Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Linda in Texas — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 23:52:43 GMT

ksweatman9 - you were not wrong. And congratulations on Wise Dan's wonderful win. Your 'Danny Boy' did not disappoint. Very nice.

Thanks Steve, sure hope you are enjoying the races.

Linda

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Greg R — Sat, 02 Nov 2013 04:41:44 GMT

After seeing the way the races played out on Saturday, I'm even more convinced that closers are up against it and that Mucho Macho Man, Game On Dude and Flat Out are the best bets, assuming the unknowable, that they break sharply and get good, forward positions early, without dueling Moreno or whoever else goes crazy up front. But things don't unfold according to the "best-laid plans of mice or men." Look at Beholder, laying off the pacemakers in the Distaff.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

JerseyBoy — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 00:12:33 GMT

How good is Olympic Glory?

From Sue Montgomery in the Independent, the day after his last race:

“Whether Olympic Glory is judged any sort of champion remains to be seen until the end-of-season ratings, but he is probably not even the best miler in his stable – which also houses Toronado and Sky Lantern – let alone any other. "He put the race to bed nicely," Hannon jr (the trainer’s son) added, "but he's always shown his best only on soft ground."

See URL:

www.independent.co.uk/.../olympic-is-britains-lone-source-of-glory-8891844.html

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Davids — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 20:22:33 GMT

It's such a shame that Ron the Greek will not be running now. Even so, providing a 'tour de force' performance in winning the Jockey Club Gold Cup is not a bad swan song, should that be his last race.

Coldfacts, wouldn't you have to agree that the result of the Jockey Club Gold Cup totally repudiates your 'theory' regarding the chances of 6 & 7 year old horses wining the Breeders' Cup Classic?

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Ranagulzion — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 19:01:24 GMT

Coldfacts 31 Oct 2013 7:55 AM

Wise Dan is better than you think bro ...I wont say that he's unbeatable but it will take career best efforts and probably a track record to beat him on Saturday. If Silver Max doesn't 'bounce' off his Shadwell effort he'll again be dangerous but can't touch the reigning HOTY this time.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

JerseyBoy — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 18:52:43 GMT

Now that Ron the Greek is out, Palace Malice looks like the one to beat.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Linda in Texas — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:45:45 GMT

Quarter Crack = Ron The Greek out, how disappointing is this Steve? I say very. This sport is a surprise a minute almost and many times not a good one. This is a shame for RTG and especially his connections.

Keeping my fingers crossed no more bad news. Please Racing Gods, a little good news would come in handy. For all.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

kincsem — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 16:37:04 GMT

Too bad Ron the Greek will not have a chance to run. He is such a big, beautiful horse and I was there when he won the SA Hcp...just breathtaking!

Coldfacts, Zenyatta was victim of one of the worst rides in history, preceded by showboating in front of the cameras instead of warming up, or she would not be on your failure to repeat list - she was BY FAR the best horse.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

JerseyBoy — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 15:00:18 GMT

The real facts about Olympic Glory.

Olympic Glory has never run on a firm track.

He has made 10 starts. He won 6 and finished second 3 times.

The wins were on tracks labeled - soft, good to soft, heavy, good, heavy, good to soft.

He finished out of the first 2 once. The track was labeled good in that race.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Weezie — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:44:56 GMT

Steve, your picture of Ron the Greek grazing in the trees at Big Sandy is priceless! Though I,too, am skeptical if these two ol' boys can get it done on the SA surface, I would be thrilled if they could add to the storyline of D. Wayne & Gary Stevens this year, as other old men "rising" to the occasion! Even if it was a freak performance, how I enjoyed watching RTG romp on Super Saturday, and how I wished that I had picked him in the JCGC! That being said, we all love to see the incomparable & classy Bill Mott win, but I'm wondering what Palace Malice might do with a different trip and under Johnny V this time?! I also must admit that though I have the utmost respect for the Queen, Royal Delta, after having seen her in person on rare days that she has lost, (here @ Saratoga in the Personal Ensign in 2012 & this year in the Beldame) I'm pulling for the Princess & Eddie Stanco & Javi to school her once again! Happy Halloween, but let's bring on the real drama of BC weekend asap!

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

ksweatman9 — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:37:59 GMT

Interesting to see how many fans have lost all faith in Wise Dan. Prove them wrong Danny Boy, make my day. I think the Distaff will be a real thriller, a classy field. I think the Princess will win with Beholder nipping at her hooves to the finish line. I could be wrong. They are all capable of winning it, all fine horses.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Linda in Texas — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:29:42 GMT

Slew - PANTS ON FIRE is running in the Dirt Mile! I hope you are okay. When you don't post, i worry as i do for many other posters, like Deacon, Dr. D., Ted from LA and his sidekick Bob from Boston, Needler in Virginia, and i could go on. Deacon, i did read your posts. And i agree with your shorter one!

There are many other horses worthy and that one seems to get all the hype.

Steve, thanks for the photos of Game On Dude. You know i have liked the 'Dudes' since they started racing and i feel the same about Game On Dude as i do about Lava Man.

Just now going over the official Breeder's Cup Entrants and they have them all listed with owner trainer silks jockey and everything by race. Very nice. As a novice race watcher, i have learned to note the color of the silks next to the horse's name. When 14 horses are racing it makes it easier to single them out in the thundering herd!

And I love the up close of Flat Out. I don't think i have given him enough thought. He is a looker! And the photo tells me he is saying, I am here, don't count me out, just yet! Love it. He was looking right at you as you snapped the photo. He knows someone famous when he sees them!

Hope every horse stays safe. And i won't forget Points Offthebench RIP

And cannot pass up wishing LUNAR SPOOK A HAPPY HALLOWEEN TODAY! And of course everyone else.

Linda

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Coldfacts — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 13:43:39 GMT

Tiz Herself,

"Juvenile Fillies Turf - Vorda, My Conquestadory, Clenor, and Chriselliam"

The above horses appear to be a lock for the superfecta.

Clenor could be upstaged by Colonel Joan.

They met last in the 8F Surfer Girl Stakes. Clenor won handily and Colonel Joan closed from last to finish 3rd.

The Surfer Girl was Clenor 6th start as compared to Colonel Joan's 3rd.

Colonel Joan is a deep closer where as Clenor is a mid pack filly. She and the Europeans will be closing like run away trains and with any improvements after her last race she could upset them all.

Colonel Joan was produced from a Dixieland Band mare and that should make very appealing.

Dixieland Band broodmares have produced Derby winners Street Sense and Monarchos, Derby runner up Eight Belles and Melbourne Cup winner Delta Blues.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Coldfacts — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:55:43 GMT

Tiz Herself,

I have a wager with a friend that Wise Dan will not finish in the top 3.

He was just salivating when I made the wager as he viewed taking my money, like taking candy from a baby.

Wise Dan won the 2012 Turf Mile in a NTR. The unheralded No Jet Lag recently won a mile in a few ticks off Wise Dan record time.

I saw the 3YO training and he was all the rage and pulling a bus.

Olympic Glory was just beaten 3 races back by the flying filly Moonlight Cloud in the 8F(G1) Prix Jacqeus le Marois in a time of 1:33.39. The great Goldikova won that race in a time of 1:33.50.

It appears Olympic Glory like firm ground and he will have plenty of it at SA Park.

Nine of Silver Max's 11 victories were recorded on turf. He defeated Wise Dan in his first attempt on synthetic. Wise Dan had previously won twice on synthetic.

Silver Max the improved 4YO is now returning to the surface on which he recorded 9 victories. Enough stated!

Mr. Haskin in his latest 'And They're Off' episode, reaffirmed his faith in Wise Dan and again regarded him as unbeatable in the Turf Mile.

The aging gelding will have to run another NTR to win and that has never occur in history and is beyond the capability of an aging 6YO.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Coldfacts — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 11:13:14 GMT

I have nothing but respect for Mr. Mott and would like to see him secure his 3rd win in the BCC. His two previous winners were Cigar and Drosselymeyer.

Cigar was a 5YO and Drosselymeyer 4YO. RTG the 6YO and Flat Out the 7YO are reported to be training well. However, is that enough to take them where no horse in their age group has gone before i.e., the winner enclosure?

The big questions has to be, are there younger and talented horses training just as well and carrying equally excellent physical conditions? If the answer to the question is yes, the prospect of victory for the 6YO & 7YO is very remote.

Neither RTG nor Flat Out have been previous winners of the BCC. What both will try to achieve will take more than excellent exercise spins and great physical condition.

There have been previous winners of the BCC that tried for repeats at age 6 and they have all come up short. Cigar, Pleasantly Perfect and Zenyatta failed in their repeat attempts.

The above cited three had résumés that far superseded those of RTG and Flat Out.

What were the ages of those that defeated the big three above?

Cigar was defeated by the 5YO Alphabet Soup; Pleasantly Perfect was defeated by the 4YO Ghostzapper and Zenyatta was defeated by the 4YO Blame.

If three previous stellar BCC winners failed in their attempts to repeat at age 6, what hope is there for those attempting to win the race for the 1st time at ages 6 &7?

Could perspective be secured from the BCC record of Perfect Drift?

He finished 3rd in the 2002 Kentucky Derby and contested the BCC for the 1st time as a 3YO and placed 12th. He made 3 additional attempted to win the race with his final attempt being at age 7. He finished 4th at age 5 and 3rd at age 6.

I love Mr. Mott but I cannot see his any horses wining the BCC. That stated I will include RTG in my exotics as I have always liked him ever since his last to first upset victory in the 2010 Lecomte.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Tiz Herself — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:45:51 GMT

2013 BC Picks...

Still like Private Zone for the BC Sprint

Turf- Point of Entry or The Fugue. Magician is tough, too.

Mile - Wise Dan of course :)

Marathon - London Bridge, Ever Rider or Suns Out Guns Out

Juvenile Turf - Giovanni Boldini or Wilshire Boulevard

Juvenile Fillies Turf - Vorda, My Conquestadory, Clenor, and Chriselliam

Juvenile Fillies: Artemis Agrotera

Juvenile - Celburne, Strong Mandate or Smarty's Echo

Turf Sprint - Mizdirection

Filly & Mare Turf - Romantica (Love the pedigree on this baby - a daughter of Galileo and out of the mare Banks Hill (2001 Filly & Mare Turf) and half sister to Intercontinental (Filly & Mare Turf winner) and other major turf runners Cacique, Champs Elysees, Dansili, Heat Haze...)

Filly & Mare Sprint - Dance to Bristol, Sweet Lulu, or Groupie Doll

Dirt Mile - Broadway Empire, Verrazano, or Brujo De Olleros

Distaff - hard to pick - would love to see Royal Delta get her 3x, but love Princess of Sylmar and Beholder

Classic - Paynter, Palace Malice, Game on Dude, Will Take Charge, Ron The Greek, Mucho Macho Man, Flat Out, really really hard to choose

pray for safe trips for all these horses.

re: Haskin's Classic Report: Billy's 'Ol Boys Back Again

Tiz Herself — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:18:54 GMT

Whether Flat Out or Ron The Greek win on Saturday, it has been wonderful to enjoy these two horses in their careers. The last few years with so many retiring whom I have had many thrills watching... is good to see.

Will be interesting to see what next year's 4+ older division is. Depending on the weekend's results and the sales, there are a lot of big names going to the breeding shed for 2014 (as seems the case every year)... I hope three year olds Will Take Charge, Palace Malace, Princess of Sylmar, Moreno, Mylute, Goldencents, Beholder, Close Hatches, Emollient, Capo Bastone, etc. come back

This year Oxbow, Violence, Prospective, Verrazano, Freedom Child,

2013 saw Union Rags, Hansen, Algorithms, Bodemeister, I'll Have Another, Creative Cause, Gemologist,

re: Haskin’s Classic Report: Billy’s ‘Ol Boys Back Again

Davids — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 00:37:14 GMT

Lovely shots Steve, Bill Mott's horses look spectacular and maybe the racing 'gods' are on his side this year. Would love to see these ol' warhorses mowing down the competition in the stretch.

re: Haskin’s Classic Report: Billy’s ‘Ol Boys Back Again

lunar spook — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 20:53:41 GMT

Both had nice careers , but neither one has a prayer Saturday ! MY PICKS : MAGICIAN & VAGABOND SHOES IN THE TURF NO JET LAG TO UPSET WISE DAN IN THE MILE WILL TAKE CHARGE OVER DECLARATION OF WAR AND PALACE MALICE IN THE CLASSIC GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!