Saturday's Nine Breeders Cup Races

I have made such disastrous betting picks over the last couple of years, that I have decided not to list my picks for this year's Breeders Cup races.  Instead, I will just give you the names of the races, distances, purse monies, post position of the entries, weight they will carry in the race, and the morning betting odds set by Mike Battaglia at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentucky.  All post times are Eastern Daylight Time in the US.  (Don't forget to turn your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday, or when you arise Sunday.)

Saturday's first Breeders Cup race has a post time of 12:05.  It is the Juvenile Fillies, for 2-year-old girls only, and each will carry 122 pounds over the main dirt track for 8.5 furlongs (! 1/16 miles).  The purse total is $2 million.
1     Land Over Sea           8 to 1
2     Tap To It                    8 to 1
3     Right There              30 to 1
4     Ma Can Do It           30 to 1
5     Forever Darling       30 to 1
6     Bold Quality            20 to 1
7     Nickname                  4 to 1
8     Dothraki Queen       10 to 1
9     Rachel's Valentina     9 to 2
10   Songbird                    7 to 5

The Turf Sprint is the second race of the Breeders Cup, with a post time of 12:45.  This race is open to any horse over the age of three years,and of any sex.  This race is weight for age and sex, which means I'll put the weight each horse is to carry behind their name, and before the odds.  The race length is 5.5 furlongs (11/16 of a mile) on the grass course, and the total purse is $1 million.
1      Pure Sensation            126        6 to 1
2      Bobby's Kitten            126      15 to 1
3      Undrafted                    126        4 to 1
4      Jimmy Bouncer           126      15 to 1
5      Lady Shipman             121       5 to 2
6      Joe Franklin                124      30 to 1
7      Green Mask                126      15 to 1
8      Something Extra         126      12 to 1
9      No Silent                     126      15 to 1
10    The Great War            124      12 to 1
11    Marchman                   126      15 to 1
12    Ready For Rye            124      10 to 1
13    Stacked Deck              126      30 to 1
14    Mongolian Saturday   126      15 to 1

At 1:25, it will be post time for the Filly & Mare Sprint, a race restricted to the girls, aged 3 years and up.  This is also a weight by age race.  The total purse is $1 million, and the ladies will race 7 furlongs (7/8 mile) on the main dirt track.
1     Fioretti                     124      30 to 1
2     Dame Dorothy         124      10 to 1
3     Taris                        124      12 to 1
4     La Verdad               124        6 to 1
5     Artemis Agrotera    124      20 to 1
6     Super Majesty         122      10 to 1
7     Wavell Avenue       124      12 to 1
8     Stonetastic              124        5 to 1
9     Sweet Whiskey       124      30 to 1
10   Kiss To Remember  124     30 to 1
11   Judy the Beauty       124       6 to 1
12   Room For Me          124      15 to 1
13   Merry Meadow       124       20 to 1   scratched
14   Cavorting                 122       3 to 1

The Breeders Cup Filly & Mare Turf is next on the card, with a post time of 2:10.  Again, this race is for females only, ages 3 years and up; and, it, too, is a weight for age race.  The distance is 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 miles) on the grass course, and the purse total is $2 million.
1     Hard Not to Like        124      10 to 1
2     Sentiero Italia             120      15 to 1
3     Legatissimo (IRE)      120        8 to 5
4     Sharla Rae                  120      30 to 1
5     Photo Call (IRE)        120       12 to 1
6     Queen's Jewel (GB)   120       12 to 1  scratched
7     Whatsdachances         124       20 to 1
8     Dacita (CHI)              124        8 to 1
9     Miss France (IRE)      124        6 to 1
10   Bawina (IRE)             124       15 to 1
11   Stephanie's Kitten      124       10 to 1
12   Secret Gesture            124       8 to 1
13   Elecktrum (IRE)         124      30 to 1
14   Talmada                      124      30 to 1

The fifth Breeders Cup race has a post time of 2:50, and is the Sprint.  This race  is open to any horse, aged  three and up; and it is a weight for age race.  The Sprint is 6 furlongs (3/4 mile) on the main dirt course, and the total purse is $1.5 million.
1     Alsvid                       126    50 to 1
2     Kobe's Back             126     15 to 1
3     Stallwalkin' Dude     126    15 to 1
4     Limousine Liberal    124    15 to 1
5     Runhappy                 124      3 to 1
6     Ivan Fallunovalot     126     30 to 1
7     Holy Boss                 124    15 to 1
8     Wild Dude                126    10 to 1
9     Masochistic              126     10 to 1
10   Salutos Amigos        126     12 to 1
11   Barbados                  124     20 to 1
12   Big Macher              126     20 to 1
13   Private Zone            126       5 to 2
14   Favorite Tale           126     12 to 1

The Turf Mile is scheduled to go to post at 3:30.  The race covers one mile (8 furlongs) on the grass course, naturally, and the total purse is $2 million.  Any horse aged 3 years, or older, may be entered, and it is a weight for age and sex race.  The entries are:
1     Grand Arch                 126     15 to 1
2     Recepta                       126     30 to 1
3     Make Believe (GB)    123      3 to 1
4     Mondialiste (IRE)       126     15 to 1
5     Impassable (IRE)        123       8 to 1
6     Tourist                        126      15 to 1
7     Tepin                          123       12 to 1
8     Obviously (IRE)         126       15 to 1
9     Esoterique (IRE)         120        7 to 2
10   Mshawish                    126      15 to 1
11   Karakontie (JPN)        126      12 to 1
12   Time Test (GB)           123        6 to 1

The Breeders Cup Juvenile has a post time of 4:10.  This race is for 2-year-old males only, and every one carries 122 pounds.  The distance is 8.5 furlongs (1 1/16 miles) on the main dirt track and the purse is $2 million.
1     Conquest Big E            30 to 1
2     Riker                             15 to 1
3     Greenpoint Crusader      4 to 1
4     Unbridled Outlaw         15 to 1   scratched
5     Cocked and Loaded      12 to 1
6     Rated R Superstar         15 to 1
7     Brody's Cause                 7 to 2
8     Tale of S'Avall              30 to 1
9     Exaggerator                    6 to 1
10   Ralis                              12 to 1
11   Isotherm                        20 to 1
12   Swipe                            15 to 1
13   Nyquist                           9 to 2
14   Waterloo Bridge (IRE)  30 to 1
15   Siding Spring                30 to 1

The penultimate Breeders Cup race is the Turf.  This race is on the grass course, and is the longest race on the card at 12 furlongs (1 1/2 miles).  The purse totals $3 million.  This race, too, is weight for age and sex, as the race is open to all horses aged three and up.  Post time is 4:50.
1     Golden Horn (GB)        122         4 to 5
2     Shining Copper             126       20 to 1
3     Big John B                    126       30 to 1
4     Slumber (GB)               126        8 to 1
5     Da Big Hoss                 126        30 to 1
6     Twilight Eclipse           126        20 to 1
7     Big Blue Kitten            126          8 to 1
8     Cage Fighter                 126        30 to 1
9     Found (IRE)                 119          8 to 1
10   The Pizza Man             126         15 to 1
11   Red Rifle                      126         10 to 1
12   Ordak Dan (ARG)        126        30 to 1

The "American Dream race," the Breeders Cup Classic is the final race on the card.  The race is worth $5 million in purse money.  It's run at the American classic distance of 10 furlongs (1 1/4 miles) on the main dirt track.  Any horse aged three, and up, may enter.  It is a weight for age and sex race.  The post time is 5:35.
1     Tonalist                   126       6 to 1
2     Keen Ice                  122      12 to 1
3     Frosted                    122      15 to 1
4     American Pharoah   122       6 to 5
5     Gleneagles (IRE)     122     20 to 1
6     Effinex                     126     30 to 1
7    Smooth Roller           126      15 to 1
8    Hard Aces                 126      50 to 1
9    Honor Code              126        6 to 1
10  Beholder                   123        3 to 1  scratched Thursday - endoscopy showed bleeding

Thirteen Horse Races Worth $24.5 Million

I manage to scrape by, and even take vacations, earning about $22,000 per annum.  Sometimes the numbers I spout off regarding horse racing seem completely from another world - even though I was on the edges of it when I worked at a thoroughbred farm in Ocala, and I attended the Ocala Breeders Sales every chance I had.  Thanks to my veterinarian, I was able to meet George Steinbrenner, who was only introduced to me as "George."  It wasn't until two days later that I realized I'd had a Coke and a hot dog with the George Steinbrennerand I called up Bobby, the vet, and told him how mortified I was.  Bobby laughed and said that Mr Steinbrenner had loved my views on pedigrees and movement - probably because they were so out of the ball park.
   Anyway.  We are nearing the Breeders Cup.  Starting post positions have been drawn, and Mike Battaglia has announced his morning betting odds. There have already been a few scratches.  Untapable is not running Friday in the Distaff, due to a temperature spike this morning.  There are entries from Japan, Argentina, Chile, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada and the United States participating in the races this year.  With the jockeys different riding styles, some of the races are bound to be complete thrillers.
   Here are the post positions, names of the entries and the morning betting odds for the four races on Friday.  The first race is scheduled for a post-time of 3:30 (EDT); the distance is 1 mile (8 furlongs) on the turf course; the purse is a total of $1 million; the race is restricted to 2-year-old males, all carrying 122 pounds.  The Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf :
1     Dressed In Hermes     20 to 1 odds
2     Azar                            10 to 1
3     Manhattan Dan           30 to 1
4     Shogun (IRE)             12 to 1
5     Highland Sky             30 to 1
6     Birchwood (IRE)       12 to 1
7     Ray's the Bar (GB)     20 to 1
8     Airoforce                     4 to 1
9     Sky Marshal               30 to 1
10   Conquest Daddyo       12 to 1
11   Hollywood Don          10 to 1
12   Camelot Kitten           12 to 1
13   Cymric                         7 to 2
14   Hit It a Bomb               9 to 2

  The second race covers 1 mile on the main dirt track; the total purse is $1 million; weight carried is determined by the horse's age and sex.  There are 11 entries, 8 of whom will carry 126 pounds; three younger horses will carry 123 pounds, and an asterisk (*) will follow their name.  The entries for the Breeders Cup Las Vegas Dirt Mile, with a scheduled post-time of 4:10 (EDT) are:
1     Red Vine                  6 to 1 odds
2     Bradester                10 to 1
3     Liam's Map               even
4     Mr. Z *                   50 to 1
5     Lea                           8 to 1
6     Street Strategy        50 to 1
7     War Envoy *          30 to 1
8     Wicked Strong         5 to 1
9     Tapiture                  10 to 1
10   Valid                       10 to 1
11   War Story *            50 to 1

  The third race on Friday afternoon, scheduled for a post-time of 4:50 (EDT) is the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf.  The race length is 1 mile on the grass course,with a total purse of $1 million.  All entries are 2-year-old fillies, and all will carry 122 pounds.  The entries are:
1     Tin Type Gal              12 to 1 odds
2     Thrilled                       12 to 1
3     Alice Springs (IRE)     6 to 1
4     Catch a Glimpse          5 to 1
5     Ruby Notion               12 to 1
6     Andreya's Reward      30 to 1
7     Sapphire Kitten          10 to 1
8     Harmonize                   7 to 2
9     Nemoralia                  15 to 1
10   Illuminate (IRE)          9 to 2
11   Pricedtoperfection      20 to 1
12   Gliding By                  30 to 1
13   Mirage (IRE)              30 to 1
14   Last Waltz (IRE)        15 to 1

 The final Breeders Cup race on Friday will be the Distaff, for fillies and mares,at a distance of 9 furlongs (1 1/8 miles) on the dirt course at Keeneland.  The total purse is $2 million, and the post-time is listed for 5:35 (EDT).  This is a weight for age race, so the weight varies between 121 and 124 pounds.  The weight each horse carries will appear behind her name, and before the morning odds:
1     I'm a Chatterbox           121       8 to 1 odds
2     Frivolous                      124       30 to 1
3     Salama                          121      50 to 1
4     Stopchargingmaria       123        5 to 1
5     Calamity Kate              121      30 to 1
6     My Sweet Addiction    124       20 to 1
7     Wedding Toast             121         4 to 1
8     Curalina                        121       12 to 1
9     Stellar Wind                 121       12 to 1
10   Yahilwa                        124       20 to 1
11    Untapable                    124         5 to 1  scratched due to a temperature
12   Got Lucky                   124         6 to 1
13   Warren's Veneda         124        30 to 1
14   Sheer Drama               124          9 to 2
15   Peace And War           121             ?

Happy racing!


 

Out for a Saturday Drive

Beatrice, who shares the apartment with me, has to return to work tomorrow.  We decided to take a road trip on Saturday, so after breakfast at Turley's, we loaded Tessa into the back of the car, and we took off for a day's sight-seeing.  It's still very much fall in Boulder, Denver, and the valleys, but there is visible snow on the mountain tops.  We started in Boulder, and traveled up Magnolia Mountain, turning south on the Peak to Peak Highway when we reached it.

Boulder

Magnolia Mountain

Peak to Peak Highway

Then we drove through Black Hawk...

and along Coal Creek Canyon

 

to Idaho Springs.

Followed I-70 to Historic Georgetownand then started climbing up.

Alpine lakes above Georgetown on the way to Guanella Pass

The mountains in that area

Snow at Guanella Pass Summit - Mount Bierstadt to the right, Saw-tooth Mountain in the middle

A ferret way up high

We descended along Geneva Creek

Geneva Creek

Then headed south west to Hall Valley and the Lazy Bull Ranch

We passed Jefferson

and began approaching Fairplay in South Park.

Heading back northeast toward 

Hartsel.

Pronghorn antelope - I identified them correctly the first time we saw them, then approaching another herd, I called them goats.  Bea and I laughed like idiots...

Lake George and the Eleven Mile State Park

Near Florissant

The sign says it all...

Pikes Peak from Woodlawn Park

Manitou Springs

Pikes Peak again, as we neared Colorado Springs

Then we took I-25 back to Denver, as I needed to get back and keep a pet-sitting appointment.  Bea and I had a wonderful day.  Tessa did also - she got to use the bathroom in ten counties and at the summit of Guanella Pass!

Some Breeders Cup Classic Pre-Entries (Photos)

American Pharoah

Beholder (mare)

Frosted

Gleneagles, Irish-bred

Hard Aces

Breeders Cup Racing on Friday and Saturday Next

It's time again for our yearly treat of seeing some of the best race horses in the world compete against each other at the Breeders Cup Championships.  The races will take place on Friday, 30 October, and on Halloween, Saturday, 31 October.  This year there will be no Marathon or Juvenile Sprint races.  The fields are restricted to the top 14 horses in each race that qualify for the Championships.  For several years all the races for the female horses were run on Friday, with only the boys (and the few girls competing against the boys) running on Saturday.  I complained about that a lot - I felt that the fillies and mares were being down-graded racing them on a Friday and not on Saturday.  That happens no longer, although the Distaff, the female Championship race is still run on Friday.
   This year, the Breeders Cup will take place at Keeneland Race Track in Lexington, Kentucky.  Following are the race start times (all Eastern Daylight Time) as currently planned, with the title of the race, the length of the race and the total purse money.
   The Friday afternoon, October 30 races are:
3:30     Juvenile Turf           8 furlongs (1 mile) on the grass course    $1 million   (2-year-old boys)
4:10     Dirt Mile                 8 furlongs (1 mile) on the dirt course       $1 million   (all sexes, 3 & up)
4:50     Juvenile Fillies Turf    8 furlongs (1 mile) on the grass            $1 million   (2-year-old girls)
5:35     Distaff                     9 furlongs (1 1/8 miles) on the dirt           $2 million   (females, 3 & up)

   The Saturday afternoon races on All Hallows Eve, October 31, are:
12:05   Juveniles Fillies    8.5 furlongs (1 1/16 miles) on the dirt      $2 million   (2-year-old girls)
12:45   Turf Sprint            5.5 furlongs  (11/16 miles) on the grass   $1 million   (all sexes, 3 & up)
1:25     Fillies & Mares Sprint    7 furlongs  (7/8 mile) on the dirt     $1 million   (females, 3 & up)
2:10     Fillies & Mares Turf    9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 mile) on grass    $2 million   (females, 3 & up)
2:50     Sprint                     6 furlongs (3/4 mile) on the dirt course    $1.5 million (all sexes, 3 & up)
3:30     Mile Turf               8 furlongs (1 mile) on the grass                $2 million   (all sexes, 3& up)
4:10     Juvenile Colts        8.5 furlongs (1 1/16 miles) on the dirt      $2 million   (2-year-old boys)
4:50     Turf                      12 furlongs (1 1/2 miles) on the grass        $3 million   (all sexes,3 & up)
5:35     Classic                  10 furlongs (1 1/4 miles) on the dirt          $5 million   (all sexes, 3 & up)

At this point in time. American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown Champion, is scheduled to run in the Classic on Saturday.

October Foggy Mountains near Boulder

Oh, Yeah..... I Live in Boulder

I guess that since I'm nearing 60 years of age, I can blame things on my memory now...   That, and the fact that I've only lived in Boulder for 11 years,now, and before it was mostly Florida and Virginia.
   Yesterday afternoon, Beatrice and I decided to take a little drive.  It was a second day of dreary grey and a continual light rain.  We did our grocery shopping, but still wanted to "get out."  So I decided we'd drive up Fourmile Canyon to Salida, and on to Gold Hill, then take one of the county roads to the Peak to Peak Highway to Nederland, and back down Boulder Canyon.  It was 48 degrees (F) and dripping rain, as I said before, here in Boulder.  Boulder is a little bit higher than Denver, "the Mile High City" - but I didn't even give it a thought.
    We had a wonderfully delightful drive, driving along narrow,winding paved roads in Fourmile Canyon and from the Peak to Peak back home.  The rest of the drive was also delightful, spooky, and eerie.  It was foggy in Fourmile Canyon; and they are still recovering from the Great Flood two years ago, so some houses were still damaged and the road wasn't really good.  Then we headed up to Salina, where they had a huge fire four years ago, followed by the Great Flood two years ago.  I realized I hadn't driven up that way in about five years...
    We drove past side barriers and bits of broken pavement until we hit the unpaved roads.  About mid-way through the hamlet of Salina, the local Climb bus passed us, headed down the canyon.  There was snow packed around the bottom of the front windshield.  Then we started passing snow on the ground beside the road.  We were in an all-wheel-drive vehicle, so I didn't worry.  There were times when we could barely see 40 feet in front of the car, due to the fog; then it would suddenly lift, and we were looking down on top of fog covered valleys.  Visibility was poor when we reached Gold Hill, and the temperature had dropped to 36 degrees - but, then, of course, we were well above 8,000 feet.  (Duuuuhhhhhh!)   We ran in and out of snow flurries as we drove along 20 miles of muddy clay roads, looking at the architecture of the homes, the various types of gates and fences, and a very few head of livestock.
   Reaching the Peak to Peak, Beatrice chose to head back to Nederland, instead of north to Ward, so we drove along a road we know very well in summer sunshine. Yesterday, though, there were patches of thick fog followed by clear areas.  It started raining again when we reached Nederland, and we drove back down Boulder Canyon, looking at the levels of Boulder Creek, and commenting on hikers and bikers we passed.  I twas a great afternoon, but I need to keep in mind that I do live at the foot of the Rockies....
   Tomorrow we plan to drive along the Highway of the Fourteeners - a 19-mile stretch of road that passes by ten mountains that reach over 14,000 feet.  (And I do have a map this time!)

Chincoteague Pony Fall Round-Up Photos

Most, if not all, of the following photos were taken by Lois Szymanski, author of many fantastic children's books.....

Shadow (Destiny's Shadowing Moonbeam)  a buy back weanling

Poco's Starry Night

Firestar and her foal born in September

Ponies on the run in for the Fall Round-up

Surfer Princess and Jean Bonde's Bayside Angel, buy back weanling and yearling

Wild Bill, stallion

Phantom Mist, Daisy and Kachina

Wild Thing leading his mares in...

Broken Neck End of Dreamer's Faith

My final, I swear it, post regarding Dreamer's Faith, the $7,500 buy-back Chincoteague pony.  She was reported stolen on September 6 or 7, 2015.  A reward of over $2,300 was offered for information that helped catch the thieves and/or helped restore the pony to her rightful owners.  Her body was found on October 15,2015 inside the Carnival Grounds corral on Main Street.  Dr Charlie Cameron, DVM,  performed a necropsy on the filly's remains.   Her neck had been broken by a heavy blow.  As her body was found underneath a large limb, it is assumed that the branch fell, breaking her neck, and killing her instantly.  This has been extremely painful for members of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company, and the members of the CVFC Pony Committee.  All of the fans of the ponies, and people who love them are understandably upset.
   Procedures have been implemented for nose-counts at each feeding time, and fence lines on Chincoteague will be walked daily.  No one wants this tragic accident to happen again.  And, having loved, and worked with horses for my entire life, I can honestly tell you that there are things that any conscientious owner can never prepare for.  Death is a natural occurrence, no matter how much we humans cry and fuss over it.
   I will treasure my photos of Dreamer's Faith, and I will always thank the greater being for sharing her with us, even if it was for a short time...

Some Vintage Halloween Cards...