Weekend Notes

With the conclusion of an epic weekend of racing, we are one step closer to the 2008 running of the Breeders Cup at Santa Anita. I had a wonderful time watching the races in New York and California, along with the on track races at Turfway Park. The Kentucky Cup races were especially interesting, with Zanjero easily taking the Kentucky Cup Classic and Fatal Bullet breaking the track record in the Sprint.

The highlight of my weekend came prior to the Kentucky Cup Sprint, where I was invited to stand in the paddock with Nick Hines of TVG and Southern Equine as he saddled Salute The Sarge for the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Sprint. I’ve known Nick for about a year through the internet, but this was my first chance to meet him in person. He was very friendly and an overall nice person. I look forward to our next meeting.

Reigning Horse of the Year, and Dubai World Cup winner Curlin broke Cigar’s all time earnings record and became the first thoroughbred to earn $10,000,000 after he captured his second consecutive Jockey Club Gold Cup. If he can defend his title in the Breeders Cup Classic, it may be decades before his record falls. Curlin has done so much for horse racing, and I was happy to see him win. I hope to see him continue onward to Santa Anita.

Ginger Punch entered the Beldame a daunting favorite, but in the end she yielded to Cocoa Beach. This was Cocoa Beach’s second start in the United States. She has only lost twice, with one of those defeats coming against the boys in the UAE Derby where she finished third. I hope she goes to the Breeders Cup Ladies Classic. It was already an ultra competitive race without her, and it could go down as the best Ladies Classic ever with her in the mix.

Wait A While also found the winners circle, notching her second victory in the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon. A daughter of Maria’s Mon, she will be headed to the Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Turf yet again. Vacare tried to make a race of it, but was no match for Wait A While, finishing second. Black Mamba rallied to pick up third.

Well Armed got the job done in the Grade 1 Goodwood Stakes, winning under a hand ride from jockey Aaron Gryder. He has been marvelous since returning from Dubai where he finished third in the World Cup. I expect his next start to be in the Breeders Cup Classic. Tiago finished second, edging out Albertus Maximus who came home third.

I’ve just started school at the University of Cincinnati, and I would like to write more, but I need to study! I’d like to wrap this post up by giving a thank you to TVG who has joined the Thoroughbred Bloggers Alliance as a sponsor of the Sprint division. Click here to check the TBA out!  Please check back later in the week for more updates, and thanks for reading!