Breeders' Cup

Hangin' With Haskin posts tagged "Breeders' Cup"

Harvesting the Crop of 2013

It seems that most every year, people at some point criticize the 3-year-old crop without knowing what history has in store for it and what gems lie hidden beneath the surface. If any crop seemed destined for anonymity and being deemed inconsequential it was the crop of 2013, the crop that has now written its own chapter in the annals of the sport.... Read More

Breeders' Cup: Always Room For Improvement

The Breeders’ Cup is always looking to make changes in order to improve the event. It started back when the Filly and Mare Turf was added. Some of the changes since have been good and some bad. For years, I have been an advocate for an all juvenile day on Friday, promoting it by saying, “Come see next year’s Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks horses.” So, I was thrilled to see Breeders’ Cup make the... Read More

Angles Galore on European Longshots

This has to be one of the deepest contingents of European invaders, with a number of proven contenders, such as Highland Reel, Ribchester, Ulysses, Churchill, Marsha, Queen’s Trust, Rhododendron, and Roly Poly; and top-class juveniles Mendelssohn, Happily, Masar, James Garfield, U.S. Ranger, and Beckford. But the European danger does not end there. There actually are a number of live longshots who could very well be sitting on a huge upset, based on the fact that they have underachieved on soft going, but love it firm. ... Read More

Why Gunnevera Should Run Well at Del Mar

In the case of Gunnevera, he has one main weapon, and that is a wicked turn of foot and an explosive move on the far turn. As powerful a weapon as that can be, it is not meant to be sustained over a distance of ground. Gunnevera's move is so quick and powerful and is made so early, he can sustain it for about a quarter of a mile, perhaps a bit farther. ... Read More

Why Are Trainers Abandoning the Prep Races?

Once upon a time, not too long ago, Thoroughbred trainers considered prep races, well, prep races; short for prepare. As in prepare your horse for the ultimate goal. As in have him or her primed, fit, and sharp for their big test, which in the case of the Breeders' Cup, often determines the Eclipse Award winners.... Read More

Poo Pooing the Preps

We have entered a new era on the Triple Crown trail, where many trainers now plan only two preps for the Kentucky Derby. It has proven successful over the past decade, so more and more trainers are adopting that philosophy.... Read More

Remembering Those in Defeat

Whether or not you consider California Chrome, Songbird, Tepin, Lady Eli, and Found great horses, there is no arguing that greatness lives in all of them, whether they were defeated in the Breeders’ Cup or not.... Read More

Saluting Those Who Always Show Up

We tend to forget or simply overlook those hard-knocking, consistent horses, who do not possess the talent of the major stars, but still show up every time, competing at the highest level. These horses always give their all, bringing home checks race after race, while quietly amassing millions of dollars.... Read More

American Pharoah: Into the Pantheon

At 2 a.m Sunday morning, America turned the clocks back an hour. Approximately eight hours earlier, the Thoroughbred racing world turned the clocks back 40, 50, 60 years, back to the Golden Era of the sport when there were Triple Crown winners who would go on to earn their place among the truly greats.... Read More

Haskin Friday Longshot Plays

Let’s start by saying that this year’s Breeders’ Cup is one of the toughest to handicap in many years, with deep, wide-open fields, none of which, except perhaps one, have a clear-cut favorite that stands far above the others.... Read More

Haskin BC Report: A Classic Potpourri

There are so many different aspects to this year's Breeders' Cup Classic and so many little tidbits surrounding the participants, it is time to share some of them. So, we now present, "Everything you always wanted to know about the 2014 Breeders' Cup Classic but were afraid to ask." No need to be afraid. That's what we're here for – to enlighten and confuse and to tell you more about the Classic than you care to know.... Read More

Beware the Wise Dan Curse

For all those with aspirations of winning either Horse of the Year or the older male title or the turf male title, there is a force out there even stronger than Eric Guillot's voodoo dolls. It is the curse of Wise Dan.... Read More

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