Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance : Breeders' Cup

Will the Breeders' Cup Be Able to See Beyond Sea the Stars?

Blood-Horse Staff — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:08:00 GMT

After winning the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for his undefeated, six race G.1 2009 campaign, the Irish “Horse of the World” may skip the Breeders’ Cup; the new star of the “World Thoroughbred Championship” weekend…it’s locally based LOOKIN AT LUCKY!

The Breeders’ Cup World Thoroughbred Championships may have to endure another major defection of a 3 y.o. with uncommon ability. RACHEL ALEXANDRA has been shut down for the year…old news. After a dazzling Arc win, SEA THE STARS is more unlikely to ship to Santa Anita than his connections led the media to believe in the weeks leading into the storied race at Longchamp. The absence of both horses will be disappointing, no doubt. Fret not, horse racing fans…as Yoda from the Star Wars series once predicted when Anakin Skywalker was lost to the dark side, “There is another…”

LOOKIN AT LUCKY made the G.1 Norfolk S. look deceptively easy. For just over ¾ of the race, the professionalism that he showed in three prior wins was on display from the young son of SMART STRIKE.
He usually breaks well and rates kindly until GARRETT GOMEZ gives him the cue to “go”. Even when he broke from the rail in the G.1 Del Mar Futurity, he waited patiently at the rear until GOMEZ decided to chance a rail run or sweep around horses on the backside and turn. LOOKIN AT LUCKY runs inside, between horses, and can sweep around his competition. He has a magnificent stride, effortless and simple. LOOKIN AT LUCKY exudes class in every race he runs. His dominance of the Southern California juvenile crop was emphasized in the Norfolk S. stretch run.

The 1 ¾ length margin of victory was a testament to the immense talent of the BOB BAFFERT trainee. It sure wasn’t because he was giving 100% the entire length of the stretch. Once he hit the lead, LOOKIN AT LUCKY pricked his ears and started to pull himself up. After all, that was about the distance he’d run when he won the Del Mar Futurity. He’d passed his competition and saw nothing but empty track ahead…LUCKY thought the race was over.

The HRTV isolation picked up the detail beautifully. GOMEZ spanked the colt a few times and reminded him of his unfinished businesses with his signature, emphatic crosses. LOOKIN AT LUCKY twitched his left ear back as if to say “Oh, do you want me to care about that plucky little colt on the rail that I’d already passed? I’m sorry, I thought he was done. I hear TREVOR DENMAN saying he’s trying hard to come back so I’ll turn on the afterburners and put him farther in the rear view mirror, okay?”

LUCKY proceeded to pin both ears back, stuck his neck out and lengthened his stride while widening to a comfortable lead in a matter of 100 yards. I had to laugh out loud at what I’d just seen on the replay which stirred interest from my children, who at this point in their lives put up with my love of the sport more than they share the passion. I replayed what I’d seen three times, pointing out how professional LOOKIN AT LUCKY was through the running of the first 7 furlongs of the race. Then I showed them how “green” the colt still was despite apparently having learned his lessons. I paralleled their young lives and experiences to LOOKIN AT LUCKY’s Norfolk run. Sports, human or equine, have always been terrific teachers in my lifetime and I use them whenever I can to guide my children’s development.

LUCKY, not unlike the developing human child, will need to learn how to compete at the top of this game through failure. He’s that talented grade school athlete who runs over and around his less proficient classmates. You remember the kind, built like an athlete already with muscles showing where the other boys still have baby fat. There may even be a bit of facial hair to intimidate his competition a little more. He’s a nice kid, not demoralizing his competition because he just doesn’t know he’s that much better than his friends.

Then, it happens…some of the others develop out of that awkward stage and begin to challenge the status quo. A terrific equine example is the 2007 3y.o. crop. STREET SENSE was the upset, daylight winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Champion 2y.o. of 2006, and became the first horse to break the BC Juvenile/Kentucky Derby jinx. He left a troubled CURLIN, who entered the Derby undefeated and untested, in his wake.

But CURLIN learned from his Derby run to snatch victory from the hands of defeat. Two weeks later, STREET SENSE was on the verge of competing for the elusive Triple Crown when he stormed past CURLIN in upper stretch to open up by more than a length. Then the competitive light bulb clicked in and CURLIN surged back on the outside to win the Preakness by a nose.

So, who will be LOOKIN AT LUCKY’s foil? Will he become the next SILVER CHARM, a true competitor who will beat most top class horses if given the ability to eyeball them home. At this stage, it appears that we’ll have to wait until the Triple Crown trail to find out who will emerge from this crop as the legitimate challenger. Will it be DUBLIN? How about BACKTALK? Can HOT DIXIE CHICK become 2010’s RACHEL ALEXANDRA?

The only relative certainty will be that LOOKIN AT LUCKY is the most likely Breeders’ Cup race winner. If he succeeds as expected, he will become the 2009 Eclipse Award winner for Juveniles and becomes the early Kentucky Derby favorite.

Is there yet another? At this point it appears that LOOKIN AT LUCKY is THE ONLY ONE!

Breeders' Cup is Half Full

cdawahare — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 15:48:00 GMT

By Rob Fundter, The Amateur Capper

In every division, there will be many compelling vignettes on both days of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. The cream is rising to the top as we are a little more than eight weeks out from a weekend of thrilling competition. Eliminate all negative thoughts of what could have been if certain horses would travel to Santa Anita in early November. There are too many good horses and stories to waste time on what could have been.

CLASSIC

RACHEL is obviously the compelling story in this race division and deserves mention as the leading candidate for the Eclipse Award honoring the Horse of the Year. However, if you encounter a fringe racing fan who asks you why she's not running, don't go into a diatribe extolling her virtues and how she's "done enough".

Instead, pump up the horses that have performed in top races in this division. Start off with the essence of a racehorse, recent Pacific Classic runner-up and Santa Anita Handicap winner EINSTEIN who was recently purchased by Santa Anita Park's owner FRANK STRONACH. He wants a house horse with a great shot at winning the big prize at his famous racetrack. RAIL TRIP validated his Hollywood Gold Cup win with another solid race in a 1 ¼ mile G.1 event, finishing 3^rd in the Pacific Classic. Mention also that MACHO AGAIN, the Woodward Stakes runner-up who also won the G.1 Stephen Foster H., has earned nearly $1 million this year alone but stands to win over three times that amount with a Classic win.

Inform them that last year's Eclipse-winning Older Female ZENYATTA could take on the boys, instead of defending her Ladies Classic title, while trying to stamp her would-be perfect 14 race career with a BC Classic exclamation point.

Then warn them that the United States contingent should be prepared for a foreign invasion considering that European based runners finished 1-2 in the Classic last year at this same track. From Ireland comes a beast named SEA THE STARS, considered internationally as the best horse in the world. All he's done is win five G.1 races in five tries this year, all on the grass. It's considered common knowledge that if SEA THE STARS comes to the Breeders' Cup, he will contest the Classic for which English bookmaker William Hill has already made him the 2-1 favorite.

JUVENILE

D. WAYNE LUKAS is back in the national spotlight with Hopeful S. winner DUBLIN, the Hall of Fame trainer's first G.1 win since FOLKLORE took the BC Juvenile Fillies in 2005. It was also his first Hopeful S. win since 2000, a race he's now posed for pictures six times.

Then tell them that LUKAS' successor in Triple Crown race success in the 1990's to early 2000's, BOB BAFFERT, has now won the Del Mar Futurity a record nine times!!! LOOKIN AT LUCKY will try to emulate BAFFERT's champion juvenile of last year, MIDSHIPMAN, who scored in the Juvenile after using the Del Mar Futurity as a stepping stone.

From the Midwest comes Arlington-Washington Futurity winner DIXIE BAND, a runner that Southern California-based jockey DAVID FLORES auditioned for WAYNE CATALANO as a potential Juvenile mount.

Then remind them there is one more major prep race in every circuit which will further narrow the field of juveniles. Juveniles, like human children, seemingly mature overnight. What's the hot stock today, may bottom out 2 months from now while a relatively inexperienced competitor takes the market by storm.

Remind them also that the Juvenile could produce a Kentucky Derby winner, even in defeat. MINE THAT BIRD finished dead last in the Juvenile in '08 but scored a 50-1 shocker on Derby day. In 2007 STREET SENSE became the first Juvenile winner to capture the Derby since the Breeders' Cup started back in 1984.

JUVENILE FILLIES

This could turn into the most exciting race of all. From New York comes Spinaway winner HOT DIXIE CHICK; from the Midwest, emphatic Arlington-Washington Lassie winner SHE BE WILD gave trainer WAYNE CATALANO two terrific hands to play at Santa Anita...oh, by the way, she ran the equivalent of four lengths faster than her male stable mate on the same card! MI SUENO still hasn't figured out how to stay focused through the whole race, but the SOUTHERN EQUINE STABLE runner recovered in enough time to capture the Darley Debutante for her second consecutive graded stakes win.

These are but three interesting races that will be part of an exciting weekend. Enjoy the final prep races throughout the world. It's a great time to be a thoroughbred racing fan!

P.S. Mr. JESS JACKSON: If you and Mr. STEVE ASMUSSEN want to bring RACHEL to join in the fun, you're more than welcome. I'm sure that CHIP WOOLLEY would understand if CALVIN dumped MINE THAT BIRD again to partner with RACHEL in the Classic.

What If There Was No Curlin?

cdawahare — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:19:00 GMT

By Patrick Patten, Handride

Look, I'm on the fence too. I think Curlin is a horse for the decade: An absolute monster who has proven his mettle on more than one continent. He is a horse whose races will be watched years from now, both wins and losses. HOWEVER, I don't believe he's a lock in the Breeders' Cup Classic, so instead of trying to come up with an excuse I'll just pretend he's not in the race and let reality provide the need or non-need of an excuse. He's not a speedster so he wouldn't affect the pace of the race anyways.

What is the pace of this race? I'm guessing Smooth Air and Fairbanks play a game of "You take it. No you take it. By all means you take it." Colonel John, Raven's Pass, and maybe Go Between should occupy the second flight. I'm imagining a pretty bunched up group with not a lot of pace. Now, all the jockeys are probably thinking the same thing, so look for a surprise horse to try and steal away early or entering the final turn.

We all know that the track has made it a little easier on the early speed types, but with none in here I'm looking for a horse who might make the middle move and keep that pace going. (Remember we're pretending Curlin, who fits that bill perfectly, isn't in the race). Raven's Pass interests me when I read his trip comments. He's rated, led throughout, sustained his run over 1f, and gets the hands of Dettori - sounds pretty enticing. In fact, both Duke of Marmalade and Henrythenavigator have some good things going for them, but I'm not betting an all Euro trifecta (famous last words?). Duke might have peaked a while back and the Arc was a sign for a horse going downhill, and Henry might have the same case of being tired. So, I'm left with the Americans who have nice middle moves. I've seen Smooth Air do it, and while that's a bomb of a pick, I feel good that he'll outrun his odds. Go Between is on the rail, which has been a death sentence recently at Oak Tree, but Gomez is the best jockey in the country and I'm sure he could get a donkey home in any race.

If there was no Curlin:

Top Pick: Raven's Pass

Minor Awards: Smooth Air, Go Between, Tiago

Breaking Down the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf

cdawahare — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:30:00 GMT

By Valerie Grash

Every horseplayer has their favorite types of races. Personally, I’m a turf buff and, if you give me a juvenile maiden special weight, I’m in heaven. So, while some dread handicapping the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, I’ll dive right in.

Recent wire-to-wire Jessamine winner Laragh (Tapit out of El Prado mare) is the lukewarm 7-2 favorite, which appears slightly inappropriate considering that C Karma (8-1) soundly defeated her in the G3 Natalma before Laragh was switched from Mark Casse to John Terranova, and gained the services of Edgar Prado. Undoubtedly, Laragh was impressive over the firm Keeneland turf, but she also appears to be the perfect candidate to bounce.

C Karma (Exchange Rate out of Slick mare) is one of the most experienced runners in the field, having never finished out of the money in five races, albeit only one of those was on turf and all were at Woodbine. She put in a sharp 5f (1:00.09) on Saturday at Santa Anita so I won’t totally dismiss her chances, but I would have preferred more diverse prior competition.

I’m tossing Emmy Darling (8-1), who not only has never run a route, but also has no turf breeding nor experience. Her appearance here rather than the Juvenile Filly seems a bit desperate. The European contingent—April Pride (12-1), Beyond Our Reach (15-1) and Heart Shaped (15-1)—doesn’t represent the best of the continent, with only two maiden wins between them. Renda (10-1), a Medaglia d’Oro filly purchased for a mere $11,000 at Keeneland’s 2007 September yearling sale, has never raced on turf (or any artificial surface) so I’m not sold on her. Eibar Coa is first-time up on Wayne Catalano-trained Sugar Mom (10-1) who comes in with a three-race win streak (the first in a 5.5f maiden claiming event), but I’ll let her beat me.

Canny jock Jose Lezcano returns to ride Maram (10-1) for Chad Brown, and this one intrigues me. Undefeated in two efforts, Maram is the daughter of the rather obscure sire Sahm (son of the first filly victress of the G1 Irish Derby in nearly 100 years—Salsabil) and the equally-uninteresting Quest for Fame mare American Dreamer. Her victory in the 8.5f Miss Grillo over a yielding Belmont turf was part of a blanket finish that included two other entrants in the Juvenile Filly Turf—Freedom Rings (8-1) and Consequence (8-1). The major question about her is can she travel—she was not shipped early to acclimatize to the California heat. Ditto Freedom Rings.

However, there are two fillies here I particularly like—Saucey Evening (9-2) and Consequence (8-1). In juvenile races, I often find myself focusing on breeding, and both these fillies have lots of positives to recommend them.

Saucey Evening’s dam Jeweled Lady is a full-sister to multiple G1 winner General Challenge, and a 1/2 to G1 Oak Leaf two-year-old winner Notable Career. Her sire More Than Ready is throwing some excellent grass horses—notably in Australia, such as last season’s two-year-old champion colt Sebring and tough filly Augusta Proud. Her trainer Graham Motion is a master with turfsters (see Better Talk Now). After breaking her maiden first-out on a firm Colonial Downs’ turf course, Saucey Evening shipped to Del Mar where she finished a narrow half length back in second behind Streamin Heat in the 5.5f CTBA Stakes, before taking on the big girls in the 7f G1 Del Mar Debutante against the likes of Stardom Bound and Palacio de Amor, who are both entered in the BC Juvenile Filly. She came back from a disappointing seventh-place finish there to win the 8.5f California Cup Juvenile Fillies last out over Santa Anita’s Pro-Ride. The switch back to grass and an eye-popping 3f workout (36.72) over Santa Anita’s turf course on Monday bodes well for her chances—as does the continued association with top jock Garrett Gomez.

My big obsession, however, is with Shug McGaughey-trained Consequence. If ever there was a filly born to win this race! After breaking her maiden first out at Saratoga, she finished a game fourth—just a 1/2 length behind winner Maram—in the 8.5f Miss Grillo. Both her races were over soft turf, so we’ll see if she can handle the rock-hard turf at Santa Anita, BUT….her dam Educated Risk was a multiple G1 winner (also trained by McGaughey), who finished second to Eliza in the 1992 BC Juvenile Fillies (As an interesting side note, and potentially fascinating twist, the dam of BC Classic entrant Tiago, Set Them Free, was the pace setter in that 1992 Juvenile Filly race).

Educated Risk is also a 1/2 sister to 1995 BC Distaff winner (and Hall of Famer) Inside Information. Consequence’s 3rd dam Clear Ceiling also produced G1 1000 Guineas winner Quick as Lightning, and the G1-placed turfster Infinite. Now THAT’S a pedigree for victory!

The DRF clocker pegged Consequence’s bullet 4f workout on Monday—46.18 (1/42)—the best of the day, noting she galloped out 5f in 58.14. With turf master John Velazquez up again, this chestnut El Prado filly looks a winner.

Who Doesn't Like Fast Women?

Blood-Horse Staff — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 01:29:00 GMT

-by Patrick Patten, author of Handride.

The F&M Sprint is the first BC race, and I hate to say it, but it’s the one I’m looking forward to the most. This will be the most competitive race, and the proof I use to claim this? The horses entered are in the money 77% of the time. Adding up all their lifetime performances, they’re in the money a collective 133 out of 172 times. WOW. The horse with the worst record, Psalm, has Goldikova, Lush Lashes, and Zarkava in her past performances. That’s some pretty good company she was keeping. You also have Lady Sprinter, Indyanne, and Indian Blessing, who have all been favorites pretty much throughout their career. Not all these horses can finish in the money, and someone will have to be a favorite.

I’ll keep my real handicapping to a minimum as there will be many things to read by people more qualified than me. So, let me just say this: There is a ton of speed in this race. I see Dearest Trickski, Dream Rush, Indyanne, La Tee, and Lady Sprinter all needing the lead, or at least probably going to go for it if their post allows, with horses like Indian Blessing and Zaftig not too far away.

Which leads me to my girl: Intangaroo. A horse who hasn’t been favored since an Allowance race this time last year, but who since has won three Grade 1’s, all at this 7f distance. She gets no respect. No respect I tellya. She’s been working every week out in Hollywood and appears not to have had a bad work since her last win, in the Ballerina at Saratoga, a race in which she tied her high Beyer mark of 99. True it’s not the 100+’s of Indian Blessing, Indyanne, Ventura (ooh that Frankel and his turf fillies), and Zaftig, but I’ll take her record in big spots.

The pick: Intangaroo. Minor Awards: Indian Blessing, Ventura, Zaftig.

The Dirt on the (Dirt) Mile

Blood-Horse Staff — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:44:00 GMT

- by Alan Mann

I figure that at this point, it's time to just concentrate on the races. We've discussed the many questions surrounding this year's Breeders' Cup to death. Yes, it's the first synthetic Breeders' Cup, but, as I've noted on my blog Left at the Gate, it's certainly not the first one tinged with doubts that cut to the very legitimacy of its status as World Championship races. And though, in my opinion, the Breeders' Cup can't possibly be bashed enough over the pointless renaming of the Distaff and, especially, the absurd scheduling of championship races on a day and time when only the truly committed will even make an attempt to watch, I suppose it’s time to move on and do some gambling.

Lost in all of this however is the exacerbation of what I've always considered to be the biggest drawback of the whole concept of the Breeders' Cup - the fact that there's too much on one day for the mainstream press, and thus, the general public to digest. Other than the Classic and perhaps another race or two of particular import, the culmination of an entire year's worth of divisional races are inevitably reduced to a footnote at the bottom of a newspaper or web page. This year, we're up to nine races on Saturday; and add to that numerical dilution the fact that four of Saturday’s races are relatively minor events that should not be grouped with the main events.

14 races in all, and I gotta tell ya, it's too much for me too. Consider how long one can obsess over a single race - say, the Kentucky Derby - and that many Breeders' Cup races have significantly more angles and nuance to ponder. Perhaps if I was doing this full-time as a paid gig, I’d have the time, but….

So, I'm going to try to keep it as simple as possible. For one thing, when I printed out the past performances for Saturday's card, I started with Race 3. I don't particularly care for mile and a half marathons or turf sprints under any circumstances. Seriously man, drop me a note next week and let me know who won these two totally superfluous and unnecessary additions to the menu. Secondly, I intend to concentrate on the races which I can actually handicap with the usual basics of class, pace, and speed (and perhaps even tote), rather than to guess (other than to the extent we all will be regarding the Pro-Ride surface) about horses stretching out for the first time, going grass to "dirt” (or vice-versa), or Racing Post Ratings and the bereft European past performance lines that accompany them. So, to start at least for now, I'm also putting aside all four juvenile races as well as the Mile and the Turf. Come race day, the tote board will be my guide to finding value in those. But, as far as serious handicapping goes, I'm now down to a more manageable six, and there's potentially plenty to be made (or lost) in those. Of course, to each his/her own, but this is how I’m approaching the event.

The Dirt Mile may be the most eminently handicapable race on the program, so let's start there, and take a look at those that I consider to be the contenders. With Colonel John poised to represent WinStar and trainer Eoin Harty in the Classic, Well Armed is set for what serves for many horses as the Classic-for-the-Distance-Challenged event. Having lost by a mere neck to Go Between in the mile and a quarter Pacific Classic, we can't say that about this gelded five-year old son of Tiznow; but this two-turn mile event should suit him fine as well. He's refined his game of late, showing the ability to rate in his last two efforts, and comes off a workmanlike, though not dominant, win in the Goodwood. He has the speed figs, the tactical diversity, and the experience over the track to be the clear horse to beat. (And he worked a half in 46 1/5 on Monday.)

Lewis Michael has raced only twice this year due to an ankle problem, but seems to be coming up to the Dirt Mile in fine fettle for trainer Wayne (38%) Catalano. This son of Rahy seemed to really blossom at age four last year, at least until he ran into the Monmouth muck and mire which we definitely won't be seeing this year. He's shown the ability to handle various surfaces and distances. He stretches to two turns off his perfect-trip win in the seven furlong Pat O'Brien, a pattern which resulted in his dominant Washington Park Handicap win last year. You can watch his most recent workout here - seven furlongs in 1:25.60 at Keeneland. Definitely a contender, though I am concerned about his light schedule, and believe he may be overbet.

Albertus Maximus is one of several California-based horses on the Breeders' Cup program that we've seen undergo a dramatic uptick in form after a change of barns - he switched to trainer Vladimir Cerin from Gary Mandella over the summer, and has put in two excellent efforts since. Most recent was a third, beaten less than two lengths, to Well Armed in the Goodwood, a race in which he conceded a good three paths to the winner turning for home. Other than Tiago, this four-year old son of Albert the Great closed fastest of all despite the lost ground, earned a career high Beyer, and looks like a live one at what could be a square price.

Slew's Tizzy is another one who has turned things around for a new barn; Doug O’Neill took over training duties over the winter, and the four-year old son of Tiznow responded with a sharp second in an excellent allowance race which also featured next out stakes winner Giant Gizmo, the consistent graded stakes runner Tropic Storm, and graded stakes winning Warning Zone. After seven months off, he returned with a front-running allowance win, at a mile, over the Pro-Ride last month. He set a slow pace that day, and is unlikely to be afforded that luxury here; and it concerns me that the Turf Sprint was his first choice. But his recent sharp form is worth mentioning. Full brother Slew’s Tiznow is also slated to start. O’Neill took over this one from Patrick Biancone, and gee, isn’t Biancone about to once again grace the game with his presence? Jeez, we get rid of steroids, and now pick up thisssssssss.

Two Step Salsa returns to synthetic land after an unsuccessful journey out east, and could find himself in front with a good post draw. He has superior Moss Pace numbers even to Well Armed when that one was running on the lead. However, he could find himself being hounded by My Pal Charlie, who is a bit interesting coming off his Super Derby win. Three-year old son of Indian Charlie earned a career best Beyer that day, but benefited from a perfect inside trip (despite having to wait momentarily for room), and he’s never been on synthetics. But he does have some of the best pace numbers in the field, and could also be a factor early should he handle the surface.

In conclusion (and I’ll revisit the race after the post draw): Albertus Maximus is on the improve and has an excellent race over the track. Well Armed has speed, stamina, and consistency, and looms strictly the one to beat. Slew’s Tizzy has improved dramatically and has won at the distance over the track. Lewis Michael could blow these away in the stretch if he runs back to peak form from last year.

Legendary Jockeys Rock On

Blood-Horse Staff — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:34:00 GMT

By suebroux of Post Parade

Marketing has been a hot topic of discussion amidst the horse racing industry. Last month the NTRA held a summit / junket in Fabulous Las Vegas in an effort to develop some semblance of a plan to lure a new and younger fan base to the sport.

Inspired, Breeders' Cup devised and implemented their own marketing strategy to promote the upcoming New and Improved - Hot and Hip - Two Days and You'll Wish for Three, Breeders' Cup World Championships 2008:

Breeders' Cup Legends Tour 2008

25 Years ...
1984 Pat Day, Angel Cordero, Jr., and Laffit Pincay, Jr. finished 1-2-3 in the inaugural Breeders' Cup Classic and ushered in a new era in thoroughbred excitement ...

Breeders' Cup Legends Tour 2008 ...

Multi-city tour sweeping through racetracks across America to promote the Breeders' Cup World Championships ...

Breeders' Cup Legends Tour 2008 ...

Don't miss out on Pat Day, Angel Cordero, Jr. and Laffit Pincay, Jr., legendary jockeys that combined for 78,445,267 lifetime wins and combined earnings larger than the national debt ...

Breeders' Cup Legends Tour 2008 ...

Wild Again 25 years ago and it's gonna be wild again in rockin' Santa Anita October 24th and 25th. Be part of the excitement! Reserve your seats now!

Breeders' Cup Legends Tour 2008
*Not affiliated with any concert performers, concert events,or the McCain-Palin campaign.

The Tour would be stopping at Lone Star Park and I just had to be part of the hysteria! Just think, Pat Day, Angel Cordero, Jr., and Laffit Pincay, Jr., would be there to sign autographs, answer questions, high five fans, and trash hotel rooms all for the glory of the upcoming Breeders' Cup. Hey, maybe there'd be a mosh pit!

Well, needless to say, 10:00 a.m. on a rainy Tuesday morning in a simulcast facility with three quiet and venerable jockeys, it didn't exactly resemble Lollapalooza. They sat silently behind a table, autographing memorabilia, answering an occasional question, only to momentarily stop and watch race replays of previous Breeders' Cups on a nearby monitor. However, I observed Angel Cordero, Jr., covertly glance over at the free continental breakfast more than once.

Regardless of the subdued atmosphere of the Legends Tour, it afforded me the luxury of conducting brief interviews of the Racing Hall of Fame jockeys. I inquired to what they were doing in their retirement and if they were still involved in horse racing.

Since his retirement, Pat Day remains active in the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, traveling the country, ministering to the spiritual needs of horse racing's workforce by conducting prayer breakfasts. Actually, he was so soft-spoken and reserved the only thing I heard him say was "prayer breakfasts." He did not indicate how he likes his eggs cooked.

Angel Cordero, Jr., is the agent for the handsome and talented, John Velazquez, so he continues to enjoy the glories of the Winner's Circle during his retirement.

Both Pat Day and Angel Cordero, Jr., have mounts for the upcoming Living Legends race this weekend. So I thought it would be fun to mix things up a bit; get a spark of competition going.

"I received an email from Gary Stevens the other day," I informed the legendary jockeys. "He had breezed 7 horses on Sunday in preparation of the Living Legends race on October 18th. He says, ‘I'm ready. I worked that many [horses] to make sure I'm dead fit.' Sounds like he's giving you notice. Have you been actively riding, getting ready for this upcoming race?"

Pat Day seemed somewhat disinterested. "I guess I've been on a couple of horses," he answered, unconcerned.

Meanwhile, Angel Cordero, Jr. displayed a hint of excitement. "It's going to be fun!" After chatting for a moment or two, I speculated that he would provide much livelier answers if he tossed back a couple shots of tequila:

"Oh, that Gary Stevens thinks he's the greatest jockey to ever ride. He thinks he's so tough because he breezed 7 horses. I'll be blowing by him by daylight, man! I'm gonna be kicking dirt back in that pretty-boy-HRTV-on-air personality! And you know that movie, Seabiscuit? He wasn't that good in it. Hey, you got any more of that Patrón?"

Anyway, they kindly autographed an item that I brought: a birthday card. "It's for my daughter," I explained. "Tomorrow's her birthday."

"Is she a racing fan?" Pincay asked.

"Nah. She'll only be 7. But who wouldn't love to get a birthday card from Pat Day, Laffit Pincay and Angel Cordero? If I got one, it would be awesome."

Breeders Cup Television Coverage - Is that it?

cdawahare — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:59:00 GMT

By Robert Marks, They’re in the Gate

After coming into it's partnership with the Breeders Cup starting in 2006 the Disney owned ESPN/ESPN/ABC Channels promised us the world in it's coverage and promotion of the event including coverage leading up to the Breeders Cup. Now entering its 3rd year of coverage on the Cable network, I feel like an underfed kid at the dinner table, fed some leftovers instead of the 5 course meal I was promised.

ESPN2 will begin coverage of racing Friday Oct. 24 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. EDT and feature five Breeders' Cup Championship races. The Friday card is an all fillies and Mare card complete with a very unpopular decision to rename the Distaff the "Ladies Classic'.

On Saturday Oct. 25, ABC will air 4 races between 1-3:30 p.m. EDT before switching to ESPN from 3:30-7 p.m. This will be the 3^rd year of ESPN coverage since taking over the coverage from NBC.

The 2007 Saturday telecast drew a .75 national rating, up slightly from 2006's .7 number. The .75 translates to approximately 1.05-million viewers.

Last years Friday card drew an anemic .3 rating. The ratings results of the last two years on ESPN represent a roughly 50% decline in viewers from 2005, the last year that NBC aired the Breeders' Cup.

Moving to a cable network, the Breeders' Cup figured to have a falloff in viewership, although not as steep as it has been in the 1^st two years of coverage thus far.

When the ESPN deal was announced we were promised By Breeders Cup President Greg Avioli that the promotion during the run-up to the event would be "unparalleled" and that ESPN and "would expose millions of sports fans to the Breeders' Cup brand."

After televising a few "Win and Your In" programs during August, ESPN had No live TV coverage during the entire month of September. That ESPN/ABC, home of the Breeders Cup, can go the entire month of September without putting on even one hour of Saturday racing is atrocious. Let me not even bother to list the Grade 1 races that we had in the month of September that could have been on the ESPN network. ESPN finally had a racing card on Saturday October 4^th.

The promotion of the Breeders Cup during the October 4^th card centered mostly on the potential Curlin - Big Brown(since retired) BC Classic matchup. This would have been a perfect opportunity to do a short feature on the dazzling undefeated filly Zenyatta. Why not promote this great horse, generating interest and also drawing attention to the Friday card, which most casual racing fans are not even aware exists.

On the Bloodhorse Talkin' Horses chat, Greg Land, Breeders Cup Chief Marketing officer said "the move to an all filly and mare schedule on Friday was a racing decision not a marketing decision. We believe that the fillies and mares deserve a Championship day of their own and that fans will enjoy two near equal days of Championship racing."

Huh??? Does that quote make any sense to you? The fillies and mares deserve to be buried on a weekday afternoon card that will be seen by very, very few people??

It just seems like The Breeders Cup is doing everything possible to disenfranchise loyal fans and their broadcast partners, ESPN/ABC, are doing the same by barely promoting the event, in effect pushing the fans to the ground after the Breeders Cup gang punches us in the gut. In 2006 ESPN floated the idea of showing a race during Halftime of an ESPN October 2007 Monday Night Football Game. What happened to the idea????....nothing of course. Maybe you could have done that this year with Casino Drive in his allowance race. Expose the product-especially to new eyeballs already watching your existing programs such as football etc.

If the powers that be insist on giving the fillies and mares a day of their own, why not tinker with the time a bit and try prime time coverage Friday Night. You can do a 6:30-9:30 pm Friday Television card with the renamed Distaff going off in prime time around 9:15 pm (6:15 pm at Santa Anita). Now you are exposing great fillies and mares such as Zenyatta, Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, and others to a prime time audience; an audience certainly bigger than one would get on Friday afternoon. People can come home from work, eat dinner, settle in front of their TV sets and computer with their ADW account and bet and watch the race. This would also work out better for the overseas audience and increase the off track handle.

Now more than ever, competition for the consumer's sports and entertainment budget dollars will be fierce. If the Breeders Cup intends to build itself as a 2 day showcase of racings best, they must learn to truly market and use their broadcast partner to promote and showcase the product. ESPN and its sister channels has the programming hours to broadcast weekly programs throughout August and September leading up to the Breeders Cup and cross promote during their other big time sporting events, but thus far they have treated horse racing like the unwanted step child.

Robert Marks blogs at They’re in the Gate

Why Nobody Else Uses a Circular Firing Squad Anymore

cdawahare — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:16:00 GMT

Courtesy of Michael Nikolic

As a rule, I never get lost.

If I did, which is patently absurd given the aforementioned rule, I certainly would never stop and ask for directions; some might characterize my behavior in such situations as willfully obtuse. They are obviously out of touch with reality.

I find, within the ranks of horse racing's executive council, a kindred spirit. They clearly have their finger on the proverbial pulse of the industry and are within their rights to discount every single suggestion that is presented to them. After all, they have taken this game, so rich in tradition, and done an exceptional job of stewarding it.

Quick question(s), off the top of your head, who won the Santa Monica Handicap this year? The Donn? The Belmont? If, without Google, you named more than the last one, go get yourself a cookie.

Is there any correlation between the number of graded stakes, over 460 this year, and the fleeting careers of horses? What about to their stud career?

I don't think that I am going out too far on the proverbial limb to say that there would be no game without horses. Given that, it obviously stands to reason that we should breed as many of those quirky equines as fast as we can and for as much as we can get some poor bastard to pay for them. If only we could also devise a system where mediocre horses could command obscene stud fees after forgettable racing careers and perpetuate the cycle.

Enter the AGSC and TOBA.

This incestuous and nepotic symbiology has conspired to perpetrate a fraud on the racing public.

'Breed the best to the best' has long been the mantra of the breeder. What better way to determine who the best is than to have a series of races that are clearly defined as 'the best'? We know they are the best because the people carding them tell us they are and they have no reason to lie. And why not make so many of them that good horses don't have to actually run against each other while still collecting their own testament to ignominy? Why not card them at various distances, divorced from any standard or reason?

Should graded status be awarded to races as if they were trophies in little league baseball? Shouldn't the winning of a graded stake actually mean something? If an owner is able to collect a few graded stakes early in a horse's career, what possible incentive could they have for keeping their charge in training instead of sending it off to the breeding shed?

The Breeders' Cup, created as an international day of champions, has soiled itself with its latest iteration. In what can only be described as a command decision reminiscent of Michael Brown during his FEMA tenure, the Breeders' Cup chose to pander to the AGSC/TOBA and dilute its product. Kennedy's Corridor has an excellent piece on the dysfunction.

Carding fourteen races over two days at every conceivable distance and on every surface, except dirt, is nothing but a sop to the owners and breeders. The first goal, in the TOBA mission statement, calls for the improvement of the economics for breeders and owners. Integrity and pleasure follow in the rear; exactly where the fans get it.

Dilution, contrary to popular nostrums, does not give you more of a product; you can just peddle the tonic to more people. Well, I have had my fill and the BC lost my vote and furthermore, they lost my money. The Breeders' Cup card can usually squeeze $1000 from me and several of my friends, through the Pick Six and individual wagers. This year I will not drink the Kool-Aid.

We are all made cheaper by the adulteration of the Breeders' Cup and even more so by the relegation of the Distaff to Friday. Graded races should be hard to win. Winning them should mean something. To paraphrase Tom Hanks in A league of their own, 'The hard...is what makes them great; if it were easy, every one could do it.'

Oh, wait...

Michael Nikolic blogs at Gathering the Wind

Rethinking the Breeders' Cup

Blood-Horse Staff — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:58:00 GMT

By Valerie Grash

As a fan, call me underwhelmed. The Breeders’ Cup returns to Churchill Downs in 2010 (but perhaps only if the state of Kentucky can be extorted into extending a pari-mutuel tax exemption), and, once again, horse racing has missed the boat in terms of updating what has become, unfortunately, “the” defining event of America’s thoroughbred industry. The time has come to either totally rethink the Breeders’ Cup event or eliminate it altogether—for the good of the sport of horse racing.

Once upon a time thoroughbred owners actually campaigned their horses throughout the year, with major stakes races as targets and champions decided by the sum total of their achievements, not a single race. Sadly, as the breeding industry in this country as evolved into a nearly out-of-control entity—breeding horses to breed, not to race—the all-too-appropriately-named Breeders’ Cup has become nothing more than a much-desired notation on sale catalog pedigree pages. It is truly a group of races for breeders, not for fans, as star horses often run as little as possible as they aim for the BC, resulting in a litany of historic races with short fields light on talent and with very little actual competition.

To make matters worse, the Breeders’ Cup does not even do a good job marketing itself. Calling itself the “World Championship of Horse Racing” is a complete public relations snow job (not to mention a tad jingoistic) as very few of the truly great overseas runners show up, unlike the Dubai World Cup which provides financial incentives for genuinely international fields. The so-called “Win-and-You’re-In” races (which guarantees a spot, but not payment of hefty entry fees) are neither well-planned out over the course of the racing year, nor complete enough in every category (such as female sprinters, etc.) to guarantee even a casual interest by fans—and key races are not broadcast on a national television channel. Come October, the offensive “Filly Friday” not only segregates a race card by gender to a day not traditionally associated with stakes-quality racing, but also is relegated to lowly ESPN2. Only four of Saturday’s races (the ill-named Marathon, Turf Sprint, “Dirt” Mile and Turf Mile) are worthy of ABC; the much-lesser watched ESPN gets to air the crème de la crème races—from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET. Do not even get me started on the marketing geniuses who indicate that their “research” finds people do not know the meaning of “distaff”, yet agree that anthropomorphizing horses by calling them “Ladies” is somehow inoffensive.

I know the sport of horseracing is no longer an integral part of the American psyche as it was in its heyday, replaced by “sports” such as poker, BMX racing and ultimate fighting in broadcast and print media. That does not mean it has to remain so. Tinker with the Breeders’ Cup format from top to bottom, or abolish it altogether, because as it exists now it does very little for the sport beyond filling the pockets of breeders, bloodstock agents and pinhookers. The aging fan base is not being rejuvenated with enough younger fans as things stand. It is time to think outside the box, to shake up an institution that has, to be honest, lost its way.

From BC-specific to broader industry changes, here is what I propose:

•    Instead of holding the event at only one track every year, spread it over several weekends and several venues. Share the pageantry, the carnival-like atmosphere with as many racing fans across the country as possible. Have dirt races on dirt tracks, like Churchill, Belmont, or Oaklawn. Hold turf races run over the magnificent courses at Arlington or Woodbine. Allow artificial surface specialists to run over their preferred surface, at Santa Anita, Hollywood or Keeneland. Three meets, spread over three weekends, at three different venues. Thus, no one could worry that a Classic run over Pro-Ride puts dirt horses at a disadvantage—and neither Jess Jackson (and Curlin) nor IEAH (and Big Brown) would have any legitimate reason to avoid one another due to concerns about the surface. Run horses on the surface that best suits them, whether turf, dirt or the artificial stuff.

•    Establish a point system and chart standings for horses racing throughout the year. Award points for racing in graded stakes, and continually publish rankings based on accumulated points. The BC races would be part of that system, and establish an agreement that end-of-the-year awards such as the Eclipse be based on total yearly performances, not a single race. Members of the TBA (http://thoroughbredbloggersalliance.blogspot.com/) and individual bloggers such as Kennedy’s Corridor (http://kennedyscorridor.blogspot.com/) have advocated the use of standings for years. Let us think seriously about it as a method of sustaining fan interest—emotionally invested fans draw in family members, friends and acquaintances as new fans through their enthusiasm for the sport. Give them something to invest themselves in more than just a couple days a year.

•    Additionally, there must be a consolidated effort throughout the year to schedule properly races nationwide, both by date and by post time. Not only do fans crave this, but so too do bettors. Bigger, more competitive fields result in bigger pools worthy of risking one’s money against other horseplayers. How many times this year did major stakes races go off with fields of five or less horses? A better job needs to be done to ensure large fields, even if that means lessening the number of races, race dates and even racetracks. Mies van der Rohe’s adage “less is more” is so apropos to horseracing. More quality racing, from bottom-level claimers to Grade 1 stakes, will result from lessening the number of races run, thus leading to bigger fields and better competition overall.

•    The “less is more” concept should apply to the Breeders’ Cup races themselves. For example, are there enough races run at 12 furlongs and above to warrant a “Marathon” race? In Europe and Australia perhaps, but American racing appears to favor 8.5 to 9 furlong races. If you want to continue to have a “Marathon” race, then make it a real marathon—two miles at least. True stamina needs to be reintroduced into American bloodstock, and rewarded. I recognize that if my first suggestion were implemented—scheduling three meets of races at three different venues—it would result in an increased number of BC races, and that is justified. Tossing in juvenile turf races just because you can hardly appears rational when so few juveniles are tested in graded turf stakes.

Conceptually, the Breeders’ Cup should be a series of races that serve as a platform for displaying the sport’s best horses for the racing fan instead of a monolithic self-indulgent money-grab for the breeding industry. If the sport does not once again focus itself on breeding to race—and actually race those horses—then the sport dies. It is as simple as that. Maybe the Breeders’ Cup needs to go the way of the dinosaurs as well.