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Take Charge Indy is Breeders Cup Juvenile bound

October 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

In 2001 Take Charge Lady burst onto the scene with a win in the Grade 3 Silverbulletday Stakes. The Dehere filly blazed the 8 ½ furlongs distance in just a shade over 1:42 while earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 109. Had she done it this year, the lass would have been favored in the Kentucky Derby. Her illustrious career included two wins in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes from Keeneland.

This year, her son Take Charge Indy (AP Indy x Take Charge Lady by Dehere), will seek to find success where his brilliant mother failed. The colt will try to win a Breeders Cup race, specifically the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Trainer Patrick Byrne won the race with Favorite Trick in 1997.

Last out in the Breeders Futurity at Keeneland, Take Charge Indy made a menacing move as they turned for home, but flattened out and had to settle for fourth.


He posted his first work since that race on Friday. It was a bullet five furlongs in 1:00.60 over a muddy Churchill Downs track with regular jockey James Graham aboard.

 “Pat wanted a good work and he got a good work,” Graham said. “This is the best he has worked since his maiden win (on July 30) and he did it the right way. I raised the stick at the head of the lane and he went from third gear right into overdrive.”

All three of the colt’s races have been over synthetic surfaces, so naturally you might wonder if he will like dirt. James Graham says he will do fine.

“No qualms at all,” Graham said. “He’d bred for it and runs just like his daddy.”

That’s quite a statement saying that this young colt with only a single win runs like classic winner AP Indy, but the connections do have a reason to be happy. For better or worse, they are headed to the Breeders Cup. They will be in with a chance to win.

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Sneak Peak at 2011 Breeders Cup Turf

October 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

by Robert Boswell

Europeans have had a strangle hold on the Breeders’ Cup Turf for many years. In fact, you have to go all the way back to 1997-98 to find consecutive North American winners. Just when Americans look to have a serious chance to break the most recent three year European streak, our top runners get sent to the bench or breeding shed.

Paddy O’Prado, fifth in last year’s Classic, was retired due to a sesamoid injury suffered during his 2011 debut win in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes on Preakness day.

Acclamation, Pacific Classic winner, multiple graded stakes winner on turf and Eclipse Award candidate, was sidelined for the remainder of the year with a foot issue.

Cape Blanco, one of the top Europeans, was also retired. He swept the top east coast turf races; the Grade 1 Man O’ War, the Grade 1 Arlington Million and the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic, which will likely give him enough to be crowned Champion Turf Male.

With So You Think headed to the Classic, and undefeated superstar Frankel skipping the event, favoritism will likely go to four year old French filly Sarafina. She was seventh last out in the Group 1 Arc de Triomphe, but won three consecutive Group races prior to that. The 1 ½ mile distance is perfect for her, so look for a huge run from the talented lass.

Sea Moon, a lightly-raced three year old for Sir Michael Stoute, will take plenty of action as well. He was most recently a good third in the Group 1 Ladbrokes St. Leger at Doncaster and took a Group 2 prior to that. The colt lt is on the rise and could make his presence strongly felt late with a run from mid-pack.

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Aidan O’Brien has two colts he hasn’t yet committed to the race, Treasure Beach and St. Nicholas Abbey, but has until pre-entries are taken this Monday to decide. Treasure Beach, a three year old by Galileo, already has a win here in the United States in the Grade 1 Secretariat and finished third behind an impressive Sarah Lynx in the Canadian International following a clunker in the Arc.

St. Nicholas Abbey, a Montjeu four year old has been in against some top level competition this year.  He ran fifth in the Arc most recently, third to Sarafina before that, another third behind last year’s Arc winner Workforce and Nathaniel who is skipping this race, and a Group 1 win in the Coronation Cup at 1 ½ miles ahead of Filly and Mare Turf favorite Midday.

Another Montjeu colt, Joshua Tree, is a possible starter following his runner-up finish in the Canadian International. He’s only raced three times since winning that same event in 2010, but Marco Botti won’t send him if he doesn’t think his form is spot on.

With the defections of Acclamation and Paddy O’Prado, the American hopes are with Winchester.  The Turf distance of 12 furlongs is his favorite, and he can win over any course condition. After winning the Grade 1 Sword Dancer at Saratoga, he ran fifth in the Joe Hirsch last time out.

Dean’s Kitten, though coming off a string of good showings, likes to settle for minor prizes. He ran a respectable third to Cape Blanco and Gio Ponti in the Arlington Million and second to Cape Blanco in a photo in the Joe Hirsch. One could argue that it was only that close because Cape Blanco came out with a fracture, but Dean’s Kitten still ran a great race.

Other possible starters include Teaks North, winner of the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth and fourth in the Sword Dancer, California-based Celtic New Year, who took the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, and Canadian shipper Hailstone, who has yet to find the winners’ circle this year but was competitive in several graded stakes at Woodbine.

The $3M Grade 1 Emirates Airlines Breeders’ Cup Turf will be contested at 1 ½ miles and is carded as the tenth of twelve races, just before the Classic, with a post time of 6:07 Eastern.  Race schedule and time will be finalized Oct 24th.

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Parbhoo’s Breeders Cup contenders Trinniberg & Giant Ryan working well

October 21, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Bisnath Parbhoo says he is delighted with how things are going for his Breeders Cup contenders, Trinniberg (Teuflesberg x Bella Dorato by Goldminers Gold) and Giant Ryan (Freud x Kheyrah by Dayjur). Bisnath trains primarly (if not exclusively, I do not have that knowledge), for his son Shivanada.

Trinniberg, a prime candidate for the Breeders Cup Juvenile after runner up efforts in the Hopeful and Nashua, worked four furlongs in :48.20 over a sloppy Churchill Downs main track. It was the swiftest move of 22 in total that day and he finished two lengths ahead of his four-year-old workmate, Butler Cabin. He was clocked out in 1:03.40 for five furlongs.

   “It was a good little work and I got him to relax,” said Willie Martinez, who was aboard for the move. “He’s got natural speed and is extremely quick. At the top of the lane, when I asked him, he responded.”

Parbhoo had the following to say about Trinniberg.

“I thought he breezed well this morning. We’ll see how he is tomorrow, I would have no hesitation in writing the check. I love the game. But, he has already paid his way (with runner-up finishes in the GII Nashua and Hopeful).”

Trinniberg’s final Breeders Cup work will be a three furlong move from the gate next week.

Giant Ryan worked a leasurely three furlongs in :39.20 over a wet fast track. The Vosburgh champ is aiming for the Breeders Cup Sprint and will have one last work next week as his connections look ahead to glory under the Twin Spires.

Both of these contenders will be in with real shots for their respective Breeders Cup races. They didn’t get to be in this position by accident. Backers will get a good price at the windows so don’t forget Trinniberg and Giant Ryan.

Quotes courtesy of John Asher and the Churchill Downs media department.

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2011 Breeders Cup Classic odds

October 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

**Plan to bet the Breeders Cup Classic? Check out our Horse Betting guide as well our our Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest information!**

by Chris Hernandez

The Breeders’ Cup is only two weeks away and the excitement is building across the nation. With some aggressive choices by some of the connections on which races their charges will run, the action figures to be fast and furious.

This post will be about some of the contenders of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the anchor race for two high-powered days of races. With the incursion of the usual invasion from abroad, will the U.S.A. defend its home dirt? Let us start with the horse who figures to be the favorite in the race. (Projected off odds at post time listed).

Uncle Mo (2-1)

The defending juvenile champ has shown his award-winning ability has not left him after suffering from an internal illness that sidelined him during the middle of the year. His brash owner Mike Repole decided to go for broke and run him in the Classic, even with the less-than-normal campaign leading up to it. He devastated his foes in the Grade II Kelso going a mile over a wet surface at Belmont on Super Saturday. Many question his ability to get the distance, since his sire Indian Charlie has only winner at ten furlongs (Fleet Indian) from his many crops. Mo was the best of his crop and has tremendous ability. If he can get that tenth furlong, and that is a BIG if, the rest are running for second.

Havre De Grace (5-2)

The leader of the older female division will take on the males once again this year after her earlier win in the Woodward. She kept her winning ways going with a victory against her own sex in the Grade 1 Beldame at 9 furlongs on Super Saturday, about a half hour after Mo’s win. She has never won at ten furlongs, losing two close photos to Blind Luck. Facing males at ten furlongs in a full field is the biggest test of her life. With a win or even a close second, she would become the third straight female to win Horse of the Year.

Flat Out (6-1)

This consistent son of Flatter overcame his past injury problems to become a solid force in the older male division. The five year old horse shows up every single time with his run, regardless of a slow or blistering pace. His connections finally won that Grade 1 they had hoped for with his triumph in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on Super Saturday, after Uncle Mo and Havre de Grace had won their respective races. His only run at Churchill was a disappointing off-the-board finish in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster, but he was caught on a dead rail that day on a drying out track. He bounced out of his win with a spiffy work at Churchill Downs and looks to be coming with guns blazing for the Classic. The pace scenario will definitely be a plus for him.

Tizway (7-1)

This son of Tiznow beat Flat Out in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap in his last start after crushing in the Met Mile the race before. He was forced to skip the Jockey Club Gold Cup after he came down with a minor issue, but he has been working well since and looks like no worse for wear. He has run well fresh in the past, so maybe the layoff is a blessing in disguise. The main problem is the fact that he has struggled in two turn races, with a less than stellar winning percentage, though he has hit the board several times. The pace set-up may not be ideal for him, as he figures to be near a hot pace.

So You Think (9-1)

The European invader looks to be the first Euro to hit the board since Raven’s Pass won the 2008 edition. He will try to bounce back after finishing 2nd in the British Championship Stakes, which followed a dull fourth in the Prix de l’Arc De Triomphe. The Classic would be the third race in three countries in five weeks for the Aidan O’Brien charge. It would also be his first race on dirt ever. His pedigree gives no clue to whether or not he will handle the dirt, but O’Brien’s Giant’s Causeway ran a gallant second over the Churchill Downs strip when narrowly defeated by Tiznow in 2000.

There are others who will attempt to earn the brass ring such as the multiple Grade 1 winning Game On Dude, Travers winner Stay Thirsty and rising talent Headache. Can one of these upstage the stars and pull a huge upset and throwing the race for Horse of the Year into further chaos? Let us see what figures to be an explosive way to end the two days of Breeders’ Cup Championship action.

**Plan to bet the Breeders Cup Classic? Check out our Horse Betting guide as well our our Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest information!**

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Early look at the 2011 Breeders Cup Mile

October 16, 2011 By 2 Comments

by Martin Noonan

Over 27,000 fans at Keeneland yesterday were not only treated to a beautiful Kentucky fall day but they also witnessed Aiden O’Brien’s Irish bred filly Together romp in the Queen Elizabeth II returning $11.20 to her backers.  Her victory not only proved that she is a great race horse, but because she so soundly defeated the post time favorite, Winter Memories, it proved once again how dominate European turf runners are over their American counterparts.  The result of this race raises the question as to whether the American turfers can finally capture the Breeders Cup Mile, or will three time winner Goldikova win the race for the fourth time, breaking her own record.

Goldikova was foiled in Ireland in 2005 but spent much of her racing career in France under the watchful eye of trainer Freddy Head.  Freddy Head is no stranger to the Breeders Cup Mile as he not only was Goldikova’s trainer in her 2008, 2009, and 2010 victories, but he also won the race twice as a jockey in 1987 and 1998 aboard the great French runner Miesque.  Goldikova has won 17 of 26 races and over $6.8 million in her career.  She will likely be the post time favorite as well as the favorite of those who like to watch history in the making as Goldikova tries for his fourth consecutive Breeders Cup Mile victory.

But, is Goldikova’s quest for history in jeopardy?  She has lost three of her last four starts.  While she has not disgraced herself in any of those G1 races, her trainer has been quoted as saying that “maybe she does not have the same turn of foot as she used to and maybe the mileage is starting to catch up”.  Goldikova’s regular jockey, Olivier Peslier has hinted that she may not take to the soft turf.

The logical horse to beat Goldikova would be Christophe Clement’s three-time Eclipse Award winner, Gio Ponti.  Gio Ponti has 12 wins in 28 starts and has earned slightly more than $6 million in his career.  He finished second to Goldikova in last year’s event.  Gio Ponti is likely to be the second favorite at 7-2 and certainly the sentimental favorite as this will be the last race of his career.  Although Clement calls New York his home, he was born in and honed his trade in France.  Clement is notorious for being an excellent turf trainer.

After winning the Shadwell Mile at Keeneland, Clements comments were positive excusing Gio Ponti’s less than stellar races this year as “a bit of bad luck”.  After watching Gio Ponti’s second in a row Shadwell victory you have to conclude that he is an improving race horse.  Ramon Dominquez gets the mount for the 6 year old son of Tale Of The Cat.  If the turf is firm this could be Gio Ponti’s year.

All things considered the Breeders Cup Mile looks to be a rematch from last year race.  However, what would a race analysis be without a longshot possibility or a “feel good” story.  That possibility is provided by a 5 year old son of Stormy Atlantic, Get Stormy.

Get Stormy finished second in the Shadwell Mile behind the late surging Gio Ponti.  The 13 to 1 longshot rated behind front running Sidney’s Candy to the top of the stretch.  When asked by his jockey Garrett Gomez, he found a new gear charging to the lead in the middle of the track only to be nipped at the wire by the heavily favored Gio Ponti.  In all I thought Get Stormy ran a gutsy race in a very impressive performance.

Get Stormy is trained by a very good but very “under the radar” trainer, Tom Bush.  Tom is  mostly a New York based trainer and has a little bit of turf specialty.  He has very high winning percentages at the Saratoga and Belmont meets but is much quieter in the winter.  His horses are always placed well after the horse has had a race.  Although Tom said that Get Stormy would have to have a big race to enter him in the Breeder’s Cup Mile, I think Tom got that race.

The Get Stormy team lost one of their members a short time ago.  Tom Roach who bred and raised Get Stormy on his Parish Hill farm died this fall.  The 63 year old Roach would always be on hand to watch Get Stormy whenever he ran in Kentucky.  Most recently he was in the winner’s circle when Get Stormy won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and Keeneland’s Grade 1 Makers Mark Mile.

Get Stormy missed most of the Saratoga meet with a tendon issue but recovered in time for a second place finish in the Bernard Baruch.  According to Bush, Get Stormy “is a big heavy horse that takes a lot of training”.

I’m betting that Get Stormy will move forward from his performance in the Shadwell Mile and perhaps hold off Gio Ponti and an aging Goldikova for a Breeders Cup upset.

**Plan to bet the Breeders Cup Mile? Check out our Horse Betting guide as well our our Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest information!**

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2011 Breeders Cup Dirt Mile early preview

October 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

By Paul Mazur
The Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile is one of the newer, perhaps less glamorous events on the Breeders’ Cup program. This year’s renewal received a huge boost when Preakness winner Shacklefordjoined the list of possible starters. He was the runner-up in the G1 Florida Derby before annexing the middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. After the Preakness win, he was runner-up twice more in the G1 Haskell and G2 Indiana Derby most recently. The Dale Romans trainee goes here after a dismal effort in the G1 Travers three races back. Sensing the horse better under ten furlongs, Romans elected this single-turn eight-furlong event rather than the ten-furlong Breeders’ Cup Classic later on the Saturday program. Romans cited the presence of other front runners and a tough Classic field when choosing this race for his front-running sophomore.

The other horses pointing for this event won’t make this race a walk in the park, however. Versatile Caleb’s Posse has a two-turn win in the G3 Ohio Derby to go with two wins around one turn at Saratoga, winning the G2 Amsterdam and G1 Kings’ Bishop this past summer. Last time he was third behind Wilburn in the Indiana Derby, and he’ll turning back to one turn.

Other three-year-olds going here and testing elders include Wilburn, who won the Smarty Jones at Parx and beat both Caleb’s Posse and Shackleford in the Indiana Derby; Tapizar, winner of the G3 Sham earlier in the year and winner of an allowance/optional claiming event at Belmont after recovering from injury; and I’m Steppin It Up; victor of two listed stakes—the off-the-turf Kent Stakes two back at Delaware and the Chief Tamanco Stakes at Belmont on October 15th, a mere three Saturdays before the event.Veteran Tres Borrachos is the only horse to win a “Win and You’re In Race”, having won the G2 San Diego in the summer at Del Mar. Rather than the front speed he showed earlier in his career, he rallied from off the pace to take that polytrack test. He’ll be looking to rebound off disappointing efforts in his last two starts at longer distances. He was sixth in the G1 Pacific Classic and fifth in the G1 Goodwood. Another veteran, Awesome Gem, has his sights on this race. Two starts ago he won the G3 Longacres Mile and last time ran second in the G1 Goodwood. Awesome Gem also won the G3 Lone Star Park Handicap (over Breeders’ Cup classic contender Flat Out) and was second in the G3 Cornhusker.Other older runners with their sights set on the Dirt Mile include Jackson Bend, winner of the James Marvin and G1 Forego at Saratoga and second most recently in the G2 Kelso at a mile; Soaring Empire, runner up of the G3 Salvator Mile and not seen since winning the Majestic Light at Monmouth; Spurrier, winless in seven starts this year but with five in-the-money finishes in five California graded stakes (G2 San Diego, G2 Mervyn LeRoy, G3 Tokyo City, G2 San Antonio, G2 San Pasqual); and Rule, who cuts back in distance after a disappointing seventh in the ten-furlong G2 Hawthorne Gold Cup last time and winner of the Birdstone at Saratoga.

The Dirt Mile could also see Irrefutable, who stretches out to a mile after two seconds in two six-furlong heats—the G1 Ancient Title and G2 Smile Sprint; Jersey Town, who finished behind the aforementioned Jackson Bend twice and was third in the G2 Kelso and second in the G1 Forego; Finally, Convocation, who will emerge from a hiatus after an eighth in the G1 Woodward and was a runner up in the G3 Westchester in April.This year’s intersectional field should feature a little of everything: three year olds trying elders (Wilburn), gritty veterans (Awesome Gem and Tres Borrachos), turn-backs from longer distances (Rule), route-to sprint types (Caleb’s Posse), stretch-outs from shorter sprints (Irrefutable), runners coming off long layoffs (Convocation, Redding Colliery), and runners making quick turnarounds (I’m Steppin It Up). And with the potential addition of the Preakness victor and its associated hype, there’s something for everyone in this year’s rendition of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.**Plan to bet the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile? Check out our Horse Betting guide as well our our Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest information!**

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2011 Breeders Cup Ladies Classic Still Solid Despite Absences

October 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment
by Paul Mazur
Stop if this sounds familiar: the Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classicwill not feature one of the top females in the country, as the missing runner takes on the boys the following day in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

In both 2009 and 2010 it was Zenyatta.  This year’s Ladies’ Classic will be without Havre de Grace, winner of the G1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn and the G1 Woodward against males at Saratoga, as she’s the star filly stepping outside of her division. The Ladies’ Classic will also be without Havre de Grace’s battle partner Blind Luck, winner of an exciting G2 Delaware Handicap over her the last time out. After a confusing and disappointing run the last time out in the G1 Lady’s Secret at Santa Anita, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer made a drastic change of plans with the 2010 Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. Rather than going to Kentucky for a November race in front of an audience of thousands, she’ll go as Hip 210A, a sale prospect at the Keeneland Fall Sale on November 7, according to Keeneland’s Sales website.

Without Blind Luck and Havre de Grace, the Ladies’ Classic should still have plenty of luster and plenty at stake.

Among the automatic qualifiers are Zazu, who won the Lady’s Secret against elders last time at Santa Anita. Winner also of the G2 Hollywood Oaks and G1 Las Virgenes, she has hit the board in her eight starts this year on the West Coast and could be a serious player in the voting for this year’s Champion Three Year Old Filly. When Zazu finished second in the G1 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap at Del Mar, she was behind Ultra Blend.  Since the C. L. Hirsch is a “Win and You’re In” race, Ultra Blend gets a free pass as well to Churchill Downs. She also won the G2 Milady at Hollywood and placed in both the Lady’s Secret and G2 A Gleam Handicap. Another entrant from the Lady’s Secret, Ask the Moon, is an automatic qualifier. While she was sixth on the Santa Anita dirt last time, she has two Grade 1 wins at Saratoga to her credit, winning the Personal Ensign and Ruffian Invitational.  Last of the automatic qualifiers is Aruna, winner of the G1 Juddmonte Spinster over the Keeneland polytrack.  This one could just as easily appear in the Filly & Mare Turf earlier in the day, as the polytrack race was a rare appearance off grass for her, as she won the G3 All Along in Virginia and was second in a pair of seminal sod races, the G1 Diana and G2 Churchill Distaff Turf Mile.

This year, three three-year-old fillies have dominated the Eastern and Midwestern races in this division, and all their paths will converge in this race. Although saddled out in California with Bob Baffert, Plum Pretty has found her riches away from home, as she was the winner of both the G1 Kentucky Oaks and the G2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion last time. Plum Pretty’s sharp win in the Cotillion came over Kiaran McLaughlin-trained It’s Tricky, winner of two G1 races—the Acorn and Coaching Club of America Oaks—this summer. And from the Bill Mott stable, Royal Delta defeated both Plum Pretty and It’s Tricky two starts ago in the G1 Alabama at Saratoga. Last time she tested the waters against older females in the G1 Beldame at Belmont. Royal Delta finished a credible second that day to Havre de Grace, and earlier this year won the G2 Black-Eyed Susan on Pimlico’s dirt. Look for the best finisher and possible winner of this trio laying a strong claim to the Champion Three-Year-Old Filly title.

Another three-year-old filly with aspirations here is Joyful Victory, winner of two graded stakes at Oaklawn but who hasn’t raced since a fifth in the Coaching Club American Oaks.

With neither Blind Luck nor Havre de Grace present, an older female could possibly emerge as well and steal the show. The older mares possible for this race include Pachattack, who was second to Aruna in the Spinster and Ask the Moon in the Ruffian to accompany a polytrack win on Memorial Day weekend in the G3 Arlington Matron; Satans Quick Chick, who won a listed stakes at Oaklawn at the start of the year and most recently was third in the Beldame; Great Hot, winner of the listed Torrey Pines at Del Mar and third in the Lady’s Secret; and Miss Match, who won the G1 Santa Margarita Invitational in March over Santa Anita’s dirt and last time tried the males in the G1 Goodwood, running a decent fourth.

A casual fan might dismiss this race, dejected over the absence of Blind Luck and Havre de Grace, and get an early start on Saturday’s proceedings. However, this race could be the race that decides the Three-Year-Old Filly title between Plum Pretty, It’s Tricky, and Royal Delta, with Zazu a potential applecart-upsetter among this age group. A formerly overlooked older female can emerge in the spotlight too, be it Ultra Blend from the west or Ask The Moon from the east. Though two of the biggest names in this division won’t appear until the next day on the track or a few days later at auction, there are still some big names and big stories that will intersect in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic.

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Uncle Mo on quest for 2011 Breeders Cup Classic

October 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The first time I saw Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie x Playa Maya by Arch) on paper he had yet to race. His works were pretty darn sharp and combined with his top flight connections and pedigree he looked like a sure thing to win his debut.

Despite his good looks, I don’t think any of us saw his 14 ¼ length romp in the unveiling coming. He covered the six furlongs distance in a blazing 1:09 1/5 seconds under a vigorous hand ride and earned a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. It was easily one of the most impressive first starts by any horse, ever.

We all knew from that day forward Uncle Mo was a name we wouldn’t soon forget. He made his next start in the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes where he crushed the competition by 4 ¾ lengths. After that he ran away from the highly talented Boys At Tosconova to take the Breeders Cup Juvenile by 4 ¼  lengths in a swift time of 1: 42 3/5 seconds. Just as his debut was one of the best of all time, his Breeders Cup efforts ranks as arguably the greatest in contention with Arazi and War Pass.

Uncle Mo’s three year old campaign started with an easy win in the Timely Writer from Gulfstream. He should have competed in the Kentucky Derby, but he succombed to illness in the Wood Memorial where he suffered his first defeat finishing 1 ¼ lengths behind Toby’s Corner in third.

At this point everyone and their brother came out against the Mo saying he couldn’t get the classic distance or that he just wasn’t as good as we thought. This is hogwash. Uncle Mo could have died from the GI tract infection from which it was later discovered that he had. Not only did he have a GI tract infection, but he also suffered from a liver infection called cholangiohepatitis.

The three year old division mired in the abscence of its king. Animal Kingdom wore the roses and while he was probably a legitimately top horse, I can’t say the same for Preakness winner Shackleford and Belmont Stakes winner Ruler on Ice. The Travers victor and stablemate of Mo, Stay Thirsty, just isn’t quite on the level of Uncle Mo either.

Uncle Mo worked very well towards his first race back which was to be the King’s Bishop. He had lost a lot of weight while sick, but leading up to his return he was looking quite healthy. Todd Pletcher and Mike Repole had me thinking he couldn’t lose. Well, he did, but there was plenty to be happy and excited about.

First of all, Uncle Mo proved once and for all that he can rate. This horse has a high cruising speed and can make the front if needed, but launching a bid from fourth he took the lead and was just barely caught by a streaking Caleb’s Posse to lose by a mere nose. This is an extremely important thing for Mo. Plenty of great horses can motor to the front, but not all of them can relax and pass horses.

Almost as important as proving he can rate, Mo showed he is still the same horse and maybe even better than before. Losing by a nose to a top sprinter like Caleb’s Posse after not having raced since April is no small feat. The seven furlongs distance is very tough for anyone let alone a horse that could be short, but Mo handled it superbly.

Uncle Mo’s next start would come in the Kelso Handicap going a flat mile at Belmont. He quickly went to the front and never looked back winning with the greatest amount of ease over Grade 1 winners Jackson Bend and Jersey Town. The colt got a Beyer Speed Figure of 118 which will easily be the best in the field for his next race, the Breeders Cup Classic.

I’ve never seen a horse as good as Uncle Mo in my lifetime. That’s saying something considering the monsters I’ve watched compete on the racetrack. None of them possess the raw talent that Uncle Mo does. I don’t think we have seen his best stuff yet and if he shows it in the Breeders Cup Classic the rest of the field is in big trouble. I

I’m not concerned about the mile and a quarter distance in the slighest. Mo has got stamina on the back end as his mare is from the classic line of sire Arch and he is just plain that much better than everyone else. He will racing over a track he clearly loves too.

It’s been a long road for the uber fast colt named Uncle Mo and I think that road ends with a triumph in the Breeders Cup Classic.

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2011 Breeders Cup Sprint projects to be a tough race

October 13, 2011 By 2 Comments

By Robert Boswell

This year the thoroughbred racing scene as a whole has lacked a bit of clarity and the male sprint division was no different. Just take a look back; there have been eight Grade 1 sprint races on the main track for 3-year-olds or older, producing eight different winners. Just when one sprinter looked like he would take the lead with an impressive victory, another would jump up and beat him next time out.

Early in the year Aikenite shot to the top with consecutive Grade 2 wins in the Commonwealth at Keeneland and the Churchill Downs Stakes on Derby Day, both at seven furlongs. The Todd Pletcher trainee has since had trouble finding the winners’ circle, most recently beaten a whisker by New Zealand import Hoofit in Grade 3 Stoll Keenon Ogden Phoenix, a Win and You’re In race for the Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Hoofit, trained by red-hot Graham Motion and undefeated in two starts since coming to the U.S., is not Breeders’ Cup nominated, so his connections would have to supplement him to the race for $200,000.

Also not Breeders’ Cup nominated is Giant Ryan, winner of six consecutive races going back to a state-bred optional claimer at Aqueduct. He is sired by Freud, a full brother to Giant’s Causeway, and trained by Bisnath Parboo, who could be this year’s Cinderella story. Until this year Parboo was barely making it as a trainer in New York, and didn’t have 20 wins to his name. Then up came Giant Ryan winning six in a row, all at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint distance of six furlongs with the last two being Win and You’re In events. Despite winning his fifth straight in the Grade 2 Smile Spring Handicap at Calder, he gained little respect, taking the star-studded Grade 1 Vosburgh at odds of 12-1 in wire-to-wire fashion last out. Parboo, who trains for his son Shivananda, says they have already agreed to pay the supplemental fee of $100,000 to enter the Breeders’ Cup.

The Vosburgh, though loaded with talent, was not contested without controversy, as jockey Rajiv Maragh was suspended a week for his ride aboard Calibrachoa. Right out of the gate Maragh came over on projected pace presence Apriority, which in turn shut off Bob Baffert’s Euroears, who was also expected to be near the front. They finished seventh and eighth respectively in the eight-horse field and Baffert was characteristically outspoken about the incident, saying via Twitter that he was “glad to hear that Belmont stewards are going to suspended Rajiv…” while also calling the seven day suspension “lite.” The Langfuhr seven year old was coming off an impressive win over Smiling Tiger in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar, and a solid second in the Grade 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen.

Another who showed promise earlier in the year is Trappe Shot. After winning his 2011 debut in an overnight stakes at Belmont, the Tapit colt splashed to one of the most impressive victories of the year in the Grade 2 True North Handicap on the Belmont undercard. Sean Avery beat him by a nose in the Grade 1 Alfred G Vanderbilt at Saratoga before he finished a disappointing fourth in the Vosburgh. Trappe Shot went off a solid favorite, due to Big Drama skipping the race with a fever.

By missing the Vosburgh, trainer David Fawkes allows Big Drama only two starts since he wired the field at 5-1 in last year’s edition of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. After winning the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream in record-breaking fashion, Fawkes gave Big Drama a lengthy break before bringing him back in the Whippleton, an overnight stakes at Calder. He will train up to the Breeders’ Cup and Fawkes says the fever has not affected his training regimen.

Three time Grade 1 winner Smiling Tiger is expected to come from Jeff Bonde’s barn in California again this year to contend after a show finish as third choice a year ago. Following wins in two graded stakes in a row, he could only manage sixth behind impressive Aikenite in the Churchill Downs. Returning to California, the four year old took the Grade 1 Triple Bend at Hollywood, then was runner-up in the Bing Crosby and fourth in the Grade 1 Pat O’Brien at Del Mar. Also coming from California is Amazombie, winner of the Grade 1 Ancient Title at Santa Anita, a Win and You’re In race. The win comes following a three race streak of third place finishes.

Two three year olds are expected to go as well. The Factor, also trained by Baffert, has won the Grade 2 San Vicente, the Grade 2 Rebel, and the Pat O’Brien. Wesley Ward’s Flashpoint has reverted back to sprinting after being on the Triple Crown trail, and captured the Grade 3 Jersey Shore at Monmouth before folding in the Phoenix most recently.

Other possible starters include Hamazing Destiny, last year’s runner-up and recent third in the Phoenix; Camp Victory, second in both the Triple Bend and Pat O’Brien; three year old Justin Phillip, winner of a sloppy Grade 2 Woody Stephens on Belmont Day; Force Freeze, second in the Vosburgh, and Apriority.

You may like Big Drama or finally be on the Giant Ryan bandwagon, but for me the Breeders’ Cup Sprint is just a huge puzzle. While the purse has been lowered to $1.5 million, the competition is as tougher than ever.

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