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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.

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Gio Ponti bound for the 2011 Breeders Cup Mile

October 11, 2011 By 1 Comment

It took some time, but the hard knocking six year old Gio Ponti finally found the winners circle this past weekend in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. There was a point in the race where I wasn’t sure he would get up, but he accelerated tremendously in the final furlong. Now the 7 time Grade 1 winning son of Tale of the Cat will prep for a rematch with Goldikova in the Breeders Cup Mile.

I tried my best to not get down on Gio Ponti this year. He lost his first three North American races in 2011, but had excuses in all of them.

In the first, the Manhattan, he chased a dawdling pace and was forced to race on a yielding course which he clearly does not appreciate.

After that he twice ran into a monster named Cape Blanco in the Man O’ War and Arlington Million. Just like the Manhattan, those races were over a wet track. The champ still performed well despite facing conditions that werent to his liking, but it took a firm course at Keeneland for him to show his best stuff.

Facing three time Breeders Cup Mile winner Goldikova one more time will not be an easy challenge for Gio Ponti. Nothing has been easy for him so far though, so why would it get easy now?

Christophe Clement would love to send his star off to the shed by taking what would be the biggest victory of his career in the Breeders Cup Mile. He just might do it too.

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Keeneland Stakes (TCA Stakes, First Lady Stakes, Futurity Stakes, Shadwell Turf Mile)

October 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Breeders Cup is almost here and you can count on seeing more than a few horses from this card at Churchill Downs. Below you will find our picks for Saturday at Keeneland. Consider checking out our Horse Betting and Horse Racing Games pages!

Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes

Switch (9-5) will go favored here, but at such a short price I can’t like her. The mare has had a great career, but my gut tells me she is over the hill at this point. My top pick will be Devil By Design (12-1) who fired a fast :46 B four furlong bullet over the track on Monday. She’s 2 for 2 on synthetic surfaces and could sit a perfect trip in this race. I’m looking for her to run a career best in this spot.

Grade 1 First Lady Stakes

I’m looking for things to get hot up front and for that reason I like the streaking Daveron (9-2). The Team Valor owned mare has won three in a row. I was blown away by her last out effort in the Ballston Spa where she beat Tapit’sfly and Romacaca. If she brings that effort to Keeneland I don’t see her losing.

Grade 1 Breeders Futurity Stakes

Shared Property (4-1) has had bad trips in both of his starts and still won. His last effort came in the Arlington Washington Futurity against a very good group of horses. He should sit a good trip behind the speed and pounce in the lane. Others to consider are Our Entourage (8-1) and Take Charge Indy (5-1).

Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile

Gio Ponti (5-2) hasn’t won this year, but he has excuses. First of all he has faced the likely Turf Male Champion in his last two races (Cape Blanco) and in the Manhattan he didn’t like the off going. The old timer gets cut back to a distance he loves (won this race last year and was second in the Breeders Cup Mile) and should rebound with a big win.

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2011 Arlington Million Preview

August 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Arlington Million is one of the premier turf races in America. Not only does it provide a massive $1 million purse, but it is so prestigious that it attracts entrants from across the pond almost every year. The winner receives an automatic entry to the Breeders Cup Turf. Notable victors include John Henry (twice), Manila and Star of Cozzene. 2009 winner Gio Ponti is back this year to try and become the second horse to win the Arlington Million more than once.

Rahystrada (Rahy x Ministrada by Deputy Minister) Love this old gelding. He rallied well to win the Colonial Turf Cup over Smart Bid last out. He loves the distance, but he may be in just a bit too deep this time.

Tajaaweed (Dynaformer x Uforia by Zeal) Shadwell Stable owned horse has 2 wins from 5 starts at Arlington and was last seen taking the Arlington Handicap as the favorite over Mister Mardi Gras. This is a good track and distance for him, but in the end it looks like he is in line for a minor award at best.

Dean’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy x Summer Theatre by Ide) Winner of last year’s Lanes End Stakes at Turfway Park found the winners circle for the first time since that score two back at Lone Star in the Dallas Turf Cup. This distance seems to be beyond his best, but he is working well and has top connections in his corner. Puncher’s chance for that reason.

Zack Hall (Muhtathir x Halawa by Dancing Brave) Regally bred colt is a winner of 3 races from 7 starts. He most recently finished fourth in the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud earning a 116 RPR and before that finished a good second in the Prix d’Hedouville. Trainer Mikel Delzangles is opting to throw lasix on and jockey Christopher Soumilllon is making the trip to ride. Don’t count Zack Hall out.

Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat x Chipeta Springs by Alydar) Hasn’t won in his last five races and last saw the winners circle in the Shadwell Turf Mile. He is producing good second and third place finishes, but can’t seem to get over the hump. He has shown that he loves Arlington Park with a win and second place finish in this race. If the track comes up firm then trainer Christophe Clement will likely breath a sigh of relief. The old timer has two very sharp works since his last race where he was second in the Man O’ War and it looks like he is ready to run a big race.

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Proceed Bee (Bernstein x Procession by Private Terms) I hate to say a horse doesn’t have a chance, but this gelding would be a real shocker. He just isn’t good enough.

Cape Blanco (Galileo x Laurel Delight by Presidium) We loved this colt last out in the Man O’ War where he won for fun and paid $8 and change. He wasn’t a hard pick that day as the price was very generous and he simply outclassed the field. Much hasn’t changed since then. The colt is simply too good for most of his American counterparts to compete with him. Jimmy Spencer is making the trip to ride again for Aidan O’Brien.

Mission Approved (With Approval x Fortunate Find by Fortunate Prospect) Front running horse waltzed his way to a win in the Manhattan two back before fading to fourth in the Man O’ War last out. The Naipaul Chatterpaul owned and trained horse is working like a freak of nature since then with a :57 3/5 B move over the Saratoga turf training track on July 31. He wont just fold his tent when someone comes up to him and very well could wave goodbye as they turn for home.

Wigmore Hall (High Chaparral x Love And Laughter by Theatrical) Since finishing second to Paddy O’ Prado in last year’s Secretariat Stakes this gelding has won the Group 2 Jebel Hatta in the UAE and finished third in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free. His last two races where he faced top competition don’t inspire confidence, but this could be a class drop for him. I’m not wild about Wigmore Hall and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I won’t be using him on my exotic tickets.

General Perfect (Perfect x General Tree by General Assembly) Remember when I said Proceed Bee likely has no chance? Well this gelding really has no chance.

My top selection to win the 2011 Arlington Million is Mission Approved. He isn’t far behind the top two in this race (Cape  Blanco and Gio Ponti) in terms of talent and it looks like he is moving forward based on a strong work pattern. Let’s hope he can score an easy lead and get to the finish line first at a decent price.

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2011 Man O’ War Stakes betting preview

July 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Man O’ War Stakes presents a chance for horses to grab a share of a $600,000 purse and a coveted Grade 1 win or placing. Two time defending champ Gio Ponti will seek to become the first horse in the 50+ year old race to take the hat trick. Can he do it? Let’s take a look at the field and find out.

Mission Approved (With Approval x Fortunate Find x Fortunate Prospect) Gelding pulled the wire job at 21-1 after nearly a year off last out in the Manhattan. His start before that came in the 2010 Man O’ War and he nearly got it done at 53-1, but was caught by Gio Ponti. You can bet he wont get overlooked this time. Some will call his last two races fluky or claim he isn’t as good, but take my word for it. Mission Approved has every right to be with this group and if you forget him he could make you pay for it. He’s the speed and could be alone on the front end. That alone makes him dangerous at 5-1.

Bearpath (Dynaformer Song ‘N Silk by Unbridled’s Song) Ran huge to be second by a nose in the Louisville Handicap last out, but that race was won by a filly. The competition this time around will be much stiffer. He was fourth here last year and also produced a solid second place finish in the Sword Dancer after that. Others rate higher for me, but I can’t really knock him at 8-1.

Boisterous (Distorted Humor x Emanating by Cox’s Ridge) Winner of two in a row beat a good colt named Grassy last out. Shug McGaughey opts to try for the Grade 1 win. The conservative trainer must really feel this guy is ready to run huge. A winner of four of his last five he certainly must be respected. However, I’m going to look elsewhere. Johnny V gets up at 6-1.

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Al Khali (Medaglia d’Oro x Maya by Copote) Perennial underachiever has flashed brilliance, but just can’t seem to put it all together for trainer Bill Mott. Jockey Alan Garcia would be wise to have him closer to the front this time. Not only because he runs better that way, but because this race is really lacking in the pace department. Nothing he does will surprise me, but I’m not willing to back him at the windows even at 8-1.

Gio Ponti (Tale of the Cat x Chipeta Springs by Storm Cat) Clearly, Ramon Dominguez left him with too much to do last out in the Manhattan. Don’t count on that happening again. Christophe Clement has got two wins in the Man O’ War out of this horse and a third is definitely possible. His form has been strong and I’m not willing to give up on him even though he failed to win in his last two races. Before those he was sharp as a tack to be second in the Breeders Cup Mile.  He is as classy as they come, but I’m going to take a pass at 2-1.

Nownownow (Whywhywhy x Here And Now by Exit To Nowhere) Breeders Cup winner just can’t seem to reproduce that form. Last out he was a belated fifth in the Monmouth Stakes. The winner of that one came back to take a Grade 1 next out. He should be stronger in his second race of the year, but clearly the Biancone trainee is a fringe contender. Edgar Prado will ride.

Cape Blanco (Galileo x Laurel Delight by Presidium) I liked this one to win the Dubai World Cup where he ended up fourth beaten a length. Last year he won the Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes. It goes without saying that he is a very serious horse. Aidan O’Brien trains and J P Spencer makes the trip to ride. I’m hoping he tends the pace and blows the doors off Mission Approved turning for home. I’ll make him the top pick at 5-2.

In my eyes the European class of Cape Blanco will be too much for this field. After him I like the speedster Mission Approved a little bit. Both TVG and Twin Spires are good places to bet him. Either one offers a great wagering bonus for new accounts. Check them out!

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My 2009 Eclipse Award Ballot; Rachel Alexandra HOY

January 7, 2010 By 6 Comments

The Eclipse Award nominees are finally out. The Eclipse Awards are the highest honor in thoroughbred racing. Winners are voted on by the people at the NTRA (National Thoroughbred Racing Assocation), Daily Racing Form, and National Turf Writers Assocation. I wish that I could have a say, but that is not meant to be this year. Perhaps in the future I will get a chance. Here’s a look at who I would pick in each category. Feel free to leave a comment and share your thoughts!

Horse of the Year: Rachel Alexandra- This one is a no brainer for me. The three-year-old filly won 8 races and 5 Grade 1 events this year. She beats the boys 3 times, including in the Preakness where she became the first horse to ever win from the 13 post position. She left Summer Bird in her wake when she took the Haskell Invitational. The two times that she faced her gender in Grade 1 events this year she won by a combined 39 1/2 lengths. The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro even beat older males when she took down the Woodward Stakes. Her campaign this year not only makes her Horse of the Year, but the greatest three-year-old filly in the history of the sport.

Two-Year-Old Male: Lookin’ At Lucky- This is an easy choice. “Lucky” is one of the early favorites for the Kentucky Derby and rightfully so. He couldn’t have won any easier last out in the CashCall Futurity where he beat fellow nominee Noble’s Promise. Vale of York can’t get my nod because I don’t believe in giving an Eclipse Award on the basis of a single race.

Two-Year-Old Female: She Be Wild- The Wayne Catalano filly got a perfect ride to slip up the rail and win the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies. She also ran a strong race to finish second in the Alcaibidies this year. Blind Luck and Hot Dixie are also nominated. I could easily envision both of those fillies being better when its all said and done, but at this point in time it has to go to She Be Wild. I feel like Hot Dixie Chick is the one to watch out of these three. I look forward to watching all of these fillies leading up to next years Kentucky Oaks.

Three-Year-Old Male: Summer Bird- This is an easy pick. The son of Birdstone took the Belmont Stakes, Travers, and Jockey Club Gold Cup this year. He also bested Mine That Bird and Quality Road in head to head matchups. I feel like at this point in time Quality Road has surpassed him, but based on their 2009 resumes Summer Bird was clearly the better horse.

Three-Year-Old Filly: Rachel Alexandra- Do I really need to say more? Check out the Horse of the Year section above for more information on this filly.

Older Male: Gio Ponti- This is a highly competitive division although 2009 was a down year for the older horses. I’ll go with Gio Ponti on the virtue of 4 Grade 1 victories and a runner up performance when switching surfaces in the Breeders Cup Classic. Einstein put together a good year, but lost twice to Gio Ponti. I feel like if Einstein had won the Donn and Clark he could’ve got my vote. I’m excited to watch Gio Ponti compete in 2010.

Older Female: Zenyatta- Anyone who doesn’t vote for Zenyatta to be Champion Older Female deserves to have their voting priveleges revoked. While she was lightly raced and beat soft fields most of the year, she answered the bell in the Breeders Cup Classic. The five-year-old mare would be a serious threat for Horse of the Year in my mind if she had taken on tougher competition other than in the Classic and won outside of California.

Male Sprinter: Kodiak Kowboy- If you had asked me earlier in the year, I would’ve said Zensational was a shoo-in. However, he couldn’t get the job done in the Breeders Cup Sprint. Kodiak Kowboy skipped the race, but had wins in the Carter, Vosburgh, and Cigar Mile in 2009. He only finished off the board once in 2009. Retired now at the age of 5, this horse was extremely consistent throughout his career. It’s rare that you find a horse that can win at the top level at 2, 3, and 4.

Female Sprinter: Informed Decision- She had her doubters in the Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, but she dismissed Ventura en route to an impressive win. In my eyes, that race sealed the title for her. She won 6 of 7 races in 2009, including 3 Grade 1 races. She is a polytrack specialist, and I would never bet against her on that surface. Informed Decision was also tough on “real” dirt where she won the Humana Distaff, but her only loss came on the surface in the Ballerina Stakes. Her 2009 campaign will be hard to equal in 2010.

Male Turf Horse: Gio Ponti- I’d like to give the nod to Presious Passion, but Gio Ponti had the better year. He has nearly unbeatable on the grass this year.

Female Turf Horse: Ventura- While she couldn’t get it done on Breeders Cup day, this mare was very consistent in 2009. She won two Grade 1 races on the turf this year. Her best performance came in the Woodbine Mile. I’d love to give the nod to Goldikova or Midday, but one race doesn’t make a year.

Owner: Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Moss- You have to give this couple the award after they stepped up to the plate and entered Zenyatta in the Breeders Cup Classic. Regardless of whether or not Zenyatta wins Horse of the Year, this took guts. I salute them for stepping up and helping the sport.

Breeder: I’m fairly ignorant to this category so I will refrain from commenting.

Trainer:  Bob Baffert- There is something to be said for a guy that finishes 3rd in earning behind a guy who has nearly 6 times as many starts as he does. Bob Baffert is the most prolific trainer in thoroughbred racing right now. Anything he touches turns to gold. He had a great 2009 thanks to Indian Blessing, Lookin at Lucky, Gabby’s Golden Goose, Pioneerof The Nile, and many more. I predict 2010 will be even better.

Jockey: Ramon Dominguez- This was one of the toughest picks I had to make. Ramon Dominguez, Garrett Gomez, and Julien Leparoux all had wonderful years. I had to go with Ramon Dominguez. He dominated with a massive 23.6% winning percentage and he finished in the money 56% of the time. He amassed earnings of 18,348,422 for 2009. He won the Spring/Fall riding title at Belmont Park, and also took the title at Saratoga. I congratulate him in an excellent 2009 campaign.

Apprentice Jockey: Christian Santiago-Reyes- I’m a big follower of California racing, and I love betting this guy. He has broke into the big time fast and he is here to stay. He is fearless in the irons and I expect to see him winning big time races very soon.

Who do you like to win an Eclipse Award? Leave a comment and lets discuss!

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

October 1, 2009 By Leave a Comment

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!

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