Breeders Cup Chat : Jason Shandler

Live Blog - Friday, October 30th at NOON

Blood-Horse Staff — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:55:00 GMT

Live Blog - Friday, October 23rd at NOON

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A Thank You and Simple Wishlist For 2009

jshandler — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:05:00 GMT

As 2008 drifts off into the sunset, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has read and/or commented on Breeders' Cup Chat. We had some lively debates, and even though 2008 wasn't the best of years for horse racing, I think we did a pretty good job of keeping it fun. I appreciated everyone's input, even when we disagreed. Thanks for making this blog so interesting and successful.

This will be my final Breeders' Cup Chat post until next summer, as the blog will switch over to Triple Crown Talk beginning next week. I look forward to chatting with everyone about the next crop of 3-year-old superstars. We already know who some of the early Derby favorites are, but let's all keep an eye out for the late-bloomers. Remember, Big Brown didn't burst onto the scene until March.

For my final post of the year, I'd like to offer a simple New Year's wishlist. Not that any of these three things will happen, but in a perfect world, we would see changes in 2009. Feel free to post your own wishlist.

See everyone on Triple Crown Talk!

3. Stricter penalties for medication violations - Enough is enough. A big reason for the decline in the popularity of horse racing is that people have little or no confidence in the integrity of the sport. When the trainers of the world's most popular horses continually get popped for drug violations - and keep getting a slap on the wrist - it sends a clear message: The public has no reason to trust horse racing. And if that continues, the sport will keep declining.

Let's finally put in place tough drug policies, much like other nations have had for years: First violation - one year suspension; second violation - five years; third violation - lifetime ban. That would solve the lying and cheating real quick. More realistically, I hope at the very least a rule is put into place that says a trainer cannot transfer horses to his/her assistant during the time they are serving their suspension. It's a laughable way of avoiding the penalty. Under my rules, if you are serving a suspension, either the horse is permanently transferred to another barn or they are not allowed to run during the infraction period. It's that simple.

Steroids nearly ruined baseball. Illegal drugs (not just steroids) will ruin horse racing if stricter penalties are not enforced.

2. Address the problem of unwanted horses - I wrote about this in an earlier post, but if this epidemic is not tackled the problem will keep getting worse, and thousands of horses will continue to suffer.

The slaughter issue in this country is a mess right now and likely will not be solved at a Congressional level any time soon. The Thoroughbred industry is not solely responsible for the unwanted horse issue (see the Quarter Horse industry), but one thing we can do is make owners and breeders more accountable. A system must be put in place to make owners and breeders financially responsible for their horses.

I don't claim to have all the answers, but it makes sense that if a person takes on the responsibility of breeding or owning a horse, they should be held responsible for its welfare, both during and after racing - especially since it is those very animals that are putting bread on the table. Something needs to be done. Now. There aren't nearly enough rescue facilities to solve the problem.

3. Name a commissioner - Neither No. 1 or No. 2 on the list above, or anything else for that matter, can get accomplished without putting a person or group in charge of horse racing. I know it's easier said than done, but we need a governing body to enforce rules. Otherwise, the cheating, unwanted horse issue, and other current problems will get worse. The Safety and Integrity Alliance developed in October was a good first step, but it was only a band-aid. Tough rules need to be put into place, and without a commissioner they won't get done. It's time for someone to step forward. The "league" must have control over the sport, not the states.

Q&A With Commentator Owner Tracy Farmer

jshandler — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:03:00 GMT

In the past few days we've learned Curlin will not be running in the Clark Handicap, one of the last big races of the year. Despite Curlin's absence, the Clark will still have plenty of star appeal, thanks to amazing 7-year-old gelding Commentator, who has become one of the big fan favorites after winning his second straight Whitney this summer.

A week before the race, I decided to catch up with Commentator's owner, Tracy Farmer, one of the real good guys in the industry. Farmer, who also campaigned Sun King and Albert the Great, among other notables, is a board member of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association and The Jockey Club, and has donated much of his time and money to promote the industry. In 2006, Farmer was awarded the W.T. Young Humanitarian Award. Farmer's 135-acre Shadowland Farm is in Midway, Kentucky.

JS: Commentator enters the Clark in great form. I'm assuming you're expecting a big race from him?

TF: He loves it here at Churchill. He's from New York so he doesn't mind the cold weather at all. He had a nice bullet work here the other day, so he's all ready.

JS: How much would it mean to you to win the Clark?

TF: It would mean a great deal, being from Kentucky and all. I've never won it and it's a prestigious race. But it's going to be a tough race. There are some really good horses that are going to show up. Once you get into these grade I or II races they're all tough.

JS: Was it disappointing for you to hear that Curlin would not be showing up in the Clark?

TF: Yes it was. It would have been great for the fans to see. But I understand. They have to do what's best for Curlin. He's had a brilliant career and I have nothing but admiration for him.

JS: Before this year many thought Commentator was best as a sprinter or even a miler. I guess he's proven people wrong?

TF: We used to think that too (laugh). But he's learned how to rate and he likes it. He just doesn't slow down, even at nine furlongs. When you open the Racing Form and see that he has the best Beyer this year under and over a mile, that tells you all you need to know about him. He's very special.

JS: He seems to be in better form as a 7-year-old as he's been in his whole career. How do you explain that?

TF: I really don't know to be honest with you. He does seem to get better the older he gets. Nick Zito does a great job of taking care of him and we don't race him too often. I'm sure that helps. It's pretty unbelievable.

JS: You made the decision not to run Commentator in the Breeders' Cup. Was it more about him not being ready or the fact that the race was on a synthetic surface.

TF: Winning a Breeders' Cup has always been a goal of mine, so it was a little disappointing. But Nick thinks dirt horses are bred for dirt, and he's said it before that he thinks synthetics are the same as turf. It was up to him. I'm the owner and I had the final decision but it would have to be an extreme situation for me to override the trainer. Hopefully I can get back there one day.

JS: Assuming he is sound, are you planning on running Commentator next year?

TF: Oh yeah, that's the plan. I hope and pray that he is healthy. Our main goal is to win the Whitney for a third time. That would be something special. But we'll take it one race at a time and let him tell us how he's doing.

JS: Where will he go after the Clark?

TF: He'll go to Palm Meadows in Florida. That's been his routine for a while now. He's knows the routine better than we do. Last year he set the track record in the Richter Scale, so we'd like to shoot for running him down there sometime in March or April.

JS: Where will Commentator go after he retires?

TF: He'll go to my farm so I can look at him every day. He's such a lovely horse. Carol and I have so many special memories with him. He's wonderful.

JS: Commentator has become a big fan favorite over the last couple years. Why do you think that is?

TF: I think the fans have gotten to know him and become attached. And they like winning money on him (laugh). When he's at Saratoga he has such a following. He gets a big crowd at each one of his workouts. It's really nice to see that. I hope we get to run him until he's 10. I'd like to see him become the oldest horse to ever win a graded stakes race.

JS: What's his personality like?

TF: He's not a mean horse, but he's got a bit of an attitude. He nips at Nick all the time. I'm too smart to let him get me (laughs). He's good and he knows it. When he's in the paddock he's all business. And when he loses, he gets really upset. He's a smart horse.

Sprint Championship Could Be a Bunch of Bull

jshandler — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:41:00 GMT

As we have seen during our heated debates regarding Horse of the Year and 3-year-old filly champion, the Eclipse Awards voting certainly brings out some strong opinions in all of us. On this blog especially, people voice their opinions loud and clear, and without much consensus. It's the same way in the Blood-Horse office, as even us writers have vastly differing outlooks on many of the upcoming awards.

Take the Sprint championship for example. To me, there is only one deserving winner of this award: Benny the Bull. The 5-year-old was spectacular is all four of his races this season, including the Dubai Golden Shaheen in which he beat a deep field of world-class sprinters. Although his season and career were ultimately cut short due to injury and he was forced to miss the Breeders' Cup, I strongly believe his four stakes wins (three of them graded) were more than enough to earn the award.

To my surprise, when discussing this division with my co-workers Lenny Shulman and Evan Hammonds, they had vastly different opinions. The conversation went something like this:

JS: At least, we can all agree that Benny wins the sprint championship, right?

LS: No way. It has to go to Midnight Lute. Did you not see the Breeders' Cup? He ran six furlongs in 1:07!

JS: Yeah, but he only raced twice this year and only won once!

LS: It doesn't matter. He is the defending champion and somebody had to knock him off in the Breeders' Cup to take it away.

JS: Evan, please be the voice of reason here. Tell him Benny wins it. You can't give a horse an award based on ONE win!

EH: What about Ventura? She deserves strong consideration too. She won three graded stakes this year, including the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, and she beat Kip Deville and all but one of the boys in the Woodbine Mile.

JS: C'mon guys. Look at the entire body of work for the year, not just the last couple months. Benny won three graded stakes and probably beat the deepest sprint field this year.

LS: Midnight Lute, hands down. He's been the best for the last two years. You can't take it away from him. His Breeders' Cup was phenomenal.

EH: I don't know who I'm voting for yet, but I will bet you anything Lenny is right; Midnight Lute will win. I've seen too many of these. That's the way the voters will go.

JS: You guys are nuts. Did you watch the Dubai race, the Tru North or the Smile Sprint? He was absolutely spectacular with that closing kick! Why does the first half of the year always seem to get forgotten about in these awards? It's like all anyone cares about is the Breeders' Cup and the rest of the year doesn't matter.

LS: You've got a lot to learn kid.

JS: You guys are getting so old that you're losing your minds...

As you can see, us bloggers are not the only ones who argue about these awards. It happens everywhere. And, as always, we never settle anything.

So, what do you say? Benny, Lute or Ventura?

Who Will Be the 3-Year-Old Filly Champion?

jshandler — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 19:28:00 GMT

Although we all have different opinions on it, I think we can all agree that we've beaten Horse of the Year debate to death. Let's move on to another topic; one that that I'm sure we also won't all agree on, but is an interesting debate nonetheless: 3-year-old female of the year.

This should be one of the closest Eclipse Award votes of the year, as both Proud Spell and Music Note have had terrific campaigns. Before I tell you which way I'm leaning, let's present each filly's résumé.

Proud Spell

*4-2-2 from eight starts, and really, her disqualification from second to third in the Mother Goose was a bad call, so in my book she should have three runner-ups.

*Won a pair of grade I events (Kentucky Oaks and Alabama) and a pair of grade II's (Fair Ground Oaks and Delaware Oaks).

*Earned $1.5 million this season

*Defeated Music Note in Alabama

Music Note

*4-1-1 from six starts

* Won three grade I races (Mother Goose, Coaching Club American Oaks and Gazelle). Her fourth win was in allowance company.

*Earned $833,000 this season

*Defeated Proud Spell in Mother Goose

* Third in Ladies Classic

It's easy to see that both had outstanding seasons. You can certainly make a case for either filly. But in my opinion, Proud Spell has the edge. Why?

First of all, Proud Spell had a tougher year. Even though Music Note has the extra grade I victory, Proud Spell tested graded stakes company all eight starts and never finished off the board. She had a more physically demanding campaign that began in February and lasted until September. That's eight grades stakes races in eight months. Pretty impressive. Music Note didn't even make her first graded stakes appearance until after Proud Spell won the Kentucky Oaks.

Proud Spell also knocked off Indian Blessing, who was undefeated at the time. That Fair Grounds Oaks victory is not to be taken lightly. Indian Blessing is probably the toughest horse that either Proud Spell or Music Note defeated all year. It was a very significant win, despite only being a grade II.

Although I'm not a believer that earnings should determine a champion, Proud Spell nearly doubled Music Note's earnings. In and of itself it's not a deciding factor, but just another way to make a case for Proud Spell.

Finally, Proud Spell won the Kentucky Oaks - the biggest race of the year for 3-year-old fillies. Just like the winner of the Derby has the edge in the boys' division, the Oaks is the tiebreaker for females.

Had Music Note won the Ladies Classic I don't think there's any doubt she would have been the champion. Had she finished second to Zenyatta, I would have has to think even harder about this vote. Fact is, she finished third and that is not good enough to jump ahead of Proud Spell.

In my opinion, when Proud Spell defeated Music Note by a head in the Alabama, she clinched her championship. What do you think?

My New Friend Big Brown

jshandler — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:44:00 GMT

For anyone that has read this blog or Triple Crown Talk, there is no secret that I have never been the leader of the Big Brown bandwagon. I've always appreciated his excellence during the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but I had difficulty separating the human connections from the horse. Fair or not, that's just the way I am.

Despite not being a fan, I showed up at Three Chimneys on Wednesday for the breeders and media event which was designed to welcome the dual-classic winner to the Midway, Ky. farm, where he will begin his life as a stallion in the near future. And I have to admit, I came away from the event with a newfound liking for Big Brown.

As I always do when I visit Three Chimneys, the first thing I do is walk into the stallion barn and make an immediate left towards my favorite horse - Point Given. I must have missed the news that the 2001 Horse of the Year is performing his stallion duties in Brazil for a while, so imagine my surprise when I looked over and saw Big Brown in the stall normally occupied by Point Given.

After being informed by a co-worker about Point Given's vacation, I walked over to Big Brown. Not only is he a spectacular looking horse, but he has a very likable personality. He was active, made eye contact with me and just exuded the look of a winner. He was impressive. Then he walked right up to me, so naturally, we started talking.

After telling him what a terrific racehorse he was and apologizing in advance for not voting for him for Horse of the Year, I asked him the one question every racing fan wants to know:

"What happened in the Belmont?"

Apparently, I either annoyed him or overstepped my bounds, because it was at that point that Big Brown abruptly turned around, walked away and showed me his rear-end. I was not offended. I completely understood him not being ready to talk about it yet. It's still too soon.

Despite the way that our conversation ended, I came away with a brand new liking for Big Brown. It also helped that Three Chimneys has always been my favorite farm, has my favorite employees working there, and has my favorite crop of stallions. They put on a very classy event for the Big Brown welcoming, complete with a catered lunch, live band and a "Re-usable Brown Bag" tote which included some very nice gifts. It was a fun day.

So in closing, here's to my new friend, Big Brown. You will still never be my favorite, and I would appreciate it if you kindly give Point Given's stall back to him when he returns, but all in all, you're not so bad. I'm sure you'll have fun in your new career.

And who knows, maybe the next time I come back you'll be ready to talk about the Belmont.

Photo: Anne Eberhardt

Q&A With Zenyatta Trainer John Shirreffs

jshandler — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:16:00 GMT

Now that the dust has settled on Zenyatta's marvelous Breeders' Cup win, I thought it would be a good time to catch up with her trainer, John Shirreffs, who is one of the nicer guys in racing. Admittedly, my motives were a bit self-serving, as I wanted to inquire about two of the hot-button topics surrounding Zenyatta: Her future and of course, the Horse of the Year debate.

If nothing else, at least we found out there is reason to hope Zenyatta will race as a 5-year-old.

JShan: It's been a little more than week since Zenyatta won the Ladies Classic, which also gave you your first Breeders' Cup victory. Has it all sunk in yet?

JShirr: It's been such a thrilling season with her and there was so much riding on the Breeders' Cup, not only for me but all the connections. There was an Eclipse Award hanging in the balance and just so much at stake on one race. When she finally won it was just one of those magical moments I will never forget. It was really such a thrill. You only have so many opportunities with horses like this. She has done so much for all of us.

JShan: Like you said, the Eclipse Award was hanging in the balance. Now that you locked up at least one of them, how does that feel?

JShirr: It's going to be so much fun getting that award. To be able to see her name on the Distaff Eclipse Award is going to be such a tremendous honor. It's going to be something I'll always treasure.

JShan: The debate has already begun as far as Horse of the Year honors. It seems it may come down to a two-horse race between Zenyatta and Curlin. Make your case for Zenyatta.

JShirr: Well, I think when you look at the quality of fillies she ran against and beat, she has to be considered. She had to step up every race, and she did. Running against who she did, she had to improve on a monthly basis to keep winning, and she did.

JShan: What do you say to people who think a filly should have to beat the boys to earn Horse of the Year?

JShirr: It's already been proven that you don't have to; look at Azeri. (Zenyatta) went undefeated against a very tough group of fillies this year and had to overcome a lot of adversity. Now, of course, she didn't have run against any Wanderin Boy's...

JShan: Also playing devil's advocate, what about the people who say she only raced outside of California once?

JShirr: The race she won at Oaklawn was a stellar field. I think every horse that came out of that race either won or placed in a stakes. Also, she shouldn't be penalized for racing in California. Remember, she was racing on surfaces she didn't even really like. She preferred dirt. But the Breeders' Cup was in California this year, so there was no reason to ship her anywhere else.

I think it's great to have a Horse of the Year debate. However it comes out, I'll be OK. We're going to be thrilled just getting the Distaff award.

JShan: The other thing people want to know is what the future holds for Zenyatta. Has anything been decided yet?

JShirr: We're going to take our time and do a lot of diagnostic work on her, head-to-toe. We'll give her a little break and then map out a plan.

JShand: Is there any chance she races again this year?

JShirr: No chance.

JShan: Even though you and the Mosses have not made a decision on her future yet, I get the feeling from the things I've been reading and hearing there is a better than 50-50 chance she will race as a 5-year-old?

JShirr: If we're leaning one way, I'd say it's towards running her. We'll announce that a little later.

JShan: Nobody could have predicted how great Zenyatta has been, but looking back to the beginning, how early did you know she had the potential to be something special?

JShirr: Very early on. When she was being broken in Ocala there were a lot of 2-year-olds there. They always told us she was the best one at the place.

JShan: And yet she only fetched $60,000 as a yearling?

JShirr: It was just perfect timing. Balance (her multiple graded stakes winning half-sister) hadn't appeared yet and there were no grade I winners. And it was Street Cry's first yearlings. We were very fortunate.

JShan: What was the biggest challenge in training Zenyatta?

JShirr: When you have a horse as talented as she is, it's just making sure we didn't make any mistakes. We didn't want to get in her way. We wanted to do what was best for her and take care of her the best way we knew how. Everything has been so magical.

Clark Would Be Perfect Way For Curlin to Go Out

jshandler — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Now that the Breeders' Cup is in our rearview mirror and it feels as though racing comes to a screeching halt for the rest of season, there is one topic that seems to be on everyone's mind: Horse of the Year.

Curlin vs. Zenyatta. Who will it be?

It's been less than a week since the Breeders' Cup ended and I've already been asked the same question countless times: Who are you going to vote for? Although my standard response has been, "I'm not sure yet," if I'm honest with myself I will admit that I'm leaning towards Zenyatta.

I'm not one of those traditionalists who feels a filly needs to beat the colts to earn Horse of the Year honors. I think what Zenyatta has done is enough to merit strong consideration for the award. Her undefeated season and scintillating Ladies Classic victory over a quality field makes her worthy of the honors.

I will not go into detailed reasons why either Curlin or Zenyatta deserve the award; my colleague Steve Haskin already did a very good job of summing that up. A strong case can be made for either; they were both sensational in 2008. I do respectfully disagree with Steve on the fact that Big Brown deserves to be in the mix. I thought his second half campaign was a bit of a joke, between bypassing Saratoga and having a glorified allowance race written for him. But I digress...

The one thing I will say for sure is this: Right now, I am leaning towards Zenyatta, but I can still be swayed. How? If Curlin runs in the Nov. 26 Clark Handicap and beats Commentator. In my mind, that would push Curlin over the top.

Don't get me wrong. I can see why Jess Jackson would not want to run Curlin in the Clark and I would not penalize him if he chose not to. It's already been a long campaign for him and I have no idea how Curlin came out of the Breeders' Cup. It could very well be that he needs more rest. Jackson did the commendable thing by bringing Curlin to California and he deserves a lot of credit already.

All that being admitted, if Curlin won the Clark it would be the perfect exclamation point. As great as he has been these last two years, I would have to think the Classic loss leaves a bit of a sour taste in Jackson's mouth. If that was indeed his final race, it can't be the way he wants his career to end. A victory in the Clark, on his home track, would be such a fitting way to go out. And to beat a quality horse like Commentator, who has run the highest speed numbers of any horse all year, would quiet anyone who said Curlin hasn't beaten much this year.

It's probably a longshot at this point, but a victory in the Clark would be enough to sway this voter.

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.

Saturday Picks, Part 1

jshandler — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:21:00 GMT

Marathon

Earlier in the week I was leaning towards Delightful Kiss, who enters in good form and has consecutive grade III wins over synthetic surfaces. His bullet work at Golden Gate Oct. 12 confirms the 4-year-old gelding is as good as he has ever been for Pete Anderson.

As the week has gone on, however, I am feeling the Euros more, especially Muhannak and Sixtees Icon. Muhannak has not only won four in a row, but has earned consecutive wins on the Polytrack in Europe. The Chester House gelding has been a consistent stakes winner, has won at a 1 1/2 miles and is 4-1-2 on synthetics in his career. Somehow, the Irish-bred is a nice 20-1 overlay. Sixtees Icon, the 2-1 morning-line favorite, has won three consecutive group stakes and four of six this season. The group I winner and former Arc entrant is the class of the field and deserves a lot of attention despite having never started on synthetic.

The Pick: Mile and a half dirt races are rare in the United States. Since this is the inaugural running of this event, I'm going to put most of my money on the aforementioned Euros, who have much more experience winning at this distance. I'll box Muhannak, Sixtees Icon and Delightful Kiss in an exacta, and on top, I'll take Sixtees Icon, who is much more accomplished than any of these. I should be able to get 2-1 or more on the 5-year-old.

Turf Sprint

This is as wide-open an event as there is all weekend. Get Funky being the 9-2 morning-line favorite is conformation of that. Mr. Nightlinger, the 6-1 second choice, could go off as the favorite when all is said and done. The Indian Charlie colt has won five in a row with consistent speed figures to go along with each victory. The 14 post should actually be a benefit since they will be coming out of the downhill shoot. He must be respected.

Idiot Proof is also worthy of consideration. Second to Midnight Lute in last year's dirt sprint, he will be making just the second turf start of his career. But he was beaten only a length by Get Funky and could improve off that. Gomez helps too.

True to Tradition, One Union and Fleeting Spirit, the only filly in the race, are also interesting. Fleeting Spirit, a 3-year-old, is a multiple group winner who might appreciate 6 1/2 furlongs for the first time in her career.

The Pick: Again, this is a tough race to handicap; a lot of variables and things to consider. Look for overlays. Earlier in the week I had Mr. Nightlinger in my top spot. Now, I'm leaning towards Idiot Proof and True to Tradition. I'll box those two in an exacta and use True to Tradition as my win bet. The Scott Lake trainee will be a big price despite being very consistent this season. He should be on or near the lead.

Dirt Mile

Well Armed is going to be a handful. His form, win over the Pro-Ride, and early speed all make him tough to beat. I'm not sure I'm going to try to do it. Right now, 3-1 is looking very appetizing for a horse who some felt would have had a good chance in the Classic. He's looked great all week.

The Pick: Albertus Maximus, Surf Cat and Lewis Michael are the most logical to take down the favorite. Albertus Maximus might have more upside than anyone here and could improve off the Goodwood, where he was less than two back of Well Armed. He's had nice works too. Let's go with a Well Armed/Albertus Maximus exacta box, with Well Armed getting the slight edge for the win bet if he holds at 3-1.

Mile

Some Breeders' Cup races it makes sense to look for prices and overlays. In this one, however, look no further than the three morning-line choices - Goldikova, Whatsthescript and Kip Deville. Between them you have an exceptionally talented filly who has won three consecutive group stakes, a California-based colt entering in great form, and the defending champ. I cannot see anyone else contending.

The Pick: Trying to separate the top three is challenging. Goldikova has run two good races against Arc winner Zarkava and has won five of seven at this distance. On paper, she is the one to beat. But Whatsthescript also has a lot in his favor - huge speed figure last out, 4-for-5 at the distance and 2-for-3 on Santa Anita grass. The John Sadler and Garrett Gomez connection doesn't hurt either, which is why I'm going to take Whatsthescript in a slight upset over Goldikova and Kip Deville.

Juvenile

With some of the better 2-year-olds not making it to the race, mostly everyone has a decent chance here. Todd Pletcher sends out the favorite, Munnings, but also has a second colt to consider - Silent Valor. Despite being 15-1 on the morning-line, Silent Valor has put up very comparable speed figures and his second test at routing could see an improvement. Edgar Prado getting the mount doesn't hurt either.

Others I took a long look at were Azul Leon, Square Eddie and Midshipman, but it is Bushranger who I have really started to like as the week has worn on. The son of Danetime was installed as the fourth choice despite winning consecutive group I's in Europe. He has the perfect stalking style and gets one of the world's premier riders. He reminds some of 2001 juvenile champion Johannesburg, who came into this race in similar fashion. The question marks? Routing for the first time and moving off the turf.

The Pick: Silent Valor and Bushranger are my top two. After leaning towards Silent Valor earlier in the week, I'll likely use Bushranger as my win bet, but will play both in an exacta. Azul Leon will be in my trifecta plays as a big longshot.

** My selections for the final four Saturday races, including the Classic, will follow tomorrow.

Breeders' Cup Picks - Friday Races

jshandler — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 23:49:00 GMT

With 14 races to get through in this year's Breeders' Cup there isn't much time for long introductions. There is a lot of information to sort through and it can get overwhelming. So let's get right into the Friday races.

Filly and Mare Sprint

Between Dearest Trickski, Dream Rush, Indyanne and Indian Blessing there is a ton of early pace in this wide-open contest. Each of those aforementioned speedsters could easily wire the field for seven furlongs, but this race may set up better for a stalker or filly coming off the pace.

Zaftig, if she finds the Pro-Ride to her liking, could be tough in here. She won her last two stakes by daylights, including the Acorn (gr. I) this summer. She does enter off a 4 1/2 month layoff, which is not ideal for my liking.

Intangaroo has won three grade I races this year but somehow she still doesn't get the same press as the others. All the early speed in here could set up perfectly for this dead closer, who has won three times on synthetics, twice at Santa Anita and three times at this distance.

Of course, Ventura also deserves much respect. She has been terrific all season and the cutback in distance should suit her just fine. She's also 2-for-3 on synthetics

The Pick: Any of six fillies here could win and it wouldn't surprise me. This is a race where horses who like synthetics should be at a huge advantage, which is the determining factor for me. I settled on Indyanne, Ventura and Intangaroo as my top three. I'll box all three of them in an exacta, but if I have to narrow it down to one as of now (Wednesday), I'll go with Intangaroo. She never gives a bad effort and might have the right running style in this race.

Juvenile Fillies Turf

I'm not going to spend a lot of time on this race, frankly, because it interests me less than any of others this weekend. There really aren't many standouts here, so look for a price.

The Pick: Both Saucey Evening and Sugar Mom are interesting here. Saucey Evening broke her maiden on the turf and has been in California since her victory in the Cal Cup Juvenile Fillies on the Santa Anita Pro-Ride. She gets Garrett Gomez and will be coming from off the pace. Graham Motion is a plus too. I also like Sugar Mom, a Wayne Catalano Arlington shipper who will be making her turf debut. She has won three straight though and at odds of 10-1 or more, she's worth a shot.

Juvenile Fillies

Any analysis of this race has to start with Stardom Bound, who looked absolutely sensational is winning both the Debutante and Oak Leaf. The huge moves she made in both races are just not seen very often from 2-year-old fillies. The fact that she won on the Pro-Ride at the same distance as this race makes her even more appealing. Quite frankly, I'm surprised she is only 2-1 on the morning line.

Who can beat Stardom Bound? Well, C.S. Silk's romp in the Arlington-Washington Lassie makes her a big factor and she will likely be the pace here. Sky Diva's Frizette victory was equally impressive and she has worked very well on the synthetics. Dream Empress, the Alcibiades winner, also has a nice score at this distance over the Polytrack. I know from talking to D. Wayne Lukas that he is confident on Be Smart, so she is worth a look at a big price. I can't see any others being serious factors.

The Pick: You guys know me by now, I'm not a chalk player. But in this case I can't pick against Stardom Bound. I've talked to trainer Chris Paasch and he says this filly hasn't even scratched the surface yet. She will be making her last start for Paasch before entering the Keeneland November sale (can't wait to see how much she fetches there), and her closing style should set her up perfect in here. Hopefully she is somewhere around 9-5, which in this case is plenty good enough for me.

Filly and Mare Turf

Wait a While was installed the lukewarm 3-1 favorite based on winning three of her last four, but there are plenty of ways to go here. Mauralakana has been terrific all season, Dynaforce was exceptional in the Flower Bowl and Forever Together has a pair of grade I scores in her last three. Throw in remarkably consistent Pure Clan, and European invaders Halfway to Heaven, Visit and Folk Opera, and you have the makings of a wide-open affair.

The Pick: I am a big Mauralakana fan, but I think the long campaign has worn her out a little and will pass. I also think Dynaforce is a small step below these. I'm going to take the hardest look at Forever Together, who has put up some big speed figures for red-hot Jonathan Sheppard. My biggest concern with her is handling the 10 furlongs, which she has never tried before. I think she will be fine with it. Folk Opera and Pure Clan, also at big prices, are appealing as well. Although I haven't made up my mind completely in this one, I lean towards those three. I also want to see the final price on Halfway to Heaven, who makes his U.S. debut for Aidan O'Brien. Anything over 5-1 would be appetizing.

Ladies Classic

Can Zenyatta make it 9-for-9? Out here, the overwhelming majority of the people I've run into think it's a foregone conclusion. There really isn't much reason to think the super filly can't get it done. She has accepted every challenge, including taking down Ginger Punch and Hystericalady. Her finishing kick is what separates her most of the time.

All that being acknowledged, she is not a sure thing in my book. The horses who can beat her? Well, my choice is Godolphin's Cocoa Beach, who is no slouch herself. The daughter of Doneraile Court has is 8-1-1 lifetime and has won three of four starts at this distance. Talking with my buddy John Pricci at Equiform, he says her speed numbers from Dubai are comparable to some of Zenyatta's best and her work over the Pro-Ride was excellent, maybe the most impressive all week. I think this filly is really coming into her own right now and she might be primed for a big upset.

The Pick: Zenyatta is a must use in all exotics and pick 4's without a doubt. But from a win bet standpoint, I won't use her at that price. I am going to place my win bet on Cocoa Beach and also play exactas with those two, Carriage Trail and Hystericalady.

Who does everyone else like? I'll be back on Thursday and Friday with the Saturday races. Good luck!!

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

Q&A With Stardom Bound Trainer Chris Paasch

jshandler — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:55:00 GMT

One of the great things about the Breeders' Cup is the feel-good stories surrounding the connections of the horses. As with all sports, these compelling stories are what draw us in. They make us root for our favorite athletes.

Although Stardom Bound will certainly not be an underdog in the Juvenile Fillies - more likely, she'll be the favorite - the story around her connections will have many people rooting for the daughter of Tapit when she goes to post Oct. 24.

Stardom Bound was picked out of the OBS 2-year-old select sale this March by trainer Chris Paasch for $375,000. Paasch, a second-generation horseman who has been training since 1980, bought the good-looking filly for owner Charles Cono, a retired California real estate magnate. Since then, Stardom Bound has won the Del Mar Debutante and Oak Leaf Stakes, both grade I events, in eye-popping fashion. With a devastating late kick, the gray filly displayed two of the most impressive moves you will ever see by a 2-year-old. She is a certified superstar. Has there ever been a more aptly-named horse?

What makes Stardom Bound's story compelling are Paasch and Cono, who have both battled illness and will be dissolving their racing partnership before the end of year.

In the mid-1990s, Paasch was diagnosed with a rare, leukemia-like illness and was forced to take a leave of absence from training. Although he resumed training earlier this decade, Paasch did so on a limited basis. He only trains horses for Cono and has less than 20 in training. Paasch lives in California and keeps his horses at Hollywood Park.

Cono, who is 85-years old and in failing health, has said he will sell all of his horses by the end of the year, including Stardom Bound, who will be offered at the Fasig-Tipton November select breeding stock sale. One can only imagine how much she will command on the open market.

Paasch and Cono have never won a Breeders' Cup. For both of them it would be a dream come true - and a storybook ending if Stardom Bound can capture the Juvenile Fillies. With less than three weeks until the big day, I caught up with Paasch for a short Q&A.

JS: When you first saw Stardom Bound at the 2-year-old sale, what attracted you to her?

CP: I buy most of my horses from 2-year-old sales. I've never been one to buy solely on pedigree, so I guess it was the way she moved on the track that I liked.

JS: Did you know right away that she was special?

CP: We pretty much knew from the start. I let all my horses cool out after the sale, but once we got her with the other horses we could see what we had. It's always easy to spot class.

JS: You entered her in the Debutante even though she was still a maiden. Did you have any doubts she could compete at that level?

CP: I think anyone who watched her maiden race could see she should have won. And in the Sorrento (where she finished second), she kind of broke in the air and scraped the gate coming out. But after the way she finished I knew right then. I was still a little apprehensive about putting her in the Debutante, but my wife Bonnie told me to trust my instincts and go for it.

JS: The Debutante was impressive, but it was the Oak Leaf that really got everyone talking about Stardom Bound. Did she surprise you with what she did?

CP: As good as she was in the Debutante, she didn't change leads. She was still green. So we spent the next few weeks working with her on changing leads and helping her learn to pay attention to the rider. We were real patient with her. Even though the final work before the Oak Leaf wasn't what many thought it should be, she really sparkled. I knew she was going to run big.

I've watched a lot of 2-year-olds, and what really amazed me about the Oak Leaf is the way she finished. Most 2-year-olds lose interest when they are taken five- or six-wide. She kept getting stronger.

JS: Have you ever seen a turn of foot like that from a 2-year-old filly?

CP: When (jockey) Mike Smith got off her after the Oak Leaf, he said, "Chris, I haven't even asked her yet." She still hasn't shown her best, I think. Mike never drew the whip to her. If you look at the replays, he just gives her a slap on the shoulder to change leads and she takes off.

JS: I saw a quote where Smith called Stardom Bound his "Baby Zenyatta." Did he come up with that?

CP: I nicknamed her that after the Debutante. I call her ZJ now, Zenyatta Junior. I mean no disrespect to Mr. (John) Shirreffs (trainer) or Mr. (Jerome) Moss (owner) with that. She has a long way to go before she gets to Zenyatta's level. We can only hope she does.

JS: How will you train her up to the Breeders' Cup?

CP: We'll work her five-eighths Saturday (Oct. 11) and then again the following Saturday (Oct. 18), We're not going to be trying for any bullet works - maybe 1:01 or something like that. Then we'll let her gallop out three-quarters the week of. She's very fit already.

JS: How excited are you about the prospects of taking a favorite into the Breeders' Cup?

CP: It is very exciting. As you know, she will be sold at the Fasig-Tipton sale next month, so this will be our last race with her. Mr. Cono can't get to the races anymore and has decided to sell his stable. It was nice for him to be able to see her run in the Oak Leaf; it was his first time at the races in more than a year.

I'm going to retire after we sell off the horses and our breeding stock. I also have a couple 2-year-olds that we'll sell after they're done training.

JS: How is your health?

CP: I'm doing OK. I have some lingering problems.

JS: What are you going to do after you retire?

CP: We bought a property in Oregon and we'll spend a lot of time out there. But I'd like to stay in the business by working with a client who wants me to pick out horses for them at sales. That will keep me hands-on in the business I love.

JS: What would it mean to go out with a Breeders' Cup win?

CP: Words can't describe what it would mean to me and for Mr. Cono. I've had a filly run third in the Kentucky Oaks (Collect Call, 2001) and if you asked me to vote between winning the Kentucky Derby or Oaks, or a Breeders' Cup race, I'd say a Breeders' Cup race 99 percent of the time. For me, winning the Breeders' Cup has always been the bar I've set for myself.

Three Weeks and Counting

jshandler — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 16:29:00 GMT

We're coming into the home stretch...just three weeks until the Breeders' Cup. I don't know about any of you, but it looks to me like we're going to have some of the most competitive fields in recent memory. All of the races will be anticipated with great excitement, but I am especially looking forward to the Juvenile Fillies, Filly & Mare Turf, Ladies Classic, Sprint, Mile, Turf and of course, the Classic. We will breaking down all of the races in the coming weeks, so I'll look forward to your input.

In the meantime, there is still some pre-Breeders' Cup work to be done. Today is opening day at Keeneland and the atmosphere, as always, will be electric. The Saturday card, which boasts four graded races with purses of $500,000 or more is tremendous. Three of those races are "Win and You're In" events, so let's take a look at those.

By the way, this is the last full weekend of the Breeders' Cup Fantasy Challenge. We haven't talked a lot about the contest, but are any of you doing well? I was near the middle of the pack for most of the summer but I've been on fire the last two weeks and am actually sitting in 24^th place and only about $50 behind the leader. My handle is "Offhegoes." It would take a lot of luck this weekend, but I have an outside chance at this thing. If any of you have a "lock" in any of the 12 challenge races, let me know!!

Shadwell Turf Mile

This is a very competitive full field and a great betting race. Rahy's Attorney and Shakis will take a lot of money based on their last efforts, but I don't like either. Rahy's Attorney is making his first career start away from Woodbine and Shakis has done his best running in New York. War Monger could be a factor, and my co-worker Evan Hammonds likes Society's Chairman, who also ships from Canada and could be near the pace.

The early word from Keeneland is that the turf course is very dry and could play towards speed. That is one of the reasons I like Thorn Song, who should be on the front end under Robby Albarado. This late-blooming 5-year-old has been in good form all year. He ran well in the Maker's Mark Mile during the Keeneland Spring meet and lost to Kip Deville by only a length. He is 2-0-1 at a mile on the turf and was beaten only a length by Red Giant two starts back. Of course, Red Giant set a nine-furlong world record last weekend.

The other horse I like is European shipper Lord Admiral, who makes his first start in the U.S. since 2006. He won two group stakes in Dubai this year and has faced the world's best. He was third to Archipenko, and last out was competitive against New Approach in the Irish Champion. He has been on the board in 30 of 45 starts.

The Pick: I'm going to play an exacta with Thorn Song and Lord Admiral on top of each other and use them over longshots French Beret, Lovelace and Karelian.

Lane's End Breeders' Futurity

Another big field and wide-open race. I give Majestic Blue a decent chance here based on his impressive maiden win at Saratoga. Flashmans Papers has also been very competitive in group company in England, as has Square Eddie, who just missed by a head last out. They are two of three juveniles shipping in for trainer John Best. Notonthesamepage has the highest speed figure of anyone here and faced a tough field in the Hopeful.

Pioneerof the Nile broke his maiden going 1 1/16 miles on the Saratoga turf and now tries Poly for the first time. A son of Empire Maker, he could be closing hard. Advice draws the outside post, but might be able to overcome it. He broke his maiden by 8 lengths and then was caught in deep stretch in the Arlington-Washington Futurity, both on Poly.

The Pick: Tough race to bet. I'll play an exacta box with Advice, Pioneer of the Nile and Notonthesamepage. My win bet will be on Advice.

Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes

Indyanne will take most of the money here and rightfully so. She has been awesome in five starts and her only loss last out can be excused due to a poor break. She already has win over a synthetic surface too.

My buddies at Equiform like Wild Gams here. She is a classy 5-year-old mare who enters in good form. She won this event last year after a bold stretch run and a hot early pace could set her up for another win. She is 8-2-1 from 16 starts at six furlongs.

Don't forget about Sugar Swirl. She was third in the grade I Ballerina was impressive and she has won four of six this year, all graded stakes. The 5-year-old daughter of Touch Gold gets Bejarano, who was aboard last year in the TCA when she finished second to Wild Gams after falling far back.

Any Limit should provide an early speed challenge with Indyanne. She won by almost six lengths in the grade II Honorable Miss last out.

The Pick: Indyanne will be tough here, but she faces experienced older horses. I'll hope she gets caught up in a speed duel with Any Limit, which sets up Sugar Swirl for a big finish. You can't complain about anything Sugar Swirl has done this year. She fires every time. I'll take her to win and use her in exacta boxes with Wild Gams and Golden Doc A, who will be a price.

Also, in the Champagne, I like Cribnote. This colt is going to be something special.

Let me know who you like and good luck to everyone!