Breeders Cup Chat : Point Given

Zensational is a 'Beast'... and Getting Better

jshandler — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:43:00 GMT

As many of you know, there aren't many horses in training that I like more than Fabulous Strike. The gutsy 6-year-old will try for his second Vosburgh win next week and then a decision will be made whether to send him back to California for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he finished fifth a year ago.

Until very recently, I thought Fabulous Strike was the best sprinter in the country. Not anymore. Zensational, or the "Beast" as Bob Baffert affectionately calls him, is a far and away No. 1. And he is only getting better.

How good is he? In a recent TVG interview, I heard Baffert say that the best three horses he's ever trained were, in no particular order, Point Given, Midnight Lute...and Zensational. I did a double take when I heard that. And this was before he won the Pat O'Brien.

As deep as the sprint division is this year, the BC Sprint might be the easiest Pick 6 single of the championships. Yes, I know we are still more than six weeks away, but Zensational looks unbeatable.

So far we know that Kodiak Kowboy and Vineyard Haven probably won't go, and the status of Munnings, Benny the Bull, Capt. Candyman Can, and of course, Fabulous Strike, are still in doubt. But I don't think it matters who shows up. This horse is so fast, and so deadly on synthetics, that they are all probably running for second.

I decided to call Baffert and ask him just how special this 3-year-old son of Unbridled's Song really is. After the interview, I came away thinking he is even better than I originally thought. Scary. You'll think so too after you read Baffert's comments.

JS: What is the plan for Zenzational leading up to the Breeders' Cup?

BB: I'll just work him up to the race. He's athletic and strong; very easy to get ready. He hasn't worked since the Pat O'Brien, so I'm going to work him tomorrow morning (Sept. 23). I have him here (at Santa Anita) now. I have to get him used to this surface.

JS: He won at Santa Anita last year so we know he likes the surface. But how much different is it than Del Mar and Hollywood (where he won his grade I races)?

BB: It's very different. They are all different. And we won't know how it is until the meet starts. It's tricky. When it's cool, it's a lot better. When it's hot, it gets like cake. It rises. We'll have to figure it out.

JS: When did you know how special Zensational was?

BB: We knew he was fast right away, but he wasn't mentally mature at first. When I ran him long (a mile March 27 at Santa Anita in an optional claimer), it was a disaster. He didn't know what was going on and still hung on for second.

He came back in that Friday night race (May 29 at Hollywood) and had every reason not to win. We hauled him over the day of the race; then it was bad atmosphere in the paddock. There was a speed horse in the race that just cooked him. He ran a :21 and then like a :43 half. It was crazy. Zensational had to move early at the three-eighths pole. He got the lead in like three jumps but it looked like there were a bunch of horses that were going to go by him like they always do on these tracks. But then Victor (Espinoza) hit him and he re-broke. We all just went ‘wow.' And he wasn't even tired after the race. Anyone who watched that race that day was amazed. That's when I nicknamed him the ‘Beast.'

JS: I saw that TVG interview when you said he was one of the top three horses you've ever trained. That took me by surprise.

BB: Well, what I meant by that is pure, raw talent. I have my top 5 in regards to that kind of Rachel Alexandra talent when they do things that just make you say ‘wow.' They are Midnight Lute, Silverbulletday, Indian Blessing, Point Given, and Zensational (in no particular order).

This horse is good and he is getting better. His sire was that way, but not like this. I think this might have been the perfect genetic mix. He's strong and big-boned. He's special. And he's just three.

He's fast, but he's a different kind of fast. I once saw where someone said a cheetah is the only animal that can go from zero to forty in two jumps. I think that's wrong now. This horse can do that.

The thing is, I told Victor not to ask him yet. I told him to wait until the Breeders' Cup. Hopefully then we'll see how good he really is.

JS: Wow. And I guess the fact that he is running at Santa Anita gives him even more of an edge in the Breeders' Cup?

BB: Honestly, I think he's at a disadvantage on synthetics. I think he'll be better on dirt. On synthetics it's hard to separate from other horses.

JS: That's saying a lot. Will you run him on dirt or at a longer distance next year?

BB: I'm not sure yet. We have time for that. I'm just trying to get him ready for the Breeders' Cup now. I don't want to jinx myself. I always get nervous when I run this horse because he is so good and I know he is going to win if nothing (bad) happens. I always wonder, is this going to be the day when he doesn't do what I know he can do?

JS: Zensational started out with Bill Mott. How was it that he came into your barn?

BB: I forget exactly what happened. He made his debut at Saratoga (for Mott) and something happened. Everyone knew about him at Saratoga. He was working like a monster. But I'm not sure what happened (when he ran fourth). He might have come out of the race with shins so they sent him back to the farm and turned him out the rest of the year. Mr. Zayat sent him to me (this year) and it turned out to be an awesome pick up.

He's changed so much in the last 60 days. I'm just trying to keep him happy and we'll keep our fingers for the Breeders' Cup. If all goes well, we'll find out how good he really is.

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

Win or Lose, Curlin is a Rock Star

jshandler — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:25:00 GMT

I wasn't at Belmont Park on Saturday to witness Curlin's turf debut, but I sure wish I was. Based on my conversations with friends who were, it was a very special atmosphere - one that doesn't come around too often this day and age.

The 2007 Horse of the Year was applauded by adoring fans in the paddock, when he came onto the track, throughout the Man o' War and even after he came up short to Red Rocks. Not that I wasn't aware of this before yesterday, but he truly is a beloved figure across the country. I first realized that when he was brought out for fans at this year's Kentucky Derby and given a standing ovation. It was a great moment.

Curlin is racing's version of a rock star. And we haven't had one of those for a while - at least one who raced beyond the age of three.

The fact that Curlin did not win in his first test on turf didn't matter all that much. Sure it was disappointing to fans, but the important thing was that we got to see him run, and he generated excitement. How much do we need this after the year we've had?

I've been preaching this for a while, just as many of you have been too, but the single biggest problem we have in racing right now is that we don't get to see our superstars run as older horses. I am confident that new medication rules will be in place soon and we will figure out how to keep our horses safer. That part of racing is headed in the right direction. What I don't think we'll have an answer for any time soon is how to solve the dilemma of retiring our superstars after their 3-year-old season. It is absolutely killing our sport.

Point Given, War Emblem, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex, Bernardini, Street Sense, Hard Spun, and pretty soon, Big Brown. Just off the top of my head, these are horses that the public would have flocked to the track to see as older horses, but were, or will be retired, after their 3-year-old season. Of course, this list does not count Barbaro and Rags to Riches, whose injuries robbed all of us of what was sure to be more greatness.

Don't get me wrong: There are plenty of older horses who are doing great things this year. This past weekend alone got see 5-year-olds Benny the Bull and Kip Deville win big races. Both of them are very fun to watch and seem to be getting better with age. Later today we get to see exciting mares Hystericalady and Unbridled Belle square off in the Delaware Handicap. In fact, there are a lot of older horses - especially those that race on the turf - that generate excitement around the country.

But in America we love our Classic horses. They are the ones that captivate us. The ones that we give standing ovations to in the paddock. That actually get air time on Sportscenter when they race. We need them.

The question is, how can we get more of them to race as older horses? The solution remains unclear. As a writer, I'm not about to criticize an owner for retiring a horse when they are being offered $40-50 million. How can you walk away from that kind of money?

One suggestion which has been bandied about is for racing to pass a rule that says no horse can be bred until age 5. It will solve the racing problem and also help to strengthen horses from a breeding aspect, which has also come under fire recently. On paper, it sounds great. Realistically, it has little chance of happening. We would need a unified governing body to even start thinking about it. Let's not go down that road...

So until then, we're just going to have to enjoy Curlin for the rest of his career, which will most likely be only three or four more races. From a selfish standpoint, I hope they move him back to the dirt so we can all see his last race here, not in Japan or France. After all, it might be a long time before we see another rock star.