Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Pedigree Ann — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:03:29 GMT

Slew - Love has no place in handicapping. I was a booster of 3M last year, saying "Wait until he grows up; then you'll see something." I wanted him to blossom and run the board this year.

Well, he's grown up now and has shown flashes of brilliance at 9f, but the form doesn't quite add up. He was great at GP but was dusted by Successful Dan and Fort Larned for no good reason at CD. He beat the 'not quite up to this level' Hymn Book and Trickmeister at Belmont, and couldn't get by To Honor and Serve at Saratoga. Maybe he needs more growing up time - some horses don't peak until 5, when they are fully mature. At least I hope so. But much as I love him, I can't back him off of a 2.5 month layoff with the form he's shown this year.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Slew — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:59:11 GMT

Have a special place in my heart for To Honor And Serve.

How do I pick ONE horse to win the Classic when I love so many of them. THAS for one, Royal Delta, Ron The Greek, Awww'''almost all of them really...can't wait.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

thoroughbred_gal — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:52:32 GMT

ASPERCEL - So great to hear your hubby works with Gantry! I have followed him since he was a baby. I was his yearling groom. I wish there was a way I could hear all about him as an adult and see your photos! I too have been searching everywhere online for coverage of him at SA.shaunaharrigan at yahoo dotcom

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Delrene — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 03:19:20 GMT

What a great set of photos of mountains and horses. It looks so beautiful. BC 2012 will be checked off of my bucket list. Cannot wait. It looks so beautiful at SA

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Senator L — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:46:52 GMT

Love the Mucho Macho Man just don't think he'll love the distnace

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

datflippinrabbit — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:40:51 GMT

Old Old Cat,Steve scares the horse and then snaps the pic it saves lots of money in camera equip.I shure like the looks of that Casse trained horse,very nice coat.Have not made my pics as yet but keep those pics coming and stop scaring the horses lol.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Aspercel — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:28:20 GMT

I second that thoroughbred_gal!

I keep looking for pictures of Gantry in his breeders cup towel. My hubby works with him and I head out from Louisiana Friday.

I have a funny picture of how he got through hurricane Isaac this summer. :). Wish I could post that.

Steve, I love all your pictures! I always get excited when I see you have a new post up.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

newsnag — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:19:04 GMT

Great photos and copy from Santa Anita--great place to be this last few days! Rooting for Royal Delta!

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Shelby's Best Pal — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 11:20:59 GMT

Wonderful photos! And I really enjoy reading the behind the scenes stories of the contenders. I'm glad you are enjoying Santa Anita. I am so excited to get there.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

spectacular bid — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 04:47:49 GMT

Steve, i must have been right next to you and not known it this morning as Ive got almost identical pictures..if i see you Wednesday, I'll have to say hello..what a great week its been being at the track in the mornings.. animal kingdom has been a dream to photograph this week for me

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Footlick — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 03:02:41 GMT

Off subject, Steve, but I cannot get over what a beautiful head Alpha has. So refined. Just gorgeous.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Old Old Cat — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:33:09 GMT

Dullahan with four feet off ground.. great shot.. and you don't have a high speed repeating camera.. the pros should be jealous.. they take fifteen or twenty shots and hope for one like yours.. quite impressive..do you have a secret method like others I know..

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

El Kabong — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:19:53 GMT

Steve, great shots. They're like tasty appetizers before the ultimate meal. I can't wait to get there. I've paced a grove line in my dining room floor. Checking this, doing that, yada yada yada.

Karen in Indiana,

Well said about Nonios. My sentiments exactly. This event should be a great learning event for him, but Steve's photo shows he's contemplating much right now. He'll need to race smart against the big kids.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Davids — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:07:57 GMT

Steve, you have the best job in the world. Thanks for the gorgeous photos. I admire your choice of subject as well, most are my favorites as well.

I remember during the inception of the Breeders' Cup series how tired many of the competitors looked, these days the horses shimmer with 'rude good health.'

The excitement is really starting to build.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Paula Higgins — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:41:23 GMT

Loved this Steve. I am a Mucho Macho Man fan for a while now, so this was nice to see. I hope he does well. Would love to see him win. On another note, since you have posted this, you must have done o.k. through the hurricane. I thought of you and my sister/brother-in-law in Hoboken yesterday. They are on the highest ground in Hoboken so they are o.k we think (can't get through to them). All of the people effected by this are in my prayers.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

CarolMcE — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 01:19:28 GMT

I'm going to see them in the flesh! It's been on my bucket list! Can't wait!

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

TerriZ — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:41:32 GMT

By the way, thanks for the great photos of the contenders at Santa Anita.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Alydar — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:39:46 GMT

Who can deny the Breeders Cup is the greatest event in thoroughbred industry.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

TerriZ — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:37:22 GMT

What a great post for Mucho Macho Man; he won't get boxed in as he did in his previous race. And surely has a rider who knows how to handle a big horse: Mike Smith. Mike Smith, has tried to rectifiy the record of his great mount, Holy Bull. He made the loss in the Ky Derby up to the Bull by winning the Derby on his son,Giacomo. And now he has the opportunity to make it up to Bull by riding in the Classic. (Holy Bull, was ineligable to run in the Breeders Cup Classic.) I hope you get to interview Mike Smith about his special relationship with the Bull and his progeny. It's awesome that you are at Santa Anita this week. Enjoy the BC and all that it has to offer. Hope you family did well with the storm in NJ and NY. Best wishes.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

thoroughbred_gal — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:20:07 GMT

Steve, can you post a picture of Gantry (BC Sprint)? I was his yearling groom in KY - he was my favorite colt! So proud of him and all he has done!

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

CHIEF PICAWINNA — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:09:47 GMT

With the track configuration at SA being similar to the layout at Churchill I gotta figure that starting post 11 and 12 with MMM and THAS have to break and get position because GOD FL ALPHA and FO will have the inside.Nonios is an interesting now contender working in 46and 2 coming off a second place to GOD but at 9 panels.If the others dont do enough early GOD will probably hang on this year,but everyone involved knows this the question is will someone like Handsome Mike,Alpha or Nonios throw a fly in the ointment and go with GOD with a determined early run if that happens he might not even run in the exacta.None of these horses run blazingly fast early like for instance Bode did in the Derby they just have high cruising speed and reel off one 12 second quarter after another and if one of them is ahead and gets first jump like the most probable pacesetter GOD it will be over mid stretch.

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

michelee — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:43:23 GMT

Thanks again for all the great pictures. More! More! I'm not at all familiar with the European

Juvenile Turfers: can you give us a look?

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Lammtarra's Arc — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:41:17 GMT

That nonios is one fine looking Colt!. Go Mucho Macho man!!! My Classic pick!

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

anita b — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 23:40:38 GMT

Hi Steve,

Great article--love the pictures of Awesome Feather and Alpha in

particular.

Send some of that sun and warm weather to the east coast----dry up all the water in the tunnels/subways. And melt the snow.

enjoy the Breeders Cup. Anita Carter

re: Countdown to the Cup: Mucho Doings in the Classic

Karen in Indiana — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 22:58:27 GMT

Thanks for the photos, Steve - they are the next best thing to being there! How nice is it there?

Nonios has been under the radar improving, I think next year will be his.