Breeders Cup Marathon Preview

The Breeders Cup Marathon is a unique race. It was contested for the first time last year. It allows horses whom are strong at “ultra route” distances to have a chance at the spotlight. Muhannak won the race at 12-1 last year, and will be back for another try in 2009. The Marathon will be ran on Friday which is “Ladies Day” instead of Saturday as it was last year. The distance of the race has increased from 1 1/2 miles to 1 3/4 miles.  Let’s take a quick look at some of the potential entries!

There isn’t a horse that really jumps off the page when handicapping the Marathon. It looks like the pacesetter is going to be Hawthorne Gold Cup runner up Night Lite. The five-year-old son of Thunder Gulch earned an automatic entry to the race when he won the Turfway Park Fall Championship by 5 3/4 lengths. He earned a BSF of 100 for that effort. Jockey Jon Court will probably retain the mount. I’d love to see Court get a win in the Breeders Cup.

Muhannak will try and defend his title in the Marathon. He enters this race with better form than last year, finishing 5th of 12 in a Group 3 at Ascot last out. He earned a Racing Post Rating of 111 for that try. Depending on the pace situation he should be laying mid pack or towards the rear of the field. His jockey would wise not to strike the lead too early, as he was nearly caught last year.

The nine-year-old gelding Cloudy’s Knight will have a big shot at winning for trainer Jonathan Sheppard. The son of Avie’s Lord has raced just twice this year with wins in the Kentucky Cup Turf, and Sycamore. Both were Grade 3 events.  The old warrior was a Grade 1 winner in 2007, and looks to still have that form. Sheppard is a genius with horses that race at exceptionally long distances and he will have this one ready to run the race of his life.

The three-year-old colts Man of Iron and Mastery both looks tough shipping in from Europe. Man of Iron is a son of Giant’s Causeway and Better Than Honour. Some may recall Better Than Honour as the dam that produced Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches and Jazil. She also produced Japanese star Casino Drive. He is certainly bred to win a Breeders Cup race.  Mastery won the Grade 1 St Ledger Stakes last out. He looks to be on the improve and should hold a very strong hand in this race.

Other interesting entries include Black Astor, Father Time, and Sir Dave. Who do you like in the Breeders Cup Marathon?

Breeders Cup Turf Sprint Preview

Last year was the inaugural running of the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint. Desert Code came charging down the lane late to take the race from Diabolical. I still have a bad taste in my mouth over this race, because I bet Diabolical pretty heavy at odds of 10-1. I wish I had back wheeled him, because Desert Code was around 36-1. This year’s running should be just as exciting. Let’s take a glance at some of the horses that may be in the race.

2008 and 2009 Morvich Handicap winner California Flag is expected to give the Turf Sprint another try after finishing 10th last year. He has raced only twice this year and should be very fresh according to trainer Brian Koriner. The gray gelding has excellent early zip, but will need things to be less hectic on the front end this time around. He has an advantage over many in the race because he has won several times over this unique down hill turf course. Jockey Joe Talamo could get his first Breeders Cup victory on California Flag if things play out right for him.

Silver Timber is expected to compete in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint after winning the Woodford last out over Mr Nightlinger. The gelding was claimed for $25k earlier this year by owner Michael Dubb and trainer Chad Brown. The trainer was quoted saying that Silver Timber has never looked as good as he did in his last work. Brown won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last year with Maram.

Cannonball will certainly be a force for trainer Wes Ward. The four-year-old gelded son of Catienus was runner up in a Group 1 race at Royal Ascot this summer. His last trip to the track was a victory in a NY bred stakes race. He is a consistent horse and lightly raced this year. If he brings the race that earned him second in England he will have a huge shot at becoming a Breeders Cup winner.

Defending champ Desert Code will probably get plenty of support at the windows despite finishing poorly in the Morvich Handicap last out. He had a brutally fast pace to run at when he won last year, and unless something like that happens again I don’t know if he can win this race. It seems like he has lost a step in his last few races.

Other interesting contenders include Strike the Deal, Diamondrella, Get Funky, Gotta Have Her, and Square Eddie. A full list of pre entries can be found by clicking here.

Breeders Cup quickly approaching

I can’t believe the Breeders Cup World Championships are just around the corner. It seems like yesterday I was getting my hopes up for Curlin as he turned for home, only to watch the Europeans out quicken him. I hope the Europeans don’t man handle us this time around. I’ve been doing work with several different sites/magazines and have been unable to update here regularly. I’m going to try and post at least every other day from now on.

Some of the work I’ve been doing includes a 3k word article on the Breeders Cup Sprint for HorsePlayer Magazine. I like Zensational to win that race, but I’ll save that for another post. I’ve also been covering the Breeders Cup Classic for the NTRA. You can find my blog there by clicking on the link on the homepage at www.ntra.com. I’m leaning towards Quality Road at the moment, but  I will reserve the right to change my mind until the week of the race.

I’m also doing write ups on every race for another website, and that will consume a lot of my time. I’ll post links to them here, or do separate ones for this blog. Do you have any thoughts on the upcoming Breeders Cup? Leave a comment below if so. I’d love to hear what you think!

Mine That Bird looks tough in Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes

The final and perhaps most important prep for the Breeders Cup Classic will be contested on Saturday.  The Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes will take place over the same track as the Breeders Cup Classic. That track is Santa Anita Park. The field looks contentious, and the winner will surely have to work hard in order to take the $350,000 purse. Recent winners of the race include Well Armed, Tiago, Lava Man, and Rock Hard Ten. Kent Desormeaux and Gary Stevens share the record for most Goodwood wins by a jockey at four. The great Charlie Whittingham has won the Goodwood more than any other trainer with five victories.

Perhaps the most interesting horse in the race is Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird. I’m still in disbelief over the way he was able to power up the rail to win by six lengths on the First Saturday in May. He will be reunited with Calvin Borel in this race after having Mike Smith up last out. The son of Birdstone hasn’t raced since finishing third in the West Virginia Derby, and has been doing well in the morning. He should be in the thick of it late.

Favored last out in the Pacific Classic, Colonel John faded shortly after setting the pace. That was only his second start of the year. Before running in the Pacific Classic he broke the track record for one mile over the turf at Del Mar. The 2008 Travers Stakes winner needs a good race here in order to continue onward to the Breeders Cup Classic. I hope he runs well. It would be fitting for a son of Tiznow to defend the Breeders Cup against the Europeans this year.

The ironically named Chocolate Candy will be racing for the Craig Family Trust, which brought the world the Jenny Craig dieting program. He finished second last out in the $100k El Cajun Stakes, unable to get past Grazen. The son of Candy Ride was getting to the winner late, but he needed more ground. Joel Rosario piloted him in that event, but Victor Espinoza will take over this time. He has had success in the past over this surface and at this distance. He is one of many with a shot to win this race.

Tiago will be back for another try at the Goodwood after winning the race in 2007 and finishing second in 2008. The closer has been lightly campaigned this year, having raced just twice in 2009. The son of Pleasant Tap hasn’t looked the same of late, but he has been able to recover from a few bad races in the past. Regular jockey Mike Smith will be in the irons. I can remember watching Tiago race as a three-year-old. Now at the age of five, he could be better than ever.

If there is one person in racing you want to listen to when they say their horse is going to run big it is Bob Baffert. He told us that Richard’s Kid had a big shot to take the Pacific Classic, and he won at 24-1. Sadly to say I didn’t heed Baffert’s advice. The win was even more impressive considering that Mike Smith dropped his whip during the race. Alex Solis will take over this time. The son of Lemon Drop Kid has really come along since moving to Baffert’s barn three races ago. It looks like the stretch out in distance is really helping. That doesn’t surprise me considering his pedigree. Don’t leave this one off of any tickets.

Parading is another interesting runner in this race. He looked like a horse to have your eye on after taking the Ben Ali and Dixie Stakes, but failed as the favorite in the Hollywood Gold Cup. After that he ran an improved fourth in the Pacific Classic. The six-year-old will be making just his twentieth start in the Goodwood Stakes. I expect a big run from him, and he should be a nice price.

Gitano Hernando could make problems for the Americans in this race. He is shipping in after winning a race at Wolverhampton for Team Valor. The three-year-old son of Hernando is a perfect 2 for 2 over synthetic surfaces. I have a feeling the connections will pushing hard for the win because of the presence of jockey Kieren Fallon. I have to think he wouldn’t be here if they didn’t think they have a huge shot. He has performed well at long distances and this race will set him up well for the Breeders Cup Classic if he is as good as the connections think he is.

Other contenders for the Goodwood Stakes include Monzante, Tres Borrachos, and Informed. Monzante will be racing for the only the second time in 2009, and winning this race is probably too much to ask. Informed is a nice runner, but I don’t think he can get the distance. Tres Borrachos ran well to place in the Hollywood Gold Cup, but will need things all his own way on the front end to finish in the top three this time.

I’ll go with Parading as my top pick. He is really coming around, and will have the services of top jockey Rafael Bejarano. I really like his running style and I expect him to get an ideal trip. The connections know the only way they can advance to the Breeders Cup is with a win in this race. Who do you like to win the Goodwood Stakes? Leave a comment and let us know how you feel!

Jockey Club Gold Cup, Vosburgh, and Beldame just a few of the great races this weekend!

It doesn’t get much better than this weekend when it comes to Breeders Cup preps. The Classic Division has the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Hawthorne Gold Cup, Ohio Derby, and Indiana Derby. The Sprint Division will see some of its best bang heads in the Vosburgh, and the Beldame will boast some of the best females in the country. The Flower Bowl and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational will also take place on the grass. Wagering or not, you will want to keep tabs on the winners of these races. I also advise watching and analyzing the videos when they are uploaded to the internet.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup has a very deep field that includes Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Summer Bird. He has been working up a storm leading to this race. Older horse and Stephen Foster Handicap winner Macho Again will also be competing after finishing second to Rachel Alexandra last out in the Woodward. I’ll be wagering on Florida Derby winner Quality Road. While hindsight is always 20/20 he wasn’t the best bet last time. This time he will be making his third start since the lay off, and has experience at the distance. For a closer look at the Jockey Club Gold Cup check out my Breeders Cup Blog for the NTRA by clicking here.

Fabulous Strike will favored to win the Vosburgh Stakes for the third time in three years. He finished second last year after complications with a shoe. He has brutal speed, and can go fast while still hanging on late in the race. Trainer Todd Beattie is open to running in the Breeders Cup again, but he obviously wants to see how the gelding does here first. His biggest challenge will come in the form of Tom Fool Handicap winner Munnings. The three-year-old is highly regarded but is probably more optimal at seven furlongs. Go Go Shoot, Kodiak Kowboy and Peace Chant will also seek to take the cake in this race.

I loved her chances last out, and Careless Jewel was a dominating victor of the Alabama Stakes. She is going to be favored to take the Cotillion Stakes at Philadelphia Park this weekend. The gray filly has excellent early zip and will have a hell of a chance to win. There are many capable fillies in the race, but I like Cat Moves for a price. Already a Grade 1 winner early in her career, she has never raced this far. If she can translate her sprint form then she will be very tough in this one. Betting her is contingent with getting at least her 8/1 morning line price. I wouldn’t take less than that.

I’ve always thought that Music Note was an absolute monster, and last race was no exception. She won at a nice price in her first try sprinting, taking down Indian Blessing and Informed Decision. She will only have to beat four other fillies in the Bel Dame, but that doesn’t guarantee victory. Unbridled Belle has been hit and miss lately, but has enough talent to win this one on her best day. I’ll be rooting for Music Note, and I look forward to seeing her in this years Breeders Cup.

The Flower Bowl looks like a nice race. Pure Clan is the 3-1 ML second choice, and I expect a big run from her. A Grade 1 winner at three, Pure Clan has yet to show her true form this year. She finished third last out in the Beverley D last out, and will have to down the winner of that race (Dynaforce) to be successful here. Dynaforce has always looks like a nice mare, but had tailed off in form until last out. Kent Desormeaux worked his magic and won the Bev D at a nice price. It seems like everything he rides on the turf wins.

Gio Ponti would have to run a very bad race to lose the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational. He is easily the best turf horse in the country, and Christophe Clemente says he is the best horse he has ever trained. Perhaps a horse that has a shot at pulling the upset is Grand Couturier. He had been tailing off in form lately until winning a stakes race in New York last out. It would take a big effort from him or any other horse for that matter to take down Gio Ponti. I don’t’ see it happening.

Win Willy shocked the racing world earlier this year when he won the Rebel Stakes at a big price. He will try to win his second graded stakes race this weekend in the Indiana Derby. He has raced just once since the Kentucky Derby, but has looked sharp in the morning. Misremembered, winner of the Swaps Stakes, is the likely favorite. Gone Astray will be favored in the Ohio Derby after romping in the Pennsylvania Derby. That race also includes Join In The Dance, runner up in the Pennsylvania Derby. Gone Astray probably could have won the Indiana Derby which has a much larger purse and I find myself wondering why he wasn’t entered there.

I’m a bit disappointed with the quality of the Hawthorne Gold Cup, but excited at the same time because Awesome Gem might be able to get a marquee win. The old gelding has been running strong lately, particular when switching to the dirt at Emerald Downs two races back. His best competition will come in the form of Turfway Park Fall Championship winner Nite Light. I hope that Night Lite sets a blistering pace and Awesome Gem is able to run him down in the late stages of the race.

This is one weekend of racing that you don’t want to miss. I had no problem at all writing over 1,000 words for this because there is SO MUCH happening this weekend. I probably didn’t say enough, but I digress. I’m looking forward to the Jockey Club Gold Cup the most. I hope Quality Road runs a great race like he is capable of doing. Who do you like in this weekends big races? Leave a comment and let me know what your thinking!