Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

sweet terchi — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:15:53 GMT

Just a suggestion for trips to the Del Mar meet, traffic is a huge bear not to mention parking and having to hike or catch the overcrowded tram, Amtrak is great. Depending on where you are the Pacific Surfliner or Coaster will drop you off at the Del Mar station. Short cab ride to the west side of the track, a lot less expensive,(time and gas wise) plus stress free.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Lady Ruffian — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:35:01 GMT

Somethingroyal-

the only way I can get good photos in the paddock then decent ones of the horses on the track is if I am in the paddock early before the horses are paraded in and my husband is in our spot by the track so he can take the photos there b/c hes much taller than I am! lolol I agree with Helesbelles, its a workout running from the paddock to the track through the crowds to get good shots! Can't wait for the 27th ...12 days left & counting :)

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

helsbelles — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:34:50 GMT

Informed, with his win in the Californian, bucked the trend of horses that don't do well after making the trip to and from Dubai, and may turn out to be a nice horse. Arson Squad also came back from Dubai, where he had a nightmarish trip in the World Cup, yet acquitted himself nicely in the Foster; but you won't be seeing him in the Breeders Cup, since his record on Cali synthetics is abysmal. Yes, Georgie Boy could do very well in the BC Sprint since he is proven over the surface, but he is not currently having published works. I think Steve's point is clear: American based horses, with the glaring exception of the filly/mare dirt division, need to step up this year, or risk being embarrassed by the Euros. About the 1 1/2,3/4 mile BC races, Tim Ice did say, in an article I read, that he is pointing Summer Bird towards that, but did not specify synthetic or turf.

Somethingroyal, it's funny you should say that; I get quite a workout at the track trying to be everywhere (lol) to get all the good pictures, and I usually end up with a good sunburn too. See you on the 27th -- let's hope for another beautifully sunny and SAFE day for all.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Somethingroyal — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:09:51 GMT

Thanks Steve. I don't know why I was under the impression that none of the BC races were beyond a 1 1/4. And I've been watching the races for many years. And not that I'm complaning, but does anyone know why the Breeders Cup is being held at Santa Anita for a second year in a row?

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Mike S — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:00:00 GMT

COLONEL JOHN worked in 1:00-2/5 this morning. Looks like the Chief Raider of the Handicap division is on his way back!

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Majella from Ireland — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:33:47 GMT

Steve your articles are great! I am European, obviously, and i like synthetic surfaces but i agree with your article, especially with regards to the new track in Dubai. And synthetic surfaces are not 100% safe either.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Steve Haskin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:23:55 GMT

Karen, the last I heard they're looking at the Arlington Million and Pacific Classic.

Cheryl, no one is complaining about the Europeans winning. The complaint is running on synthetics two years in a row, despriving a good many of our horses who dislike synthetics a shot at winning a BC race.

Somethingroyal, there is a 1 1/2-mile race on turf, always has been, and we had a 1 1/2-mile mile race on dirt last year, which has been lengthened to 1 3/4 miles.

lobieb, each horse is different how he or she handles it. Informed has already run twice since Dubai, winning the Californian on Saturday. But it does seem the majority are affected by it.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Matthew W — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:41:38 GMT

Gun Bow how bout if Rachel runs a credible 4th in the Classic v males--and Zenyatta wins the Ladies Classic?? There's already precident, ie last years Eclipse voting, to give it to Rachel in that instance---but so what, team Z has already made it clear to all that they care more about the horse than the award...is it possible to have a female HOY and a separate female win the filly award??

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Somethingroyal — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:59:10 GMT

Hi Steve:

I've found myself looking forward to your knowledgeable writings.

I don't know if this thought has been mentioned about the Breeders Cup races. Why is there not a 1 1/2 race on the dirt and turf? Wouldn't adding 1 1/2 races to the card be an incentive to breeders to focus on breeding stamina and durability back into what the Thoroughbred has been known for?

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

lobieb — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:55:25 GMT

Take a look at the horsses that ran in Dubai. It seems that when they come back to the states they can't seem to win a race. Does that say something for leaving the horses at home though I know $$$$ is the only reason we go. Look at Indian Blessing yesterday and Well Armed and Kip Deville need I go on.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

GunBow — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:45:18 GMT

Two also-rans from the Alysheba Stakes on Oaks day, Macho Again and Informed, won the Stephen Foster and Californian Handicaps, respectively, this past weekend. I was at Churchill Downs on Oaks day, and had little doubt that Rachel Alexandra, although just a 3 year old filly, was the best horse to run on the day. The results of the Foster and Californian have again confirmed that 2009 is a unique year, in which a 3 year old filly, Rachel, and 5 year old mare, Zenyatta, may be superior to even the older males.

Given the last 2 weekends of racing, Rachel has taken a clear lead as pro-tem Horse of the Year. 5 for 5, with a record 20+ length Oaks win, Rachel was also just the 4th filly in 85 years to win a Triple Crown race, and towers over any other 3 year old filly. Einstein, while a very admirable horse, is simply not a championship-level horse on dirt, and even on synthetics and turf is hardly dominant in the handicap division. With 2 grade 1 wins, one on synthetic and the other on turf, and 2 3rd place finishes in grade 1 dirt races, including his tough-luck Foster, Einstein is probably the leader in the older male and/or male turf horse, and still a viable contender for Horse of the Year. Many may also suggest Mine That Bird, and though he has certainly been the STORY of the Year, his 1 for 5 record just does not stack up with Rachel's accomplishments. Of course, there is much racing to go, and Rachel by no means has the HOY sewn up.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Cheryl, Newmarket, UK — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:52:25 GMT

I’m afraid you can’t call it the “World Thoroughbred Championships” if the rest of the world don’t show up!

It does make me laugh that on one hand people say “We want the Europeans to come over and race at Breeders’ Cup” and the same people will then turn round and complain that European horses are winning too much of the prize money!

In response to some earlier comments:

Horses were made to run on one surface only – turf. God didn’t create dirt or synthetic tracks – people did.

There is nothing to stop American horses coming over to run in Europe – heck there are several due to run at Royal Ascot this week.

The main thing that stops more European horses coming over for Breeders’ Cup is the prohibitive costs. If you own a non-nominated horse that you want to run in, say, the Classic it will cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay the entry fees, as well as fly the horse over, send travelling grooms to look after the horse, as well as pay for the owner/trainer etc to come over. Places like Dubai, Japan, Hong Kong pay for all of the travel expenses incurred – Breeders’ Cup made an $18million profit from Santa Anita last year, surely some of that can be put towards travel costs for ALL participants (not just the Euros)?

You guys are rightly proud of your racing, but you have to accept that situations like that at Monmouth Park in 2007 and high profile breakdowns are doing no favours for American racing in international eyes.

I hope you will all be glued to Royal Ascot this week - the best 5 day's racing in the world ;)!

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

LDP — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:15:49 GMT

Zookeeper,

my mistake i meant to say second. My mind said second my fingers typed third. I'm not going to change my mind on the fact that bump lost him the race. Bullsbay never really interfered with him at all, just boxed him. Asiatic Boy slammed him. I'm sorry, and i'm not being rude but when i get my mind set like this your not going to change it. I will respectfuly agree to disagree.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Matthew W — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:01:39 GMT

Hollywood Park is practically a dirt track now as they continually fill it with dirt---alas, the Santa Anita pro ride is like a turf course, all I can say is I've been to other cups in the West, and they were on dirt, and they were lambasted by East Coasters as the wrong kind of dirt tracks...but they're all in the same starting gate...and they all are running on the same track....I'd love for the Breeders Cup to have been held this year in Kentucky, or Belmont, I'd have loved for Zenyatta to say bye bye to racing in the Classic at Belmont, but it's in Cali and that's that, I'm upbeat about seeing the greatest field of fillies/mares ever assembled, I'm upbeat about seeing the magnificient Rachel and the spectacular Zenyatta.....

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Zookeeper — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:50:28 GMT

Somethingroyal,

I was at the Pacific Classic in 2000. The year that Tiznow came out of nowhere to run 2nd.

I don't intend to ever go there on that particular date again. We got there early enough...but didn't get home (L.A.) until much later. Oh! but what a day it was!!!

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Karen in Indiana — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 03:22:49 GMT

Hi Steve, do you know if Einstein's connections are considering the Whitney or the Woodward for him? Both are Grade I's on dirt. I'd love to see him get all three surfaces this year so he can be in demand for stud. He's a wonderful horse and I hated that he didn't get it (I've got pictures of him anyway, he looked livelier after the race than he did before).

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Zookeeper — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:58:48 GMT

LDP,

Watch the race again. Asiatic Boy was 2nd. He was running just as hard as Einstein at the end. I think the horse that hindered Einstein the most was Bullsbay who kept him pinned to the rail for most of the race.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Somethingroyal — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:51:00 GMT

Zookeeper:

I hope to make it to Del Mar at least one or two days a week to photograph the races and early morning works. The crowds are usually light during the week but, the weekends can be a different story. A few years ago I sat in traffic for two hours waiting for Pacific Classic crowd to leave the area. Many drivers had to shut off the AC to prevent engine overheat. So, if you plan on coming down the the Pacific Classic, come early!

helbelles:

Yes, I use a Canon as well. So, have you and Lady Riffian mastered getting a good photo in a crowded paddock and then racing to the track for trackside photos yet? I'm going to try it with Zenyatta this time around. See ya on the 27th!

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Steve Haskin — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:14:54 GMT

Cat Thief, OK, let's talk about the Suburban and Hollywood Gold Cup instead. You can start.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

cat thief — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:50:21 GMT

Steve,

Breeders Cup talk already? Let's think about all the summer racing first. Suburban, Hollywood G cup, Arlington Mil, Haskell, SARATOGA, DEL MAR...not to mention when will some of the hurt 3 yr olds come back or where will Rachel turn up.

You're right about one thing...the BC should never be at the same track two years in a row.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

Carolyn in ND — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:35:06 GMT

Tickets are bought! Am looking forward to how the summer races go & how the racers place. I read most of the comments except for the LONG ones, & find it interesting of the expectations. I just hope my favorites have SAFE races this summer & make it to BC!

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

postergeist — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:19:56 GMT

Re the Calvin debate, for what it's worth, on the ESPN broadcast, during the post parade for the 5th race, it was noted by the ESPN person (can't remember who said it) that Calvin had passed up the mount on Tobruk. Later, when Tobruk acted up in the post parade, one of the commentators went on to say that it was probably a good decision on Calvin's part to give up the mount.

So, if the ESPN commentators were correct, Calvin could have had at least one mount.

Like you, helsbelles, I love Calvin either way.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

LDP — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:10:46 GMT

da hoss,

I say no chance because though asiatic boy got third he had flattened out, he had no more to give. Einstein had plenty to give and was still closing at the end. A bump that harsh was not needed, even if both went for the same hole. With a better trip, or even just getting that hole Enstein would have won.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

LDP — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 21:08:00 GMT

Mike S,

Well Armed is a good horse, but hasn't done anything after coming back from Dubai. Enstein has won the SA handicap, in CA, came back to Churchill and ran 1st in the Woodford Reserve for the second consecutive year, something no horse has ever done. He also was third with a horrible trip in the Stephen Foster over dirt, and third in the Donn this year. He's been active all season so far and has almost twice as many races as Well Armed at this point. I don't think Well Armed should be rated sixth, but i also think Einstein has a better record thus far this year, and should be rated over Well Armed. This is just my opinion.

re: Goodbye, Triple Crown; Hello, Breeders' Cup

JCRobinson — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:47:55 GMT

I believe that catastrophic breakdowns are down on the synthetic surfaces, but soft tissues injuries are up. I think when Bobby Frankel had to retire Jibboom, he said it was the fifth suspensory injury to a horse he'd had recently. Another trainer (I can't recall who right off) said recently that bowed tendons had increased dramatically in his barn. The horses may be surviving (but then again remember Blue Exit from the Big Cap) but many are having to be retired due to injury all the same.