Will This Be The Dude's Derby?

This Saturday's Pennsylvania Derby could belong to First Dude. Though he is still looking for his second lifetime win, and I see no reason why he shouldn't get it over the Philly Park oval, and in a million dollar race. He is the class of the field, is turning back in distance, and he is in with 114 lbs, if  rider Robbie Albarado, doesn't eat a lot for dinner tonight. That means he is dropping 12 lbs from his third place finish in the Travers!  His last 6 races were all Grade One's, and he has been competitive against the very best. I think the 114 lbs will be a huge advantage in here, and I look for him to bounce right out of his outside post and go gate to wire. I don't see anyone catching him.
The Kent Stakes at Delaware, is a Grade II for 3 year olds, going a mile and 1/8th over the turf.There's a nice field assembled here, with Hall of Fame Stakes winner, Interactif, winner of the American Derby, Workin for Hops, Lentenor ( Barbaro's little brother) and the ready-to-step-into-stakes-company, They Call Me Giant.
I like this improving colt, and I look for a good effort here. Workin For Hops is another in here that looks tough. He is very consistent, is trained by the always under the radar, 30% trainer Mike Stidham, and also has good karma in his corner. If you don't know anything about the owner/breeder, Estrorace LLC, have a look. And don't miss their "latest news".  A horse that throws a party? Now that's my kind of horse.

The Man that Gallops Zenyatta

Found a very interesting piece on Steve Willard, Zenyatta's exercise rider, who will be retiring along with her, after the Breeder's Cup in November. The article was written by Stephanie Diaz, for The Pilot, out of Southern Pines, North Carolina. ( Great job, Stephanie !)  Stephanie writes about Steve's background, his character and his various experiences at the racetrack. She details how he started with horses, and the ups and downs of his life. She talks about the many good horses that Steve rode before he  became Zenyatta's regular rider by the "process of elimination". She also describes the physical problems that  older exercise riders like Steve deal with and how they cope.  Steve seems very humble about his part in Zenyatta's life. It's nice to see how much respect he has for John Shirreffs ( whom he calls "the Nebraska farmer") and Mario Espinosa, and all who are involved in caring for the big mare. It has certainly been a team effort, and  I hope he knows just how extremely important he has been in all of this too.  
While the primary story is Steve's, there's lots of insight and details about Zenyatta's personality that I had never read before. And you know, I just can't get enough of that. So have a look, you will enjoy it.
Click here to read "An Affair to Remember "

Northern Dancer - Sire of Sires, and, Hey! Where's my Money?

Before you wager on the Northern Dancer Breeder’s Cup Stakes Sunday at Woodbine you need to know a little bit about, probably, the greatest TB sire in modern history. Yes, he was little. Some say 14.2, some say a shade over 15 hands. I saw him in his retirement at Windfields Farm and I’m here to tell you, I would be surprised if he measured 15 hands! But what he didn’t have in size, he more than made up for on the race track and even more importantly, in the breeding shed. The great Northern Dancer was a rare, sire of sires. A winner of two jewels of the American Triple Crown, this Canadian- bred sired 146 stakes winners, and a remarkable 26 of them were Champions world-wide. Foaled in 1961, by Nearctic, (Nearco) out of Natalma, (Native Dancer), he was bred by Canadian business tycoon and philanthropist, Edward P Taylor. Northern Dancer was so small, that when offered for sale as a yearling, no one wanted him. As a result, he was sent to one of Taylor’s trainers. And not only was he small, but he was unruly and rambunctious, unless he was around Mr. Taylor’s wife, Winifred. It is said that he was one of her favorites, even as an unraced colt; she gave him lots of attention and he was calm and quiet when around her. However, there were thoughts of gelding the little man - good thing they didn’t.
Here are some horses we would not have had, if it wasn’t for the great Northern Dancer. He was the sire of so many important stallions including Danzig, Lyphard, Secreto, The Minstrel, Nijinsky II, Storm Bird, Vice Regent, Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells. And as a result, we wouldn’t have had their sons, Danehill, Lure, Belong to Me, Honor Grades, Pine Bluff. Dancing Brave, Shadeed, Royal Academy, Green Dancer, Barathea, El Prado, Storm Cat, Summer Squall, Deputy Minister, Theatrical, and the list goes on and on …
Northern Dancer’s stud fee started out at $25,000, and ended up at over 1 million, with no guarantee. In the early 80’s, his yearlings routinely brought over a million dollars.
The Northern Dancer Breeder’s Cup Stakes is a mile and a half event on the E.P Taylor Turf Course on Sunday. It is a Grade I, worth $750,000, for 3 year olds and up, and the results might have some, but not much, impact for the Breeder’s Cup 1 &1/2 Turf in November. I say this because the European contingent is always very strong at this distance, and all others are up against it. Many of Europe’s top turf horses did not have this race on their schedule, and either will go to the Arc in 2 weeks, or just train on to the Cup. However, it is a “Win and You’re In”, so the winner will have an automatic berth into the BC Turf. Nominations closed with 26 entries, with 2 supplemental entries. Several of those nominated chose to run in last week’s shorter (1 & 3/8’s) Bowling Green at Belmont. All in all, it is not a strong field for a Grade I with such a big purse.
A little background in last year’s race… Marsh Side won the race but was D’Q’d for interference with the horses that finished 3rd and 4th. This gave the win to Just as Well, the second place finisher, and Marsh Side was placed 4th. Then, this past June, the decision was reversed and Marsh Side, on paper, was awarded the win. BUT, the purse money has yet to be distributed, because Jonathan Sheppard, (trainer of Just as Well) is contesting it.


Oh sorry, I have to take this  hypothetical phone call from the Woodbine Stewards…


….Yes… thanks for returning my call…I was just wondering where my money was ?....Yes, the win-place bet on Marsh Side from last year’s Northern Dancer, and the exacta bet, Marsh Side and Just as Well?.... Yes, well, I know he was DQ’d, but then he was re-instated, and awarded the win…. So I thought now, you could give me my winnings? Oh, you know, let’s make this easy… Just give my winnings to any one of the great equine charities, like Old Friends, or the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund…how’s that sound?  Does that work for you? Because, I’d be fine with that…. OK, then ...Thanks very much….


Again, sorry for the interruption….


As the Handicapper chosen to handicap this race for the Handicapper’s Corner at ThoroFan, I have commented on all the contenders, at their website. Good luck with your wagers on all the good turf racing this weekend!

Star of The Show

The opening session of the Keeneland Fall Sales was a big success last night. The evening session, first of two, was a different format from years past, and from early reports, it was a good change for the venue. There is a second evening session tonight. The sale then continues daily, until September 26th.
The sales topper was a stunning colt by A.P. Indy out of the Grade I winning mare, Balance. She herself, being a half sister to the undefeated Champion, Zenyatta. The colt was purchased by Ben Leon for $4.2 million, in the name of his racing stable, Besilu Stables. The colt was bred by John and Jerry Amerman , who owns the dam, and was consigned by Mill Ridge, as sales agent. Mr. Leon outbid Coolmore, among others to get the colt.The colt will go to Todd Pletcher.
Mr. Leon also had the sales topper, another A. P Indy colt, at the Saratoga Yearling Sales last month.
Have a look at the Star of opening night at the Keeneland Sales.

Talk Turf To Me

There is nothing like a couple of days of all-turf racing, to pick your head up and get you back into a handicapping state of mind.

Kentucky Downs has full fields of grass racing, over what is the most “European style" course in the country. The one mile and 3/8’s course used to be called Dueling Grounds, and it is in Franklin, Kentucky. There will be turf racing on Saturdays and Mondays, for the next two weeks, for a total of 4 racing days. The races are run as part of the Turfway Park card and alternate, starting after the 2nd race. Saturday starts off with the Kentucky Cup Turf Festival, which includes 3 stakes races, the Gr .III Kentucky Cup Turf at a mile and ½, the Kentucky Cup Ladies Turf, at 1 mile, and the Kentucky Cup Turf Dash at 6 furlongs

Cloudy’s Knight will return this year to defend his title in the Turf Cup, provided he came out of yesterday's work, in good shape. He won this race last year after a long layoff from a tendon injury. After his win in the Cup, and under the remarkable care of Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard, Cloudy’s Knight went on to win 4 more stakes and was beaten a nose in the Breeder’s Cup Marathon! He is back, this year, at age 10!. Will history repeat?

Because the course is undulating, I always look for horses who have performed well over the course. There is an uphill /downhill component, a big, sweeping turn and a somewhat tighter turn. Let’s just say, there’s a little bit of everything. Horses need to be fit, ready and pretty tractable. When a horse does well here, I always take that into consideration, when handicapping on other courses. If a horse is coming from Fair Hill, I take a look at that angle, too. You want a jock that has some familiarity with the course, too. Last year, Orlando Mojica, Miguel Mena, Leandro Goncalves, Larry Melancon, Victor Lebron and Tony Farina all had multiple wins there. I see a different group here this year, and I look for Brice Blanc , Freddie Lenclud and Alex Solis to adapt well . The meet’s leading trainer last year, was Todd Pletcher, with William Bradley and Bill Mott, also having multiple wins. Graham Motion, George Arnold, Ken McPeek , Helen Pitts and of course Jonathan Sheppard , will all have a strong presence this year. I can hardly wait for the PP’s !!!


If you have any insights or tips on the racing at Kentucky Downs, let it be heard!!

Souped Up

Zenyatta's 3 year old 1/2 brother took to the turf today and broke his maiden in the 5th at Saratoga. Souper Spectacular, a very expensive ( 1million +) Keeneland '08 September yearling, by Giant's Causeway out of Vertigineaux, by Kris S, broke sharp, stalked the pace and showed some guts to take command at the top of the stretch,  to draw off by a couple. While not a spectacular time, the colt looks like he's still learning, and could move forward from this. Owned by Charlotte Weber's, Live Oak Plantation, she is the granddaughter of Campbell Soup founder, John Dorrance and sits on the Board of Directors of that Company. She was the TOBA outstanding owner and breeder of 1991, National Owner of the Year in 2005, and  recieved the Penny Chenery Distinctive Woman in Racing Award in 2005. She has campaigned champion Miesque's Approval, and the multiple Graded Stakes winner, My Typhoon, who is a 1/2 sister to Sea of Stars  the 2009 European Horse of the Year.

Lots of Questions, But Not With Quality Road

My head is starting to hurt from all the handicapping I have been doing, so as much as I hate to see the Saratoga meet come to a close this weekend, I will enjoy a few days off, after Monday. ( Well, I say that now, but...who knows?)
I cannot see anyone coming close to beating Quality Road in the Woodward tomorrow, even at the mile and an eighth distance. He is just so much better than any of these. One has to wonder if they are REALLY pointing him towards the Classic in November, or to the Mile? And that's 2 months away. Will they  just train him up to that? I am getting ahead of myself here, but I really think he is a lock, at least for tomorrow. 
One of the toughest races on the card to handicap tomorrow is the Forego.Girolamo is back after a long layoff, and you have several talented horses in here that LOVE the distance. The outcome of the Forego will have lots of Breeder's Cup implications. How will that all shakedown?
Tomorrow's 5th race is a maiden race, going a mile on the inner. And there is a 1/2 brother to Zenyatta in here! Souper Spectacular is a chestnut colt by Giant's Causeway out of the Kris S mare, Vertigineaux. He has run twice on dirt, and now he is stretching out and going to the turf.  I'm looking forward to watching this horse. Will the surface switch make all the difference?
Will tropical storm Earl drop any rain on the Saratoga surfaces? Mother Nature will just make us wait for the answer to that one.