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Lookin At Lucky in Indiana Derby heads big weekend at Hoosier Park

September 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky is far and away the best to have ever stepped on the track at Hoosier Park. His presence in the Indiana Derby is an excellent reward for a track that has done good things for racing recently. However, I digress.

Lookin At Lucky is clearly the best three-year-old in training. He crushed his foes by 4 lengths last out in the Haskell Invitational. Since that race he has missed a bit of training, but you can expect him to be as good as ever. Bob Baffert probably sees this race as a way to get him an easy win before the Breeders Cup Classic and pick up the winners check in a $500k race. He should be 1/5 here and for good reason.

The horse that leaps off the page when I look at the Indiana Derby is Uareoutlaw. He is a Brazilian bred and raced son of the Wild Again stallion Christine’s Outlaw. It’s not so much his form that impresses, but the fact that he is in the barn of Mike Maker and owned by Thomas Conway. You may recall that they hooked up at huge odds to win the Bluegrass Stakes earlier this year with Stately Victor. Maker has been known to pull big upsets, and this horse is working bullets. He could be any kind, but running past the Preakness winner is a huge task.

This race has the perfect setup for Steve Asmussen’s Thiskyhasnolimit. He ran very well  to win the $300k Smarty Jones when turning back in distance last out. Look for jockey Jamie Theriot to take back and make a big run late in the race. He is the only horse with even a marginal chance of beating Lucky.

The late running Seeking The Title looks like a contender in the Indiana Oaks, which is the race preceding the Indiana Derby. After just a quick glance at the PPs I think Ash Zee, and Always a Princess will hook up on the front end. This sets it up for Seeking The Title.

If you’re within driving distance I highly encourage making the trip to Hoosier Park. It’s worth it alone just to see Lookin At Lucky.

Who are your picks for these races?

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Blame goes from hunter to hunted in Jockey Club Gold Cup

September 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

While the race isn’t as strong as it has been in recent memory, the Jockey Club Gold Cup will be fun to watch. It is a race with serious Breeders Cup Classic implications.

The favorite is Foster Handicap, and Whitney Handicap winner Blame. The Al Stall trainee is riding a five race win streak. His most recent win came in the Whitney Handicap where he blasted past the heavily favored Quality Road who had set a dawdling pace. Regular visitors of this website know that I was on his bandwagon a very long time ago. I said in June that he would likely be my Breeders Cup Classic horse.

Despite his great form, Blame could have some trouble here. It will be his first time going 10 furlongs, and this race appears to be severely lacking in the pace department. Can he gun down lone speed going a little further? It certainly wouldn’t surprise me, but I’m not willing to just concede the race to him for those two reason.

West coast shipper and Jay Em Ess owned Rail Trip will get plenty of support at the windows. He took the Hollywood Gold Cup in 2009. That race is contested at today’s distance of 10 furlongs. This race will be the first start for the son of Jump Start in the barn of Richard Dutrow. His works are impressive, and he is handling the track well.

One of the biggest things going against him, for me, is Cornelio Velasquez. He’s off to a fast start at the Belmont meet, but he’s been pretty dreadful over the past year or two. Hopefully he can return to his winning ways of the past. Dutrow really moves horses up. He’s got Rail Trip training beautifully. This gelding has the perfect running style to win this thing.  If something happens to Haynesfield, he could probably wing it on the front end and take them all the way. Rail Trip wouldn’t shock.

I’m a big fan of Pick 4′s. They provide good value and, the payoffs are excellent. The key to cashing a nice Pick 4 is finding value. I think the value horse in this race is definitely Fly Down. The three-year-old proved he can go the distance. The son of Mineshaft finished 2nd by a dirty nose in the Travers last out. He would’ve certainly won with a cleaner trip. Pace could be a problem for this one as well, but he’s closed into slow paces in the past. I’m not wild about jockey Jose Lezcano lately, but I would be afraid not to have this guy on my ticket.

The only speed horse in the race is Haynesfield. He failed to make the lead after breaking through the gate last out in the Whitney, but you can expect to see him on the front end this time. 10 furlongs is probably out of this colt’s range. Look for him to back up big time in the stretch. He’s still a nice colt going 8 or 9 furlongs and I expect the connections to turn him back in his next race

Hold Me Back, Mythical Power, Dry Martini, and Tranquil Manner round out the field. This is a three horse race in my mind. Fly Down, Blame, and Rail Trip are those horses. Blame is clearly the best horse, but the best horse doesn’t always win. I’m going to make Rail Trip my top selections. He hasn’t raced in several months, but that doesn’t bother me. He’s going to get first run at Haynesfield, and hopefully he can kick clear. I’ll use all three on my Pick 4 ticket, and play a secondary ticket with him singled. Who do you like? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.

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Zenyatta tries to make it 19 for 19 in the Lady’s Secret

September 27, 2010 By 5 Comments

It seems like just yesterday my jaw was on the floor after Zenyatta rallied in the middle of the track to become the first female winner of the Breeders Cup Classic. How she was able to down such accomplished foes was beyond me. After that win I finally came to a realization about the mare. She just does it. Plain and simple. Zenyatta just wins. She’s like Nike.

The daughter of Street  Cry will be seeking her 19th consecutive victory in the Lady’s Secret, which will be the penultimate race of her career. Granted things go as planned, she will then defend her title against even tougher competition than last year in the Breeders Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

Is she ready? Jockey Mike Smith has no reason to believe she isn’t. He guided her across the track in an easy six furlong move of 1:13.80 on Saturday. He hardly urged her the entire way and her work was the 15th best of 23 workouts.

As of Monday I wasn’t able to obtain any information about who she will be competing against in the Lady’s Secret. It’s likely to be a short field of horses that are far inferior though. The big mare will get the job done, tough competition or not. I can’t wait to see her strut her stuff at Churchill Downs in the Breeders Cup. That’s not to say I’ll necessarily back her as my top pick, but I’ll certainly be cheering her on.

Make sure to be watching on Saturday as Zenyatta competes for her 19th win in the Lady’s Secret Stakes!

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Zenyatta early favorite to repeat in Breeders Cup Classic

June 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment


Zenyatta is favored to repeat in the Breeders Cup Classic according to an unscientific poll conducted by Gradedstakes.com. The daughter of Street Cry received 35% of the 140 votes. She recently improved her record to 17 wins from 17 starts while recording a narrow victory that may have been easier than it looked over the British mare St Trinians in the Vanity Handicap. She is being tentatively pointed to the Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar for her next start.

Checking in second with 23.57% of the vote is Nick Zito’s Kentucky Derby runner up Ice Box. He was last seen finishing ninth in the Belmont Stakes. Zito said that the hot weather may have caused the son of Pulpit to perform poorly. The deep closer needs a fast pace to chase and if they burn it up in the Breeders Cup Classic he would be a serious threat. His next start hasn’t been determined.

Quality Road recorded the third highest amount of votes with 17.85% of all ballots. The son of Elusive Quality out of a Strawberry Road mare set brutal fractions and held on to win the Metropolitan Mile in a time of 1:33.11 seconds during his last race. Trainer Todd Pletcher likes to race him fresh and will wait for August 7 and the Whitney Handicap for his next start. I’d like to see him race more. His time in the Met Mile may have been even faster if he wasn’t running off the shelf. Despite that, its very hard to complain about a Grade 1 win under any circumstances. I just think Quality Road is immensely talented and capable of even more. The 10 furlongs distance of the Breeders Cup Classic will be the biggest question for him in November.

The fourth place finisher in the poll was Preakness Stakes winner Lookin At Lucky who garnered 10.7% of all votes. Bob Baffert is currently pointing him towards a start in the Haskell Invitational and then the Travers Stakes. ‘Lucky has a strong group of older horses to compete with this year, but he always bring his “A” game. The son of Smart Strike could be in the mix for the Breeders Cup Classic.

The fifth place finisher was the choice “Other” with 5.71%. This could include horses like Rachel Alexandra who recently got back on track with a powerful 10+ length win in the Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs. Another horse not listed that could have an impact in the Breeders Cup Classic is Belmont Stakes runner up Fly Down. It looks like he is only now finding his best run. Another possibility is Musket Man although I think he is much more likely to compete in the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile.

Little to no confidence is being placed in Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver who got just 2.8% of all votes. I think he deserves more consideration. You have to remember that the Breeders Cup Classic will be contested at Churchill Downs. Super Saver loves the track. He also has the benefit of Calvin Borel aka the King of Churchill Downs. Don’t count Super Saver out based solely on his poor Preakness performance.

Checking in tied for 7th are Rail Trip and Blame. Both are very tough older horses. Blame was most recently seen easily taking the Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. He loves the track and that will play to his benefit in November. Trainer Albert Stall has always been high on the horse. I think if he continues to improve he will be the one to beat in the Breeders Cup Classic. If I had to take one horse today to win the ‘Classic it would be Blame.

Rail Trip is also a nice runner. He took the Hollywood Gold Cup last year and is trying to repeat this year. He scored an easy win in the Californian last out with new rider Rafael Bejarano. Will he handle the dirt? That is his biggest obstacle. He missed last years Breeders Cup Classic due to injury.

Who is your early pick in Breeders Cup Classic later this year? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

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Tiznow: America’s Horse

September 18, 2008 By Leave a Comment

Its hard to believe that seven years have passed since the terrorist attacks on September 11. While watching a memorial for the victims (God rest their souls) last week I was feeling a bit more patriotic than usual, so I decided to think of a horse who exemplifies patriotism. One horse instantly came to mind-Tiznow, America’s horse.

Tiznow is from the sire Cees’ Tizzy, and out of the mare Cee’s Song. While he doesn’t have the  best pedigree, Tiznow has some capable runners in his family. Included in his family are Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew, and Kentucky Derby winner, Northern Dancer. Tizna, on the Cees’ Tizzy side, was a multiple Grade 1 winning mare.

Some of his most notable wins include the Santa Anita Handicap, Affirmed Handicap, Super Derby, and the Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap. He won’t be remembered for any of those wins. Tiznow will go down in history for being the only colt to win the Breeders Cup Classic-twice.

His first Classic win came as a 3-year-old against Kentucky Derby winner, Fusaichi Pegasus, Belmont Stakes winner, Lemon Drop Kid, and last years Breeders Cup Classic winner, Cat Thief. Despite the long resumes of the previously listed horses, the presence of the Irish “Iron Horse” Giant’s Causeway was the most daunting.

Throughout his career, Giants Causeway won 9 of 14 races, and when he didn’t win he finished second. His wins included the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes, Group 1 Eclipse Stakes, and the Group 1 Sussex Stakes. Before racing in the Breeders Cup Classic, he had won 5 consecutive Group 1 races.

With Chris McCarron in the irons, Tiznow was on or near the lead the entire way in the 2000 Breeders Cup Classic. Having put pacesetter Albert The Great away near the top of the stretch, Tiznow kicked home. He looked to be all alone, until Giants Causeway came with a furious run down the lane. Neck and neck down the stretch, Tiznow prevailed with a late surge.

En route to winning his second Breeders Cup Classic, Tiznow had to defend his title against another European invader, Sakhee. This colt would prove even more salty than Giants Causeway. Sakhee was a winner of the the Group 1 International Stakes by 7 lengths. He was also the dominating victor in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He was clearly the best Europe had to offer.

Tiznow would rate in third in the 2001 Breeders Cup Classic, while Albert The Great would set the pace yet again. When they hit the stretch, Tiznow looked like a beaten horse as Sakhee powered home down the lane. In between horses, Tiznow hadn’t given up yet. Although being passed in the stretch, Tiznow battled back to win by a nose. Tom Durkin called out “Tiznow wins it for AMERICA!” after the race was over.

Tiznow defended what is arguably America’s best race against foreign invaders not once, but twice. He has more heart than just about any horse I can think of. He has been a smashing success at stud so far, producing Travers winner Colonel John, and Belmont Stakes winner, Da’ Tara. Tiznow will always be remembered as America’s Horse.

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