Champions and Tears of Joy

Here is this past weekend's recap of all of the races I previewed on Friday. I'll be doing each recap race by race, and then at the end of the post announcing the winner of Week 1 of the Order of Finish Challenge. I will also announce which races will be on this week's OFC card.

Alabama: I think it's offical, your 2010 3yo Champion Filly is Blind Luck. Defeating Devil May Care who showed that she wants no part of a mile and a quarter will go along way in detirmining this year's champ. This also puts the American Graded Stakes Committee in a bit of a tight spot. They will probley have to chose between the Fantasy and the Delaware Oaks if they feel that either of them deserves an upgrade from a G2 to a G1. Why these two races? Two of the past three Fantasy winners (Rachel Alexandra and Blind Luck) have won the KY Oaks next time out, and two of the past three winners have finished in the top three in a TC race (Eight Belles and Rachel Alexandra).Plus Rachel having earned 3yo Filly and Horse of the Year awards helps.

As for the Delaware Oaks, the past 4 winners (Moon Catcher, Proud Spell, Careless Jewel and Blind Luck) have all finished in the top 4 in the Alabama with 3 wins (with Moon Catcher being the only non winner). Proud Spell went on to win Champion 3yo Filly honors after winning the KY Oaks, DE Oaks and Alabama. My money is on the Fantasy to get a G1 rating, however it took forever for the AR Derby to get G1 status. Selfishly, I hope that the DE Oaks finally gets it's due and becomes a G1 next year. Of course a race will have to be downgraded in order to do so, we can only wait and hope.

Havre de Grace who I had winning, showed that her DE Oaks was no fluke by finishing 2nd. It wasn't as close as last time, but the fact that she lost to Blind Luck by a nose and a neck is no embressement. She is a budding star and hopefully will get a chance to turn the tables on her. Acting Happy was third with Devil May Care in fourth, Connie and Michael did not want to run Saturday, hopefully she's okay.

Secretariat: Before people start to crown Lookin at Lucky for 3yo Champion Male, I think Paddy O' Prado could sneak up and steal it. Especially since he is the #1 Turf Male in the US now. The way he won the race, made him finally a G1 winner after being so close in the Bluegrass and Derby. While the US is still behind the eight ball when it comes to turf, he is Team USA's best hope to regain the BC Turf title. It will be very interesting where he goes next and how he does down the road. Wigmore Hall was second and Workin for Hops who probley would be the best 3yo turf male in the US if it wheren't for Paddy was third.

Beverly D: Richard Duchossois has said that he rather win the Beverly D. then the Kentucky Derby (DRF, Aug 21, 2010). Why you may ask? The race is named after his late wife. That wish was granted when Eclair de Lune trained by Ron McAnally who trained John Henry to two Million wins won the Beverly D. It was her first stakes win, and her first win in the US since coming over from France. My second favorite winner on the day. Hot Cha Cha was second and Gypsy's Warning was third.

Arlington Million: Debussy won with Taweez third, but I think both of those horses ran flukey races, especially Debussy who got the perfect ride. My heart sank for Gio Ponti who would have been the second horse to win multiple Millions, and the first to do it back to back. Here is a horse while isn't the same horse as last year, has finished 2nd three times this year. His lone off out of the money finish was in Dubai over two horses who on dirt I think he would have beaten with ease. General Quarters and Just as Well, what the heck happend? Rahystrada was certanly better then I gave him credit for.

Del Mar Oaks: Dear John, If Mike ever rides me like that, I will lose. Love, Zenyatta. Thankfully while Z was not in the race (considering it was on turf and restricted to horses three years younger then her), Mike Smith pulled off a move that may one day get her beat. Harmonius who ended up finishing second was going extremely wide and likely cost her the race. The winner was Evening Jewel, and want to talk about a horse who has taken to turf like a duck takes to water. She is a 1 G1 away from completing only what Lava Man has been able to do and that is win G1's on turf, synth and dirt. Her next race is most likely going to be the QEII at Keenland, but I would not be suprised if the BC Ladies Classic is in the future. After all she and Havre de Grace are probley the two horses who have given Blind Luck absolutly fits in all of her races this year. Also her story is also amazing, her owner is battling cancer and she is his therapy (somewhat like how Afleet Alex was his breeder's therapy towards the end of his life).

So a really emotional Saturday East to West. And it gets even better this upcoming weekend, the Travers, Ballerina, King's Bishop and Pacific Classic on Saturday and on Sunday the Personal Ensign featuring Rachel and Life at Ten.

Now for the results of Week 1 of the Predict the Order Finish Challenge. What I've decided to do is other then giving everybody one point for scratches is to move each horse a spot if needed. This is because there where a few people who had a certin horse last, but another one had the same horse in second to last, but it ended up being last after the scratch. If this sounds confusing, then I won't do this in the future. So with that congrats to NJDerek who won Week #1 with 27 points, in second it was Tencentcielo with 21 points and in third with 15 points was Saratoga Spa. This weeks races will be the Travers, Ballerina, King's Bishop, Pacific Classic and the Personal Ensign. The post should be up sometime Thursday.

The Wild Weekend

Wow! Stakes action ran coast to coast this weekend, and personally some very happy results. Since I didn't have the time to do a preview of this past weekends races (partically forgot, partically didn't have the time to do so), I'm not going to recap all of the races I had planned to preview. I can tell you is that the Southwest was postponed (my guess is to weather?), so that won't be a race I will recapping. However, for now, here are the recaps for this past weekend.

Sam F. Davis at Tampa: Rule took one more step foward in his quest for the Derby. By winning this race, he defeated the highely regarded Uptowncharlybrown and Schoolyard Dreams. The Florida Derby is next for him, and honestly if he can rate, he'll be fine. While may not be able to win the Derby, he could be there at the end.

La Canada: It's time for Stardom Bound to retire. The 08 2yo champ has not looked the same, she showed a little bit of promise in her last race, but it's time for her to go.

Martha Washington: Better known as the 3yo debut of Rachel Alexandra last year. Decelerator won the race this year, but keep an eye on the third place finisher Bell's Shoes. She's a Mineshaft out of a King of Kings mare, the dam also happens to be a half sister to the one and only Prom Shoes.

Santa Maria: If either Zenyatta or Rachel Alexandra where to lose this year, it could be to St Trinians. The Mike Mitchell trainee beat Z's stablemate and last year's Ladies Classic winner Life is Sweet. It would be nice to see Mitchell have a big horse again after losing the late Star Over the Bay due to breakdown in Singapore. Her next race is expected to be the Santa Anita Handicap, which is coming up on the weak side.

Las Virgenes: All I can say is wow! Blind Luck almost bit the bullet on Saturday, but was able to gut out a nose victory over Evening Jewel. Crisp who quite a people where high on never fired. I think the slow fractions and a bad trip may have almost hurt Blind Luck's chances. Hopefully a better trip in the SA Oaks, could lead to a SA Derby start. However, I think the connections are leaning towards the Oaks at this time.

Barbara Fitche: Weathered did okay, I don't really think 7 furlongs is her thing. Hopefully she can rebound in her next race, and it could set her up for the Obeah in June.

The Lewis had a huge upset as did the Strub. I'll have more posts this upcoming week, and I do promise to do a weekend preview.