zenyatta was NOT waiting around for Cocoa Beach to close on her.  Curlin got a big call and made a big move at the top of the stretch but just flattened out.  It seemed like he was handling the track but had nothing left in the tank.  He has lost 2x this year...and this time they broke the tote board with over 1 million bet to win on him. It obviously was not his track but how does one explain Col John, Go Between, Well Armed, Mast Track, and the other "synthetic specialists?"  They simply got beat by better horses on their track (this day).  Hats off to Giacomo's 1/2 brother!  Hats off to the English who handed us our heads!  Hats off to the 4 California trained horses who did show up on Saturday!  That's horse racing and I like the $10,000 dollar Superfecta's although I failed to hit one.  See you at the "Great Race Place" next year.

Despite the Japanese betting heavy on Casino Drive I though he looked every bit like a horse in his fourth start against grade I winners.  Where was he going on the lead in a 1 1/4 mile event?  

Whatever, until all the tracks go to synthetics that's a sure way to limit your horse to where it can win. The majority of Win and You're in and Graded stakes races were all run on dirt (vs. synthetic and excluding the turf of course) Their horses were better on this surface on THIS day. Friday they weren't so hot 0 fer. Also the Breeders Cup has diminished the last couple years. They had 30 thousand on Friday and you get that on a good day at Saratoga or Keeneland. These people paying 100thou and up aren't going to waste their money sending a horse to a track that is the exception rather than the rule.

Pam, Nobody is denouncing anything other than to say the track had a bias. There have been other BC's without breakdowns, let's get the dirt right, we can you know. The handicappers don't like it and unless everyone is willing to pay 1500 to get into every race track, the sport will die. There aren't enough 'fans' willing to pay that much to watch the horses run. Usually handicapping goes out the window on BC day, but never so much as Saturday. We just threw common sense and figures to the wind and guessed, used gimmicks and heart bets. That is the only reason we had Desert Code, Raven's Pass and made money. Which by the way we didn't bet anywhere close to our usual amounts.

I still say the most important race in America is the Kentucky Derby,the most watched, most well attended race PERIOD. Oh by the way how many European/UAE horses have won that race. And I guess we can't count them because almost all of the Darley, Juddmonte etc horses running in the States are trained by Americans and so are Coolmore's, Tabor etc. Must be stupid trusting those multi million dollar horses to people who can't train.

I've already crowned Zenyatta horse of the year!  Lure terrorized the BC mile turf for 2 straight years (leaving Arazi behind in one of those) and does not pick up HOY honors?  He was the best miler on both sides of the pond and probably one of the best turf milers this county has been witness to.  To not have earned HOY was an injustice. If "Classic Dirt" is the thing then I guess we will have to give HOY to Tiago.  

I think Curlin got screwed over in this year's Classic. Since its inception it's always been run on dirt and this year suddenly it's on synthetic, which appears to be more like turf. It should have been run on dirt and those two European horses should've been in the turf Classic. All the champion dirt horses of the past never had to run on any other surface to claim Horse of the Year. This year's Breeders' Cup was a disappointment to me. It turned into a big turf event that didn't prove anything except who the best turf horses are.

Terry in Wisconsin,

Your comment is way up there on this blog, so bypassing so many others, I jumped down to leave another comment because I've been wondering the same thing about Big Brown.

I think if Big Brown had been sound, he might have beaten the Europeans, although it would have been his most formidible task. I could see him slugging it out with Raven's Pass at the wire.

I really miss Big Brown, and we will never know what would have happened if he'd been able to race; but being an exceptional turf specialist that Big Brown was, I'm sure he would have given the Euros a run for their money.

Since someone mentioned Proud Spell.......was Music Note's 3rd place enough to vote her Champion 3 year old filly over Proud Spell? She was the only 3-year old who showed up to run against Zenyatta!

I totally agree, I missed Big Brown.  I think he would've done great.  If he could've won or not, we'll never know.  But he would've tried as hard as he could and given those Euros a run for their money!

But, as I've said, we'll never know just how good he could've been.  

((hugs)) for you Big Brown!  I'm coming to see ya next year at Three Chimneys!!

Turf racing was excellent. And didn't the proven synthetic runners love it?

Great races from turf 3yos in the Classic. Sadly, Curlin was pressured to show up and got beatten by Tiago (enough said)

The Juvenile will be no indicator for the Triple Crown.

And the strange television coverage!?!

Sadly BC 25 was a new low for me...and we get a replay next year.

All this talk about horse of the year between Zenyatta and Curlin isn't this a vote for the entire year?  I guess winning a Florida Derby, Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Haskell do not count.  If you are going to go by who you beat in your own division then Peppers pride should be horse of the year!  I don't understand how one bad race (Belmont), actually it was the rider who had a bad race is being held against him.  For the first six months of this year, Big Brown was the greatest there was.  How soon we forget! I just think it's a shame he is not even being mentioned.

I think that Curlin should get hoy because he did everything he was asked of him, he did not care for the track and it was plain to see but still tried hard.  I think that Steve A. said it best when he said that it was a turf race.  I believe that this will keep the best dirt horses from going next year and the only horses that will show up there are the euros and poly specialists.  Too bad it really wont be the best the US has to offer.

Curlin for HOTY period. I'm a woman and I love girl horses, but it's a no brainer. Curlin has earned this hands down. As everyone has stated so well, there are more reasons to give it to Curlin than Zenyatta. He is a magnificent horse, albeit a tired one that didn't out and out love the surface at the BC. I don't think it was the jockey's fault at all. They both did their level best. People will remember Curlin long after Raven's Pass is a blip and Zenyatta has a long way to go to be his equal. As I said above, I too think if BB had been well, he might have had a chance on this surface to finish in the top three.

Big Brown's injury causing his defection from the Classic was probably a blessing in disguise. Just like the masterful CURLIN, who suffered his worst defeat of the year, it's highly probable that Big Brown would have lost to the European horses who displayed they had an edge in racing on Santa Anita's Pro-ride surface.

The Pro Ride definitely seems to play like turf, as horsrs with fastest kicks seem to have the edge--but I ask you, what is the choice? Dirt and sub-par Euros, or Pro Ride, and The Worlds Best? As for Curlin, he seemed to run the same race from Summer on...the hang jod to Red Rocks...The lackluster Woodward...the JC Gold Cup by 1 length over a horse thaT WOULD.'VE BEEN 100-1 IN tHE cLASSIC...then tThe Classic itself, not a bad race, just vs better--no, I think Curlin ran his race, I wonder if it was Dubai! He seemed "off" for months! But hats off to Jess! If he doesn't run he's HOY---yet now he's fairly and squarely #2 to Zenyatta, whom I believe would've cruised in The Classic, especially with that faster pace! Zenyatta was last off a 48 sec 1/2 and at the 1/2 mi pole, I turned to my friend, (a harness racing driver) and he said "shes in trouble"....as she blew by them all he goes "they're all in trouble"!!! Amazing! Celebrate her--don't berate her! THIS IS THE FUTURE! There really are better horses in Europe--and thats USUAL! Ravens Pass was not a fluke! MOST horses handled it--way more than the usual Cups--And class told! The best horse won! Midnite Lute? Best hoss! Ventura? Best hoss! Artimus Maximus? Best hoss! Stardom Bound? Best hoss! Zenyatta? Best hoss! (Although it must be noted, Ginger Punch didn't like Pro Rode..or Oaklawn Dirt as well!)...How 'bout Kip Deville getting the jump on the 900 lb 3yo filly Goldikova--then her quarter horse like dash to the wire! No, this 25th BC was Classic! It delivered! I was rooting for Zenyatta and I was rooting for Curlin! I DO think he handled it--I DO think he's better than Ravens Pass---yet I also think he's lost something, he hasn't the same stamina in his kick---This is right, in a way, because I've come to the conclusion that Zenyatta is worthy of HOY REGARDLESS of Curlin winning this or Big Brown winning that---it comes down to this:  You can talk about who would win/who is great, Zenyatta is great---Zenyatta is great!

JUST LIKE SOME HAVE SAID IT, THE RIDE WAS NOT THE BEST ONE FOR JOCKEY ROBBIE ALBARADO. CURLIN NEEDED TO BE WITHIN 4 TO 5 LENGTHS OF THE LEAD AND THEN POUNCE ON THEM WITH A FURLONG TO GO KNOWING THAT THIS COURSE WAS FAVORABLE TO THE EUROPEAN HORSES, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE BUT CURLIN WOULD HAVE WON. CURLIN SHOULD BE HORSE OF THE YEAR AND COME BACK FOR THE WORLD CUP AND THEN RETIRE, ONE MORE GOOD RACE WONT HURT HIS AWESOME CAREER.

MRO--ABSOLUTELY Music Note gets Eclipse! She did show up/ she did run well! 3rd place in THAT FIELD OF GREATNESS deserves the award, after all, BC is the "Decider" (not the Pres!)  She was BEST 3yo in BC! That and Proud Spells loss makes it a done deal!

ONE MORE THING, LETS NO GET A HEAD OF OURSELVES, THE AMERICAN HORSES ARE STILL THE BEST IN THE WORLD, THE EUROPEAN HORSES STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO CATCH UP, LOOK AT DUBAI WORLD CUP DAY AND CHECK OUT HOW MANY RACES ARE WON BY US BREDS?? TOO MANY TO COUNT AND I WASN'T BORN IN AMERICA. STEROIDS AND ALL THAT STUFF IS GARBAGE !!

I live in The West but I'm not a West Coast Homer--When I think of a great mare I think of Inside Information, as NY as it gets! Zenyatta is a great mare! The WAY she wins, it's as if she really IS in her own race! Gr 1 horse races are rarely won from way back, but she does it everytime---something I've never seen, a horse who passes them all in a matter of 1/8 of a mile--everytime! I hope she goes next year, and even though they don't have to, I think they SHOULD display her to Belmont Park fans! Maybe race her at Belmont, Churchill, Oaklawn, maybe three or four more races, and one more BC...but I disagree that she NEEDS to beat males---No filly/mare should EVER have to beat males for HOY--not if she's beaten all takers in her own sex--from there you have to decide who's most deserving of HOY---but to punish a female cuz she didn't beat males? NO, it (HOY) goes to best season---The pinnacle for a mare is Ladies Classic and she won that like a champ! In THAT respect Zenyatta DID what Big Brown/Curlin FAILED to do! Azeri, Ladys Secret, Kotashan, Favorite Trick---all HOYs but none were the best horse at 1 1/4---they had the best seasons--ALL ENDING WITH BREEDERS CUP WINS---They went the distance, and THAT'S why Zenyatta is HOY---Ack Ack won HOY in '71 despite retiring in June/racing only in Calif...he had the best season....yes I know Curlin had a great year--WAS HE GREAT? HIS LAST FOUR RACES, WERE THEY GREAT? And how about this: Did anyone notice how Jerry Bailey spoke about Curlin--as maybe having a "tired" ending to his racing season? He spoke around it more than once, noting his own mount Cigar's tailing off...I love Curlin--but Zenyatta was great at Oaklawn, Zenyatta was great at Del Mar...Zenyatta was great at Santa Anita---all very different tracks! An English fan whom I didn't even know asked me to take his pic with his phone so he will always remember the day he saw greatness--he thought Zenyatta was the best filly/mare he'd ever seen--as did I.

Zenyatta is a great filly but Curlin beat Cigar's all time money earning record, while racing as a 4 year old. That alone elevates him above every other horse out there. Secondly, he ran against tougher comepetition than Zenyatta when you count Dubai. He travelled all over the world winning races. Zenyatta stayed on the West Coast and raced against fillies only. I do think if she had raced in at least one Grade 1 race agianst the boys and won, you would have a better argument for her. Yes, she might have beaten Raven's Pass but there is no way to know that. Curlin carried more weight. He also has had a 2 year campaign where he has been dominant. O.k. I am going to be really controversial here and state I would even put BB ahead of Zenyatta as HOTY because of all he accomplished while running on bad feet a good part of the year. I think his accomplishments were greater than hers.

Andy Beyer notes, as Randy Moss trumpeted several times on Sat, that all Cup winners had previously run on either synthetics or turf...but then I ask him, what horses were better than the 1st/2nd horse in each race? Ventura...Zenyatta...Stardom Bound...Midshipman...Midnite Lute...Ravens Pass...they ALL ran like champs, but Andy, tell us the horses that you think maybe would have won--or not! Believe me, my whole life it's been this or that about West Coast tracks--and THATS when they were DIRT!! Guys like Andy were the same back then, only without the "cover" of the synthetics quandry their bias was more up front! I mean, if New York wouldda showed up in recent BCups on DIRT out here I'd give you more creedence, but in '03 at Santa Anita you almost completely "no-showed"! So they went Pro Ride and they hit it outta the park--Good for Oak Tree At Santa Anita, "The Great Race Place" and it was GREAT this past weekend! They'll go Pro Ride and get the REAL GOOD EUROS....and other tracks can have their dirt domination days of beating up on the same tired locals! Santa Anita is way ahead of the pack---as if theres sort of a "coup" in the "Racing Importance Location", at least for right now...in the world's eye, at least, Santa Anita, not New York/Kentucky/Saratoga/Del Mar/Florida/Longchamp/Royal Ascot/or Japan/Hong Kong/Flemington/Sha Tin....for right now, the thoroughbred universe/racing revolves around Arcadia....

One last comment--I believe it was The Curlin Camp's late commitment to The Cup that "did them in", as it were! I just thought that run in the sloppy JC Gold Cup was not the right place for a BC Contender and I did note that in this blog---The Goodwood was the race for Curlin, the perfect prep in fact! I also noted that about Casino Drive--why run him 13 days before the race? If they can't make The Goodwood that is TELLING you something! As for Team Curlin, I think they just waffled too much/ and too long! They were "out prepared" by astute operations! Let that be a warning--if you can make The Goodwood, do so! It's only a prep! If Curlin dances in Goodwood instead of gettin' all muddy, maybe he's still de mon....naw, he's STILL de MON!!!

Jason,Albertus Maximus, Vladimir made all the difference with him. Hyperbaric chamber, Kinesiologist, makes a lot of sense. Like a lot of the handicappers I stopped going on the handicapping and went with the guesswork, hunch, heart and all the rest of the nonsense we do when we feel like the track has a bias. I'm not quite sure how I did it, but I had Desert Code and Raven's Pass, Henry and I did have Tiago based on the way he runs from behind had a $1 tri. Think I'll skip next year at SA, been there done that. I hear there was so much complaining about the price of tickets with the 2 day deal, that will be reviewed. But, it's expensive although I thought it was pretty empty early on both days. Handle was up so guess that's one good thing.

still in Ca doing the tourist stuff and visiting friends it was definitely beautiful weather, although a little warm.

...And what makes Zen's run so strong.....The Two Godolfin fillies! They both fired! They were arguably the two best challengers going into the race--Music Note went head to head with Zenyatta--for a few strides! Man, what a move! But, yeah, it ("the move") was VERIFIED by those two classy fillies, who both fired their best shots! Coacoa Beach had a dream rail run but she was no match! We're talkin' about a real good horse! Yes, a race I'll always remember....

Last three races--Curlin-Woodward(avg at best), Jg Gold (good--very good), BC Classic (good--very good)......now Zenyatta--Clement Hirsch (great), Ladys Secret (great), BCL Classic (great).....

Zenyatta is sensational and it is absolutely NOT a requirement for a filly to beat colts to be horse of the year.  HOY is an award for the best overall YEAR (not one race) and a recognition of the horse that accomplished the MOST for the entire year. That being said, my vote is still for Curlin based on all the challenges he faced.  Also - thank goodness there were no breakdowns during the races but sorry to say it was NOT because it was run on pro ride.  Racing luck was with them all and that's it.  Again, there were NO breakdowns at Saratoga or Belmont during their recent DIRT track meets but there were 8 at Del Mar on polytrack and 4 at Oak Tree right near the start of the meet.

Great to see Georgie Boy back and on Breeder's Cup day no less.  I still remember Bayakoa's 16 month reign of terror.  She beat them (the girls) on several different tracks but could not handle the boys, loosing the Santa Anita Big Cap to Rhulman and Criminal Type as the odds on favorite.  The Moss's played this one conservative but correctly. A Lady's Secret only comes along every 30 years or so.  Zenyatta will get her chance to tackle the boys.  However, she did not have to to pick up HOY honors.  Curlin did the dreaded Dubai bounce and now the months of debating whether or not to run in the Classic is clear.  It was not whether or not Culin would take to synthetics, but rather should he be sent to the farm for some rest. I hope he can get the rest he has earned now.  

I was at Santa Anita on Saturday and it was an amazing event. I saw great forse have wonderful rides. One of the best had to be from Midshipman. I know Ravens Pass, Goldikova and Midnight Lute were impressive but they won from off the pace. Midshipman led from wire to wire to win his race. No one else did this on both days that I can remember. As for Curlin being horse of year, I feel he did not bring it on Saturday. Zenyatta won on both dirt and synthetic and did it amazing fashion. She beat the older female champion on both dirt and synthetic. Curlin is a good horse but lost to Red Rocks who did not place in the BC Turf. He beat no one that placed in grade one.  

I CAN NOT BELIEVE YOU PEOPLE! THE ONE RACE EVERYONE IN THE WORLD WANTS TO WIN IS THE KENTUCKY DERBY.

YES, THE MONEY IS BETTER IN THE BREEDERS CUP BUT ASK ANY HORSE OWNER, RIDER, TRAINER ETC. WHICH RACE THEY WANT TO WIN AND IT IS THE

KENTUCKY DERBY.  

Just because you do not like the trainer or connections of BIG BROWN

do not forget his accomplishments.  Why does he not deserve the Horse of the Year? I feel had he not had the bad luck you would have seen him battling at

the end and edging out Ravens Pass.

I wish the owners would give him some time off and bring him back next year.  We will never know how great he really was.  Curlin was not as good at 3 as he was at 4.

Loved Midnight Lute (loved his dad,

Real Quiet), Zenyatta and that crazy run by Goldikova.  I think BIG BROWN should be Horse of the Year!!!  He got a bad ride in the

Belmont otherwise, he was great!

JMEWILL...u got that all wrong...we own & race four thank u...trainers are like lawyers 80% are BAD...did not pick out one specific trainer thank u...Long Live The Dirt!!!

OWNER...u are right on time with your rundown on the surface & the HORSES...one hell of a fact...thank you so much as we are Owners too!!!...thats why the MYSTICIAL JOHN HENRY(15.1 hands!) could run on I95 if the race had been written!!!...gotta love smart Horse people!!!Long Live The Dirt!!!

Matthew,

"yes I know Curlin had a great year--WAS HE GREAT? HIS LAST FOUR RACES, WERE THEY GREAT?"

Great enough to earn faster Beyers than Zenyatta. All his dirt race Beyers were better than she EVER got. He is simply a faster horse.

Zenyatta is a great FILLY, Curlin is one of the best ever. Head to head the Beyers indicate he would crush her.

I STAND BY EARLIER REMARK. AND RACING HISTORY BACKS ME UP. A FILLY OR A MARE CAN BE HOTY ONLY IF:

1. SHE BEATS THE MALES

2. SHE HAS A GREAT YEAR AND THERE WAS NOT A DOMINANT COLT/GELDING IN THAT SAME YEAR.

Curlin flew around the world, won much more money (becoming the all time leading money winner), ran faster Beyers, more G-1's. He was a Dominant colt.

Unless they go against the criteria that has been established throughout the history of American racing, Curlin should, and probably will be voted HOTY.  

Dan Slater,

   I honestly don't think BB should get HOY. Yea he won all those races, but draw a line through the FL Derby, KY Derby, Preakness, Haskel, and Monmouth stakes. Why because the first three he ran on steroid, which enabled him not to feel the pain in his awful feet, kinda like motrin. Though we did get to see what he'd be like w/o bad feet thanks to the pain killing affect the steroids had, which was awsome. I count the other two out because the lack of competion and the oppertunity he had to seek better. The haskel shoul've been some kind of allowence race with the quality that it had. And then the Monmoth was a made up stakes written for him, which he barely won. I'm not being rude, just stating why he is not in the disscusion, and why we all easily forgot him.

Can someone tell me what the track temperature was for the Classic? The announcers stopped mentioning it about 2 or 3 races before when it hit 140'...just curious.

No disrespect to Robbie A but he did move too soon. Notice Frankie Dettori followed him and later said that was half the battle.

Danylson, if US horses are the best in the world, why don't more of them compete outside the US?  Something to do with the tougher rules on steroid and medication use methinks.

When was the last US trained runner in the Arc, or the King George at Ascot or the Irish Champion Stakes?

US-bred horses appear to win so many races because the USA breeds more foals than any other nation - over 25,000 every year!

It is about who trains the horse, not where it is born!

The European horses were grossly underestimated at the weekend.  To refuse to acknowledge a great horse just because he is trained in another country is very short-sighted and unsportsmanlike.

I see Curlin for the Champion that he is, but he was beaten fair and square on the day.  You can use every excuse under the sun - his long season, the distances he has travelled, the new surface, but the fact remains that both Ravens Pass and Henrythenavigator have had long seasons for 3yos; they both travelled a long way to be at Santa Anita; they are not used to the heat and humidity of California; and neither of them had raced on a synthetic surface before.

This years Breeders' Cup confirmed what I have known for many years having gone racing in Ireland, England and France many times. The European's top horses are better than the North American horses if they are given a chance to compete on an equal basis such as a synthetic track. The European method of training is superior to North American methods. The horses in Europe are trained to cover up and stalk the pace then once in the clear accelerate with an enormous burst of speed. Just look at Goldikova's race. It's time for the North American's to stop complaining and do a better job of training their horses. If anybody doubts this all you have to do is go racing in Ireland, Britain or France and you will be converted.

Zenyatta is a terific filly, no doubt. But not the best ever.

There was nothing to compare to the great ill fated undefeated Ruffian. She was the biggest filly I have ever seen...a true "amazon woman". She would just go to the lead and demolish anything they put against her. SHE WAS NEVER HEADED IN ANY OF HER RACES. Her average margin of victory in her ten races was incredibly over 9 lengths! She won a distances from 5 1/2 furlongs to

1 1/2 miles! For all of you not fortunate enough to see her run, check out her videos on YOUTUBE.

this BC just proved that it's ridiculous to have the qualifiers and the gimmicky "win and you're in's" on dirt if the BC is going to be on carpet fibers, shredded tires, and wax.  

With the Darley, Juddmont, and Princess Hayda horses being owned by the rulers of a country that even our government says is one of the worst human rights offenders in the world, it's a little tough for me to celebrate their having bought horseracing with money we paid for their oil.  

Being a racing fan and not a bettor for more years than I care to admit, I have seen many changes. Over the past few years I have become disgusted with the politics that has only increased.  Now we have so many different synthetic surfaces being touted as safer and fair.  The Breeder's Cup has pushed and pushed over the years to be the last chance for any horse to get horse of the year based on performance in one race.  I won't put anyone down or raise anyone up but this is sheer stupidity.  Has everyone in the industry gone mad?  Have we forgotten all the wonderful races during the year?  One of the saddest things is to see distances shortened like the Jockey Club Gold Cup.  Does anyone remember when it was 2 miles?  That was a real test.  The Breeder's Cup Marathon was a joke.  It isn't how fast the race is run but who has the stamina to stay the distance. I saw a lot of good horses get beat by the synthetic.  There is also the factor that each has a less than optimum day at times.  I will say that perhaps Zenyatta could out run males or maybe even win real dirt races.  However if the owners are smart and that has been proven, they will run her where she can win.  On the other hand Curlin has been all over the world and run on different surfaces. You have to give credit to his connections for placing him in races that were questionable so the fans could enjoy watching him run, win or lose.  Most of the great horses of the past lost a few.  Pepper's Pride never lost a race.  Based on that even though she didn't run in what we have come to call graded stakes, don't you all think that she might be considered for Horse of the Year too?

Has anyone ever thought about how much money the track wins on days like the BC 25?  Look at the odds that have been on some horses in the past; BB-Curlin-CD-etc....

HOUSEHOLDER:

I agree with what the heck were they doing with CD?  When he left the gate I said to myself "why is he out front?"  "Why are they keeping him there?"  This horse NEVER takes the lead and sets the pace.  But who am I and obviously or should I say hopefully they wont use that freakin stupid strategy again!  Honestly when the race was over all I could say to myself was WTF? WTF?  Sorry but like I said earlier, I can live with 5 or 6 position from this horse but last and I mean dead last was too much for me......

How can y'all say that Zenyatta is HOY when she ran outside of Cali only one time and she NEVER faced the boys?  She had a chance to in the BC, she could've (and SHOULD HAVE) run the Classic, but instead her connections put her in the Ladies Classic because they DID NOT THINK she'd beat the boys.  Curlin has been all over the world, run on all three surfaces (dirt, turf and synthetic) and may yet ship to Hong Kong to race.  Really, Curlin deserves HOY just for the fact he's shown up, he's never ducked any competition, unlike BB who continually ducked Curlin to the point of being retired before the BC.  Did no one else catch Ivarone's comment about BB being "sound"?  Sound means NO INJURIES!!  Curlin's done exactly what we expected of him, he's lived up to his HOY title by running as a 4 year old and facing whoever came to the race to meet him.  It is not his fault that he didn't have better competition in the Woodward or the JCGC.  That's on the owners & trainers of the other horses, not on Jackson or Curlin.

Zenyatta left her comfort zone only ONE time!  Otherwise, her connections kept her where she was, where she ran her best and where they KNEW she'd win at.  That doesn't deserve HOY honors, that deserves top older filly honors.  History shows that for a filly to win HOY she HAS to face the boys.  She never did.  Therefore, Curlin wins HOY again.

I would be happy with either Curlin or Zenyatta as HOY.  Howver, I don't see why people feel the need to diminish what Zenyatta's done this year by saying she's only a synthetic specialist (last I knew Oaklawn was still dirt), she should have run against males, never left CA, etc.  I didn't see any of the East coast mares, with the exception of Hysterical Lady, come West to challenge her during the year.  In fact, Romance is Diane went East to get a break from Zenyatta!  So please, let's debate it but don't run her down. And how about that foal class of 2004?  Curlin, Zenyatta, Rags, Street Sense, Hard Spun.  What a great crop of foals that was!

The thing I really like about Euro racing is that the fillies and mares do run against the boys in many major races.  It seems that they aren't afraid to run a good horse, regardless of sex, in their big races.  And so Zarkava had a chance to show how good she is in the Arc.

Zenyatta is a good horse but Americans don't appear to run their fillies and mares in any big races unless they're carded only for fillies and mares.  That's disappointing to fans and is the main reason why Curlin should be HOY.  He danced every dance and even if he didn't win all the time, he RAN.  (and not only againt inferior opposition and lower grade races, skipping the biggies, like some 3yo we all know)

I would have loved to have seen Zenyatta in the Classic instead of the Distaff ("Ladies Classic"???.  Even my non-horse racing friends (except once in a while, when I tell them it's important) thought this would have been great.

And if the Aga Khan hadn't retired Zarkava, I would have loved even more to have seen the three of them together.  It could have been fun.

p.s.  I am not European.  However, in Canada, we have fillies running in the Queen's Plate quite often and they do win.  Good horses usually run good races.

Also, as the owner of a last name that starts with a Z (pronounced "zed") who is always stuck with alphabetical order, I'm glad that this year appears to be the year of the Filly Zed's.

Jason. Thanks for your response about Fabulous Strike. Trainers can be wrong. Even if a horse works well on the Pro-Ride, it's no indication he'll run well on the surface in an actual race as Steve Asmussen so aptly pointed out. In Fabulous Strike's case though, he did not even work well as an actual rider Chris McCarron with his seasoned, experienced eye pointed out on TVG's The Works after watching him FS work. It's possible the grueling race he ran in the Vosburgh in the slop was the real culprit in his lackluster performance or possibly a combination of the toll of that race and a dislike of the Pro-Ride surface. I'd never him perform so badly and, in weighing all possibilities, I believe I'd put much more weight on McCarron's more objective judgments of Fabulous Strike's response to the Pro-Ride. Trainer spin before a race is notoriously optimistic and often bears no relation to reality. Would like to know how Frankel thought Ginger Punch was handling the Pro-Ride before her debacle in the Ladies' Classic. Maybe you could ask him ?

Zenyatta by a nose for HOY! Go to the windows!

Enjoyed every minute of the Breeders Cup. So much hype re: Curlin. It was a shame that he didn't live up to it. I feel his camp was goaded into this race by the BB connections. And then they were forced to withdraw. Is there ever any justice? Curlin's connections were never really into the synthetic track, but they did it for the good of the sport. You have to commend Mr. Jackson for that. He's one in a million. And so is Curlin. He has that look about him, even in defeat. That look that sets him apart. My favorite moment was Midnight Lute's tremendous triumph. And HOY? Zenyatta has my vote!

Congratulations!  At last, the Breeders Cup is the WORLD championship, not a bunch of races run by and for American-trained horses.  I have a feeling that it's not the surface most people are moaning about, let's face it if it had been pretty much a US clean sweep there wouldn't be all this 'controversy'.  Everyone knew the BC this year would be on a synthetic surface, everyone had a chance to prepare their horse through the year to run on it.  If they didn't, more fool them!!

Now all we need to do is get rid of ALL the drugs, and we'll see whose horses are REAL runners!

I'm confused about all this talk about European BRED horses and North American BRED horses. Raven's pass is out of Elusive Quality. He is hardly European bred. Am I missing something?

Bill H, I'll politely say, what equal surface? There is no synthetic track here that is the same as another?

What I think you actually mean't, and as RP connections actually said in an interview, now that BC races will be run more often on surfaces that resemble grass more than dirt, the Euro invasion has begun.

There will be NO American Dirt horses running next year in the BC. We might as well have the breeding cup in Europe next year. What a shame. the winner of the Kentucky Derby will stay home! Wow, what a great idea this was!

Not absolutely certain but I heard from one jock and trainer that I know that a race or two before it was up to 147.

Bellweather, you say you work in marketing, my friend and I posted this but it didn't get thru, how can you possibly market horse racing if you dislike 80% of the primary managers of the horses that run. How can you sell racing to people if you feel only a small minority have any clue as to what they are doing add into that the fact that 99% of owners have no clue and leave it up to their trainers and their managers and you have a pretty shoddy product. Oh I get it reverse psychology or out and out lies? Your little blurb sounds remarkably like Draynay and I believe if you do your marketing figures like your % of how many trainers know what they are doing, they are pretty skewed.

Bettye N,

The Big Ole Browneye does not deserve to be HOY or 3 yr old of the year for that matter for a number of reasons. The first and foremost is that he never faced or beat any true top notch animals. The members of this years 3 yr old class that he faced, beat, and was beaten by were very weak to say the least. Secondly he never faced or beat any true top flight older animals. The one race he had against older was written specifically for him to get a race in and win. The others that showed up altered their schedules to get there whereas Brownie had the time to point for the race. That is a huge advantage. The competition he saw there was not top flight as witnessed by Shakis who he barely beat when running a 99 Beyer which is not that great and would have lost to had the race gone longer than 1 1/8 miles. Shakis was entered and finished dead last in the Breeders Cup when facing much better and showed he didn't compare to top notch animals. That shows you right there Brownie wasn't a top flight turf horse by any means. The Big Ole Browneye may have won some G1 races but they were G1's for 3yr olds only and a weak group at that. Somebody had to win the race. The horse he beat in the Fla. Derby (Smooth Air) finished dead last in the Classic (he didn't even belong there) and none of the others outside of Colonel John who finished out of the money and off the board on his favored surface in the Classic were good enough to get there. Quite simply put he beat nobody his entire career.

To be HOY as a 3 yr old would require beating top notch older horses at some point and Brownie never even faced any. A Triple Crown and retirement because of injury would qualify one as well in my humble opinion. The Big Ole Browneye doesn't rate much mention unless you are obsessed by him for some reason that only a shrink could tell.

Raven's Pass who beat true top notch Europeans on the grass and who won the Classic against one of the best fields ever is your 3 yr old of the year over the Big Ole Browneye. Here is a horse who won on multiple surfaces at multiple distances against top notch older horses as well from throughout the world. The Big Ole Browneye's accomplishments come nowhere near that especially when you examine his lack of competition.

Duck Duck Dutrow and Co. had ample opportunity to race Curlin and others on the dirt and chose to duck them instead. Even they knew he wasn't in the same class as tose others. instead they kept him facing weak competition where they could "enhance" his record to get a one time shot at HOY in the Classic where he didn't make it to. Even that strategy failed them in the Belmont where he was whipped by an allowance horse, a mere maiden, and others and caused all the problems he had himself right from the start. Brownie will go down in history nowhere near the top 50 of all time. He just never proved it on the track where it counts.

Agree with THE WIZARD...Zenyatta has a ways to go.  I liked Lady's Secret BC Distaff run at Santa Anita at 1 1/4 miles. I also liked Bayakoa's 16 month reign of terror and back to back BC Distaff wins.  Zenyatta can prove herself next year.  I would look for her to show up in the Santa Anita Handicap.

What sense does it make to have the qualifying races on dirt if the BC's on synth?  There are not enough synth tracks in this country running Gr 1 and 2's to have the BC on synth.  

While the synth seems to be safer than a lot of dirt tracks, did it really make sense to add a third surface to US racing rather than researching and working to make dirt surfaces safer?  

Karen2,

It's where Momma drops them that determines where they are considered bred not where Papa impregnates the Mare.

I didnt realize that this blog was about HOY???  But if were all going there then here is my opinion.

If Curlin would of ran his race and took it, everyone would be screaming HOY!HOY!  Zenyatta had another good day and now some of you want to see a match race....Plus proclaim her HOY. I do agree she is a great horse however........

I seen the day when BB came in dead last and AMERICA'S HORSE was not favored as he once was.  If you want to know why CD had such great numbers in the BC it's mainly because ALOT of the BB likers were not so loyal after his defeat and sought out another hero and started to follow another horses career.  The press made that horse CD.  Now everyday people (not the ones like most of us that know our horses and what to follow and look for ) put up money and there go your numbers (by the way I was guilty for betting on him)  I guess what I'm trying to say is Curlin is your HOY for me(as he should be others) because with a record and career like his, how can you deny him that honor with all that he has given us?  That would be as stupid as CD odds in the classic.

After Dutrow's comments regarding female trainers through the Filly Friday broadcast, it is only fitting that Kip Deville got beat by Goldikova.

I don't know that I like or dislike synthetic tracks, but the good thing I see about them is that the races seem much more competitive. You don't see much "field spread" coming into the stretch, like you do at Gulfstream, for example, where there is an 8 length gap between each horse.

So, CURLIN got beat by the synthetic track, huh? The track didn't race against, or beat, CURLIN. He just lost. He lost the Kentucky Derby by 8 lengths last year. He lost the Belmont by a head. He lost the Haskell by several lengths. And he lost the Man O' War Stakes this year. He also struggled a little bit in the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup, but he won. He's not SPECTACULAR BID.

And CURLIN should be Horse of the Year because he ran at the age of four? That's not nearly reason enough. He only had 3 wins in the USA, right? BIG BROWN won five stakes, I believe, but I wouldn't give it to him either because you don't get rewarded for chickening out. CURLIN could almost be Horse of the Year, but a record of 5-3-1-0, with his only out of the money finish coming on BC Championship day creates a situation where a dominant filly or mare (like LADY'S SECRET and AZERI) deserves to be Horse of the Year. ZENYATTA deserves the award.

And to the people who say that ZENYATTA can't be horse of the year because she "only ran outside California once," I say, it doesn't matter. New York and Southern California are the centers of the best racing in the USA, and if a horse had won all his races at Belmont, Saratoga and Aqueduct those people would not be making that same argument, and they would not say, "This horse can't be Horse of the Year because he/she didn't run outside New York!"

CURLIN's got beat by RAVEN'S PASS, HENRYTHENAVIGATOR and TIAGO, not by the Pro Ride. And to say that just because CURLIN beat TIAGO in the Belmont Stakes last year means that the BC Classic result is somehow "wrong" is ridiculous. Horses beat each other all the time. And just because a horse wins once against another horse doesn't mean he's better, worse, or the same. It just means he beat that other horse on that particular day. CURLIN beat TIAGO last year. And this year TIAGO beat CURLIN.

That's horse racing!

Bettye N, Big Brown isn't in consideration for the HOY honors because he didn't beat anyone.  In order to be considered for HOY he had to face Curlin OR run in the Breeders Cup.  He did neither.  Therefore, he is not in consideration.  Add on that after the Belmont, he raced the Haskell against weak competition and then a custom made race, UNGRADED race, again against weak competition.  Big Brown is not deserving of HOY and should be happy if he gets 3yo colt of the year (honestly I'm not sure he deserves that either, since Colonel John improved SO much and had such a thrilling victory in the Travers, not to mention won over both dirt & synthetic this season, as well as ran in the BC Classic.

Thinking out loud... you have to have great 3 year old to win the classic or a weaker 4 year old class... BC as SA/Oak next year...

Smooth Air, Colonel John and who else?... Who's gonna beat the Euros next year?

ALL YOU PEOPLE SAYING BIG BROWN FOR HORSE OF THE YEAR ARE WASTING YOUR TIME. I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY BARBARO DIDN'T GET HOY. HE ALSO WAS INDEFEATED AND WON THE DERBY. BUT THEY GAVE IT TO INVASOR BECAUSE HE WON THE CLASSIC. SO IF BARBARO DID NOT GET HOY WITH HIS GREAT CONNECTIONS, BIG BROWN SURE DOES NOT DESERVE IT!!

(Frank J)

Just a thought, for those who subscribe with TVG, how many people had it on that channel prior to switching over to ESPN for the race? Show of hands.......???? Look, the point I'm making with Chris Berman and Trey Wingo is that we can get people to present this product of ours a whole lot better than what's been used the past two years. Maybe a little more emphasis on the horses, jockeys & trainers for those people who are watching from home who don't watch racing regularly can get a clue on what they're watching. Let's get Trevor Denman to chime in a little eariler than usual. Back when it was with NBC you had Dick Enberg & Charlsie Canty and the guys from NYRA going back and forth at each other. They were entertaining and provided the product with a bit of flare. The production all n all this year was an improvement, but the three main guys (Bailey, Moss & Whomever) need to go. I'm sure contract issues would be in the way of getting this done but how about a mix of the TVG & HRTV guys hosting this thing. Laffit Pincay III did the post race interviews last year.... Why not have him host it? I can live with that.

Well, with the talk about the track and how a Derby winner won't run on synthetics again (nothing like hyperbole), what about Churchill Downs? How often have we heard about horses not taking to that track? About how it can get cuppy and baised? I hope the move to synthetics pushes breeders to start breeding stamina, soundness and acceleration into the horses again so that maybe we can see horses regularly race at 5 instead of out of the game at 3. Or maybe horse that excel on multiple surfaces, doesn't that make the breed stronger and the racing more interesting?

I thought the Breeder's Cup was fantastic and the horses that ran best on the day won. Give me races with great, strong finishes like we saw both days over the all-too-common stagger to the finish in longer races these days in U.S. racing.

What Bias? RP had as much of a dirt pedigree as Curlin. And he was bred here in KY. You know why these Euros are as good as they are? They're battle tested. They don't duck each other. Remember when the Woodward & Jockey Club Gold Cup would crown champions b/c of the quality of horses that were entered? Just go as far back as 1994 when Holy Bull took it down. Just youtube that race and listen to the names of the horses entered. Now these races are run with short fields with one dominant horse and the balance inferior like its a walkover. Look, Curlin is a good horse, a champion. But can you really say he was compromised by the surface. None of the Euros ever raced on the surface. And aren't they at a disadvantage by flying across the pond, growing into their winter coats, spending a few days in quarantine, having a few days to gallop over the track  which they've never tasted in 90 degree weather that they're never used to running in!? Let's give them some credit, huh? You know why Curlin got beat, a long campaign,  a five wide move where Frankie was draftin' behind and then shot past him. It's not like he through in a Big Brown performance at the Belmont here. He made his move and was outrun the last part to finish a close fourth. The Duke didn't show up either! Nor Pursuit of Glory, Sixties Icon, Bushranger, Halfway to Heaven, Visit, etc... This is as level as a playin' field you're gonna get. So Curlin is good on dirt & Raven's Pass is good on turf. Rubber match, Pro-Ride. It's not like he didn't make a move. He made a big move on the turn and couldn't sustain it! He lost. Just simply lost. It can happen (Secretariat).

Was I dreaming, or did Mike Iavaroni do a five minute interview in the middle of Saturday afternoon and say he and his family were threatened with death if they shipped Big Brown to the Breeder;s Cup. I've been searching all three racing publications and not a word of this has been mentioned. I'm beginning to think I'm making the whole thing up. Anyone.....

Karen2, I think you'll find that Ravens Pass is BY Elusive Quality. A horse is BY a stallion and OUT OF a mare.

Where a horse is born has no bearing on his/her ability - it is all down to their environment and the training.

Hey Growl,

Good point on the qualifying races. You know at first they don't really mean much b/c the best horses were going to get in anyway. But if there is a huge European contingent coming over next year, what happens then? Do the Euros come over earlier in order to qualify for these races? Or will there be more qualifying races implemented overseas? That'll be interesting.

With Well Armed's flop in the "Synthetic" mile (obviously another really tired horse) what was actually behind Curlin in Dubai?  Sure Curlin has great Beyers but so does Commentator.  Are we now awarding HOY to the best Beyer or the horse that travels the most?  Curlin's year has been less than stellar and BB has spent most of his time with 3 year olds.  Neither deserved HOY unless they won the BC Classic.  

SUSAN, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT I BELIEVE IN DUBAI YOU CAN'T BET, YOU CAN'T USE STEROIDS AND EVEN HORSES FROM JAPAN HAVE BEEN DISQUALIFIED; AND YET THESE SAME "DRUGGED" HORSES WHICH MANY EUROPEANS CLAIM THE AMERICANS ARE BEAT ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN A FOREIGN LAND EVERY YEAR IN MOST OF THE DUBAI CARD RACES AND THAT IS FACT WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT. HORSES BORN IN THE USA HAVE HAD SUCCESS IN THE ARC. MANILA WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A HORSE WHO WOULD HAVE PROBABLY WON THE ARC IN 1987 IF NOT FOR HIS INJURY. SO YES AMERICAN HORSE ARE TO THIS DAY SUPERIOR TO EUROPEAN AND ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. THAT THE DOES NOT DIMINISH RAVEN'S PASS OR HENRY THE NAVIGATOR'S AWESOME PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASSIC, I JUST FEEL THAT CURLIN WAS RIDDEN BADLY BY HIS JOCKEY, IF DETTORI IS ON CURLIN I BET HE GETS A WAY BETTER RIDE THAN THAT OF SATURDAY. EUROPEAN HORSES ARE GAINING AND ARE PROBABLY #2 AND THAT IS NOTHING TO BE ASHAMED OF, THAT'S IS JUST THE WAY I SEE IT!

I was at the Breeder's Cup saturday and Curlin was absolutely beautiful as I stood an arm's length away from him as he paraded around the walking ring,as for his race I'm not sure if it was the surface as has been suggested but do feel that it was more than likely his long campaign this year. His prior 2 races he appeared abit tired though he won anyways. It was great how the fans all screamed and hollered for Curlin right at the start of the race, the middle and the end. I must admit that just seeing him in person and watching him run brought tears of joy to my eyes and tears of sadness when he lost but the joy of seeing him will stay with me forever. I felt this way when I watched Seattle Slew lose his first race at Hollywood Park in the Swaps Stakes, unfortunately alot of the fans at that time were cruel in the assessment of Seattle Slew but thank God the fans at the Breeder's Cup applauded the great champion as he walked down the track minus his saddle and the sweat of his effort evident. I hope Mr. Jackson will permit Curlin to run at 5 years of age as I feel that with Curlin the days of Round Table, Dr. Fager, Damascus and Kelso are coming back. If you give to the fans the fans will give back to racing.

You go Danylson!!!

Susan: What??? Where a horse is born may not have any bearing on his/her abilities but the names on the top and bottom side sure do. The training and conditioning are what bring out their inherited abilities. My question was regarding those that were making comments about European bred horses. Ravens pass is not european bred.

Nice post Julie L. Thank you for sharing that with us.

Eastern Comet - Iavarone said his family was threatened with bodily harm if something was to happen to BB in the Belmont...

Julie L--I was amongst the sweltering 68K fans that saw Seattle Slew fade back to 4th in The 77 Swaps...and he recieved a thunderous standing ovation coming back!...Curlin ran a strong race Sat--he was tired! In all of sports, there is no classier crowd than a packed horse racing grandstand!!

Curlin won many a race in '08---but The Breeders Cup is the championship proving ground, and for whatever reason, Team Curlin decided to waffle right up to the muddy J C Gold Cup---finally deciding to try Pro Ride, as if on a lark...and they were served at the hands of two solid Euros and the trainer of Tiago, as well as The Horse Of The Year....

You know sometimes I think people don't look at the body of work, so to speak, that a horse has to its credit. For some people it's about what has he done for us lately/yesterday, and that's all they care about. Curlin winning in the BC was an iffy proposition at  best since he had never run on Pro-Ride before. It is to his owner's everlasting credit that they ran him, for the sake of the sport, and to Curlin's everlasting credit that he tried his best. He didn't come in last. Let's give this wonderful horse his due. He deserves HOTY and alot of respect. I think he is one of the best horses of the past 50 years.  Kudos to Zenyatta for what she accomplished, and to BB for what he accomplished, bad feet and all. Peppers Pride set a record too. I am really happy for what these horses have brought us. The Euro horses were fantastic and time will tell if they are really better or they just love the synthetics.

Sorry to tell you "Whatever" but those English horses are by AMERICAN sires Elusive Quality and Kingmambo.  Much of the European bloodlines are from the good ole USA so it's is not that their breeding is superior to ours - it IS OUR breeding.  It is that their horses run only on the grass which plays like synthetic which is why they came here in the first place!

Eastern Comet:  Mike Ivarone said they received death threats prior the the Belmont not the Breeder's Cup. It was related to Big Brown's questionable hoof problem and he said the threat was made "IF" something should happen to Big Brown in the Belmont because of it.  That was quite shock!

Eastern Comet, no you weren't imagining it. Mike Iavarone did an interview and did say that. I just kind of watched it on a dvd I recorded, he got death threats had 9 cops with him at the Belmont. Not sure what preciptiated it but heard it was part of what made him angrier with Kent. right nearly 5 months later? That's why I didn't watch it that close, will go back and scope it out. Was at SA on both days so I tivoed and also made a dvd.

Householder,

   No we are not awarding HOY to the horse w/ the best beyers, we are awarding it to the horse who has the best body work to their record, Curlin. Yes Zenyatta is unbeaten, and yes she was dominate in almost every one, but she only stepped outside Cali once. I do feel that this year she needed to run against the classic, or against the boys. Had Curlin not been as dominate on dirt as she was on synthetics, then she could have HOY w/o facing males. The way for her to garuntee HOY is to face Curlin before the year ends, on his prefferd surface. Otherwise Curlin has HOY.

We're all here as horse racing fans, so there really is no need to get argumentative - there is enough division in the industry already.

To say that American horses are the best in the world comes across as arrogant, whether you mean it that way or not.  The best horses in the world come from all over the world, no one nation has perfected the art of breeding a racehorse!

Perhaps we shall have to agree to disagree - that's the beauty of freedom of speech!

Why do people act like Curlin's races in Dubia don't count? Wasn't Invasor nominated last year because of his Dubia World Cup win, yet people on some blogs, and a couple here act like they never happened. They will say Curlin only won only 3 out of five this year and thats untrue. He raced 7 times and won five. All five wins came on dirt. People act like the BC is all that matters, well i for one think the races in Dubia are more international than our BC races. The races over their are worth more and that is what crowned curlin horse of the world on dirt, and whos to say he isn't still. Let a horse come and beat him on dirt and then dethrone him, but as of now this year on dirt he is still the best horse of the world on dirt.

You hit the nail on the head MIKE S.  I 100% agree with you on your last comment.

JShandler,

"I dont care what Beyer figures say".

Do you really mean that? I doubt you'll get many handicappers to agree with that statement.

As I mentioned earlier, and surely as a student of racing history you must agree...fillies or mares do not get HOTY without beating males or having a fabulous year while there are no dominant males in that year (Azeri). I liken this discussion to the 1988 HOTY voting, when Personal Ensign retired undefeated in 13 races, even beating the boys in the Whitney. Yet she lost the HOTY to Alysheba, who retired as the all time leading money winner at the time after having a year very similar to Curlin's. Is Zenyatta better than Personal Ensign? Was Alysheba better than Curlin? The records don't indicate either.

If Zenyatta gets HOTY, after running almost all of her races in California against other Filies and mares, you are bucking the great history of our sport.

And do you honestly think she's a faster horse than Curlin?

Remember, these races Saturday were run on a overheating rubber track. Curlin obviously did not take to the footing as he does on dirt. He should not be penalized for that?

By the way, talking about Beyers, do you, or anyone else on these blogs, know what the Beyer ratings for Zenyatta and Curlin were on Saturday? Just curious.

Well wait a minute..... I agree with one of your statements I should say.

The statement of:   just because a horse wins once against another horse doesn't mean he's better, worse, or the same. It just means he beat that other horse on that particular day.

I do think CURLIN is worthy of HOY however.

Eastern Comet, I heard that interview as well.  It would explain a lot of Ivarone's reactions on Belmont day.  That was the same interview in which he stated that Big Brown was "sound", which as a horsewoman, leads me to think the injury that forced Big Brown to miss the BC and retire either (A) did not happen or (B) is not as severe as they made it out to be.  To me, and to a lot of my horse owner friends, being "sound" means free of any injuries or lameness.  If Big Brown tore off the bulb of his hoof and part of the hoof wall as well, he would be far from sound.

Eastern Comet:

My husband and I heard the same thing you did during the Belmont telecast re: death threat to the Iavarones.  We both thought it was one of the more ridiculous things we had heard in connection with horse racing in the 21st Century.  The Belmont is long over and the excuses still haven't stopped.

Sorry, meant to say we heard the death threat thing during the BC telecast, not the Belmont telecast.  Point is the same though: I don't believe it.

Jason,

Beyers notwithstanding, do you agree at all with my other comments concerning a filly or mare

getting HOTY? ("fillies or mares do not get HOTY without beating males or having a fabulous year while there are no dominant males in that year")...the criteria that has always been used in the past when awarding the HOTY.

Susan, I agree there are great horses all over the world. The Euros were great at the BC. I am glad they came. I love horses from wherever they hail. However, I do think the fact that Euro horses run on turf is something that's in their favor when they run on the synthetics. That doesn't diminish their win in my opinion.

Curlin ran a 106 in the BCC.  He ran a 104 in the MO'W.  These 2 races (not on dirt) are the only races since 2007 Haskell (105) that he has run under 110.  You could say there is a trend there. . .

Zenyatta ran a 103 in the Classic.  She ran a 108 in both the Lady's Secret and C.Hirsch.  These are her highest BSFs.  Out of 9 starts, she has 5 BSFs over 100. . .

I do think a filly needs to beat a boy field to win HOTY. I think for a horse to be considered dominant, she has to be able to beat a male field too and it is certainly doable as we have seen more than a few times. It would be unfair to give it to a filly who has never even raced once against the boys. Especially when you have a horse like Curlin. He is a horse who has been dominant for two years, that counts for more than 9 wins in against a field of girls only. It is only logical and it is only fair. If the industry wants to hand out awards to fillys that just beat fillys, create another award. Give separate HOTY awards to the girls and the boys. Otherwise, the girls need to show up on the same playing field as the boys.

jshandler:  Thank you for also pointing out that culin's last two were not immpressive  as his previous had been, it was that and not jockey or surface that beat him on sat!

Beware of Jess Jackson:  He must be best friends with ole Bellwether neither one of them seems to have much respect for the people who are in charge of the horses, The Trainers...With  trainers like rick dutrow it's easy to see why they think like that way.....BUT then you look at people like Larry Jones, John Gosden, Richard Mandella, Bruce Headley, Paddy Gallagher,John Sherriffs, Dan Hendricks(could go on for hours) how do they come to those conclusions that 80% of trainer's are bad?  And that's not even listing the very small guys who do right by their horses in an effort to get by every month... The ones who don't cheat and abuse medications but no one hears about them, it's always the high dollar guys like dutrow who can't win a Belmont without his steroids. Or the ones who are constantly being fined for TOC levels and have horses that seem to be forever running out of the protection barn.  

Is it just me or has the Filly/Mare division seem to be a little stronger than its male counterparts this year? Not just here, but around the world? Granted only a small sample get to test the males although it happens quite frequently in Europe. But I'd have to say that Filly/Mare Division in America would give these boys a run for there money. Any takers? (Goldikova, Zarkava, and soon Zenyatta, Eight Belles clearly second best in the KY Derby).

Draynot do you believe any of the garbage you post ?  Why many of you choose to harp on Big Brown is just plain nuts.  The horse won every single race he was ever allowed to finish.  We all know what happend in the Belmont we all saw the pictures. He came back and ran again winning every race getting ready for the Classic and got hurt AGAIN.  This is a horse that had to overcome problems with his feat just like Ghostzapper.  If you watch the Classic notice that just a little more than a length behind Curlin is Colonel John and Smooth Air.  Writers like Jason are going to vote on Horse of the Year and they are going to blame Big Brown for getting stepped on and pulled up.  One mistake and he is not horse of the year.  LOL... what a crime!  I have a better idea let's give it to a filly that stuck around California and never stepped foot at Belmont, Saratoga, or Churchill and never took on any males. That is your HOY?  Or better yet lets give it to a horse that beat maybe 3 G1 winners all year long.  

And when he did face G1 winners....he lost.  Let's give him HOY for beating Wanderin Boy, Past the Point and Well Armed.  By the way where did Well Armed finish in the Classic ???

Well then Jason I respect your opinion, but I guess I'm more of a tradionalist and will not go against the way HOTY has been awarded in the past. Why change a a system that is fair and worked all these years? Especially when we let the results of an unproven artificial rubberized race track have such an inpact on the year's body of work like that of Curlin's.

If Zenyatta gets voted HOTY over Curlin, to me it will be just another example of the regression of sport of Thoroughbred Racing and it's traditions.

And is it true what I have heard....that there  was something like 6 breakdowns on the supposedly safer artificial surface at Golden Gates meet, while there was none at the Belmont's (or was it CD) dirt surface meet? Hmmm.

After next years second go around at Santa Anita (and what genius planned the BC races for the same track 2 years in a row), I hope they never run them on a rubber track again. That is, unless you want to give the Europeans the advantage every time you do.  

Matthew W. - Well that is good to hear that you heard great applause but where I was sitting with my parents I heard the comments from people such as "We showed Seattle Slew what racing is about in California, he got his butt kicked good." That has stayed with me for all of these years and there were other comments as well and maybe, just maybe, one or two people on saturday may have had some unkind words for Curlin but this time I was nowhere near those comments. I got to hear the applause for a great horse.

Perhaps Jason can enlighten us on who actually votes for HOY. I know it is "industry" people but they messed this up once before...LURE.  Was Lure supposed to leave the turf and run on the dirt for 1 1/4 to get HOY?  He was the best TURF MILER on both sides of the pond during his day.  If it is going to be HOY "Classic" all the time then how is the award going to the BEST horse?  Perhaps they need to just get rid of this award or rename it HOY "Classic."

How can we give HOY to Curlin?  He certainly did not dominate the sprint ranks and I did not see him showing up in any 1 1/2 Graded Turf events.  How about a race agaist any Grade I Turf Horse and Curlin on the Turf Horse's preferred surface.  That would be the true test would it not?  

One thing that was wrong was the strange lack of security at the entrance gates. I sat next to three women who brought in bottles of Grey Goose in their purses! Think this would happen at the Derby? Think again. I was not even wanded when I entered. It would not take much for someone to smuggle something terribly wrong into this years BC at Santa Anita.

Hopefully officials will wake up for next year.

TO SOLVE THE PUZZLE TO HORSE OF THE YEAR, CURLIN NEEDS TO RUN AT CHURCHILL AND BEAT COMMENTATOR AND HE WILL SECURE THE HONORS, WHETHER HE RUNS AND WINS IS BOTH BIG QUESTIONS.REGARDLESS HE IS HOY TO ME.

Dray,

  Answer me this who did BB beat. I asure you both Curlin and Zenyatta beat better horses than he ever did. Also Pro ride does play somewhat like turf, why do you think the races were so bunched? I got an idea, since your so sure Jason will vote HOY why don't we ask him. So Jason who is your pick for HOY BB Curlin or Zen.

Also, Wanderin boy is a good horse, notice who he faced and ran second two, o let me see Bernardini Invasor Lawyer Ron. BB nerve faced horses like that. Also are you really going to bash a horse that finished third in the worlds richest race, w/o running on steroids?  Zen can run on Poly and dirt, Curlin can whip anyone on real dirt. What does BB do win all his races against very weak fields and dominates a bunch of Glorified allowences horses.

nay nay,

The simple fact is Big Brown never beat anyone who was top notch when he faced them. He didn't even race the entire season. This is an award for Horse of the Year not horse of the 1/2 year. You mentioned Wanderin Boy, in his race against Curlin he received a better Beyer than Big Brown ever did his entire career and would have beat Big Brown. No wonder Duck Duck Dutrow and Co. refused the challenge to run in that race, he would have been beaten by multiple animals that day. Belmont schmelmont, Big Brown had nobody to blame but himself for that loss. All his problems started right out of the gate when he broke in and almost took out the maiden who despite Brownie severly compromising his race ended up whipping Brownie by multiple lenghts in the end. He choked in the biggest race of his life. I believe after that debacle his connections realized he wasn't really special and that's why they ducked the Curlin challenge.

It wasn't just his debacle in the Belmont that will cost him HOY it is the fact he only beat very meek members of this years class of 3 yr olds and his one race against older was a setup for a win and he almost lost that. Raven's Pass is a much better 3 yr old than the Big Ole Browneye and should be 3 yr old of the year, at least he beat somebody of consequence and raced a full season.

As for HOY I'm not really a firm "backer" of any particular animal. One thing I know for sure is the Big Ole Browneye didn't prove he's worthy of that honor. You were spouting off and claiming that if Brownie went to the Classic and won he should be HOY and I would have been inclined to agree if that was the case. At that time you were not claiming the honor for the Big Ole Browneye based on his accomplishments leading up to the Classic. You knew then that he hadn't earned it and needed to beat much better and older to lay claim to the honor. In case you can't remember he never made it there. He never proved he was better than Curlin, Raven's Pass, and many others because he never faced anyone that good. Those he faced were at the time he faced them well under par for even an average 3 yr old class. His G1 wins weren't against true G1 competition. LOL all you want at Curlin's competition some of who ran faster than Brownie ever did in his best races, the fact of the matter is Brownie never beat anyone of Curlin's class. The Big Ole Browneye never faced anyone near as good or better than Curlin. He never achieved the next level of competition because he never faced it. To be HOY you have to beat more than Brownie did. They just weren't that good. To be HOY at 3 one has to beat not only his generation but the beat of the older generation as well. Brownie had a shot to do that but didn't make it to the Classic therefore he falls well short.

Draynay, exactly WHO did Big Brown beat in his last two races?  Shakis?  He was already showing that he wasn't a contender and that he was becoming nothing more than an allowance race horse (no disrespect to Shakis, I love him but he was EIGHT years old, it was past time for him to retire!).  Coal Play, another allowance horse who nearly beat Big Brown??  Oh yeah, let's give Big Brown HOY for beating NO ONE!!!  And again, I reiterate, that Ivarone said at his interview Saturday that BB was SOUND (sound means NO INJURIES).  That makes me think that they claimed an injury that did not happen JUST so they could duck Curlin and EVERY OTHER GREAT HORSE at the BC Classic.  

Look at Curlin ... he shipped to Dubai, won 2 races there, came back to the States, won a race in June, lost on turf to a BC Turf winner, won 2 more in a row, went to the BC Classic on a surface that Jackson & Asmussen didn't want to run him on in the first place and finished a gallant third, behind 2 horses that aren't eligible for our HOY and Tiago, who hasn't done ENOUGH to win HOY.  Also, let's not forget that he ran 3 races in 8 weeks for a total distance of over 3.5 miles.  Unlike when BB tried to run that many races in a short period of time, at least Curlin FINISHED the race.  If BB could've won the Triple Crown, then yes he'd be in consideration.  If BB would've faced Curlin, which is what he HAD to do to get HOY, then yes he'd be in consideration.  He did neither.  I still think BB will be lucky to get 3yo colt of the year with the way some of the other 3yos improved over the season, including Colonel John who won the Travers in a thrilling fashion and who had the guts to face Curlin and every other horse in the BC Classic and had won on both artificial surfaces and dirt.  

BB doesn't deserve HOY.  He didn't do ANYTHING worth commenting about and his Beyers were pitiful, his highest one being 109.  As ESPN guys said on Saturday, Big Brown is GOOD but he'll never be considered GREAT.

Dutrows comment on wonwon on espn again should the racing public what a jerk he is.  Afterall it is not so long ago during the big brown story he said  himself he would not be where he is today if it were not for michelle nevin his assistant.. Michelle give him the boot and train yourself!!!!!!!!!! DUTROW will soon be old NEWS.

DANYLSON, Commentator is not in consideration for HOY and you can not expect Curlin to run AGAIN in 4 weeks.  He's run 3 races in 8 weeks to try to run 4 in 12 would kill him.  That would be taking a HUGE risk of a possible breakdown.  I can assure you in Curlin broke down running against Commentator in Nov, PETA would be all over the industry again.  

Looking for some input here and to take everyone's attention from the BB, Curly, Zenny debate. Discounting synthetic surfaces, how can the BC be improved with its tv coverage of the event and the event in general?

Rock,

I live here, but move it out of Cal. Too laid back, let's show up for the big races and be gone. ALL about IMAGE.

Since it's here next year, Nothing but the Graded races on Saturday, nothing but BC races on that day. 10 BC races the Classic the last  race. Figure out which division has the most exciting entrants and make that the first race. If more than one great division put the other in the middle of the day.

The way people are, even if they aren't the biggest racing fans they love to be able to talk about a big event the next day when it's held in their locale. Saying to their workmates, friends etc. "i was there when Zenyatta, Stardom Bound etc won." (similar to, I was there when my beloved Arizona won the 97 National Championship, sorry, still upset about the original 'Midnight Lute' Olson). Of course you have to have the super horses. Let's just hope for another Secretariat.

TV hmm. They tried a lot of gimmicks. Hank, sorry but the funniest thing he did was talking to his pig, but I think that may not have just been for the camera. He's a painful parody.

Jerry gets on my nerves, toning it down so maybe just more time, the guys talk to him so.  

Camera work. I watched it on Tivo and it made me dizzy.

Why oh why was the middle of the card on Network tv? Maybe the Classic was prime time EDT but, come on.

Better on less commercials this year. But no real adverts or lead up and hyping of the big horses in the days leading up.

One problem is, this year the human connections, which like it or not is what the very casual fans like, were not the most likeable, charismatic or riveting. A piece on Vlad and what he's come through. Great guy.

Even though Jackson was hailed as a sportsman people said, he's rich, now he just wants the recognition (real comment heard it next to me). Then the disbarrment announced just before the BC and the court ordered sealed bids.

Then of course dipwad Dutrow and his comment about women. LOVED Carla's comeback. Joe T's reaction and Randy's too. Heck even hardnose Lukas admits they're great and I chuckled at his comment about falling in love with women causing problems (he has some expertise there.)

Maybe some quickwitted comments to those various reactions too.

Why not try a live reaction, by losers, winners and not just the jockey or trainer. Well maybe not a handicapper would have burned their ears with the curse words. Not us though, we did great betting if I remember but I was drowning my U of Arizona sorrows so it's not too clear.

Saratoga AJ when they were loading Alysheba into the gate in his 2nd Classic, they were saying he needed to win to be HOY over Personal Ensign--I agreed at that time as well as today---Curlin lost HOY to Zenyatta in BC--And I also agree with disputing the Beyers---Beyers are not always right--how does Jumron get 73's at Portland Meadows then goes to Bay Meadows and gets a 109?? Then he's The Derby 2nd choice?? You're telling me that Curlin's last three races were stronger than Zenyatta's? I thought the best horses won in 08 Cup---moreso than in any Cup I can remember! Yes, a miler in Europe can win Classic! One of Ravens Pass's "miles" was one of the most gruelling races on the planet--and Henry was there, too!...If you give HOY to Curlin then you're saying Dubai is MORE important than The Breeders Cup! No way would I run Curlin in The Clark! He's a tired horse! Ditto that for Zenyatta! She showed up at Santa Anita---let Commentator have The Clark, he's a nice horse/a tough horse, and 1 1/8 is right up his alley...All I know is This Years BC had some real good horses, not like The 03 BC (on DIRT) when Santa Anita was "shunned" by many New Yorkers...Oak Tree hit it outta the park so next year its more of the same...Better go in Goodwood next year! But I ramble! Saratoga AJ--wnat I mean is this--Zenyatta was spectacular in Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall, She beat The Champ in her 4th race off a three month layoff, on her first try on dirt--That was The Apple Blossom--4th race, 1st dirt, 3 mo layoff, vs Ginger Punch!! And then she got better!! Sorry, pal, as Joe Friday would always say, "Just the facts, ma'am" (Or in your case, "sir"!!)

Hey Rock, I've been "discounting" synthetics --all year---but I ask you, Why discount them in any way, in regards to this years Cup?? They hit it outta the park, and I ask you--What is the choice? Do you want the real good Euros or not? Yes? Then it's HAS to be Pro Ride!

This years Breeders Cup will always be remembered for so many strong second place finishes! Kip Deville ran better than last years BC Win!! Fatal Bullet wins 9 outta 10 Cups with his Sprint 2nd...Henrythenavagator ran lights out....and what can you say about those two Euro 2yolds on the turf--they both look like Derby timber!! Those Euros were the real deal, and if it takes Pro Ride to get'em over here, have-ho!! I want the best--Curlin shouldda won but he was "out coached"!! I think it was a shock to all when they decided to send their "A-Team" to the Cup, but this makes it a level playing field now, let the games begin! Next year, make The Goodwood or stay home and let The Euros dominate--Cali can't do it alone--the best horses are usually in NY so help us out! You owe us for Tiznow!!