Beyers and Top Five

Here is the Beyers from last weekend.

Einstein (Santa Anita Handicap)- 100
Stardom Bound (Santa Anita Oaks)- 87
Kilroe Mile (Kilroe Mile)- 103
I Want Revenge (Gotham Stakes)- 113
Let It Rock (Razorback Handicap)- 92

Now for the Top Five for the 3yo's only.

Triple Crown (3yo males)

1. The Pamplemousse (Kafwain)- His last race was very impressive, now of course it was on a synthtic surface. That's the big key, can he transfer that over to dirt. We'll see after his next race.
Next race: Santa Anita Derby

2. I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even)- A few years ago Stephen Got Even had a really nice 2yo named Stevie Wonderboy. Unfortanlly he was injured and missed the Triple Crown. While I Want Revenge is related to Stevie by sire only, he could give dad some redemption. Also a Cali horse, I Want Revenge was a horse who had been a thorn in Pioneerof the Nile's side until he left for New York. He passed the dirt challenge with flying colors in the Gotham. In matter of fact, he might be better on dirt then he is on a synthtic surface. It will be very interesting in how he does in the Wood against simlary quality horses that he faced in Cali.
Next race: Wood Memorial

3. Frisian Fire (AP Indy)- I seriously think of the two Larry Jones horses, he will end up being the better one. The LA route has hit on some hard times and a win in this Saturday's LA Derby could be the race that you could see some very interesting devolopments out of. I'm really excited about his and Patena's chances.
Next race: Louisana Derby

4. Patena (Seeking the Gold)- My one concern is that he has not had a prep race. I don't think it will be a huge deal, but it's in the back of my mind. The LA Derby is loaded with horses who have so much promise, but he and Frisian Fire stand out in my mind.
Next race: Lousiana Derby

5. Old Fashioned (Unbridled's Song)- I just don't think he's the one like everyone thinks he is. While I liked that he rated in the Southwest, Silver City did not give up. Also Flat Out may have a huge race up his sleeve. And if Rachel Alexandra does come in for the AR Derby, it could be trouble, because she posting faster times in her last two races.
Next race: Rebel Stakes

Now you maybe asking where is Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride) and Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker). Well, unfortanlly they fall just short of this list for me. As does Imperial Council (Empire Maker), Dunkirk (Unbridled's Song) and Mr. Fantasy (E Dubai). There are all on my horses to watch list. Probley after this weekend I'll open it up to a three tiered system. Capt. Candyman Can (Candy Ride) is apprently now iffy for the TC (poo!)

Triple Tiara (3yo females)

1. Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro)- The clear cut early favorite for the KY Oaks. She shouldn't have a problem with the FG Oaks, especially now that her biggest challengers are injured and are going to Oaklawn.
Next race: Fair Grounds Oaks

2. Bon Jovi Girl (Malibu Moon)- A half sister to newly crowned G1 winner Gio Ponti. Bon Jovi Girl has the same trainer as Afleet Alex. She has already faced older females and won, and with Rachel Alexandra in New Orleans, she could be the one to beat in the Honeybee.
Next race: Honeybee Stakes

3. Stardom Bound (Tapit)- She's taken a step backwards, and it's not in a good way. Now that the SA Derby is out of the picture, she'll head to Keenland to prep for the Oaks.
Next race: Ashland Stakes

4. Third Dawn (Sky Mesa)- The lucky loser in the SA Oaks, she has quite a career ahead of her I think. Look for her to make some noice on the California circuit later this year.
Next race: ????

5. Evita Argentina (Candy Ride)- She wasn't entered in the FG Oaks, so I'm assuming that she will be remaining sprinting.
Next race: ????

Off the list: War Echo (Tapit)- injured and will not particpate in the KY Oaks. Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality)- has been working, but not sure when she's coming back.

Look out for: Four Gifts (Even the Score), What A Pear (E Dubai), Just Jenda (Menifee)

Beyers, Remebering Three Horses and the first trainer of John Henry

Sorry for not posting last night, I hurt my back while taking out my dogs for their nightly walk. I'm ok, but was in too much pain to type out a long post last night.

Anyway I'm going to skip the Top 5 for this week, as there is a pretty interesting prep this weekend. But starting next Monday, a Top 5 will come out every week until the Derby.

Beyers from last weekend.

Quality Road- 113
The Pamplemousse- 103
Barrier Reef- 100

This past weekend, we lost three amazing horses, and the first trainer of a legend.

First off is Manila, some say he was the best turf horse to ever run in the US. He passed away at the age of 26 in Turkey, this past Saturday. Link He sired Bien Bien who in turn sired one of my favorite fillies Bien Nicole.

Secondly is Weekend Storm, who passed away of foaling complications. Link She was unraced, but was the full sister to Summer Squall, a Preakness Stakes winner and a half sister to A.P Indy, a Belmont Stakes winner. She has several stakes winners including Lord Snowden and Garcia Marquez (whose full brother she foaled the day before). However, she is more known for Garcia Marquez' full brothers. Court Vision who is currently in training (He'll run next weekend in the Big Cap), and Kipling the sire of my favorite horse in training (Well tied with Prom Shoes, but that's a story for another day), Kip Deville.

Last, but least is Urban Sea, who also passed away of foaling complications. Link She shocked all of France when she won the Arc in 1993. But she's more known for her foals. The two biggest names of them here in the US, Galieo and My Typhoon. Galieo, did almost all of his running in Europe and ran in the BC Classic in 2001 (That year's Arc winner Sakee got second in a stretch duel with Tiznow). My Typhoon sold for a world record as a yearling and was brought back to her mom's native US. She won the G1 Diana in 07 and had an Awesome Again foal this year in Florida.

Also passing away was Phil Marino, the first trainer of the legendary John Henry. Link

Beyers and Road to the Roses

No top five this week, as I've decided to do that every other week until the final preps start. Then they will go to every week.

Beyers from this weekend.

Stardom Bound- 84
Pioneerof the Nile- 94
Cowboy Cal- 96
War Echo- 95
Haynesfield- 90
Honest Man- 105
Friesan Fire- 96
Prom Shoes- 98

So other then Stardom Bound, it everyone's Beyers where good.

Now CDI's annual game Road to the Roses started taking sign ups today. I uselly like to particpate for fun, as most of the time I really don't do well. They used to offer a Arlington Million Day game and I did really well in that. Anyway I've set a league, for the readers to particpate in. All you have to do is go to www.roadtotheroses.com, choose your horses, jockeys and trainers. And follow it from there. Here is the infomation you'll need to register for the league.

League Name: Thoroughbred Chat Readers
League Identifier: 2679197416
Activation Code: 2212636744

What you'll really need is the League Identifier and Activation Code. Also here are the horses, jockeys and trainers that I put in my stable.

Horses
Capt. Candyman Can
Chocolate Candy
Free Country
Friesan Fire
Old Fashioned
Patena
Pioneerof the Nile
Silver City
Stardom Bound
Vineyard Haven (Yes I know that I'm taking a risk by putting him here. But I always seem to have one or two of my horses drop out)

Jockeys
Gabriel Saez
Ramon Dominguez

And hopefullly these two will be 1-2 at the upcoming Delaware Park meet (Although Dominguez will be ahead of Saez).

Trainers
Larry Jones
Richard E. Dutrow, Jr.

Yes I know that Rick Dutrow is not my favorite trainer, but he trains Patena and Free Country on this list. Plus my co- favorite horse in training. Larry Jones has one of my favorite fillies in Song of Soloman, plus Old Fashioned and Fresian Fire. Stallion spotlight tomarrow. Also I will be doing the preview for the weekend on Friday this week as it's another big weekend with next week being the Southwest Stakes.

Beyers and Top Five (2/2/09)

I could only find the Beyers for stakes races for this weekend. So here they are:

Hutcheson S (G2): Capt. Candyman Can- 100
Holy Bull S (G3): Saratoga Sinner- 96
Donn H (G1): Albertus Maximus- 101
Gulfstream Park Turf H (G1): Kip Deville- 103
Santa Monica H (G1): Ventura- 96

The other Beyers of this weekends stakes races can be found at DRF.com

Now for the top five, what I'm going to do is do each divisions (except for 2yo's as it's too early for them to race). Some of the lists will actually be a one horse list or a two horse list, that's because there is really no standouts in that particular division, this early in the year. As the year progresses, more horses will come to the front of my lists. For the first few times I'll be putting what in the future I'll be calling the division in parenthesis. I'm not doing the turf and sprinter divisions for now, as there is too much murkiness for me. I'll proably do them in the next few weeks.

Three Year Old Male Division (Triple Crown Division)- Note: This will become of the Older Male/Classic Division, after the Belmont

1. Old Fashioned (Unbridled's Song)- I'm not a huge fan of his yet, I really need to see his race at Oaklawn. However, there is no mistake that he's very talented colt, and with 2yo champion Midshipman in Dubai, he could become the morning line favorite if his form holds. Next race: Southwest S. at Oaklawn

2. Chocolate Candy (Candy Ride)- This is another horse who benifits of Midshipman being in Dubai as he would have otherwised faced him in Santa Anita Derby. The biggest concern is will he take to the dirt. I don't see that being a problem, but you never know. His pedigree oozes with class, with his sire being undefted, broodmare sire being a Triple Crown winner, his grandmother, a half sister to another Triple Crown champion who is by her brother's arch rival,(BTW the two TC winners I'm talking about are Seattle Slew (his broodmare sire) and Affirmed who won in 1977 and 1978 respectivly. Affirmed's half sister (CC's grandmother) is by his arch rival Alydar). Next race: El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate

3. Capt. Candyman Can (Candy Ride)- Here's where it gets a little bit murky, I know I should put Midshipman here, but I'm just not convinced he'll return before the Triple Crown. I do hope I'm wrong, but we'll see. Anway Capt. is coming off a win this past Friday in the Hutchenson, beating Hello Broadway and Break Water Edison. He seems to have a bad race, every other time, but he's number 3 as most the horses I would have put in front of him, have either not started yet this year, or have not done well. He's won at a mile, and his first time he race over a mile he finished third. So it will be interesting if he does go to the Fountain of Youth next. Next race: Fountain of Youth? at Gulfsteam

4. Patena (Seeking the Gold)- Of all horses in the top five (as of right now), I would not be suprised if he ends up spoiling the Triple Crown or wins the whole thing. A very impressive second place finish in the LaComte last time out, he was sold to IEAH and has a new trainer in Rick Dutrow. Now his dam Handpainted, is by AP Indy (Who in turn is by Seattle Slew who I mentioned in Chocolate Candy's profile), the 1992 Belmont Stakes winner. In turn her dam Daijin, is by Deputy Minsiter out of the Buckpasser mare Passing Mood. This makes her, a half sister to 1989 Candian TC winner With Approval and a full sister to 1997 Belmont winner (and TC spoiler) Touch Gold. Next race: Fountain of Youth? at Gulfstream

5. Friesan Fire (AP Indy)- Stablemate to Old Fashioned, they are going on two compleatly different routes, FF is staying in New Orleans for their preps, while Old Fashioned is in AR. He won the LaComte last time out, and had a pretty decent two year old season. His female family is interesting as it's something we don't usally see in the US. His dam Bollinger, who is by Dehere is out of a Group 1 winner from Australia. Bollinger is a Group 1 winner, herself. I think he may end up being on the turf in the future, (Both AP Indy and Dehere's broodmare sire is 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat, who might have better on turf then dirt). But lets see how he does in the other preps and the TC. Next race: Risen Star S. at Fair Grounds

Three Year Old Females Division (Triple Tiara)- Note: Will be combined with the Older Female/ Distaff Division after August

1. Stardom Bound (Tapit)- New owners, new trainer. Still the BC Juvi Fillies winner is on top of this division, for now. I'll be interested in how she does in her first race for IEAH. Next race: Las Virgenes at Santa Anita

2. Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro)- My personal favorite, she's going on the same path as Eight Belles did last year. I'm really, really excited to see how she does this year and I seriously think that she could be the one to upset Stardom Bound in the KY Oaks. Next race: Martha Washington at Oaklawn

3. Elusive Heat (Elusive Quality)- She's a sprinter, but her last few races have been amazing. But then again, her genes help. Dad was a world record holder at a mile on grass and her mom is the great sprinting filly Xtra Heat. Look out for her in to give Indian Blessing and Ventura a run for their money later on this year. Next race: ????

4. Laragh (Tapit)- In the end, I think she'll be the better of the two IEAH Tapit fillies. Won the Hollywood Starlet on Proride last time out. Not sure if she'll take on her more regarded stablemate, or stay on turf this year. Next race: ????

I have to come back in a week to have a top five for this division.

Older Male Division (Classic Division)- Note: Will combine with the 3yo male/Triple Crown division after the TC.

1. Albertus Maximus (Albert the Great)- Now Curlin is retired, he is a class behind by himself. It's early in the season, so we can't judge in how he will do in Dubai, so it's a toss up. Next race: Dubai World Cup? in Dubai, UAE

2. Tiago (Plesant Tap)- Really the only good horse from that great class of 2007 left (there are a few others, but he's in a league of his own). He's proably better on dirt, then the Pro Ride. I'm not sure where he's heading as his stud rights have been sold to Adena and there has been no announcement to weather he's still in training or not. Next race: ????

This is a really murky divison and won't really start to really take shape until the Summer. Although after next weekend, it might be more clearer.

Older Female Division (Distaff Division)- Note: will be combined with the 3yo female/Triple Tiara division in August.

This is deepest division and when combined in August with the 3yo's will be even deeper..

1. Zenyatta (Street Cry)- A woman among girls, the winner of the BC Ladies Classic. She could make a strong run at Horse of the Year and possibly get it. Next race: ????

2. Proud Spell (Proud Citizen)- She couldn't really take to farm life, and is returning this year. The 3yo filly champion proably won't pop up until mid year. Hopefully she is DelCap bound once she gets off the ground running. Next race: ????

3. Music Note (AP Indy)- You could make an arguement that she desereved the Eclipse over Proud Spell, but she's just going to get better and better. Don't be surprised if she takes a chance on turf, but it will be an exciting year for her. Next race: ????

4. Cocoa Beach (Doneraile Court)- Music Note's stablemate, she could possibly just stay on the turf this year. Of the two, Godolphin has more options with her. Next race: ????

5. Ventura (Chester House)- Out of Indian Blessing and her, she's probably the better of the two. Another case where she probably should have won the Eclipse. And like Cocoa Beach, she can run both on synthetic/dirt or turf. Next race: ????

Overall:
too early to tell

Wednesday will be the Weekend Preview