Horses to Look Foward To in 2011

Well welcome to 2011! I for one am happy that 2010 is finally over and that we can look ahead to this year's Triple Crown and beyond.

Here are some of the horses that I'm looking foward to seeing this year, all of these horses are three and up.

Dixon Lane (Pulpit)- His half sisters are graded stakes winners and his niece will go down as one of the best 3yo's of all time. Dixon Lane has some big shoes to fill for Steve Asmussen. Two years after Curlin and a year after his niece Rachel Alexandra. He's made all of his starts on turf so far, but being by Pulpit I would not be suprised to see him on dirt soon.

Souper Spectacular (Giant's Causeway)- His half sisters are G1 winners with one of them being one of the best horses of all time. Luckly for this Seth Benzel trainee, he can make his own name out of the shadows of his sisters Balance and Zenyatta. His career started on the dirt before moving to turf. He was 4th in his first stakes try, look for him to improve that next time out.

Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision) vs Havre de Grace (Saint Liam)- I'm fully looking foward to Round 5 in this rivalry. Right now it's "Clover" (a name giving by her breeder's daughter) 3 Grace 1, although it's really 2-1 since neither of them won that fourth meeting. Although Grace will be having a new trainer in Larry Jones, I will still think that Jerry Hollendorfer will send his charge to Oaklawn like he did last year.

Giant Oak (Giant's Causeway)- Okay so he finally got over his losing streak, but not actually crossing the wire first. Still his Clark was one of the most impressive losses (or wins depending on what way you look at it) in a way. Hopefully this Chris Block trainee can keep things together and we'll see him in the winner's circle more often in the future.

Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie), Brethren (Distorted Humor), R Heat Lightning (Trippi)- Last year Todd Pletcher finally got over the hump by winning the Derby. Now Uncle Mo could be the best chance to win the Triple Crown, however not if Super Saver's little brother has anysay. Brethren is undefeated and more importantly like his brother did when he was 2, he has a win at Churchill. In matter of fact as the year goes on I expect him to slowly creep onto everybody's radar and Uncle Mo to slip considerbly. It's very hard for a 2yo champion to show the same form they did as a 3yo. Mo is up against it. As for RHL, I don't think she'll be an Oaks contender, however she will fill the void that was left with the retirements of Dubai Majesty and Gabby's Golden Gal (who where recently sold to Japanese connections).

Switch (Quiet American)- While R Heat Lightning is facing 3yo's, John Sadler filly should take the early lead in the Sprinting ranks. She almost set a track record in the La Brea (which was eventually set by her stablemate Twirling Candy). However, dispite how souped up the track this is a filly with a future. She could have some challenges by Glided Gem (who is 1/2 to the dam of Droysselmeyer), but she should blow away the Sprint division.

That's it for now. As the year goes on, there will be more horses that pop up. But for now, these are the ones that I'm most looking foward to.

Beware of Switch

What do Blind Luck and Zenyatta have in common? Well they are both closers, both have won at Hollywood, have wins on both a synthetic surface as well as dirt, and both have won a mile and a quarter. Other then that, there really isn't that much more in common. Zenyatta didn't get her career started until almost of the better 3yo's (sans Curlin) retired and Blind Luck was a multiple G1 winner at 2. After tomorrow, though they will have one mroe thing in common... a common opponet. Who may that be? Why it's Switch and if Mike Smith is not careful tomorrow, this John Sadler trainee by Quiet American could pull the biggest upset ever. It will send shockwaves throughout racing not only here in the US, but around the world too.

Why could Switch be the most dangrous candiate to upset the Queen? There are a few reasons why:

1. She is a synthetic specialist: To be more specific she is a Cushion lover. All of her wins have been at Hollywood and when she hasn't won, but finished in the top three it was on a synthetic surface. Her two times off the fake stuff she has finished out of the top three each time (both this year losing to Evening Jewel and Devil May Care respectivley).

2. She has a win at the distance: It's well known that Z perfers at least a mile and an eighth. She can win shorter, but since she kicks in so late in the stretch it may be too little too late to catch Switch. She won the Hollywood Oaks at this distance.

3. She has beaten a Champion: In that Hollywood Oaks, it was the return for Blind Luck after her KY Oaks win. Now Blind Luck is much better on dirt then she is a synthetic surface,  and she did get a bad ride that day. Never the less, Switch did win. Here is her Holly Oaks win.



There are a few things that may make me wrong, one is that she is breaking on the rail and there should be enough of a pace for Zenyatta to run at. Also I don't know much about her jockey.

With all that being said, will Switch win? Sadly I think Zenyatta will be too much for this field and should tie Pepper's Pride's record. However, I will be shocked if Z throws a clunker and we do see another horse win. It's going to be a fun race indeed.