Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Carlos in Cali — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:59:16 GMT

I think this divisional award is tricky,the voter's perception will be key because there really wasn't a dominant sprinter.Sure,Zensational was top-cat in Cali @ 'true' sprint races but,he didn't face Dancing in Silks until the BCSprint where he faltered--big time.While DIS was on a roll when winning the BCSprint,does he deserve the honor for his 1 Gr.I victory all year?..then again he did show-up and win the deciding de facto sprinters race. Fabulous Strike lost 2 too many times to Kodiak Kowboy,IMO,to be considered.If he would've shown up & won then obviously he'd be a unanimous choice.So,by default he should not even be in the running.KK also was a no-show & 3 of his 4 stakes victories were @ 7f or beyond.Hardly a sprint champion's resume I'd say. So who do you crown when it's up in the air?.... I think 'THAT' is one the reason why we have the Breeders Cup Championships,to throw-down and decide w/out a doubt,who's best head-to-head.The old fashioned way! Why should they even run the BC races if so many outfits choose to skip them(for whatever reasons),and try to worm their way in through the back door.Settle it on the track.

Jason, are you down-in-the-dumps now that your boy,'Jurassic Haskins' didn't even mention your future Derby pick on his list? Sorry,I forgot that 'turf' horse's name. :) Peace out.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

LAZMANNICK — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 18:10:18 GMT

Here is something off topic. At the recently concluded Woodbine meet, which was on synthetics, there were 12 fatalities on dirt (2 more on turf), compared to 10 last year......Both meets were 167 days and participants averaged 9.1 per race this year and 9.0 last year. I don't know the average number of races per day run on dirt compared to those on turf, but I do know that if you spit on the turf up there they take the race off and also, the turf isn't used until late in May and wraps up about the end of October. That leads to a lot of synthetic races. From the looks of it, synthetics appear to be pretty safe, at least at Woodbine, with on track fatalites averaging just over one per month.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Householder — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:54:37 GMT

Thanks Jason. With 7 Grade 1 wins on dirt, turf, and synthetics, Lava Man could be one of the best Cal-Breds (Arterburn also bred him) ever, along with Best Pal and Tiznow. Maiden 12,500 at Stockton! He had a Beyer of 27.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Pam S. — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:29:32 GMT

For what it's worth, KK's connections did ship him to Santa Anita, so they had every intention of running in the Breeders' Cup except for his illness or whatever the problem was.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Tiznowbaby — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:56:16 GMT

I've got fingers crossed that Lava Man comes home quickly and safely. He was my screen saver on our previous computer.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Jason Shandler — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:45:40 GMT

Householder: Yes, Lava Man's return is big news. We'll feature him on That Handicapping Show and maybe in a blog. Big story.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Householder — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:16:01 GMT

JASON. Are you going to take a look at Saturday's Native Diver? Lava Man is back with 2 new front legs! This is a story. Hits Hollywood Park's main track for the first time in 16 months. We should grab Lonnie Atterburn (I think) who started him in a claimer 6,250 at the Stockton Fair and some researcher from U.C. Davis to talk about stem cell research on equines. We could also throw in Bo for some fluff or a photo if he takes the race.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

carolyn — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 22:18:55 GMT

Hell I can't vote on these, I ain't familiar with half of them.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

steve s — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:36:47 GMT

Breeders cup still is a pay to play race-america best 2year olds turf horses did not pay to play

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

steve s — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:25:04 GMT

The Breeders Cup sprint won by Dancing in Silks was a product of luck or God.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

gw_bushwacker — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 13:45:16 GMT

Championships are won on Championship Day. Dancing In Silks won the biggest and most important race. KK was on the top of the list but was a no show on the big day. One turn Miles aren't Sprints no matter how you want to spin it. In a wide open year or if it comes down to two horses I'd give it to the one who shows up and is the Breeders Cup Champ.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Scott — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:45:38 GMT

I think California Flag should be looked at Too. Just look at his last 7 races. They all might be on turf but there isn't any faster horse. If he wins in Hong Kong, which he will Then he should be considered.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

LAZMANNICK — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:18:01 GMT

None of these sprinters should be eligible because they all raced after Sept. 5th, which we all know is the cut-off date for year end awards.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

da3hoss — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:27:05 GMT

I think the winner of the BC Sprint should automatically get the Eclipse award...I mean it's the only race that really counts, and KK didn't show up and dance the dance in the "big" race, so ALL those OTHER races shouldn't even be considered, plus the BC winner beat all the other horses in that race, so who cares what they did the rest of the year?

;-0 All in FUN!!!!

I think any of the horses mentioned, with the exception of VH, are valid contenders and pretty darn equal in accomplishments...that's where the BC really is a factor in separating equal horses.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

steve from st louis — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 21:05:12 GMT

It's almost a shame someone will win the honor this year because to me, no one really deserves it.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Greg J. — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:57:19 GMT

I am sticking with Zensational, Stuck with him all year, Now is no different...

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Householder — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 19:04:18 GMT

Matthew W. Georgie Boy! He certainly took care of Dancing in Silks in the Sunshine Millions for the future Hall of Famer Kathy Walsh. What happened to this Cal-Bred. He showed a lot of promise.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Householder — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 18:56:03 GMT

I think Zensational's win against older is good enough although the Cal Bred Dancing and Silks and the fastest horse at Santa Anita California Flag (another Cal Bred) look good.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

olivia newman — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 15:11:03 GMT

kodiak cowboy, definitely, he had the best overall year and beat a lot of great competition including others up for the award of champion sprinter!

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Lucky in Kentucky — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:03:42 GMT

The award should go to Kodiak Kowboy. He had the best body of work

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Slew — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:50:30 GMT

I like Kodiak Kowboy, but I am

also a Gayego fan.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

Tiznowbaby — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:36:06 GMT

You know, Zensational wasn't running against plow horses. He beat Noble Court twice, who was a double stakes winner this year including the Ack Ack Handicap. He beat Global Hunter, who won the Eddie Read this year and was second in the Oak Tree Mile. And, he beat Delta Storm, who was fourth in the BC Turf Sprint.

I don't know if that stacks up to KK, but he earned in three G1's against older horses.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

sherpa — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:27:01 GMT

belles forever - California Flag had a bone chip earlier this year and didn't come back until Sept (iirc) - then won the Turf Sprint & the Morvich, topped by a most convincing win in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint - which seals the deal (imho).

I love KK and was thrilled that he won the Cigar, but he's not a pure sprinter. He'll probably win anyway, so relax. He's all the E. Coast writers are chattering about.

And don't think I'm W-coast biased, because I live in NC. But I sure do SEE the bias and consider it darned unfair to some wonderful California runners.

A horse is a horse, and I don't care where they run or what surface s/he might "prefer." I just care to see them running sound and loving it.

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

belles forever — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:44:09 GMT

kodiak kowboy had the better all around year.how many races has california flag run this year? kodiak beat the great fabulous strike twice this year..that upon itself is really something

re: Champion Sprinter Vote Has Intrigue Too

DogDoc — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:59:31 GMT

I'm glad I don't have to decide this stuff. It isn't even easy when a horse is utterly dominating.