Breeders' Cup Leftovers

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Alex'sBigFan — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 05:15:46 GMT

Linda in Texas,

I bet you are right about the togetherness thing. If Mo and Thirsty were going down in defeat they did it together. Yes I envy those dinners too, my family has all but dwindled down to nothing due to illness and death. I miss our Sundays too and I am happy for the Repole family that they are very blessed and can enjoy them.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Dr Drunkinbum — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:25:53 GMT

Linda in Texas

Thanks to you for thinking about him also. It's one of those tragedies that has stuck in my brain. I've thought of him often especially around this BC, and hoping others did also, especially the ground crew. Deaths of our magnificient friends, especially ones that it seems shouldn't have happened can't be taken lightly. Most of all we need to learn from our mistakes and give 100% or more to helping them to be safe.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Stones — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 10:57:40 GMT

I was so impressed with Hansen digging in to hold off Union Rags in the Juvy. I can't wait for his 3-yr old season!

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Linda in Texas — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:01:38 GMT

Dr. Drunkinbum, thanks for remembering Rough Sailing. I thought about him the first turf race during the BC Races this year. I believe he went down on the first turn.

Anyway, leave it to you to remember his name and his contribution for such a short time.

You have such a great memory and share so much of your knowledge.

Thanks.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

NASCAR PRO — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:59:14 GMT

Ok lads so the jury has gone out and decided that Mo lost the classic because of health issues.I think I recall someone stating on here that the decision to run was made by the owner instead of the trainer,so duh whoever bet on him and you got 5-1 made a TERRIFIC BET but he lost because of health issues,yeah right dont make excuses he never should have been running in the race to begin with Dr D.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Karen in Texas — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:52:08 GMT

Arch----It's highly unlikely that "they" pull out Mo's bloodwork as an excuse for anything. An elevated GGT enzyme level (or any elevated enzyme specific to a corresponding organ) can only occur when that organ is damaged or inflamed. Sometimes the specific cause is not known. Regardless of the cause, if stressors are not reduced, the organ (his liver) could become fibrotic--damaged permanently from scar tissue. I'll try to link a source for you.

www.ivis.org/.../divers.pdf

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Dr Drunkinbum — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:52:48 GMT

HildyPie

Excellent points. Bloodwork is one of those tests that could be done fairly often without harm you would think. The other thing that lingers in my mind is the maintenance of the courses for World Championship BC racing at CD. I don't think they're up to the task. It has been said that more clay was in the dirt course than normal this year which didn't allow it to dry as it normally would, turning the course into peanut butter which they are now selling to Skippy. But it's last year that really still bothers me because Rough Sailing had to be euthanized after slipping on the very slippery turf course which was over watered apparently to try to appease the Euros who wanted a softer course. The jockey's all complained about how slick the course was. I have faith that Santa Anita is going to be a tremendous success for next year's BC and is a deserving place for a possible permanent or two thirds place. A rotating two years at SA then one year somewhere else for a year (rotating to 5 or 6 different tracks for that year) then back to SA for two more sounds good to me. SA would have two thirds of the races. This can be justified by weather alone but SA is also world class in every way. The only drawback is a Repole strike, or maybe he has retracted that statement by now. Well it's on to a tremendous 3yo group for 2012, and as Moodygirl said- How about that Hansen !!!!!! And how about Ever So Lucky, Creative Cause and Union Rags too. But Hansen is my favorite. I vote for an early Derby Dozen. Let's get this show on the road !!!!

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Arch the phoneman — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:53:36 GMT

Steller Jane, I think that you are absolutely correct: Mo will sire some really fast........SPRINTERS! The only way Mo was going to get a mile and a quarter was if he hailed a taxi at the top of the lane. Don't you see, they pull out this "bloodwork" excuse everytime Mo throws in a clunker.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Chicagofan — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:22:28 GMT

Truly an odd and puzzling 2 days at the BC, but still some great racing and some great stories. Was good to see you there and get to thank you in person for being one of a kind! Some random thoughts on the wkend:

Heartwarming to see both St. Nicolas Abbey and Joseph O'Brien win for Aiden O'Brien. Afleet Again just underscores that Afleet Alex was/is something else! For the weekend, Royal Delta made the biggest impression on me from a purely visual standpoint...she just seemed to be a strong and sure winner as she came to the finish line. Union Rags and Creative Cause (my favorite) ran well, so will be watching to see if they can go the classic distances next year. Glad Stay Thirsty is staying in training from what I gather...think he has more to show and hope he will be a factor in the older horse handicap division next year.

Visited both the Romans and Mott barns and have to say they were absolutely welcoming and open to fans...Drosselmeyer and Shackleford were amusing to watch up close. And the Zenyatta celebration was an excellent event and hope they will continue it at the next BC. First class.

By Day 2 I was betting on longshots in many races, and you'd think I would have won a ton of money. But there were enough longshots that I just didn't pick all the right ones or the right combos! Still an incredibly enjoyable time, and now hope maybe things will return a bit to form...

Thanks again for your reporting and insight, and thanks to all posters here...I learn something each time I read!

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Moodygirl — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 18:14:19 GMT

I enjoyed ALL the races even though some of my favorites, and most all favorites all year long, did not win. Just the way the year went and the top 3 finishers always ran great races. There were always exciting finishes.

The ESPN coverage was a little better but I was unsatisfied with the depth of coverage for races other than the Classic too. Good grief, Brilliant Speed was mentioned NOT ONCE prior to his turf race except that he was being loaded into the gate! He was a front runner all the way & finished a good 3rd. The horse has found his niche in the turf.

I had my ROTFL moment when Mike Repole said Uncle Mo could beat Frankel. Frankel is well trained, healthy, and a brilliant horse. The trainer & owner chose NOT to stretch his distance out at the end of the season, but will do so next year.

I was starting to like Mr. Repole more after the coverage of his family dinners & such until Uncle Mo's blood level problems were disclosed and the fact he was pushed to the Classic distance, shame on you Mr. Repole. The nicest that can be said is that he is "colorful" and his big mouth seems to be jinxing his horses. Only Headache finishing dead last was behind of Stay Thirsty & Uncle Mo. Pushing Uncle Mo to the Classic distance given his health shows his arrogance and poor judgement. Todd Pletcher must certainly need to handle him with kidd gloves. Does TP need to grow some?

I can't wait to see some of these horses back next year and how about that Hansen!

Thanks Steve for your observations & giving me an opportunity to get this off my chest:)

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

HildyPie — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:39:48 GMT

Re: Stellar Jayne/Dr Drunkinbum discussion

The post race blood test was something I wondered about as well. As in, did they not test UM prior to the race to make sure he was as healthy as possible? Were they not regularly testing him throughout his training? After all, he had been seriously ill just earlier in the year...

If I was the owner of a huge investment such as UM, I sure as heck would want to make sure I wasn't compromising that investment by racing him if unhealthy.

It just seems like UM was compromised somehow by his connections. Why not forego the rush training job to make the Classic and let him try his luck as a 4 year old? Or did they know that he'd never really be healthy and figured they'd give it a shot, regardless?

Admittedly I am not a fan of Pletcher (ahem, Life at Ten, cough, cough) and definitely not of Repole's hubris, so these questions do linger in my mind.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Linda in Texas — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 15:41:16 GMT

Alex'sBigFan - had written a short note to post re: Uncle Mo and Stay Thirsty as to why i felt they crossed together but i was afraid i would be called ridiculous. But I think that since Stay Thirsty had always trained with Uncle Mo, and they let each one go ahead of the other only for the other one to catch up so often, I think Stay Thirsty knew Uncle Mo was not in his best form and made sure he had a companion at the end of the BC Race. Yes i totally agree with you, there was "something cute" about the both of them crossing together. Just like Sunday dinners at the Repoles, it is a togetherness thing. With just 2 members including myself left in my family outside of a witchy widowed sister in law, i can only wonder what those Sunday Dinners are like. Love it.

Saw a wonderful up close photo of Uncle Mo, he is beautifully put together from his head to his toes. His chest is something else.

I wish them all success and happiness and most of all the best of health. And don't forget Calibrachoa, he won The Bold Ruler Stakes earlier this month. He is a $40,000 claimer belonging to Repole. I love the claimers.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Dr Drunkinbum — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 13:29:17 GMT

Stellar Jayne

Yes, that's what counts now is a long and happy life. They knew the risks of racing him again, that the stress could elevate his GGT. I thought that Lasix and other racing meds might be a problem also. Hopefully lessons will be learned this time. Life At Ten was even less fit to race. Looked very ill pre-race. I'm not saying this to degrade Pletcher who I like and who sends most of his horses to the track very healthy but I am hoping that a big race will not cloud judgement in the future when it comes to a horse's health.

Alex'sBigFan

You're not delusional. It's very obvious to me that the conditions of Mo's health and preparation were the primary factors. We still do not know if Mo could have been a champion at 10f given the right circumstances. The people that said he didn't have the pedigree for it can now use that as proof that they were correct but they are wrong in stating that it now has been proven. It has not been proven and will always be an unknown.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Cris — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 03:33:57 GMT

Shackleford was in the money most of the time, raced at a number of tracks, faced everyone. He did not win all his races but he did his best every race and should be in the hunt for three year old champ. Although I think they did not want to place her last, which is what they would have had to do if they dq'd Goldi she would have been taken down if it was any other horse.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Stellar Jayne — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:24:15 GMT

Dr Drunkinbum,

If I remember correctly the B-H article said his blood levels were tested following the BC Classic and the GGT's were elevated. I would have assumed, or hoped that they (Repole and Pletcher) would have had his enzyme levels tested while he was training, as well as days prior to the BC Classic. From what I have read recently (on other sites), that liver ailment is a chronic condition that can be caused by stress or racing. R and P had to know that during and following his treatment. I agree with you in the last video of Uncle Mo's training for the BC he did not look well, and if you and I think he did not look well on a video surely Repole and Pletcher should have been cognizant of it as well.

I agree with every thing you wrote.

I think he is just a grand, stellar

horse. He is also very handsome, what a face! I think he could have gotten the distance had he been well and they would all have eaten his dust! He would have been a Triple Crown winner.

But he is alive and I pray that he lives a long happy life.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Alex'sBigFan — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 01:14:47 GMT

Dr. D,

Well stated. Boy am I glad you said that, I was beginning to think I was delusional backing Mo all this time but I think you nailed it. Mo did have the stamina and pedigree but due to the illness he lost that continual momentum, for which he is named, to advance forward and therefore the big lapse in training and foundation. I think if circumstances were different and we had had a healthy Mo we would be looking at a different outcome. He did try and stayed up there until almost the end of the Classic. Perhaps Mo was clinically ok but maybe it just takes the body a good year to recover from a liver illness. I would not hesitate breeding to him either, I still say he is unique for an Indian Charlie kid. And if they had to lose the Classic, there was something cute in Mo and Thirsty crossing the finish line together, like I said before probably wanting to go "hang out" in Louisville rather than go face Toddy!!! And I liked what Mike Repole said about his family and the Sunday dinners with 30 people, "that is the real Winner's Circle." I bet if Mo, Thirsty, SSMaria, and Overdriven could eat daintily and were not so huge they would be seated right at the dining room table too!

Steve, remember when Court Vision was originally one of "The Guns of Iavaronne?" I remember that article of yours! Still can't believe he got Goldikova. IEAH should have held on to him and not sold him, he turned out to be the biggest gun of all they had!

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Karen in Texas — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 18:43:49 GMT

davidr----Other posters have mentioned Cape Blanco as well. HOY has been awarded to turf horses in the past--John Henry and All Along come to mind--probably some others, too?

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

davidr — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:15:06 GMT

I think the Horse of The Year is Cape Blanco. Why does the HOY have to be one who primarily raced on the main track? He won the three of the most prestigeous turf races in the country; The Man O'War, The Arlington Million and Joe Hirsch. He would have won the BC Turf if he hadn't been injured.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Dr Drunkinbum — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:45:04 GMT

Stellar Jayne

I was curious also about when the last bloodwork was and what it showed. Mo looked pre-race like he could be starting to get sick again. He didn't look nearly as well as he did in his prior race. If bloodwork wasn't taken after his final workout it should have been. The Mo 10f naysayers got their victory and bragging rights but they got lucky. Mo has the pedigree, stride, demeanor, natural stamina and ability to relax to get 10f in a winning time in a big race but what he didn't have was continued health, a track he could handle or a racing or training foundation for 10f. I wouldn't hesitate to use him as a sire if I wanted a classic distance horse. This is coming from someone who often says that horses aren't 10f horses and shouldn't be on the Derby Trail but running sprints or the mile.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Stellar Jayne — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:50:34 GMT

Bravo to all the winning equines - they gave it their best, as did many of the also rans.

A few have made negative comments about Uncle Mo, so I'll defend him! He did make a valiant effort to win. If you read the B-H the next day you would have read that his blood work was not good. A negative blood report does not happen over night. My skeptical nature of some owners and trainers is that his blood count was not good prior to the race, but they ran him to see if he could pull it off. He really should not have been running at all - so much for everyone's mantra - 'we will do what is best for the horse'. LOL! In Uncle Mo's case, I don't think owner and trainer did what was best for him! I think he is a grand horse and I pray that he has a long healthy life and sires many great colts and fillies.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

sidekickflats — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:25:50 GMT

Slew,

Heres an excerpt of an article from FOx News Australia:

"Trainer Aidan O'Brien says So You Think's days as a middle-distance runner might be numbered.

O'Brien, who earlier celebrated Breeders' Cup victories with St Nicholas Abbey and Wrote, said there was no disappointment from the Coolmore camp over So You Think's race

"He's run a great race and we are very happy with him," O'Brien said.

"He's a horse with a lot of speed, and we were probably going the wrong way with him in that sense.

"(Jockey) Ryan (Moore) said they weren't going quick enough for him, and I look forward to going back to a mile with him.

"He'd have no problem with that distance.

"I was very excited looking at him today, and we are getting a picture in our heads of what he is.

"I don't think the dirt was any problem, but I would say distance-wise we should come back rather than go forward."

That doesn't sound like they are only talking about the Breeder's Cup next year but I quess will see. I would love to see him tackle Frankel next season though.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Slew — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:47:37 GMT

I do believe it might have been Baffert who said he thought CD added more clay than usual to the track mix which made for a dirt track that did not dry as quickly as it usually does.

Has far as Hansen having class...Seattle Slew, Secretariat, Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, Native Dancer and Damascus. That's one hell of a lot of class packed into a bolt of white lightning. And, while I love Union Rags, the stamina balance rests more heavily on the side of Hansen. Now, can a front runner take the Triple Crown? Duh! Ask Seattle Slew.

Pedigree Ann: Ah..the horse I really missed at this year's BC was Snow Fairy. She's brilliant and so very fast. The only thing that kept SYT ahead of her in the Irish Champion stakes was that his stride was longer than hers...but she was gaining on him.

Sidekickflats: it was a post race interview at the BC where O'Brien said they would bring back SYT next year, and possibly run him in the mile. I think he may have been referring to just the BC mile. SYT had no problem with the dirt.

To others...some days we just need some small thing to giggle about. Now what horses' names would YOU think twice about before posting only in initials?

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Freetex — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:40:28 GMT

I didn't win a dime but I enjoyed every race in the Breeders Cup.

Steve you were so right about Game On Dude being so tenacious and tough on the racetrack. I also have to say it was a thrill to see Mike Smith flying to the wire on Drosselmeyer. If only.

Hansen is a beautiful specimen. I hope Hansen, Union Rags, and Creative Cause will make it healthy and sound to the Derby. Actually, they are all three magnificent beauties.

Goldikova looked a little tired. She accomplished so much in her career.

Personally, it was good to see the vets scratch on the side of caution. Announce looked completely distraught after backing up into the horse ambulance.

Steve, your observations are so remarkable. Thanks for the photos too.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

Lava'sStilltheMan — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:25:56 GMT

Thank's for the recap. As a west coaster, I look forward to the BC coming back to Santa Anita. The surface at CD did seem to dry oddly, but I was more surprised bt some of the results on the turf. Court Vision...Holy Cow. Pk 3's and 4's went up in flames. it was sad to see Goldi depart on a loss. The juvenile was a heck of a race. Time for a layoff before SA opens again on 12/26.

re: Breeders' Cup Leftovers

TXLonghorn — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 21:24:15 GMT

I echo Ann's comment: Why in the world are people so distraught by horses passing through a sale ring? They are, in fact, livestock. It looks like all these high profile fillies and mares have gone to good homes over the past few days.

As for the track...there was an odd feel in the air last weekend. My clothes felt "heavy" and despite a pretty healthy breeze, my skin never felt dried out or burned. I'm guessing the atmospheric conditions just weren't conducive for the track to dry out. That said...I didn't see as much "work" on the track as I expected between races, but it's all good. Like football, racing is a sport "played" in the elements.