Stardom Bound was retired today, and will be visiting Big Brown which was expected. Still you have to wonder, what if? What if she was never sold, what if she never switched trainers. Yes I know there are horses, but believe it or not, since 2002 all, but one (Halfbridled) went on to win a graded stakes at 3 (I did not include She Be Wild, as she's only had two starts at 3 so far). She was the one, and not Rachel Alexandra who was supposed to be the "Boy Beater".
Many think that she peaked at 2, and regressed. In many ways that could be true, but also she switched trainers three times. From Chris Paasch to Bobby Frankel to Rick Dutrow, all have different training styles. Also IEAH was thinking Derby, Derby, Derby when they should have been thinking Oaks, Oaks, Oaks. We will never know what she would have proformed under conditions that might have been consistant. It's a shame that a filly like her went so south as she did.
As for her mate... no comment on that front.
For now let's enjoy her winning the 2008 BC Juvy Fillies,
Weekend preview will be coming tomorrow
Showing posts with label Stardom Bound. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stardom Bound. Show all posts
April 15, 2010
February 15, 2010
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.
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.
November 24, 2009
Look out Boys, Supergirl is back
Guess who is back in training? It's a bird! It's a plane? Nope it's Supergirl! That's right ladies and gentleman the and only Rachel Alexandra is back in training. She actually is retuning earlier then she was supposed to, but I guess since she's on a track that she clearly loves (Churchill), Steve Asmussen didn't want to wait till they got her to the Fair Grounds. So my guess is she'll prep at the Fair Grounds for the Apple Blossom possibly, however I hope she preps for the race with a race. Fair Grounds created two new stakes races for fillies and mares that where in a way to entice Rachel. She'll miss the first one as I think it's next weekend, but the next one is in March (I think). It's going to be a fun 2010 with all three stars from this year's TC coming back (of course the leading men Summer Bird and Mine That Bird). Add in supporting actresses Careless Jewel (and I really hating calling her that, but honestly she just doesn't bring the same buzz that Rachel does), Justwhistledixie (she returns this weekend!), and some hidden gems for the girls. The supporting actors include, Musket Man (returning from injury), Friesan Fire (returning from injury and is pointing towards the Donn, eek!), Warrior's Reward and Al Khali (keep an eye on these two, if they are anything like their dad, they will get better with age), plus a few hidden gems for the guys. Also returning next year, Gio Ponti and Life is Sweet! Next year's 3yo's be afraid, be very afraid. We could have one of the best older divisions in a few years. It's a shame that Zensational was rushed off to stud (the other two big 3yo's who where retired where injured).
Meanwhile while one of this year's starlit's returns to training, another one gets her own race. The Lady's Secret at Oak Tree at Santa Anita has been renamed the Zenyatta. While not everyone is happy that this race has been renamed, here are a few points why I'm glad it is.
1. Lady's Secret has two other stakes races named after her, one at Monmouth Park which is a prep for the Molly Pitcher S., and an OK bred stakes.
2. The race started in 1993, so it's really not that an old of a race, compared to Californian Stakes which will be renamed after Lava Man once he re-retires which started running in 1954. Now of course that's not named after a horse, but still...
3. In the end the horses won't care, it's just a race.
And while what I'm about to post won't change people's minds, even Jerry Moss was uneasy about renaming the race. Here is the following from the article I posted before.
Just a few other things before I wrap up this post, this is actually a pretty big weekend of racing coast to coast. The final G1's of the season for New York will take place with the Gazelle and Cigar, it will be the final race for both Pyro and Kodiak Kowboy. The Gazelle will feature the return of last year's 2yo Champion Filly Stardom Bound. Remember her? She and not Rachel was supposed to be the boy beater, things change for a reason. Justwhistledixie also returns against Sara Louise and older females at Aqueduct. And oh yeah Basket (aka Go Go Shoot) and Sean (aka Sean Avery) tangle in the Highweight on Thanksgiving. Down at Churchill, it will be the last hurrahs for Unbridled Belle, more then likely Swift Temper on Thursday in the Falls City, while on Friday in the Clark it will be final races for Einstein and Kiss the Kid. Saturday will be the Kentucky Jockey Club won last year by Beethoven who unfortanlly was injured this year, and the Golden Rod which was one by Supergirl (aka Rachel). In California it's a weekend of goodbyes as Cowboy Cal and Ventura will be running for the final time in the Citation and the Matriach respectivly (at this time of writing Cal's stud plans have not been announced, while Ventura will be bred to Oasis Dream). I would love these two especially Ventura go out on high notes. However, also in the Citation is Enriched whose half brother is... Lava Man. On Sunday, Zenyatta will be paraded for all of the fans and Take the Points runs in the most underrated stakes race for 3yo's, the Hollywood Derby.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I will be back next week with new favorite race from this year. And you know what I'm going to make this a guessing game, sorry no prizes just for kicks. But here are the clues,
This was supposed to be a race that featured battle for early top honors, however the winner's main compition was scratched the day of the race. The winner won by a huge margin and almost broke the stakes record. The runner up of the race has sadly done nothing since, and the third place finisher has not run since then. This was a turning point in the winners season and gave them the jump start to being one of the greatest of their sex. This is a really, really easy answer, and I'll be shocked if no one gets it. *wink wink*
Meanwhile while one of this year's starlit's returns to training, another one gets her own race. The Lady's Secret at Oak Tree at Santa Anita has been renamed the Zenyatta. While not everyone is happy that this race has been renamed, here are a few points why I'm glad it is.
1. Lady's Secret has two other stakes races named after her, one at Monmouth Park which is a prep for the Molly Pitcher S., and an OK bred stakes.
2. The race started in 1993, so it's really not that an old of a race, compared to Californian Stakes which will be renamed after Lava Man once he re-retires which started running in 1954. Now of course that's not named after a horse, but still...
3. In the end the horses won't care, it's just a race.
And while what I'm about to post won't change people's minds, even Jerry Moss was uneasy about renaming the race. Here is the following from the article I posted before.
"At first, Jerry was reluctant to accept our offer of renaming the race, because he was a personal friend of Gene Klein," Chillingworth added. "But after he and Ann thought about it for a couple of days, he called back and said they thought Zenyatta would be flattered by the comparison and to know that she was held in such high esteem."Personally, I'm really excited for this race next year now.
Just a few other things before I wrap up this post, this is actually a pretty big weekend of racing coast to coast. The final G1's of the season for New York will take place with the Gazelle and Cigar, it will be the final race for both Pyro and Kodiak Kowboy. The Gazelle will feature the return of last year's 2yo Champion Filly Stardom Bound. Remember her? She and not Rachel was supposed to be the boy beater, things change for a reason. Justwhistledixie also returns against Sara Louise and older females at Aqueduct. And oh yeah Basket (aka Go Go Shoot) and Sean (aka Sean Avery) tangle in the Highweight on Thanksgiving. Down at Churchill, it will be the last hurrahs for Unbridled Belle, more then likely Swift Temper on Thursday in the Falls City, while on Friday in the Clark it will be final races for Einstein and Kiss the Kid. Saturday will be the Kentucky Jockey Club won last year by Beethoven who unfortanlly was injured this year, and the Golden Rod which was one by Supergirl (aka Rachel). In California it's a weekend of goodbyes as Cowboy Cal and Ventura will be running for the final time in the Citation and the Matriach respectivly (at this time of writing Cal's stud plans have not been announced, while Ventura will be bred to Oasis Dream). I would love these two especially Ventura go out on high notes. However, also in the Citation is Enriched whose half brother is... Lava Man. On Sunday, Zenyatta will be paraded for all of the fans and Take the Points runs in the most underrated stakes race for 3yo's, the Hollywood Derby.
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I will be back next week with new favorite race from this year. And you know what I'm going to make this a guessing game, sorry no prizes just for kicks. But here are the clues,
This was supposed to be a race that featured battle for early top honors, however the winner's main compition was scratched the day of the race. The winner won by a huge margin and almost broke the stakes record. The runner up of the race has sadly done nothing since, and the third place finisher has not run since then. This was a turning point in the winners season and gave them the jump start to being one of the greatest of their sex. This is a really, really easy answer, and I'll be shocked if no one gets it. *wink wink*
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