Goodbye Unbridled Belle

This is about a week late as Kate Hunter from Paca Paca Farm (and one of the best resources for American horses in Japan) confirmed that 2007 Delaware Handicap winner and two time third place finisher Unbridled Belle passed away in February in Japan shortly being sold at Keeneland's January sale. I remember the first time the first time I saw the Broken Vow mare. It was in that year's Obeah where she finished second to Peak Maria's Way. The very next time it was in the DelCap where she romped and helped Ramon Dominguez being an even bigger name.

Kate's tweet:

@KetaHagen @raypaulick @BloodHorse I can confirm that Unbridled Belle has indeed passed at Oiwake Farm.
— Kate Hunter (@KeibaKate) April 19, 2014

This is the only photo that I know that I def took. Unfortnally I don't remember the year, but it was def not 2007 as I had a crummy camera then. This may have been taken the year after where she finished third to Hystericalady.

and her DelCap win:

RIP Belle, we'll miss you.

Note: I appologize for this double post today, but this was numbing for me personally. 

Flashy and Fragile: The Unbridled Line

     With the recent retirement of Battle Plan and the re injured Winslow Homer, I thought it would be a good time to talk about Unbridled and passing down unsoundness to future generations. Battle Plan and Winslow Homer have two things in common: they both won a graded stakes this year, and they both had their career/season shortened by injury. Actually make that three things in common, they are both by sons of Unbridled who may hold the key as to why they are unsound. Unbridled, the 1990 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner has sired some great horses. This includes the very talented Unbridled's Song, 2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker and 2005 Pimlico Special winner Eddington. However, all three of these wonderful Grade 1 winners have something in common: soundness issues.

     Out of the Caro (IRE) mare Trolley Song, Unbridled's Song won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile as a 2yo, and the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial as a 3yo. As a stallion he has sired the likes of Unbridled Elaine, a BC Distaff winner, Midshipman, a BC Juvi winner like his father and Eight Belles who finished second in the Kentucky Derby. He's known for his flashy foals, a perfect example of this is Rockport Harbor who was a graded stakes winner at 2 and 4. Sadly, the four horses I just named as well as Winslow Homer who I mentioned before had their careers/seasons due to injury (I'm not going to get into EB's death, however as UBS' highest finisher in the Derby, I had to mention her). Midshipman was forced to skip the Derby last year after injuring himself in Dubai, he is out again with the same injury I believe. Winslow Homer who just came back from a fracture, is now out for the season with a different fracture in a different leg. Rocky's injury was not his fault, in the Remsen Stakes which he won, he was stepped on at the break. While he did win that race and finished in front of Afleet Alex at 3, he never fully recovered from the injury. Last, but not least is Dunkirk. Second in the Florida Derby and the Belmont Stakes last year, he was injured soon afterward and retired.

     Fans of horse racing like to put blame squarely on Unbridled's Song since he is the most known. He's also known for well selling foals. For example, at the recently concluded Fasig Tipton Saratoga Selected Yearlings auction, six of his foals went through the ring (with one scratched out of the sale). All six sold for an average of $230,833. This is off a 2009 stud fee of $150,000. However, UBS is far from the only Unbridled stallion who is passing along soundness issues.

     Out of the El Gran Senor mare Toussaud, Empire Maker was a highly regarded 3yo in 2003. As one of the favorites to win the Derby, he won the Florida Derby and Wood Memorial much like Unbridled's Song did in 1995. After the Wood though, he came out with a foot bruise. Nevertheless he went to the Derby as the morning line and post time favorite. He finished second behind Funny Cide who he had previously defeated in the Wood. After skipping the Preakness, he denied Funny Cide the Triple Crown when he won the Belmont on a sloppy race track. After that race, he would race only once more in the Jim Dandy where he finished second. As a sire, he has had G1 winners such as Country Star, Icon Project and Pioneerof the Nile. Much like Unbridled's Song however, he is starting to pass on unsoundness. Icon Project, Pioneerof the Nile and Battle Plan all had their careers shortened due to injury. Battle Plan, this year's Stephen Foster Handicap runner up retired of a suspensory ligament, while Icon Project and Pioneerof the Nile had soft tissue problems. Also thorough his dam Toussaud, Empire Maker passes along temperamental issues.

      Then there is Eddington who is out of Chief's Crown mare Fashion Star. He finished third to Smarty Jones in the 2004 Preakness before finishing uptrack in the Belmont to Birdstone (who is by an Unbridled son himself in Grindstone who won the Derby in 1996.). Eddington won the Calder Derby on grass the same year and in 2005 he won the Pimlico Special. Sadly the Pimlico Special would be his final race as he was injured with a soft tissue injury soon afterward and was retired. While it's too early in his stud career to see where he stands when it comes to injuries (his oldest foals are 3), he could brake the jinx and sire some sturdy horses.

     Despite the problems with Unbridled foals, not all of his sons pass down unsoundness. One of the most underrated stallions in Kentucky (and one of my personal favorites), is Broken Vow. He happens to be a son of Unbridled. Among his foals include Grade 1 winners Unbridled Belle and Cotton Blossom, along with Grade G3 winner Interactif who just participated in the Belmont this year. Broken Vow foals seem to be a bit sturdier side, especially Unbridled Belle who won once, finished second once and finished third three times at a mile and a quarter 3 years in a row (Won the Delaware Handicap once, and finished third twice, finished second in the Personal Ensign once and finished third once).

     No stallion line will be perfect, and of course the female family plays a part into how sound a horse is. However, it seems that more often then not, the Unbridled line tends to be more fragile then others. Lets hope that I'm proven wrong in future generations and that we see more sturdier horses from this line.

How Time Flies

It just feels like yesterday that I started this blog, however next month (January 28 to be exact) is will be one year since I began my journey on this blog. And what a year it's been,

the up and down on the Triple Crown trail
Well Armed's Dubai World Cup win
Rachel Alexandra's amazing 20 length romp in the Oaks
Mine That Bird's 50-1 shocker in the Derby
The previously mentioned Rachel and MTB's heartstopping Preakness
Zenyatta's much anticpated 5yo debut
Summer Bird sweeping the "Big Three" NY G1's
Sea the Stars' Arc
Rachel's heartstopping Woodward
Rachel's Haskell
Zenyatta's amazing BC Classic win
Rule breaking his maiden and setting a track record
Ventura's very popular Matriach win
Unbridled Belle's Obeah and Turn Back the Alarm
Swift Temper's Delaware Handicap and Ruffian wins
Careless Jewel's amazing Alabama and Delaware Oaks wins
Icon Project's uber impressive Personal Ensign

There are many other races that I could put here, but that would take ages to compleate. One thing is for sure, this is a year that no one will forget.

So what to expect in 2010? I haven't decided yet, there maybe a road trip to an undisclosed location where there is a pretty well known track, but plans have not been written in stone yet. There might also be a trip to Pimlico to see the Preakness (TBD if I can convince a non horse racing friend of mine to come with me, then we are all set!). I'll have my favorite race of the year post up tomorrow, followed by on Friday with a preview of that night's Delta Jackpot which features my boy Rule.

2009 Favorite Races: Obeah S.

For the next few weeks I will be reflecting on the 2009 season, a year that will go down as "Year of the Female". Once a week I will posts featuring that I loved and/or saw in person. Most of them will be Thoroughbred races, however I may throw in an Arabian race or two. And why not start it off with one of my all time favorite fillies Unbridled Belle, and her Obeah S. win.

Unbridled Belle who is by Broken Vow won the 2007 Delaware Handicap and Beldame, she came back to win the 2008 Obeah, but that was her last win until June 20 of this year. On a sloppy track which she normally hates, but on a course that she loves she was able to defend her Obeah crown. Here is video of it, however I should warn people that there was a breakdown of All Smiles in the race at the end of the video, sadly I found out about a month ago that she was euthanized from surgery complications

Unbridled Belle and the runner up Morena went on to finish 3rd and 4th respectivly behind Swift Temper and Icon Project. Those four would meet again in the Personal Ensign. Where Icon Project would win, Swift Temper second, Morena third and unfortnally Unbridled Belle last. However, Belle rebounded to win the Turnback the Alarm at Aqueduct and will wrap up her career on Thursdsay in the Falls City at Churchill Downs. She is expected to go to Medaglia d'Oro, and will be sold at next year's Keenland November Breeding Stock auction.

I'm not sure if you have seen it yet, but I've quietly released a new blog called Pedigree Stock, this replaces The Breeding Side. I wasn't really happy with how TBS was going, and Pedigree Stock is a much better sounding name. It gets updated at least twice a week with new content, right now I'm focusing on who I think would be good suitors for the recently retired Zenyatta. I hope that you go ahead and check it out. As for future plans, those right now are up in the air. I do have a few things up my sleeve, but those will not be announced until next month when I'm further along in the process.

It's here!

Delware Festival of Racing is finally here. 6 stakes races (four graded, two each day), over the course of two days. And history can be made on Sunday.

Here are the races

First on Saturday:

Race 5 - 3:03 PM STAKES R. R. M. Carpenter Jr. Memorial S. Purse $100,000. For Three Year Olds And Upward. Nomination fee of $50, $450 to enter and $600 to start. Supplemental nominations of $1,500 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all fees. $100,000 Guaranteed, of which $60,000 to the winner, $20,000 to second, $11,000 to third, $6,000 to fourth and $3,000 to fifth. Weight: Three year olds: 118 Lbs. Older: 123 Lbs. Non-winners of $45,000 at a mile or over in 2009 allowed 2 Lbs. $30,000 at a mile or over in 2009, 4 Lbs. $22,000 at a mile or over since May 18, 6 Lbs. (Maiden, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances). Field limited to 12 starters. Preference to horses that have accumulated the highest total earnings in 2008 - 2009. Trophy to the winning owner.
One And One Sixteenth Miles.
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 P V Lightening (MD) 5/G LA T Maragh 117 G Capuano
2 Acting Zippy (FL) 4/G L J Shepherd 117 W D Bennett
3 Good and Lucky (FL) 6/G LA* D Cohen 123 J Carroll
4 Eddie C. (KY) 7/G LA R A Dominguez 117 C W Grove
5 Dinner in Odem (FL) 5/G L T J Thompson 121 P Wasiluk, Jr.
6 Researcher (VA) 5/G LA K Carmouche 123 J C Runco
7 Ready Set (KY) 4/C LA J Lezcano 117 M R Matz
8 Kurbat (CHI) 5/G LA* J Rose 121 H G Motion

This is really a 2 horse race, between graded stakes winners Researcher and Ready Set. I'll take Researcher, but would love to see Ready Set win. P V Lightning has a stakes win over the track and is my longshot pick.

Race 9 - 4:51 PM STAKES Robert G. Dick Memorial H. (Grade III) Purse $200,000. (Includes $50,000 – BC - Breeders' Cup). For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. By subscription of $200 each which shall accompany the nomination; $1,350 to enter and $1,600 to start. Supplemental nominations of $2,500 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all fees. $200,000 Guaranteed (*includes $50,000 from Breeders' Cup fund for cup nominees only). The host association's money to be divided 60% to the winner, 20% to second, 11% to third, 6% to fourth and 3% to fifth. Breeders' Cup monies not awarded reverts backto the fund. Weight: Three year olds 118 Lbs. Older 123 Lbs. Non-Winners of $90,000 at a mile or over on the turf in 2009 allowed 2 Lbs. $60,000 at a mile or over on the turf in 2009, 4 Lbs. $45,000 at a mile or over on the turf in 2009, 6 Lbs. (Maiden,, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances). Starters to pass the entry box by the usual time of closing. Preference to Breeders' Cup nominees only of equal racing quality or horses which have accumulated the highest total earnings on the turf in 2008 - 2009. The winner to receive a trophy from Breeders' Cup Limited. (If deemed inadvisable by management not to run this race over the turf course, it will be run on the main track at One Mile and One Quarter). One And Three Eighth Miles. (Turf)
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Avie's Tale (KY) 4/F LA B J Hernandez, Jr. 117 T E Salzman
2 Jaunty Gale (FL) 5/M L T J Thompson 117 P Wasiluk, Jr.
3 Trensa (KY) 5/M LA A R Napravnik 117 M R Matz
4 Precious Princess (KY) 5/M LA* J Shepherd 117 V Oliver
5 Caprice (GER) 6/M LA* J Rose 117 H G Motion
6 Dyna's Lassie (KY) 5/M LA* D Cohen 117 P D Fout
7 Winter View (KY) 5/M L G Saez 123 J E Sheppard
8 Astrologie (FR) 4/F LA* R A Dominguez 117 C Clement
9 Dress Rehearsal (IRE) 4/F LA R Migliore 123 W I Mott

Winter View should win this easily, and might even challenge her stablemate Forever Together later this year.

7th (3:57)
Delaware Oaks (G2) 1 1/16 Miles Fillies 3 Year Olds Stakes Purse: $250,000
Post # Horse Jockey Weight Claim Price Equip. Med.
1 Sweet Golden Carol Saez G 116 LA
2 Bon Jovi Girl Caraballo J C 120 LA
3 Livin Lovin Dominguez R A 116 LA
4 Careless Jewel Landry R C 116 LA
5 Malibu Prayer Decarlo C P 116 LA
6 Missunitednations Carmouche K 116 L
7 Payton d'Oro Thompson T J 122 LA

Bon Jovi Girl and Payton d'Oro have been a thorn in each other's side the past two races. However, it could be a shipper from New York who suprises everyone. The reason why surprises, is she is coming off a 19 1/2 length loss. However, she had an excuse in her previous race, and that was she was expected to lose. It was the Mother Goose, and well the horse who won is going to go 2 for 2 against the boys in 3 weeks. Malibu Prayer had set very quick fractions, that where just the perfect amount for Rachel Alexandra to run into. Delaware is a bit of a quirky track where if you are on the lead, it's very hard to give up. So it's a semi speed bias track, because horses can come flying out of the clouds. But you should be on or near the lead at the top of the stretch in order to be able to win it. That is why I'm going with Malibu Prayer to win, Bon Jovi Girl for second and in a suprise Mssuntiednations for third.

For Sunday:

Race 6 - 3:38 PM STAKES Light Hearted S. Purse $75,000. For Fillies And Mares Three Years Old And Upward. No Nomination fee; $350 to enter and $500 to start. Supplemental nominations of $1,500 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all fees. $75,000 Guaranteed, of which $45,000 to the winner, $15,000 to second, $8,250 to third, $4,500 to fourth and $2,250 to fifth. Weight: Three year olds, 118 Lbs.: Older 123 Lbs. Non-Winners of $45,000 on the turf since June 19, allowed 2 Lbs. $35,000 on the turf since then 4 Lbs. $22,000 on the turf since May 19, 6 Lbs.(Maiden, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances.) Field will be limited to 12 Starters. Starters to pass the entry box by the usual time of closing. Preference to horses that have accumulated the highest total earnings in 2008 - 2009. Trophy to the winning owner. Seven And One Half Furlongs. (Turf)
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Sugar Baby Love (GER) 5/M LA* D Cohen 117 R E Nicks
2 War Eagle Lady (KY) 4/F LA J R Leparoux 117 J E Baker
3 Julia Tuttle (FL) 4/F LA* A R Napravnik 117 A F Allen, III
4 Kitty Cat Express (FL) 4/F L J S Vail 117 B Silva
5 Precious Princess (KY) 5/M LA* J Shepherd 117 V Oliver
6 D Day (MD) 4/F LA I J Rosendo 117 S F Cronk
7 Warrior Maid (LA) 3/F LA G Saez 112 J L Jones
8 Miss Challenge (KY) 4/F LA R A Dominguez 117 G Weaver
9 Twiceasbeautiful (FL) 5/M L S Russell 119 M S Sharp
10 Drop a Line (KY) 5/M LA* J Rose 117 H G Motion
11 Come Fly Away (MD) 5/M LA* K Carmouche 117 M Shuman
12 Wilderness Trace (KY) 5/M LA J Rocco, Jr. 119 J R Fisher
Also Eligibles:
13 Remoulade (KY) 5/M LA* A Garcia 119 M R Matz
14 Beau's Trip (MD) 7/M LA C L Potts 117 R Jenkins

A nice big field for sprinting on the turf. You don't see many turf sprints stakes races for fillies in the US, so this is exciting. Unfortnally I've only heard of Warrior Maid, so she's my pick. And would have been my pick as well, she's coming off two third place finishes behind Bon Jovi Girl and Four Gifts (both who iroinclly faced Rachel earlier this year).

Race 8 - 4:36 PM STAKES Barbaro S. (Grade III) Purse $150,000. For Three Year Olds. By subscription of $100 each which shall accompany the nomination; $700 to enter and $900 to start. Supplemental nominations of $2,000 will be accepted at time of entry which shall include all other fees. $150,000 Guaranteed, of which $90,000 to the winner, $30,000 to second, $16,500 to third, $9,000 to fourth and $4,500 to fifth. Weight 122 Lbs. Non-Winners of $55,000 at a mile or over in 2009 allowed 2 Lbs.; $35,000 twice at a mile or over in 2009, 4 Lbs.; one such race, 6 Lbs. (Maiden, claiming and starter races not considered in estimating allowances). Field limited to 12 starters. Preference to horses that have accumulated the highest total earnings. Trophy to the winning owner, trainer and jockey.
One And One Sixteenth Miles.
PP Horse VirtualStable A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Code of Honour (FL) 3/G LA* D R Shepherd 116 W D Bennett
2 Denver (KY) 3/C LA J Rose 116 T A Pletcher
3 It Happened Again (KY) 3/C LA G Saez 116 J L Jones
4 Sumo (KY) 3/C LA* J R Leparoux 116 H G Motion
5 Doc's Friend (KY) 3/C LA J Shepherd 116 J L Jones
6 Sudden Shift (KY) 3/G LA O Vargas 118 A Kondor
7 In the Juice (MD) 3/G LA A R Napravnik 116 J J Robb
8 Slew of Smoke (FL) 3/C LA C L Potts 116 M E Gorham
9 Our Edge (FL) 3/C LA* A Garcia 118 N P Zito
10 Pitched Perfectly (KY) 3/C LA* D Cohen 116 B Tagg
11 Bunker Hill (FL) 3/C LA K Carmouche 116 D S Ryan
12 Dumar (KY) 3/C LA R A Dominguez 116 S M Asmussen

This is the final prep for Haskell horses. Although last year's winner Magical Forest finished last in the Haskell, the 3rd place finisher Ready Set won the West Virgina Derby. Because Barbaro was owned by Lael Stable (Roy and Gretchen Jackson), and well they have a horse in the race who happens to be trained by a Derby winning trainer (however it's not Michael Matz). I've gotta go with Pitched Perfectly who ships in from Belmont. The three locals have a chance, but I think Barclay Tagg has this guy in the right spot. And if he wins, maybe a trip to the Haskell where he has had at least one starter before.

last, but not least the Delaware Handicap!

$1,000,000 Delaware Handicap (gr. II, 5: 35 p.m.), Fillies & Mares 3 & Up, 1 1/4 Miles (Dirt)
PP. Horse, Trainer, Jockey, Weight, Odds
1. Temple Street, Brad Cox, Jon Court, 111, 10-1
2. Morena, Claudio, Michael Matz, A.R. Napravnik, 116, 8-1
3. Icon Project, Martin Wolfson, Jose Valdivia, 115, 6-1
4. Acoma, David Carroll, Julian Leparoux, 119, 5/2
5. Unbridled Belle, Todd Pletcher, Richard Migliore, 119, 2-1
6. Livin Lovin, Steve Klesaris, Ramon Dominguez, 112, 10-1
7. Swift Temper, Dale Romans, Alan Garcia, 117, 4-1

I have a feeling that Livin Lovin will be going to the Oaks instead, but I could also be wrong. Temple Street is coming in from Churchill, and horses who do well there often do well here. Morena was second last time out in the Obeah and is one of 2 horses who has already won at this distance. Icon Project could be the horse with the best chance to upset the race. Acoma almost skipped this race for the Beverly D. The question is can Unbridled Belle become the first 2 time winner of the DelCap since Susan's Girl? Her trainer Todd Pletcher will be going for his fourth win in the race as well to tie the record (his other three are Belle (07, she was 3rd last year, Fleet Indian, 06 when she won Champion Older Female and Irving's Baby in 01). Livin Lovin is a 3yo, just not the 3yo everyone thought would be coming, and is cross entered into Sat. Oaks. And last, but least Swift Temper has last year's Belmont winning jockey combined with the trainer of Kitten's Joy and well that's about it.

I gotta with Unbridled Belle on this, she loves Delaware and she seems to have found a jockey who fits her like a glove (interesting enough this same jockey also had success on my all time favorite horse). Icon Project for second and Morena for third.

Well I hope you enjoyed my preview! I promise to have photos up in a timely manner this time. I'm actually thinking of buying a domain and hosting, because Final Turn Gallery is shutting down, so I think I'll make one so that people who photograph horses can share them with others.

Weekend Recap

I had an okay birthday yesterday. I wasn't anything special, but fun otherwise (Check Yarn Talk later for a full recap of my birthday).

Anyway, alot to recap today, so lets get started. First off the Americans at Royal Ascot almost got a Group 1 win as Cannonball ridden by Oliver Peslier (Corey Nakatani was supposed to ride, I wonder if he decided to stay in Cali.), got nosed out in the Golden Jubaliee. Not sure what his plans are for US races, but he could end up being the favorite in either the Sprint or Turf Sprint at the Breeder's Cup.

I do have pictures from an extremly rainy Delaware Park from Saturday, however I'm still editing them, and not all of them are up on my gallery just yet. So, I'm hopeful to get it all done by the end of next weekend. But the two stakes races where awesome and heartbreaking at the same time. First up in the Obeah, Unbridled Belle pretty much showed why she loves DP by romping home in the slop. She'll be one of the favorites for the Delaware Handicap. Sadly, All Smiles broke down in the race and dumped her jockey right afterwards, however I read that she made it. Of course she's not out of the woods yet, but hopefully an update on her comes soon. In the Susan's Girl, Bon Jovi Girl turned the tables on Payton d'Oro. I really wouldn't be suprised if BJG is nominated for both the Oaks and DelCap, as she has already beaten older females and the mile and quarter distance shouldn't be a problem. However with that being said, I think she is more likely for the Oaks. Coffee in Bed was pulled up in the Susan's Girl, so if anyone knows how she is, please leave a comment on this post.

That was just the begining of "Lets flatter Rachel Alexandra Day" (Bon Jovi Girl faced Rach at Oaklawn). At Charles Town that night, Preakness 5th place finisher Big Drama rebounded from his last two races and offically won for the first time as a three year old (he crossed the line first in the Swale, but was DQ'ed to second). Also running on Saturday, Take the Points was able to rebound to finish 4th (I think), in the Colonial Turf Cup.

Sunday was supposed to be a cornation for Medaglia d'Oro as a sire, however it turned into redemption for AP Indy. First off at Belmont, the royally bred With Flying Colors (Should I go through her pedigree, other then being by the 1992 Belmont winner, she is out of the wonderful My Flag, who in turn is out of Personal Ensign. Of course this makes her a half sister to Storm Flag Flying), upset G1 winner Cocoa Beach in a listed stakes. I'm not sure what's next for her, but I'm hoping they decide to nominate her for the DelCap as a prep for her grandmother's race (Big sis won that race in 2004). Distance wouldn't be a problem and would give Belle a challenge.

Then it was up to Woodbine for the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. I had chosen the MDO filly Tasty Temptation to win with Milwaukee Appeal finishing second and Eye of the Lepoard finishing third. Well the good news is niether of them did horribly, the bad news is I had them in the wrong order. Congrats to Lepoard and his owners Sam-Son Farm. Also this means that both the winners of the two biggest 3yo races in North America had the same broodmare sire, Smart Strike (see even with English Channel and Curlin retired he's making a name for himself). This is their first win in the QP since 2001. Milwaukee Appeal was third and Tasty Temptation finished fourth. A long shot (whose name is escaping me right now) was second. Why was it redemption for AP Indy? Two words: Friesan Fire. That was an extremly horrible Triple Crown. Plus Indy maybe pensioned soon.

So MDO's cornination will have to wait until the CCA Oaks which is Tasty Temptation's next start. Why not this weekend in the Mother Goose? That's because the headliner will only be facing at least three other horses. I had hoped we would finally have the Rachel vs Dixie matchup, but Justwhistledixie is going to the Test. Hopefully they meet up later, but I doubt it. Flashing, Don't Forget Gil and Malibu Prayer are all excpected to face Rach, I don't think they expect win however. But of course anything can happen in horse racing.

Zenyatta runs this weekend as well, but I expect her to face a short field as well.