Jason - Really liked Union Rags as well, but Hansen ran very well against the bias in only his third start, lots of upside to his career.

I also think that a rivalry rather than a single super horse is better for the sport. Us die hard horse fans will always be here - what better way to bring in some new fans than the "unusually white" (at just 2yrs.) thoroughbred. And then there is Miss Aurelia, who could continue to excel and possibly race the boys. Looking forward to a great year of racing. Quick question off topic - Does anyone know what the status of RHeatLightening is? Will she race again?

You forgot one.  Cape Blanco has 3 grade 1 wins this year including the Arlington Million. Shame he missed the BC.

I think Grace will get it although I would love to see Acclamation win. He had a wonderful campaign with wins on Synthetic and turf.

As far as Ch 3 year old, could a case be made for Caleb's Posse?  I believe he has 5 stakes wins inclduing 2 grade ones.  I think I would vote for Animal Kingdom over him but he should be in the running.

Just remember Larry Jones said he doesn't want any "sympathy votes"..

Game On Dude or Acclamation should get it based on their whole body of work.

Union Rags had the whole stretch to get it done,Hansen simply was the better horse.Guts gets the glory.

I hit chalky 2 tri's & exactas on Fri. but had a much better day Sat.,much better!

Can we now stop talking about the distance challenged Uncle Mo? "We sometimes throw around the word 'great' a little too easily nowadays". :} Priceless!

To Honor and Serve will be next year's BCC winner leaving no doubt who'll be 2012 HOY.You heard it here first.

Carlos: Union Rags couldn't go by him in the stretch because Javier couldnt keep him straight. He needed to be stronger on him and wasnt. Bad ride.

i voted for rapid redux. if union rags won i think it would be clear. i heard that flat out and ruler on ice are looking at the clark so maybe they'll have a say later. ruler on ice is also looking at the japan cup dirt interesting to see what happens there.

Cape Blanco for HOY

Have to think Bobby Frankel would've said bye bye to Mr Repole had he insisted on his running Uncle Twirling at 1 1/4! Thought Game On Dude ran lights out, think Harve did just enough in the Classic, after all, they probably didn't have to go in the Classic to win HOY, they tried, and she ran well...Amazombie is sprinter of the year with his fifth win, and Hansen benefitted from the new sprint race for two year olds, as he was the only speed in there--he did run lights out, reminded me of Acclamation as he wouldn't get passed--he EARNED the Eclipse, and I hope he gets it, that track was tiring! PVal had Goldikova boxed in the whole way, and when she bulled her way out she should've come down, no excuse for not DQing her! All in all a good Cup, I'm glad I didn't listen to Mr Repole and his "they're both gonna run big" comment about his 10th and 11th place charges, goes to show you, there's a difference between an owner and a trainer, and you should get a good trainer, then leave it to him/her as to how/where you should run--then again, horses like GAME On Dude have a way of exposing stamina issues in a horse, you are right, he gets the Hollywood Gold Cup photo, a race in which he lost by one inch--he gets HOY! Harve De Grace is deserving in her own right!

I'll second Cape Blanco.  But of those on the list I would vote for Acclamation.  He had a great year and I think is just as deserving as any.

I would go with Havre de Grace or Acclamation. The latter had a pretty impressive campaign during the summer and certainly would have been a contender at the Breeders' Cup. It's too bad he didn't get there.

As for Goldikova, she tried her best and I thought for a split second that she was going to dig deep and hold off Court Vision and Turallure. I wonder if the still slightly wet turf course had anything to do with it. She's never been quite as good over less than firm turf, and the course was labeled "good" for the Mile. Does anyone else feel that could have contributed to her loss? Regardless, she is a terrific mare and it will be many, many years before we see another horse win three straight Breeders' Cup races. She will be in the Hall of Fame someday.

-Keelerman

Sorry for reposting this, but it fits better with this blog topic:

Inconclusive day. Maybe the most inconclusive Breeder's Cup day ever.

Was EXTREMELY happy to see Amazombie and Bill Spawr take the Sprint.  Amazombie and Spawr were on the wrong end of one of the worst dqs in history in the LA Cap earlier this year at Hollywood.  Officially, Amazombie has won 5 stakes and 3 graded stakes races this year, but it should be 6 and 4.  Please, don't hold the LA Cap against Amazombie when thinking about the Eclipse; he won that race!

Caleb's Possse turned in the performance of the weekend, and I expect his Beyer to be huge.  I suppose Caleb's Posse deserves some consideration for champion sprinter, but with only two true sprint wins, I think a better case can be made for him as 3 year old champ.  In a year like this, why not give it to a horse that's won 2 sprint stakes( 1 gr.1), 2 mile stakes(1 gr.1), and the Ohio Derby?

Rgeally Ready would be the hands-down turf sprint champion if there were such a category.  This horse really blossomed this winter at Santa Anita winning 3 races on the downhill course, before winning a stakes Derby weekend.  He went off form a bit but concluded the year with a gr.1 win in Canada and the BC Turf Sprint.  He was much the best in the Turf Sprint.

St. Nick was also much the best in the Turf, and the O'Brien father-son story was certainly heart-warming.  However, the race will have no Eclipse ramifications.

Then, things got weird.  Yes, Hansen was not a total shock and there were many who gave him a big shot in the Juvy.  But given how the rally wide runners were dominating, and how easily Union Rags ran up to Hansen on the far turn, how many saw Hansen fighting back on the inside to win?  I've read comments from some NY based writers claiming Union Rags should still be considered for the Eclipse, but Hansen should and will be the 2 year old champ.  Creative Cause from California was a close 3rd and has classic breeding; he galloped out nicely.

Court Vision? Really?  Court Vision might be one of the most underappreciated horses of the last 5 years, with the Mile score giving him 5 career gr.1 wins.  So, make no mistake, Court Vision has had a wonderful career.  But his form this year had been nothing short of abysmal.  It's hard to believe he actually won the race.  

Goldi ran bravely, but she just isn't the same horse this year.  In fact, her form this year reminded me of Zenyatta's form going into last year's BC.  While Zen continued to win in 2010, she did so only because of the moderate competition she was facing, and even then she no longer was winning effortlessly.  Similarly, Goldi started dropping tough decisions she would have won previous years.  Team Goldi though should take great pride in winning 3 BC races, a record that's going to take some beating.

Drosselmeyer is clearly in the sharpest form of his career, but the fact he won the Classic has to be seen as a reflection of the mediocrity of the race.  The final time of 2:04+ lends credence to my belief that either Blame or Zenyatta would have romped against this field.  

No surprise for me that Uncle Mo was turned back the final quarter or that Havre de Grace was not as brilliant at 10 furlongs.  Actually, given Havre was being hard ridden on the far turn, she did well to salvage 4th.  Hopefully, her out of the money finish makes Zenyatta doubters realize what an accomplishment it was for a female to win a Classic and then run 2nd by a nose.  The two best performances by a female in Classic history remain Zenyatta's two efforts.

Game on Dude ran up to his name, gamely turning back Mo, then To Honor and Serve, then So You Think, then Havre and Flat Out.  On a surface more similar to Santa Anita, he's gone and we're crowning him Horse of the Year.  

The Classic was all about running a Classic distance and doing it over a tiring surface.  The 1-3 finishers were Belmont winners with plenty of stamina.  As for Game on Dude, he was making his 4th start at 10 furlongs this year, and had run bravely in his attempts at the distance on dirt or the dirt-like Cushion Track. Watch the Big Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and BC Classic and see just what a tough 10 furlong dirt horse Game on Dude is.

The Eclipse picture is now a mess in many divisions.  Here's my take in the divisions still in dispute:

2 Year old Male: Hansen

3 year old Male: Caleb's Posse or Animal Kingdom

Older Male: Game on Dude or Acclamation

Turf Male: Cape Blanco or Acclamation

Turf Female: Wait until the Matriarch.

My Miss Aurelia, Royal Delta, Havre de Grace, Musical Romance, and Amazombie should have their Eclipses wrapped up.

Question is - is HOY for the best horse, or the horse who had the best year?  Best horse would be Cape Blanco (IMHO).  Best year - Rapid Redux.  But overall, what a disappointing year in North America.  Watching the racing in England was much more fun this year.

Carlos, I am assuming you can read but missed the part where Union Rags ran 78 feet further then Hansen and still only lost by a head. Union Rags blew by Hansen in the next jump. If I were you I wouldnt put down any advance wagers on Hansen for the Kentucky Derby. Like Uncle Mo, I don't believe Hansen will be effective beyond 1 1/8 miles.

Jason:

Havre de Grace;

Jones also confirmed Porter's decision to bring Havre de Grace back again to race as a 5-year-old in 2012.

"She's still got another year ahead of her," said Jones. "We'll keep her in Kentucky for a little bit then send her down to the farm in Florida for six weeks, after which she'll rejoin our barn this winter at the Fair Grounds."

As for Horse of the Year? hmmm...

Last year, I would have had no problem had Blame won the award, but I also had no problem with Zenyatta winning.  Why?  Because Zenyatta's 5 gr.1 wins and valiant 2nd in the Classic, AS A FEMALE, were the most impressive things accomplished by a thoroughbred last year.  Sure, her schedule was far too light, but a female running 2nd in the Classic, and losing by a nose, was the most impressive result by a horse all year.

Of course, I sympathized with the Blame supporters.  Afterall, he beat Zenyatta on the square, and won 2 other unrestricted gr.1 races(held a 3-0 advantage in such races over Z).  Comparing his resume, emphasizing unrestricted races, with Zenyatta's, and Blame's is definitely superior.  No arguments here.

But, using traditional Horse of the Year criteria, comparing Blame's resume directly with Zenyatta's was apples and oranges.  Sorry, but America has always had separate criteria for females and males.  Call it unprogressive, but that's the truth, and I agree with it.

Expecting a female of any age to go out and have a campaign exactly like a top male is expecting something that has never happened.  We celebrated Rachel, and rightly so, for running in and winning 3 gr.1 races against males(but only 1 unrestricted), but had she been a male she wouldn't have been able to hide in races like the Fantasy, Kentucky Oaks, and especially the Mother Goose.  Had she been a male she would have had to have gone through the meat grinder that is the Derby prep season, then run in the Derby itself.  There also would have been greater expectations to see her in the Belmont, Travers(although Woodward as substitute was fine), and then BC Classic.  We gave her a pass for missing the BC Classic because we knew how demanding the Woodward had been to her, AS A FEMALE.  Would we have given a male a pass for missing the Classic just because the Woodward had been demanding?

How about Azeri as HoY in 2002?  Oh my goodness, she never even ran against males that year!  Then how could we have possibly given her HoY, when, with no unrestricted wins, her resume could not have possibly compared with the top older males?  Well, like I said, because voters in the past didn't compare female resumes to male resumes as if they were both apples.  Rather, they put an emphasis on which horse accomplished more and which horse was most dominant, WITHIN ITS DIVISION.

The WITHIN ITS DIVISION point is fundamental in understanding why Favorite Trick was voted HoY in 97'.  As a 2 year old, Favorite Trick did not have a single unrestricted win.  But, because he was two, we didn't expect him to.  So, the question wasn't whether Favorite Trick was better than older horses like Skip Away, Formal Gold, Gentlemen, Siphon, or Will's Way or 3 year olds like Silver Charm, Tough Gold, or Free House.  The top older horses were consisently running Beyers from 116-126(and I mean every race!), and the 3 year olds were running 110-118, while Favorite Trick was in the 91-101 range.  But, Favorite Trick was 8 for 8 and clearly dominant within his division; he accomplished more than any horse and was more dominant in his division than any other horse was in its division.

And as much as I believe Lady's Secret's 1986 was one of the greatest campaigns ever by a female, winning 8 gr.1 races including the Whitney, her resume still wasn't directly comparable to the top older males Turkoman and Precisionist.  Lady's Secret deserved major credit for repeatedly trying unrestricted gr.1 males and running well, but the fact was she was only 1 for 4 in such races, and she was handled decisively both of the times she met Precisionist.  Even so, and even though Lady's Secret ran in the Distaff rather than the Classic, when she won the Distaff and Turkoman and Precisionist ran 2-3 in the Classic, Lady's Secret was an easy HoY based on her overwhelming accomplishments(including winning even 1 race against gr.1 males) and her utter dominance within her division.

So, what about 2011.  Well, if we compare resumes directly as if they are all the same, how could one possibly think Havre de Grace is better than Game on Dude? Havre de Grace ran in just 2 unrestricted races, she won one and was 4th in the other.  And Game on Dude beat her squarely in their one meeting.  As for Game on Dude, he was running in major unrestricted races all season, including classic 10 furlong events like the Big Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Pacific Classic, and Breeder's Cup Classic.  Ask yourself how Havre would have done in the roughly run Big Cap, or how should would have done that last eighth of the Gold Cup against First Dude and Twirling Candy or against Twirling Candy and Acclamation in the Pacific Classic.

Game on Dude's wins in the Big Cap and Goodwood and 2nds in the BC Classic and Hollywoood Gold Cup(and even his 2nd in the $1 million Charles Town Classic over Tizway) are superior to Havre's Woodward, Beldame(restricted), Apple Blossom(restricted race over Switch), gr.2 Azeri(restricted, although did beat Blind Luck), and Obeah(what?).  Throw in she lost to her arch-rival in their definitive matchup, and Havre's resume falls short of Game on Dude's apples to apples.  Havre has one unrestricted gr.1 win and an unrestricted 4th, Game on Dude has 2 unrestricted gr.1 wins, 2 unrestricted gr.1 2nds, and he beat Havre head to head in the championship race.  Case should be closed using the apples to apples logic many used last year.

But, that's not how I see it.  Havre's win in the Woodward, AS A FEMALE, was more impressive than any single thing Game on Dude accomplished.  Even had Game on Dude won the Classic, that might have come up short, historically speaking, to Havre's Woodward.  And while Havre's other 2 gr.1 wins came in restricted races, they were still gr.1 wins and she leads Game on Dude on that front 3-2.  Also, from an historical angle, I have no problem with someone arguing that a female finishing 4th(although she never was a threat down the stretch) was at least equally as impressive as Game on Dude's 2nd, again historically speaking.

So, Havre accomplished more than Game on Dude, apples to oranges.  Game on Dude clearly wasn't dominant within his division, while by the end of the year Havre was clearly dominant among the females(once Blind Luck was off the scene).  Havre crushed the eventual Ladies Classic winner in the Beldame, and while Royal Delta would have put up more of a fight had Havre gone in the Ladies Classic, do we punish Havre's connections for taking the bolder move of running in the Classic when the Ladies Classic appeared theirs for the taking?

So, right now I would have to give Havre a slight lead for HoY.  With 2 of the other top contenders, Cape Blanco and Acclamation done for the year, the only way she loses it is if Game on Dude does come back and win the Clark.

Rapid Redux did more and did it better than any other horse this year...why not?  I really can't find a standout otherwise except for Havre de Grace and Cape Blanco.

Jason, couldn't agree with you anymore on Union Rags. A sub-par ride by Javier, who seemed WAY to confident on him. As you noted he ran 78ft further than Hansen, that's over 9 LENGTHS further! IMO he is hands down the best and was my single on my pick 3, and I went ALL in the mile (But I still missed the classic, so its I wasn't going to win it anyways).

Havre de Grace wins it by default, IF Game on Dude does run and win the Clark or even Cigar Mile, he can take HOY. I truly appreciate and have nothing for respect for Larry Jones and Rick Porter's decision to run HDG in the classic.

As far as betting, won all my money back on Caleb's Posse and Regally Ready. Other than those 2, I had a really bad weekend. I really want to know who had Court vision? what the heck did he come from? I was sooo close with winning a lot of money of Turallure. Another one I lost a lot of money on was thh sprint, so close with Force Freeze.

Congrats to anyone who had a profitable weekend. Thanks Jason, for having a informational blog that I can turn to every week. Will be waiting for the TC blog.

HOY should go to Havre de Grace. She had the best overall year, and her races with Blind Luck gave American racing fans something to talk about this year. The Delaware Handicap was likely race of the year as well, with Blind Luck getting up to win by a nose in a thrilling stretch drive.

Very anti-climatic BC Classic. American horses just have trouble getting the Classic distance, and that is very disappointing. The final time for that race was atrocious, and just highlights the fact that horses are now bred for speed over short distances. Too bad.  

i agree cape blanco

Havre De Grace - HOY

Caleb's Posse - 3 year old male.

Tizway - older male.

And that's why going back to Cali next year is the right thing to do.Who wants the Championships decided on those awful off-tracks?..

Hansen,Creative Cause,Union Rags,Dullahan,Take Charge Indy and possibly MM Aurelia should provide for an interesting run towards next yr's Triple Crown.Don't fret just yet people.

I should have contributed to the topic in my last post.

2 YO Male: Union Rags

2 YO Female: My Miss Aurelia

3 YO Male: Animal Kingdom or Caleb's Posse

3 YO Female: Royal Delta

Male Sprint: Amazombie

Female Sprint: Turbulent Descent

Turf Male: Acclamation or Cape Blanco

Turf Female: Stacelita

Older Male: Game on Dude or Acclamation

Older Female: Havre de Grace

HOY: Havre de Grace

Criminal Type

In case you didn't notice: Hansen accomplished what only MM Aurelia could during the BC.. go wire-to-wire on that tiring track.If the track is fast he wins by 8+ lengths and Union Rags is an afterthought.Give him his props,the little guy is a fighter and will go farther than UM who proved he couldn't even go 9f.. twice.

First things first.Hands down worst BC in recent memory.How about none of the above for horse of the year.Goldikova should have been taken down.Biggest wagering day of the year and stewards get PC what a disgrace.Not one Euro handled the main track nothing like watching Master of Hounds times ten.And the turf writers still think they will.Hopefully this is the last we see of Uncle Mo.Spittin it out at the 1/4 pole as predicted.But I guess Stopshoppingmaria is the next Ouija Board so all the suck ups at The Bloodhorse can find a way to keep Repole relevant.And finally are us true racing fans stuck with these stiffs at ESPN ABC.I could get 5 losers off the rail and produce a better product than Moss,Bailey.Tessitore,Mayne and thst

I will let the writers decide it,because this is a popularity contest among them anyway.I wont bring up the same arguement that is a frequent occurance on this blog,just provide it as an example.I will reiterate that at this stage the 2yos that have the superior speed figures and have won the graded stakes for the same are early developers.They are winning on sheer speed at the distance,even if they have late speed, and can be considered the bullys because they are the early developers.If there is a superhorse we wont know until they all turn 3 and they run at least 9 furlongs,even then,the derby is a 20 horse field and you need racing luck.The Breeders cup Juvenile was one of the easiest races to come up with THIS YEAR using PPs.The top horse Hansen (good pick Carlos from Cali) were the quickest horse the 2nd 3rd and 4th were the horses that won 2yo graded stakes out west and in the east.They are the bullys for now but for them to stretch out will require more than pure speed they will have to learn to ration that speed(rate) and win when they dont get the best trip.The only race winner that I can truly say surprised me was(didnt even look at the marathon) Court Vision,IMO if you were playing horizontal exotics you probably had to hit the ALL button,which was different than a vertical exotic on the same race because the favorite came in the money(3rd)

Top three in that Juvy ran real good--think all three are very good but it was Hansen who inspired me the most--he has a look about him, think Creative Cause is good, Union Rags is real good, and Hansen is better than both--am very excited about next Spring!

Frisky--AMEN! And don't be a stranger!

I took a beating all weekend with one winner and six 2nd place finishes. It was great to see that Irish kid win on his fathers horse. I was really impressed by how he handled himself considering that he's only 18 years old. what was up with that track? Two days later they still had standing water? I've always heard that Churchill Downs was fast drying. Maybe the groudskeepers were too busy keeping the Europeans off of the turf course to do any work on the track. As far as the BC Marathon goes, I think they should get rid of this race. It cheapens the BC. Court Vision? He had not hit the board all year. The new trainer must be a miracle worker. Finally, I won't criticize the picks that Draynay posted the other day since I suffered through such a "Bloodbath" myself. But, I demand an apology for making us read all his MO-Hype for the last year. Mo is a really fast horse, best @ 7furlongs to a mile.

As far as the TV coverage, what's with having to change channels an hour and a half into the show? This great game desrves better than that. I could definitely have done without the MPH that each horse was running being flashed on the screen during the running of the race. That was annoying.

I agree with Gunbow all the way.

I also agree with him on the fact that after seeing HDG try at the Classic and coming up short, the Zenyatta doubters can finally see what a task it is for a female horse to do what Zenyatta did in the last two Classics.   Thanks to Team HDG for proving what an extroidinary mare Zenyatta is and was in the BCC's.

Matthew W:

Great description of Game on Dude:

"horses like GAME On Dude have a way of exposing stamina issues in a horse".

Game on Dude had exposed Twirling Candy's stamina issues all year, and he did the same to Uncle Mo and To Honor and Serve in the Classic.

At the top of the stretch in the Classic, Uncle Mo looked just like Twirling Candy had in the Big Cap and Hollywood Gold Cup, ready to go by Game on Dude at any moment and run away with the victory.  But just like in those races, Game on Dude just kept finding more, something that could not have had a positive impact on the mentaility of a horse running further than he wants.  

In the Classic, you can actually see the moment Uncle Mo caved, when his stride shortened and he all of sudden appeared small.  Go back and watch the Big Cap and Gold Cup and you'll see the same thing happened to Twirling Candy.  Both Uncle Mo and Twirling Candy are brilliant horses, but neither wanted 10 furlongs(at least on dirt for Twirling Candy).

Tizway hands down should be HOY. Havre did NOT beat him. And she was beaten by Blind Luck as well. Too bad he was injured. He shouldn't be forgotten because of it.

Baffert should run Game On Dude in the Clark Handicap. A win there would lock up HOTY for him. When are you coming out of hiding Draynay? I've been anticipating your excuses for quite a while now. Let's hear them! Oh, and thanks for the $$$!

3yo male has to go to Caleb's Posse does it not?

As far as HOY this year, I can't think of any horse that earned it. Give it to Blame.

Caleb's Posse was in the wrong race, looked like he could have won the Classic.

Why does horse of the year have to be a graded stakes winner? Rapid Redux has won 18 races this year alone and is undefeated at 19 right now, and he is a horse, so why not? Let's think outside the box this year. I think it would be terrific and great for the industry to give the honors to the little guy for a change. Horses like Rapid Redux are a large important part of this business and they are often overlooked.

HOY probably goes to Havre de Grace, due in equal parts to her accomplishments & to the fact that there isn't a standout in the older handicap male division. I do think a case can be made for Game on Dude but given that he's a (gasp!) "California" horse, it's highly unlikely. If I had a vote, I'd give it to Acclamation.

Amazombie should definitely be champion sprinter; Caleb's Posse champion 3 year old.  Would LOVE to see Rapid Redux get a special Eclipse award.

GunBow - great posts.  I'd like to point out that with the exception of Tiznow, Zenyatta has the best record in BCCs regardless of gender.  

A note on Hansen, he is gutsy and ultra determined, but unless someone can teach him to control his energy his track career will be very limited as a sprinter only. I also wander if they won't have to geld this difficult pony in order to work with him and bring him down a bit. He is a beautiful horse, great horses aren't usually gorgeous too, so we will see. Good luck Hansen, a nice win.

really it seems that the HOY will be one of the weakest in my memory. I'd vote for Game on Dude in a tight race. If HDG gets it, I'd certainly understand.

I do not see how you do not give 2 year old Eclipse to Hansen.  The horse is undefeated and he beat UR head to head, bad ride or no bad ride.

Having said that, it would be very cool to see Michael Matz with roses again next year.

You list the three classic winners, but they may not even get the 3 yo title with Caleb's Posse in there with multiple graded stakes and a Breeder's Cup win.

Let's not forget the year is not over. The Clark and other races may have a bearing on this before it's over.

I thought the camera angles that ESPN used were awkward and confusing.  I couldn't keep track of my favorites in any race.  Finally saw replays that were directly from the CD feed, split screen and all, and it made it much easier to follow each race.  I also would have appreciated a complete list of all the finishers after each race.  You would think that after all these years, NBC and ESPN could get something right.

Replays were also woefully lacking.

And I still think Rapid Redux should get some votes.

Well, I’m a little undecided on HOY, between Havre de Grace and Game on Dude. At first glance HDG’s record looks better, but I think you should take into consideration that Game on Dude ran at 1 1/4 four times.

HAVRE DE GRACE:

Breeders' Cup Classic – (Gr.1) 4th - 1 1/4 - finished behind Drosselmeyer, Game on Dude and Ruler on Ice.

Delaware Handicap – (Gr.2) 2nd - 1 1/4 - came in second to Blind Luck

GAME ON DUDE:

Breeders' Cup Classic – (Gr.1) 2nd   1 1/4 - finished second to fast-closing Drosselmeyer, after leading much of the way on a heavy track.

TVG Pacific Classic Stakes – (Gr.1) 4th -  1 1/4 - 4th behind Acclimation (who set  new track record – stalked him much of the race and then gave way at the end), Twirling Candy and Stately Victor. But, was coming directly off another 1 ¼ race.

Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap – (Gr.1) 2nd  - 1 1/4 - second by a nose to First Dude.

Santa Anita Handicap – (Gr.1) 1st -  1 1/4 - finished first even though Twirling Candy bumped him fairly hard, twice.

And as an avid Zenyatta fan (there, I said it) I just want to point out that the hypocrisy surrounding HDG has not escaped me (same goes for many others). I can GUARANTEE that if this was Zenyatta - running in a two Gr.3s, coming in second place in a Gr. 2, coming in 4th in the Classic - all of her doubters would be using that as their platform as to why she didn't deserve HOY (her winning the Woodward wouldn't matter because it was only at a 1 1/8 - or some other ludicrous excuse, who knows). Not really sure why HDG isn't getting treated the same way. The California/synthetic argument is old (if anything I thought that running mainly on those surfaces made coming in 2nd by a nose at Churchill more impressive), and I don't much care about Beyer figures (as a fast Beyer doesn't guarantee a horse can get 1 1/4 - ie Uncle Mo).

Anyway, sorry to drag up old arguments. I know that all has been beaten to death, resurrected and then beaten to death again. I'm hoping that maybe this means people are no longer going to nitpick over every single tiny thing a mare/filly does or doesn't do.

well, that was weird. but there were some nice performances in there. grass wise, regally ready looks ready for ascot or newmarket. what a speedster. in global terms, the best performance of the weekend. the ride on hansen was masterful, like one dreamer from 94, I think. was very impressed with calebs posse. st nicholas abbey massacred a very poor field. this was not daylami or something. any mile in the us is messy. this one was terrible.

and the classic. surely drosselmeyer will be retired now. us commentators go about fractions and the like but 24 this, 48 that, just got kiled stone dead at the finish. drosselmeyer will never get that chance again. he wouldn't win his next race probably. that is the last you will see of him. very enjoyable and wonderful that the bc let you see it online abroad. good on you fellas. thanks  

Nice two days of racing. Can't wait til next year when its here in Cali again. As for the Eclipse Awards, here's my two cents:

2YO Female: My Miss Aurelia.

-Whoever won between her, WeeMissFrankie, and Grace Hall would get it and she came out on top. Her win will also undoubtedly hold more weight than Stephanie's Kitten's equally impressive Juvy Fillies Turf victory. The finalists will be My Miss Aurelia, Stephanie's Kitten an WeeMissFrankie, with My Miss Aurelia winning.

2YO Male: This was decided on Saturday; Hansen. My thought before the Juvenile was whether or not Hansen was as good or better than the already G1 winners; Creative Cause, Union Rags, Dullahan, and Drill, or was he just the most dominant of a group of nobodys? Well he answered that question with a game performance, make all the excuses you want for Union Rags, he was still very much in contention throughout the lane, and had every chance to get by Hansen and couldn't. Yes Union Rags got by after the finish, but as people were saying regarding Zenyatta/Blame last year, he got by AFTER the line, Hansen was in front when it absolutely counted. And for that, HE is champion 2YO. Finalists will be the top three from the BC Juvenile, with Hansen being crowned Champ 2YO.

3YO Female: This is easy; Royal Delta. As the Juvenile Fillies and Juvy was the showdown for champ 2YO honors, this was the showdown for champ 3YO filly honors. Royal Delta came out on top. The finalists will be Plum Pretty, It's Tricky, and Royal Delta who will ultimately win.

3YO Male: Toss-up. Ruler On Ice and either Shackleford or Caleb's Posse will be finalists, Ruler and Shack's BC performances were respectable, and Caleb was extremely impressive. Stay Thirsty cannot win outside of New York, he runs extremely poorly when outside of NY, and his abysmal showing in the Classic virtually overshadows his Travers/Jim Dandy double. Uncle Mo could have been in the argument, but his equally abysmal showing takes him out. Had he been in the Dirt Mile and done well, which he most likely would have, he could have been a contender. To Honor and Serve needed a good finish, but didn't come up with one, he's out. Animal Kingdom should be a finalist and probably ultimately win. His Derby win just keeps looking better and better. Animal Kingdom a finalist, and Caleb, Shack, and Ruler will fight for the other two spots, and I narrowly give it to Animal Kingdom.

Older Female: Easy; Havre de Grace. Had a cruel turn of events not come the way of Blind Luck she maybe could have won this and HOY. But Grace's win against males in the Woodward and trouncing of Distaff/Ladies Classic winner Royal Delta will ultimately net it for her. Although Blind Luck beat her in the most thrilling race of the year, the Delaware Handicap, her bad twist of fate cost her. Finalists will be Grace, Luck, either Awesome Maria or Ask the Moon, with Grace taking it.

Older Male: I'm giving slight edge to Game on Dude. Two G1 wins, one @ 10f in the Big 'Cap, and in the Goodwood, barely missed another in the 10f Holly Gold Cup, and second in the Charles Town Classic, finishing ahead of Tizway. Toss the Pacific Classic, and he seems the best to me. Could change tho. Should Flat Out run in the Clark and win it, he'll have an equally "strong" case, adding that to his Gold Cup win at 10f and Suburban, with placings in the Whitney, behind Tizway, and Woodward. I'd also give Acclamation a shot, winning 5 stakes, 2 G2 and 3 G1, including the 10f Pacific Classic, beating Game On Dude and Twirling Candy. Cape Blanco also could be a dark horse. Just because he and Acclamation are turf runners doesn't disqualify them, Gio Ponti took home Older Male in '09 running on the turf. Tizway could enter with impressive Metropolitan, and slow Whitney. As of now; slight edge to Game On Dude, Acclamation and Cape Blanco not far behind. Flat Out needs the Clark to be at least a finalist. Tizway maybe, but not guaranteed.

Turf Male: Battle between Cape Blanco and Acclamation. Both have three G1 wins, with Acclamation having one on synthetic in the 10f Pacific Classic, and two additional G2 wins. Gio Ponti will be the other finalist. I'm giving the edge to Acclamation. Finalists Acclamation, Cape Blanco, and Gio Ponti, Acclamation wins it.

Turf Female: Since nominees only need "One start in North America" I'm giving it to one no one will probably think of; Sarah Lynx, who destroyed a field of 15 males in the Canadian International. Canada=North America. She was so impressive in there, blowing a nice field of males off the track. Stacelita had the edge definitely going in, but her poor performance in the F&M Turf definitely detracts. Dubawi Heights needed to win to be considered. Perfect Shirl most likely won't get it based off her win. Never Retreat and Together could sneak in. Goldikova is out of any Eclipse Award picture, she shouldn't have been in any to begin with, not being raced in North America. Tentative finalists: Stacelita, Never Retreat, and Sarah Lynx, with Sarah Lynx getting it.

HOY: I say instead of ballots, voters receive a hat and scraps of paper with candidates and draw a name. Grace might still have a slight edge. Dude got a boost with a courageous performance. Flat Out needs the Clark, and a good run in it. Acclamation has a good case with five graded wins in a row, ditto Cape Blanco with three G1 wins. Animal Kingdom's derby win looks better by the day. Royal Delta was most impressive, but her trouncing at the hooves of Grace eliminate her. Drosselmeyer was impressive yesterday, but too little too late. Blind Luck's cruel twist of fate takes her out. Had Stacelita won the F&M Turf you could have made a case for her. 2YOs Hansen and My Miss Aurelia are compelling with unbeaten campaigns, Aurelia has two G1 wins. Being 2YOs of course doesn't give them the greatest sleight of hand in this matter. Rapid Redux is actually a compelling case. 18 wins in 10 months is unreal, 2 races per month. So what if its in Starter Allowance company? That's quite a feat. Grace and Dude should be finalists. Possibly Acclamation and Cape Blanco. Flat Out relies on his possible start in the Clark. And heck Rapid Redux could be an extreme dark horse if he keeps his winning ways up, why not? No clear cut winner here.

In response to your post GunBow:  It brings to mind an I Love Lucy episode where Rickey says to Lucy "Because you're a female, I'll give you a head start," to which Lucy responds "Because I'm a female, I'll take it."  I'm wondering why and when this form of sexism infiltrated horseracing.  Is it an attempt to pander to female fans through a lowering of the standards for fillies?  I wonder why it is that in countries other than the United States male and female horses compete and are evaluated on an equal level.  How ironic that previously, in racing's golden era, sexism took a different form;  the truly great filly Ta Wee, who consistently beat the top males under insane weight burdens and differentials, was denied the HOtY honor.  But I dare say,  Ta Wee will be remembered as one of the all-time greats, whereas Havre de Grace most likely will not.  It will be a fitting tribute to this disappointing mundane year of racing, marked by mediocrity, to have Havre de Grace crowned it's Horse of the Year.

Forgot;

Sprinter: Amazombie, best of the best in the deciding race. Was good all-year long too.

Female Sprinter: Musical Romance, by default. Turbulent Descent needed a better finish.

Jason, I totally agree with you that it should be Harve de Grace who gets HOTY. She deserves it unless they turn Drosselmeyer around, run  him again, and he wins. Then a good case could be made for him. I was really disappointed with this whole BC series. However, I was happy for Mike Smith. He proved once again what a great jockey he is. His win on Amazombie was a great story. ITA with those who think Uncle Mo is a really fast horse at shorter distances. The BCC distance was too much for him and the surface was like "peanut butter." I felt very bad for Mike Repole. I still love Mo but I think he does have distance limitations. I do not fault them one iota for running him in the Classic. He deserved the chance. I am sure they will retire him now and rightly so. I felt sad for Goldikova and her connections. As you said, all class for trying and then no excuses when it didn't work out. She is one for the ages and we have been so lucky to see her race for as long as she did. I also agree that this BCC showed how significant last years BCC was in terms of defining greatness (right you are Gunbow and Guiness). I expect that as years go by, Zenyatta's greatness will take on new dimensions. I also think this series enhances Rachel Alexandra's greatness/reputation as well. What she did was very special. It's not easy at all beating the boys.

Havre de Grace beating 5 horse fields most of the year deserves HOY? She had 5 wins but 2 of those were Grade 3s. And she was beaten in a Grade 2. In total she defeated 15 horses in winning in G1 company. And her G1 wins were at 2 distances.

Cape Blanco in my book is more deserving 3 starts in NA, 3 wins all Grade 1s! And he defeated 18 horses in winning his G1s. Additionally each of his victories was at a different distance.

Jason,

I agree that anti-climatic is the best single word to describe this year's Breeder's Cup, nevertheless the races were exciting, especially the BC Juvenile, and reflection on the results hold a lot of lessons for forecasting winners in the future.

The HOTY title would have been a no-brainer had Havre de Grace gone in the Distaff and won, but the connections played it very brave and may regret their decision (I hope not). I do believe that she was not ridden to her strenghts in the Classic and should have been battling for the lead at the head of the stretch to be in with a winning shot.  It would appear to me that Tizway is back in the HOTY discussion (hindsight tells me that he could have dominated that field yesterday ...just my opinion).

As for Uncle Mo, I do hope that they bring him back next year. This colt is potentially a great one and his race record needs some vindication after a challenging year. I'll humbly admit, after being effusive about Uncle Mo that talent carries you a far way, but, at the summit of competition, conditioning, foundation and adequate preparation are indispensable requirements for success. This horse deserves to go out with his reputation in tact: so I think.

Well I was very wrong about Drosselmeyer and I'll eat crow if any of his backers come forward.  Interestingly the top six finishers were all proven at the distance, two Belmont Stakes winners occupying positions in the top three.  I'd have to say that some sort of hint should be taken by the racing promoters accross the country to reinstate the ten furlongs distance for races like the Suburban and either the Whitney or Woodward at Saratoga. A trend seems to be developing where the runner-up in the Jockey Club Gold Cup returns to outshine the winner of that event, winning the Breeder's Cup Classic: is two years in a row a coincidence?

In the race for 3YO Eclipse award, Caleb's Posse is the one.  The magnitude of this colt's performance in the Dirt Mile should not be allowed to escape the attention of voters. Caleb's Posse's facile victory stamps him as the best sprinter/miler in training and deserves the 3YO championship where the 3YO routers have not been outstanding or consistent.

Regarding the 2YOs, all I can say is wow!!! for the prospects of Triple Crown Trail 2012.  Union Rags, Hansen, Creative Cause along the ultra impressive My Miss Aurelia look very promising indeed. In terms of 2YO championship honours, I think that Union Rags gets it by "the flair of a nostril" (and controversially so, of course) over Hansen. My reason is that Union Rags' body of work (four telling performances including victory in the Grade 2 Saratoga Special and the Grade one Champagne) makes up for his "short head" loss in the BC Juvenile to his main rival Hansen. Also, given the context of the race itself: bad draw, wide trip, faulty ride from J. Castellano for the third "straight" time, and just failing narrowly to peg back his gallant foe,gives him a decisive edge. Hansen is undoubtedly a monster in the making.  This son of Tapit is gifted with a "turbo-engine" and displayed the gameness of a champion but I think that Union Rags is definitely the better horse at this point and did a bit more to earn the Eclipse Award. In contemplating these championship awards, the results i.e. order of finish of the Breeder's Cup races are not the be-all-end-all (no reference is being made to the HOTY controversies of the last two years ...please!!). Its only reasonable that overall performances for the ENTIRE YEAR UNDER CONSIDERATION be taken into account along with certain intangibles such as: perceived ducking of formidable competiton, tough-luck losses and creditable performances when returning from lay-offs due to injury. Champions ought not to be penalized for demonstrating heart and toughness in narrow losses where he/she is clearly the best IMO. Some narrow losses equal no loss of marks (no penalty) in defeat. Uncle Mo's loss to Caleb's Posse in the Kings Bishop, Zenyatta's loss to Blame in last years BC Classic (I'm nervous about citing this example) and Union Rags' loss to Hansen in the BC Juvenile are cases in point.      

Final thought, after the BC, whatever notion those commenters from the "Breeders Cup Intrigue" board, a month ago, had where they thought Havre de Grace is not only in Zenyatta's class but better than her, should have those notions shattered after yesterday. Her performance was nowhere near Zenyatta's monumental two Clasic performances, and looking at the times, Grace 3 lengths behind a 2:04 1/5, to Zen's nose behind 2:02 1/5 and 2:00 3/5 winning time, make it even further away if its possible.

Union Rag's loss is a result of a bad post and having to go wide, not the rider's fault.

Mike: As usual, you are wrong

The Marathon cheapens the BC?  What's cheap is ESPN not even bothering to air the only race that tries to put sprint-biased North American on some kind of similar footing with the rest of the world.  Australia, France, England, and Ireland have no problem watching their horses race at these or longer distances.  In fact, the classic distance everywhere but here is 1.5 miles.  Yeats, who won the Ascot Gold Cup, was as big a hero as Goldikova - maybe even more.  

If it were me, I'd rename the marathon to the Breeders Gold Cup, give it as much money as the Turf, and and run it right before the Classic.  Oh, and have a whole string of distance races leading up to it.  Maybe this would help change the fact that we're breeding horses that can't even get a mile an a quarter now.  

But of course all that will never happen.  I can only blame the short attention span of most North Americans.

At least ESPN didn't give us 1/2 hour of college football in the middle of the Breeders Cup, so I suppose that's an improvement over last year.  But their camera angles are terrible and their coverage is even worse.  How many interesting stories did they miss out on because they were so focused on Mike Repole, Scooter What's his name (who seems like a really nice guy), and Chantal Sutherland.  How many times did we see the same story during the 2 days?  How about a bit more about So You Think and show us coverage from his wins in Europe, or even, GASP - Australia?  A story about Joseph O'Brien would have been good.  And so on.

And yes, how hard would it be to show us the complete order of finish.  Had to rely on Blood Horse for that.

I can't believe Goldikova wasn't DQ'd.  I love her and was rooting for her, but thought for sure she'd come down.  I wonder if the stewards would have made a different decision if she'd actually won?  Would it have been harder to ignore her infraction with first place on the line?

How easily you forget the stellar year Blind Luck had. She beat HDG at 1 1/4 and did it in a scintillating 2:01.1.

Acclamation was consistent and had a stellar season!!!

Can't believe the Uncle Mo kool aid is still being gulped.Nice two year old thats it.I'm sure team Repole is working up a series of excuses for Saturdays result.Hey Mike I'm sure Frankel is losing sleep in anticipation of that match race.Maybe the water truck would be a more suitable opponent.

Draynay-

Waiting on that $2000 win losing ticket on MO in the Classic!! My picks were not great but came home a winner and thats more then you will be able to say! $10 Exacta winner in the Sprint as well as the Juv race... considering the results all day I call it a winning BC and solid day of gambling.

Dray and Jason, he lost.  Get over it.  Much like Kim Kardashian is experiencing loss right now.  May god hold her in the palm of her hand.

Really? Well, I wasn't wrong about Mo losing and Grace finishing worse than the mare did last yr. Please don't spin and try to sell Zenyatta had a better trip than Grace. Btw, where's Dray? lmao

Pletcher + Breeders' weekend = REALITY CHECK

Waaaaaaaa...it's the track....waaaaaaaaaaaaaa....Any other trainer whining about the track??

CD has never been speed horse track.

Gunbow Thas dosent have any stamina issues that were exposed by GOD.He was checked in the race.

Jason, I think you and Mike are both right about Union Rags. He did have to go wide, around two turns in fact, and yes, at the end, he couldn't keep him straight. I am not sure his jockey had any choice but to go wide for awhile. It all cost him and yet he still only missed by a nose. I think Union Rags is one heck of a horse. This is going to be a nice rivalry if they both stay healthy. Something to look forward to next year hopefully.

Probably the performance of the day has to go to Caleb's Posse, I don't think Uncle Mo ran in the Classic for any other reason than to not be beat by CP. If you compare the two races you can see why. Uncle Mo was done in by a 1:38.27 mile while Caleb was finishing in 1:34.59, and with lots of run still in him. That's about an 18 length advantage at the same distance on the same track , same day, hours apart. This only makes this year's Classic look all the more mediocre at best, and the race should not be taken as any kind of determining factor in any voting.

Havre de Grace is HOY, no question, though I wouldn't feel bad if Rapid Redux won HOY.  He is all heart, and stakes races or not, he has won more than the others.  

I do think we should end the discussion of Blame vs. Zen for good!

And, no, I did not think there was anything boring or mundane about this year; it's known as horse racing.

Matthew W,

It's obvious from your comment that you've never owned a horse.  Please don't assume what an owner's role should be because you know what happens when you assume.

What a disappointing weekend for the North Americans by and large. Longshots galore everywhere. Your guess is as good as anyone for HOTY.

Hansen should get a few votes, thanks to what I call a sub par ride by Javier Castellano.

I would thind that Harve de Grace, Acclamation or Game On Dude would be the front runners for HOTY. Stay Thirsty did win a couple big races but didn't do enough. Tizway should get some votes to. This is not going to be pretty trying to figure this out. What a mess they have on their hands. Maybe they should give it to 3 or 4 of them or just not give the award out at all.........

Draynay gets Mouth of the Year award but he wins it every year....

alright, my bad I will be nice........

I would vote for Ruler On Ice for 3 yo male-he did win a triplc crown race and hit the board in classic ahead of any other 3 year old.

as far as HOY this year you can throw a dart-

Rapid Redux for HOY!!!! This has been the year of inconsistent horses. The only horse that has been consistent and hasn't gotten hurt is Rapid Redux.  20 in a row is a huge deal, and he won 18 this year. Who can run 18 races these days, let alone win them???

Caleb's Pose 3 year old champ!! Beats Mo in the Bishop, wins the BC dirt mile. When Stay Thirsty was on, he was the best in the crop, as we saw in the Travers. However, when he wasn't, he really wasn't. Hopefully he will be a more consistent 4 year old, that will figure out how to win outside of New York (specifically Saratoga)

2 year old champ is Union Rags! He has had some terrible trips, and was able to overcome that. I think Hansen is a really talented colt, that could make some noise on the triple crown path, but Union Rags can win even when it seems everything is going wrong for him which makes horses great!

P.S Prayers for A.U Miner, I love this horse and I wish him a full recovery.  

jason

2 questions, Do you know if uncle mo will run in the nyra mile??

Why cant union rags run in the remsen win by 5 and get Horse of the year??

Havre de grace won a weak woodward,lost to blind luck at the classic distance and ran a poor race in the classic.

She would be the worst winner since favorite trick to win the award.

Acclamation.  His record.  BUT.  We know that turf horses don't get HOTY, nor do West Coast horses.  It's an East Coast Dirt Award.

hope all of you drinking the mike repole kool-aid didn't lose too much money on his "super horse", and condolences to everyone who got duped into thinking that filly was another zenyatta. uncle mo better stick to grade 2 mile races and the filly better stay at 1 1/8 mile races. neither one of them will ever be able to even come close to winning the classic, especially uncle mo. drosselmeyer, game on dude, caleb's posse, or hansen should be horse of the year.

This is off Breeder's Cup topic, but I wanted to give readers an update on the Cal-bred Unusual Suspect, a 7 year old earner of over $1 million who was sent to Australia after winning last year's gr.1 Hollywood Turf Cup.

I had been keeping on eye of Australian racing looking to see if he would show up.  After no word through the summer, I had assumed the plan had been scrapped.  But no, Unusual Suspect is indeed in Australia.  

He ran in the $2.5 million Caulfield Cup back in mid-October.  In a 18 horse field, he ran 6th beaten just 3 lengths; he was only half a length from 4th.

He then ran a few weeks later in the recent Melbourne Cup,a $6 million race at 2 miles.  In a 23 horse field he finished 9th, again beaten about 3 lengths.  In both races he trailed the field early and came with a solid late run that saw him improve his position as the wire approached.  The results have been good enough for a quarter million in earnings.  Honestly, I'm surprised he's doing that well.

Carlos, your Dray's brother from another mother aren't you ? You're very wrong about Union Rags. Had he not run 78 feet further then Hansen, he would have won by 8 or 9 lengths. It is very apparent that you're biased toward the california/synthetic horses. Hansen will most likely not be effective at the Derby distance. These Tapit's are precocious, but based on past progeny of Tapit, Hansen is almost at the limit of his earnings potential as well as his distance potential. Union Rag's is the better horse and If you can't see that, I suggest you take your blinkers off.

By the way Carlos, How are California Flag, Tapizar, Mr Commons and  and Pure Gossip doing today ?  LOL

Jason, shame on you and the entire ESPN Crew; for Not giving Hansen the credit he deserves! Everybody has made excuses for Union Rags, instead of giving Credit to Hansen. Plain and simple, next time have Union Rags go to the lead, take the field Gate2wire; then if he doesn't Win everybody will still have an excuse for him.

Hats off to Hansen and Game on Dude, gutsy performances!!!

I think Caleb's Posse deserves a shot at HOY.  It is such an unusual year I think he gets 3yo and with 4 graded stakes, two being grade ones, another graded stakes placing and another stakes win he has one of the best resume of all of them.  Cape Blanco deserves a shot as well as every one mentioned previously.  It is so wide open everyone has a shot!

I don't know. Creative Cause was in post 7, was off the rail around the first turn, wide on the backstretch, and then three-wide on the turn for home and Union Rags barely got by him. Although Castellano didn't give UR the best ride, UR just got tired in the stretch. That's why he drifted out.

I know going wire to wire can be a huge disadvantage when you get to the Classic distances. But it's funny - I seem to recall another grey horse that would do the same exact thing. Streak out to a huge lead and make other horses come and get her. Worked for her. Now it remains to be seen whether Hansen is that good, and he has some prety big horseshoes to fill to even come close. But it's remarkable to me that their color and running styles are so similar.

After watching the workouts on TVG it was apparent that Drosselmyer was ready to run the race of his life. The big question was if he was good enough to get the job done. He was the best on that day.

 I think the finalists should be Havre de Grace, Game On Dude and Acclamation with Havre de Grace winning it.  Caleb's Posse was by far the most impressive winner of the day in my opinion.  Uncle Mo actually ran better than I expected when you look at the chart and see he really didn't get outrun that far.  The 10th place looks worse at face value than it was.  Still 10th though.  I think he's a nice horse who isn't quite the world beater we've hoping for.

Finally! A post from Bob from Boston! I was worried that you and Sherpa were still wandering around Churchill Downs trying to find an exit. At least you didn't have to tote your bags. Is Kim your pick for HOY (the "H" stands for something different, but it still starts with "Ho") or do you have an equine favorite?

PAULA

Thanks as always being the voice of reason.

Lucas Coronel

  Excellent post. How many were strong enough to wire the field on the demanding dirt track on Saturday? One. Hansen. Game On Dude and Shackleford were strong and almost pulled it off. Caleb's Posse was outstanding as was Amazombie. Jerry Bailey and his partners in crime should bow their heads in shame. Hansen's performance was tremendous and on a fast track he would have won by 12 lengths. Who cares who runs the farthest? Horses run farther than other horses in every race in every country every time. Why not get rid of the finish line and just give the win to the horse that ran the farthest? We're off to a good Triple Crown start. At least the top five from the Juv are outstanding.

A few points that are still sticking with me on Monday morning.

1.)Goldikova needed to be taken down. The ESPN broadcaasters told the public that it should've been the case. I thought California has the worst racing stewards but Kentucky can proudly stake there claim.

2.) Randy Moss, Jerry Bailey, and Hank Goldberg must be fired! Having your expert handicapper lose a $1000 on Nat'l TV doesn't do much for encouraging the public. Can we find someone under 50 to replace these guys. Old and Stale has never been a formula for great television.

3.) The riding in general was terrible! Too many instances to individualize. Just terrible!

4.) The last three breeders cup's  at Churchill Downs ('06 rail, '10 rail & '11 outside) all had dirt track biases. I think it's time to put CD up on the shelf for a decade at least. If they can't get this surface right for the biggest day! Who needs 'um?

It’s amazing how some think that HDG deserves HOY because she won three G1 races and ran a good race in the BCC.  She didn’t make the board and had no excuses.  And it wasn’t like she just couldn’t get up in time.  Two horses ran past her and another (a Cali horse for crying out loud) stayed well in front of her.  But she still ran a good race, as in nice try, in a BCC that Andy Beyer and countless others said was the weakest ever and the slowest ever (actually 2nd slowest).  And besides, her connections were good sports by entering her in the race.  My that’s touching.  My what a difference a year makes.

Gosh, where's Dray? Mo by 5, LOL!!

Nice post earlier Gun Bow in explaining the apples to oranges of male/female campaigns!  I wish more people got that point.  

I enjoyed the weekend overall even though there were certainly some surprises!  Court Vision was my Derby horse back in the day and my BC choice every year he ran in it but I admit I definitely didn't feel like he belonged this year.  I was very happy to see him finally get it done.  Also love Hansen and Creative Cause although I thought CC would probably finish in front of him - had the top 3 but in the wrong order.  Looking forward to all 3 of them next year!

My choice is for Game On Dude for HOTY at this point as I feel he has done more in spite of Grace's Woodward. I am also having a hard time understanding how anyone who didn't think Zenyatta deserved it last year could possibly think Grace deserves it this year...? Seems like the bias's will never end!!!!!

In view of the mixed results in th e BC I think HOY ought to go to Rapid Redux.  This horse has certainly distinguished himself - albeit in lesser company - and performed at a level of excellence exhibited by no other horse this year. When no other horse has done enough to warrant the award why not award it to him?

Great horses can run on any surface.UM is a very nice miler and not the "Super" horse that Repole thinks he is... I love all of the chalk players complaining about the breeders cup. I believe this was one of the more entertaining BC's precisely because every race was wide open.

Lucus, Union Rag's has won wire to wire, he has won in the mud, he has won after having to check in the stretch and find a way through and now he has lost by a short head while covering more ground in "peanut butter". So far he has shown a hell of a lot more diversity then Hansen who only runs one way. Granted Hansen is a nice colt, but his lack of depth is suspect. Keep in mind that the average winning distance for Tapit offspring is 7.5 furlongs, much like Indian Charlie's get. He has already outrun his pedigree, how much further can he go?

DD, The Remson is Nov 26th, which would be 3 weeks between races for Union Rags were he to run. I agree with you, If Rags raced and won he would have a great shot at HOY and in my mind he IS 2 yr old colt of the 2011 already. The reasons being are stated above. However, I do not think Matz will run him again this year. He will most likely ship to Palm Meadows for the Gulfstream meet and race in the Derby preps there or at Tampa bay. I think I read Hansen is heading to California so it is unlikely that these two will meet again before May.

Touching on My Miss Aurelia and the Kentucky Derby. It's a very good poddibility, considering the past history of her owner's that she very well could be pointed that way. If I had a filly that talented, I would have to give it a lot of consideration. She proved she is a brilliant 2 yr old filly. The question is can she keep it going ? No question she has the right trainer to get her there in Steve Assmussen. He has no problem running his girls against the boys.

Are we allowed to say "I told you so" to the Uncle Mo backers? The idea that this horse could do things no other horse in the history of the BC could do was so preposterous one couldn't understand how it was believed.

IMHO, hyping horses like Mo to the skies is NOT the way to interest people in racing. Hot 2yos often don't improve at 3, when the rest catch up with their maturity level. Now when I first went racing, most of the top 2yos were bred for classic distance and won the late season major stakes before going on to good 3yo careers. But nowadays, far too many 2yos are bred to best at 2 and early on at 3 and can't sustain their form throughout their 3yo career. It is entirely predictable. Hyping such horses is not in the best interest of racing.

 After what happened to Announce Friday I wonder if the Euros will begin considering sending their horses to the gate with a pony like the Americans do.  A pony could've helped that jock get her under control before she backed into the ambulance.

Annnnndddd..... Uncle Mo is retired.... saw this one coming.

Jason said: "She has three grade I wins, another grade III, and defeated males in the Woodward."

Just fyi, Havre De Grace has 2 G3 wins...the Azeri and the Obeah.

She is my clear choice for HOY.

Bob From Boston: I'll admit The Factor cost me my "sure thing" show parlay of Weemissfrankie, Union Rags along with Nahrain. Sorry to steer you wrong. I wanted to stand up and say I was wrong and "not all that". I had a tough Cup; please forgive, though, never confuse me with Draynay, who talks big, NEVER delivers and hopes everyone forgot his as usual empty words. I will make it up to you.

DRF is reporting Uncle Mo has been officially retired from racing and will sgtand the 2012 season at Sashford stud.

How brutally obvious is the East Coast bias, led by Jason and co.

Union Rags gets beat by Hansen, yet, all we here from Jason and crew is how he had to travel an extra 80 feet or so.  Also what a horrible ride UR was given.  LOL! Union Rags, was best and Jason and co. all know it. Of course, we can all remember...

Last year, the ride given to Zenyatta was 10 times worse than that given to UR, but, all we kept hearing was Blame won so he is the best. LOL.

You can't have it both ways as we all can see you, Jason and co.  

We all saw Zenyatta getting taken back so far that some questioned whether she was being pulled up.  Smith later admitted his ride was horrible and that he cost her the race.  We all saw the great mare make an unbelievable charge from 25+ lengths back to lose a head.

Last years Classic was the very definition of the cliche that the best horse doesn't always win.  All we heard is how Blame won so he is best from Jason and his cronies.  

Oh, but now, one of their own has been beaten by a subpar ride.  Raise the flags, bombs away, we will not standby and let this injustice go without a loud and boisterous battle.  LOL.

Pay back is sweet.

How about we start telling the truth around here.

I hope everyone got some money down on Game On Dude.  He just grabbed Mo by the neck at the top of the stretch and would not back off.  Just as predicted.  

G.O.D. for HOY.  He has 2 Grade 1 wins and 2 Grade 1 runner ups this year.  

Camp Havre De Grace rolled the dice and lost.  Had she gone to the Lady's Classic and won this would be a no brainer.

The fact of the matter is that she got beat by 2 horses from the West and as we now know Flat Out, Stay Thirst, and Uncle Mo came in with limited Grade 1 victories and left with a severe beating.

Jason,  I'll admit I thought Union Rags was the best bet of the weekend but he appears to be one of those horses who needs more than Castellano to stay out of trouble. His Breeders Cup ride on top of his Champagne, where Castellano also got him in trouble and was barely able to get him free for the win, spells the end for Javy. 'Rags' needs Dominguez, Leparoux or Maragh.

AFLEET AGAIN for Horse of the Year. What a champion. The stamina of this horse is uncanny.  Congrats to Butch Reid.  You love this horse and he loves you! I'm so proud of you Afleet Again. You just would not quit the Marathon and it was great to see the Breeder's Cup blanket on you. You deserved it. Look how hard he ran. Only a Horse of the Year could do that! Afleet Alex's heart was with his son this day! Hoorah for all the Afleet Alex fans also. We love you Afleet Alex, we love you Afleet Again.

not to sound cruel here. i think it was the right thing to do with uncle mo although his retirment seems a little sus i dont think that cause him to throw a clunker. i think they were asking too much from him.

I had both of Bill Motts horses in my classic super box.One thing I follow is trainers and some of them win the same races over and over.I think Mott is the trainer with the most wins at Churchill Downs,he knows how to win races there, and his training style works for the configuration and surface of Churchill.I have never followed Mott for a whole year so I dont know if he points his horses for the spring/summer meet or fall meet at Churchill Downs.Next year barring unforseen circumstances I can tell you percentage wise who will be in the hunt for leading trainer and owner for Gulfstream.I can also play certain trainers at Saratoga  especially

if they have a chance to win the training title for the meet including maidens.Horses are not the only ones that have cycles trainers have them too.BTW Mott had a very good uncoupled entry in the classic Thas and Dross.

I could not agree more with your comments on the Breeders Cup.  I do believe track conditions and post position played a huge role IMO on the outcome of several races but either way I don't see some of these horses in the money even.

I thought the #1 draw for Goldikova was a terrible post position, but then I saw alot of "real" handicappers saying she'd get the best trip from there.  

Clearly Union Rags was the best horse in the Juvenile, and I believe 2 year old honors should still go to him. He won a Grade 1 and a Grade 2.  I can see the voting go either way and would not be disappointed with Hansen taking home the trophy. I do love a fast white horse!

Caleb's Posse gets my vote for 3 yr old honors. Shackleford deserves to be strongly considered for his overall body of work as well.  He came out swinging in almost every race.  I don't think Animal Kingdom should be considered.

Acclamation is Turf Champion on the basis of 5 graded wins, but Cape Blanco was more impressive and it's a shame neither of these made it to Breeders Cup day.

Horse of the Year: Havre de Grace. It's the body of work.  She didn't discrace in the Classic and the only horse that finished in front of her that is a consideration for HOY is Game On Dude.  

I can't really vote for Acclamation for HOY for the same reason many people thought Zenyatta shouldn't have get HOY for 2009 - his wins all came in the confines of Southern California.  At least in 2010 Zenyatta, when she did win HOY, traveled east twice.

Rapid Redux, come on you can't give HOY to a horse that never ran, much less won, a graded stakes.  However, I could see him winning the Special Award Eclipse for outstanding individual contribution to the sport.

And what about Musical Romance?  I had to do a doubletake when I realized she has raced 35 times and she's only 4!  An amazing accomplishment in and of itself.

But overall, I too found the two days of racing anticlimatic, particularly Saturday.  I thought the Dirt Mile and Sprint drew more contentious fields than the Classic.

Further, I was perplexed that Jackson Bend didn't run in the Mile.  His coming up short behind Amazombie probably proved that out though I'm not sure he would have ever caught Caleb's Posse who I thought gave one of the best performances on the day.

Caracortado didn't belong in the Turf Sprint, and again another horse that needed more stretch and would have fared better in the Mile.

Uncle Mo - obviously you could say he should have gone in the Dirt Mile but I also don't think he liked the track nor was coming into the weekend in the same form.  His workouts prior to the Classic were telling, if you watched them.

Also interesting side note - it was either TVG or HRTV commentators that pointed out when AU Minor was on the track, I believe on Thursday or Friday morning, that he looked unhappy, his gait was uncharacteristically stiff.  I wonder if he just hated the track or if there was already something going on there.  Will never know but I hope he recovers from his injuries.  Beautiful horse.

Looks like alot of you didnt have the Dross. I have to give some props to colfacts he had it pegged when he was rattling off stats about 4 year olds and the success of jockeyclub. Dross won me 400 boom other than that it was a rough classic! Did any favorites win a race?

Well, Suck Up here. Call me anything you wish Playfriskyforme and Matthew W since you seconded his post, just call me for dinner!

I think some of the posts are sour grapes, i went back and searched all the comments pre race and don't believe anyone had predicted Drosselmeyer as the Classic winner. So how many of the comments are because $$$$$'s were lost at the window??

I don't bet, so though many here are handicappers, i look at the races from a different perspective.

I actually watch the performance of the horse without dollar signs drifting about my head like sugarplums at Christmas.

Game on Dude was it for me. I don't care who, which gender, or what was riding him or what type of track it was. He set the pace and almost won. Drosselmeyer and Game on Dude could be brothers.

They deserve some respect, old timers both!

Hearing Jone's comment about "he doesn't want any sympathy votes," spoiled any chances for me that Havre should get HOY. Sorry, with the mental picture of Eight Belles

lying on the track and looking for a familiar face to comfort her and coming in second with strangers about her as she was put down with 2 broken front legs sickens me to this day. Jones took a year off i guess and he forgot very quickly.

So no Havre for me. Instead i hope someone buys Blind Luck and gives her a good life after racing. Havre did not win all of her races, thanks go to Blind Luck who has all but been forgotten.  

Hansen was super. Straight out super. And yes he does have the running characteristics of another gray. Love it.

And i am especially glad that so many here are not forgetting Rapid Redux. Would HOY for him be great?

You bet. Been watching him for quite some time and admiring him a little bit more with each win.

The other winner i thought showed heart was Caleb's Posse. He came from nowhere. And i have to agree with those who said that the stewards looking the other way when Goldikova interfered was unfortunate. I guess politeness over reality won out. After all she came a long way to race again.

Had she won though, i am afraid they would have had to DQ her.

And now Uncle Mo is officially retired. I know it makes some very happy but for me i can only think what greatness that could have been was lost when he contracted the liver disease. It set him back a lot more than expected. What he could have been is regretful but at least he lived to see a new day. I wish Uncle Mo well and thank Mike Repole and everyone who helped UM regain his health.

And thanks Jason. Forgot to tell you that on my other post.

Blind Luck should be Horse Of the Year

predict.  I don't think Uncle Mo could have beaten Caleb's Posse either.  Just another billionaire getting "sweet nothings" whispered into his ear (ala Lukas, I mean Pletcher).  I'm glad I tossed Mo and left Harve on the deep end of my super.  I managed 2 out of 4.

How about Amazombie's 72 year old trainer picking him up as a mistake.  He thought he was paying $5000.00 for a single horse, who later did nothing, and the breeder thought he was paying $5,000 for 2 horses and thew in Amazombie!  

I spent too much time getting caught up in TVG's "The Works" show.  A+ workout for Flat Out?

C- works for Creative Cause?  Perhaps they got the 2 horses confused.  That's about 8 hours I won't ever get back.

signed Quality Road killed my Superfecta.  

I realize that Rapid Redux will never appear on HOY ballots, but I would vote for him as a protest of sorts.  The American thoroughbred has generally become a diminished breed compared to his ancestors who ran more often, further and faster at a distance of ground.  Rapid Redux represents all of the qualities we all would like to see in the breed, save for his class or lack of it.  Depends on how you want to define class.  This horse obviously has a ton of heart and desire and perhaps would have been a BC champion except for conformational flaws, injuries, illness or whatever.  Bottom line is this: Rapid Redux represents the best qualities of a horse.  He runs often at various distances at various tracks and just wins.

Criminal Type,

No one is suggesting that Hansen could run 10 to 12 furlongs! Simply put on Breeders Cup Day, he Kicked some BUTT... Lets give him ALL the credit and these Clowns on ESPN and Jason have really minimized his performance.

BTW, not taking anything away from Jerry Bailey as a Jockey...

Steve, I honestly do not think Javier could have done much better considering the position Rags broke from and the tightness of the group as a whole. I seriously doubt Matz is going to put Rajiv, Robby or Julien on the horse at this point. Robby gave the Barbaro brothers (Nicanor and Lentenor) some very bad rides that I am sure Michael has not forgotten. I wouldnt put Maragh on a mule after his actions in the Belmont. If any of the three have a shot It's Julien. The ducking out issue can be a fatigue issue, but it can also be a distraction issue. As I said earlier, Blinkers would be my first course of action and if that didn't work, Then I might consider a rider change. Too bad the Mig is retired.

I think anyone considering Game On Dude for older horse of the year/ HOTY should consider Acclamation's season.

Acclamation won 5/7 including 5 straight graded stakes wins.  He won graded stakes from a mile and an eighth to a mile and a half on turf and polytrack.  These wins were the grade 2T Jim Murray(1 1/2 miles), grade 2t Clement Hirsch (1 1/4 miles), the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Memorial (1 1/4), The Eddie Read (1 1/8) and the Pacific Classic (1 1/4 miles ).  Acclamation won the Pacific Classic in a stakes record 2.00.61 defeating Game on Dude who was 4th.

Game on Dude on the other hand won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap (1 1/4) and the Grade 1 Goodwood (1 1/8) both at Santa Anita.  He was second in the Gold Cup and 2nd in the Classic.  

Two years ago, Gio Ponti was awarded Ch older horse on the basis of his turf form and his second in the Classic so there is a precedence in giving the award to a  "turf" runner.  

For those who won't consider him on the basis of all of Acclamations starts coming in California consider that  Tizways wins came only in New York and although Game On Dude ran in the Classic, his wins have only come in California as well.

If I were to get to vote, which I don't , I would give Turf Champion to Cape Blanco and Older horse and HOTY to Acclamation.   A lot of people complain about American horses not be able to run at a mile and a quarter any longer.  Here is a chance to recognize a horse than won 4 stakes at a mile and a quarter or longer.

I had Musical Romance in a $10 daily double with Weemissfrankie and that represented the 4,097,094 time I've had the first half of a double without hitting the second half. Oh, well.

Interest now that Uncle Mo has been retired.  My question would be is this liver thing genetic?  I would have to think twice about breeding to him.

For HOY, Game On Dude or the filly... either would be OK in my book

Vindication sometimes doesn't come so easily .....Thank You Uncle Mo ....with all the chances many had all year long, no one horse could "seal the deal", although strong cases can be made for many .....If the "within its division" thinking of the folks with the votes prevails again, then one would have to think that Rapid Redux is going to get a long look, especially if he wins later this month, and deservedly so. How great would that be for "the little guy" !!....the ones that keep the game going, week in and week out !!

Oh, and Jason ....couldn't agree more...the ride by JJ was abominable

Overall, when a whole bunch of mediocre horses get together to put on a show, the underwhelming results hurt the game everyone on Jason's blog obviously love. Sure, a longshot 'ner do well who somehow comes home in front gives some hope. But slow horses hardly inspire our imagination. I was hoping something would represent catching lightning in a bottle, but as a whole, this Cup was a snoozer.

With 18 wins this year, I'd have to say Rapid Redux. That is simply an amazing record. Most of the fancy stakes horses are lucky to have that many races, never mind wins, in their entire career. Frankly, I think he has done more than enough in one year to merit getting this title. It's about RACING, isn't it? It's not necessarily an award that goes to the horse that wins the most money or the most Grade Ones. The durability and determination to win simply set Rapid Redux apart from the rest this year.

Pedigree Ann-  Most horses couldn't carry UM's Jock Strap!(Just ask his rivals in last year's Juvenile, and his Beyer speed figures). Unfortunately between his liver ailment, lack of conditioning, and a deep slow tiring track-(2:04), he had no chance!

Union Rags is my early favorite for the Derby, but we have a looong way to go for that. Enough with the excuses for him. Didn't Looking at Lucky lose by a head? He went on to a good career, right?

As for the 78 feet excuse and the reasoning behind that, Big Brown ran 122 feet further than any previous Derby winner according to the Sheets guys, and thus, using your more ground covered reasoning, Big Brown ran the fastest Derby in history and would have ran faster than Secretariat had they both covered the same ground (which is what the Sheets guys said anyhow when they said BB ran the fastest Derby in history).

Everyone laughed at that reasoning but now it is all the rage with explaining how Union Rags lost to Hansen. In the end, it is just an excuse that you may be able to use for what? UR will be favored when he faces Hansen again...Fact check:

First: Hansen did ALL THE WORK. He ran every step, wire to wire, on a tiring track.

Two: This was Hansen's FIRST TIME on dirt, and first time against horses of this caliber. He CAN and WILL move forward.

Three: Union Rags did not do all the work in that race, he rated back and went wide twice. You take your chances when you rate mid pack in any race. You know that.It is one thing that speed horses like Hansen have all over the other horses: no trouble. Sure UR covered more ground, but the rail was dead and that track was tiring. He had every chance to get past, could not run a straight line, and DID NOT. Hansen won. Just like the Cardinals won even though Ranger fans feel they should have won game 6 and the series. Hansen beat UR head to head.

I am no Zenyatta fan, but UR's trip was likely better than Z's last year. Z was a great horse, I just got tired of hearing about her all the time and got tired of hearing the excuses when she lost.

Union Rags lost. Get over it. And, he lost to a horse who went wire to wire, who was running on his first time on dirt, who was running against graded winners for the first time, and yet UR was within a length of him at the top of the stretch AND STILL COULD NOT GET BY BECAUSE HE WAS TOO GREEN.

IF the jockey did get too confident that was a boneheaded mistake. You NEVER know what 2 year olds will do at 2 turns. Ride them all the way.

There is no doubt UR will get better and will thrive at 9f and possibly 10 based on his gallop out. But give Hansen his due. We have no idea how good this guy could be...We may have another Hard Spun on our hands, which means he will be a definate threat at any distance he runs at.

The Classic reminded me of the 2007 Kentucky Derby minus Street Sense, Hard Spun and Curlin. Where a grinder who could run all day named Imawildandcrazyguy got up for 4th! Except he ran 10f in just over 2:03-1/5 seconds on a similar closing bias CD track. It was telling that the slower Belmont winners just past the milers in the end this year. The Belmont horses can get 10f, just slowly.

And Uncle Mo, when all is said and done, was kind of a Hard Spun Lite, wasn't he? Except HS would have destroyed Mo at over 8.5, 9 and 10 furlongs. Mo wanted no part of those distances, and Hard Spun actually won the Kings Bishop (unlike Mo),and spent his 3 year old season running against horses like Curlin, Street Sense, Any Given Saturday, Lawyer Ron, Diamond Stripes...and beat them all at least once.

And while Hard Spun was outfinishing horses at 9f like Street Sense and Curlin, Mo was getting passed by Toby's Corner. There is simply no comparison when you critically examine Uncle Mo side to side with a horse like War Emblem, Smarty Jones, Big Brown...they were milers who could carry that speed 10f. They would have destroyed Mo at 9 or 10f.

Enjoy Mo for what he was. A miler who ran great up to 8.5 furlongs when there was no competition up front with him.

Mo was a good horse, overhyped like all of Pletcher's horses, in a sub par season. When all is said and done, Caleb's Posse may be the best 3 year old.

Sounds like Uncle Mo wasnt 100%. A blood test wasnt right but still good enough to run, I guess. He still isnt healthy and dont think I would be breeding a mare to him.  

It was a good two days of racing. As for HOY, My Miss Aurelia was the best horse running.

LA Dakota,

I don't think there is a clear choice for HOY or HoOY, so I think they should just give it to last year's winner.

A healthy UM would never have won at the classic distance...same as that overrated overhype Rachel.

What a great Breeders Cup !  I can't wait until California next year.  My great success of the day was the 6th race and my great failure ( besides losing 2k on Mo) was the 6th race.  I knew Regally Ready would win the race and I liked Havelock and the Woodford race and boxed him and Perfect Officer and Country Day behind Regally. Why on earth I did not play the Super and add in Great Attack from that same race is beyond me.  But I did hit the Tri x 2 1/2.  If I would have added Great Attack I would have increased my take big time.  The 9th race gave me a easy Tri and exacta but other than that it was murder.  I still can't find anyone who bet on Court Vision.  See you next year !

Jeeze Louise.  If I had put some bucks down on every horse at the Breeders'Cup that had run at Woodbine, I would have been way ahead of most bettors -- never mind the ESPN guys or Draynay!

HOY = body of work for the year: Havre de Grace seems best.  

(I like the 2YO's but I wasn't wowed like with Secretariat or even Favourite Trick in his year.)

It will be interesting to see what happens -- no easy pickins' this year (or even easy fightin' between only 2 horses).

Criminal Type

Did I take your girlfriend and/or lunch money in High School?.. OK,I guess I'll respond to your off-the-wall rants.

Re: the Hansen vs. Union Rags match-up.. Read Dr.Drunkinbum's post @ 9:51am for more clarification.Union Rags had the whole length of the stretch to get it done.He lost.Get over it.

I'm not biased towards Cali/Synthetics horses,in fact I'm partial to Seattle Slew line progeny.Where did you get that from genius?..

The horses you posted where some who I thought were "live price plays" that didn't pan out. I'll post the ones you conveniently left off:THAS,Flat Out,Stay Thirsty,So You Think,Wilburn,Caleb's Posse,It's Tricky,Seeker,Pure Gossip,Hansen,Alpha & Courageous Cat.Now tell me which one of these are Cali/synthetics horses?..

Next time you call me out,make sure you have your $h!# straight.Thanks buddy!

During F T Sale time i check Bloodhorse.com often. I now read that Blind Luck will be staying in the United States. I feared she would end up in a foreign country and never be heard from again.

Thank you Mr. Dedomenico for caring so strongly about her. She did indeed run her heart out and i really think the world of her because of it. Now that she is retired from racing I have no doubt that she will enjoy just being a horse. That is so little to allow her to do after all she has done.

This is terrific news.

IF the reasons for retiring Mo were really health related and not something else I agree.

As I watched Drosselmeyer make the late rush I couldn't help but think Zenyatta was giving an invisible push. Great to see Mike Smith comeback and nail the win after the heartbreaking defeat of last year.

HOY-Game On Dude after all,he is GOD.

Jason,

Perfect description of the BC race outcomes, odd and anti-climatic.  Poor Mo, at least he tried, too much for him.  Mo and Thirsty crossed the finish line together probably muttering to each other, "Uh oh, we're in big trouble.  Do we have to go back to the barn and see Toddy?"  At least Mo will retire sound and hopefully Thirsty will go on as a 4 yr. old.

Shack gave it his all AGAIN, and so did Game On Dude.  Who would have ever figured that Court Vision would get Goldikova or Drosselmeyer would come from the clouds???????  I don't think Goldikova has lost a step, she was boxed in pretty good there with no running room and did not have her usual "momentum" in her stretch run, coupled with the still wet track.  Ruler On Ice hit the board as I thought and what a scream this Hansen is!!!!!!!  A white streak amongst the bays, he ran lights out.  Union Rags ran huge too, it was close.  At least we have the Juveniles giving us hope for next year.  Good for the Afleets in Afleet Again and Amazombie, nice wins.  The only race I really loved was the Ladies Classic and Royal Delta's win.  I wish we could turn time back, way back, not just an hour, and do Saturday all over again, but it is what it is.  The BC races were thrilling but the outcomes were typical of this strange year we had in racing.  As for HOY? I guess I see it as the 3rd year in a row that we get a female HOY, Havre de Grace.  I had tears in my eyes as they showed Goldikova in her blanket with her name inscribed on it making her final post race walk.  I feel bad for Mike Repole too, he must be going through a gamut of emotions.  I still love Mo, even in defeat.

I am mostly in agreement with Jason regarding the BC results.  Not the most inspiring of renditions of the event.  HOY?  This will be a really tough one.  No real standout in the 3-yr old or open divisions and I can't see giving the award to a 2-yr old, no matter how good he (or she) appears.  Saying that, My Miss Aurelia impresses me as much, if not more, than the colts.  While Hansen did win over the bias against speed on the day, Union Rags indeed had a horrible trip, or a horrible ride, and is probably the better horse. East coast, West coast, I don't care.  No bias here; I just tell it like I see it.  Rapid Redux for HOY?  Ludicrous. There are a good number of horses with better credentials that could also run up a string of victories if they were running at the same level of competition as R.R.  Loved Fran's plug for Afleet Again.  She has no East or West coast bias either.  Just Afleet Alex bias.  

Biscuit you and householder are rank beginners.  Householder please don't quote me fractions from the SA speedway going 1 1/8th check out his fractions going a 1 1/4 and notice how he stops and can't run the last 200 yards.  Game on Dude?  You can't be serious.

Draynay Oct 20 2011 3:30 p.m.

who:

If you're referring to when To Honor and Serve pulled up onto horse's heels and had to be restrained slightly going into the first turn as your excuse for why the horse spit the bit in the stretch, PLEASE!

THAS had an absolutely clear trip after this extremely minor traffic incident, had dead aim on Game on Dude on the far turn and into the stretch, but yet never did get by that rival.  

If that's all it takes for THAS to lose a race, then he has even bigger issues than stamina.  

Pedigree Ann good post, you said what I say in a different way about 2yos.The juvenile in the breeders cup was a formful race but lately the winner of the derby was not even in the field.The last juvenile derby double was 2007 with Street Sense and HE WAS a juvenile that knew how to rate and won the breeders juvy by 10 lengths along the inside of the track,  just like the path he used in the derby.I think Churchill was his home track with his trainer being Nafzger.Supersaver was very well managed by Pletcher in 2010 he won the 3yo stake race at Churchill for 3yos that has yet to be run for 2011.Big Brown didnt even break his maiden until December.AK I think broke his maiden late in 2010 or early 2011.Matz trains Union Rags but Barbaro was running and winning routes on grass late in his 2yo year and I dont think he ran on the dirt until late winter or early the following year.Looking at the AWD for URags sire and dam on Brisnet he in no way resembles Barbaros breeding.I think making an excuse for a mare that won 19 out of 20 races and placed 2nd in the only one she didnt win is a more valid point than making excuses for URags a 2yo that got beat by Hansen.Mine That Bird was winning stakes on the AW track at Woodbine in the winter of his 2yo season or was it 3.

BTW to all you who were sure UM was a lock in the Classic I got a case of vitamin water for sale that you should be interested in.

Pretty dismal is right.  What happened to those days? Where's Lookin at Lucky? (Champion at 2 and 3). Lady's Secret won 8 grade 1 stakes in 1986 beating the best males 4 times (Whitney Included).  All in all, she won 10-15 all graded stakes that year capping it off with a Breeder's Cup Distaff at

1 1/4!!!  The ONLY horses to hit the board in the classic this year are those that had ran at 1 1/4 to 1 1/2.  

2 Belmont Winners, a Santa Anita Big Cap winner and HDG.

Probably a good time to drop the Breeder's Cup Classic down to

1 1/8th.

I'm so sad for Goldi I can't wait to see her kids.

Rapid Redux while a lovely gelding and a charming story isn't in the same class as any of the other Horses Mentioned. 20K races? please... I dare say that all the others could go undefeated at that level till they were 11 or so.  

I'm quite sure the mention was tounge in cheek.  

Please, stop doubting Hansen 78 feet more? what? are we going to give everyone who swings wide a pass not to win.  Hansen showed CLASS stepping up and hanging on to wire these other nice colts - he is the real deal.  Perhaps he will want 1 1/4 perhaps not but he won the Juvy in his 3rd start and that is worthy of 2 year old champ in my book.

Very interesting how Rapid Redux is getting all these votes. Maybe I should start the campaign...

Giddyup.  Yep Mike Smith was not going to make the same mistake twice with leaving too much for big D to do (like leaving him with 25 lengths to make up) and he certainly didn't dog fight it out down the lane with Game on Dude.  Game on Dude never saw him coming.  He rode the winner perfectly.  

Point Given, I understand you are trying to be amusing in your reference to Game on Dude being "GOD."  But no horse is God, and your reference to one as such, even in jest, is offensive.

havent been able to find my pre classic post saying that MO was this years quality road and would finish at the back..which he did.all my anti pletcher posts get deleted or not posted at all. i just dont get the love everyone has for pletcher..stevie wonder could see that mo had no shot of getting the distance. every year pletcher  has a speed horse that people blindly follow as a great horse. the horse flops in the classic and is retired the next day. had quality road even cooled down yet before he was at lanes end last year??.. c u next year when pletchers "now" horse gets over rated and over bet..i wish i could bet on reverse finishing order..i"d bet pletchers "star" every year

Switch hasn't been off the board since July 2010 and is now a 2 time runner up in the Breeder's Cup Ladies Sprint.  I was worried about Turbulent Descent's lay off.

Tres Borrachos 30-1.  Didn't he just win something...San Diego Handicap?  Nice show in the Dirt Mile.

You people dont know that the filly will be HOY? REALLY? Its not that hard to figure out. the filly will win..........

Householder (and others) indeed my favorite part of the whole 2 days was the fine ride by Mike Smith.

The media builds up all these 8-9 furlong horses and precocious two year old speedballs into superstars and then people are surprised when they can't win at 10f+. Meanwhile, the horses who CAN handle 10f+ can't find many races to run in and don't fare as well in the shortened G1s we have now. How many non-turf 10f+ Grade 1's are there? Outside the Triple Crown, Travers and Alabama? Let's see: Santa Anita 'Cap, Hollywood Gold Cup, Pacific Classic, Jockey Club Gold Cup, Personal Ensign, Breeder's Cup Classic. Did I miss any? Anyone see a problem here? We're breeding sprinters/milers today and we can either accept and acknowledge that or try to reverse the trend away from the Quarter Horse wanna-bes and try to get our stayers back. We can start by returning some of our races to their historic distances: Woodward back to 10 or 12f, Jockey Club Gold Cup to AT LEAST 12f etc. instead of calling 8-9f races "routes". Give our stayers some G1 races to run for heaven's sake instead of condemning them to always run out of room at 9f. Let's celebrate and honor those who can get the distance.

Maybe Drosselmeyer wouldn't have been such a surprise if he'd had more races suited to him to run in (btw he didn't qualify for the Derby due to lack of earnings). What's his record at 10f+? 6-3-2-0 - pretty darn good. His only out of the money at a distance was a 7th on the turf in the Sword Dancer when for some strange reason he was sent to the lead at the break. Should we be surprised that the top three in the Classic were PROVEN at a 10f+? I don't think so.

IMO, Uncle Mo's only real problem with the track was that it was 1/4 mile too long...

Not sure I understand the retirement of Uncle Mo due to an elevated blood count that sounds like it is no where near where it was in the spring when he was still training for the Derby.  Wouldn't the usual "winter break" that most horses take right now fix that?  And I wonder if they checked it "before" the Breeder's Cup or only after...?  Seems like there is again more to the story.  As someone mentioned earlier, it would be interesting to know if his condition is hereditary and I would certainly look into it before breeding to him...

As for Rapid Redux, I think his accomplishment is awesome!!  I am also all for horses running more often than our expensive classic horses do, however, I feel that they are way overdoing it with him! Far too many races this year for the poor guy - especially when you consider that was all in only 10 months!

Jason

Start the Rapid Redux campaign for HOY.  Why not?  If BYI could be National Champs a few years back, why not RR.  Just don't say that Draynay endorses it.  Then everyone would laugh at you.

BTW I thought it was funny that Flat Out's trainer Charles Dickey thinks that no horse should get HOY this year.

Is anyone surprised Draynay comes up with a big winning weekend despite the fact only two of his five favorites won? Really? Dray, I'm due back on planet Earth, I'll see you later. Much.

What if Todd Schrupp opens the Horse of the Year envelope and no one won? Rapid Redux IS the story of the year and a horse everyone of us would love to own. HOY? Why not?

Criminal Type: I was referring to Ramon Dominguez, not Robbie (I assume you meant) Albarado. As for Rajiv Maragh, he was indeed immature in his Belmont vendetta with Johnny Velasquez, but obviously they have some history to which the rest of us aren't privvy. He picked a bad time to exact his pound of flesh but I think he has a great inner clock and he could ride Union Rags better than Javvy has. Of course most anyone could. Leparoux fits him as does Gomez; either would have gotten him home Saturday. Stay tuned there.

I'd like to address the comment that compared Goldikova's BC run this year to Zenyatta's classic run last year. First of all, Goldikova is a legend in her own right. As hard and often as she has been raced against the best milers in the world it's amazing that she is still sound of body and mind. Has she "missed a step"? Probably so, but father time is nipping at her hooves and the mileage has caught up to her. To be honest, they should've retired the french queen after her 3rd BC win last year. Again, no shame for the gallant warrior Goldikova, I love her. That being said, she had a good trip, was always within striking distance, made her move smoothly to the lead, but couldn't hold off the finishers in the closing seconds. Zenyatta on the other hand had trouble with the kick back dirt from the opening bell, she fell back 20 or so lengths from the pack. After big Z finally gathered her senses, she did what only the greatest thoroughbreds of all time could've pulled off. She made up an unbelievable amount of ground, losing ground to do it, and she passed the entire pack with ease and missed the wire to Blame by a breath. Big Z lost her final race because she was not adequately trained to deal with dirt in her face. Blame didn't outrun Zenyatta, she was defeated by her risky come from behind style of running and lack of training on dirt.  Zenyatta made it look easy, so easy that everyone thought Havre de Grace could do it this year. I knew better. Zenyatta is a horse for the ages, her talent left untapped, her true potential unexplored, I call her "the great underachiever", as she could've left the sport with no doubt in anyone's mind as to her greatness. I don't expect to see another of her caliber in my lifetime.

Linda in Texas your a wonderful blogger and i respect your admiration and affection for Uncle Mo.I just feel he would have been better served by another owner.Mike Repole is a great American success story,that is without question.He just needs to let the horse do the talking.An Allen Paulsen approach would endear more fans to a horse of Mo's status more so than the Ernie Paragallo approach that Mike Repole displays.

In defense of Uncle Mo, he's  a miler, no shame in that, and it's very difficult to come back from a serious ailment and play on the top level, especially when you are being put in at distances that are too far for you to run! That will cause stress for a pony with health issues. Sorry Mo, I think you could've been a terrific miler, hate to see you leave the sport so soon. Stay healthy.

You're not fooling anyone Draynay! Once again, thanks for the donation! What horse are you going to declare the next Secretariat this year? I made more than my fair share betting against Uncle Mo this year, let's see if we can top that next year. I'm sure you'll come up with something.

2011 Horse of the Year: Game On Dude (if he wins the Clark), Acclamation(for having the strongest resume), or Zenyatta(for being robbed in 2008).

Yes, an anti-climactic BC - and decidedly bad on the pocketbook. If not for Force Freeze, Hansen and ROI, my husband and I would have had to walk back to our hotel.... HOTY is a toss-up. I'm waiting to see if GOD or Acclamation achieve anything else this year. As it is, the most exciting race was the juvenile, watching Hansen fight off UR. What a gutsy tenacious colt. And beautifully spooky with his coloring, he certainly stands out. Looking forward to next year's derby hopefuls and My Miss Aurelia's 3 yr old campaign (among others). Also glad Mike won with Drosselmeyer. I would imagine that helps take the sting out of last year's disaster just a little bit. We've gone to the past 2 BCs, and I'm already scheming on how to get out to Cali next year.

To Arts and Letters.....not only do you bear the name of one of my favorite horses of all time, you are absolutely right about the Marathon and the cheap and cheesy way some North Americans view horses that not only get a distance, but display stamina and endurance. But then, we all should remember that Lukas told us that there's no need for the Belmont Stakes to be run at a mile and a half since distance is outdated and useless......... not his exact words, but we all got his drift. FIE ON HIM and all others who think that way. I won't even start on WHY we should discourage that sort of ridiculous thinking. As for me? I'd put the Marathon right before the Classic and give star billing to anyone who can train a horse and keep it healthy enough to run in the damned thing!

And to Linda in Texas: I thought we agreed on most things horsey, but am appalled that you really blame Larry Jones for the death of Eight Belles, and that you condemn him for not being at her side as she fell. So, by extension, Havre de Grace is NOT a candidate for HOY. That's a bit too PETA sounding for me, Linda; I apologize, but it's true. Thoroughbreds are bred and born to run. I've seen fields of  yearlings running their eyes out in a blinding rainstorm, just to see who gets to the big weed or the flat rock first. We've all seen foals turning themselves into guided missiles, colliding with their mothers, falling, getting up and taking off again. This is what horses do; horses also take bad steps and break ankles and when their weight comes down on the other ankle THAT one goes, too. That's horse physiology 101, and sadly for us all, Eight Belles was a victim of her genetic heritage. Anyone who blames Larry Jones for the death of Eight Belles does not have all the information required to make that kind of judgement. If Larry Jones is responsible for the loss of that wonderful filly, and PETA is right: that all horse racing should be banned, then PLEASE tell me just what the hell we're gonna do with all the horses we have no room for already, never mind all those on the tracks all over the country? When those who think like that come up with a SENSIBLE answer, I'll be much more willing to listen to the argument, or to give it any credence at all. And, as an aside, can anyone tell me how many registered Thoroughbreds are alive RIGHT NOW? How many are in utero, and how many unregistered-as-yet TB's there are? I'd bet a load that the number is far past astounding and far beyond manageable.

Enough. This year has been bad enough already. I'll stop and shut up. This isn't the blog for my rant, so I apologize Jason. I also wish cheers and safe trips to all.

I don't think I'd write Hansen off just yet.  Seems to me that years ago, there was another speedburner who would win from gate to finish.  Many wrote him off, but he learned to "relax" and harness his speed well enough to win the Belmont and become racing's only undefeated Triple Crown winner.  Hansen does hail from Slew's male line and we all know now what he did.  Take nothing from Union Rags - he's had a spectacular campaign, but he got beat (though I tend to agree the "scenic" route was probably not the best way to catch Hansen).  

No one knows what either of these colts are capable of, so next year's 3yo races should be quite captivating.  Besides, who says Hansen can't go the Derby/Belmont distance?  I know what everyone says the Tapits' distance is, but even Tapit himself won at 1 1/8 miles in the Wood Memorial.  Check out Hansen's pedigree - A.P. Indy, Seattle Slew, Northern Dancer, Temperence Hill, Native Dancer, and Unbridled are all there.  Even April Run, on Hansen's dam's side won the Wash D.C. International at 1 1/2  miles.  

Hansen impressed me a great deal, stepping up to take on horses of Union Rags' caliber, ran all the way and won on a tiring track.  My pick for 2yo colt champion, hands down.

I, too, cried when I saw Goldi in her blanket after the race, what a game mare!  

Either Havre de Grace or (and not a protest vote) Rapid Redux is HOY.  None of the others mentioned measure up.

The more I replay Goldikova's race the more I think she ran better than any of them and showed that amazing turn of foot she has.  For her to overcome the rail post, perform on the off track, hook her way out of a traffic mess, and still take a pretty close third is amazing in itself.  

And I should have figured on a chestnut winning the BCC, this being the year I dubbed "the Year of the Chestnuts" with AK in the Derby, Shack in the Preakness, ROI in the Belmont, and Coil in the Haskell with the other 2 chestnuts in tow behind him, I should have figured!

Wishing a successful surgery for A.U. Miner.  Hope he can recover, they said Dr. Bramlage is doing the surgery so he is in great hands.

Nice to see Mike Smith find a closer this year that could finish on the dirt. Nice victory by one of the few horses that could run 1 1/4 miles without being timed by a calender (and even that is debatable). As for Uncle Mo, I am glad that they found out about his elevated enzyme condition and immediately retired him to stud. Could the extra stress possibly be from rushing him back into training and trying to get him prepared for the BC Classic off only two preps? Also, I am even more glad that this liver condition is nonhereditary, and can't be passed on through his genes (what a great coincidence). This way we can see his sons and daughters grow up to be excellent dirt milers. God forbid we value horses that have stamina and durability as their traits in the breeding shed. I really enjoy watching precocious two year olds fly by the rest of the competition, then come back to the pack at age 3 and never run a lick past 1 1/8 miles. Great to see what breeders are doing to this sport.

HELLO!!!!

Does anyone think Calebs Posse has a shot at HOY? He has 2 grade 1 wins , a grade 2 and 3 this year so far. I think if he wins the grade 1 Cigar and the grade 1 Malibu ( very do-able) , he could steal HOY honors.

Hansen could possibly grab the honors too with a win in the Cash Call in California next month.

My thoughts are you shoudnt get HOY honors unless you really deserve it. I think there are still a few good wins to be had to steal HOY as well as divisional honors. Court Vision could swipe turf horse of the year with wins in the Citation and the Arcadia.

.....just my humble opinion.

Acclamation  or  Havre De Grace

Game On Dude only "won" the SA Hcp because the stewards in Cal don't like to get in the way of the Baffert. He lost quite convincingly to not only Acclamation, but Twirling Candy (well, when there wasn't a wildly whipping left-handed female jockey creating a huge issue at the 3/16ths pole). And then he lost to Drosselmeyer. Hmmm. Not exactly HOY performances.

Track not playing to speed? There's always an excuse for the Pletchers and Bafferts of the world. More like you just got beat. They all ran over the same surface.

Linda in Texas,

I knew you would just love Hansen!  I was thinking of you when he won.  He was amazing!

Loved your post but backtrack with me, if you would a little please, on the Eight Belles incident.  Even if Larry Jones was Superman himself I don't think he could have gotten down there in time.  It was a freak accident on the gallop out when she broke both legs.  Larry was on his way to retrieve her and the horses were not even back yet.  He saw the jock walking back alone or being brought back by the outrider, the jock ran up and hugged him and said, "Mr. Larry they had to put her down."  He (Larry) took off on foot running (there is video footage of it).  It was out of his hands, she was already gone and he saw that it was futile and they did what had to be done, there was no time for him to be there with her, it was an impossibility through no control of his.  Her breakdown devastated him and he had to go it alone and defend himself to the entire industry for even running her in the Derby.  Had they not put her down immediately she would have suffered more until he got down there.  Of course we would love to have had the visual of Eight Belles dieing in the arms of her trainer but it was impossible.  It devastated Larry and he took the year off, how many trainers would just pick up and go about business as usual?  I think Larry, without actually knowing the man, is a very religious and compassionate man and was very hurt and negatively affected by Eight Belle's death, as well as was Mr. Porter.  I think God gave them another chance in Havre de Grace as they are good men.  Yes, the visual of Eight Belle's laying there is horrific, but Larry had nothing to do with her breakdown or the decision of when and where to euthanize her, it was done before he even had the chance.  Cindy and Larry did a great job with Eight Belles, Hard Spun, and Havre de Grace.  Cindy held her own on "The Works" show against the analysts too.  Forgive me Linda for this critique and I may not be right, but I just wanted you to try to separate Havre's accomplishments from your feelings about the trainer.

Jimmy- give it a rest.

Laz- I thought his statement was interesting too.  

    Dray, I know someone who did bet on Court Vision.  Unfortunately, it wasn't me.  My buddy put $20 to win on him.  His reasoning (not completely sober at the time)...."That son of a gun owes me money.  I've bet on him 4 times before and I've lost money every time".  Well he collected for over $1300 on that bet.  All in all not a bad Breeder's Cup wagering wise for me.  I didn't wind up quite as well as some of my friends with me but I did have Musical Romance in the F&M Sprint.  I also had Hansen (thank you Bloodhorse for the article done with Hansen and Maker beforehand...remember "locked and loaded"?  They certainly were.) and Amazombie.  Amazombie paid my buddy real well.  He played a PK3 of all-5-7 ending in the Sprint.  He cashed for over $27K on a $26 bet.  Not too bad and good for him.  Anybody within 5 boxes of section 317 was treated to a round of beverages.

    Anyway, I think Havre De Grace did enough to earn HOY.  Had she finished back with Uncle Mo, maybe the story would be different.  I can't argue with many of the selections made by others for their respective Eclipse titles.  I would add that Sassy's Image deserves consideration for F&M Sprinter.

    As for track bias, let's see how Santa Anita plays next year.  For some reason, I have this feeling that whatever the predominant running style is of the California contingent next year, that's how the track will play.  Churchill has had a dirt surface for ever.  I forget, what do they have at Santa Anita?  Is it dirt, pro ride or pro dirt?  Talk about not getting a surface right, lol.  Churchill is the best place to host the Breeder's Cup followed by Belmont.

alright ready for this. I think Overdriven should get some votes for 2 yo champ. I don't think he should win, but he ran a 101 Beyer in his debut and he won the Sanford pretty nicely. So he should get some of the votes, maybe even a real outside shot based on the speed.

Beautifully said Alex'sBigFan,

I'm not a big fan of Larry Jones since he made his veiled slight to John Shirreffs about his training of Zenyatta and then a back-handed slap at the Mosses for the campaign of their mare and her "sympathy" HOY honor.  However, I agree that he should not be blamed for what befell Eight Belles.  She died because her competitive heart was still trying to catch Big Brown on the gallop out and when Gabriel Saez tried to pull her up too quickly, she tripped and her ankles snapped.  Something that happens all too frequently with the offspring of her sire.

LJ had no chance to be by his filly's side at the end and it would have been cruel to make her suffer for one more second awaiting his arrival.  And I don't think anyone could question how devastating her loss was to him and the rest of the connections.    

Steve, If Matz changes riders on Union Rag's it will be for an east coast based rider. Not a fan of Robbie Alberado either. Too bad Johnny Valasquez is on Pletchers horses. I really like him.

Carlos, steal my girlfriend? Not even remotely possible. You would have to get a whole lot smarter to steal anything from me.

oso7,   I expect LJ sees things a bit more differently now since his filly couldn't do what Zenyatta did once and shy just a few inches or so of doing the second time.

LJ just stamped Zenyatta's place in history alot more louder.  

DRAYNAY

Thought you stated your never wrong?

Can someone confirm that Hansen came out of the race okay? Whether it was just the way the camera caught his picture, he had red on his lips? Can't wait to see him and Union Rags (hopefully) next year on the Triple Crown trail.

Never saw Court Vision coming, however he was not too far of Turallure at Woodbine... but never thought he would get that done.

It was great to see the two Belmont Stakes winners from the last two years (this and previous) in the top 3. There is talk on other blog sites that maybe Drosselmeyer might stay in training instead of going to stud. Can someone confirm this?

Also, are there updates on A U Miner? Thanks so much.

I can't wait to see if Goldikova does end up getting bred to Galileo or someone like him. That'll be a super foal I am sure. Can't wait to see who they will breed her to. I thank Goldi for the memories. When I went to Kentucky for the first time ever last year, her third Mile win put the exclamation point pretty much on that whole trip.

I love what Union Rags has done, and might be able to still do.  But I checked the pedigrees, and Hansen actually has the better pedigree and is fully loaded with stamina top and bottom.  Has a white horse ever won the Triple Crown?  It should be an interesting year ahead.

Melanie, I think you made the correct reference to a champion front runner.  Hansen looks special.

ABF and Linda...on some minor points you might disagree, but you seem to both love the horse and this sport.  Enjoy it while we have it.  I can't find it in myself to "blame" Larry Jones for Eight Bells breakdown anymore than I can find Matz responsible for Barbaro's breakdown.  Havre de Grace is an excellent candidate for HOY, but so is Cape Blanco, and several others.  There simply is no clear cut choice this year.  But think of the PR for the smaller training operations, and the smaller, less well-known tracks if Rapid Redux crops up as a nominee!

Uncle Mo = 2004 Ghostzapper?? what??? Uncle Mo should not even be compared to QR who won races over a mile. Baffert and Pletcher rule the racing world...yeah sure they do, they didn't win anything but the Haskell and Travers which ultimately meant nothing.

Alex'sBigFan, you said it better than I could. Eight Belles' tragic injury was not caused by Larry Jones nor did he shrug it off as business as usual. The Joneses are old-style horse people, who know and care about their horses personally, not corporate heads of staff. And as old-timers like me, they found the Mosses excuses for not trying the harder races available to their mare in SoCal at her hometracks (Santa Anita H, etc.) disingenuous.

Householder, have you ever heard how Don Chatlos got BC Mile winner Singletary? Went to Florida to buy some 2yos in training, found two he liked, and got that little one thrown in for good measure. Was only a $3200 yearling, after all.

About sales of horses: stop anthropomorphizing. So long as a horse has proper food and care, they adapt quite well to new people and stables. You don't seem to have a problem with racehorses retiring, yet they experience the same separation from their previous attachments as they do when they are sold.  

And for you who recite the number of G1s and G2s won by a horse..., The current grading system is broken, with many bogus G1s and G2s (the Chilukki? Really?). Even before it was, there has always been a pecking order among G1s. The King's Bishop is a G1 but is in no way equivalent to the Kentucky Derby. Even the same G1 can vary in quality from year to year; it's the competition you run with, not the grade of the race that is most important.

Think of it this way: NCAA Division 1 football includes a large number of programs that are 'on the same level', like G1 races. But some programs, like Ohio State or Nebraska, is far more likely to produce a championship-level team than my local university, UKy. And for ranking the teams, the strength of the schedule counts along with wins; beating up on cream-puffs doesn't move a team up in the rankings.

Oh, and I forgot to add - IMHO, you cannot judge a horse's merit by referring to a big Beyer speed figure. BSF are rapidly becoming like Roman Dosage figures - irrelevant. When the BSF people starting to churn out figures for brand new racing surfaces FROM THE FIRST DAY of competition (no pars to compare to), I knew they had lost a huge chunk of their credibility.

As to the BC, which I attended...,

A lot of people seemed to be picking horses without looking at the likely race shape given the post positions.

For example, The Factor drew the rail with front-end horses Shackleford and Tapizar to his immediate outside. A horse who has to lead to win, The Factor would have to go with those two, ensuring a fast pace that would burn him out, as happened in the Ancient Title. Of the 3 pacesetters, only Shackleford had the history of keeping on past 6f in a fast-paced mile race. The race set up for closers like Caleb's Posse, whose best races had a fast pace he could close into. The Factor really had no shot in the race as it was drawn. Yet many kept touting him as 'the best horse in the field.'

Oh, what might have been had Blind Luck held her form and stayed in training........

Wow, Tiz, Goldie and Galileo--that's a winner. Wonder who else they'd consider?

FrankJ --you're 100% correct. with all the horseflesh he has walking his shed, you'd think Pletcher would have better numbers than he does. I guess the Marion Van Berg line (Mott) did better than the Coach Lukas line (Pletcher, et all).

I am not sure why all of the UM bashing. He did romp in the Juvenile at a 1 1/16 geared down! He also has had very good Beyer #'s. For what its worth I also had a liver ailment back in 2005 from taking too many supplements and I can tell you that it took me almost a year before I felt 100%.

As far as the race I thought the track was horrible! 2:04 and change. Really?? Like running in Peanut Butter!!!

So, is it only speed that counts for HOY? Fastest horse (bsased on highest speed figure) wins the title? But that isn't always important. Some horses only go as fast as they have to in order to win. They might have tons of speed, but only use as much as they need.

Or is it number of Grade 1 wins? Well, that is awfully arbitrary, since the whole rating system seems a little skewed (witness the controversy last year over supposedly "weak" grade 1 races won by Zenyatta). And there are BC races that are not G1, which seems crazy in a "World Championship".

Should it go to a horse with soundness issues that only races 3 or 4 times in the year, but wins big stakes in those starts?

Horse racing at the top level is a rich man's game. Maybe the "lower class" horses have the ability but not the money to enter big stakes. There have been many stakes winners that started out in the claiming ranks, too, so the class of the race the horse is in doesn't always reflect the class of the horse that wins it.

In a normal year, I would not consider Rapid Redux for HOY. But this is not a normal year. He has done everything asked of him, and more. He is everything a Thoroughbred should be in that he has shown durability, determination and an overwhelming desire and exceptional ability to win. He is a throwback to what Thoroughbreds used to be: horses that raced for a living.

In a year with no one standout candidate from the stakes ranks, why not Rapid Redux?

Didn't Larry Jones say he doesn't want any "sympathy votes" and he wants to "win it on the racetrack," referring to Horse of the Year? Well, he didn't win it on the racetrack, she finished a dull 4th. Not that I think it necessarily ends there because this year has not been a good one, quality-wise, so maybe HAVRE DE GRACE's hat is still in the proverbial ring. I just don't think she came anywhere near to being dominant in any way, shape or form, because she's not even better than BLIND LUCK, for example, and she is a long way from being a "ZENYATTA."

Maybe MY MISS AURELIA should win the award? She was actually dominant in her division. How about giving it HANSEN? I know UNION RAGS was parked 5 wide all the way, and was probably the best horse on the day, and it's too bad he didn't get the nod at the wire because he would have been Horse of the Year.

CAPE BLANCO and ACCLAMATION will vie for Turf Horse, and CAPE BLANCO will probably get it because of the East Coast bias. But will he be Horse of the Year?

In the Handicap division you have to completely dismiss DROSSELMEYER and I guess it comes down to GAME ON DUDE and TIZWAY. I think TIZWAY should win this one for dominating full fields in the Metropolitan Mile and Whitney Handicaps. His Met Mile was run in 1:32-4/5, the second fastest clocking in the history of the race.

As for the 3 year old colts this year, no one deserves to be the champion. No one really deserves Horse of the Year, come to think of it, but if you have to give it someone give it to TIZWAY, at least he put on two powerhouse performances, which is more than I can say for anyone else.

Alex'sBigFan, Needler in Virginia, oso7 and Slew.

Rereading my post i find i never said Larry Jones caused Eight Belles breakdown. I said it was a shame that she died with no one she knew around her. A far cry from

blaming Mr. Jones.

Thank you oso7 for your post about the cause of her breakdown. I had heard fatigue and that was not all inclusive and vague.

I am not a member of Peta. Never read anything printed with those 4 letters and feel that reference was ill placed. Sorry Needler but i tend to disagree that i or what i think should be called Petaish! And how did that name get you off on a tangent to include me in your admonition of those involved with an overpopulation of horses?? That sounds Petaish! Goodness gracious.

I am not a Havre fan and never was, before or after Mr. Jones' comment about SOY. I was and am a Blind Luck supporter. When Blind Luck had to bow out i lost interest in Havre. Had Blind Luck kept racing, perhaps she would be up for HOY and won the race!

As for HOY, i think it would be

great for Rapid Redux. Period. No matter what fancy genes he might or might not carry. If not him, Game on Dude, Calebs Posse, or any number of deserving horses, or how about Drosselmeyer?

And Playfriskyforme, i must say that comparing Mike Repole to the criminal you compared him to is off the chart. Mike Repole has not starved 150 plus or minus horses, left them in fields to die with no water or food while the criminal was home by his crackling fireplace being fed and treated like a king.

Mike Repole quite the contrary has

supported all kinds of organizations helping thoroughbreds in need of homes and care. Maybe your issue is with his personality, outgoing, and enthusiastic. It is built into his bloodlines and i can speak for him, the same run in my own. Italian. And i love it. People either love me to death or hate me. And i like it that way. Life is too short to put up with people who simply don't like someone. Probably the same with Mike. All or nothing. Full steam ahead or sound asleep. No gray area.  

And I hope Maria never has to stop shopping!!  

I feel like i have been chewed up and spit out!

Thanks Jason. I wish i had some Philadelphia Comfort Food about now like a 'Whiz wit' off Passyunk Avenue in Philadelphia.

Are some people really touting RAPID REDUX for Horse of the Year? He runs at racing's lowest level - $5,000 claiming and starter allowances for $5,000 claimers! Don't you think he should win for $10,000 before you start putting him in the "Horse of the Year" category?

Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

I've seen a lot of people on a lot of racing forums who don't seem to know the difference between RAPID REDUX, PEPPER'S PRIDE and ZENYATTA, they think they're all the same. I guess they don't stop to consider that RAPID REDUX has put on his winning streak at the $5,000 claiming level, while PEPPER'S PRIDE accomplished hers against New Mexico state-breds in "restricted" races, and ZENYATTA put on a streak in Grade 1's and Grade 2's, while winning 4 Eclipse Awards in the process.

I understand it's great when a horse wins so many consecutive races, but winning 19 in a row at the $5,000 level is not the same as doing it at the top level of the game. Talking about RAPID REDUX as "Horse of the Year" is absurd.

Dray,

El Kabong had a 1 dollar exacta which included Turallura, Court Vision, over Turallura, Court Vision, Gio and Havre. Best 6 bucks I've ever spent. Returned a few dollars  just under 1G. Wish I had played a tri. Both horses ran great in the WO Mile, and in fact had won the WO Mile, Court in 2010, Tura in 2011. Court ran a very deceptive 7th this year by only 3 lengths this  year.  I love to use the WO as a barometer for the BC Turf Mile. There, now you know who had Court Vision and why. Use it next year.

Gun Bow Thas lost Im not denying that but your coment that GOD exposed any stamina issues for the colt has absolutely no basis.He won 2 races one graded at 9 panels.He checked and that was it for him,but the race in no way gives rise to any arguement that he has distance limitations.I hope he runs next year so I can post a reminder of your ludicrous assumption on this blog.

Tiz herself, AU Miner underwent surgery yesterday at Hagyard Davidson Equine hostpital in Lexington. The surgery was successful, now we wait and see if he improves or has complications from the surgery.

Linda In Texas, Alex'sBigFan, oso7

For the record, and I believe it was in the DRF on Thur. or Friday,  before the Derby 08, but Larry Jones did not want to race 8 Belles in the Derby. He wanted to run her in the Oaks. That was Mr. Porter's call if I remember correctly. As a rule, I find him to be a very careful trainer who errors only the side of protecting his horses. I will always respect him for actions on and off the track. But no one is perfect and I could never back any statements bashing the Moss's or John Sheriff or the Great Zenyatta, if that was the case.

BTW I agree with a post made last week I think it was SH himself that after the classic 11 horses couldnt get the distance and only one could.If GOD was so good why did he get caught by a plodder at the wire in the slowest classic ever going by Beyers.

Horse of the Year, that's easy. Tony La Russa.

Although I like Tizway, I couldn't support him for older horse of the year much less for Horse of the Year.  He managed only 4 starts with 2 wins and 2 thirds.  Yes he had 2 impressive Grade 1 wins at a mile and a mile 1/8 in fast times.  But what would we be rewarding?  A horse only sound enough for 4 starts in the year?

I would much rather support Acclamation which had a campaign of 7 starts with 5 wins.  Three grade 1's from a mile and an eighth to a mile and a half over 2 different surfaces.  Yes he is brilliant (Pacific Classic in 200.61), yes he was sound enough for 7 races and yes he can go a route of ground.  

If not him, then Cape Blanco.  He only had 3 starts but all were grade 1 wins while racing at a mile and a quarter, a mile and 3/8, and a mile and a half.

Granted graded races can vary in quality from year to year. (look at the difference in this year's Classic compared to say the 1988 Classic)  But looking at where Tizway's competion fared the remainder of the year, I'm not sure the Met Mile and Whitney hold up that well.  Are they stronger than Cape Blanco's or Acclamation's competiton? Acclamation beat Game on Dude in Pacific Classic.  Game on Dude was 4th.  Game on Dude came back to win the mile and a quarter Santa Anita Handicap at a mile 1/4 in a sub 2:00 time.  Game on Dude then came and beat Flat Out and Harve De Grace handily as well as the Traver's winner and Kelso winner in the Classic.  

 who, good stuff mon.  BUT, be careful reading too much into these Beyers.  Using them as my measuring stick has made a dummy out of me more than once.  Going strictly by Beyers all three of Goldikova's mile wins were sub-par.

Benjamin Leon just paid $8.5Million dollars for Royal Delta.   I sure hope he keeps her with the trainer that trained her so well that she won the BCL and doesn't send her to Pletcher. B. Leon needs to keep her in training with Bill Mott.   Pletcher would be her downfall.

unca schmoe will always be one of my favorites. I won mucho dinero betting against him.

HOY: two years ago it should have been split in half. this year it should be split into many pieces.

can't figure this one out. last yr. jason was adamant zen should not be hoy because she barely got beat straight up by blame in the classic at a track blame loved to run on. this yr he says havre de grace deserves it even though she got beat straight up by drosselmeyer, game on dude, and ruler on ice.

Dray,

that should read over gio and goldy, not havre.

The HOY picture this year is different than any other year I can remember, and figuring it out should give the turfwriters lots of food for thought. As some other comments have suggested, maybe if Game On Dude, Havre de Grace, or any other candidate came back to run/win the Clark, then the situation would have more clarity.

I have been watching Hansen since his first start at Turfway on September 9, and brought him up on the Dullahan blog done by Steve H. in early October. I thought he looked "special" and was certainly visually impressive. Who knows how any of these 2-year-olds will progress? Things change dramatically between November and May, but Hansen's pedigree is adequate for getting a classic distance should he stay healthy. In fact, I was looking at Union Rags' background and found where Porter (of Porter on Pedigrees) stated that UR had a "good chance of being most effective around a mile". Right now I like Hansen and hope he makes it to the Triple Crown season. There is time to work on his running style--it was probably wise not to try to alter his front running ways prior to the BCJ.

Linda in Texas---Two grays to watch for in the spring--both Hansen and Creative Cause...right?      

Horse of the year....Sara Jessica Parker

On a day when speed was not holding, not in the sprints before or the classic afterwards, a 2 year old went to the lead and didn't drift or stop. All things considered, Hansen did what the other front runners could not do all day, he WON. The big goofball should improve too like his pappy did all the way to the Wood. He may even learn to close like Dad instead of gunning to the lead like a damn fool at 2. Either way, he's my pick for the Wood right now. Get the Guinness ready, he's going to need a few talls before next April.

Ted from Boston and Bob from LA love Linda in Texas to death.  In fact, she is the only good thing to ever come out of Texas.  Jason, when are you going to change the name of the blog to Kentucky Derby Chat?  I've got Derby fever.  So do I.

It's gonna be Harve/Tizway/Acclamation...but it should be Harve/Acclamation/Tizway, and it should be close for  first....Amazombie won five races/was dq'd from L A Cap (bad dq)...he should win hands down...Hansen is the real deal, and I also think, had he won impressively, Union Rags would've won HOY! It'l be close for the Eclipse, but I would vote for Hansen, who won fair and square, even though Rags looked so great in defeat/lost so much ground, Hansen has that look....

steve from St louis, I'm not sure how you can say that. Sometimes expensive horseflesh doesn't translate into champion horses, it's a guessing game. It always has been and always will be. You think you have a great one and it turns out to be a dud, a cheap one can turn out to be a champion.

When you have owners like Repole you have $4 billion reasons why you will listen to what they say.  

I don't always like the way that Repole speaks or the things he does but he's vested and invested in the game, which we need. Either that or we need some of the people who aren't in the game and who perpetually criticize the biggest players in it to put up or shut up.

Especially considering the loss of owners in racing like Prince Khaled, Ned Evans and Jess Jackson recently as well as Bob Lewis and WT Young in past years.  None of who had children who have the same interest in racing as they did, causing the absolute dispersals or diminished presence in the game.

Comparing Todd to Mott, really?  Maybe he has the horseflesh but he's only been on his own since 1995 and started with some pretty low level horses for the most part.  Mott has been training since 1978. Not to speak ill of Billy because I think he's a fine gentleman.  

I first met JVB in 1965 and while he took a lot of what his Dad said and did, like everyone in life he added his own thoughts and philosophy.  So really Mott didn't come up under the MVB school.

Todd has 6 BC wins, Mott has 8 so I venture when all is said and done Todd will surpass him by far.

Lukas has 18 wins. As Wayne has said many times, he has taught Todd et al all they know, he just didn't teach them all he knows.

I don't particularly like the way they handled Mo and I never thought he could get the distance. But, considering the veterinarians said he was healthy maybe they wanted to take the shot?  They thought he could get that distance at Derby and apparently so did everyon else who made him the favorite.

I think it's fine to state opinions, to have favorite horses and trainers but the constant criticism of the people in the game who are keeping it going and trying to do so in the best way they can without being a Rick Dutrow et al?  I think we should all be thrilled otherwise none of you who write on here would have anything to enjoy and occupy your spare time. Which apparently is a lot for some people.

Mr Leon has said he will keep running Royal Delta and I sure hope they do. What a nice filly. Whichever trainer they give her to I think what people should realize is it's who the owner is comfortable with, who they communicate well with not which trainer people who aren't paying the bills are telling them to go with.

Chirchill Downs, last three Cups: Street Sense year everybody winning from the rail trips...last year a cuppy track,  then this year I thought was more fair but have heard several complaints it was tiring, I, for one, welcome Santa Anita, who's new dirt track played well all meet, Churchill is a crap shoot, everybody likes The Great Race Place, nestled under the Majestic San Gabriel Mountains, as Joe Hernandez would say...lets get 100 food trucks and see Harve De Grace, Animal Kingdom, Acclamation, and those three year olds in next year's Classic, sunny/fast/firm in more ways than one!

Frank J.  Baffert brought nothing but speed.  Plum Pretty, Euroears, and The Factor.  The track didn't cooperate.  Tres Borrachos hits the board at a mile?  You have to be kidding.  Game on Dude is 3 for 3 over the Santa Anita course and if the Breeder's Cup Classic had been held there this year he may have been 9-2 and a 5 lengths winner over Dros.  

By the way Jason, this comment by you:

"Rick Porter and Larry Jones certainly deserve credit for putting her in the Classic-and she gave a good showing-"

Totally damages your credibility and your firm beliefs regarding the HOY from last year.

Besides, she didn't give an especially good showing as far as I'm concerned. It was a race of hasbeens, overmatched and mundane horses which I feel probably any of the top 7 horses in the BCC last year could have beat. That's just an opposing view though.

Something I haven't heard mentioned in the dicussion about Hansen: when he ran by me in the stands (I was on the rail) I noticed that around his mouth was red with blood. Most likely he banged his mouth on the starting gate since he wasn't bleeding from the lungs. My friend has a picture where you can see the red around his mouth. So here is a horse that ran on a closer-biased track, faced dirt for the first time, and led from start to finish after banging his mouth (or biting his tongue) enough to make it bleed. Rags is awesome but taking all this into account, Hansen has to be champion two year old.

You can also see the blood on his lips in the slideshow of BC pictures on this website (Bloodhorse).

Pedigree Ann.  According to the LA Times Spawr (age 72) picked up Amazombie off some farm in Hemet California.  He was so broke he asked a friend to supplement the horse for 25,000 to the Breeder's Cup but then Amazombie won the Ancient Title which paid for shipping and entry fee.  I guess he now can split the million dollar purse with the co-owner.  Not a bad investment for $2,500.  

Speaking of investments.  Hollendorfer just sold Blind Luck back to one of the co-owners for a cool 2.5 million! I think they paid 11,000 for this one in a 3-way deal with Hollendorfer taking a piece.  She's been retired.  

But of course there is always capital gains tax.  One of my favorite calls from the Hollywood Park Sping meet, "Uncle Sam can find no more."  

MIKE

Maybe so, but he at least deserves credit for running as much as he has when so many can't put together three races in a row without some sort of an injury.

Well if people are seriously considering Rapid Redux (and I'm not knocking him), then I think Blind Luck needs to be put back into the picture. She had ONE bad race, and it had nothing to do with her actually failing, there was something obviously wrong (I heard from a friend that she displaced her soft palate but I can't actually find that anywhere).

Even though she only raced in mainly Gr 2s and 3s I still think she would be more deserving of the award than an allowance horse...I think she had to work harder than Zenyatta did to close that fast, and the fact the still managed to always get there (sometimes losing by a head-bob, but she STILL got there) is pretty amazing.

This is hardly Alysheba versus Personal Ensign in a year where a filly who won the Kentucky Derby could not even make it onto the HOY ballot.  

Hi Steve, saw on the racing post article (www.racingpost.com/.../horse_home_popup.sd) that it looks like Goldi will indeed see Galileo first. That is awesome! I cannot wait to see how that foal turns out.

Galikova, her half sister by Galileo, and is owned by the same connections as Goldi, has won Group ones in France and I have become a fan of hers as well, not just because she is related to Goldi, she is turning in to a nice horse in her own right too... wouldn't it be neat to see Galikova come over here for a try at one of the BC races or something? One can only dream.

Thanks for the update on AU Miner. I am checking to see if there is anything on Meeznah and Dynaslew as well... no news is good news right?

Linda in Texas,

I like your Rapid Redux idea of HOY, I'm open to it in this strange "chestnut" year, and he is after all, a chestnut too, it fits!

I meant no offense at all and chose my wording very carefully as to not offend you, the last thing I wanted you to feel was what you said you felt.  I was just going for clarification of the incident  and why Larry could not get down the track in time.  Only Saez can speculate the cause of the bad step. I too love Linda in Texas!!!

El Kabong,

There you have it, your gray son of Tapit you have been waiting for in Hansen!  I got a charge out of him!  Yep, he was the only one who could hold his speed on that track that day.  Maybe he'll learn to rate a little bit during the year.

I guess Soldat has virtually disappeared off the face of the earth, maybe we'll see him at 4yrs. old?  Interesting that you read about Mr. Porter choosing the Derby for Eight Belles.  There's that fine line again between trainer and owner, when do the owner's call the shots and shouldn't the trainer be the best judge of the horse's running ability and fit the horse into the proper race according to their potential? It's kind of like what the Betfair guy was saying on TVG, "sometimes you have to bow to medical science," in this case, sometimes owners must bow to the expertise of their hands-on horsemen.

To Mike and everyone regarding Rapid Redux for HOTY: don't you realize that Jason only included him as a joke but mostly as another slam on Zenyatta....? Of course he is not actually going to be considered by knowing people in the business, although I give him MUCH credit as I said earlier. It was just like Jason comparing Zenyatta to Pepper's Pride.... She was a terrific horse in her own right as well - but NO Zenyatta.  He is too biased to recognize her greatness and he has taken every possible opportunity to knock the great Z, especially in the last couple months. It is even more telling that he is backing Grace for HOTY but didn't feel Zenyatta deserved it.  Grace is also a wonderful horse and may ascend to greatness next year if she continues to race, BUT SHE IS NO ZENYATTA!!!

Tiz Herself, Hansen's nostrils were flared and red, as are almost all TB's after a big run. The only difference is that Hansen is nearly white and the red nostrils REALLY show. As soon as he began to settle, the red faded, but believe me, I was watching as closely as you were! He was also flipping his tongue a bit, but that seemed to go away after he calmed. Interesting run, though, wasn't it?

Linda in Texas, my apologies for implying that you were "PETAish" I've no excuse except that it's been a truly horrendous year, and I'm more than a bit too quick off the mark these days. I was upset that you seemed to be blaming Jones for the death of Eight Belles and that one I couldn't let slide. Please accept my apologies and consider that in the last eight months we have lost our house, had to find new homes for our horses and donkey, we're selling everything we own including all our books and racing horse memorabilia, I had to put down a kitty yesterday, the place we thought we'd be moving to now seems to be a non-starter and we have 22 days to find a place, get settled and try to start over.......something I cannot guarantee will happen. Other than that, I just apologize for being so b****y.

Cheers and safe trips.

Just what Royal Delta needs, turned over to Pletcher. How long will it take for him to ruin her?

Householder disagree re track/Baffert runners this year! Game On Dude doesn't beat anybody by five in any Classic! He was there cuz the field was weak, only five lengths from first to last! Track was tiring, I'll agree with you--Bafferts herses, especially with Euroears misssing the break--I just think he was outgunned this year, thats all...Caleb's Posse a one-turn dynamo, and Shakelford ran well, the Factor was outgunned, and Plum Pretty tired at a distance that has proven time again to be just a tad too far, and this time it was against older--she was outgunned...GAME On Dude ran his race, he'd a dead game horse that exposes stamina issues in his vanquished foes! Drosselmeyer wins that race at Anita--especially the fair track they had this Fall.

Is it too soon to dream?  I mean, so long as he stays fit and healthy, what are the chances that speedburning Hansen could remain unbeaten and take the Triple Crown, just like his great-great-granddaddy, Slew did?  After all, they have a few months to try and teach him to relax and harness that speed.  (Many didn't think Slew could be "taught" to relax, but Billy Turner worked a miracle with him!)  Besides, it's been a while since we've had a Triple Crown winner...

Only one I can think of, and he was a grey, was Native Dancer, who won 2/3 of the Triple Crown.  And he seems to show up quite frequently top and bottom of Hansen's pedigree.  

Again, I ask, is it too soon to dream?

Jason,

Cancel that.  I don't have Derby Fever.  I just realized it burns when I... oh, nevermind.

I have a friend who likes to say that Toddy P "does less with more than any trainer in the country". GOD's run in the Classic was beautiful. He never quits. I really would have liked to have seen Mo try the Dirt Mile where he belonged. But, I doubt that he could have stopped The Posse. They could have run around that track three more times and Zenyatta was never getting past Blame.

Records of the last five HOYS:

2010 - Zenyatta (6-5-1-0) winner of five of a six Gl

2009 - Rachel Alexandra - (8-8-0-0) five Gl (Undefeated)

2008 - Curlin (7-5-2-0) winner of five of a six Gl

2007 - Curlin (9-6-1-2) winner of three of a six Gl

2006 - Invasor (4-4-0-0) winner of four Gl (Undefeated)

Average Gl wins 4.4

Have De Grace (7-5-1-0) winner of three of four G1

I think HDG has earned the HOY title. She could have been entered in the Ladies Classic and earn her 4th G1 victory of the year and in so doing would be right at the above average. In her 4th place finish she defeated 9 males including the chosen one Uncle Mo. Her chances of winning the BCC were no existent as indicated in a previous post. See Below:

HAVRE DE GRACE: (2) 1 1/4m races to date with (0) victory; SAG 2nd ( 2:03.89); 2nd DEL (2:01.20)

She was unable to repel the challenge of BL in both her 10F defeats. The time recorded at Saratoga for her close losing effort is slower than the average winning time for BCCs contested at CD. If BL could close from another zip code and beat HDG, she has to vulnerable against top stayers who have far more tactical speed. Her average winning time for her four 9F races is 1:49.62. The average wining times for THS most recent 9F races is 1:47 plus. She does not have superior speed figures to those of some of the top males and I cannot see her winning the BCC.  There is even a more significant factor. History! Zenyatta almost captured consecutive BCC. She was the first female to win the BCC and it took an exceptional female to break through. History suggests this feat will not recur in such a short span. She will running for one of the spots behind the winner.

Arch: Tell you're friend he needs to buy a clue. Either that, or look at the numbers. It's one of the most inaccurate statments I've ever seen. Even more so than Skip's, and that's saying something.

PRE-BREEDER CUP CLASSIC POSTS RE: DROSSELMEYER

DROSSELMEYER:  (2) 1 1/4m races to date with (1) victory;  BEL 1st ( 2:06.07); 2nd JCGC (2:03.17)

If there is an upset in the BCC this will be the horse assuming he is entered. He was force out of training for 9 months after his Belmont win. He must now be as tough as nails. His performance in JCGC reflects and almost 3 seconds improvement over his previous effort at the distance. He must be sitting on a big race.

RANAGULZION

“Drosselmeyer is too slow for the Classic”

My dear colleague you have just deflated my long shot balloon with your statement above. Drosselmeyer is the horse I intend place a substantial wager on in BCC. In fact, he will be in all my exotics as I am very confident he will be right there with the more fancied contenders. Why I am I confident this 4YO will perform creditably?  Well a number of indicators, some historic and others recent performance.

Firstly, 4YOs lead with 11 victories it he BCC the most by any age group.  In the last five BCC, four of the top four finishers excited the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Bernardini won the 2006 JCGC and finished 2nd to Invasor. Curlin won the 2007 JCGC and went on to win the 2007 BCC. Curlin won the 2008 JCGC and went on to finish 4th in the BCC. Blame finished 2nd in the 2010 JCGC and went on to win the 2010 BCC. Drosselmeye broke his maiden at CD and worked the fastest of the Mott contingent. He rarely works a half mile in 47 and this could be an indicator that he loves the track. His performance in the 2011 JCGC is a lot better than it appeared as the Belmont track on that day did not favor closers. He will stay 10F better than all in the field. He has made two starts at the distance of 1 1/4M. In his first on a 3+ track he won in a time of 2:06.27. The second was the JCGC and he got beat by 2 plus lengths in 2:03.07. His time on his second attempt at the distance he improved about his time by about 2.5 seconds. His JCGC effort was the fastest of his career for any distance. He then works 47 for half mile. Watch out he is a live long shot.

Ranagulzion your conclusion that Drosselmeyer was too slow did not deter me from investing. The funds I lost of THS and Alpha I recovered and was left with a substantial surplus. The 14-1 was irresistible.  

Rapid Redux's last win was a $7,500 starter allowance. He has raced at seven different tracks at distances from 5 furlongs to 9 furlongs. His pedigree is excellent, the first runner by Pleasantly Perfect, and out of a Storm Cat mare

www.pedigreequery.com/rapid+redux

but I can't comment on why he has only run in lower-end races, because I don't know. I have no idea if he is actually better than the races he is entered in. All I do know is that he keeps on winning.

Needler in Virginia - thanks!  I think the lack of distance races is one of the big problems in our sport.  Look at how much fun Australia has with the Melbourne Cup - a 2 mile race!  And yet, according to some people here, that would just be some boring, slowly run race, and they'd probably be asking it be dropped down to a mile.  But really, I think the public interest in North America for longer races could be increased with the right promotion and purse money.  The industry just has to decide that this is a priority.  The Marathon is a good (if small) step in this direction, but a lot of work needs to be done.  Plus, if we had enough valuable distance races, people would start breeding for that again, which arguably could help with the durability of the breed.

Pedigree Ann - I agree, the US has way too many graded races.  According to Wikipiedia, there's 113 Grade 1's alone, compared to say England, with 32 or Australia with 66.  Canada only has about 6!  So merely counting grade 1 wins to figure out HOTY is not the best criteria.

Enough of HOTY - let's talk about Horse of the World.  Frankel or Black Caviar?

First, Needler In Virginia I am very sorry for all your troubles. It really has been a horrible year for you. I hope things go well for you and your family from now on.

oso7 and Guiness, right you both are on your comments above. Linda in Texas, great comments about Mike Repole. I had an Italian grandfather, so I totally get Mike Repole. He dreams big and those dreams often come true. Good for him. I always enjoy your posts Linda. Bob from Boston/Ted from LA there are many good things from Texas. Linda is definitely one of them.

The talented colt Uncle Mo has been retired. There are those that will ask why? The answer to that question is best addressed with another question, Why not? Uncle Mo largely over hyped reputation took a hard hit with his 10th place finish in the BCC. The super colt was expected to overcome all adversities and deliver a victory. With his breeding right already sold it was a damage control move that was expected. What will be Uncle Mo’s legacy? He will be remembered as a colt whose three impressive victories as a 2YO caused unprecedented insanity in certain quarters of the racing community. He will be remembered as colt for which the bar of greatness was lowered to match his achievement. He will be remembered as colt that caused the Wood Memorial purse to increased from $750,000 to $1M.

He was labeled the next Secretariat, the next Triple Crown winner and the best thing since sliced bread.  The insanity intensified as the colt turned three. He became a hugh hit in the social network domain with his a face book page. His high profile owner was given guest blogger’s status.  It was theorized that all trainers on the 2011 Triple Crown would be running for the hills fearing their inferior equines would be obliterated. There was even mention that an unlikely victory in the BCC would gain him HOY even with his small body of work in 2011.

Gratefully some thoroughbred enthusiasts remained sane and continued to ask the same question. What caused the insanity?  His world records; None! His track records; None! His stakes records; None! Surely three impressive victories as a 2YO could not be the cause. I do not believe we will ever know the answer to this question. I hope going forwards that thoroughbred enthusiasts will be far more measured in there evaluation of talent.  

Jason

Nice that you continue to work as Pletcher's lawyer. Are you on retainer?

COLDFACTS

I get all of that. But, do you think Draynay will learn anything? I doubt it.

Jason,  can I assume you mean my second comment since the first is in agreement with your published thoughts on what Todd and Repole bring to the game?

The second comment a sarcastic comment perhaps for giving credit to one group for entering a mare in the classic yet not the same credit to the mare last year. Didn't think you were that thin skinned.

Seriously, when it comes to putting down ZENYATTA, not only do The Haters have zero ammunition, it's getting really old and smacks of some sort of ugly desperation. It's unbecoming.

Melanie, Native Dancer is the ONLY gray horse of distinction that you can remember? How about SPECTACULAR BID?

If one has to look to a two year old filly and a turf horse to find a HOY, it only points out the lack of consistency, the poor times, the infrequent appearances, and the brittleness of the male dirt horses. That being said, Union Rags should have remained undefeated, the victim of a less than stellar ride as Jason points out, Miss Aurelia must be considered for her unparalleled Grade 1 consistency despite Jason's caveat concerning the award if the two year old filly wins it, and Cape Blanco was one tough customer winning three Grade 1s, the last on a broken leg, and who doubts, barring the injury, that he would not have won the Classic turf. Tizway is in the mix but he's victimized by his injury which leaves him somewhat of an unknown quantity having not contested the BC Classic. Maybe, just maybe, Game on Dude if he could come back to win the Clark as Jason suggests. A victory in a rematch at Churchill Downs with Drosselmeyer would certainly lend weight to his claim on the honors. Jason's selection, Havre de Grace, has her claim on the honors seriously undermined by a failure to win a Classic run in a notoriously slow time. If she'd won, I'd have sided with Jason. Her defeat to Blind Luck in the Delaware as the jock waited for the closer to come to him in the stretch rather than extending her lead should not be held against her. Three disappointments: (1) not seeing the Indian Charlie colt, Uncle Mo, with clear distance limitations and coming off a severe illness with inadequate preps, not hooked up in a rematch with Caleb's Posse in the dirt mile (2) not seeing Jackson Bend, who was clearly given too much to do in the BC Dirt Sprint, not joining Uncle Mo and Caleb's Posse in the mile for what would have been a stirring contest and (3) not seeing Gio Ponti in his last appearance and given the known possibility of rain and the lingering effects on the condition of the turf after it actually came on Thursday, not contesting the Classic. Would have been interesting to see how the horse with a dirt pedigree actually handled the dirt and a victory in the Classic would have certainly done more to boost his legacy and stud fees. All things considered though, I think they should just carry over HOY honors from 2010 and give it to Zenyatta as she's heads and tails superior to this crop. After all, Jason did concede that she's the best California poly-track horse he's ever seen.

Thanks Needler - the pictures may have looked worse than it was. I think there was another comment further up that it did look like blood, but you are right - on a near white horse it was more deceiving than it looked.

(gallery.pictopia.com/.../9729432)and actually when I see that picture of him it is indeed from his mouth and not his nostrils.

these were the pictures that made me question with all the red on his muzzle and lips. I guess it would have been said if it had  been anything worse than biting a tongue or something like that?

Linda in TX...no one hates you.  You have to know we care about you and what you have to say.  In this electronic age, we seem to lose the nuances that face to face discussions provide, and sometimes our own interpretations might fall short of what was intended.

Coldfacts...we know Uncle Mo has been ill.  We know Draynay makes outlandish claims...every year...about a QR or UM or some other chalk.  Right now, all you're doing is "beating a .......!"  Enough already.  UM appears to be relapsing and is retired.  Tizway is retired. Quite a few of our potential stars have been injured at 3 and are retired.  It says more about our lack of good breeding, and is nothing to crow about!

DRAYNAY-

I call bull... you were broke by the sixth race on Saturday! You didnt cash a tri just like you didnt bet $2000 to win on that OVERRATED horse Uncle Mo! Still waiting for the prove by you sending me the losing ticket. I knew you were always full of it and just like i said... all mouth! Put up the ticket or it never happened just like all the other times you cashed for thousands... it never happened! You said you would mail it so lets do this! Can't wait till it gets to SA?? are you serious all you do is knock horses all the time from CA! And now yo can't wait, lol your a joke man and the more you blog on here the more people see it. Do yourself a favor get a new screen name on here and start from scratch!! No one believes anything you say when they see the name DRAYNAY. We have had our fill of a know it all that never cashes and when he does the horse is 3/5.

Another Breeder's Cup with me taking overall losses.  At least I'll take solice in posting some time ago that my best bet of the weekend was Caleb's Posse in the Mile.  He was winning that race even if Mo and Jackson Bend were in the field.

Needler-you don't need to apologize, i probably in retrospect should have just ignored a comment that hit a nerve. I am fiercely loyal and sensitive to a fault.

I am glad Mr. Jones un-retired. He is a wonderful horseman/trainer and his first race back i sort of choked up seeing him again.

If i were not 1800 miles from Virginia,if that is your location, i would be at your doorstep offering any help i could provide. I hope the next 21 days bring some welcome relief from the issues you are having to face. Is there anything any one closer to you could assist you with? If so, please let us/them know.

And Melanie - you keep dreaming about Hansen and know that you will have a whole gaggle of folks right here with you if Hansen continues to carry his famous relative's name to the winner's circles. Slew would be your biggest supporter and then me and a bunch more who treasure Seattle Slew.

Mike Sekulic your post was funny because you really are serious about everyone elses mention of Rapid Redux. I am thinking so many people could not all be joking. Why Jason added his name to the HOY list i don't know if it was a joke or not, but it obviously now has legs. No RR isn't well gened but something was done right and clicks  because he keeps on winning. His persistence, i believe, is what impresses me. Never giving up with what is thrown at you is what i deeply admire in anything and anyone.

Gio Ponti retired. That cuts deep. He always showed up and never had or caused any issues and i totally appreciate him. Now Big Drama, same for him. This time of the year is rough when the good ol' faithful ones start retiring.

Thanks Jason

Havre de Grace - hands down! She competed at the highest levels, won over males and ran a superb race in the Classic even tho not a winning one.

Goldi was a heartbreaker. She is the first horse in decades who, just to LOOK at her, brought tears to my eyes. All those years racing against the world, dodging no one, and 3 consecutive BC Miles ... that's truly one for the ages. I have to admit that, if someone had to catch her, I'm glad one of them was Turallure. Another stride and he'd have taken the prize. I love that horse! But Goldikova is - well, Goldikova and she's in a realm by herself. Thank you to the Wertheimers for sharing her with us all and thank you to Freddie Head for helping her become the queen she was born to be. Most of all, thank you Goldi for your heart, your class, your courage, your durability. For everything. You are still queen of the world.

3 year olds? Well, we could drop all the names in a hat and have Stable Boy draw one. Other than that, Shackleford has been game and gallant throughout. Triple Crown races aside, he's been right there every time. I'm going to pass on this vote though. I'm not real impressed with any of 'em.

I'll be interested in hearing all the hoopla and bickering between now and HOY decision time. It's been a funny year at the race track. Oh well, mama said there'd be days like this ...

Terri M. you know i keep apologizing that Rapid Redux's genes are not the best, but my word and shut my mouth, if his pedigree were attached to any other horse that was entered in a G 1,2 or 3 race today, it would get some darn attention. And of course the entry fee would be a bit more than it is for the tracks RR has been racing on.

Nothing in the world wrong with having Storm Cat and Pleasantly Perfect in your bloodlines. And going back 4 and 5 it just keeps on getting better. Just because he is a $6,000 claimer i guess has denigrated him to a certain extent,but that is a false

interpretation. When he won about his 13th race is when i began to take interest. And you are so right, as weird has this entire year has been, why not Rapid Redux?? His accomplishments are why i watch the claiming races.

R R's story sorta reminds me of BC winner Amazombie's. Look at his history, was pulled from a sale when his price of $32,000) was not met. Go back and read about all the races he has won. So much respect to pay to so many with so little time.

Got to love them all. And i do.

furlongs, awesome post! But read "donthateme's" posts, it would seem as if that might be draynay reincarnated..sure sounds like him anyways. I love how everyone is now giving it to Shandler and dray just like they thought they were know it all's before the BC! Love it!! Coldfacts, Love your last post as well!

 Convene.  Well said.  While you can certainly make a case for several I truly believe the most deserving choice for Horse Of The Year is the filly Havre de Grace for all the reasons many have already stated.  The more I think about it the more I believe the Champion 3-Year Old should be Caleb's Posse.

 Linda in Texas.  I can't say that I always agree with you but you are without a doubt A CLASS ACT.  Keep the posts coming.

Melanie, I'm with you regarding Hansen.Dominguez said he settled nicely down the backstretch and should only improve from now on.First time on dirt and making all the running on that tiring track from the confirmed dead rail no less, was very impressive.

Pletcher= Peyton:

Every year they seemingly put up sick stats,but when it comes down to crunch time(play-offs/Triple Crown/BCC their records are A-T-R-O-C-I-O-U-S!

Has anyone noticed all of the Zenyatta bashers are eerily quiet?.. Think they've finally realized her greatness?..

They're as misguided as the loonies who were chanting Paterno's name in front of his house.Morons.

Now that UM has been retired,can someone/anyone please direct me to a column or post where Pletcher/Repole stated he wasn't doing well the day before & the day of the Wood Memorial? And I'll direct you all to where they both state he couldn't have been doing any better.Then when he barely looses to Caleb's Posse Repole mentions that they might retire him because that "virus" has probably crept-up again after stating once again he's doing as good as can be leading up to the King's Bishop.Same thing w/the BCC and NOW they say his enzymes were up?.. give me a friggin' break!

Linda in Tx,Give me break.My comparison to Repole and Paragallo was about their demeanor on television.not the tragedy that was Paraneck Stables.I know you knew that and wanted to take a shot at me.For the record everyone has an Italian grandfather and rich uncle.If Repole was half as classy as the late Allen Paulson even I might have jumped on the bandwagon,probably not.The only thing that can save this class of 3 year olds is the return of Animal Kingdom and Toby's Corner.

Hey Needler.  Thinking of you...  From Linda's latest post, I'm sure you both can patch things up!  Keep your chin up girl!  :-)

Needler, I don't know you but I've read your comments for a while. I do know some farm owners and breeders from VA and they also have had a run of very bad luck.  Here's hoping for brighter days for you and yours.  Even though we're anonymous on here know that some people really do care and are keeping you in our thoughts.  We all know it could be us talking about the same at any time!

This is a tough game and and even tougher world we live in.

Convene, Goldikova's race brought tears to my eyes as well. She is just such a gutsy horse. When I think of Zenyatta, I think of Rachel and Goldikova. They will always be together in my mind. I cannot wait to see their foals. ITA that we should not be trashing Uncle Mo. He was and is a sick horse. Even if his liver problems are not congenital, he would need a solid year off to recover from this. Not worth it. At 2 years he was an amazing horse. Lets give him that. He also came back to win a race after significant liver disease. The distance was probably an issue in the BCC. Just because he wasn't the second coming of Secretariat, Man O'War, Dr. Fager and Citation doesn't mean he wasn't a really good horse. He was. He added excitement to the sport when not an awful lot was going on. As for Mike Repole getting a page on Facebook, come on! This sport needs a higher and positive profile. The owners need fan support. Dottie Ingordo-Shirreffs got this ball rolling and it was a great idea. It's a win-win for everyone. Whatever brings fan support into the sport is a very good thing.

A loss is a loss, whether it's by a head or seven lengths. It still pays the same--$0. Other horses losing races, no matter what the circumstances, will never help you zealots overcome one simple fact:

She lost. Get over it.

Yes.  But HDG apparently had a better "Nice Try" than Zenyatta.  And of course HDG's connections must be given much more praise for their good sportsmanship that Z's people.  

Coldfacts,

Admittedly I was very wrong about Drosselmeyer: he seemed much improved since his 3YO season.  Kudoos to you for spotting him.

Except for your forecast that To Honour and Serve would win the Classic in a romp, and that Take Charge Indy and Alpha might relegate Union Rags to an off-the-board placing in the BC Juvenile you posted okay.

That BC Juvenile was quite a race.  I'm so looking forward to the Hansen vs Union Rags rematch / rivalry on the Triple Crown trail next season.  I hope that both these colts as well as Creative Cause and Bob Baffert's Secret Circle remaind healthy for the challenge.  What's your take on 2YO championship honours?  

Arch the phoneman

As usual a wrong number.  Look at the charts and look a tthe ifishing time and then smack yourself on your forehead with your palm.

Tell your friend to have fun looking for a clue to buy.  I hear that Draynay's panicking and begging for all the clues he can get.  Unfortunatley he can't afford to buy one, not after last weekend.

Euroears, G.O.D., The Factor, + all of Pletcher's over-hyped horses all lost..get over it. Carlos in Cali, awesome post!

Too bad they don't have a "reverse" trifecta.  Uncle Mo over the other Pletcher horse (who can't win outside of NY) with the former Optional Claimer.  I think a lot more would have had this.  Or perhaps who finishes better Harve vs. Mo.  I had a hard time finding anyone who liked Uncle Mo a few more liked Harve.  Honestly could you train any more poorly than Pletcher for a Classic?  What was his other horse's problem?  QR, Stay Thirsty, Uncle Mo, and that filly fiasco last year that sucked everyone's money.  Disaster.  And there simply is not the "poly track" excuse to fall back on.

To Skip, Linda, Paula, et al: thanks very much for your kind thoughts and good wishes. I'm afraid we're at a point where nothing is gonna help except MAYBE winning the lottery. It's our own fault to a great extent; we should not have trusted a "financial advisor" who was also a friend; we should have paid more attention and now we're paying for it. Downsizing is REALLY not so bad; after all, since we have no minions someone has to clean house and that someone looks very like me!  A smaller place means less cleaning OR I can use the cats as dust mops, whichever works better. The worst is, of course, that both of us are now back to work full time with every likelihood that's the way it will always be, AND getting to see the daughter and grandkids in Vermont is impossible. There's nothing about this that is hopeful.

HOWEVER, as an official underdog fan and a proponent of Rapid Redux's candidacy for HOY, will someone please remind me about the impeccable quality of John Henry's pedigree? Were his first two generations loaded with black type?? Just thought I'd check, and I AM NOT comparing the two horses yet, so don't get your knickers in a twist, OK? It's just something that occurred to me..........

Your kind words have made me feel better and for that, I thank you ALL.

Cheers and safe trips to everyone.

Frank: Make sure you show your face every time Baffert and Pletcher win grade I races. You'll be mysteriously absent I'm sure, as you've been the rest of the year. They have dominated the sport this year, yet again, and thankfully haters like you are adding to the pools that people like me keep collecting. So they didnt win a BC race this year, big deal. The track at CD on BC weekend was a joke, every trainer will tell you that. It was like running on play dough. A flooded out basement could dry out quicker than the main track did there. The dirt races proved very little--just look at the Classic final time, the slowest ever run.

Jason, we've all moved on, why can't you? Is it that hard for you to hit a horse at 9-2? Zenyatta made Blame famous, not the other way around. Just as Native Dancer made Dark Star famous. Kudos to those who bet on Dark Star, but I doubt any of them were dillusional enough to believe they picked the "better horse". In the real world, Zenyatta is the greatest female racehorse of all time and is ranked among the all time greats. In your world, she's above average. If that's the stance you choose to take then that's your problem. If you believe you have a better eye for greatness than Bob Baffert, Allen Jerkens, or even John Nerud then that's rather sad. Keep spinning your wheels Jason, none of us are listening(except Draynay...don't worry, you can have him!).

Correction, the final time of this year's Classic was the second slowest of all time(2:04.27). Alysheba's was slower(2:04.8), though that was in the slop.

Playfriskyforme i did not go out looking for a way to take a shot at you. You are the one who opened the door and compared Mike Repole to Ernie Paragallo. Period. Now you say it was their T.V. appearance. I never saw a T.V. appearance of the criminal, just facial shots of him slithering out of the courthouse. I never heard him open his mouth to speak. Your statement is now back to Mr. Paulson's dollars. I give up. I just checked, there is a full moon and i know now to always check that before stating anything from now on.

I like Animal Kingdom and Toby's Corner also, can we please agree to agree on that? And not end in a snit!

Thanks Paula Higgins, Slew,Needler in Virginia, Bob from Boston, Ted fromLA,SmokingBaby,Ranagulzion,Dr. D etc. etc. etc., you all teach us something with each one of your posts and it is not easy to change the mind of a 71 year old.

And Thanks Jason. I am going to keep quiet for a while til something else riles me up.  

Oh here we go, blaming the track..what wasn't that the excuse for Pletcher last year with QR? Like I said, neither won a TC or BC race, oh Secret Circle excuse me. And the Haskell and Travers were irrelevant. And I don't care what final time Dross finished in all I care about is a horse that CAN ACTUALLY GET A DISTANCE! All you and Dray preach on here is speed, speed and more speed..who cares how fast a horse can go if they can't get at least a mile let alone the Classic distance. Oh and I'll be cashing my 5 winners from Saturday after work if you'd like to join.

Congrats Frank. If you take all $20 you won you might be able to buy your wife lunch tomorrow. Arby's or Hardees? I'm more likley to believe that UFOs will invade Lexington tonight than you having five BC winners on Saturday.

Every trainer was complaining about the track, even Asmussen who won with My Miss Aurelia. It was sticky and deep. It's not an excuse, it's fact. Every horse had to run over the same thing but it cheapened the races. Of course, you'd have to be involved in the industry to know this sort of thing, not a guy who blogs and then brags about winners after the fact. Rather sad.

Do us a favor, post your picks on here BEFORE the next set of major races. Also, tell us who you favorite trainer is and I'll compare their records to Baffert and Pletcher, in every category. We'll wait.

Hey Einstein, it's mathematically impossible to have won $20 on 5 winners Saturday, come back next Spring with your Triple Crown Talk hyping up Baffert and Pletcher some more. Jason can't take it, I LOVE it!

And well...now that I think about it, maybe I'll hit the local Cracker Barrell.

Exactly what I thought. You have nothing. Beat it.

Jason---That track was visibly different, even on a television screen. Donna B. described it as "peanut butter", and that's exactly what it looked like in a close-up photo. You're not contriving an excuse at all. The Classic wasn't the only slow time over the two days.

Thanks Karen. Everyone, well almost everyone, could see it.

I forgot to mention Karen in Texas.

That was a giant faux pas. Linda

You didn't hit the Cracker Barrel with Tom? Yeah, I don't have anything but 5 winners unlike you who has a fan named Dray, awesome picks, and problems with the greatest mare that ever lived the likes of which we'll never see again.

Linda in Texas---Thanks, not sure in what context I was forgotten, but I'm happy to be included!

Linda in Tx,Good comeback.I surrender.

JASON

So your point about "a loss is a loss" extends to MO and Grace, right?

NEEDLER IN VA

Hope things get better asap.

Welcome back Mucho Macho Man!

On the subject of gray horses, Skip Away was my fav, even though he didn't win any of the Triple Crown races. He was still a great horse.

I just cannot believe that Jason Shandler is one of those who has stooped so low as to actually criticize or sort of "make fun" of ZENYATTA, as if one loss from twenty starts is some sort of humiliation or something. She barely lost. She ran a great race that day. I will take a career line of 20-19-1-0 any day of the week.

I don't know if Jason or the other undying and relentless critics have noticed, but her career record is way better than RACHEL ALEXANDRA, BLIND LUCK, HAVRE DE GRACE, or any of the other fillies and mares that they desperately try to hoist above ZENYATTA (while failing miserably). ZENYATTA won 95% of her races, folks, and those other fillies don't come close. ZENYATTA never lost to a female, and that's not something you can say about the other three.

I just don't understand where you people get off gloating over one head loss after a 20 race career that was so brilliant and amazing. Even the loss was amazing because she was still last with about 25 seconds left in the race!

Oh well, there's no accounting for jealousy, I guess. Maybe some people are just really sour.

Some of you talk about ZENYATTA with this "she lost" phrase as if she were the only horse who has ever lost. It seems contemptuous.

If you find so much ammunition for being perjorative because a racehorse lost a race I think you should go pick on ZIPPY CHIPPY. After all, didn't he lose all his races? That should give you much more to talk about and to gloat over. With ZENYATTA there's very little to talk about where losing is concerned.

Thanks for that rant Mike. You sold me.

BTW, did you put your souvenir ticket on Ebay?

Stevebiscuit...I'm with you on this one, and I agree with your statement about how Baffert, Jerkens and Nerud know how to judge horses. I've been at Clocker's Corner at Santa Anita in the morning and heard what Baffert has said about ZENYATTA. Believe me, the man knows how to judge and assess horse flesh, and his opinion of her is out of this world...and she lived up to it too.

Bob Baffert is about as SO cal as they get.  He is reported to have said that after Zenyatta passed Lookin at Lucky he started to root for her!

And anyone who does not think she was hopelessly lost at the top of the stretch is fooling themselves.  She looked done as done.  Nothing has put in that kind of tight close in the Classic since Alysheba closed against Ferdinand.  

Carlos in Cali.  Pletcher talked QR up before the Classic as well. Then no explanation, nothing, zip.

About all one could get out of Charlie Whittingham before Sunday Silence's Classic was "So far so good."  No hype, no banter, he knew the horse had a wicked left hook and would know how to use it when the time came.  And that was against a horse that had rattle off 5 straight grade 1s.

These horse today are all soft.  I'm not sure there were 5 grade 1s in the entire bunch combined.  

Bob Baffert is about as SO cal as they get.  He is reported to have said that after Zenyatta passed Lookin at Lucky he started to root for her!

And anyone who does not think she was hopelessly lost at the top of the stretch is fooling themselves.  She looked done as done.  Nothing has put in that kind of tight close in the Classic since Alysheba closed against Ferdinand.  

Carlos in Cali.  Pletcher talked QR up before the Classic as well. Then no explanation, nothing, zip.

About all one could get out of Charlie Whittingham before Sunday Silence's Classic was "So far so good."  No hype, no banter, he knew the horse had a wicked left hook and would know how to use it when the time came.  And that was against a horse that had rattle off 5 straight grade 1s.

These horse today are all soft.  I'm not sure there were 5 grade 1s in the entire bunch combined.  

I just don't get all the hate for Zenyatta and/or Rachel Alexandra.  We were lucky to see 2 fabulous females race, and yet, for more than a year, the comments boards have been filled with nothing but how terrible and overrated one/both/either were.  If this had been 40 years ago and we'd all been watching Buckpasser, Damascus, and Dr Fager, I can only imagine the hate there would have been for them.  I haven't come across any big hate-ons for Frankel or Black Caviar.  Maybe this too is a North American issue?

Actually, on rare occasions a loss can define greatness, especially when the loss comes in North Americas richest horse race. To be hopelessly beaten and 18 lengths off the leader going down the backstretch, and yet come within a fast diminishing head of beating a horse that had won 8 of 12 in his lifetime, and 5 of his last 6 is an amazing feat.  For the second place finisher to almost run down a top class horse that is full of run at the top of the stretch is unheard of.  And the fact that I haven't mentioned the names of either of these two incredible animals (yet you could flash forward and read this 20 years from now and know exactly who I am talking about) is a testament to the greatness in which you have witnessed.

P.S. I saw the gallop out too.  The second place finisher knew where the finish  line was, and that the race was over.  (proof positive- the horse hit the finish line first the previous 19 races)

And thus, if nothing else, we learned from this BC that we have a new U.S. racing surface. Let's see, we have dirt, polytrack, Pro Ride, Cushion Track, Tapeta, The Santa Anita Freeway, and now peanut butter!  I don't blame the trainers for complaining.  I am actuallly looking forward to the BC next year at Santa Anita, palm trees and sun versus lights and murk and mire.  Baffert was right again that Churchill's surface is deceiving, you can have a great work and a bad race and the other way around as well.  Best Peanut Butter Performance Award - Hansen!

On a lighter note I liked the song that was played right after Royal Delta's win.  It is "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry, very fitting for the filly's win and sung by a young female singer.  A line in the song is "let's run away and never look back, and never look back."  If you play the race replay the song plays at the end.  Did not catch a song for Drosselmeyer though?  Maybe something by Justin Timberlake?

They should set higher criteria for HOY honors or define it more.  What is it they have to have won one Grade I or two Grade I's?  If none of them can meet the requirements then the reigning HOY retains their title again, sounds fair to me as one poster suggested Zenyatta keeps her title this year. If not that then maybe Havre, or who knows what Rapid Redux would have done against this crop?  Did he (RR) win any Grade I's at his level?  In the immortal words of John Shirreffs, "A Grade I is a Grade I."  The HOY picture is still as murky as the Churchill BC surface.

You know what folks, the final story/history about Zenyatta will not be written by Jason or Draynay. Not to worry. Her legacy is safe and it will be even greater when all is said and done. I guarantee it. So get over it Jason :).

ksweatman9

You are so right!  Don't know how I could have missed Spectacular Bid as he was coming onto the racing scene the year Slew retired.  I couldn't get enough of that gorgeous gray, though Slew has always been my supreme favorite.  Thank you for reminding me of the great Bid.  Just goes to show that the mind is the first to go...(I was only 13 at the time...)

Havre De Grace should win HOY.  Hands down.  I was at the BC and that was the most messed up track I've ever seen.  I can't believe I'm saying this but I'm glad the BC will be at Santa Anita next year, because at least the track will be fair.  CD once again screwed the track up. It was like running in sand caked clay. And all you people touting Zenyatta, give me a break.  She wouldn't have even run because her chicken connections would've scratched because the track was muddy.  Look at 2009 for confirmation of this.  SMH.

MIKE SEKULIC

Didn't you know that Grace finishing fourth and Mo tenth is way better than Zenyatta's narrow loss?

Thanks for that, Mike Relva; I appreciate it. And, just for the record I DO, TOO!

Mike Sekulic, well said for Zenyatta, but you won't make any headway with Jason, no matter WHAT logic you use. His mind is made up; don't confuse him with the facts.

Thanks, Linda in Texas. A good row now and then is healthy for the blood pressure, or so my father said, but then he never had high blood pressure so maybe I'll rethink that theory. Guaranteed my blood pressure is above measuring lately and it has NOTHING to do with the BC or who wins HOY. Other than Rapid Redux, Black Caviar, Frankel, So You Think, and Goldikova's 4th go there hasn't been  much that's very riveting in racing 2011, and the horse touted as most interesting, Uncle Mo, turned out to be as fascinating as watching grass grow. But I can hardly wait for Lonhro's babies to hit the mix. Now THAT'S interesting!!!

No more whining from me; I'm done, but I truly appreciate everyone's good thoughts, and the great conversation. Will try to keep in touch through the BH blogs, but as of now everything is up in the air.

Cheers and safe trips to everyone.

Blind Luck should win the award for best older female since she was better than Havre de Grace. It's too bad she didn't make it to the BC; she would've won the Ladies Classic and if she'd gone in the Classic wouldn't have finished any worse than 2nd and she'd be HOY. She's the 2nd best female of recent years, behind only Zenyatta.

And Stay Thirsty will be HOY next year. He won't have to run at Churchill any more.

Is there a free virtual stable available where one can follow the European based horses as well? Like the Equibase one? thanks.

 Tiz Herself.  I use Horse Tracker on www.irish-racing.com.

 It's not quite as good as Equibase's function but it will give you a heads up when a horse you're interested in is running.

How is a horse that is trounced by 3 widening lengths and who needs a 2 lb weight break to defeat the other better than a horse.  Common sense is lacking.

The lack of respect for horses that competed at the top of each division is astonishing, these people who challenge their horses to be the best, not hiding in allowance quality races with g1 designation in name only is mind boggling. The eclipse awards are supposed to be given in honor of the best overall season by each horse in their respective division.  Maybe that is lost now due to the black eye and embarrassing sullying of the reputation of the Awards after last year’s HOY vote.  But touting horses running off the board 3 and 4 times during a season in lower tier races is the main reason why only certain people are allowed to vote for eclipse awards.  We all have opinions and that’s cool but doesn’t it get a bit out of hand when a person is unable to be objective about records for example when looking at these records:

7 starts 5/0 – possibly this one except the caveat is running 5th and last in races

7 Start 3/3 – this one, never would get votes for any category

3 starts 3/3/0 – this one, not enough races but 3 at the highest turf level.

7 starts 5/1/0 – nice record – once off the board

8 starts 3/2/1 – consistent horse, probably unlucky considering.

So this is the banter about HOY: Supposedly

Acclamation with his stellar 7 starts 5/0 – including a stellar 5th and last place finish should be the front runner.

Followed closely by Blind Luck with her 7 Start 3/3 – including a stellar last place finish in the Lady’s Secret beaten many lengths by every horse in the race.

These are the front runners for  2011 HOY candidates. Lol.

Let’s not take into consideration horses that actually won over 50% of their races. Like:

Cape Blanco 3/3/0 With G1 wins in the Man O War, Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch – where was Acclamation in those races, seems like he was following the path of least resistance similar to another horse that never proved a thing from January to October.

Or Havre De Grace with her 7 starts 5/1/0 with G1 wins in the Apple Blossom, Woodward and Beldame, and an 4th place finish in the BCC.

Or even Game on Dude with his 8 starts 3 wins, 2 in Grade 1’s with 2 close seconds in the HWGC and BCC, only off the board once in the Pacific Classic. Don’t forget thoroughly trouncing the dreamed up vote getting in Acclamation who wont even come close to winning his own division’s Turf award.

It’s amazing to see the lack of logic involved, I guess some would vote for Rapid Redux or Frankel or maybe even Black Caviar, or one person is stuck on hype, so maybe So You Think should get votes because he’s a bonified and proven Stayer. SMH.

AFLEETINGFOREVER

AH..the wannabe amateur handicapper

3 widening lengths??? HAHAHAHA

you meant at 8.5 furlongs??

hey...Gracey couldn't beat BL at 10 furlongs...but BL has beaten Gracey at her distance of 8.5 furlongs..

BL better horse than your gracey..hands down...

AfleetAlexForever, you're joking right? Head to head, Blind Luck has beaten Havre de Grace 4 out of 6 times. Common sense would say that Blind Luck is superior. She proved she could beat Havre De Grace while giving weight, a fact you always conveniently omit. Let it go, Blind Luck's form was receding this year and Grace could't even beat her at her home track. If Grace was truly 3 lengths better at even weights, then why was that margin cut to a nose when 2 lbs was added. Is Grace that sensitive to weight? The result of the Lady's Secret isn't exactly flattering to Grace either. Havre De Grace will always be Blind Luck's Alydar. Sorry if that's too tough for you to swallow.

AfleetAlexForever

When is that crimson red going to disappear from your face?  You have probably set a world's record for the longest and deepest blush. What is your strategy going to be to Porter/Jones now?  Or are they still going to let you call the shots.

Sylvester

Too bad there isn't a market for losing BCC tickets.  

It's a good thing that the Breeder's Cup was not held at Santa Anita this year.  Game on Dude is 3-3 there.

45 1/5, 109, 134 1/5, 147 1/5 at

1 1/8th in the Goodwood.

46 4/5, 110 4/5, 134 4/5, 159 2/5 at 1 1/4 in the Santa Anita Handicap.

He beats Dros by 5.

Someone obviously hacked into the poll and voted for Animal Kingdom about 1,100 times. Whomever did that let me assure you of two things: A) You have too much time on your hands B He has zero chance of winning Horse of the Year, let alone 3YO champion.

Way, way too much time on their hands !  Having now looked at the results again prompted by your comment, Jason, I see your campaign for Rapid Redux for HOY has gained steam and he now trails only your first choice, Havre de Grace, in the vote totals. I think you started something.

Playfriskyforme - you are a very noble person, I accept and say

"King's X and swords back in their

scabbards, the joust is over."

Uncle Mo ran better than Havre De Grace, at least he was involved in the race almost til the end, looking like he had a chance to win. HDG made no impact whatsoever. She should not be HOY. She could've gone in the Ladies Classic and won it.

You can tell it's been a rather lackluster year for the Handicap horses when the leading vote getter on here and other sites is a filly w/3 Gr.I wins(2 restricted) who gets trounced in the BCC... talk about SOY award.If so,then no one deserves it.Or do they have to wait until the Clarke results?.. pathetic either way.

I can't believe Animal Kingdom remained top 3 year old for so long. If there's any Triple Crown race that's indicative of the best 3 year old it's the Preakness Stakes. Of all the TC races, it's the closest thing to a normally run race and the winner usually goes on to greater success.

AAF

So did Grace win or even finish a very close second like  certain mare?

SLYVESTER

You shouldn't be saying anything after as always running your mouth about what Grace would do. I told you!

JJW, you sure you watching the same race...Mo was involved in the race almost till the end? It wasn't a mile race dude...he was sucking wind after a mile....lmfao!!

now I know why they call it mutuel...easy money JJW....

Where did I say Union Rags deserved the award? You have showed repeatedly on this blog that reading comprehension is not your strong suit. Don't worry, with a little more practice that GED is well within your reach.

AAF, Sylvester

You can't man up with being wrong, so you attempt to turn it around into something it's not. Bottom line is myself and others told you

she wouldn't win. Stop pretending as if she did. Btw last I checked Blind Luck beat Grace four of six. AAF perhaps you should learn how to count.

AfleetAlexforever.

You say "Let’s not take into consideration horses that actually won over 50% of their races. "

Last time I checked my math Acclamation 5 victories out of 7 starts is winning 71% of the time. Way more than your baseline 50%.  How many horses this year won 5 races at all much less 5 races in a row and 5 graded stakes in a row?

I believe only one and yes that's Acclamation.  And he did it running on 2 different surfaces at 3 different distances in 3 Gr 1 and 2 grade 2 races. Hardly taking the path of least resistance.  

Game on Dude on the other hand won 3 of 8 starts which is a 37.5 % win percentage.  And while he ran well in both Ca. and Ky he has only (to this stage this year) won at Santa Anita.

Cape Blanco had a great year winning all 3 grade 1 starts

before injuring himself on the bog of a turf course.  In a perfect world we would have seen him, Acclamation and St Nick race against each other in the BC Turf.  But unfortanetly that didnt happen.

But for all of the complaints that our horses can't get a route of ground and aren't sound enough for a decent campaign, we have a great opportunity to reward 2 horses that competed at the top level over distances of a mile and a quarter or longer.

CH Older male and HOY - Acclamation

Ch Turf horse - Cape Blanco

Sorry if you don't get that logic.

And yes, Acclamation finished last in the April 16 th Charlestown Classic on dirt.  Well, actually it was on the slop. On a sloppy 3 turn race Duke of Mischief trounced Game on Dude, Tizway and Acclamation.  Perhaps Duke of Mischief for HOY?

who:

For posterity, I will leave you with this.

I don't know if To Honor Serve will ultimately prove able to get 10 furlongs.  So, far, he hasn't.  

However, I will say this- in the Breeder's Cup Classic, his one race over 9 furlongs, he tired in the stretch.  Fact.

You make reference to all the trouble he had in the race, even declaring that he basically had no shot after the first turn(he looked to be in a good position and travelling nicely to me down the backstretch, into the 2nd turn, and all the way to mid-stretch).  In my opinion, you are vastly exagerrating the trouble THAS had in the race.

What I saw was a somewhat headstrong THAS pull his way up close behind the hooves of horses in front of him, steady ever so slightly to make sure he didn't clip heels, and then settle easily into a perfect position; I can't see that his momentum and position were affected much.  After that incident, he basically received a dream trip stalking Game on Dude and Mo from 3rd/4th. He had a clear path down the backstretch, and through the far turn, and simply faded in the stretch.  

So, maybe THAS will be able to get 10 furlongs later in his career.  I have my doubts given the BC Classic, but it's certainly not impossible.  Thus, you will have no need to remind about anything next year because I'm not foreclosing the possibility.  

With this said however, THAS came up short in the BC Classic; I don't buy the "trouble defense" you present.  This failure to get 10 furlongs in the Classic naturally left me skeptical whether he wants to run that far.

Chucky, I didn't bet on Uncle Mo. All I was saying was that at least he made his presence known in the race for a while. He pressed Game On Dude for a good portion of the way and even got his head in front. Uncle Mo fans probably got excited for a second thinking he might draw off and win. Havre De Grace never gave anyone anything to get excited about. She was never in a position to win and added nothing to the race.

Skip Away was my favorite great grey.

Cape Blanco would get my vote.  To get his 3 wins, he racked up massive frequent flier miles to boot.  He's earned it and should be rewarded.  

If they gave an Eclipse for enthusiastic owner of the year, it'd go to Mike Repole. His spring of joy just bubbles over and even when you were rooting for someone else's horse, you have to love it how he rejoices in this game. We need him - and we need more like him. And even when his horses don't perform the way he wants, he's honorable in defeat and still in love with the game. And his horses. Go Mike! And here's hoping you're highly contagious!

Let’s make a fair comparison, at 4 Zenyatta’s people put her in the kiddie pool and ran against the girls in the LC while at 4 HDG’s people went for it all on the big stage on Saturday, its ok Zenyatta’s people were scared of Curlin. Many of you would have ducked him also.

At 4 HDG has a 1-1 record against males, and Zenyatta had no record against males. Ducking is that its called. There is no disgrace in Grace running 4th on the surface the race was contested on, considering Zenyatta ‘s people would have scratched because it wasn’t lightening fast. Considering that’s what happened each and every time that she was entered in a race.

Grace has a 2-1 record on off tracks and Zenyatta never had a record on an off track.

Grace equaled or set two stakes records in 2011, Zenyatta never set a valid record on any track, not once. The 3 year synthetic records that are listed for her are a farce and it takes a mindless person to try to stake claim to them.

We can be assured of one thing, Rick Porter is too classy a man to take out a full page ad in the DRF to beg for HOY votes like Jerry Moss.  There is a huge difference in the level of class. Mr Porter realizes that her record speaks for itself and that sometimes horses lose and you don’t always pamper them through seasons.  One ignorant poster took shots for Mr. Porter running in the Obeah, while Zenyatta ran against O’beah competition 15 of the 20 races for her career.  Im just saying. LOL

ZENYATTA, her name will always come up when talking about the sport of kings. Her haters just like to argue for the sake of arguement. It's a game for them. Oh, she ran weak campaigns, oh did she? She ran against the best those years had to offer. Her connections never turned away a challenge because of an entry they were afraid to run against. Big Z made the competition look weak. She was that good. If her Cali connections would've run her as hard as Goldikova was run, no one would be able to dispute her greatness, very unfortunate. There was no shame in her only loss, she learned from the experience, it wouldn't have hastened her dirt trip the second time out, but there was not to be a second time for the giant mare, racing's loss. She had more to give, I'm not convinced big Z was ready to leave the track. I've followed racing over 4 decades and I recognize greatness when I see it. I don't need someone wet behind the ears to analize Zenyatta's career and tell me she was just overrated hype. I'm not that stupid. I know what she is, how good she was, and so do alot of other people.

Animal Kingdom Horse of the Year? I'd go Cape Blanco before Animal Kingdom.

AAF

How's the blush this morning?  Is your face still red?  Now you're saying the HDG is in the same area code as Zenyatta.  Nw you are trying to justify a lacklustre 4th place finish in the BCC to a mare that won a BCC and finished 2nd by a head in another one.  Please go back to credability school.

You know.. sometimes we humans need a good laugh every now and then.So, thank you AAF et al.

AAF, Havre De Grace isn't even as good as Blind Luck. Now you're comparing her to Zenyatta? Havre De Grace couldn't even handle this group of males, let alone the males Zenyatta faced. Heck, she couldn't even handle the 2010 Ladies Classic field and you somehow think there's a comparison! Lmao! You're really spinning your wheels now! Havre De Grace could get an extra 10 length head start and she'd still be no match for Zenyatta. She is simply a superior racehorse, get over it.

AfleetAlexForever.  You fogot to bring up the California debate.  Zenyatta forever stayed in Southern California and while Harve De Grace traveled the world taking on the best!  

AAF.  You forgot to mention Zenyatta's World Record!  We'll talk more when Harve gets close to besting it.  

You're right Steve, Grace ran against two Belmont winners, a Travers winner and So You think a winner of 8 Grade 1 10 furlong races.  

Zenyatta ran against (Haynesfield & Blame) Much more difficult in 2010 LOL

AAF- How can you count So You Think who has no dirt form and not count the turf horses in Zenyatta's 2009 win.  You constantly rant that they had no synthetic form so they don't count.  Here you cite a horse who has multiple gr 1 wins at 10 furlongs..... ON TURF.  He had no dirt form whatsoever. Why does he count and Zenyatta's opponents in 2009 don't?  It is much more plausible to think a turf horse will show form on synthetic than dirt.  Other than So You Think, Drosselmeyer had shown little form since his slow Belmont win until his grind-up second in the Jockey Gold Cup, and the Travers winner, Stay Thirsty, has no form outside New York.  At least the Travers winner that Zenyatta faced, Colonel John, had shown form outside one state and on synthetic.  You constantly slant facts to suit your purpose and it is not objective.  At least be objective.

AAF

How’s the red face.  Quite a bad sunburn don’t you think.  Opppps.  Sorry.  That red face isn’t from a sunburn.  Oh well, at least you won’t have to buy any blush for awhile.

Why don’t you quite while you’re behind?

Gracie ran against as in ran in the race and finished 4th..  

It doesn’t quite compare to Zenyatta defeating two BC Distaff winners, two Travers winners, a Kentucky Derby Winner, a Preakness winner, a Belmont winner a Hollywood Gold Cup winner, a Pacific Classic winner, two Jockey Club Cup winners, a Santa Anita Handicap winner, a Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, an Eclipse Stakes winner, etc., and etc., and etc.

AAF, Grace lost to those 2 Belmont winners in case you forgot. And it doesn't take a super horse to beat Stay Thirsty, especially the Stay Thirsty that ran in the Classic. Heck, even Uncle Mo beat him! Lmao! So You Think? Are you joking? He's a grass horse! Or did you forget that little detail? At least when Zenyatta faced grass horses it was on a surface that they were at no disadvantage. Zenyatta beat far better horses in the 09 Classic than Grace beat in her entire career. Lmao!

Did someone really just bring up Colonel John to validate Zenyatta.  Hey that’s cool, let’s validate a over hyped horse that finished her career with 0 wins on dirt in open company and who never once beat a Grade 1 winner during a HOY winning campaign.  LOL Great points guys, keep it coming, Grace running against Graded stakes accomplished horses in her two tries against males is far more impressive than the wannabes that showed up for the 2010 classic with only 1 horse having a 10furlong win that being the Mighty Haynesfield.  Or the wannabe synthetic tried and tested horses in 2009.  What was the surface the 09 BC was contested on again.  Oh its not in existence anymore, and the 2nd place finisher in Gio Ponti had run on the surface a few times in Grade 3 races while finishing off the board, that’s a wonderful way to validate how great Zenyatta is.  She beat in 2009, 8 horses making their first start on plastics.  But let me give indication as to how great Zenyatta is, when Gio Ponti ran on the surface previously he finished 5th behind Cowboy Cal, Blue Exit, Dixie Chatter and Victory Pete, Colonel John ran in 4 Graded races to finish his career 6th, 4th, 5th  and 5th.  Only winning the ungraded Wicker to his credit.  So hey as was the rest of her career, she was able to defeat a male that could only win 50k stakes races on the West Coast.  Proves she’s great huh.  

In 2010 as she lined up against again 1 horse that had a 10furlong win, in the sprinter Haynesfield, it was obvious that she was certainly in deep water right, lol great points when trying to validate the greatness of the 2010 field.  So for the sake of controversy, let’s list the G1 10 furlongs winners in the 2010 field:

Haynesfield

Now let’s list the 2011 BCC 10 furlong horses that Grace faced:

Drosselmeyer

Game on Dude

Ruler on Ice

So You Think

Stay Thirsty

Headache

So 6 legit 10 horses that had won at 1 ¼ mile or more. Eye opening huh girls.

Whoops did i forget Flat out winner of the 10 furlong JCGC

That makes 7 girls.  The number increases. 7 compared to 1 in 2010,Im just saying.

AAF, wow you're a hypocrite! I've got news for you, Flat Out was a grade 2 horse when Havre De Grace beat him. You can't ignore Switch's two grade 1 wins after facing Zenyatta, while saying Grace beat a grade 1 winner like Flat Out. You're contradicting yourself. You can't focus on certain pieces of information while ignoring others in order to justify your argument. I mean, you can do that but just realize nobody will take you seriously. Oh, and what's Flat Out's record at Churchill Downs? What's really sad is that Flat Out was probably the best horse Grace ever beat. In case you forgot, Colonel John was a mile and a quarter horse(he won the Travers) and he won the Santa Anita Derby over pro-ride. Are you really going to dismiss Gio Ponti? The horse who won the Sir Beaufort Stakes, proving he could handle pro-ride, and who in 2009 won 4 grade 1s in a row, two of them at a mile and a quarter? Didn't Einstein win the Santa Anita Handicap in 2009? Isn't that a mile and a quarter over pro-ride? Didn't Awesome Gem go on to win the Hollywood Gold Cup at a mile and a quarter? What about Richard's Kid? Did the 2 time Pacific Classic winner have any trouble with the surface or distance? What about Twice Over? He's a mile and a quarter grade 1 winner and he handles synthetics just fine.  The 10 furlong horses you listed either beat Havre De Grace or are too weak to be worth mentioning. I mean seriously, you're really going to brag about beating Headache? Get real! And how is Ruler On Ice a 10 furlong horse if he never won at 10 furlongs? Lmao! You just keep making things up! There were only 3 real dirt horses in the 09 Classic: Girolamo, Regal Ransom, and Summer Bird. Let's face it, the first 2 weren't going to win no matter what surface the race was on and Summer Bird's strong 4th place finish hardly suggests he didn't handle the surface. The fact is that the 2009 Classic field was run on a neutral surface and was chalk full of grade 1 winners. Zenyatta was simply above and beyond all of them. And unlike Grace, she didn't need Blind Luck to retire in order to secure her place in the division. This year's Classic field was a joke and Grace barely put up a fight. I doubt she would have done much in the Ladies Classic either. Grace would be lucky to be compared to Blind Luck. But comparing her to Zenyatta is an absolute joke. It would be like comparing Uncle Mo to Secretariat.

AAF

There's only one thing that is legit and we all know what that is?

All those so called legit 10F horses, even the former claimer Headache, and of course we all know that Gracie isn't one of them.

I wonder if any of them could have given Blind Luck a race when she was right.

AAF has been served! Game over. An in-foal Zenyatta in her 2nd tri-mester would run past HDG with ease.

YOU mean before Grace ended her career in the Del Cap.  Amazing how Grace came out of that race ready to go and blind Luck would never hit the board again in her career.  Maybe running last is just as good as first out west due to the lack of competition.

Steve you might want to try to comprehend what someone says when you read. Why would you list me the horses that won at 10 furlongs in 2009 when i clearly stated numerous times that 1 horse won a 10 furlong race that contested the BC Classic in 2010.  Weakest field ever to contest the race.  And what logic is there that a horse that won a 12 furlong race cant handle 10 furlongs. there is a dummies series out there for you Steve I suggest you purchase that.  

Last Steve before this gets too embarrassing for you, did you try to validate Gio Ponti off of a Grade 3 win in a race that was contested by the likes of  Medjool & El Gato Malo, Icemancometh, Sky Cape, Pistol Pete Afleet, young Joe and Ten Meropa.  Stellar field that he defeated there, but to you a horse finishing 2nd, 4th, 5th and 5th on synthetics means that the horse likes the surface, compared to his 8 or so wins on turf. You buddy are clueless, and not worth wasting the time to explain the elementary things about horse racing, Laz is just as clueless why dont you ask him about how Great Gio Ponti was on synthetics. lol 1/5 on a surface makes that surface detested by the horse.  But hey another super duper horse couldnt win 1 open company race on dirt in her career either so we recognize that those that can't cut it just fall below the rest.

Rachel Alexandra 1 Open Company win on dirt

Havre De Grace 1 Open Company win on dirt.

Thats the list. lol Glaring omission huh of the west coast over hyped sensational synthetic superstar. lol Get over it.

AAF, if a horse doesn't handle a surface, they won't win. The fact that Gio Ponti won a grade 3 proves he could handle the surface. Did Clement blame the surface after Gio Ponti got a dream trip along the rail only to be run down late by the great Zenyatta? No! He simply got beat by a superior racehorse. If you knew anything about horses, you'd know that Gio Ponti looked very comfortable over pro-ride. And are you really going to compare the horses Rachel beat on dirt to the horses Zenyatta beat on dirt? That's laughable! It's time for you to get over Rachel and Grace, neither of whom ever beat a field of even half the quality the Zenyatta faced. Zenyatta is hands down the greatest female racehorse of all time. Rachel is in the top 5. Havre is top 30...maybe. Get over it!

Oh, Stevebiscuit, don't you know that AAF is the god of all racing knowledge?  Relative newbie that he is, he knows more about the sport than the likes of Sir Henry Cecil!  He knows more than the likes of Bloodhorse's own Steve Haskin!  We should all bow to his superior knowledge and revere him as the god he is!

Kudos to you, Laz, and the others who have called him for being the blinkers-on hypocrite that he is.

If I had to pick today, I'd give Acclamation the nod.  Graded wins on different surfaces at classic distance AND 5 consecutive Graded wins is enough for me.

It should also be noted that Lady's Secret and Azeri both won their BC races in the years they were named HOY.  Zenyatta hit the board in her  HOY year.   Only RA didn't win a BC race the year she won HOY...because she didn't enter.   The BC loss may well be the nail in the coffin for HDG's bid.

I'm really not surprised AAF would come here to further discredit Zenyatta in his baseless effort to talk up HDG, whose non-threatening effort in the 2nd slowest running of the Classic speaks for itself.  At least Alysheba had a reason to have run the slowest Classic, it was over a sloppy track in a driving rainstorm.  Wait, can AAF explain what happened to his super filly?  She didn't care for the track?  Oh, sure, that makes sense.  Unfortunately for him, Zenyatta didn't care for the CD surface either but managed to come from 20 lengths back to sweep by the entire field and end up only inches short of running down Blame.

If you compared the two running times of last year's Classic and this year's, Zenyatta beat HDG by over 13 lengths.  

AAF, take some consolation that HDG is running again next year.  Maybe she can do better than her 3rd place finish in the BCLC, where she was behind BL once again, or her 4th place finish in the Classic.  If she runs another 3 years and manages a win in the BCLC, another win in the Classic and a close runner-up finish in yet another Classic, then get back to us about comparing her to Zenyatta.  Until then, keep up your hypocritical spin until your next world beater comes along.  By then we might all have forgotten who your top pick was last year, Quality Road.  At least, HDG finished better than he did.

Well said, oso7!

Facts are facts, Let’s compare the years that were had for both horses that we are referring to.  Acclamation with 7 starts in 2011 and had 5 wins.  His 2 losses were a 5th place finishing behind Fluke, Jeranimo, & Times Gone By.   At least Acclamation finished in front of Lieve, lol.  In the Grade 3 Charles Town Classic he finished 10th that being dead last, losing to horses by the name of No Advantage and Rule whom HDG beat and Gone Astray, this is certainly not the resume of a HOY candidate and the main reason why this horse will not even come close to winning the Turf Eclipse award because Cape Blanco won race of much more consequence than Acclamation even was allowed to contest.  

I will say this Acclamation can be considered in the same breath as Blind Luck, as both horses have a last place finish to their name.  Now listing the wins of consequence to give indication of the class of horse that the horse ran with would also be helpful.  In his wins Acclamation defeated, (Falcon Rock, Celtic New Year, Jeranimo, Twirling Candy and Champ Pegasus). Again indication that this horse is not a legit HOY candidate as of the 7 races he contested he defeated very few Grade 1 winners.  He defeated G1 winners Twirling Candy, Game On Dude, & Stately Victor a horse that would certainly not be considered G1 off of finishing 8th, 7th, 5th, 9th, 12th, 11th, and 5th in 7 out of 14 races.  But I am sure the resident pedigree analyst in Swale would tell you that this horse was very competitive in his 12th and 11th place finishes.  As this was the assessment by Swale of Twice Over’s 9th, 6th, and 5th place finishes this year.  It’s most likely obvious to anyone with common sense that finishing 5th or worse in a race would give indication that a horse is not competitive in that race but Swale thinks differently, that’s why I state that maybe out west, running last like Blind Luck & Acclamation did in their awful performances this year is an indicator that a horse is doing well. LOL.

Its Obvious that you can’t have much common sense to tout a horse for HOY with a last place and 5th place finish during the year.  This is just not impressive, no matter how you try to spin it, and believe me the west coasters who are used to mediocre quality showing up at their tracks are certainly willing to give a horse a pass (5th place) or two (last place) for races during the year.  Like the Zenites of 2009 everything is about the BC win one year, and then in 2010, its about a weak year of racing out west against the likes of well practically nothing of significance, unless you give Falcon Rock his due, lol. Albeit the Pac Classic field that was to include the great Blind Luck who would have been trounced in that race, I am sure even worse than she performed in the LS.  So Acclamation’s candidacy is all about finishing last in a race, finishing 5th in another, and then beating up on allowance horses in 4 of 5 wins, taking down an ok field in the Pac Classic and ducking the major races run on turf this year in the US at the top rung of turf racing.  Where was Acclamation when Cape Blanco came calling in the Man O’ War or Arlington Million, he was ducking him running in the all important Jim Murray.  

Hey Swale, take a shot at spinning that into something different or maybe you’ll go down that road your friend Hail went down when he Touted Caleb’s Posse for HOY, you and your friend Oso, Clueless and Naïve.  

2007 & 2008 HOY Curlin – Super Horse

2009 HOY Rachel Alexandra – Super Filly

2010 HOY Blame was robbed by the 2010 SOY Zenyatta – Most over rated HOY in the history of the award and the first HOY ever to never have defeated a Grade 1 winner during the year of racing.

BTW, Oso, Let me know when you are able to claim that Zenyatta wins a Open Company race on Dirt.  I'll wait, LMBO.

Typical of you, AAF, to argue about class and then, omit anything that damages your already insignificant credibility.   You brought up the now-retired Twice Over, yet you failed to acknowledge that his 5th and 6th place performances in Group 1 races were behind the likes of Rewilding, So You Think (who you said being in the BCC boosted HDG's claim to a title) and Canford Cliffs, who defeated your other horse, Goldikova.  Yep...pretty shabby horses he was running against....definitely worse horses than the 2011 Woodward field,with those world beaters Mambo Meister, Ice Box, and Convocation.  

Let me know when you know what a TRULY great horse is......I'm guessing I'll be Queen of England before that happens.

Keep spinning your wheels AAF, it's quite entertaining! Maybe one of these days someone will take you seriously! Lmao!

AAF you should quit while you're ahead.  In reality, though, you really are never ahead because you bury yourself by twisting facts to fit your own current bias--such as BL would have beeb trounced if she'd run in the Pacific Classic, which was just an ok field according to you.  Yikes, AAF, do you really want to go there?  I mean the 4th place finisher, Game on Dude, went on to handily finish in front of your heroine in the Classic.  So what does that transmit to HDG if she ran behind GoD despite snail-like fractions, and still couldn't get by him?  If the other field was ok and the 4th place finisher finished in front of HDG, does that make her average?

Then you like to build up HDG by claiming she "trounced" BL.  But if BL isn't a horse who could have done anything against an ok Pacific Classic field then why do you herald HDG's ONLY 2 wins against BL out of 6 meetings--one of which was when she was toting 10 pounds less weight than BL carried and yet only won by a diminishing neck.  Hmmm, confusing when you have to twist yourself into a pretzel to figure how you're going to support your current favs while burying everyone else.

My suggestion is you go on a snipe hunt for Draynay and the two of your can commiserate for awhile and then come back with something better than your standard nonsense.