It was unquestionably an outstanding day of racing at Canterbury Park. The races were competitive, the crowd was large and enthusiastic and Minnesota hospitality was well showcased. Some of my own musings from the big day:
- First of all, a HUGE thank you to Jeff Maday, media relations chief at Canterbury Park who got me credentialed and allowed me a spot in the press box to blog live all day from the event. We had a great deli lunch, a super set up and were very well hosted by Jeff and his staff - Bonnie and Justin were both fabulous.
- The pre-racing banter in the press box from the likes of Steve Davidowitz, Marty McGee, Steve Fierro and others made my day. Listening to the angles and reasoning for picks as they floated selections on the upcoming card was worth the price of admission. Well, it WOULD have been worth the price of admission if there were an admission charge. Davidowitz's book, "Betting Thoroughbreds" was one of the first books I ever read on racing. Unfortunately I reverted back to my high school football mentality: being the new guy I was to be seen and not heard. Instead of 'acting like I'd been there', I should have embraced my newness and not been uncomfortable approaching the legends. I especially lamented not taking this course of action when my stable mate at the end of the row, Steve Fierro, ended up being a tremendously personable and approachable guy.
- While maybe not a Steve Davidowitz as far as fame goes, it was an absolute highlight to my day meeting the lovely and engaging Quinella Queen as well as her equally charming King, Kevin. A lot of great horse and life discussions prior to racing. I'm glad that they made the trip out to our little corner of heaven and I hope to reciprocate next time I'm through Iowa.
- The access to information in the press box is really invaluable. Handle stats, attendance numbers, how the day is moving along as it is viewed by track management was all great information to have. It's not that this information is proprietary, it's just getting it earlier than normal was great to relay to folks tuning in.
- The quality of the racing stock was stellar and this reflects directly on the trainers and their teams in the Crown races. Most of the men and women whose names appear on the training line of the program are not household names. They don't spend their days gearing up for yet another graded stakes race or dealing with the media. They train average racehorses and try and make a living in the toughest racing ranks out there: the every day claimers. And these horses looked fabulous! Many remarks were uttered throughout the racing plant on how good the horses looked and how well behaved they were in front of a large and loud crowd. Again this all speaks toward the high level of training prowess among the folks that work with these every day heroes and may never see the quality of racing stock of an Asmussen, Dutrow or Pletcher.
- Though our local jocks may not have won any of the Crown races, they did pretty well holding their own against the big boys. Within a few of the races there were moves from Derek Bell, Ry Eikelberry and others that had had a direct bearing on the outcome of the race and improved their own chances of finishing in the money. Still, watching Russell Baze, Julien Leparoux, Jamie Theriot and Robby Albarado was a privilege. Theriot's ride and his work down the stretch aboard Antrim County was a particular joy to behold and a racing highlight of the day.
- I was able to do far less color than I originally had hoped. While I was able to get some crowd reactions and a feel for the day early on, once the Crown races began it was tough to get downstairs and get some mingling done. I wish I could have done more of this with some photos as it was a great crowd and a little more color from them would have improved the look and feel of the notes on the day.
So was the day for yours truly a success? I guess there are a couple of ways I can measure what success is. I'll be tackling the picking winners part of success tomorrow when I review all the picks for the races I made, what bets I may have changed near post time and how that worked out.
I was a bit disappointed that Bernell Rhone couldn't get a winner with Couple Whiles, that Emerald Bay Stables (and friend Jack Holstrom) couldn't get a win with Pursue A Dream or Spider Power, that Ready's Rocket (and friend Gary Porter) couldn't cross the line first or that one of our local jockeys couldn't boot home a winner in the Crown. While these weren't necessarily unexpected events, I was still rooting for them.
As far as the live blogging went, my hope was that average traffic would increase by a multiple of four for the day. It ended up being six. Twenty five states were represented in the traffic numbers as well as literally a geographic spread sea to sea and border to border. Six countries were also represented. There were some nice e-mails from folks as well as some instant and continuous feedback via Twitter. Thanks goes out to fellow Internet denizens Green But Game, The Aspiring Horseplayer and Raceday360 for helping to get the word out. So while I consider the live blogging a success, I think I can do a bit better now that I have a feel for how to get around more and what I can add to jazz up the coverage.
Finally, my thanks to all of you that click in here from time to time and especially those of you that tried me out for the first time for the Claiming Crown. I hope you realized two things: this guy ain't half bad and; boy they really have a nice place there at Canterbury Park!
Showing posts with label Russell Baze. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russell Baze. Show all posts
Monday, July 27, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Claiming Crown 2009 - Wrap Up
The day dawned cloudy and there was the threat of rain early, but invading jockeys Russell Baze and Jamie Theriot brought quite a bit of sunshine to their connections by each capturing two races in the 11th edition of the Claiming Crown. Baze with prices that are unheard of when he is riding.
It’s fairly well known that early speed holds at Canterbury Park. That was certainly true in the $50,000 Iron Horse. The favorite, Calm and Collected, broke a bit slowly. While he moved into contention nicely, he trailed Bright Hall on the engine and that’s how they finished as Bright Hall pulled away in the stretch with Jamie Theriot taking full advantage of the speed going wire to wire. Calm and Collected held on for second while local horse Benson, beaten soundly by our own Fizzy Pop (in third) earlier in the meet, finished third.
Next up was the $100,000 Tiara. I can’t quite say that Mizzcan’tbewrong wired the field because she gave up the lead through the middle portion of the race, but she stormed back to take the race from favorite Love to Tell, prevailing by a neck under Robby Albarado over the turf course.
The first longer shot of the day finally prevailed in the Rapid Transit as You’re My Boy Blue closed steadily from the half mile point to rally past heavily favored Grand Traverse in the stretch. Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze put his mark on this Claiming Crown by defying convention – the Canterbury early speed angle – and winning from off the pace. It appeared that during the card there was a bit too much emphasis put on early speed and folks tended to “overspeed” the races and the experience of guys like Baze, Theriot and Albarado took advantage by seemingly defying the “bias” to win.
In the Express, we had another closer under an out of town jockey claiming a victory. Julien Leparoux rated favorite Chasing the Prize well off the pace set by Stormin Sox, popped loose in mid stretch to win by ¾ of a length. Norjac, who put a head in front heading into the stretch, faltered but held on for second.
The tote board exploded in the Glass Slipper keyed from an unusual source, Thoroughbred racing’s all time winningest jockey Russell Baze. Margie Marie set suicidal fractions with a ludicrous :21.1 first quarter, probably reminiscent of her winning effort in a two furlong stake at Prairie Meadows last out. Closing steadily and then drawing off by three, Baze made it look easy at nearly 12-1. When was the last time you saw a Baze horse at 12-1?! Local rider Derek Bell had the best finish of any local based ride in the Crown with a second riding closer Thunder and Belle. Rounding out the trifecta was 70-1 Cassie D which triggered payoffs of $3,476 for the tri and $13,453 for the super. If someone told you that Russell Baze and Derek Bell would finish 1-2 in a race and key that kind of tri, would you have believed him?
The $100,000 Claiming Crown Emerald was billed as the most competitive race on the card and while it was a great race, it didn’t produce the boxcar payoffs that could have come with a 13 horse field. E.T. Baird rated tepid (7/2) favorite Gran Estreno in a perfect trip around the race course. He was never further back than third, keeping the speed in his sights and pulled away with confidence for the win. A couple of 6-1s in Hard Top and Stormy Surge rounded out the board with jockey’s Jeremy Rose and Baze continuing the dominance of shipping riders in the Crown races.
Sentimental choice Antrim County, who was named 2008 Claiming Horse of the Year earlier in the card, upset the field at 4-1 in the Claiming Crown Jewel under a stellar ride by Theriot, winning his second Crown race of the day. Theriot patiently stalked front runner Glamour Guy through fair fractions. As they hit the stretch, Antrim County opened up a 1 length lead but as the stretch wore on that was whittled away by Fancy Runner who appeared to actually take the lead for a brief moment before Antrim County prevailed by a neck. It was a very game performance by horse that, with that performance, became the first Claiming Crown horse to win two different events in the Crown after capturing the Iron Horse last year. He certainly earned his title and, quite possibly, earned himself the award for the second year in a row.
Though not a Claiming Crown race, the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeder’s Cup Stakes was also run today at Canterbury Park and featured stellar filly Euphony who was bet down as the even money favorite. While Fabulous Babe set solid fractions early, Happiness Is under Rosemary Homeister, Jr. tracked her up to the head of the stretch where she took the lead. Meanwhile, Euphony who was running toward the middle of the pack early, emerged with a strong challenge and closed steadily throughout but could not get close enough as Happiness Is won by a neck. Euphony still has not finished worst than 2nd in her career.
Attendance at Canterbury for the event was 11,324 (up 11% over last year's Crown attendance). After a brief shower early, the weather cooperated and improved steadily throughout the day. By the last race we were mostly sunny rather than mostly cloudy and the fans were treated to a great show, as usual, by Canterbury Park. All sources handle improved over last year’s event by 11% and in a time when flat is the new up; this was an excellent showing for a great event. The invaders dominated the Crown races with both Jamie Theriot and Russell Baze scoring two wins a piece and the others won by Baird, Leparoux and Albarado. Even the Lady Canterbury was won by outside Homeister Jr. Though the shippers may have dominated, Canterbury itself shined on America's "Blue Collar Breeder's Cup" day.
It’s fairly well known that early speed holds at Canterbury Park. That was certainly true in the $50,000 Iron Horse. The favorite, Calm and Collected, broke a bit slowly. While he moved into contention nicely, he trailed Bright Hall on the engine and that’s how they finished as Bright Hall pulled away in the stretch with Jamie Theriot taking full advantage of the speed going wire to wire. Calm and Collected held on for second while local horse Benson, beaten soundly by our own Fizzy Pop (in third) earlier in the meet, finished third.
Next up was the $100,000 Tiara. I can’t quite say that Mizzcan’tbewrong wired the field because she gave up the lead through the middle portion of the race, but she stormed back to take the race from favorite Love to Tell, prevailing by a neck under Robby Albarado over the turf course.
The first longer shot of the day finally prevailed in the Rapid Transit as You’re My Boy Blue closed steadily from the half mile point to rally past heavily favored Grand Traverse in the stretch. Hall of Fame jockey Russell Baze put his mark on this Claiming Crown by defying convention – the Canterbury early speed angle – and winning from off the pace. It appeared that during the card there was a bit too much emphasis put on early speed and folks tended to “overspeed” the races and the experience of guys like Baze, Theriot and Albarado took advantage by seemingly defying the “bias” to win.
In the Express, we had another closer under an out of town jockey claiming a victory. Julien Leparoux rated favorite Chasing the Prize well off the pace set by Stormin Sox, popped loose in mid stretch to win by ¾ of a length. Norjac, who put a head in front heading into the stretch, faltered but held on for second.
The tote board exploded in the Glass Slipper keyed from an unusual source, Thoroughbred racing’s all time winningest jockey Russell Baze. Margie Marie set suicidal fractions with a ludicrous :21.1 first quarter, probably reminiscent of her winning effort in a two furlong stake at Prairie Meadows last out. Closing steadily and then drawing off by three, Baze made it look easy at nearly 12-1. When was the last time you saw a Baze horse at 12-1?! Local rider Derek Bell had the best finish of any local based ride in the Crown with a second riding closer Thunder and Belle. Rounding out the trifecta was 70-1 Cassie D which triggered payoffs of $3,476 for the tri and $13,453 for the super. If someone told you that Russell Baze and Derek Bell would finish 1-2 in a race and key that kind of tri, would you have believed him?
The $100,000 Claiming Crown Emerald was billed as the most competitive race on the card and while it was a great race, it didn’t produce the boxcar payoffs that could have come with a 13 horse field. E.T. Baird rated tepid (7/2) favorite Gran Estreno in a perfect trip around the race course. He was never further back than third, keeping the speed in his sights and pulled away with confidence for the win. A couple of 6-1s in Hard Top and Stormy Surge rounded out the board with jockey’s Jeremy Rose and Baze continuing the dominance of shipping riders in the Crown races.
Sentimental choice Antrim County, who was named 2008 Claiming Horse of the Year earlier in the card, upset the field at 4-1 in the Claiming Crown Jewel under a stellar ride by Theriot, winning his second Crown race of the day. Theriot patiently stalked front runner Glamour Guy through fair fractions. As they hit the stretch, Antrim County opened up a 1 length lead but as the stretch wore on that was whittled away by Fancy Runner who appeared to actually take the lead for a brief moment before Antrim County prevailed by a neck. It was a very game performance by horse that, with that performance, became the first Claiming Crown horse to win two different events in the Crown after capturing the Iron Horse last year. He certainly earned his title and, quite possibly, earned himself the award for the second year in a row.
Though not a Claiming Crown race, the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Breeder’s Cup Stakes was also run today at Canterbury Park and featured stellar filly Euphony who was bet down as the even money favorite. While Fabulous Babe set solid fractions early, Happiness Is under Rosemary Homeister, Jr. tracked her up to the head of the stretch where she took the lead. Meanwhile, Euphony who was running toward the middle of the pack early, emerged with a strong challenge and closed steadily throughout but could not get close enough as Happiness Is won by a neck. Euphony still has not finished worst than 2nd in her career.
Attendance at Canterbury for the event was 11,324 (up 11% over last year's Crown attendance). After a brief shower early, the weather cooperated and improved steadily throughout the day. By the last race we were mostly sunny rather than mostly cloudy and the fans were treated to a great show, as usual, by Canterbury Park. All sources handle improved over last year’s event by 11% and in a time when flat is the new up; this was an excellent showing for a great event. The invaders dominated the Crown races with both Jamie Theriot and Russell Baze scoring two wins a piece and the others won by Baird, Leparoux and Albarado. Even the Lady Canterbury was won by outside Homeister Jr. Though the shippers may have dominated, Canterbury itself shined on America's "Blue Collar Breeder's Cup" day.
Baze Wins Second Aboard Frisco Fox in Glass Slipper
Setting in motion boxcar payoffs, Russell Baze wins his second Claiming Crown race aboard 11-1 Frisco Fox. Margie Marie sprung the gate quickly and blistered fractions of :21.1 (yup, twenty one) and :44.2. She obviously couldn't keep those fractions up and Baze blew by here in early stretch and lengthened the lead all the way to the wire. Local closer Thunder and Belle was up for 2nd and 70-1 shot Cassie D keyed huge payoffs in the $1 trifecta and superfecta payoffs of $3,476 and $13,453, respectively. Baze has keyed some nice win payoffs today and it has been all the invaders all day today with the local jocks shut out of the winner's circle so far.
My choice and the favorite Met A Miner was slowed through the stretch and jogged across the finish. Obviously Josue Arce felt something underneath him he didn't like and erred on the side of caution.
My choice and the favorite Met A Miner was slowed through the stretch and jogged across the finish. Obviously Josue Arce felt something underneath him he didn't like and erred on the side of caution.
You're My Boy Blue Upsets Rapid Transit Field
Overtaking the speed, All Joking Aside, at the top of the stretch all time winningest jockey Russell Baze stirred You're My Boy Blue to an upset victory in the $75,000 Rapid Transit. Having an 0-fer 2009 meant absolutely nothing in the stretch as Blue rallied nicely on the outside and throws into question the possibility of a speed favoring track. Favored Grand Traverse (my choice) stalked the speed well, but could not hold off the charge of Blue late and had to settle for second. So far I have 2 seconds and a one win in the three CC races. Very chalky and while I'm doing OK in the press box pool, it's going to be tough to win with seconds.
1. You're My Boy Blue
2. Grand Traverse
3. Idaho Joe
1. You're My Boy Blue
2. Grand Traverse
3. Idaho Joe
Monday, July 20, 2009
What is the Claiming Crown?
The Claiming Crown was established in 1999 as the product of a joint effort between the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeder's of America and the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association to honor the every day heroes of horse racing: the claiming owners, trainers and, of course, the horses. I like to think of the Claiming Crown as a Blue Collar Breeder's Cup. Each and every one of the horses you'll see competing in this event were for sale at a given point in the last year and a half from prices as low as $4000 to as high as $35,000 and now they have the opportunity to take a shot at total purses valued at $600,000. Racing for this kind of purse money is something many of these owners and horses never dreamed they'd get a shot at. When you claim a horse you hope to have some fun, move up the ladder a bit and get your picture taken a few times. When you claim a horse for $7500 you certainly don't think about racing for $75,000, but that's exactly what some of these folks will be doing on Saturday.
The Claiming Crown, in all but two years of it's existence, has been run at Canterbury Park. It's central location and easy access makes it a nice 'neutral' location for the event to be sure, but I also like to think that the way the staff at Canterbury puts on a show has something to do with it as well. In past posts, I have repeatedly mentioned that the national 'powers that be' in racing could learn a lot by the way things are done here at Canterbury and I hope that many of these folks come in early this week to see how popular Buck Night and Happy Hour Fridays are and to see that there are still racetracks in America where, on an ordinary night, there is a still a roar when the horses are giving their all in deep stretch.
On Saturday, Canterbury Park will be opening it's gates free of charge for the Claiming Crown. There will also be a handicapping seminar at 10:30 on the Mezzanine level featuring handicapping author from the Daily Racing Form Steve Davidowitz as well as track handicapper Kevin Gorg and Raceday USA's Steve Fierro to get you started on handicapping all the shippers coming to Canterbury from all over North America. In addition, leading jockeys Julian Leparoux and Robby Albarado will be joining legend Russell Baze with mounts on Claiming Crown Day. If that's not enough of a draw, the $100,000 Lady Canterbury Stakes will also be contested that day.
If you can't make it to the track, I hope you'll join me here throughout the day as I will be blogging live from high above the racetrack all day on Saturday.
Tomorrow: Previews of the Iron Horse and the Pepsi Express.
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