Breeders Cup Chat : Breeders' Cup Classic

Humble Pie

jshandler — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 13:48:00 GMT

Zenyatta conquered the boys in the Classic, and I am here to admit I was wrong. ...(read more)

Picks For Saturday BC Races

jshandler — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:01:00 GMT

After a long week of handicapping, here are my Saturday thoughts... Juvenile Turf When considering morning-line favorite Interactif, there are two ways to look at the full field that he is facing: If you like him, you should be thrilled that you are likely to get a more than fair price. Or if you think he is vulnerable, there are no shortage of upset options. I happen to like him and if he stays at...(read more)

A Classic in the Making

jshandler — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:20:00 GMT

So you're not a big fan of synthetics, you say?

Me neither. The intent was good. Unfortunately, it just didn't work out as planned. I think most of us would agree on this by now.

But here's the thing: It's Breeders' Cup time. For the second straight year, I'm tired of all the complaining. The World Championships are at Santa Anita, again. Deal with it. The races are going to be fun. Let's enjoy them.

The ironic thing is, because the Breeders' Cup is once again on synthetics, the Classic is shaping up to be one heck of a race. Think about it.

Let's start with the Euros. Already confirmed for the race are Irish 2000 Guineas winner Matsercraftsman and QEII winner Rip Van Winkle, both trained by Aidan O'Brien. Also under consideration is perhaps the best 3-year-old on the planet, Sea the Stars, who is a perfect 6-for-6 in European major races, including last week's Arc de Triomphe score.

The possible presence of all of these Euro stars is due only to the fact that the Classic is being held on a synthetic surface. None would even be considered the race if it were on natural dirt. As we saw last year, the Euros add a whole new dimension to the race. After all, it is the WORLD Championships.

Over on this side of the pond, the Classic is likely to include our best turf horse--Gio Ponti. He will be a huge x-factor in the race. And again, Christophe Clement would not have considered the race without the synthetic factor.

Speaking of older stars, we're going to get to see Einstein, who has dropped off a tad in last couple but is still a super horse with a synthetic background.

Want local stars? How about Rail Trip, a proven synthetic grade I winner who might be sitting on a huge race at a track he loves. And don't forget about Bob Baffert's Richard's Kid, who upset Rail Trip in the Pacific Classic; Colonel John; Tiago; and Chocolate Candy, all of them prepping in this weekend's Goodwood.

Then we move on to our East Coast based 3-year-olds. There is no hotter horse than Summer Bird. Don't forget, he trained over the Santa Anita Pro-Ride for four months.

And we can't leave out the Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, who will face older horses for the first time in the Goodwood. Again, he is proven on synthetics.

Oh yeah. I almost forgot about Zenyatta. Personally, I think there is little to no chance that the connections try her in the Classic, but its been bandied about for so long now I had to mention her.

How's that for a potential Breeders'Cup Classic field?

Let me reiterate again: I'm not a fan of synthetics. But even the most ardent critic would have to admit their presence has helped draw a potentially excellent Classic field for the second straight year, even if by accident. Yes, we lose Rachel Alexandra. She would have added a great deal to the field, but for all of Jess Jackson's complaining, I'm not even sure he would have run her in this year's Classic even if it were on dirt. I think he would have shut her down by now anyway.

Tell me, which older horse are you upset about not seeing in the Classic because it's on a synthetic? In other words, if the race was on dirt, how would the field look?

We're exactly four weeks away from the Breeders' Cup. Let's stop all the synthetic complaing for one month and enjoy what could be one of the best Classics in a long time.

One Man's Prediction on Zenyatta's 'Mysterious' Path

jshandler — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 16:31:00 GMT

During the early stages of my interview with Jerry Moss earlier this week, two things became apparent to me right from the start: I wasn't going to get anything significant out of him regarding Zenyatta's future, and there is very little chance that she will ever face Rachel Alexandra.

The latter did not surprise me one bit. I stated last month that we should all begin to accept the fact that the showdown will never happen. The owners of each horse have two different agendas: Moss the Breeders' Cup, Jess Jackson locking up Horse of the Year by the end of the summer by beating males once (or twice) more. From where I stand, the showdown it ain't happening. We should all move on.

I was a little disappointed, however, that Moss would not budge on his stance of playing it close to the vest regarding her plans for the rest of the season. And believe me, I tried several times and in several different ways to get something out of him. During the course of our interview, Moss must have said, "I don't mean to be mysterious, but we're taking it one race at a time," about five times. He just wouldn't budge. Yes I was disappointed, but I also respected his position.

In the latter part of our conversation I finally got him to admit that they were going to do "something different" with her. That's about all I got. But by reading between the lines, here is my speculation on what they will do with her in her final four starts:

As we all know, she will race next in the Aug. 9 Clement Hirsch. There is also a very good chance that she will also go in the Oct. 10 Lady's Secret as a prep for the Breeders' Cup. Whether it will be the Breeders' Cup Classic or Ladies Classic, we don't know yet. Back to that in a moment.

Near the end of the interview, Moss said the two months between the Clement Hirsch and the Lady's Secret leaves room for another race. This is where they will likely do "something different" with her. What will it be? Well, it probably won't be out of California. Moss reiterated several times that they would prefer not to ship her out of state. When I mentioned the Oct. 3 Beldame at Belmont Park, a race that also might be enticing for Jackson, Moss said no. I think she is staying in California. But where?

In looking at the racing calendar, the options in early September are pretty slim in Cali. If they are going to do "something different" with her, to me the most probable option is the $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) at Del Mar. This makes sense because it a) give her nearly five weeks until the Lady's Secret and b) it lets her face males for the first time.

In my theory, Zenyatta gets to take on the boys for a huge purse on a track she has already won over, and it satisfies the "something different" Moss is referring to. Then, they aren't forced to run her against what will likely be a very tough field in the Breeders' Cup Classic. My gut feeling is that they want to let her run in the Ladies Classic. This will likely be the final race of her career and there is a much better chance she goes out a winner in that race, which is at a more suitable distance and won't be nearly as tough to win.

Pacific Classic, Lady's Secret and Ladies Classic. That's my prediction for Zenyatta. If I am right, and she wins all of them, I still don't feel it's enough for Horse of the Year. But I'm not sure that is the main goal for Moss at this point anyway. I think he would just like to enjoy her final four races and let the chips fall where they may.

The Fantasy Breeders' Cup Classic

jshandler — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:18:00 GMT

For those of you who live in or near Lexington, you may have had the pleasure of stopping by a neat, little bar & grill called Harry's. Located in the Lansdowne section of Lexington, Harry's is a spot with a popular outside patio area, excellent food and drinks, and a pleasant staff.

But the thing that makes Harry's uniquely cool is its tribute to horse racing. The inside portion of the bar has tabletops made of original Keeneland memorabilia dating back to the early part of the 20^th century, and the walls are littered with silks from many of the leading Thoroughbred owners and winner's circle photos of every Kentucky Derby winner since 1943.

All of that is very cool, but perhaps the most notable thing about Harry's décor are the three exclusive tote boards that offer fans a fantasy version of the all-time dream match-ups of the Breeders' Cup Classic, Distaff and Sprint. The tote boards stretch across the far wall and read just like a racing program, complete with the horses names, trainers, owners, and even mythical odds on the races. The compilation of horses was selected by racing experts from all over Kentucky.

Since we seem to be in full debate mode right now with all of this Rachel vs. Zenyatta stuff, I thought it would be fun to offer our opinions on these dream races. This time, we'll focus on the BC Classic, but we can revisit the Distaff and Sprint in later blogs.

Here is the "field" for the fantasy Breeders' Cup Classic, complete with odds, according to Harry's. For the sake of argument, we'll say the race takes place at Belmont:

There is much more to debate here aside from the winner of the race. How do you see the race playing out? What would it look like from a pace scenario? Who are the biggest overlays on here? What horse not on here should be part of the field? What would your exacta and trifectas look like?

Some of my thoughts? Well, first of all the field excludes six Triple Crown winners, including Sir Barton, the first horse to accomplish the feat. Perhaps he should have been on there instead of Seabiscuit, but other than that I don't really have a problem with the field. If it is limited to 12, you can't have all the great ones.

As far as the odds, I think the biggest overlays are The Bid at 10-1 and War Admiral at 30-1, the longest shot in the field. Yes, War Admiral lost to ‘Biscuit in the famed match race, but in a field of 12 in his prime, I would take my chances at 30-1.

My picks: Well, how can leave out Man o' War? A winner of 20 of 21 races, many of them while carrying 130 pounds as a 2-year-old and 138 pounds as a 3-year-old (can you imagine that now?), and all of the world and track records. I only wish there were video of him racing.

Citation would also be there. He won 27 of his first 29 starts, including beating the older HOY from the previous season as 3-year-old, twice, swept the Triple Crown, set records, came back from injuries to become the first millionaire and on and on. He was a beast.

And then there is The Bid, who I consider the best horse of my lifetime. His record of 26-2-1 from 30 starts stands on its own, and had he not lost the Belmont he might be looked upon as better than Secretariat by the public. His 4-year-old season was unreal, with records to prove it.

It's hard to leave out any on here, but the three above would comprise my trifecta.

The winner? Citation by a neck over The Bid. According to what I've seen and read, he was the best of all-time. He also won at the Classic distance five times and was undefeated at Belmont.

Let the debating begin...

Breeders' Cup Thoughts - One Day After

jshandler — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:26:00 GMT

What a great weekend of racing. We saw several outstanding performances, including three on Ladies Day Friday and many more on what will be now known as "European Saturday." Less than 24 hours after a very successful Breeders' Cup 25, here are a few thoughts and a breakdown of some of the standout races:

First of all, hopefully we haven't seen the last of Curlin, but if we did it was a disappointing way to go out. Most of the 50,000 at Santa Anita were pulling for the superstar to defend his Classic title. It wasn't meant to be. As I wrote on Friday, he had too much going against him - the lack of significant early speed and more than anything, he was just slowing down after a long campaign. Whether Curlin fans want to admit it or not, he hasn't looked all that sharp in his last two starts and after finally facing some elite competition, it caught up with him Saturday.

There should no excuses about the Pro-Ride, surface, which played fair all weekend. Curlin got beat fair and square by a couple very good Europeans. Give Raven's Pass all the credit. He is peaking at the right time while still going through a long season against the best in Europe. It was his first time on the surface as well.

By the way, I don't like kicking people when they are down, but did I tell you about Casino Drive or what? He just wasn't ready for that class. I still can't believe how low his odds were.

To reiterate about the Pro-Ride, I am one of those who was very impressed with the surface. After talking with trainers and horsemen all week, most had good things to say about it. There seemed to be no biases and most horses got over it very well. For all the complaining about having a Breeders' Cup on a synthetic surface, I think it turned out to be a success. It also played very fair from a handicapping standpoint. And most importantly, there were no breakdowns.

I thought Ladies Day Friday worked very well too. It gave horses like Ventura, Stardom Bound and Zenyatta a showcase and they shined. I know some people still don't like the idea of having the fillies and mares run on a different day, but after Friday I would say the majority of the people I talked to thought it was a success. I would still go back to ‘Distaff' instead of ‘Ladies Classic', but I give the Breeders' Cup credit for trying to be creative.

Here are thoughts on some of the races:

Filly and Mare Sprint - The first of three spectacular performances on Friday. Ventura capped a terrific 4-year-old campaign, where she won three stakes and earned more than $1.2 million for Juddmonte. Nothing less than an outstanding performance would have beaten Indian Blessing, who also ran a winning race. They are two special fillies and hopefully we wil see them next year.

Juvenile Fillies - In the week leading up to the race many people at Santa Anita thought Stardom Bound was vulnerable because of her running style. I was not one of them. What I saw in the Debutante and Oak Leaf told me that this is one freaky filly. She confirmed it in the BC with another breathtaking win. Seeing Stardom Bound make that move around the turn was one of the highlights of the weekend. I cannot wait to see where she lands as a 3-year-old and what she will accomplish. She will be one of the major stories of 2009.

Ladies Classic - What can you say about Zenyatta that hasn't already been said? She is truly spectacular. Her seemingly effort Ladies Classic win capped an exciting Friday and kept her undefeated in nine starts. We can only hope she runs next year, and who knows, maybe a year from now she will try to the boys in the Classic.

Also, there is plenty of time for this, but Horse of the Year is now going to be very interesting between Zenyatta and Curlin. Both are certainly deserving and my early guess is Curlin has the edge. But Zenyatta is going to garner a lot of votes. Let the debating begin!!

Turf Sprint - Great race, great finish. I wasn't one of those who had $75 winner Desert Code, but it would have been nice to have the biggest score of the weekend. Anyone have it? Just goes to show that toteboards can light up when you have ridiculous early fractions.

Dirt Mile - I wound up playing Albertus Maximus after A) seeing his nice odds compared to Well Armed and B) watching how good he looked in the paddock. I am usually not one of those with an astute eye for picking out horses who look good before the race, but when I saw Albertus Maximus 10 minutes before post I ran to the window. This is one of the most physically impressive colts I have seen in a long time and he proved it on the track. Great job by cutting-edge trainer Vladimir Cerin, who turned this horse around after taking over for Gary Mandella. One of his secrets? Using a hyperbaric chamber to help him recover faster. Very cool. I am looking forward to seeing Albertus Maximus race as a 5-year-old. He has a lot of upside. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in the 2009 Classic.

Mile - Wow. Goldikova's turn of foot in the final sixteenth was breathtaking. It was definitely a weekend highlight. Kip Deville ran a winning type race, but was no match for this freaky 3-year-old filly. Not sure what the future holds for either, but it certainly was a memorable race.

Sprint - The most disappointing race of the week for me. I touted Fabulous Strike, but he just didn't fire. Not sure what happened to him, but even at his best he probably wouldn't have beaten Midnight Lute or Fatal Bullet, who ran a huge race. What a job Bob Baffert has done with Midnight Lute, who in the early part of the season didn't even look like he would make it back to the track. Winning two consecutive BC Sprint's is a tremendous accomplishment. Hats off.

Pre-Entries Announced, Let the Games Begin!

jshandler — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:50:00 GMT

Does it feel like Christmas morning to anyone?

Breeders' Cup pre-entry day is upon us and for your convenience, below you will find the complete list of all 14 races. Next Tuesday, the final fields with post positions will be released.

As always, there were a number of surprises. I was most looking forward to seeing which Europeans were going to make the trip across the pond. In total, 35 Euros are pre-entered. The Classic, which of course lost Big Brown earlier in the week, looks very solid. Multiple group I winners Henrythenavitagor and Raven's Pass both have first preference in the Classic, which makes the marquee race that much more interesting. In addition, turf specialist Champs Elysees was a surprise entrant in the big race.

The turf is loaded with international talent - Soldier of Fortune, Conduit and Eagle Mountain all spicing up what should be a terrific race. The Marathon, which I think is the most anticipated of the new races, is also infused with talented Europeans.

It was fun to see Indian Blessing enter the Sprint, although she does have first preference in the Filly and Mare Sprint. We'll see what Bob Baffert decides. Either way, the Sprint looks like a tremendous betting race. I was also excited to see Precious Kitten and Ventura both entered against the boys in the Mile, although Ventura seems to be pointing towards the Filly & Mare Sprint.

I will be blogging from Santa Anita each day beginning on Monday. I'll analyze and handicap four races each day, and give out selections for each race. Be sure to watch That Handicapping Show too. I'm looking forward to getting everyone's input and selections.

For now, I'm mainly interested in what your take is on the pre-entries. Anything that surprised you? Any disappointments? Let the games begin!!

Friday races

Filly & Mare Sprint

Dearest Trickski; Dream Rush; Indian Blessing; Indyanne; Intangaroo; La Tee; Lady Sprinter; Magnificience; Miraculous Miss; Psalm (IRE); Tiz Elemental; Tizzy's Tune; Ventura; Zaftig

Juvenile Fillies Turf

Beyond Our Reach (IRE); C Karma; Consequence; Dream Empress; Emmy Darling; Evita Argentina; Freedom Rings; Heart Shaped; Laragh; Maram; Oui Say Oui (IRE); Renda

Juvenile Fillies

Be Smart; C. S. Silk; Doremifasollatido; Dream Empress; Emmy Darling; Evita Argentina; Palacio de Amor; Persistently; Pursuit of Glory (IRE); Renda; Saucey Evening; Sky Diva; Stardom Bound; Van Lear

Filly & Mare Turf

Communique; Dynaforce; Folk Opera (IRE); Forever Together; Goldikova (IRE); Halfway To Heaven (IRE); Mauralakana (FR); Precious Kitten; Pure Clan; Sealy Hill; Vacare; Visit (GB); Wait a While

Ladies Classic

Bear Now; Carriage Trail; Cocoa Beach (CHI); Ginger Punch; Hystericalady; Music Note; Santa Teresita; Zenyatta

Saturday races

Marathon

Add Heat; Big Booster; Booyah; Casino Drive; Cedar Mountain (IRE); Church Service; Delightful Kiss; Fairbanks; Jonesboro; King of Rome (IRE); Muhannak (IRE); Sixties Icon (GB); Spring House; Zappa

Turf Sprint

California Flag; Diabolical; Fleeting Spirit (IRE); Get Funky; Heros Reward; Idiot Proof; Mr. Nightlinger; One Union; Only Answer (GB); Rebellion (GB); Rouse the Cat; Salute the Count; Tropic Storm; True to Tradition

Dirt Mile

Albertus Maximus; First Defence; Jonesboro; Lewis Michael; Lord Admiral; Mast Track; My Pal Charlie; Pyro; Rebellion (GB); Surf Cat; Two Step Salsa; Well Armed

Mile

Awesome Gem; Bold Chieftain; Daytona (IRE); Kip Deville; Precious Kitten; Raven's Pass; Shakis (IRE); Thorn Song; U S Ranger; Ventura; War Monger; Whatsthescript (IRE); Goldikova (IRE)

Juevenile

Azul Leon; Believe in Hope; Bushranger (IRE); Coronet of a Baron; Elusive Bluff; Midshipman; Mine That Bird; Munnings; Pioneerof the Nile; Silent Valor; Square Eddie; Street Hero; Terrain; West Side

Juvenile Turf

Bittel Road; City Style; Coronet of a Baron; Del Conte; Elusive Bluff; Grand Adventure; Mine That Bird; Ninth Client; Paddy The Pro (IRE); Relatively Ready; Skipadate; Westphalia (IRE)

Sprint

Black Seventeen; Cost of Freedom; Fabulous Strike; Fatal Bullet; First Defence; In Summation; Indian Blessing; J Be K; Lewis Michael; Midnight Lute; Sing Baby Sing; Street Boss; Tropic Storm

Turf

Better Talk Now; Conduit (IRE); Dancing Forever; Eagle Mountain (GB); Grand Couturier (GB); Out of Control (BRZ); Red Giant; Red Rock Canyon (IRE); Red Rocks (IRE); Soldier of Fortune (IRE); Spring House; Winchester

Classic

Casino Drive; Champs Elysees (GB); Colonel John; Curlin; Duke of Marmalade (IRE); Go Between; Henrythenavigator; Mast Track; Pyro; Raven's Pass; Smooth Air; Student Council; Tiago; Well Armed

All of a Sudden, BC Classic Full of Intrigue

jshandler — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:32:00 GMT

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that we were all complaining about the Breeders' Cup Classic lacking intrigue?

Now, if everything falls into place, this might be one of the most highly-anticipated Classics of all-time.

Of course, a lot has to be decided between now and Oct. 25, most importantly, whether or not reigning Horse of the Year Curlin will go to California. But after Jess Jackson's recent comments, it now seems there is a 50-50 chance that Curlin will head to Santa Anita to race on Pro-Ride.

The Classic looks like it will get another boost with Commentator, who will run in the Massachusetts Handicap this weekend and then point towards the big race. That was confirmed by his owner, Tracy Farmer, at a national media teleconference Sept. 16. Previously, it was unclear which race Commentator would shoot for.

"He's never run on synthetics, but he trained on it at Keeneland and absolutely loved it," Farmer said. "I'd say if we go - if I can get our trainer there - it would be in the Classic. There is a question about Santa Anita and its new track, but all the stuff I've heard so far has been positive. We'd love to run against Big Brown and Curlin if he is in the shape he was in the Whitney. He's got the fastest Beyer under a mile and over a mile."

Farmer's comment about "if I can get our trainer there" was in reference to Nick Zito, who is not a big proponent of synthetics. But when asked who would make the final decision on whether to send Commentator to the Breeders' Cup, Farmer said, "I would say the owner of the horse makes that decision."

Assuming Commentator runs well at the MassCap and comes out of it fine, the Classic field could potentially have three huge names - Big Brown, Curlin and Commentator. And that's just the beginning.

Also decent possibilities for the $5 million event are Travers winner Colonel John, Pacific Classic winner Go Between, San Diego and San Antonio Handicap winner Well Armed, Japanese ace Casino Drive, European turf stars Henrythenavigator and Duke of Marmalade, Travers runner-up Mambo in Seattle, the always game Student Council, battled-tested Tiago, talented 3-year-old Pyro, and don't forget about the possibility of undefeated filly Zenyatta. Also on Sept. 17, Larry Jones said Philip Iselin winner Honest Man might be pointed towards the Classic.

Now, if that doesn't get your juices flowing, you're not a racing fan!

There are still many questions to be answered in the next five weeks, but at least now the Classic seems to be back on everyone's radar.

You see, I told you all this complaining about the synthetic surface would play itself out. Just sit back, relax and enjoy...

Are You Excited About the Monmouth Stakes?

jshandler — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:53:00 GMT

I have mixed feeling about Big Brown racing in the newly-created Monmouth Stakes this weekend.

On one hand, I am happy to see the Derby winner running at all. After the Belmont, most of us probably thought there was little chance he would ever see the racetrack again, especially considering the fragility of his feet. I've said this many times before, I give Mike Iavarone a lot of credit for continuing to run Big Brown since he really has nothing to gain and everything to lose, financially speaking. So in this respect, I guess we should all be happy that he is even racing at all.

I can also appreciate the connections wanting to run Big Brown on turf as a prep for the Breeders' Cup Classic. Those tender feet are probably worse than they are letting on. Rick Dutrow admitted the other day that "he's not a horse that wakes up ready to roll." Those lingering quarter cracks are a very real issue to contend with and the grass is simply an easier surface for Big Brown to run on. I get it.

Finally, I understand the main goal here is the Classic. That is the race which will decide Horse of the Year and carries a $5 million purse. Everything between now and then doesn't matter much to Iavarone and Co. They want their ideal six weeks of rest heading into the big race. I understand.

Admitting all of the above, part of me still thinks the connections took the easy way out the second half of his 3-year-old season and that should count against them. First, they showed up at the Haskell and completely bypassed Saratoga. That is questionable. Saratoga is where champions go.

This latest move to turf I am okay with, but if that is the path you want to take, at least show up in a graded stakes race. There were plenty of options - The Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont and the Clement Hirsch Turf Championship at Santa Anita, both on Sept. 27. Or, if they wanted a true prep for the Classic, how about the Goodwood on the same surface he will see in October? Four weeks of rest should be plenty for the Classic, despite what Dutrow says.

Heck, I would have even been fine with the Kentucky Cup Turf this weekend at Kentucky Downs. At least it's a grade III and I'm sure Kentucky Downs would have increased the purse, like Monmouth did.

I would have been okay with any of those options. Instead, they had Monmouth create a new race for them, one that really is a just a glorified allowance race with a big purse. There are a couple proven horses in here, but no grade I winners and nothing Big Brown can't destroy if he is on the top of his game. I have been critical of Curlin's connections in the past as well, but at least when they moved him to turf they chose an established race. There is something to be said for that.

I expect the Derby winner and probable 3-year-old champion to show up against the best. The Haskell wasn't the spot. The Travers was. The Monmouth Stakes isn't the spot. Santa Anita or Belmont was.

I'm wondering how many of you feel about the race this weekend. After all, we are getting to see Big Brown run on turf, which should be fun no matter where it is or what the race is called. But are you excited? Or did this spot turn you off? I have mixed feelings.

If you are planning on betting the race, here is my take on "That Handicapping Show."

No More Challenges Jess, Just Show Up

jshandler — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:28:00 GMT

Okay, after the peculiar back-and-forth repartee between Jess Jackson and Mike Iavarone that was carried out by the media on Wednesday, I am officially annoyed with the Big Brown vs. Curlin situation.

And after all the bickering that has taken place, it finally appears that the two most popular horses in America will never meet.

It is a very sad situation for one simple reason: In the end, not only does the industry lose, but so do the fans. Had the two camps come to terms and had it been marketed correctly, this is a match-up that would have done wonders for a sport that could certainly use a boost in popularity. It could have been huge.

Here is my official take on the situation:

Jess Jackson should stop issuing challenges and meet Big Brown in The Breeders' Cup Classic.

As many of you know I have been critical of Big Brown's connections in the past, but in this case I cannot fault them. The Woodward and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, while certainly both races that seem attractive on paper, would not be the right fit for Big Brown.

The Haskell took a lot out of Big Brown, which both Rick Dutrow and Iavarone have already admitted, and they feel coming back in four weeks for the Woodward would be too soon. Remember, he went through a grueling Triple Crown stretch and he has chronically bad feet. They know their horse better than we do. We have to give them the benefit of the doubt on that one.

The Gold Cup would give him eight weeks of rest, but it would also be less than a month until the Classic, which doesn't make sense either. Ideally, they want more time than that. Again, you can't fault them.

I am not sure what spot they will pick for Big Brown. It is likely to be much softer than either of the aforementioned races and on the surface it will seem like they are ducking Curlin. But if Iavarone wants a turf prep for his horse, that is his right. Admittedly, it does make more sense to run on turf as a prep for a synthetic race, as opposed to dirt. Remember, the goal all along has been the Classic. They have been upfront about that from Day 1.

Bottom line: Horse of the Year championships in this day and age are decided in the Breeders' Cup Classic. Having the race on a synthetic surface is not ideal for everyone, especially since Santa Anita's will be brand new, but it is what it is. It would be the first race on the surface for both horses, so neither would have an advantage. Synthetics are here to stay and Jackson needs to realize this and embrace it.

Somehow, the word "synthetic" has become a four-letter word to many. I realize it makes handicapping more challenging and last year's slow-playing Del Mar surface turned off some. Constantly hearing the gripes of some of the top trainers who don't care for it hasn't helped either. But the reason it was created in the first place is because it is safer for horses, and early research has shown that it does reduce catastrophic injuries. I'm tired of all the complaining about synthetics. Deal with it. It's not going away.

Curlin won last year's Classic in the muddy soup at Monmouth. I'd like to ask Jackson if he thinks that surface was any safer for his horse than Santa Anita's Pro-Ride will be. The George Washington tragedy was a pretty good indication that it wasn't.

The reality is, they are spending millions to redo Santa Anita's ailing surface and will have plenty of time to test the track at the beginning of the meet. Does anyone really believe they would risk having racing's biggest day on a track that is not safe for horses? Not a chance.

If Jackson plans it right, Curlin will have plenty of time to train over the new surface. All the horses will, including Henrythenavigator, who some label as the world's best horse and is being pointed towards the Classic. Aidan O'Brien, the world's best trainer, doesn't seem bothered by the surface.

I don't criticize Jackson for trying to put the Curlin-Big Brown match-up together in New York. I genuinely believe he would like to be able to share it with the fans. He seems like a good sportsman, has the best interest of the industry at heart and is in touch with what people want. On the flip side, he needs to realize that the Breeders' Cup is the international showcase. It is racing's biggest stage and has been for a quarter of a century. It is the most logical place for the two stars to meet.

The surface will be safe. Get over your aversion to synthetics and show up in California. Everyone wants to see it.

Division Leaders

jshandler — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:26:00 GMT

We're now a little more than five weeks into the Breeders' Cup season and the divisions are beginning to take shape. The continuing story thus far is how the male division seemingly gets more ordinary every day while the female division continues to get more exciting. Unless this Big Brown-Curlin thing actually happens, there is no doubt the Ladies Classic will be much more interesting come late October. I forget, what day is the Ladies Classic being run? Never mind.

Anyway, with about two more months of Breeders' Challenge events left to go, I thought it would be a good idea to take a look at a few of the divisions. Let's do our best to rank the top 3 American-based horses in each one. Here goes:

Classic

1. Curlin - You still have to give him the edge even though we have no idea if Jess Jackson will send him to Santa Anita.

2. Big Brown - Looking forward to seeing the spot they pick for him. Something tells me it will be the Pennsylvania Derby.

3. Commentator - He ran the year's top Beyer (119) so you have to respect him. Looks like he'll go to the Mass Cap next month and point towards the Classic. But can he get 1 1/4 miles?

Don't forget about: Henrythenavigator - He's won four consecutive group I races and some say he is the best horse in the world. Aidan O'Brian says he will point towards this race, which should spice things up.

Ladies Classic

1. Ginger Punch - She's the champ. Until someone proves otherwise, I'm ranking her above Zenyatta.

2 . Zenyatta - Undefeated and getting better. Has a huge advantage because of the synthetics.

3. Music Note - Looking forward to this weekend's Alabama. She might be the best of them all.

Don't forget about: Hystericalady. She lost by a nose in the '07 Distaff and is even better this year.

Tough for me to leave out Proud Spell and Little Belle, but what can you do?

Turf

1. Red Rocks - Won the best U.S. turf race this year.

2. Gio Ponti - Hasn't faced grade I company yet, but a star in the making.

3. Einstein - Had a poor start in the Million, but the loss was more than just that.

Don't forget about: Any European. The Americans will have their hands full against all of them. All three that took money in Arlington Million might be back for BC.

Filly & Mare Turf

1. Mauralakana - Gotta love her. She just knows how to get it done.

2. Forever Together - Diana was no fluke.

3. Black Mamba - Not BC nominated, but owners will probably fork over the cash.

Don't forget about: J'ray: She narrowly lost to Mauralakana twice.

Sprint

1. Benny the Bull: All he does is win. The way he powers down the stretch is breathtaking.

2. J Be K - Has never lost at less than a mile.

3. Street Boss - That's five in a row for the synthetic specialist.

Don't forget about: Kodiak Kowboy: Highly-touted as a 2-year-old, he might be coming into his own.

Mile

1. Kip Deville: Pure miler is lightly-raced this year, but will be primed and ready for Santa Anita.

2. Daytona -Tired in American Handicap. A mile might be his best distance.

3. Monzante - Just beginning to hit his best stride.

Don't forget about: Red Giant: Very impressive off a 10-month layoff. Not sure what his best distance is, but Pletcher will figure it out.

More division rankings to come later...

Curlin vs. Big Brown in BC Turf May Be the Only Way They Meet

jshandler — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 01:01:00 GMT

Curlin vs. Big Brown: Every racing fan in the nation wants to see it. It's a match-up that would be great for the sport and would give the industry a huge shot in the arm.

The only problem is, with every passing day the chances of it happening seem to grow slimmer.

From where I sit, the only realistic way it happens is Oct. 25 in the Breeders' Cup Turf. That's right, the Turf, not the Classic.

Based on the comments of Jess Jackson and Mike Iavarone over the past two days, here's what we know:

Curlin will go in the Woodward on Aug. 30. Most of us are in agreement that this is a logical place for Big Brown to meet Curlin, as it gives him four weeks rest and it's at Saratoga, the best meet in the world. The only problem is, Iavarone said he is looking for a turf race for Big Brown, some time in mid-September. I have yet to hear his reasoning for this, but can only assume it is to prep him for a run on the synthetic at Santa Anita and possibly to ease his troubled feet.

If Big Brown goes in a turf race in mid-September that takes out the possibility of the two meeting in Curlin's next tilt, which based on Jackson's comments today, could be the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 27. He also gave a few other possibilities, including the Sept. 20 Mass Cap, but either way, he won't be meeting Big Brown in September. The timing just isn't right.

If you heard Jackson speak today, which I did, you will know that the possibility of him running Curlin on the synthetic Pro-Ride at Santa Anita is very slim. Here is a little bit of what he said:

"I'd like to go (to the Classic). I'm a native Californian. But it's on an untested surface. It causes great concern. Why run a horse like Curlin that is on a surface that's undefined? We've won the Classic - been there, done that. (If we did go), I would love to have a prep race on the exact surface, but it doesn't appear we will be able to. We would probably only be able to exercise on it a few times."

He is scared to death to race Curlin on that surface. He made that very clear in his lengthy media conference. Could he have a change of heart? Sure, anything is possible. But don't count on it.

Where does all this leave us? The only logical place is the Breeders Cup Turf. For it to happen, Big Brown will need to win his mid-September race and look good doing it. That would give Iavarone all the confidence he needs to stick Big Brown in the BC Turf, for what would be his final race. It would also be more acceptable to Jackson, who was clear today when he said Curlin could very easily go back to racing on turf, despite his losing effort in the Man o' War.

It would also be very attractive to both because of the historical ramifications. Can you imagine if the Derby and Preakness winner won his his final career race in the BC Turf and beat the reigning Horse of the Year doing it?Or, if the 2007 BC Classic winner ended his career by winning the 2008 BC Turf, defeating the probable 3-year-old champion doing it? Both would be unprecidented and amazing accomplishments.

Other than Iavarone having a change of heart and deciding to run Big Brown in the Woodward, I can see no other way that these two meet. And if that is the case, I think I speak for all of us when I say, what a shame that would be.