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2011 Horse of the Year? Game On Dude

November 10, 2011 By 3 Comments

Zenyatta, Rachel Alexandra, Curlin, Invasor, Saint Liam and Ghostzapper.

Those are the last six horses given the Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year. You wont find an animal in 2011 that is comparable or even close to any of them.

I cant recall a year that had such parity in graded stakes racing as the year 2011. A truly top older horse never emerged.

The debate for 2011 Horse of the Year is a rather lame one and I love the way Charles Dickey, trainer of Flat Out, put it. Quite candidly, Dickey said, “I don’t think there is one.”, when asked about Horse of the Year by Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form.

Even though, based on the lofty standards of the past, no one truly deserves to be called Horse of the Year, we still have to make a choice and so I will give my two cents.

One of my best hits this year came in the Metropolitan Mile where I nailed the winner, Tizway. The exacta, which I cold decked, paid $378. Tizway ran a very quick race going faster than Quality Road did a year prior and posting the best time since Langfuhr in 1997. Times are always relative to how a track is playing at any given moment, but that is still impressive.

After the Met Mile, Tizway won the Whitney Handicap. He looked poised to take the Jockey Club Gold Cup and make a big run at the Breeders Cup Classic, but in the end he couldn’t stay healthy. Just days before the race he sustained a strain of the suspensory ligament of his left foreleg.

It is also worth noting that Tizway finished third in a very contentious edition of the Charles Town Classic in April.

I can’t like Tizway on the basis of two Grade 1 wins even though they were very strong. Had he done more earlier in his 2011 campaign or stayed healthy and hit the board in the Classic, I might have taken him.

Next, we have the filly, Havre de Grace. She toyed with her competition to win the prestigious Apple Blossom Handicap. That win was wedged between two Grade 3 victories.

Her next big race was in the Delaware Handicap where the lass engaged in one of the best stretch duels in the history of horse racing with her arch rival Blind Luck. She narrowly missed. Then the connections tried the boys in the Woodward. She thrashed a strong group including future Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Flat Out there.

Her penultimate race was the Beldame Invitational where she rocked a field that included next out Ladies Classic winner Royal Delta.

Things were setting up for her to be Horse of the Year, but she failed in the Breeders Cup Classic. She finished fourth in that race. She had a very strong 2011 campaign to be sure, and I cant argue with those that say she deserves it, but she isn’t my pick.

My selection for 2011 Horse of the Year is none other than Game On Dude. The hard working front running gelding put together the strongest campaign this year. Bob Baffert and Chantal Sutherland did great things with the son of Awesome Again.

Game On Dude’s second race of the year was a huge victory in the Santa Anita Handicap where he narrowly defeated Setsuko and put away Twirling Candy. After that he was second in a very deep and contentious Charles Town Classic that included the likes of Tizway, Acclamation, Tackleberry, Rule and Awesome Gem.

The Hollywood Gold Cup was a classic race this year and Game On Dude finished second in it. He had forged ahead to the lead after besting Game On Dude, only to be nipped by stablemate First Dude.

Game On Dude’s second big win of 2011 was in the Goodwood where he set grueling fractions and drew away with a fair amount of ease. It looked as if he would do the same in his last start, the Breeders Cup Classic, but Drosselmeyer closed furiously to run him down. Game On Dude also owns head to head wins over Tizway, Havre de Grace and Acclamation.

Given all that he has done with wins in the Santa Anita Handicap and Goodwood Stakes along with excellent second place finishes in the Charles Town and Breeders Cup Classic, Game On Dude is the most deserving candidate for Horse of the Year. However, it may be more appropriate to simply vacate the award for 2011.

**Join us at 8 PM EST as we live blog the Eclipse Awards!!**

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Who was the best horse of the last decade?

June 26, 2011 By 2 Comments

I found myself thinking about who might be the greatest horse of all time earlier today. This is a very easy question. Secretariat, of course. The Triple Crown winner on his best day would leave any horse that ever lived looking at his hind quarters as they crossed the finish line.

Asking who was the best horse of the last decade is a much tougher query. Who is your pick? The rules for this question allow for any horse that raced from 2000 to 2009. Think of a hypothetical race going 1 ¼ miles at Churchill Downs when deciding the horse to tap as the best of the last decade.

Those that create a video and mention this site will be entered in a contest to win a $50 TVG gift card. The same goes for racing fans that choose to write a post and link back to our homepage and this post. Doing both can earn a double entry.

Fans that don’t own a webcam or a racing website can enter by leaving a comment here and following us on Twitter, Youtube or by becoming a fan of our Facebook page. Doing all three with earn three entries.

The deadline to enter is one month from today, July 26. I will do my best to recognize entries, but to ensure that you are entered please contact me via email (ryan [at] gradedstakes.com) and let me know!

As you can see above, my top pick for the best horse of the last decade is Smarty Jones. Watch the video to find out why!

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Zenyatta’s first mate is Bernardini

January 26, 2011 By 7 Comments

Here’s a surprise. Most of us thought that since Zenyatta was being taken care of at Lanes End that she would be bred to a Lanes End stallion. Mostly likely among those to be her mate was AP Indy. Makes sense, right?

Wrong.

The daughter of Street Cry is headed to a son of AP Indy. That son is 2006 champion three-year-old colt Bernardini. The colt went on a tear beginning in the Preakness Stakes and went on to win the Jim Dandy, Travers Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup before finishing second to Invasor in the Breeders Cup Classic. He is one of the best three-year-olds to step on the track in recent memory.

Bernardini has had great success so far in his young career as a stallion. Last year in his first crop he produced Grade 1 winner AZ Warrior, Group 1 winner Biondetti, Grade 1 placed Stay Thirsty, Grade 1 placed Theyskens’ Theory and Grade 2 winner as well as a Kentucky Derby favorite To Honor and Serve.

David Ingordo is an adviser to Jerry and Ann Moss. He had the following to say according to the Daily Racing Form:

“There were physical reasons, the two complement each other,” he said, “and there were pedigree reasons, the two complement each other. Everybody agreed.”

It will be very interesting to see how Zenyatta’s progeny do on the track. Stars such as Winning Colors never produced much in the shed, but on the flip side mares like Urban Sea were highly successful in both the shed and on the track.

One thing is for sure. With a daddy named Bernardini and a momma named Zenyatta, the expectations for this horse will be sky high. Maybe the son or daughter of Bernardini and Zenyatta will meet up on the track to face off against the son or daughter of Curlin and Rachel Alexandra. We can only hope.

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Zenyatta retired but still fresh in the minds of fans

January 6, 2011 By 1 Comment

I’ve never seen a horse rouse interest in so many people the way Zenyatta has. This goes particularly for female fans whom I believe are sparse. Their ranks have grown thanks to the mare. Here are some of the things readers of this site have had to say about Zenyatta.

This year, it must be Zenyatta. I have never seen such a race as last Saturday’s, with her narrow defeat being her most impressive race. To be so far back, then make it up, to almost win, was incomparable. The emotions of the race, from crying out, why is she so far back, wondering what was wrong, to her navigation at the top stretch, then that final run, when we all thought she was going to do it, again. Then, the utter shock! I have never watched a horse run, who constantly gives one a “heart attack”!

-Amy Culver Davis

If someone asks me who were the most outstanding horses in my life time Zenyatta will be there with Citation,Native Dancer,Kelso,John Henry, Secretariat,Affirmed and Alydar,Slew and Bid.

-Darlene Sanner

Zenyatta
She’s a tornado, hailstorm, thunder and lightning without rain,
First to the finish line, always and again.
She brings sunshine and smiles, not a cloud in the sky,
Believe she has wings, catapult of fire, I swear she can fly.

-Jan Glover

Zenyatta is Horse of the Year. Period. In my heart, in my soul, in my mind. No other horse has done, for years what she did this year. For the sport, for human-kind, for spirit. She is what the award is all about. Period!

-Donna Alsabrook

Queen Zenyatta is my choice for HOY.
She is horse of the decade indeed.

-Dottie Moore

Zenyatta is now living at Lanes End in Kentucky. Her mate has yet to be announced.

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Zenyatta poll update

December 28, 2010 By 3 Comments

PHOTO: Joe Nevills

In a recent post making my case for Zenyatta to be Horse of the Year I posed the question to my readers asking who they would choose. The results have been quite astounding. A whopping 95% visitors to this website favor Zenyatta over Breeders Cup Classic winner Blame. There were a total of 118 votes.

It’s important to stress that this is an unscientific poll, but the results are still a bit surprising. I thought the voting would be much more even. Stay tuned to this website for my picks in other divisions.

Results for Horse of the Year voting will be announced at the Eclipse Awards Ceremony on Janauary 17, 2011.

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2010 Horse of the Year: Zenyatta

November 10, 2010 By 9 Comments

Who do YOU think should be Horse of the Year for 2010

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Never before have I felt so conflicted about who should win Horse of the Year. Regular visitors of this site may recall that in 2009 I went with Rachel Alexandra. In my eyes, and in the eyes of the voters, her resume was far more impressive than Zenyatta’s.

However, I have a new outlook on things this year.

Zenyatta did what no other horse has done by winning 19 races in a row. If not for a poor trip in the Breeders Cup Classic, she would have retired undefeated and we wouldn’t even be having this conversation. Fans from all across the nation ventured to racetracks in order to catch a glimpse of the towering mare.

Handle soared at Churchill Downs in horse betting on the Breeders Cup. This was without a doubt because of the interest in the daughter of Street Cry. I had friends with absolutely no interest in racing talking to me about Zenyatta, and asking questions about racing in general. This is the kind of boost that racing has been desperately seeking for years.

Let’s not forget the buzz surrounding “Rachel Alexandra vs Zenyatta” early in the year. Although it never happened, it had everyone talking. That includes major news outlets that otherwise wouldn’t be covering thoroughbred horse racing.

Did Zenyatta beat much on the track this year? The answer is unequivocally no. This is easily explained though. She was scaring everyone away. Would YOU want to run against an unbeaten mare that beat the boys in the biggest race of the year in 2009? I don’t think so. In my eyes, you can’t hold the fact that she didn’t beat much against her.

The “other” horse in this argument is Blame. The son of Arch improved with every start in 2010. Everyone doubted him as he was second choice behind Battle Plan in the Foster Handicap, Quality Road in the Whitney Handicap, and Zenyatta in the Classic. Despite being the underdog, he won all three of those races.

Trainer Al Stall is one of my favorites and one of the best in the business. The same goes for jockey Garrett Gomez. I feel bad for not picking Blame, but I truly feel Zenyatta deserves it. He is more deserving than Zenyatta was last year. Sadly, someone must lose out.

When I go to my class reunion in 20 years nobody is going to remember a horse called Blame. Sad, but true. Quite a few will remember the mare Zenyatta who embodied “Girl Power” like no other horse, OR person could.

The Mosses went out on a limb by keeping her in training. This award is the perfect way to thank them for being great owners and doing what is good for the sport.  It would set an example for future owners who may think of retiring a superstar prematurely. Perhaps they will think back to Jerry and Ann Moss and follow in ther footsteps.

She deserves it, and this is coming from a big time fan of Rachel Alexandra and longtime doubter turned believer. Zenyatta should be Horse of the Year.

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Zenyatta: 19 for 20

November 7, 2010 By 3 Comments

I had a hard time choosing a  title for this article. How do you describe what happened in the Breeders Cup Classic last night? It’s not easy.

Even though I had Lookin at Lucky and Blame on my tickets, I felt a weird feeling as Zenyatta ranged up. My heart wanted her to run past Blame even though my money wasn’t on her. Never before have I felt so conflicted about a horse race.

I’ve always given Zenyatta a hard time and been a big doubter of hers. Of course I knew she was a magnificent racehorse. She didn’t win 19 races in a row for no reason. I just always doubted that she was one of the greatest ever. After her courageous run to just miss yesterday I can say without any doubt she is the best female horse to ever step on the track. She would give some of those top boys a run for their money too!

I’d like to thank John Sheriffs, Jerry Moss, Ann Moss, and Mike Smith for keeping Zenyatta around in 2010. They didn’t have to do that, but they did it for US. They did it for the horse racing industry. We all owe them a huge debt. It’s been a pleasure to watch them campaign Zenyatta the past three years.

We as fans of horse racing are so blessed. In the past few years we have been able to witness some of the finest horses to race in decades. Not just Zenyatta, but Rachel Alexandra, Curlin, Smarty Jones, and Rags to Riches to name a few.  I love them all and I look forward to seeing more of the great ones in the future.

Perhaps as Zenyatta’s star shined for the final time, we witnessed the next beast in Uncle Mo. It’s to early to say, but anything is possible. Hey, he is undefeated; for now.

Zenyatta showed us that nothing in life is perfect. In a way that makes her even better than before in my eyes.

Feel free to discuss this post by leaving a comment below. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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Zenyatta Ramblings

October 30, 2010 By Leave a Comment

  • I couldn’t sleep so I decided to write a few things floating in my mind about Zenyatta. Feel free to comment!

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear someone talk about Zenyatta? Comments like “She’s never lost”, or “She always wins” are quickly tossed around, but will we still be able to say that moments after the sun sets and the Breeders Cup Classic has concluded on November 6?

Every time she has needed to, the mare has stepped up to the plate, but we must not forget she is still mortal. She’s a horse. Secretariat lost, as did Citation, Seattle Slew, Man O’ War, Seabiscuit, War Admiral, and countless other legends of the game. If they are capable of defeat, why isn’t Zenyatta?

The latest detractors of Zenyatta have cited an off track as her biggest enemy when it comes to a repeat victory in the Breeders Cup Classic.  After all, she has never ran on such a surface. A quick look at PPs show that her wet Tomlinson Rating is 467. For those unfamiliar with the ratings, that is a VERY high number. The wet surface is unlikely to hinder her performance, although it will make the track conducive to speed.

Even though her Tomlinson number is high, running on a wet track is one of those things where you don’t know for sure until the animal does it. Some may recall the connections scratched her from the Louisville Stakes in 2009 after the track came up wet. I bet they wish they would’ve given it a shot now.

As many have noted the class of this field is much better than any Zenyatta has tangled with yet. Lookin At Lucky, Blame, and Quality Road will be the three best horses she has ever faced once the race is over. The pace also promises to be the quickest, which in theory will work to her favor.

Be sure to tune into 60 Minutes this Sunday night as they will be doing a feature on the greatest mare of our generation. Also be sure to be watch the Classic on November 6 as the debate will finally end on whether or not Zenyatta is one of the greatest ever. Win or lose, greatest or not, she is one heck of a racehorse.

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2010 Breeders Cup Classic Preview

October 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Some call it the biggest race in the world, or perhaps the most important. The winner is more often than not named Horse of the Year. The race is the Breeders Cup Classic, and the stakes are clearly high. I covered the race extensively for the National Thoroughbred Racing Association last year. My top pick, Quality Road, was scratched at the gate. It feels like just yesterday this race ran, but much has happened since then. Let’s examine the race!

The $5,000,000 event returns to Churchill Downs and natural dirt this year. Defending champion Zenyatta will be a definitive favorite. The undefeated mare is 19 for 19 on her career with wins in the Santa Margarita, Apple Blossom, Vanity, Clement L. Hirsch, and Lady’s Secret this year. It’s clear that she hasn’t defeated much outside of the mare St.

Trinians this year, but the same could have been said in 2009. Trainer John Sheriffs says she is as good or  better now than when she won in 2009. Jockey Mike Smith feels the same way.

Zenyatta’s closing kick is among the best in the history of thoroughbred racing, and you can bank on her mowing horses down in the stretch. She isn’t a lock though. This will be the best field she has ever faced by far. This will also be her first time running over the track. Weather can always be a factor too. Zenyatta has never competed on a wet track.

In my eyes, she will have to out kick Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky, and Foster Handicap winner  Blame. That won’t be done easily. Obviously, her chances are big, but just like in 2009, I’m not willing to concede this thing to her. That doesn’t mean I’m foolish enough to leave her off my tickets though! I’ve always been a bit of a doubter about Zenyatta, but if she can win this race I’ll finally agree that she is one of the best to ever step on the track.

The second choice in this race will be Al Stall and Claiborne Farm’s Blame. The son of Arch is a wonderful animal. I remember having dinner after  a day at Keeneland earlier this year where I chatted with his exercise rider. He said he would be Horse of the Year before Blame had even ran a race. If he is able to win this race then the exercise rider will be right.

Blame is ridden by Garrett Gomez. The journeyman jockey has ice in his veins and will make sure this guy gets an excellent ride. Blame’s closing style should do him well here. He has proved in the past he can make up ground if the pace is slow. That shouldn’t be the case here.  He’s a bit of a grinder. It looked as if he was dead in the water late in the Whitney against Quality Road, but he was able to dig deep and get past him.

Despite all the great things he has done this year, Blame lost his last race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup when Haynesfield wired the field. That doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t want my horse peaking in his prep race. I believe Blame is ready to run the race of his life at Churchill Downs on November 6. That doesn’t mean he will be my top pick though. I’m going to wait for the PPs and watch the news closely before I make that  decision. However, he is definitely on the short list!

The third choice in the Breeders Cup Classic betting will be Preakness Stakes, and Haskell Invitational winner Lookin At Lucky. The three-year-old is one of the most tenacious animals alive. He just keeps on coming no matter what the circumstances are. He may not win, but Lucky is going to run his heart out trying. You can bank on that. The Martin Garcia piloted son of Smart Strike has one thing going for him that no one else does. That is Bob Baffert.

The silver haired Hall of Fame member is the best trainer in the world. To you that may be an opinion, but to me it is a fact. I’ll take Bob Baffert with a talented colt over just about anyone else in most cases. His charge can get the distance and he loves the surface. He’s also quick enough to get to the leaders before Zenyatta or Blame. If he strikes the lead, will be passed?  To the best of my knowledge, Lookin At Lucky has never been passed after  he has struck the lead. That may not matter, because many things that have never happened before happen all the time. Especially in the Breeders Cup!

My top pick from 2009, Quality Road, never got to strut his stuff as he was scratched at the gate. I probably won’t go with him again this year. I just don’t believe the son of Elusive Quality can go the 10 furlongs distance.  He is extremely classy, and if this race were a little shorter he would be very, very, tough. Who can forget his win in the Metropolitan Mile this year? It’s not out of the question for him to get a piece, but to me he likely isn’t a win candidate this time around.

Other candidates for the Breeders Cup Classic are First Dude, Fly Down, Espoir City, Haynesfield, Paddy O’ Prado, Musket Man, Crown of Thorns, Gitano Hernando, and Morning Line. The chances of a horse other than Zenyatta, Blame, Lookin at Lucky, or Quality Road winning the Classic are minute, but anything can happen as Wild Again proved in the first running of the race at huge odds.

Who do you like in the Breeders Cup Classic?

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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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