It was a chalky Eclipse awards last night in Miami. There were no real surprises during the evening – including Kenny Rice’s horrible jokes – leading up to the Horse of the Year coronation of Zenyatta. That moment was a surprise for me. Racing has always had an “old school” mentality and art of that mentality is that awards and champions are decided on the track. Be it a nose or nine lengths, Blame won the battle on the track and I suspected that would carry over to the vote. As close as I thought the vote would be, it really wasn’t. Blame finished with 102 votes, Goldikova with 5 but the queen smoked them all with 128.
Some takeaways for me on the evening:
- Acceptance speeches for the most part were God awful with the connections of Dubai Majesty taking the cake;
- Omar Moreno was sincere and heartfelt when he said that winning the Best Apprentice award was the best moment of his life;
- Kenny Rice needs to go. His jokes were not only flat, but in several instances sexist. I’m not easily offended (I’ve been in racing and gaming for 12 years!) but he managed to do it. Second bad year in a row, time to move on;
- The Moss’ were as gracious in victory as they were in defeat;
- Al Stall, Jr., while clearly disappointed, gave an equally gracious interview at the end of the night.
- Marylou Whitney pinning the responsibility for OTTBs on the owners was only about 40% correct. As Teresa Genaro pointed out during the Thoroughbred Times live chat during the ceremony, Breeder’s play a large role in the proliferation of horses as well (percentages were mine).
I can’t let Mrs. Whitney’s comments go untouched here. I am sure that from her perspective owners should care for their horses from birth until death, but that is easier said than done. She deals in the blue bloods. It’s not often that you’ll find a Whitney horse running in a $5,000 claiming race at Beulah Park. When you are talking about claiming horses that may change hands a dozen times over a career, they are much tougher to keep track of. While you can stipulate on a horse’s papers that you want to be contacted if the horse is going to be retired/sent to slaughter, you are also relying on the integrity of that last trainer/owner to honor your request. As hard as it is to believe, there are some unscrupulous characters running around the racetrack and the draw of money now versus maybe a few bucks later is too much for many.
Breeder’s need to step up and more minor fees need to be assessed that go to the retirement of racehorses. Hopefully the recession has stopped the practice of overbreeding racehorses. The decreasing foal crops should at least allow the supply to start running more in line with demand in a few years.
In addition, support your local retirement charity whether you are a fan, owner or just plain horse lover. So many wonderful groups exist around the country from CANTER to ReRun to Neigh Savers, Southern California Thoroughbred Rescue and even right here in Minnesota where we have the Minnesota Retired Racehorse Project. Pick your favorite and lend a hand.
Finally, there are some Blame fans that were clearly not happy with the outcome. As I mentioned yesterday, I would have voted for Zenyatta but I can certainly understand the sentiment: when you win on the track, that’s supposed to be enough. As many of Zenyatta’s other opponents have found out, against her your best is rarely enough. She is a deserving champion.
Congratulations to all the winner’s tonight. Enjoy the after party!
Showing posts with label Blame. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blame. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Horse of the Year
All the votes are now in and Horse of the Year is decided. We’ll find out tonight on TVG if Blame or Zenyatta will take home the hardware. I don’t have a vote but if I did my vote would go to Zenyatta. Last year I argued that Rachel deserved HOY because of her more rigorous campaign. It could be argued that Blame had the more rigorous campaign of the two this year. I know Zenyatta won all Grade Is while Blame did not and he even lost a race before their meeting. And I know it’s not Z’s fault that she didn’t face top notch competition in every race – she entered Grade I races and was there to be beaten. No one did. Ultimately, to me, the best argument for Blame is that he won the head to head meeting between the two.
What it comes down to for me are two things:
1. She brought so much attention to racing this year that there is no way to argue that she hasn’t done more for the game than any other horse this season – while winning every race save one, and;
2. The WAY she lost to Blame throws enough doubt into the equation so that #1 sways the case, in my opinion. She was phenomenal in defeat. If Blame had beaten her by two or three, I go the other way on this one.
Any number of Ifs and she wins the race and there is no discussion. I know that “Ifs” are part of the game and “Ifs” don’t matter, the results do. I understand that. But to me these two horses are equal. Run the race 100 times and it could be like flipping a coin. Zenyatta proved her greatness and I think the ancillary piece of what she did for the sport pushes her over the top. Again, Blame wins by more convincingly and this isn’t even a question.
However it goes, I’m OK with the result. Both horses had outstanding campaigns. I just shudder to think of the vitriol that will spew forth from the losing camp. My congratulations go to the winner, no matter who it is.
What it comes down to for me are two things:
1. She brought so much attention to racing this year that there is no way to argue that she hasn’t done more for the game than any other horse this season – while winning every race save one, and;
2. The WAY she lost to Blame throws enough doubt into the equation so that #1 sways the case, in my opinion. She was phenomenal in defeat. If Blame had beaten her by two or three, I go the other way on this one.
Any number of Ifs and she wins the race and there is no discussion. I know that “Ifs” are part of the game and “Ifs” don’t matter, the results do. I understand that. But to me these two horses are equal. Run the race 100 times and it could be like flipping a coin. Zenyatta proved her greatness and I think the ancillary piece of what she did for the sport pushes her over the top. Again, Blame wins by more convincingly and this isn’t even a question.
However it goes, I’m OK with the result. Both horses had outstanding campaigns. I just shudder to think of the vitriol that will spew forth from the losing camp. My congratulations go to the winner, no matter who it is.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Zenyatta - The Aftermath
I know that the last 36 hours were an emotional time for all of Zenyatta’s supports and a lot of talk comes out of your mouth in times of stress and great emotion. Here are some random thoughts on the gnashing of teeth by some of Zenyatta’s strongest supporters the last 24 hours.
“She’ll always be my champion” – Damn right she will. She spotted one the best race fields in decades about a mile and managed to only lose by a nose. It was a stellar performance by a remarkable mare. She SHOULD always be your champion – as well as one for everyone else!
“Mike Smith screwed her” – Hardly. She got pinched at the break and wasn’t thrilled about the surface early on. Even to those of us watching her on TV could tell that she just wasn’t moving the same way early in the race. Contrary to the vilification, he didn’t ‘weave her through traffic’ but he made one move up the inside and then angled out and had a straight shot to the finish. He worked hard to get her in gear and once she did she ran like she always did in the style that she always utilized. Give some credit to Blame – that’s NOT a bad horse folks.
“Secretariat lost 5 times!” – Now we’re starting to slide into sour grapes territory here. Though there was no Breeder’s Cup back in the day, there was a Triple Crown. There was a complete devastation of a field in the final leg of a Triple Crown. The final time of the mile and a quarter at Churchill Downs yesterday was 2:02.1, almost 3 seconds slower than Secretariat’s track record time in his Derby. Secretariat beat the best horses of his time all over the map. While stirring, Zenyatta’s wins were not on par with record shattering performances. Is she in the discussion as one of the best all time? Of course she is, she is absolutely amazing, but her conservative “regular season” schedule over the past two seasons will haunt her in the greatest of all time discussions.
“She lost once, by a nose, she’s still Horse of the Year” – This is a debate I’m not getting involved in yet. Zenyatta finished the season 5-1. Blame finished his season at 4-1. They raced once head to head. He won, she didn’t. If Switch or Rinterval had picked up a win on Friday, it would have flattered Zenyatta immensely. In her defense, if they ran the Classic five more times, she may win them all. Also, I don’t think another horse in training could have left that much to do and come that close to overcoming it. Does Zenyatta win horse of the decade? By a landslide. Does she beat Blame over a two year period? Absolutely. I’m not convinced yet that she doesn’t deserve it this year anyhow, but stop the talk like Blame was a huge upset winner that shouldn’t even be in the conversation.
“She just got beat. She’s still amazing.” Amen. Yes she is.
If she returned next year I think she would still be one of the best horses in training but, eventually, she will lose a step. It has to happen, it happens to all of us! I would rather she retire now, as one of the greatest ever. She was a shining star when we needed one the most. She drew attention to a noble and classic sport that was in dire need of positive attention. She stirred emotions and made people care about racing again, or at least about a racehorse, giving the sport something to try and build off of for the future. Whether the ‘powers that be’ can capitalize on that remains to be seen, but that is a long and sordid argument for another time.
Let’s just enjoy the celebration that was Thoroughbred racing this weekend and the great champions that competed before we start trashing each other again.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Breeder's Cup Day Two - In the Books
The day didn’t start much better than yesterday and, for some, ended in extreme heartbreak. Let’s recap.
Betting overview
Six Races (one choice was a late scratch)
Two wins
That's it! Go big or go home. I like to think of myself as picking winners at a 33% rate rather than failing miserably!! Thankfully I did have the exacta in the Classic keying Zenyatta under my choice (Haynesfield) and Blame. Helped save the day.
Juvenile Turf
Apparently we couldn’t start the day without SOME kind of drama. In the 1st Cup race of the day, Rosie Napravnik’s mount, the aptly named Rough Sailing, slid heading into the first turn dumping Rosie and taking him out of the race. Horse and rider bounced right up, but Rough Sailing was vanned off. Reportedly he had some swelling in the right front and was taken back to the barn for a radiograph where it was discovered he fractured his shoulder in the fall. He was later euthanized. A terrible start to Breeder’s Cup Day Two.
As far as the racing goes, underdog Pluck, in a rerun of the Summer Stakes, tracked the pace and, again, “swept by furlong out” in what looked like a really easy win. Soldat and Willcox Inn rounded out the tri. I ignored the home team at my own peril with my choice, European Master of Hounds, well placed heading into the stretch had no real run through the lane finishing 6th.
Pluck
Soldat
Willcox Inn
Sprint
No drama with Big Drama. As I mentioned in the show and in the preview, Big Drama could have been four for four in 2010 with better starts in his last two. A clean start and a rough one from the other speed in the race, Pashito the Che, all added up to a wire to wire win in the Sprint. Long shot Hamazing Destiny, who prepped for this race in a $65,000 Optional Claiming race, was up for place while Synthetic specialist Smiling Tiger finished third.
Once again the equine ambulance was out as Atta Boy Roy pulled up after the finish line. Calvin Borel bolted off the horse and got the ambulance over in a hurry where he was vanned off for radiographs. Early indications were a suspensory ligament issue but turned out to be just a superficial cut. Thank goodness, we could not handle two breakdowns in a row on national television.
Big Drama (Choice)
Hamazing Destiny
Smiling Tiger
Turf Sprint
Thankfully there were no incidents in the running of the Turf Sprint. There was also no win for me, either. Favored Silver Timber (my choice) was well placed but had no oomph at all in the lane finishing out of the money. Chamberlain Bridge was much the best as he was placed well and made a very strong move in the stretch to take all the marbles. My second choice, Center City, was second best while the filly, Unzip Me, finished third.
After this race we were to be switched to ESPN. However the Breeder’s Cup coverage was in limbo for a while waiting for the fabulous OT battle between crappy has-been Michigan and never-was Illinois to be decided. Great day for racing. Thankfully we all got to see Michigan rise to 2-3 in the Big 10.
Chamberlain Bridge
Center City
Unzip Me
Juvenile
Let the Derby hype begin! An absolute ass-kicking by Uncle Mo. I had said it was his to lose and it was all Uncle Mo at Churchill today. Johnny Velasquez confidently rode him the entire way looking very much like he knew he had it from the break. It wasn’t s huge exacta, but I’ll take it as Boys at Tuscanova finished second with pacesetter Rogue Romance holding on for 3rd. The question, as asked by the ESPN staff, is can the Indian Charlie colt get a mile and a quarter. Until then, wow, what a performance.
Uncle Mo (Choice)
Boys at Tuscanova
Rogue Romance
Mile
The Goldikova Breeder’s Cup Mile. Fabulous race by a fabulous mare. She was sitting sixth heading into the stretch and then Goldikova exploded through the stretch to draw off to an easy win. My choice, Sidney’s Candy, led most of the way around but faded in deep stretch to finish out of the money. He just couldn’t ration his speed throughout the race and had nothing left in the tank. Goldikova's jockey Olivier Plesier was asked if he was concerned at any point in the race and matter-of-factly said no, which was obvious by the confident way he rode her. Hats off to a wonderful champion. Gotta feel for Gio Ponti, meeting once in a lifetime mares two years in a row. Helluva job all the way around.
Goldikova
Gio Ponti
The Usual Q.T.
Dirt Mile
The closest finish of the weekend and 36-1 shot Dakota Phone prevails over Morning Line with old warrior Gayego picking up the third. Favorite and my choice Here Comes Ben was well positioned throughout and just had nothing in the tank in the stretch. I never saw this one coming, but then judging by the payouts, no one else did either!
Sad footnote: Mine That Bird finishes 10th and will be thankfully retired. Reaching around to pat myself on the back, here is a quote from my day after the Derby blog:
“It's my opinion that other than going back to Sunland and winning some local stakes races, Mine That Bird will not take the racing world by storm.”
Obviously I was wrong – he didn’t even do that!
Dakota Phone (36-1!!)
Morning Line
Gayego
Turf
I hardly know how to break this one down. I’d like to think that I didn’t care much about this one because Workforce (my choice) scratched and it was the race before the Classic. The pace was boring, the stretch run was less than stirring, all the talking heads were all over Behkabad and he was a major disappointment. He could not have asked for a better trip and he was less than impressive. Let’s just leave it at that and move on.
Dangerous Midge
Champ Pegasus
Behkabad
Classic
She didn’t do it. Maybe with a better break. Maybe if Mike Smith had hustled her a bit more. Maybe if Blame weakened just a bit in the stretch. A lot of maybes in this one, but of one thing there is no maybe: Blame is one tough racehorse. He took the lead and never relinquished it, even when the big mare was eating into his lead. When Zenyatta came up to his sights, he dug down for more and would not let he pass. As an aside, my choice, Haynesfield, ran with the lead pack and folded. Thankfully I had a boxed exacta including Blame and Zenyatta to save me a couple of shekels.
Blame
Zenyatta
Fly Down
More on the Horse of the Year debate later.
Betting overview
Six Races (one choice was a late scratch)
Two wins
That's it! Go big or go home. I like to think of myself as picking winners at a 33% rate rather than failing miserably!! Thankfully I did have the exacta in the Classic keying Zenyatta under my choice (Haynesfield) and Blame. Helped save the day.
Juvenile Turf
Apparently we couldn’t start the day without SOME kind of drama. In the 1st Cup race of the day, Rosie Napravnik’s mount, the aptly named Rough Sailing, slid heading into the first turn dumping Rosie and taking him out of the race. Horse and rider bounced right up, but Rough Sailing was vanned off. Reportedly he had some swelling in the right front and was taken back to the barn for a radiograph where it was discovered he fractured his shoulder in the fall. He was later euthanized. A terrible start to Breeder’s Cup Day Two.
As far as the racing goes, underdog Pluck, in a rerun of the Summer Stakes, tracked the pace and, again, “swept by furlong out” in what looked like a really easy win. Soldat and Willcox Inn rounded out the tri. I ignored the home team at my own peril with my choice, European Master of Hounds, well placed heading into the stretch had no real run through the lane finishing 6th.
Pluck
Soldat
Willcox Inn
Sprint
No drama with Big Drama. As I mentioned in the show and in the preview, Big Drama could have been four for four in 2010 with better starts in his last two. A clean start and a rough one from the other speed in the race, Pashito the Che, all added up to a wire to wire win in the Sprint. Long shot Hamazing Destiny, who prepped for this race in a $65,000 Optional Claiming race, was up for place while Synthetic specialist Smiling Tiger finished third.
Once again the equine ambulance was out as Atta Boy Roy pulled up after the finish line. Calvin Borel bolted off the horse and got the ambulance over in a hurry where he was vanned off for radiographs. Early indications were a suspensory ligament issue but turned out to be just a superficial cut. Thank goodness, we could not handle two breakdowns in a row on national television.
Big Drama (Choice)
Hamazing Destiny
Smiling Tiger
Turf Sprint
Thankfully there were no incidents in the running of the Turf Sprint. There was also no win for me, either. Favored Silver Timber (my choice) was well placed but had no oomph at all in the lane finishing out of the money. Chamberlain Bridge was much the best as he was placed well and made a very strong move in the stretch to take all the marbles. My second choice, Center City, was second best while the filly, Unzip Me, finished third.
After this race we were to be switched to ESPN. However the Breeder’s Cup coverage was in limbo for a while waiting for the fabulous OT battle between crappy has-been Michigan and never-was Illinois to be decided. Great day for racing. Thankfully we all got to see Michigan rise to 2-3 in the Big 10.
Chamberlain Bridge
Center City
Unzip Me
Juvenile
Let the Derby hype begin! An absolute ass-kicking by Uncle Mo. I had said it was his to lose and it was all Uncle Mo at Churchill today. Johnny Velasquez confidently rode him the entire way looking very much like he knew he had it from the break. It wasn’t s huge exacta, but I’ll take it as Boys at Tuscanova finished second with pacesetter Rogue Romance holding on for 3rd. The question, as asked by the ESPN staff, is can the Indian Charlie colt get a mile and a quarter. Until then, wow, what a performance.
Uncle Mo (Choice)
Boys at Tuscanova
Rogue Romance
Mile
The Goldikova Breeder’s Cup Mile. Fabulous race by a fabulous mare. She was sitting sixth heading into the stretch and then Goldikova exploded through the stretch to draw off to an easy win. My choice, Sidney’s Candy, led most of the way around but faded in deep stretch to finish out of the money. He just couldn’t ration his speed throughout the race and had nothing left in the tank. Goldikova's jockey Olivier Plesier was asked if he was concerned at any point in the race and matter-of-factly said no, which was obvious by the confident way he rode her. Hats off to a wonderful champion. Gotta feel for Gio Ponti, meeting once in a lifetime mares two years in a row. Helluva job all the way around.
Goldikova
Gio Ponti
The Usual Q.T.
Dirt Mile
The closest finish of the weekend and 36-1 shot Dakota Phone prevails over Morning Line with old warrior Gayego picking up the third. Favorite and my choice Here Comes Ben was well positioned throughout and just had nothing in the tank in the stretch. I never saw this one coming, but then judging by the payouts, no one else did either!
Sad footnote: Mine That Bird finishes 10th and will be thankfully retired. Reaching around to pat myself on the back, here is a quote from my day after the Derby blog:
“It's my opinion that other than going back to Sunland and winning some local stakes races, Mine That Bird will not take the racing world by storm.”
Obviously I was wrong – he didn’t even do that!
Dakota Phone (36-1!!)
Morning Line
Gayego
Turf
I hardly know how to break this one down. I’d like to think that I didn’t care much about this one because Workforce (my choice) scratched and it was the race before the Classic. The pace was boring, the stretch run was less than stirring, all the talking heads were all over Behkabad and he was a major disappointment. He could not have asked for a better trip and he was less than impressive. Let’s just leave it at that and move on.
Dangerous Midge
Champ Pegasus
Behkabad
Classic
She didn’t do it. Maybe with a better break. Maybe if Mike Smith had hustled her a bit more. Maybe if Blame weakened just a bit in the stretch. A lot of maybes in this one, but of one thing there is no maybe: Blame is one tough racehorse. He took the lead and never relinquished it, even when the big mare was eating into his lead. When Zenyatta came up to his sights, he dug down for more and would not let he pass. As an aside, my choice, Haynesfield, ran with the lead pack and folded. Thankfully I had a boxed exacta including Blame and Zenyatta to save me a couple of shekels.
Blame
Zenyatta
Fly Down
More on the Horse of the Year debate later.
Obligatory Breeder's Cup Post - Day 2 (Can Zenyatta Be Beat?)
Day Two is upon us, or as it’s known on the West Coast, Zenyatta’s Coronation!
For a more detailed analysis of each race, just click on the player to the left and listen to the Blog Talk Radio show.
Juvenile Turf
Master of Hounds – Best of a weak bunch.
Utley – Second best Euro in the field.
Mantoba – Yes, the Americans in here are that weak.
Sprint
Big Drama - Could be 4-0 in 2010 without starting issues.
Girolamo - Coming in off a huge win in the Vosburgh.
Riley Tucker - Right there behind Girolamo
Turf Sprint
Silver Timber – All angles seem to lead back to “but he was beaten by Silver Timber”.
Central City – Can certainly improve off of the first race back from the layoff and score here.
Quick Enough – Claimed twice in the last four months and now running in the BC. LOVE IT!
Juvenile
Uncle Mo – Wow. Hasn’t even breathed heavy to win yet. Very impressive 2 year old.
Boys at Tosconova – I like the dirt form, if he gets the distance, he’s right in here.
Jaycito – Don’t like the first time dirt, but this is a talented colt.
Mile
Sydney’s Candy – More of a value wager. Odds should be good and last shows that his true calling may be on turf.
Goldikova – Defending champ and best in the race. Given her prohibitively low odds, I’ll take a stab with another.
Gio Ponti – Won’t grab that elusive BC victory, but an outstanding horse non-the-less.
Turf
SCRATCHED! Workforce – Going for a Epsom, Arc and BC trifecta. Very impressive.
Behkabad – Impeded a bit in the Arc, though I don’t think as talented as the top choice. Should be favorite with top choice now out.
Dangerous Midge – Euro sweep.
Dirt Mile
Here Comes Ben – Since moving to the dirt is 3-0 and 100+ Beyers. Found his calling.
Tizway – Probably too much other early speed to last, but better than the rest.
Gayego – deep closer could move up to second with enough of a pace.
Classic
Haynesfield – Like Sydney’s Candy, this is a value wager, trying to beat an overlay. If Zenyatta gets over even money, the play goes there.
Zenyatta – Could be the best ever. Deep field + real dirt = her only opportunity to be beaten.
Blame – Will be prominent early, but will wear down late.
Good luck everyone!
For a more detailed analysis of each race, just click on the player to the left and listen to the Blog Talk Radio show.
Juvenile Turf
Master of Hounds – Best of a weak bunch.
Utley – Second best Euro in the field.
Mantoba – Yes, the Americans in here are that weak.
Sprint
Big Drama - Could be 4-0 in 2010 without starting issues.
Girolamo - Coming in off a huge win in the Vosburgh.
Riley Tucker - Right there behind Girolamo
Turf Sprint
Silver Timber – All angles seem to lead back to “but he was beaten by Silver Timber”.
Central City – Can certainly improve off of the first race back from the layoff and score here.
Quick Enough – Claimed twice in the last four months and now running in the BC. LOVE IT!
Juvenile
Uncle Mo – Wow. Hasn’t even breathed heavy to win yet. Very impressive 2 year old.
Boys at Tosconova – I like the dirt form, if he gets the distance, he’s right in here.
Jaycito – Don’t like the first time dirt, but this is a talented colt.
Mile
Sydney’s Candy – More of a value wager. Odds should be good and last shows that his true calling may be on turf.
Goldikova – Defending champ and best in the race. Given her prohibitively low odds, I’ll take a stab with another.
Gio Ponti – Won’t grab that elusive BC victory, but an outstanding horse non-the-less.
Turf
SCRATCHED! Workforce – Going for a Epsom, Arc and BC trifecta. Very impressive.
Behkabad – Impeded a bit in the Arc, though I don’t think as talented as the top choice. Should be favorite with top choice now out.
Dangerous Midge – Euro sweep.
Dirt Mile
Here Comes Ben – Since moving to the dirt is 3-0 and 100+ Beyers. Found his calling.
Tizway – Probably too much other early speed to last, but better than the rest.
Gayego – deep closer could move up to second with enough of a pace.
Classic
Haynesfield – Like Sydney’s Candy, this is a value wager, trying to beat an overlay. If Zenyatta gets over even money, the play goes there.
Zenyatta – Could be the best ever. Deep field + real dirt = her only opportunity to be beaten.
Blame – Will be prominent early, but will wear down late.
Good luck everyone!
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