In 1936, Bold Venture won the Derby and Preakness only to be injured before Belmont and miss the race. That would be the last time that a Derby and Preakness winner skipped the Belmont until today. It was announced that I'll Have Another was injured before a try at the Triple Crown and therefore will be scratched from the race. He has also been retired. My heart goes out to Doug O'Neill and Paul Reddam, despite what you may think of them (although rumors of I'll Have Another possibly leading the post parade aren't good) you have to feel bad that their horse was taken out by an injury. Lava Man, wow he was becoming everyone's favorite pony and kudos to Doug and his owners the STD Stable and Jason Wood for letting him have a second job that he loves. It's great to see everyone fall in love with him again as they did during his great racing career.
Then there's Mario Gutierrez he's the one who I'm sad for the most. To come as far as he did so quickly and really so suddeningly is amazing. Hastings which had a party set up to root on Mario and I'll Have Another. They do plan on having it though now to celebrate Mario and I'll Have Another successes in the Derby and Preakness. He has a bright future and at 25 will have many more chances of riding in the Triple Crown races ahead of him. Canada and Mexico should be very proud!
If there is anything positive to take out of I'll Have Another's scratch and retirment is this, Bold Venture is the only Derby winner to sire 2 winners. 1946 Triple Crown winner Assualt and 1950 Derby and Belmont winner Middleground.
So we will go another year without a Triple Crown winner. I will be watching tomorrow's Belmont and hope that all the horses return safe and sound? As for my pick for the race now? I'm going with Union Rags. I was wavering on him and Dullahan, but everyone on Twitter has convinced me that he finally breaks through here. Dullahan for second and either Five Sixteen, Street Life or Paynter for third.
More importanly, I hope all the horses come back safe and sound!
Showing posts with label I'll Have Another. Show all posts
Showing posts with label I'll Have Another. Show all posts
June 8, 2012
May 19, 2012
He's for Real
Is this the year? Are we finally going to have a Triple Crown winner? Much like the Derby, Bodemeister went straight to lead. However with no other speed he was able to go slower, and it looked like he was once again going to hold on. However, like the Derby he was grinded down by I'll Have Another. Thus we head for Belmont in 3 weeks for the 5th time since 2002 for a chance at the elusive Triple Crown. No excuses for Bode who had everything his own way was second, and Creative Cause was third. Big disappointment for Went The Day Well who just didn't show up.
There of course will be many questions leading up to the Belmont.
* Who will ride Dullahan? Kent Desermoux is off, no word on who will ride him. Maybe Calvin Borel who rode big brother in his Belmont 3rd place finish? (Edit: Javiar Castellano will ride)
* Who will Alan Garcia ride? He is the last jockey to deny a Triple Crown (Da' Tara)
* Will Edgar Prado ride Union Rags? He denied both War Emblem (Sarava) and Smarty Jones (Birdstone), and prob. would denied Big Brown too if Casino Drive wasn't scratched the morning of the race. To this day I feel that had Barbaro not been pulled up in the Preakness, they would have not only been in that winners circle they would have been in the Belmont winners circle celebrating the Triple Crown. (Edit: Answer is no, reportly John Velazquez will)
* Will Paytner who will be Baffert and Zayat's horse in the Belmont emulate his uncle the great Tiznow?
* Will Rosie Napravnik and Mark Veleski go? There is no hotter jockey right now then Rosie, and Mark ran a bang up race in the Peter Pan. However, Larry Jones might decide that the Triple Crown possiblites maybe too much and skip it. (Edit: as of right now he is prob. not going, leaving Rosie shut out in all likelyhood)
* I'll Have Another is the real deal, the past 6 horses who have taken home at least 2 legs of the Triple Crown, have been 3yo Champion Male. (Point Given (Horse of the Year), War Emblem, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Big Brown) So the odds are in his favor.
We'll find out in three weeks.
A few thoughts:
* Mario Gutierrez rides like he's 45 not 25. Another great ride for him.
* Lava Man looks like is getting more and more used to large crowds again. He looked the most calm that he has since he's been poning in the afternoon. His last trip of New York didn't go according to plan (05 Jockey Club Gold Cup), so it will be interesting how he handles the pressure as the Derby and the Preakness winning pony.
* We have the new Sunday Silence and Easy Goer rivalry. Except IHA and Bode are West Coast horses.
* After years saying, "oh the Cali 3yos are much better then the East Coast", we can say that yes California 3yos are better then the East Coast 3yos. They went 1-2-3, the top East Coast horse? Zetterholm whose trainer I talked about on Thursday.
* Alternation is the one to beat for Horse of the Year honors (unless IHA wins the Belmont). His Pimlico Special was awesome, and I feel bad for Ahmed Zayat two close finishes on Friday and Saturday. (Nehro yesterday, Bode of course today).
* If Distorted Humor is AWESOME!! He has a Derby-Preakness winner as a sire, and a Derby-Preakness winner as a grandsire. Flower Alley's stud fee is going to skyrocket. Plus he had Alternation winning. A fantastic weekend for him.
* I'll Have Another, joins Funny Cide and Big Brown as Derby-Preakness winners born in April. Derby-Preakness winner Smarty Jones was born in Feburary, and Preakness-Belmont winner Afleet Alex is a May baby.
So it's time for to move on to the Belmont, only time will tell weather or not I'll Have Another join War Admiral, Citation, Omaha, Gallant Fox, Sir Barton, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Assualt, Whirlaway and Affirmed as the 12th Triple Crown winner.
There of course will be many questions leading up to the Belmont.
* Who will ride Dullahan? Kent Desermoux is off, no word on who will ride him. Maybe Calvin Borel who rode big brother in his Belmont 3rd place finish? (Edit: Javiar Castellano will ride)
* Who will Alan Garcia ride? He is the last jockey to deny a Triple Crown (Da' Tara)
* Will Edgar Prado ride Union Rags? He denied both War Emblem (Sarava) and Smarty Jones (Birdstone), and prob. would denied Big Brown too if Casino Drive wasn't scratched the morning of the race. To this day I feel that had Barbaro not been pulled up in the Preakness, they would have not only been in that winners circle they would have been in the Belmont winners circle celebrating the Triple Crown. (Edit: Answer is no, reportly John Velazquez will)
* Will Paytner who will be Baffert and Zayat's horse in the Belmont emulate his uncle the great Tiznow?
* Will Rosie Napravnik and Mark Veleski go? There is no hotter jockey right now then Rosie, and Mark ran a bang up race in the Peter Pan. However, Larry Jones might decide that the Triple Crown possiblites maybe too much and skip it. (Edit: as of right now he is prob. not going, leaving Rosie shut out in all likelyhood)
* I'll Have Another is the real deal, the past 6 horses who have taken home at least 2 legs of the Triple Crown, have been 3yo Champion Male. (Point Given (Horse of the Year), War Emblem, Funny Cide, Smarty Jones, Afleet Alex and Big Brown) So the odds are in his favor.
We'll find out in three weeks.
A few thoughts:
* Mario Gutierrez rides like he's 45 not 25. Another great ride for him.
* Lava Man looks like is getting more and more used to large crowds again. He looked the most calm that he has since he's been poning in the afternoon. His last trip of New York didn't go according to plan (05 Jockey Club Gold Cup), so it will be interesting how he handles the pressure as the Derby and the Preakness winning pony.
* We have the new Sunday Silence and Easy Goer rivalry. Except IHA and Bode are West Coast horses.
* After years saying, "oh the Cali 3yos are much better then the East Coast", we can say that yes California 3yos are better then the East Coast 3yos. They went 1-2-3, the top East Coast horse? Zetterholm whose trainer I talked about on Thursday.
* Alternation is the one to beat for Horse of the Year honors (unless IHA wins the Belmont). His Pimlico Special was awesome, and I feel bad for Ahmed Zayat two close finishes on Friday and Saturday. (Nehro yesterday, Bode of course today).
* If Distorted Humor is AWESOME!! He has a Derby-Preakness winner as a sire, and a Derby-Preakness winner as a grandsire. Flower Alley's stud fee is going to skyrocket. Plus he had Alternation winning. A fantastic weekend for him.
* I'll Have Another, joins Funny Cide and Big Brown as Derby-Preakness winners born in April. Derby-Preakness winner Smarty Jones was born in Feburary, and Preakness-Belmont winner Afleet Alex is a May baby.
So it's time for to move on to the Belmont, only time will tell weather or not I'll Have Another join War Admiral, Citation, Omaha, Gallant Fox, Sir Barton, Secretariat, Seattle Slew, Assualt, Whirlaway and Affirmed as the 12th Triple Crown winner.
May 5, 2012
The Star Pupil does good
Lava Man, the winner of over 5 million dollars, tied with the great Hall of Famer and fellow Cal bred Native Diver with three straight Hollywood Gold Cups. The richest claimer of all time, and 3rd richest Cal bred (behind Tiznow and Best Pal). Now in retirement, Lava serves as a stablepony for his trainer Doug O'Neill. In the mornings he takes the O'Neill trainees to the track for their workouts and back home. Today, his star pupil I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) shined on racing greatest stage.
Ridden by Mario Gutierez who was riding in his first Derby, I'll Have Another ran down Bodemeister who had a 5 length lead in the stretch. Dullahan who had wide trip was third. It was the first win for O'Neill, Gutierez who expected after the SA Winter Meet to head home to Vancouver where he was riding at Hastings, owner Paul Reddam.
The downside of I'll Have Another's human connections is that O'Neill and Reddam don't have great reputations. However, as much as I don't care for them, I'm happy for Lava Man. I know, I know I'm nuts for saying that. However, he has a Twitter account (which is at @IamLavaMan) and is a riot. So, kudos to them for running such a fun Twitter account for a very popular former racehorse/stablepony.
A few things:
*Bodemeister: Bode Baffert should be very proud of the horse named after him. He ran an awesome race, and he has nothing to be ashamed of. His dad Bob was crying because he was sad for him, for a horse that had many things against him (other speed, never running at 2) the son of Empire Maker ran his eyeballs out. I liked how Ahmed Zayat gave Mike Smith confidence in keeping the mount. And for those who said that Smith choked again like he did on Zenyatta, no he didn't. Bode was hounded all the way around by Trinniberg and was able to stay up. He could be this year's Hard Spun, a horse who is plain out game everytime he runs.
*Gemologist: The Wood curse continues. Way in the back and is no longer undefeated.
*Rousing Sermon: this was a shot in the dark, and it somewhat payed off. Okay he didn't finish in the top five, but he finished ahead of Hansen, El Padrino, Gemologist, Alpha and Daddy Nose Best, all of them among the contenders who where considered among the top picks. I'm okay with that.
*Hansen: Dear Mike Maker, Please tell Kendall to shush! Dr. Hansen is the new Mike Repole.
*Santa Anita: The 23 year drought is over. That's how long it's been between Sunday Silence and I'll Have Another that a SA Derby winner won the KY Derby.
So that's it, the Derby is now over. We know move onto Baltimore and the Preakness. Will Bodemeister go? Will how many new shooters will we see? Will Rosie Napravnik get a mount? Will Lava Man join the champ? We'll find out two weeks from today.
I will have Pedigree looks on Believe You Can and I'll Have Another's parents all this upcoming week.
Ridden by Mario Gutierez who was riding in his first Derby, I'll Have Another ran down Bodemeister who had a 5 length lead in the stretch. Dullahan who had wide trip was third. It was the first win for O'Neill, Gutierez who expected after the SA Winter Meet to head home to Vancouver where he was riding at Hastings, owner Paul Reddam.
The downside of I'll Have Another's human connections is that O'Neill and Reddam don't have great reputations. However, as much as I don't care for them, I'm happy for Lava Man. I know, I know I'm nuts for saying that. However, he has a Twitter account (which is at @IamLavaMan) and is a riot. So, kudos to them for running such a fun Twitter account for a very popular former racehorse/stablepony.
A few things:
*Bodemeister: Bode Baffert should be very proud of the horse named after him. He ran an awesome race, and he has nothing to be ashamed of. His dad Bob was crying because he was sad for him, for a horse that had many things against him (other speed, never running at 2) the son of Empire Maker ran his eyeballs out. I liked how Ahmed Zayat gave Mike Smith confidence in keeping the mount. And for those who said that Smith choked again like he did on Zenyatta, no he didn't. Bode was hounded all the way around by Trinniberg and was able to stay up. He could be this year's Hard Spun, a horse who is plain out game everytime he runs.
*Gemologist: The Wood curse continues. Way in the back and is no longer undefeated.
*Rousing Sermon: this was a shot in the dark, and it somewhat payed off. Okay he didn't finish in the top five, but he finished ahead of Hansen, El Padrino, Gemologist, Alpha and Daddy Nose Best, all of them among the contenders who where considered among the top picks. I'm okay with that.
*Hansen: Dear Mike Maker, Please tell Kendall to shush! Dr. Hansen is the new Mike Repole.
*Santa Anita: The 23 year drought is over. That's how long it's been between Sunday Silence and I'll Have Another that a SA Derby winner won the KY Derby.
So that's it, the Derby is now over. We know move onto Baltimore and the Preakness. Will Bodemeister go? Will how many new shooters will we see? Will Rosie Napravnik get a mount? Will Lava Man join the champ? We'll find out two weeks from today.
I will have Pedigree looks on Believe You Can and I'll Have Another's parents all this upcoming week.
April 2, 2012
Derby Top 15 4/2
It's been a while since I did one, with the FL Derby and the UAE Derby are over, it's a good time to look at my Top 15.
1. Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway): The #1 3yo in the US right now. He'll be facing a few horses he's already beaten in next week's SA Derby.
2. Alpha (Bernardini): 2 for 2 at Aqueduct this year so far, he'll try to make it three for three in his Wood start next week.
3. Gemologist (Tiznow): Many where concerned that him starting in an allowance race over a stakes race would hurt him. Turned out to be wrong, he goes in the Wood next.
4. Dullahan (Even the Score): He did pop a splint, but it sounds like that Mine That Bird's brother will be ready for his next race. That will be a rematch between him and Howe Great in the Bluegrass.
5. Daddy Long Legs (Scat Daddy): He won the UAE Derby very impressively. While his one start on dirt wasn't anything to write about, that was as a 2yo. If Aiden O'Brien does bring him over from Ireland, he'll have run the farthest distance in a prep at a mile and 3/16 (the distance of the UAE Derby).
6. Hansen (Tapit): Waiting one more week for the Bluegrass instead of the Wood next week is a good move. You don't want to be too fresh for the Derby. Plus he's undefeated on synthetics.
7. Union Rags (Dixie Union): I will always like this colt, but his Derby chances took a serious hit after a disapointing, but closing third in the FL Derby. He did have to get a shoe replaced which might have cost him. Also the winner went gate to wire. He's starting to remind me a bit Street Sense and his leadup to Churchill. Julien Leparoux went onto Twitter Saturday to defend himself on his ride. Lets hope that he can back up that defending.
8. I'll Have Another (Flower Alley): Won the Lewis in his last race, he'll be facing Creative Cause, Liason and others in the SA Derby.
9. Daddy Nose Best (Scat Daddy): The last time a horse came out of Sunland to win the Derby, it was the second biggest upset of all time in the race. The Sunland Derby winner is my dark horse and it will be interesting if a hot pace sets it up for him again.
10. Optimizer (English Channel): Sure his pedigree says turf, but he gave Secret Circle fits in the Rebel. I would not be suprised if he can turn the tables should Gemologist or Bodemeister faulter.
11. Bodemeister (Empire Maker): Poor Juddmonte, their former sire has the Oaks favorite in Grace Hall and possibly one of the AR Derby favorites in him. He gave Creative Cause a dogfight in the San Felipe.
12. Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy): He's new to this list, but his trainer and jockey are no strangers to the spotlight. Pat Byrne trained both Countass Diana and Favorite Trick to 2yo Championships, the latter was the first 2yo since Secretariat to win Horse of the Year. Calvin "Bo-Rail/Boo" Borel has won the Derby 3 times (Street Sense, Mine That Bird and Super Saver), and of course was the regular rider for Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Take Charge Indy went gate to wire to win Saturday's FL Derby. Now the question is what will Pat's wife Jill who works for Churchill does (each year she does videos for both the Derby and Oaks websites, but my guess is they will have to hire someone to do Derby to avoid conflict of interest).
13. Midnight Transfer (Hard Spun): Two turn debut was good. However, he will be getting a new jockey for the SA Derby. Although he's not that bad himself (Mike Smith).
14. Mark Valeski (Proud Citizen): Yes he got upset hugely by Hero of Honor, but he was grinding out and almost caught the winner. However, considering the LA Derby winner's record is lousy in the KY Derby, maybe it's a good thing he lost. Also he threw a shoe and was lame after the race. Not sure if that's because he threw the shoe, or he gave so much to grind out for a win that didn't happen. Either way, hopefully he's okay.
15. Isn't He Clever (Smarty Jones): Almost got it done in the Sunland Derby. While he's best runs have come in New Mexico, he did finish fourth behind #8 in the Lewis. He is now the horse on the bubble, and I heard that he would get 1 more start
Notable absent
Reveron (Songandaprayer): The FL Derby runner up has yet to run outside of Florida.
Hero of Order (Sharp Humor): The shocking upset winner of the LA Derby is the biggest since Rockamundo (with Mr. Upset himself Calvin Borel in the irons) won the Arkansas Derby. He's not TC nominated and will need a ton of help in getting into the Derby because of it.
Howe Great (Hat Trick (JPN)): He's prob. better on turf and sythetic then he is on dirt. With that said, he has a win on dirt, and defeated #4 in his last race. The Bluegrass is coming up very tough.
1. Creative Cause (Giant's Causeway): The #1 3yo in the US right now. He'll be facing a few horses he's already beaten in next week's SA Derby.
2. Alpha (Bernardini): 2 for 2 at Aqueduct this year so far, he'll try to make it three for three in his Wood start next week.
3. Gemologist (Tiznow): Many where concerned that him starting in an allowance race over a stakes race would hurt him. Turned out to be wrong, he goes in the Wood next.
4. Dullahan (Even the Score): He did pop a splint, but it sounds like that Mine That Bird's brother will be ready for his next race. That will be a rematch between him and Howe Great in the Bluegrass.
5. Daddy Long Legs (Scat Daddy): He won the UAE Derby very impressively. While his one start on dirt wasn't anything to write about, that was as a 2yo. If Aiden O'Brien does bring him over from Ireland, he'll have run the farthest distance in a prep at a mile and 3/16 (the distance of the UAE Derby).
6. Hansen (Tapit): Waiting one more week for the Bluegrass instead of the Wood next week is a good move. You don't want to be too fresh for the Derby. Plus he's undefeated on synthetics.
7. Union Rags (Dixie Union): I will always like this colt, but his Derby chances took a serious hit after a disapointing, but closing third in the FL Derby. He did have to get a shoe replaced which might have cost him. Also the winner went gate to wire. He's starting to remind me a bit Street Sense and his leadup to Churchill. Julien Leparoux went onto Twitter Saturday to defend himself on his ride. Lets hope that he can back up that defending.
8. I'll Have Another (Flower Alley): Won the Lewis in his last race, he'll be facing Creative Cause, Liason and others in the SA Derby.
9. Daddy Nose Best (Scat Daddy): The last time a horse came out of Sunland to win the Derby, it was the second biggest upset of all time in the race. The Sunland Derby winner is my dark horse and it will be interesting if a hot pace sets it up for him again.
10. Optimizer (English Channel): Sure his pedigree says turf, but he gave Secret Circle fits in the Rebel. I would not be suprised if he can turn the tables should Gemologist or Bodemeister faulter.
11. Bodemeister (Empire Maker): Poor Juddmonte, their former sire has the Oaks favorite in Grace Hall and possibly one of the AR Derby favorites in him. He gave Creative Cause a dogfight in the San Felipe.
12. Take Charge Indy (A.P. Indy): He's new to this list, but his trainer and jockey are no strangers to the spotlight. Pat Byrne trained both Countass Diana and Favorite Trick to 2yo Championships, the latter was the first 2yo since Secretariat to win Horse of the Year. Calvin "Bo-Rail/Boo" Borel has won the Derby 3 times (Street Sense, Mine That Bird and Super Saver), and of course was the regular rider for Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Take Charge Indy went gate to wire to win Saturday's FL Derby. Now the question is what will Pat's wife Jill who works for Churchill does (each year she does videos for both the Derby and Oaks websites, but my guess is they will have to hire someone to do Derby to avoid conflict of interest).
13. Midnight Transfer (Hard Spun): Two turn debut was good. However, he will be getting a new jockey for the SA Derby. Although he's not that bad himself (Mike Smith).
14. Mark Valeski (Proud Citizen): Yes he got upset hugely by Hero of Honor, but he was grinding out and almost caught the winner. However, considering the LA Derby winner's record is lousy in the KY Derby, maybe it's a good thing he lost. Also he threw a shoe and was lame after the race. Not sure if that's because he threw the shoe, or he gave so much to grind out for a win that didn't happen. Either way, hopefully he's okay.
15. Isn't He Clever (Smarty Jones): Almost got it done in the Sunland Derby. While he's best runs have come in New Mexico, he did finish fourth behind #8 in the Lewis. He is now the horse on the bubble, and I heard that he would get 1 more start
Notable absent
Reveron (Songandaprayer): The FL Derby runner up has yet to run outside of Florida.
Hero of Order (Sharp Humor): The shocking upset winner of the LA Derby is the biggest since Rockamundo (with Mr. Upset himself Calvin Borel in the irons) won the Arkansas Derby. He's not TC nominated and will need a ton of help in getting into the Derby because of it.
Howe Great (Hat Trick (JPN)): He's prob. better on turf and sythetic then he is on dirt. With that said, he has a win on dirt, and defeated #4 in his last race. The Bluegrass is coming up very tough.
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