What a Weekend!

I'm going to do something different for this week. Since there where some great races weekend, I'm going break down each race one by one.

Ogden Phipps: There is finally a challenger to Zenyatta and Rachel Alexandra. Life at Ten upset Unriveled Belle and Funny Moon. It will be very interesting where Todd Pletcher goes next.

Obeah: Miss Singsix won with Morena who was second in this race last year, finishing second again. While this was her first win in this race, this is Team Valor her owners third win in a row in this race. They owned Unbridled Belle who had won the previous two years. She'll be one of the favorites in this year's Delaware Handicap.

Skip Away: This one is at Monmouth not the Graded one down at Gulfstream. Cool Coal Man is a horse for a course. He's 2 out of 3 there and the only time he didn't win, he finished third. Obviously last year's Woodward took more out of Bullsbay then it did Rachel who had another poor showing.

Californian: Unless Zenyatta's connections change their mind and not go to the HGC, I think Rail Trip will defend his HGC title with no problem. He was dominate in this race with Sanagree (Congagree's little brother) finishing second for what seems the ummpteenth time to Rail Trip.

Stephen Foster: Two words: Blame Wow! That was very, very impressive race to close against Battle Plan like that. Blame could be the horse to challenge Quality Road as top older male, a division until really this week looked watered down. And how about General Quarters! All aways there when he's healthy, makes you wonder with a better trip in the Derby last year where he would have been? I'm wondering something is wrong with Macho Again because this is his fourth poor race in a row.

Woodbine Oaks: Sometimes horses coming in undefeated can be overhyped, I'm not going to say that's the case of Embur's Song, but it could be very close. Roan Inish won the race, but heart broke for the runner up Moment of Majesty. A head is all that sperated them and would have given her co-owner former Toronto Maple Leaf Curtis Joseph the biggest win of his horse racing ownership career. As for the winner, she'll move onto the Queen's Plate where she actually could win it, I'm hoping that Moment of Majesty goes on to. Reason being is I would LOVE to see Saint Liam sire a Classic winner and this is his only chance.

Vanity: One of these days, Mike Smith is going to overestimate the field and cost Zenyatta the race. Thankfully yesterday was not it. Big Z was able to get win #17 and in thrilling fashion. I gotta give some love to the runner up St. Tritians. If Zenyatta ever loses, she could be the horse to beat her. Hopefully this never happens, but you never know. While technically Pepper's Pride holds to record for consecutive wins, they where all against state bred company (New Mexico). Zenyatta has broken a record hold by 2 legends, Cigar and Citation (along with a few others, but those are the big two). It will be interesting where she goes next.

Flur de Lis: SHE'S BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rachel Alexandra returned to her winning ways and back to her typical destroying of the field. People will say she didn't beat much, but you know what? It doesn't matter to me, to see her back in the Winners Circle for me is more important. Is she the same horse as last year? No, but she has done something that other 3yo fillies who where Horse of the Year failed to do. That's win at 4. Keep in mind, her two losses where not as a bad as you think. What changed, I think going back to her perfered mile and eighth and getting the Figure 8 off where big. Having her regular rider Calvin Borel on was also huge. A huge confidence builder and I'm excited to see where she goes next.

Later this week I will have a post on Rachel and Zenyatta. This article will talk about how niether of them where expected to be the glamor girls of their crops.

Tomorrow Royal Ascot starts with Goldikova taking on the boys once again. The Americans aren't as strong as they where last year, so I'm not expecting much. Plus for the first time in 5 years, the Ascot Gold Cup will have a different winner since Yeats has retired. Plus it snuck up on me this year. For this reason, I won't be covering the meet as in depth as I somewhat did last year, but hopefully everybody does well in this very prestigous meet.