A Crown to Remember

It's been a day since the amazing Belmont which American Pharoah showed why he was the one that could finish possibly the hardest sporting accomplishment, the Triple Crown. Today I thought I would put into words the thoughts that I have going thorough my head. First though here is that remarkable replay.



Affirmed's run in 1978 was ten years before I was born. Even though I was born in New York, my love of horse racing didn't start until I had moved to Delaware (although my love of horses did begin in the Empire State). American Pharoah came when I was at a bit of a crossroads in my love of horse racing. While part of me still cared for the sport, in a way I was ready to move on. He changed that perspective and now ready to move on with the rest of the year with me hopefully seeing him at least once (if he goes to the Haskell or Travers that is).

In the Derby I was all over Upstart and Carpe Diem. I had loved both of them at 2 and they had a great 3yo prep season. I didn't like Pharoah at all as I had wanted a horse from FL to do well after a somewhat meh previous TC trail. I was wrong as Pharoah barely won and both of my picks where uptrack finishers.

In the Preakness, Danzig Moon who had done extremely well in the Derby was my pick with Divining Rod a nephew to Kitten's Joy and owned by Barbaro's connections finishing second. Then the rain came and Pharoah was just licking his chops. Rod saved my day finishing third.

The Belmont was different. I wanted to pick Pharoah, but the pessimist in me knew that there where going to be fresh horses. In the end, I said screw it (sorry for the language!) and went with my heart. Keen Ice and Frosted where my picks to fill out the place and show spots because I liked their trainers and knew they had done well in the Belmont in the past. Even though I had the eventual 2nd and 3rd place finishers flipped, I was right on with Pharoah becoming the Pharaoh of the Belmont.

AP has cemented 3yo Champion Male and very likely HOY honors. It will interesting where he shows up next and wherever it is, he will attract a great crowd.

HE DOES IT!!!!

Sir Barton
Gallant Fox
Omaha
War Admiral
Whirlaway
Count Fleet
Assault
Citation
Secretariat
Seattle Slew
Affirmed

11 horses had won the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. 13 horses won the first two, but not the last. A son of a Derby runner up out of a mare who never won a race changed it all. American Pharoah became the first Triple Crown winner since 1978. I will have a full recap tomorrow once I gather my thoughts more. However it's going to be one to remember.

Triple Crown Classes of 2007 and 2009

Over the next few weeks I will be going back in the time machine and sharing some of my favorite races from the past year. Today however, it's a little bit different as I'm going to be comparing the 2007 Triple Crown Class to this year's class of 2009.

Preps 07: The two horses who got the most noise at the begining where the undefeated Hard Spun (Danzig) and Breeder's Cup Juvi winner Street Sense (Street Cry (IRE)) for the boys, the girls it was Breeder's Cup Juvi Fillies winner Dreaming of Anna (Rahy). Hard Spun would go on to win the Lacomte S. and Street Cry winning the Tampa Bay Derby, but they would both be overshadowed by a up and comer named Curlin (Smart Strike). Orginally trained by Helen Pitts, Curlin was partially sold to Jess Jackson's Stonestreet Stable, Padua Stable and George Bolton and switched to 2005 KY Oaks winning trainer Steve Asmussen. Meanwhile the two favorites truged along, unfortanlly Hard Spun would be upset by Teuflesburg (Johanensburg) in the Southwest S. and would detour to Turfway to win the Lane's End. Street Sense lost a heart breaker in the Blue Grass S., but would still go into the Derby as one of the favorites. Curlin, all he had done was win the Rebel and AR Derby to go into the big dance with being undefeated. Dreaming of Anna's Derby and Oaks hopes took a slide with her first start as a 3yo, and really was not the same horse on dirt then she was on turf. Meanwhile she was being overshadowed by Todd Pletcher's trio of Cotton Blossom (Broken Vow), Octave (Unbridled's Song) who where 3rd and 2nd in the previous years BC Juvi Fillies respectivly, and his own up and comer Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy), a half sister to 2006 Belmont winner Jazil (Seeking the Gold).

09 Preps: Midshipman (Unbridled's Song) and Stardom Bound (Tapit) won the Breeder's Cup races for their respective divisons respectfully. However, niether would be in training when May rolled around. Midshipman was recovering from an injury, and Stardom Bound was clearly not the same horse she was as a 2yo, dispite winning the two G1's at the begining of the year. Meanwhile in New Mexico, Canada's 2yo champion male Mine That Bird (Birdstone), couldn't beat anything, and in the Mid-West Golden Rod winner Rachel Alexandra (Medaglia d'Oro) was winning, and winning big, while Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union) ruled Florida. Musket Man was becoming a blip on everyone's radar as well. However, all eyes where on I Want Revenge (Stephen Got Even), Friesan Fire (A.P. Indy) and Pioneerof the Nile (Empire Maker).

07 Derby: The two favorites going into the race where Street Sense and Curlin. However, the little PA bred that could Hard Spun, would not let these two big stars get in his way. All of the horses who went with him at the begining ended up towards the back of the field. As they headed to the top of the stretch, it looked like that the Delaware Park based horse would be the upset winner. It would have given his jockey Mario Pino and trainer Larry Jones the biggest wins in their career. However, coming through on the rail was the Churchill based Street Sense and Calvin Borel. Nicknamed "Boo" (he is much younger then his next sibling), and "Bo-Rail" of his love of hugging the inside rail, Street Sense would burst through to beat Hard Spun who would finish a gallant second. Curlin had suffered his first loss in his career finishing a solid third, however well back of the front two. It was the first Derby win for Borel and the second for Street Sense's trainer Carl Naftger who had won in 1990 with Unbridled (who would go onto sire his own Derby winner Grindstone and Belmont winner Empire Maker).

07 Oaks: All eyes where on Rags to Riches, many people thought she should have been in the Derby that year. However, her owners already had an entry into the Derby with Circler Quey. She did not disapoint as she powered home on a sloppy track to win the Oaks over her stablemate Octave. It was the second Oaks win for Pletcher and the first for her jockey Garrett Gomez.

09 Derby: There where many storylines going into this year's Derby, Larry Jones was trying to erase the heartbreak from the year before when his gallent filly Eight Belles broke down after the race. I Want Revenge had unpopular co-owners and a 19 year old Joe Talamo in the irons, however he would be scratched before the race with an injury. Pioneerof the Nile was trying to give his trainer Bob Baffert his first Derby win since 2002, and why not do it just a few months before he was set to enter the Hall of Fame. However, little Mine That Bird with Bo-Rail aboard did exactly what he did in 2007 and burst through to have the second biggest upset in the history of the race at 50-1. This was Borel's second Derby win overall and 2nd in 3 years and the first for his trainer Bernie "Chip" Wooley who took over Mine That Bird's training at the begining of the year. Pioneerof the Nile finished second and Musket Man was third. Friesan Fire finished second to last after being bumped around quite a bit.

09 Oaks: Unfortanlly the meeting of Justwhistledixie and Rachel Alexandra had failed to materialize after Dixie was injured the day of the race and was scratched. With her biggest threat out of the way, Rachel was expected to win. However, no one realized that it would be by as much as she did win. Sitting off Gabby's Golden Gal (Magadila d'Oro), Rachel and Calvin Borel (what you where expecting someone else?) took the lead at the top of the stretch and just took off. No one would catch her and she would win by 20 1/2 lengths, just off of the stakes record set by Bird Town (Cape Town) in 2003. Ironicly Bird Town's little brother is Birdstone (Grindstone), so things come full circle. Stone Legacy (Birdstone) was second and Flying Spur (Giant's Causeway) was third. It was Borel's first Oaks win, as well as for her trainer Hal Wiggins. Like Rags to Riches two years before, many people thought that Rachel Alexandra should have been in the Derby. However her owner at the time, was against nominating her for the Triple Crown. "Fillies should run with fillies and stallions with stallions", is how Dolphus Morrison her breeder/co-owner of Rachel had put it at that time. Little did we know the repulcusions would be withen the next five days sorrounding this filly who is named after Mr. Morrison's granddaughter.

07 Preakness: With the Derby out of the way, it was off to Pimlico for the Preakness. Hard Spun would have full court advantage with his jockey being Maryland's leading rider and being only an hour outside of his homebase at DP. However Curlin had gained enough experience to graduate to being a G1 winner. Ridden by Robby Albarado, he would beat Street Sense by a nose to give Steve Asmussen his first Triple Crown race winner. The weather vane would be painted in the colors of Midnight Cry Stable, Curlin's orginal owners. However, there was some contraversy sounding these connections as they where in jail awaiting trial for not giving money they won to their clients in a Phen Phen case.

09 Preakness: Much like the 05 Derby winner Giacomo (Holy Bull), Mine That Bird would not go into the Preakness with high hopes. Many people (including myself), thought he was a fluke. Also his owners and trainer wheren't that popular with some people. Likewise there was a new contender who many thought if she had been in the Derby, she would have won, unexpecticly was sold and transfered. Jess Jackson had bought Rachel Alexandra and sent her right to Steve Asmussen. Mine That Bird by weeks end, would not have a jockey. That's because Calvin Borel was offered and accepted Rachel's new connections offer of staying on her. Mine That Bird would quickly be reunited with an old friend (sort of), Mike Smith who rode Giacomo to his improble Derby win would be his new jockey. However, there was already a connection to him, his girlfriend Chantal Sutherland rode the Derby winner as a 2yo in Canada. In the end, history was made as Rachel Alexandra was able to hold on to the lead after being pressed by Big Drama and held off Mine That Bird. The first filly to win the Preakness in 85 years, the first horse to win from post 13, and the fifth favorite to win in 6 years (Barbaro and Street Sense failed to win, however Barbaro was pulled up and Street Sense lost by a nose). It was Steve Asmussen and Jess Jackson's second Preakness win (their first was with Curlin two years before) and Calvin Borel's first (he was second on Street Sense).

07 Belmont: With no Triple Crown on the line, Street Sense did not particpate in the mile and half "Test of Champions", however Curlin did and people thought it would be his coronation. However, a chestnut with a heart of gold and the pedigree to go a mile and half denied him. Rags to Riches became the first filly in over 100 years to win the Belmont beating Curlin. Tiago (Plesent Tap), himself a half brother to Giacomo was third that day with Hard Spun fourth with his new jockey Garett Gomez. The reason that is a big deal is Gomez jumped off Rags for Hard Spun as she was not supposed to go. However when Coolmore decided to send her, he was unable to uncomit and stayed on the Danzig colt. It was the first Triple Crown race win for her trainer Todd Pletcher and her jockey John Velequez.

09 Belmont: Dispite there not being a Triple Crown on the line, Mine That Bird did particpate. And with no Rachel in the race, he got Calvin Borel back. However it was redemption as Summer Bird (Birdstone) won the race giving Kent Desermoux his 1st Belmont win and trainer Tim Ice his first Triple Crown win after only being a licenced trainer for a little bit over a year. It was redemption for Desermoux for as the year before with Big Brown he was eased as Da' Tara upset the Derby and Preakness winner that day. Dunkirk was second and unfortnally the "Calvin Crown" was denied as Borel and Mine That Bird finished in third.

07 Aftermath: After the Belmont, Rags to Riches was able to race only once more in the Gazelle where she finished 2nd behind Lear's Princess. She retired before making a start at age 4 and had her first foal, a filly by Giant's Causeway this past Spring. She is currently in foal to Henrythenavagator. Street Sense won the Jim Dandy and Travers, before finishing his career with a 2nd in the Kentucky Cup Classic and a 4th in the Breeder's Cup Classic. Hard Spun finished second in the Haskell and got his G1 win in the King's Bishop. He beat Street Sense in the KCC before wrapping his career up in the BCC with a runner up finish. Both Street Sense and Hard Spun stand at Darley at Jonabell. Curlin would go onto finish 3rd in the Haskell, and win the Jockey Club Gold Cup and Breeder's Cup Classic to win Horse of the Year. He would come back as four year old to win the Dubai World Cup, Stephen Foster, Jockey Club Gold Cup to become North America's richest racehorse. However, he finished his career with a 4th place finish in the BCC, still that was more then enough to give him a second Horse of the Year honors. Curlin stands at Lane's End.

09 Aftermath: Mine That Bird would get some time off and reappear in the West Virginia Derby, with Mike Smith on him for the second time (this was when Calvin decided to ride Warrior's Reward the same day) he finished third behind Soul Warrior and Big Drama. It would be the start of an interesting summer for the Birdstone gelding, he was forced to miss the Travers due to a throat issue. That opened the door for Summer Bird who was coming off a second place finish in the Haskell to win not only the Travers, but the Jockey Club Gold Cup to to basically wrap up 3yo male honors. As for the third TC race winner? Well Rachel Alexandra came back in the Mother Goose against stakes winner Flashing and Malibu Prayer who was making her stakes debut. It was really no contest as Rachel destroyed the future Test and Chilukki winners in a 19 1/2 romp in a stakes record time. Her next spot would be the Haskell where she would face Summer Bird. With the sloppy track, Rachel and SB sat off the pace that was set by Munnings, and on the far turn the Preakness winner took the lead and cruised to an easy 6 length win that was almost a stakes and track record. With that win, Rachel Alexandra became only the second female to ever win the Haskell (the first being Serena's Song, but like Rachel, Serena had a win over the boys before and ironcily won the Mother Goose as well). Her final start of the year would be the Woodward Stakes, and will go down as the race that could not only nab her Horse of the Year (she and Zenyatta are considered the top two candiates), but Hall of Fame honors as well. Being pressed by 08 Belmont winner Da' Tara, Rachel set grueling fractions that would be perfectly set up for closers. However, Rachel Alexandra is not a normal race horse, as she had the heart to hold of Macho Again. Ironicly, both the Macho Uno colt and his half sis Be Fair where beaten by Rachel this year. Summer Bird and Mine That Bird both particpated in this year's BC Classic where they fell to another fablous filly Zenyatta. While Mine That Bird is done for the year, Summer Bird will be going in the Japan Cup Dirt which is in two weeks.

I hope that you enjoyed the reviews of the 07 and 09 TC classes, next week I'll start reviewing my favorite races of this year and in December do a Top 10 of the best races this past decade.

A time of reflection

As we are a little more then 24 hours away from the final leg of the Triple Crown, I thought I would look back on what has transpired in the past few months.

January: Midshipman is awarded the 2yo Champion Eclipse for the males and Stardom Bound is awarded the 2yo Champion Eclipse for the females. Old Fashioned is the early favorite to win the Derby, while Stardom Bound's new owners are thinking of running her in the Derby instead of the Oaks.

March: Old Fashioned makes his 3yo debut in the Southwest (In Febuary), where he fights it out tooth and nail with Silver City. He wins, but looked very vernurable in the race. Meanwhile his stablemate Friesan Fire is tearing up Louisana. Stardom Bound is having trouble in California winning two races, but they where not pretty. Meanwhile she has been overtaken by Justwhistledixie who is running in Florida and Rachel Alexandra in the Mid-West. By this time, Midshipman has been declared out of the Triple Crown due to injury. His two new stablemates Desert Party and Regal Ransom would end up repasenting Godolphin in the Derby. By the end of the month, Old Fashioned would no longer be undefted as Win Willy upset him in the Rebel.

April: After the AR Derby, Old Fashioned would be retired due to injury. General Quarters' magic carpet ride continued with a win in the G1 Blue Grass Stakes. Stardom Bound lost in the G1 Ashland, got a jockey change, but it ended up not being nessarry as she is out until at least the fall. For the second year in a row, niether of the Champion 2yo's would race in either the Derby or Oaks. Rachel Alexandra would solidfy herself as the one to beat in the Oaks by winning the Fantasy. Meanwhile, New Mexico racing gets some interest as Advice who ran in the Sunland Derby, won the Coolmore Lexington. Also all eyes would be on two horses Quality Road and I Want Revenge, as these two where going to be neck and neck as for favoritism in the Derby.

However, before the race would be run, both Quality Road and I Want Revenge would be out of the race.

May: After an amazing 20 length proformance in the Oaks, many wondered how Rachel Alexandra would have done in the Derby? It really wasn't a fair compersion as her biggest compition, Justwhistledixie, was scratched due to an injury. However, her owner Dolphus Morrison was percendant in saying that she would not have run in the Derby. "Stallions should run with Stallions and Fillies with fillies", is how he put it.

STALLION DERBY? Well Mr. Morrison's theroy was proven wrong when Mine That Bird shocked the world at 50-1 when he had a ground saving stretch run to win the Derby by about 6 1/2 lengths, and run the fastest final quarter since Secretariat. Why was this theroy wrong? That's because Mine That Bird is a gelding!

Many thorough that he was just a fluke (including this blogger), and that the Derby favorite Friesan Fire just ran a bad race. Fresh horses could beat him in the Preakness, I thought. But what happend next changed the complextion of this year's Triple Crown.

Rachel Alexandra was sold for approx. 10 million dollar (the exact price is not known), to Jess Jackson who campagined Curlin to two Horse of the Year titles. This ment a change in trainer, Hal Wiggins out, Steve Asmussen in. Many (including myself), where really not happy with the change in trainers. However, since Steve is Mr. Jackson's main man, it's not suprise that it did happen. However, this left a small problem, who was going to ride her in the Preakness. This was a problem as her jockey Calvin Borel, is not the regular riding for Asmussen. He was also the rider of Mine That Bird in the Derby.

In the end, Borel kept the mount on Rachel, and Mike Smith picked up the mount on Mine. The Preakness turned out to be just what horse racing needed. The filly winning and the Derby winner showing that he was not a fluke and being a game second. It was also great news for Mine's sire Birdstone and Rachel's sire Medaglia d'Oro, both of their first crops are currently 3yo's.

June: Rachel will sit out the Belmont and Mine That Bird, with Calvin Borel back on, will try to complete the Triple Crown in style. If he wins, Borel will become only the second person to win the TC with two horses in the same year. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was the first when he won the 1995 Derby and Belmont with Thunder Gulch and that year's Preakness with Timber Country.

I hope that everyone enjoys tomarrow's Belmont, I will be back either Sunday or Monday with full recap of the Belmont.

Meanwhile Medaglia d'Oro is moving to Darley! Link

Mine That Rachel (Derby and Oaks Recap)

After yesterday's pretty neat win by Mine That Bird, I've reliazed that his trainer isn't that great. For instance, Chip Woolley this year had won, ONE race. Also he's based in New Mexico is a red flag. And he's uncommitted to the Preakness, (that is not as much as a red flag considering his grandsire Grindstone was retired after his Derby win, but still I rather see him finish 4th in the Preakness, then see him not rn in all.) His owners are apprently connected to former Sen. Ted Stevens, another red flag. So as much as I love Birdstone and like Calvin Borel, I just can't get behind Mine's connections. But I still like him.

Rachel Alexandra, however, I can. Hal Wiggins and Dolphus Morrison seem to be doing what's best for her. And if they want to stay against the girls, more power to them. She hasn't faced Justwhistledixie yet, and who knows a Music Note may show up (And hopefully it's her niece Royal Ballade or Song of Soloman, Rockport Harbor's full sister, although she is recovering from a knee injury). The Acorn is next for her on Belmont day, sounds like that this Rachel may have to take a road trip to Elmont, New York.

Friesan Fire could be back on the track in a few days according to Rick Porter on his site. This is of course nothing more serious shows up. While I'm dispointed in his race, he'll be back to fight another day.

Indygo Mountian off the TC trail

Sorry for the double post for today, but another horse has dropped off the TC Trail. This time it's Indygo Mountain.

The following is from Bloodhorse.com

One Risen Star alumnus definitely not going on to the Louisiana Derby is seventh-place finisher INDYGO MOUNTAIN (A.P. Indy), who has been declared off the Triple Crown Trail. The Clarence Scharbauer Jr. colorbearer came out of the race well, but trainer Bret Calhoun has concluded that the colt needs more time to develop.
"We have no excuses," Calhoun said Sunday morning. "We had a good trip yesterday. We just need to regroup with this horse. He had some problems earlier this winter and we need to take some time with him now. It doesn't look like he'll be ready for the big dance. He needs to freshen up a little bit. Luckily, Mr. Scharbauer has the other horse to keep his hopes alive this spring."

His stablemate Silver City will face Friesian Fire's stablemate Old Fashioned in Monday's Southwest. It should be interesting race.

Big Weekend Preview (Part 2), Patena, Tiago and Injuries

Here is the final big race on the weekend.


Oaklawn Park - February 7th, 2009 - Race 9
Essex H. - Grade:
Estimated Local
Post Time: 5:02 PM
Race Type: Stakes
Breed: Thoroughbred
Age Restriction: Four Year Old and Upward
Purse: $100,000
Distance: One And One Sixteenth Miles
Surface: Dirt
Post Horse Name Age Sex Weight Jockey Name
1 Going Ballistic (FL) 5 Horse 115 M. Clifton Berry
2 Golden Yank (KY) 4 Gelding 119 Timothy T. Doocy
3 Solar Flare (ARG) 5 Horse 115 Calvin H. Borel
4 Prom Shoes (KY) 5 Horse 115 Christopher A. Emigh
5 Spotsgone (KY) 6 Horse 113 Joe M. Johnson
6 Encaustic (MD) 5 Horse 113 Luis S. Quinonez
7 Que Paso (VA) 6 Gelding 110 Martin Escobar
8 Telling (KY) 5 Horse 116 Eusebio Razo, Jr.

Last year Spotsgone went gate to wire to win the Essex Handiacap. I see Jinx Fires defending this title, but not with Spotsgone. I'm going with his stablemate Prom Shoes who loves Oaklawn. He won the final older male stakes race at Oaklawn last year and had an okay year afterwards (for Prom Shoes standards). He's coming off a pretty bad loss, but that was on turf which is not his best surface. Second I'm going with Solar Flare and Going Ballistic for third.

Top three:
Prom Shoes
Solar Flare
Going Ballistic

A few things as well. Saratoga Sinner is off the Derby trail with a chip in his knee, link. Every year there is a horse who doesn't stay on the trail for that long and this year it's him. Square Eddie is out for 30 days with a sore shin, link. It's a shame because I thought he would be the horse to upset Old Fashioned in the Southwest. Even if he doesn't make it back for the Derby, look out for him in the Queen's Plate which is on Poly (He's a Candian bred). Patena (TC 3yo colt #4) is heading to the LA Derby, link, and Tiago (TC Older Male #2) is back in Sunday's San Antonio at Santa Anita, due to a lack of time, I won't make a prediction other then go Tiago and Well Armed! Link

Tomarrow is the Stallion Spotlight.