Wow. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series last night; the last time they won the baseball championship was in 1908. My four grandparents were less than 25 years old then, and neither of my parents had been born. I guess that if Thomas Magnum, P.I., were a real person, he'd be celebrating like mad!
The Colorado Buffalo football team is hosting UCLA tonight, and the Buffs are looking for a win. I never thought I'd see them ranked one notch below my Florida Gators in the NCAA Top 25 poll.
Beatrice was hired as a temporary assistant at the Boulder County Elections Office for this, our national election. Today was her third day at work, and with the checks and balances features that she has described to me, I can't see any cheating or stacking or rigging of the polls possible in our election. I worked as an Elections Judge in 2008 and 2012 - and I know that we had to follow rigorous, non-partisan regulations.
The Breeders Cup will start their races tomorrow - 13 horse races at Santa Anita worth $26.5 million in purses. As always, I wish I could be there.
We have found one of our new friends to be quite a narcissist, as well as a drama queen. We hope to slowly disengage from her friendship, and just be acquaintances.
Sunday will began "regular time" again - Daylight Savings Time will end, and we're to set all clocks and watches back by one hour at 2 a.m. I set all of my clocks back early Saturday evening so I don't forget.... Did the law makers ever consider what happens in the hospital, when the time gets turned back? It was always a nightmare when we had to turn the clocks back in Labor and Delivery!
One of the local tax amendments that we, in the city of Boulder, have to vote on, is Proposition 2-H. It adds a 2-cent per ounce tax to "sugary" drinks sold within the city limits. The list includes soda pop, fruit juices, Gatorade and Power drinks, chai teas, kombucha, Snapple, etc. This tax is supposed to "fight childhood obesity." (Don't most children need juice growing up?) The list does not include beer, wine, alcoholic beverages, or Red Bull. Supposedly, the companies that produce and sell the listed items are to pay the taxes without raising any consumer prices. Now, that is laughable. I suffer from terrible migraine headaches if I don't get enough caffeine into my body. I don't drink coffee or tea, and I am border-line diabetic, so I drink Diet Coca-Cola for my caffeine fix. It has no sugar in it, but contains a chemical artificial sweetener. My Diet Coke is subject to the tax. Local public schools stopped selling sodas from vending machines on campus several years ago. It's a common scene, before school, to see students fill their backpacks with 6-packs of soda to sell at school. Somehow, I don't think the tax will work well.
Then, finally, there's the Presidential election. I hope there is a huge turn-out for early voting between now and Tuesday, and that a tidal wave of votes is cast on Tuesday. Trump still frightens me. He has a fraud trial date set for 28 November; he has a child rape trial date set for December; and he has 73 other pending lawsuits (all against him). The FBI Director sent letters to Congressmen stating that Secretary Clinton's e-mails were being looked at, again, because of an investigation of another person. The FBI Director stated that he feared the information would be leaked, otherwise, and that it might have an effect upon the Presidential election. Yes. It certainly has. Even though no charges have been brought, or sought, against Clinton, many undecided voters are now saying they will vote for Trump. Director Comey has definitely changed the election with his hints of wrong-doing, whether the perpetrator is Hillary Clinton, or not. (And considering the investigation was into a sexting scandal involving a man named Weiner, I don't think this is about Clinton.)
Showing posts with label Breeders Cup races. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Breeders Cup races. Show all posts
Thursday, November 3, 2016
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
33rd Breeders Cup Races
I haven't been following thoroughbred racing as closely as I have in years past - but this Friday and Saturday will be the 33rd annual Breeders Cup horse racing championships, held at Santa Anita. (I misspoke in a previous blog, saying they were running at Old Del Mar.) The first Breeders Cup races were run in 1984, and were meant as a showcase for nominated stallions. They are now the richest horse races in the world, barring the Dubai Cup races, and the new Pegasus race, yet to be run.
On Friday, four Breeders Cup races will be run, beginning at 2:25 p.m. (PDT) in California. The four races have a combined purse of five million dollars; three for one million, and one for two million. For more comprehensive information, visit http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/breeders-cup , scroll down to Breeders Cup Divisions, and click on the race you're interested in....
Friday's first race is the Juvenile Turf, run at a distance of one mile on the grass, for two-year-old colts and geldings, with a purse of $1 million. There are 16 entries. There are 13 colts bred in Kentucky, 1 in Ontario, 1 in France, and 1 in Great Britain.
The Dirt Mile is the second race, one mile in length on the main track, for horses aged 3 and up, either sex, with a purse of $1 million. There are 9 entries; 7 bred in Kentucky, 1 in Texas, and 1 in Pennsylvania.
The third Breeders Cup race is the Juvenile Fillies Turf, for two-year-old fillies, run at a mile on the grass, with a purse of $1 million. There are 16 entries: 1 bred in Germany, 3 in France, 3 in Ireland, 1 in Florida, and 8 Kentucky breds.
The Distaff is the final Friday Breeders Cup race. It is run at 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the main track, for fillies and mares aged three and up, and has a purse of $2 million. There are 8 entries: 1 bred in Argentina, 1 in Virginia, and 6 in Kentucky.
There are 9 Breeders Cup races on Saturday, with the first race beginning at 12:05 p.m. (PDT) at Santa Anita. These 9 races have purses that total $21.5 million.
The Juvenile Fillies is worth $2 million, is for 2-year-old fillies only, and is conducted at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the main track. There are 12 entries: 10 bred in Kentucky, 1 in Florida, and 1 in Maryland.
The Fillies and Mares Turf is for females only, aged three and up. The race is 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the grass, and has a purse of $2 million. There are 13 entries: 1 bred in Japan, 1 in China, 1 in France, 1 in Great Britain, 2 in Ireland, 1 in Pennsylvania, and 6 in Kentucky.
The Sprint is 6 furlongs (3/4 mile) on the main track, has a purse of $1.5 million, and is open to 3-year-olds and up of either sex. There are 9 entries: 6 bred in Kentucky, 1 in New York, 1 in Florida, and 1 in California.
The Turf Sprint is for horses aged 3 and up, of either sex, at a distance of 6 1/2 furlongs (13/16 mile) on the grass, with a purse of $1 million. There are 16 entries: 3 bred in Ireland, 1 in Great Britain, 1 in France, 1 in Ontario,1 in Florida, 1 in California, and 8 in Kentucky.
The Juvenile Colts race is for 2-year-old colts and geldings, is worth $2 million in purse money, and is raced at a distance of 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the main track. There are 11 entries: 8 bred in Kentucky, 1 in New York, 1 in Florida, and 1 in Great Britain.
The Turf race is run at 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs) on the grass, is for any horse aged 3 or older, and has a purse of $4 million. There are 13 entries: 2 bred in Great Britain, 4 in Ireland, 2 in California, and 5 in Kentucky.
The Fillies and Mares Sprint race is for female horses, ages 3 and up, has a purse worth $1 million, and covers 7 furlongs (7/8 mile) on the main track. There are 13 entries, all North American: 1 bred in Ontario, 2 in Pennsylvania, 2 in New York, and 8 in Kentucky.
The Mile is the penultimate Breeders Cup race. The purse is $2 million, and the course is 1 mile, or 8 furlongs, on the turf. It is open to any horse aged 3 and older. There are 14 entries: 1 bred in France, 1 in Great Britain, 4 in Ireland, 1 in California, and 7 in Kentucky.
The final, and richest race is the Classic. The purse is $6 million, for any horse aged 3 or older, on the main track at a distance of 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs). There are 10 entries: 7 bred in Kentucky, 1 bred in Ontario, 1 in New York, and 1 in California. California Chrome is returning to the race, and has morning line betting odds of 1 to 1.
On Friday, four Breeders Cup races will be run, beginning at 2:25 p.m. (PDT) in California. The four races have a combined purse of five million dollars; three for one million, and one for two million. For more comprehensive information, visit http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/breeders-cup , scroll down to Breeders Cup Divisions, and click on the race you're interested in....
Friday's first race is the Juvenile Turf, run at a distance of one mile on the grass, for two-year-old colts and geldings, with a purse of $1 million. There are 16 entries. There are 13 colts bred in Kentucky, 1 in Ontario, 1 in France, and 1 in Great Britain.
The Dirt Mile is the second race, one mile in length on the main track, for horses aged 3 and up, either sex, with a purse of $1 million. There are 9 entries; 7 bred in Kentucky, 1 in Texas, and 1 in Pennsylvania.
The third Breeders Cup race is the Juvenile Fillies Turf, for two-year-old fillies, run at a mile on the grass, with a purse of $1 million. There are 16 entries: 1 bred in Germany, 3 in France, 3 in Ireland, 1 in Florida, and 8 Kentucky breds.
The Distaff is the final Friday Breeders Cup race. It is run at 1 and 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on the main track, for fillies and mares aged three and up, and has a purse of $2 million. There are 8 entries: 1 bred in Argentina, 1 in Virginia, and 6 in Kentucky.
There are 9 Breeders Cup races on Saturday, with the first race beginning at 12:05 p.m. (PDT) at Santa Anita. These 9 races have purses that total $21.5 million.
The Juvenile Fillies is worth $2 million, is for 2-year-old fillies only, and is conducted at a distance of 1 and 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the main track. There are 12 entries: 10 bred in Kentucky, 1 in Florida, and 1 in Maryland.
The Fillies and Mares Turf is for females only, aged three and up. The race is 1 and 1/4 miles (10 furlongs) on the grass, and has a purse of $2 million. There are 13 entries: 1 bred in Japan, 1 in China, 1 in France, 1 in Great Britain, 2 in Ireland, 1 in Pennsylvania, and 6 in Kentucky.
The Sprint is 6 furlongs (3/4 mile) on the main track, has a purse of $1.5 million, and is open to 3-year-olds and up of either sex. There are 9 entries: 6 bred in Kentucky, 1 in New York, 1 in Florida, and 1 in California.
The Turf Sprint is for horses aged 3 and up, of either sex, at a distance of 6 1/2 furlongs (13/16 mile) on the grass, with a purse of $1 million. There are 16 entries: 3 bred in Ireland, 1 in Great Britain, 1 in France, 1 in Ontario,1 in Florida, 1 in California, and 8 in Kentucky.
The Juvenile Colts race is for 2-year-old colts and geldings, is worth $2 million in purse money, and is raced at a distance of 1 1/16 miles (8 1/2 furlongs) on the main track. There are 11 entries: 8 bred in Kentucky, 1 in New York, 1 in Florida, and 1 in Great Britain.
The Turf race is run at 1 1/2 miles (12 furlongs) on the grass, is for any horse aged 3 or older, and has a purse of $4 million. There are 13 entries: 2 bred in Great Britain, 4 in Ireland, 2 in California, and 5 in Kentucky.
The Fillies and Mares Sprint race is for female horses, ages 3 and up, has a purse worth $1 million, and covers 7 furlongs (7/8 mile) on the main track. There are 13 entries, all North American: 1 bred in Ontario, 2 in Pennsylvania, 2 in New York, and 8 in Kentucky.
The Mile is the penultimate Breeders Cup race. The purse is $2 million, and the course is 1 mile, or 8 furlongs, on the turf. It is open to any horse aged 3 and older. There are 14 entries: 1 bred in France, 1 in Great Britain, 4 in Ireland, 1 in California, and 7 in Kentucky.
The final, and richest race is the Classic. The purse is $6 million, for any horse aged 3 or older, on the main track at a distance of 1 1/4 miles (10 furlongs). There are 10 entries: 7 bred in Kentucky, 1 bred in Ontario, 1 in New York, and 1 in California. California Chrome is returning to the race, and has morning line betting odds of 1 to 1.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Friday's Breeders Cup Results
First and foremost, my prayers and thoughts are being sent to racing analyst Bob Neumeier and his family. According to the Boston Globe, the venerable handicapper suffered a stroke on 29 October and is in the hospital. Neumy, I always loved to hear you and Mike Battaglia trading wit and opinions during the Breeders Cup coverage, as well as the Triple Crown coverage. I hope you're back on the job and joking on camera again - very soon! Consider yourself embraced.
Even though the Breeders Cup did not sponsor the Marathon race, the city of Las Vegas put up a guaranteed purse of $200,000 for the horses that like to run all day. I was very happy to see the 1 and 3/4 dirt race on the program at Santa Anita today - again, my only complaint is that it was not sponsored by the Breeders Cup this year. A field of nine, including Argentina-bred Big Casanova, the alternate entry for the BC Classic tomorrow, left the gate in good order. The horses ran at a good, steady clip, but Cary Street was trailing by 12 lengths (or more) through most of the race. Irish Surf, the betting favorite, stayed close to the leaders and paced them. with 5/8 mile to go, Cary Street started to roll - he charged past the rest of the horses and won easily, going away, by almost 10 lengths, and under a hand ride. Irish Surf finished second, and Patrioticandproud got up for third. Sky Kingdom came up for fourth, and Big Casanova, who had led for a bit, faded to fifth place. It was a beautifully run race! Cary Street, a 5-year-old bay gelding by Smarty Jones, paid $7.80 on a $2 win ticket...
For the actual Breeders Cups races, my picks were so-so.... Faithful Creek was added to the entries in the Juvenile Turf after the scratch of Aktabanay, so a full field of 14 colts were on the grass course. I had chosen Aktabantay as one of my picks, and with his scratch, I switched to Luck of the Kitten - which turned out to be very nice for me. Hootenanny, under the ride of Frankie Dettori, won the race; so that $2 got me $14. Luck of the Kitten came in second, which got me $9.20. Daddy D T placed third, and paid $11. I bet $2 on an exacta with Hootenanny first and Luck of the Kitten second - that won me $100. My other picks did not fair as well - Wet Sail finished last; Imperia was tenth; and the roan colt Danny Boy was in eighth place. I came out ahead with $113.20 (betting$10).
In the Dirt Mile, Goldencents, the betting favorite for the mile race at 3 to 5, and defending champion, made history by repeating his win. He's the first horse to win the Dirt Mile Breeders Cup twice. He is also being rewarded for his efforts by being retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm. Tapiture finished a strong second, and Pants on Fire was in third. My four picks in this race finished in second, third, fourth (Bronzo), and last - Vicar's In Trouble. Vicar's In Trouble was lame at the end of the race, and was vanned back to his barn. He suffered a condylar fracture in his left fore during the race, and will have a vacation before returning to the races. I placed $2 bets in this race - Goldencents paid $3.40; Tapiture paid $3.80; and Pants on Fire paid $4. The exacta paid $14.20; and the trifecta paid $71. I spent $8, and received back $7.80 - so a loss of 20 cents.
The Juvenile Filly Turf was also a wide open race - fourteen contenders arrived on the track, but one of my betting choices, Lady Zuzu, was scratched by the veterinarian before entering the starting gate. I lost $6 on this race. The winner was Lady Eli, with Sunset Glow in second, Osaila in third, and Prize Exhibit coming in fourth. On a $2 bet, Lady Eli paid $6.80, Sunset Glow paid $5.20, and Osaila paid $3.60. Money bet on Lady Zuzu was returned. The exacta paid $35, and the trifecta paid $65.90. I had chosen four fillies - the three who ran finished in third, fourth and fifth places. But I had only placed bets "to win" in this race.
After the Breeders Cup Distaff, winning jockey Rosie Napravnik surprised everyone (except her husband, horse trainer Joe Sharp) by announcing her retirement from racing after this year's Breeders Cup. The reason is a happy one - she and Joe are expecting their first child. Congratulations, Rosie and Joe! But, back to the horses... I figured that Untapable, Rosie's mount, would be the betting favorite for the race, and she was. I placed 4 $2 bets to wins and lost another $8. Untapable was unstoppable in the Distaff, with Don't Tell Sophia in second, and Iotapa in third.For $2 bets, Untapable paid $5.20, Don't Tell Sophia paid $4.60, and Iotapa paid $4. The exacta paid $27, and the $2 trifecta paid $150.40. The four horses I bet on finished in the last four positions in a field of eleven - so my choices in the Distaff were rotten.
Even though the Breeders Cup did not sponsor the Marathon race, the city of Las Vegas put up a guaranteed purse of $200,000 for the horses that like to run all day. I was very happy to see the 1 and 3/4 dirt race on the program at Santa Anita today - again, my only complaint is that it was not sponsored by the Breeders Cup this year. A field of nine, including Argentina-bred Big Casanova, the alternate entry for the BC Classic tomorrow, left the gate in good order. The horses ran at a good, steady clip, but Cary Street was trailing by 12 lengths (or more) through most of the race. Irish Surf, the betting favorite, stayed close to the leaders and paced them. with 5/8 mile to go, Cary Street started to roll - he charged past the rest of the horses and won easily, going away, by almost 10 lengths, and under a hand ride. Irish Surf finished second, and Patrioticandproud got up for third. Sky Kingdom came up for fourth, and Big Casanova, who had led for a bit, faded to fifth place. It was a beautifully run race! Cary Street, a 5-year-old bay gelding by Smarty Jones, paid $7.80 on a $2 win ticket...
For the actual Breeders Cups races, my picks were so-so.... Faithful Creek was added to the entries in the Juvenile Turf after the scratch of Aktabanay, so a full field of 14 colts were on the grass course. I had chosen Aktabantay as one of my picks, and with his scratch, I switched to Luck of the Kitten - which turned out to be very nice for me. Hootenanny, under the ride of Frankie Dettori, won the race; so that $2 got me $14. Luck of the Kitten came in second, which got me $9.20. Daddy D T placed third, and paid $11. I bet $2 on an exacta with Hootenanny first and Luck of the Kitten second - that won me $100. My other picks did not fair as well - Wet Sail finished last; Imperia was tenth; and the roan colt Danny Boy was in eighth place. I came out ahead with $113.20 (betting$10).
In the Dirt Mile, Goldencents, the betting favorite for the mile race at 3 to 5, and defending champion, made history by repeating his win. He's the first horse to win the Dirt Mile Breeders Cup twice. He is also being rewarded for his efforts by being retired to stud at Spendthrift Farm. Tapiture finished a strong second, and Pants on Fire was in third. My four picks in this race finished in second, third, fourth (Bronzo), and last - Vicar's In Trouble. Vicar's In Trouble was lame at the end of the race, and was vanned back to his barn. He suffered a condylar fracture in his left fore during the race, and will have a vacation before returning to the races. I placed $2 bets in this race - Goldencents paid $3.40; Tapiture paid $3.80; and Pants on Fire paid $4. The exacta paid $14.20; and the trifecta paid $71. I spent $8, and received back $7.80 - so a loss of 20 cents.
The Juvenile Filly Turf was also a wide open race - fourteen contenders arrived on the track, but one of my betting choices, Lady Zuzu, was scratched by the veterinarian before entering the starting gate. I lost $6 on this race. The winner was Lady Eli, with Sunset Glow in second, Osaila in third, and Prize Exhibit coming in fourth. On a $2 bet, Lady Eli paid $6.80, Sunset Glow paid $5.20, and Osaila paid $3.60. Money bet on Lady Zuzu was returned. The exacta paid $35, and the trifecta paid $65.90. I had chosen four fillies - the three who ran finished in third, fourth and fifth places. But I had only placed bets "to win" in this race.
After the Breeders Cup Distaff, winning jockey Rosie Napravnik surprised everyone (except her husband, horse trainer Joe Sharp) by announcing her retirement from racing after this year's Breeders Cup. The reason is a happy one - she and Joe are expecting their first child. Congratulations, Rosie and Joe! But, back to the horses... I figured that Untapable, Rosie's mount, would be the betting favorite for the race, and she was. I placed 4 $2 bets to wins and lost another $8. Untapable was unstoppable in the Distaff, with Don't Tell Sophia in second, and Iotapa in third.For $2 bets, Untapable paid $5.20, Don't Tell Sophia paid $4.60, and Iotapa paid $4. The exacta paid $27, and the $2 trifecta paid $150.40. The four horses I bet on finished in the last four positions in a field of eleven - so my choices in the Distaff were rotten.
Thursday, October 30, 2014
My Picks for Saturday's Breeders Cup Races
Saturday's first Breeders Cup race is the Juvenile Fillies; twelve two-year-old girls will carry 122 pounds for a mile and 1/16 on the main dirt track. All of the fillies were bred in Kentucky, except Wonder Gal, who is New York-bred. Four of the fillies are chestnuts, the rest are bays. Three of the fillies - Feathered, Danette, and Puca - are descendants of Hyperion. I was able to view half of the field in photos. Based on pedigree and available photos, my picks are: Take Charge Brandi (trained by D Wayne Lukas), Majestic Presence, Puca, Wonder Gal (under Mike Smith) and By the Moon...
All entries in the Filly & Mare Turf are four years or older, so all will carry 124 pounds in the mile and 1/4 race worth $2 million. There is one 6-year-old mare, Abaco, five 5-year-olds, and four 4-yesr-olds in the race. Two are Irish-bred - Just the Judge and Fiesolana - and two were bred in Great Britain - Secret Gesture and Dank, the defending champion. Dayatthespa was bred in New York, Irish Mission was bred in Ontario, Canada, Parranda was bred in Florida, and the other four entries are Kentucky bred. Four of the eleven are related to Hyperion. Honestly, I love the way that each of these ladies look. So, here are my picks, based on pedigree (and avoiding betting the favorites): Secret Gesture, Emollient (with Rosie Npravnik in the irons), Irish Mission and Parranda.
The Filly & Mare Sprint is 7 furlongs (or 7/8 mile) and has a purse of $1 million. The six 3-year-olds will carry 122 pounds,while the two 4- and two 5-year olds will tote 124. Stonetastic is the grey (roan) filly; Thank You Marylou and Judy the Beauty are chestnuts; the other seven entries are bays. Living the Life was born in Ireland; Than You Marylou is Virginia-bred; Artemis Agrotera was born in New York; Judy the Beauty was bred in Ontario, Canada; the others are Kentucky-bred. Four of the ten ladies descend from Hyperion. My picks: Sweet Reason, Stonetastic, Living the Life, and Artemis Agrotera. Mike Smith has the mount on Judy the Beauty, the morning line betting favorite.
The Turf Sprint is worth $1 million and covers about 6 and 1/2 furlongs (.8125 mile). The weight the horse carries depends upon it's sex and it's age; since that can get a little crazy, I'll just list information regarding each entry on a single line...
1. Reneesgotzip 5 year-old chestnut mare; bred in Kentucky; 123 #
2. Silentio 5-year-old dark bay horse; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
3. Sweet Swap 5-year-old chestnut horse; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
4. Tightend Touchdown 5-year-old chestnut gelding; Florida-bred; 126 #
5. Ambitious Brew 4-year-old bay gelding; California-bred; 126 #
6. Bobby's Kitten 3-year-old bay colt; Bred in Kentucky; 124 #
7. Marchman 4-year-old bay colt; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
8. Something Extra 6-year-old dark bay gelding; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
9. Free As A Bird 5-year-old chestnut mare; bred in Kentucky; 123 # She refused to board her plane and is scratched - other horses move up in post position and Ageless is now an entry.
9. Home Run Kitten 3-year-old chestnut colt; bred in Kentucky; 124 #
10. Undrafted 4-year-old chestnut gelding; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
11. Dimension 6-year-old dark bay gelding; Great Britain-bred; 126 #
12. Caspar Netscher 5-year-old bay horse; Great Britain-bred; 126 #
13. No Nay Never 3-year-old dark bay colt; bred in Kentucky; 124 #
14. Ageless 5-year-old bay mare; bred in Kentucky; 123 #
My choices: Silentio (a grandson of Sunday Silence); Ambitious Brew, ridden by Mike Smith; Marchman, with Kent Desormeaux in the irons; Undrafted, with John R Velasquez in the saddle, and owned by Denver Broncos player Wes Welker; and No Nay Never under the guidance of Frankie Dettori.
With American Pharoah out of the Juvenile, eleven 2-year-old colts and one ridgling will carry 122 pounds each over 1 and 1/16 miles on the main dirt track for a purse of $2 million. Upstart was bred in New York (and is the ridgling); Lucky Player and Calculator are Florida-breds; the other nine were bred in Kentucky. Calculator is a grey (roan); Mr. Z is a chestnut; Carpe Diem and Daredevil are listed as chestnuts, but their photos show a black mane, tail and legs - which would make them bays; the others are listed as bays and dark browns. My picks are: Private Prospect; Texas Red ridden by Kent Desormeaux; Mr. Z, with Mike Smith in the saddle and trained by D Wayne Lukas; Upstart, and One Lucky Dane.
The one and 1/2 mile Turf race is open to both sexes, and all ages. All males, aged 4, 5 and 6 years will carry 126 pounds, while the 4-ear-old filly Chicquita will haul 123 pounds, contesting for the $3 million purse. Magician, the defending champion, is scratched due to lameness,which leaves a field of twelve. Telescope and the filly Chicquita were bred in Ireland; Brown Panther and Flintshire are from Great Britain; Big John B is a Florida-bred; Hangover Kid was bred in New York; Starspangled Heat is from California; and the other five entries were bred in Kentucky. Imagining, Starspangled Heat and Main Sequence are chestnuts, the other runners are bays. My picks: Telescope, Twilight Eclipse, Flintshire and Big John B.
The $1.5 million Sprint covers 6 furlongs (3/4 mile)and is a weight for age and sex race. Secret Circle is back to defend his championship. Once again I'll list the post positions and information.
1. Seeking the Sherif 5-year-old dark bay gelding; Kentucky bred; 126 #
2. Indianapolis 3-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 124 #
3. Wind Fire 3-year-old filly; Kentucky bred; 121 #
4. Secret Circle 5-year-old bay horse; Kentucky bred; 126 #
5. Private Zone 5-year-old bay gelding; bred in Ontario, Canada; 126 #
6. Rich Tapestry 6-year-old bay gelding; bred in Ireland; 126 #
7. Mico Margarita 4-year-old chestnut colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
8. Palace 5-year-old bay horse; bred in New York; 126 #
9. Salutos Amigos 4-year-old bay gelding; Kentucky bred; 126 #
10. Big Macher 4-year-old bay gelding; Bred in California; 126 #
11. Bakken 4-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
12. Fast Anna 3-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 124 #
13. Work All Week 5-year-old chestnut gelding; bred in Illinois; 126 #
14. Bourbon Courage 5-year-old bay horse; Kentucky bred; 126 #
In this race, my picks are: Wind Fire, the filly; Rich Tapestry; Palace; Bakken under Gary Stevens; Indianapolis with Mike Smith; and Bourbon Courage.
The Breeders Cup Mile is run on the grass for a $2 million purse. With Wise Dan, the two-time defending champion sidelined by injury, the race is wide open. This is a weight for age and sex race; entrants are aged three to six, and are of both sexes. Six of the entries are Kentucky-bred; eight are from other countries. This makes for yet another listing...
1. Grand Arch 5-year-old bay gelding; Kentucky bred; 126 #
2. Obviously 6-year-old bay gelding; bred in Ireland; 126 #
3. Veda 3-year-old bay filly; bred in France; 120 #
4. Mustajeeb 3-year-old chestnut colt; bred in Great Britain; 123 #
5. Toronado 4-year-old bay colt; bred in Ireland; 126 #
6. Tom's Tribute 4-year-old chestnut colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
7. Kaigun 4-year-old chestnut gelding; bred in Ontario, Canada; 126 #
8. Trade Storm 6-year-old bay horse; bred in Great Britain; 126 #
9. Anodin 4-year-old bay colt; bred in Ireland; 126 #
10. Summer Front 5-year-old bay horse; Kentucky bred; 126 #
11. Sayaad 4-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
12. Seek Again 4-year-old chestnut colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
13. Tourist 3-year-old dark bay colt; Kentucky bred; 123 #
14. Karakontie 3-year-old bay colt; bred in Japan; 123 #
I really like the looks and breeding of Toronado, but he's the early betting favorite - so here are my picks: Veda, the 3-year-old French filly; Anodin, the brother of Goldikova; Summer Front; Tourist under the guidance of Rosie Napravnik; and Karakontie, the Japan-born grandson of Sunday Silence.
The early betting favorite for the $5 million Classic is Shared Belief, a 3-year-old dark brown gelding, who won the Breeders Cup Juvenile last year. He looks impressive, has a Cryptoclearance and Northern Dancer pedigree, and will have Mike Smith in the saddle. I'd like for him to win, but I like longer shots on the tote board. There is a full field of fourteen horses; 7 of them are 3-year-olds and will carry 122 pounds; the other seven entries are aged four to six, and will carry 126 pounds. California Chrome has not been in the winner's circle since the Preakness in May; he is the only California bred and carries 122 pounds. Zivo is a 5-year-old bay horse bred in New York; all other entries were bred in Kentucky. All of the horses are bays, except California Chrome and V. E. Day, who are chestnuts. The other five youngsters getting a 4 pound weight break are: V. E. Day, Bayern, Toast of New York, Tonalist, and Candy Boy.Since Shared Belief is the betting favorite, my picks are: Prayer for Relief, Toast of New York, Candy Boy under Corey Nakatani, Majestic Harbor with Tyler Baze in the irons, and Moreno with Javier Castellano up.
All entries in the Filly & Mare Turf are four years or older, so all will carry 124 pounds in the mile and 1/4 race worth $2 million. There is one 6-year-old mare, Abaco, five 5-year-olds, and four 4-yesr-olds in the race. Two are Irish-bred - Just the Judge and Fiesolana - and two were bred in Great Britain - Secret Gesture and Dank, the defending champion. Dayatthespa was bred in New York, Irish Mission was bred in Ontario, Canada, Parranda was bred in Florida, and the other four entries are Kentucky bred. Four of the eleven are related to Hyperion. Honestly, I love the way that each of these ladies look. So, here are my picks, based on pedigree (and avoiding betting the favorites): Secret Gesture, Emollient (with Rosie Npravnik in the irons), Irish Mission and Parranda.
The Filly & Mare Sprint is 7 furlongs (or 7/8 mile) and has a purse of $1 million. The six 3-year-olds will carry 122 pounds,while the two 4- and two 5-year olds will tote 124. Stonetastic is the grey (roan) filly; Thank You Marylou and Judy the Beauty are chestnuts; the other seven entries are bays. Living the Life was born in Ireland; Than You Marylou is Virginia-bred; Artemis Agrotera was born in New York; Judy the Beauty was bred in Ontario, Canada; the others are Kentucky-bred. Four of the ten ladies descend from Hyperion. My picks: Sweet Reason, Stonetastic, Living the Life, and Artemis Agrotera. Mike Smith has the mount on Judy the Beauty, the morning line betting favorite.
The Turf Sprint is worth $1 million and covers about 6 and 1/2 furlongs (.8125 mile). The weight the horse carries depends upon it's sex and it's age; since that can get a little crazy, I'll just list information regarding each entry on a single line...
1. Reneesgotzip 5 year-old chestnut mare; bred in Kentucky; 123 #
2. Silentio 5-year-old dark bay horse; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
3. Sweet Swap 5-year-old chestnut horse; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
4. Tightend Touchdown 5-year-old chestnut gelding; Florida-bred; 126 #
5. Ambitious Brew 4-year-old bay gelding; California-bred; 126 #
6. Bobby's Kitten 3-year-old bay colt; Bred in Kentucky; 124 #
7. Marchman 4-year-old bay colt; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
8. Something Extra 6-year-old dark bay gelding; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
9. Home Run Kitten 3-year-old chestnut colt; bred in Kentucky; 124 #
10. Undrafted 4-year-old chestnut gelding; bred in Kentucky; 126 #
11. Dimension 6-year-old dark bay gelding; Great Britain-bred; 126 #
12. Caspar Netscher 5-year-old bay horse; Great Britain-bred; 126 #
13. No Nay Never 3-year-old dark bay colt; bred in Kentucky; 124 #
14. Ageless 5-year-old bay mare; bred in Kentucky; 123 #
My choices: Silentio (a grandson of Sunday Silence); Ambitious Brew, ridden by Mike Smith; Marchman, with Kent Desormeaux in the irons; Undrafted, with John R Velasquez in the saddle, and owned by Denver Broncos player Wes Welker; and No Nay Never under the guidance of Frankie Dettori.
With American Pharoah out of the Juvenile, eleven 2-year-old colts and one ridgling will carry 122 pounds each over 1 and 1/16 miles on the main dirt track for a purse of $2 million. Upstart was bred in New York (and is the ridgling); Lucky Player and Calculator are Florida-breds; the other nine were bred in Kentucky. Calculator is a grey (roan); Mr. Z is a chestnut; Carpe Diem and Daredevil are listed as chestnuts, but their photos show a black mane, tail and legs - which would make them bays; the others are listed as bays and dark browns. My picks are: Private Prospect; Texas Red ridden by Kent Desormeaux; Mr. Z, with Mike Smith in the saddle and trained by D Wayne Lukas; Upstart, and One Lucky Dane.
The one and 1/2 mile Turf race is open to both sexes, and all ages. All males, aged 4, 5 and 6 years will carry 126 pounds, while the 4-ear-old filly Chicquita will haul 123 pounds, contesting for the $3 million purse. Magician, the defending champion, is scratched due to lameness,which leaves a field of twelve. Telescope and the filly Chicquita were bred in Ireland; Brown Panther and Flintshire are from Great Britain; Big John B is a Florida-bred; Hangover Kid was bred in New York; Starspangled Heat is from California; and the other five entries were bred in Kentucky. Imagining, Starspangled Heat and Main Sequence are chestnuts, the other runners are bays. My picks: Telescope, Twilight Eclipse, Flintshire and Big John B.
The $1.5 million Sprint covers 6 furlongs (3/4 mile)and is a weight for age and sex race. Secret Circle is back to defend his championship. Once again I'll list the post positions and information.
1. Seeking the Sherif 5-year-old dark bay gelding; Kentucky bred; 126 #
2. Indianapolis 3-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 124 #
3. Wind Fire 3-year-old filly; Kentucky bred; 121 #
4. Secret Circle 5-year-old bay horse; Kentucky bred; 126 #
5. Private Zone 5-year-old bay gelding; bred in Ontario, Canada; 126 #
6. Rich Tapestry 6-year-old bay gelding; bred in Ireland; 126 #
7. Mico Margarita 4-year-old chestnut colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
8. Palace 5-year-old bay horse; bred in New York; 126 #
9. Salutos Amigos 4-year-old bay gelding; Kentucky bred; 126 #
10. Big Macher 4-year-old bay gelding; Bred in California; 126 #
11. Bakken 4-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
12. Fast Anna 3-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 124 #
13. Work All Week 5-year-old chestnut gelding; bred in Illinois; 126 #
14. Bourbon Courage 5-year-old bay horse; Kentucky bred; 126 #
In this race, my picks are: Wind Fire, the filly; Rich Tapestry; Palace; Bakken under Gary Stevens; Indianapolis with Mike Smith; and Bourbon Courage.
The Breeders Cup Mile is run on the grass for a $2 million purse. With Wise Dan, the two-time defending champion sidelined by injury, the race is wide open. This is a weight for age and sex race; entrants are aged three to six, and are of both sexes. Six of the entries are Kentucky-bred; eight are from other countries. This makes for yet another listing...
1. Grand Arch 5-year-old bay gelding; Kentucky bred; 126 #
2. Obviously 6-year-old bay gelding; bred in Ireland; 126 #
3. Veda 3-year-old bay filly; bred in France; 120 #
4. Mustajeeb 3-year-old chestnut colt; bred in Great Britain; 123 #
5. Toronado 4-year-old bay colt; bred in Ireland; 126 #
6. Tom's Tribute 4-year-old chestnut colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
7. Kaigun 4-year-old chestnut gelding; bred in Ontario, Canada; 126 #
8. Trade Storm 6-year-old bay horse; bred in Great Britain; 126 #
9. Anodin 4-year-old bay colt; bred in Ireland; 126 #
10. Summer Front 5-year-old bay horse; Kentucky bred; 126 #
11. Sayaad 4-year-old bay colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
12. Seek Again 4-year-old chestnut colt; Kentucky bred; 126 #
13. Tourist 3-year-old dark bay colt; Kentucky bred; 123 #
14. Karakontie 3-year-old bay colt; bred in Japan; 123 #
I really like the looks and breeding of Toronado, but he's the early betting favorite - so here are my picks: Veda, the 3-year-old French filly; Anodin, the brother of Goldikova; Summer Front; Tourist under the guidance of Rosie Napravnik; and Karakontie, the Japan-born grandson of Sunday Silence.
The early betting favorite for the $5 million Classic is Shared Belief, a 3-year-old dark brown gelding, who won the Breeders Cup Juvenile last year. He looks impressive, has a Cryptoclearance and Northern Dancer pedigree, and will have Mike Smith in the saddle. I'd like for him to win, but I like longer shots on the tote board. There is a full field of fourteen horses; 7 of them are 3-year-olds and will carry 122 pounds; the other seven entries are aged four to six, and will carry 126 pounds. California Chrome has not been in the winner's circle since the Preakness in May; he is the only California bred and carries 122 pounds. Zivo is a 5-year-old bay horse bred in New York; all other entries were bred in Kentucky. All of the horses are bays, except California Chrome and V. E. Day, who are chestnuts. The other five youngsters getting a 4 pound weight break are: V. E. Day, Bayern, Toast of New York, Tonalist, and Candy Boy.Since Shared Belief is the betting favorite, my picks are: Prayer for Relief, Toast of New York, Candy Boy under Corey Nakatani, Majestic Harbor with Tyler Baze in the irons, and Moreno with Javier Castellano up.
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Saturday's Breeder Cup Races
Here is information regarding the nine Breeders Cup races on Saturday, 1 November. All will have live coverage; the first eight will be carried on the NBC Sports Network, while the last race, the Breeders Cup Classic, with a purse of $5 million, will be carried on local NBC stations. This information includes the post position for the race start, the name of the horse, and the morning betting odds.
The Juvenile Fillies has a purse of $2 million, and covers 1 and 1/16 miles on the main (dirt) track. There are twelve fillies entered:
1. Feathered 8 to 1
2. Angela Renee 3 to 1
3. Danette 20 to 1
4. Conquest Eclipse 4 to 1
5. Cristina's Journey 6 to 1
6. Take Charge Brandi 30 to 1
7. Majestic Presence 20 to 1
8. Puca 6 to 1
9. Hennythelovepenny 20 to 1
10. Wonder Gal 12 to 1
11. Top Decile 10 to 1
12. By the Moon 6 to 1
The 1 and 1/4 mile Fillies & Mares Turf, with a $2 million purse drew eleven entries. Dank, last year's winner is running again this year.
1. Abaco 15 to 1
2. Just the Judge 5 to 1
3. Dank 5 to 2
4. Dayatthespa 8 to 1
5. Secret Gesture 6 to 1
6. Fiesolana 8 to 1
7. Emollient 12 to 1
8. Irish Mission 20 to 1
9. Parranda 20 to 1
10. Stephanie's Kitten 3 to 1
11. Rusty Slipper 20 to 1
The seven furlong Fillies & Mares Sprint for $1 million has ten entries:
1. Sweet Reason 9 to 2
2. Little Alexis 15 to 1
3. Stonetastic 8 to 1
4. Thank You Marylou 20 to 1
5. Artemis Agrotera 3 to 1
6. Leigh Court 4 to 1
7. Judy the Beauty 5 to 2
8. Better Lucky 15 to 1
9. Living the Life 12 to 1
10. Southern Honey 20 to 1
The Turf Sprint champion of the past two years, Mizdirection, has been retired. There are 14 entrants and two alternate entries hoping to win the 6 1/2 furlong $1 million race this year:
1. Reneesgotzip 5 to 1
2. Silentio 8 to 1
3. Sweet Swap 12 to 1
4. Tightend Touchdown 8 to 1
5. Ambitious Brew 12 to 1
6. Bobby's Kitten 10 to 1
7. Marchman 12 to 1
8. Something Extra 20 to 1
9. Free as a Bird 15 to 1
10. Home Run Kitten 12 to 1
11. Undrafted 8 to 1
12. Dimension 12 to 1
13. Caspar Netscher 10 to 1
14. No Nay Never 9 to 2
AE Ageless 20 to 1
AE Za Approval 20 to 1
The Juvenile Colts run 1 and 1/16 miles for $2 million in purse money. The pre-race favorite, American Pharoah, drew post 5 and had odds of 2 to 1. He is lame today, and a deep bruise is suspected in his off fore. He has been scratched from the race.
1. Calculator 15 to 1
2. Private Prospect 30 to 1
3. Blue Dancer 30 to 1
4. The Great War 12 to 1
5. American Pharoah 2 to 1
6. Lucky Player 30 to 1
7. Texas Red 20 to 1
8. Souper Colossal 12 to 1
9. Carpe Diem 4 to 1
10. Mr. Z 20 to 1
11. One Lucky Dane 10 to 1
12. Daredevil 7 to 2
13. Upstart 4 to 1
The 1 and 1/2 mile Turf has a purse of $3 million. Last year's winner, Magician, is in the field of thirteen runners.
1. Telescope 4 to 1
2. Twilight Eclipse 12 to 1
3. Imagining 12 to 1
4. Brown Panther 8 to 1
5. Hangover Kid 30 to 1
6. Finnegans Wake 30 to 1
7. Flintshire 7 to 2
8. Magician 5 to 1
9. Hardest Core 10 to 1
10. Starspangled Heat 30 to 1
11. Chicquita 8 to 1
12. Main Sequence 6 to 1
13. Big John B 20 to 1
The Sprint is run on the main dirt track, covering 6 furlongs, and has a purse of $1.5 million. Secret Circle, last year's champion, is back to defend his title. There is a full field of 14, plus two alternate entries for this race.
1. Seeking the Sherif 20 to 1
2. Indianapolis 12 to 1
3. Wind Fire 30 to 1
4. Secret Circle 9 to 2
5. Private Zone 6 to 1
6. Rich Tapestry 5 to 1
7. Mico Margarita 15 to 1
8. Palace 6 to 1
9. Salutos Amigos 6 to 1
10. Big Macher 12 to 1
11. Bakken 10 to 1
12. Fast Anna 12 to 1
13. Work All Week 10 to 1
14. Bourbon Courage 30 to 1
AE Bahamian Squall 20 to 1
AE Indexical 30 to 1
Wise Dan, who won the last two runnings of the Mile, has a fractured cannon bone and is resting before returning to the races. This $2 million race is wide open without the champion present. There are fourteen entries and one alternate.
1. Grand Arch 20 to 1
2. Obviously 8 to 1
3. Veda 12 to 1
4. Mustajeeb 6 to 1
5. Toronado 5 to 2
6. Tom's Tribute 15 to 1
7. Kaigun 20 to 1
8. Trade Storm 12 to 1
9. Anodin 6 to 1
10. Summer Front 30 to 1
11. Sayaad 30 to 1
12. Seek Again 6 to 1
13. Tourist 12 to 1
14. Karakontie 10 to 1
AE Mr. Commons 30 to 1
The $5 million Breeders Cup Classic is run at the American classic distance, 1 and 1/4 miles, on the main dirt track. This race has a full field of 14, plus one alternate entry. Both the winner and the runner-up last year, Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge, have retired to stud. Shared Belief, the early betting favorite, won the Breeders Cup Juvenile last year. California Chrome, who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, is also entered.
1. Prayer For Relief 30 to 1
2. Cigar Street 12 to 1
3. Imperative 30 to 1
4. Moreno 20 to 1
5. V. E. Day 20 to 1
6. Shared Belief 9 to 5
7. Bayern 6 to 1
8. Zivo 15 to 1
9. Toast of New York 12 to 1
10. Footbridge 30 to 1
11. Tonalist 5 to 1
12. Candy Boy 20 to 1
13. California Chrome 4 to 1
14. Majestic Harbor 20 to 1
AE Big Casanova (no odds listed)
If you'd like more information on the horses and their connections, plus either a 3 or 5 generation pedigree view, please visit The Bloodhorse website at http://www.bloodhorse.com and click on the Breeders Cup tab. Then you can click on the race tab, and then click on the horse's name...
The Juvenile Fillies has a purse of $2 million, and covers 1 and 1/16 miles on the main (dirt) track. There are twelve fillies entered:
1. Feathered 8 to 1
2. Angela Renee 3 to 1
3. Danette 20 to 1
4. Conquest Eclipse 4 to 1
5. Cristina's Journey 6 to 1
6. Take Charge Brandi 30 to 1
7. Majestic Presence 20 to 1
8. Puca 6 to 1
9. Hennythelovepenny 20 to 1
10. Wonder Gal 12 to 1
11. Top Decile 10 to 1
12. By the Moon 6 to 1
The 1 and 1/4 mile Fillies & Mares Turf, with a $2 million purse drew eleven entries. Dank, last year's winner is running again this year.
1. Abaco 15 to 1
2. Just the Judge 5 to 1
3. Dank 5 to 2
4. Dayatthespa 8 to 1
5. Secret Gesture 6 to 1
6. Fiesolana 8 to 1
7. Emollient 12 to 1
8. Irish Mission 20 to 1
9. Parranda 20 to 1
10. Stephanie's Kitten 3 to 1
11. Rusty Slipper 20 to 1
The seven furlong Fillies & Mares Sprint for $1 million has ten entries:
1. Sweet Reason 9 to 2
2. Little Alexis 15 to 1
3. Stonetastic 8 to 1
4. Thank You Marylou 20 to 1
5. Artemis Agrotera 3 to 1
6. Leigh Court 4 to 1
7. Judy the Beauty 5 to 2
8. Better Lucky 15 to 1
9. Living the Life 12 to 1
10. Southern Honey 20 to 1
The Turf Sprint champion of the past two years, Mizdirection, has been retired. There are 14 entrants and two alternate entries hoping to win the 6 1/2 furlong $1 million race this year:
1. Reneesgotzip 5 to 1
2. Silentio 8 to 1
3. Sweet Swap 12 to 1
4. Tightend Touchdown 8 to 1
5. Ambitious Brew 12 to 1
6. Bobby's Kitten 10 to 1
7. Marchman 12 to 1
8. Something Extra 20 to 1
9. Free as a Bird 15 to 1
10. Home Run Kitten 12 to 1
11. Undrafted 8 to 1
12. Dimension 12 to 1
13. Caspar Netscher 10 to 1
14. No Nay Never 9 to 2
AE Ageless 20 to 1
AE Za Approval 20 to 1
The Juvenile Colts run 1 and 1/16 miles for $2 million in purse money. The pre-race favorite, American Pharoah, drew post 5 and had odds of 2 to 1. He is lame today, and a deep bruise is suspected in his off fore. He has been scratched from the race.
1. Calculator 15 to 1
2. Private Prospect 30 to 1
3. Blue Dancer 30 to 1
4. The Great War 12 to 1
6. Lucky Player 30 to 1
7. Texas Red 20 to 1
8. Souper Colossal 12 to 1
9. Carpe Diem 4 to 1
10. Mr. Z 20 to 1
11. One Lucky Dane 10 to 1
12. Daredevil 7 to 2
13. Upstart 4 to 1
The 1 and 1/2 mile Turf has a purse of $3 million. Last year's winner, Magician, is in the field of thirteen runners.
1. Telescope 4 to 1
2. Twilight Eclipse 12 to 1
3. Imagining 12 to 1
4. Brown Panther 8 to 1
5. Hangover Kid 30 to 1
6. Finnegans Wake 30 to 1
7. Flintshire 7 to 2
8. Magician 5 to 1
9. Hardest Core 10 to 1
10. Starspangled Heat 30 to 1
11. Chicquita 8 to 1
12. Main Sequence 6 to 1
13. Big John B 20 to 1
The Sprint is run on the main dirt track, covering 6 furlongs, and has a purse of $1.5 million. Secret Circle, last year's champion, is back to defend his title. There is a full field of 14, plus two alternate entries for this race.
1. Seeking the Sherif 20 to 1
2. Indianapolis 12 to 1
3. Wind Fire 30 to 1
4. Secret Circle 9 to 2
5. Private Zone 6 to 1
6. Rich Tapestry 5 to 1
7. Mico Margarita 15 to 1
8. Palace 6 to 1
9. Salutos Amigos 6 to 1
10. Big Macher 12 to 1
11. Bakken 10 to 1
12. Fast Anna 12 to 1
13. Work All Week 10 to 1
14. Bourbon Courage 30 to 1
AE Bahamian Squall 20 to 1
AE Indexical 30 to 1
Wise Dan, who won the last two runnings of the Mile, has a fractured cannon bone and is resting before returning to the races. This $2 million race is wide open without the champion present. There are fourteen entries and one alternate.
1. Grand Arch 20 to 1
2. Obviously 8 to 1
3. Veda 12 to 1
4. Mustajeeb 6 to 1
5. Toronado 5 to 2
6. Tom's Tribute 15 to 1
7. Kaigun 20 to 1
8. Trade Storm 12 to 1
9. Anodin 6 to 1
10. Summer Front 30 to 1
11. Sayaad 30 to 1
12. Seek Again 6 to 1
13. Tourist 12 to 1
14. Karakontie 10 to 1
AE Mr. Commons 30 to 1
The $5 million Breeders Cup Classic is run at the American classic distance, 1 and 1/4 miles, on the main dirt track. This race has a full field of 14, plus one alternate entry. Both the winner and the runner-up last year, Mucho Macho Man and Will Take Charge, have retired to stud. Shared Belief, the early betting favorite, won the Breeders Cup Juvenile last year. California Chrome, who won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, is also entered.
1. Prayer For Relief 30 to 1
2. Cigar Street 12 to 1
3. Imperative 30 to 1
4. Moreno 20 to 1
5. V. E. Day 20 to 1
6. Shared Belief 9 to 5
7. Bayern 6 to 1
8. Zivo 15 to 1
9. Toast of New York 12 to 1
10. Footbridge 30 to 1
11. Tonalist 5 to 1
12. Candy Boy 20 to 1
13. California Chrome 4 to 1
14. Majestic Harbor 20 to 1
AE Big Casanova (no odds listed)
If you'd like more information on the horses and their connections, plus either a 3 or 5 generation pedigree view, please visit The Bloodhorse website at http://www.bloodhorse.com and click on the Breeders Cup tab. Then you can click on the race tab, and then click on the horse's name...
Friday's Breeder Cup Races
The four Breeders Cup races on Friday will be the Juvenile Turf, the Dirt Mile, the Juvenile Fillies Turf (all run at a mile in distance, for a purse of $1 million apiece) and the Distaff for Fillies and Mares, run at a mile and an eighth, for a purse of $2 million. Taped coverage will be shown on the NBC Sports Network Friday evening/night; the nine races run on Saturday will have live coverage.More information regarding each race, including pedigrees and racing history, may be viewed at The Bloodhorse website at http://www.bloodhorse.com/
The first Breeders Cup race will be the Juvenile Turf; there are 14 entrants and 2 alternate entries, in case of a late scratch. Listed are Post position, name of the horse, and morning betting odds.
1. Wet Sail 15 to 1
2. Daddy D T 15 to 1
3. Luck of the Kitten 8 to 1
4. Commemorative 8 to 1
5. Hootenanny 3 to 1
6. Conquest Typhoon 12 to 1
7. War Envoy 9 to 2
8. Offering Plan 20 to 1
9. Aktabantay 12 to 1
10. Startup Nation 12 to 1
11. Imperia 6 to 1
12. International Star 15 to 1
13. Lawn Ranger 20 to 1
14. Danny Boy 20 to 1
AE Faithful Creek 20 to 1
AE Pappacoolpappacool 30 to 1
There are 10 entries in the Dirt Mile, including Goldencents, who won the race last year:
1. Goldencents 6 to 5
2. Carve 15 to 1
3. Vicar's In Trouble 12 to 1
4. Pants On Fire 6 to 1
5. Handsome Mike 30 to 1
6. Golden Ticket 15 to 1
7. Bronzo 12 to 2
8. Fed Biz 7 to 2
9. Tapiture 6 to 1
10. Big Bane Theory 15 to 1
In the Juvenile Fillies Turf, there are 14 entrants and 2 alternate entries:
1. Partisan Politics 15 to 1
2. Osaila 5 to 1
3. Sunset Glow 7 to 2
4. Lady Eli 6 to 1
5. Isabella Sings 12 to 1
6. Sivoliere 12 to 1
7. Rainha Da Bateria 12 to 1
8. Nicky's Miss Brown 20 to 1
9. Lady Zuzu 15 to 1
10. Quality Rock 20 to 1
11. Conquest Harlanate 10 to 1
12. Tammy the Torpedo 12 to 1
13. Prize Exhibit 20 to 1
14. Qualify 5 to 1
AE Flying Tipat 20 to 1
AE War Alert 20 to 1
The Distaff will be missing Beholder, who still has some inflammation in her lungs after spiking a fever last week. Without last year's winner, there are 11 entries:
1. L'Amour de Ma Vie 15 to 1
2. Tiz Midnight 10 to 1
3. Iotapa 6 to 1
4. Belle Gallantey 6 to 1
5. Unbridled Forever 20 to 1
6. Stanwyck 20 to 1
7. Don't Tell Sophia 5 to 1
8. Valiant Emilia 20 to 1
9. Ria Antonia 15 to 1
10. Untapable 5 to 2
11. Close Hatches 3 to 1
The first Breeders Cup race will be the Juvenile Turf; there are 14 entrants and 2 alternate entries, in case of a late scratch. Listed are Post position, name of the horse, and morning betting odds.
1. Wet Sail 15 to 1
2. Daddy D T 15 to 1
3. Luck of the Kitten 8 to 1
4. Commemorative 8 to 1
5. Hootenanny 3 to 1
6. Conquest Typhoon 12 to 1
7. War Envoy 9 to 2
8. Offering Plan 20 to 1
9. Aktabantay 12 to 1
10. Startup Nation 12 to 1
11. Imperia 6 to 1
12. International Star 15 to 1
13. Lawn Ranger 20 to 1
14. Danny Boy 20 to 1
AE Faithful Creek 20 to 1
AE Pappacoolpappacool 30 to 1
There are 10 entries in the Dirt Mile, including Goldencents, who won the race last year:
1. Goldencents 6 to 5
2. Carve 15 to 1
3. Vicar's In Trouble 12 to 1
4. Pants On Fire 6 to 1
5. Handsome Mike 30 to 1
6. Golden Ticket 15 to 1
7. Bronzo 12 to 2
8. Fed Biz 7 to 2
9. Tapiture 6 to 1
10. Big Bane Theory 15 to 1
In the Juvenile Fillies Turf, there are 14 entrants and 2 alternate entries:
1. Partisan Politics 15 to 1
2. Osaila 5 to 1
3. Sunset Glow 7 to 2
4. Lady Eli 6 to 1
5. Isabella Sings 12 to 1
6. Sivoliere 12 to 1
7. Rainha Da Bateria 12 to 1
8. Nicky's Miss Brown 20 to 1
9. Lady Zuzu 15 to 1
10. Quality Rock 20 to 1
11. Conquest Harlanate 10 to 1
12. Tammy the Torpedo 12 to 1
13. Prize Exhibit 20 to 1
14. Qualify 5 to 1
AE Flying Tipat 20 to 1
AE War Alert 20 to 1
The Distaff will be missing Beholder, who still has some inflammation in her lungs after spiking a fever last week. Without last year's winner, there are 11 entries:
1. L'Amour de Ma Vie 15 to 1
2. Tiz Midnight 10 to 1
3. Iotapa 6 to 1
4. Belle Gallantey 6 to 1
5. Unbridled Forever 20 to 1
6. Stanwyck 20 to 1
7. Don't Tell Sophia 5 to 1
8. Valiant Emilia 20 to 1
9. Ria Antonia 15 to 1
10. Untapable 5 to 2
11. Close Hatches 3 to 1
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Warmth and Football
Boulder has just seen two days with the high temperatures 20 degrees warmer than normal - we've been in the low 80s instead of the low 60s. We had a temperature of 70 degrees at 9 this morning - but our high temp tomorrow is expected to be 52, the Monday night's low around freezing. Yuck. Our plants don't know what to do - there are daffodils and iris getting ready to bloom. Brother-in-law Jim is still gathering 5 pints of ripe raspberries every afternoon (and that's after I eat them off the canes for breakfast each weekday). Lovey and Nedi have been enjoying the sunshine and warmth - and the squirrels are getting quite plump. Lovey is sprawled across the foot of my bed at the moment, while Nedi is stretched out on the patio, absorbing the sun's rays.
Yesterday was Homecoming for the CU Buffs here in Boulder - and they had to play UCLA. I have to admit that I expected a blow-out by UCLA - but the game went to two over times, and CU lost by a field goal. I had much higher hopes for the South Carolina Gamecocks playing at Auburn - even though SC hadn't won at Jordan-Hare Stadium, ever. And the Gamecocks scored first! The only problem was that two of Dylan Thompson's passes were intercepted - the last one in the end zone that would have tied the scores at 42. There was less than a minute left, and Auburn kept running the ball, making sure that the Gamecocks couldn't get the pigskin in their hands.... *Sigh* It would have been wonderful if Steve Spurrier could have won that game! Thankfully, the Gators had a bye, and so I didn't have to watch their inept efforts. I don't think Will Muschamp will be the head coach next year...
I'm starting to get excited about the Breeders Cup races at the end of this week. As soon as the entries and fields are known, I'll be commenting on them.
Yesterday was Homecoming for the CU Buffs here in Boulder - and they had to play UCLA. I have to admit that I expected a blow-out by UCLA - but the game went to two over times, and CU lost by a field goal. I had much higher hopes for the South Carolina Gamecocks playing at Auburn - even though SC hadn't won at Jordan-Hare Stadium, ever. And the Gamecocks scored first! The only problem was that two of Dylan Thompson's passes were intercepted - the last one in the end zone that would have tied the scores at 42. There was less than a minute left, and Auburn kept running the ball, making sure that the Gamecocks couldn't get the pigskin in their hands.... *Sigh* It would have been wonderful if Steve Spurrier could have won that game! Thankfully, the Gators had a bye, and so I didn't have to watch their inept efforts. I don't think Will Muschamp will be the head coach next year...
I'm starting to get excited about the Breeders Cup races at the end of this week. As soon as the entries and fields are known, I'll be commenting on them.
Friday, October 17, 2014
Reading, Etcetera
Thanks to the suggestion of a friend, I have just finished reading five excellent books... I read the first three books in the Maisie Dobbs series, by Jacqueline Winspear. They are very thoughtful, in depth mysteries set in England between the two World Wars. They are very good. I was also greatly impressed by two new authors - Julia Keller and Laura McHugh. Both of their books were set in small, isolated towns - one in West Virginia, one in Missouri - and they were great studies of undercurrents that can be seen and felt in any small inclusive community. I'm looking forward to reading more by all three authors... (Cousin Sarah, the one set in Missouri mentions Springfield and Howell County several times!)
Saturday is International Archaeology Day - dig in and learn something about your past!
Saturday is International Archaeology Day - dig in and learn something about your past!
Today marks two weeks from the Breeders Cup Races - they will be held on 31 October and 1 November this year at Santa Anita Racetrack in Los Angeles, California. NBC Sports Network will have three hours of coverage on Friday, and four and a half hours on Saturday. This leads up to the "main broadcast" from 8 to 9 p.m. (Eastern Time) of the final two races of the Breeders Cup on NBC. It's your chance to see some of the best racing thoroughbreds in the world.
And, wow, I really could not have guessed what Viola Davis' last nine lines on How To Get Away With Murder would be - definitely not what they were!
Friday, August 8, 2014
Running....
Still running around like a maniac, but I've added two more client families to my list - one is a block away from Githens Acres, my usual stomping ground, and one is 3.5 miles east-northeast from there. One family has two cats, one has two dogs, and both are referrals from long-time clients. How nice. Meeting the cats, I asked if either of the owners knew that Pounce had an abscess on his back - they were horrified, and the vet saw the cat in the afternoon, drained the spot and put the cat on antibiotics. (Both neutered male cats are indoor/outdoor cats and are territorial regarding their yard.) The dogs are female Brittany Spaniels and are very loving and human-oriented. And I found a new place for the dogs I care for to be able to swim freely - Twin Lakes has one on-leash lake and one off-leash lake, so all doggies and owners can be happy.
I miss my kits terribly. Even though I'm seeing them twice a day for the next couple of weeks. Lovey climbs up on my shoulder as soon as I enter the house and spends at least 15 minutes there, marking me and drooling. Nedi comes when I'm working on the computer and wants to be scratched and snuggled with. I've been home for 90 minutes and Nedi is out in the back yard, while Lovey is lying in her chair, watching me, and occasionally talking to me and kneading her towel. Yesterday we managed a 70 minute nap with Lovey on my left and Nedi on my right... It certainly was refreshing!
I still have a lot of Pony Penning photos that I need to down-load and sort through - and I finally received the three inter-library loan books I requested a week ago. I also have C J Cherryh's latest Foreigner series book on order - it should arrive on Tuesday at the latest. .... The thoroughbred racing folks are beginning to concentrate on the Breeders Cup Races, that will be held on the first weekend in November.
And I certainly enjoyed the Broncos-Seahawks game last night. I know that it was only a pre-season game, but it was nice to beat the team that whipped our butts in the Superbowl. It made the game just that much sweeter... Even though I do miss seeing Champ Bailey and Eric Decker. I wish them both the best of luck with their new teams.
I miss my kits terribly. Even though I'm seeing them twice a day for the next couple of weeks. Lovey climbs up on my shoulder as soon as I enter the house and spends at least 15 minutes there, marking me and drooling. Nedi comes when I'm working on the computer and wants to be scratched and snuggled with. I've been home for 90 minutes and Nedi is out in the back yard, while Lovey is lying in her chair, watching me, and occasionally talking to me and kneading her towel. Yesterday we managed a 70 minute nap with Lovey on my left and Nedi on my right... It certainly was refreshing!
I still have a lot of Pony Penning photos that I need to down-load and sort through - and I finally received the three inter-library loan books I requested a week ago. I also have C J Cherryh's latest Foreigner series book on order - it should arrive on Tuesday at the latest. .... The thoroughbred racing folks are beginning to concentrate on the Breeders Cup Races, that will be held on the first weekend in November.
And I certainly enjoyed the Broncos-Seahawks game last night. I know that it was only a pre-season game, but it was nice to beat the team that whipped our butts in the Superbowl. It made the game just that much sweeter... Even though I do miss seeing Champ Bailey and Eric Decker. I wish them both the best of luck with their new teams.
Monday, November 4, 2013
Saturday's Breeders Cup Results
The first Breeders Cup race on Saturday was the Juvenile Fillies - two tragedies occurred, tied to one another, and a long shot won the race. The tragic events - the breakdown of Bob Baffert trainee Secret Compass during the race and the fall of jockey John Velasquez. Secret Compass continued to run after a catastrophic ankle injury, and in doing so, destroyed her blood supply to her hoof; she had to be destroyed. John Velasquez landed hard and was stepped on by trailing horses. He grasped his left forearm and was holding it closely to his side, so most of us viewers thought he had a broken arm - he had a ruptured spleen, which had to be removed later in the day. John is in "comfortable" condition today. Due to a disqualification for drifting out and brushing in the stretch, Ria Antonia was declared the winner, while She's a Tiger was placed second. Rosalind ended up in third. The payoffs (for a $2 bet) were: $66.60 for the win, $6.40 for the place (second), and $6.80 for the show (third). The $2 exacta paid $739.20.
Dank, bred in Great Britain was the betting favorite in the $2 million Fillies and Mares Turf, and she deserved to be. She won, followed by Romantica, also bred in Great Britain, and third was Alterite, bred in France. The payoffs were: $5, $5.20, and $7; the exacta paid $23.20.
In the Fillies and Mares Sprint, Groupie Doll won a repeat, with Judy the Beauty in second, and Dance Card running third. The payoffs were: $8, $9.20, and $4.80; the exacta paid $58.
The Turf Sprint saw a rare Deat Heat for second place, which caused odd payoffs. Mizdirection won the race (under jockey Mike Smith), and Reneesgotzip and Tightend Touchdown crossed the finish line at the same instant behind her. The payoffs were: $7.20 for Mizdirection, Reneesgotzip paid $3.60, and Tightend Touchdown paid $8.60. If you had a $2 exacta ticket on Mizdirection and Reneesgotzip, it paid $19.40; if your exacta was Mizdirection and Tightend Touchdown, you got $66.60.
The Juvenile was wide open - and lightly noted New Year's Day made the best of it, beating Havana and Strong Mandate. The payoffs were: $23, $4.60, and $6; the exacta paid $107.80.
In the Turf, the betting favorite was The Fugue, and Irish-bred mare. I liked Magician more(also an Irish horse), and bet on him to win with The Fugue in second. That's the way they finished, with Indy Point in third. The payoffs were: $27, $4.40 and $5.40, with the exacta paying $73.40.
The Sprint, with a purse of $1.5 million ran next. I bet on Laugh Track in this race. The winner was Secret Circle, with Laugh Track second, and Gentlemen's Bet third. The payoffs were: $7, $13.40, and $7; with the exacta paying $100.80.
I was a believer in Wise Dan in the Mile, even though he lost his last race. He roared back, and defeated Za Approval and Silentio. The payoffs were: $3.60, $8.40, and $9; with the exacta returning $33.60.
In the $5 million Classic, the field, again, seemed wide open - so many excellent horses. I have to admit I bet on three to win, and then combined the three in my exacta betting. I wanted Declaration of War to win just because Joseph O'Brien was riding, and the lanky (6 feet tall) kid is outgrowing thoroughbred flat racing weights. The winner was Mucho Macho Man, with Will Take Charge in second and Declaration of War in third. The payoffs were: $10, $7.20, and $4.80; with the exacta paying $73.
I finished betting in the black - I started out with $50, and ended up with $690.80. I don't think I did too bad, considering each bet I made was only $2.....
Dank, bred in Great Britain was the betting favorite in the $2 million Fillies and Mares Turf, and she deserved to be. She won, followed by Romantica, also bred in Great Britain, and third was Alterite, bred in France. The payoffs were: $5, $5.20, and $7; the exacta paid $23.20.
In the Fillies and Mares Sprint, Groupie Doll won a repeat, with Judy the Beauty in second, and Dance Card running third. The payoffs were: $8, $9.20, and $4.80; the exacta paid $58.
The Turf Sprint saw a rare Deat Heat for second place, which caused odd payoffs. Mizdirection won the race (under jockey Mike Smith), and Reneesgotzip and Tightend Touchdown crossed the finish line at the same instant behind her. The payoffs were: $7.20 for Mizdirection, Reneesgotzip paid $3.60, and Tightend Touchdown paid $8.60. If you had a $2 exacta ticket on Mizdirection and Reneesgotzip, it paid $19.40; if your exacta was Mizdirection and Tightend Touchdown, you got $66.60.
The Juvenile was wide open - and lightly noted New Year's Day made the best of it, beating Havana and Strong Mandate. The payoffs were: $23, $4.60, and $6; the exacta paid $107.80.
In the Turf, the betting favorite was The Fugue, and Irish-bred mare. I liked Magician more(also an Irish horse), and bet on him to win with The Fugue in second. That's the way they finished, with Indy Point in third. The payoffs were: $27, $4.40 and $5.40, with the exacta paying $73.40.
The Sprint, with a purse of $1.5 million ran next. I bet on Laugh Track in this race. The winner was Secret Circle, with Laugh Track second, and Gentlemen's Bet third. The payoffs were: $7, $13.40, and $7; with the exacta paying $100.80.
I was a believer in Wise Dan in the Mile, even though he lost his last race. He roared back, and defeated Za Approval and Silentio. The payoffs were: $3.60, $8.40, and $9; with the exacta returning $33.60.
In the $5 million Classic, the field, again, seemed wide open - so many excellent horses. I have to admit I bet on three to win, and then combined the three in my exacta betting. I wanted Declaration of War to win just because Joseph O'Brien was riding, and the lanky (6 feet tall) kid is outgrowing thoroughbred flat racing weights. The winner was Mucho Macho Man, with Will Take Charge in second and Declaration of War in third. The payoffs were: $10, $7.20, and $4.80; with the exacta paying $73.
I finished betting in the black - I started out with $50, and ended up with $690.80. I don't think I did too bad, considering each bet I made was only $2.....
Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Words - And a Few Bits
The few bits first off... Jockey Mike Smith will ride in thirteen of the fourteen Breeders Cup Championship races this weekend, and I'll be cheering him on. ... Graydar, one of the early favorites in the BC Dirt Mile, will not be running in the race. He was found to have a quarter-crack in his left fore yesterday morning. ... And, here in Colorado, an 18-month-old paint colt, named Rocket, is earning the nickname "Accident." Before his first birthday, he somehow became trapped on his side underneath a parked horse trailer in his pasture; then he got tangled up in a wire fence. Yesterday morning, he was found upside down in a water well, having opened the gate to his paddock and gone exploring. The colt was rescued, after being sedated, and, other than some scrapes and bruises, seems to be well. This photo was taken of him being pulled out of the well:
Rocket was covered with blankets and massaged for warmth and to help with blood flow, and when he wanted to stand, was allowed to. He walked under his own power back to his stall, where one of his equine friends was standing to offer comfort. This morning, his owner reported that he was eating and drinking well.
***********
Words. Our language can be used to up-lift something (or some one) to an unbelievable glorified height, or to denigrate and bury the same thing (or person) in the lowest depths of antipathy. Certain words have become politically incorrect as times have changed, and I can accept the banning of words used as racial epithets. Words that were once commonly used are now offensive to those of certain races. I have never had to suffer from racial words, as I am most definitely "white" by classification... I have grey hair now, but it used to be reddish brown, and I have grey-green colored eyes, and a very pale skin that freckles and reddens in the sun. My ethnic background is, in the main, Swedish, Danish, and English (even though the English are and were a huge polyglot of peoples through the ages of history); and I do have a few drops of Native American in my blood, too. My 16th-great grandmother was a Native American; my 12th and 13th-great grandmothers were reputed to be Native Americans; and my great-grandmother might have been half Cherokee (her father had four wives, three white and one Cherokee - and Nancy's mother is not documented)...
I started writing this because of the calls of different people to change the name of a football team - the Washington Redskins. While actually based in Maryland, they are representative of our country's capitol, Washington, D. C. - and, thus, it can be expanded that the team itself represents all of the people who live in the United States of America. Personally, I do not find the name "Redskins" to be controversial, even though a great many people do. The first Europeans to venture to what is now the U S were "white" people; the native people they encountered had a darker cast to their skin,and frequently had broken blood vessels in their eyes. The "white" people called these native "red" people; then the "white" people brought "black" people to the Americas in ownership, as slaves. One of the interesting points of history is that all three of these peoples inter-married, at different times and in different places. We have never become a truly homogeneous people, and we probably never will, due to preconceived cultural and educational differences. But I feel we must "draw a line in the sand" somewhere - or we are going to have to invent a whole new language and vocabulary for the entire world to use. Because of our huge gene pool, I believe that there will always be differences in skin color and tone, as well as eye and hair color. Why can't we accept our differences and enjoy them?
As for the "Redskins" - I, personally, do not see the word as a "bad" word; it was used to differentiate. If we stop using the word Redskin or Indian in our everyday language, shouldn't we then not use any word that might have any connotation of Native Americans? We'd have to stop using the following words - chief, maiden, warrior, gatherer, loin cloth, breech cloth, leather, buckskin, bows, arrows, lance, spear, snare, trap, feather, totem, medicine man, shaman, grandmother, grandfather, maize, corn, corn meal, corn bread, corn mush, pop corn, squash, tobacco, peace pipe, pipe, hunter, etc, etc, etc ... Do you see what I mean?
If we follow through with banning the use of Redskins, then we should also ban the use of any color designation at all. You couldn't say, "I live in the green house on the right." You couldn't say that you owned a brown tabby cat, or a grey dog, or a spotted horse, or a white car... It just gets too restrictive. Again, I personally, don't find the word "Redskins" to be derogatory - but if you ask me about the "n-word," I'd say yes that is derogatory and an insult, in an instant, without any hesitation.
Monday, October 28, 2013
Breeders Cup Post Positions, Odds, Jockeys
If you're interested in the post position, jockey, and odds for the fourteen Breeders Cup races that will be run on Friday and Saturday, 1 and 2 November, please visit this site:
http://www.breederscup.com/sites/default/files/2013%20BCWC%20PostPosition.pdf
Again, if you'd like to know more about each horse, one can see all known information (and, usually, photos) about each entry by visiting The Bloodhorse website at: http://www.bloodhorse.com/ Scroll down to the green Breeders Cup area, and then down to the grey Breeders Cup Division line; under these are boxes that contain each race - by clicking on the race, you'll get a list of entrants. If you click on each entrant, you can view the horses "personal" information - a short biography of what humans the horse is associated with; an auction history, if the horse has been sold; and the horses' pedigree - I look at the expanded 5-generation record, myself.
Happy racing and betting on the Breeders Cup!
http://www.breederscup.com/sites/default/files/2013%20BCWC%20PostPosition.pdf
Again, if you'd like to know more about each horse, one can see all known information (and, usually, photos) about each entry by visiting The Bloodhorse website at: http://www.bloodhorse.com/ Scroll down to the green Breeders Cup area, and then down to the grey Breeders Cup Division line; under these are boxes that contain each race - by clicking on the race, you'll get a list of entrants. If you click on each entrant, you can view the horses "personal" information - a short biography of what humans the horse is associated with; an auction history, if the horse has been sold; and the horses' pedigree - I look at the expanded 5-generation record, myself.
Happy racing and betting on the Breeders Cup!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Gamecocks Football; Points Offthebench
A beautiful sunrise here in Boulder this morning - the sun painted the snow on the mountain peaks in shades of pink and purple - it was magnificent. Last night was CU's Homecoming game, with kick-off at 6 p.m. My kits were a little cranky because they wanted to go out and prowl, but I kept them inside until this morning. The apartment is a block and a half away from the CU football stadium, and the building owner charges for people to park in the unoccupied spaces - therefore, during home games, we have a lot of traffic and strangers in and around the building, and I'd rather be safe than sorry - especially with Halloween just a few days away.
But the poor Buffs - I was watching the South Carolina Gamecocks play at Missouri on TV, but could hear the crowd in the stadium. The Buffs had a 3 and 3 record going into the game - the best record they've had in many years - but they were playing Arizona. I could hear the crowd roaring and lots of noise through half-time,but after the third quarter kick-off, the stadium got more and more quiet. At halftime, Arizona was up by only 7 points (20 to 27), but the Buffs were not able to score again. The final score was 44 to 20. Ouch.
In the meantime, I was watching a heck of a game on the telly. Conner Shaw, the Gamecocks starting quarterback, was injured last week. He was cleared to play last night, but was favoring the sore leg. So Dylan Thompson was the designated quarterback. At the end of the third quarter, the Gamecocks were scoreless, while the Tigers had 17 points. (Last week I rooted for Mizzou over my Gators, but I wanted "the ol' ball coach," Steve Spurrier, to win last night.) Steve was seen speaking to Connor just before the end of the third quarter, and Shaw came out onto the field at the beginning of the fourth. At the end of 15 minutes, the score was tied at 17. At the end of the first Overtime, the score was tied at 24. In the second Overtime period, the Gamecocks could only get a field goal on the scoreboard. The Tigers sputtered toward the goal line, and on their last play, had to make a field goal to tie, and go into a third Overtime period. The poor young man who kicked the ball for the Tigers hit the lacings, and the ball bounced off the outside of the goalpost upright. SC won, 27 to 24. And it spoiled an unbeaten season for Mizzou.
The Gators didn't play yesterday, but I also saw the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the Ohio State Buckeyes win their games. Overall, it was a good football Saturday.
Today, the Denver Broncos play the Washington Redskins at Mile High Stadium - Mike Shanahan is back in the town that fired him. I like Mike. I like RGIII. I like John Fox. I like Peyton and his receiving corps. I have an awful feeling that I'll be rooting for both teams today...
******
Yesterday, one of the horses exercising for the Breeders Cup Championship races suffered a condylar fracture of his right fore fetlock. Points Offthebench was galloping under jockey Mike Smith, when the colt took a misstep and went down. Mike Smith fell easily and was unhurt. But the big grandson of Alydar was deemed to have an irreparable break, and was euthanized. Points Offthebench was scheduled to run in the Breeders Cup Sprint on 2 November.
But the poor Buffs - I was watching the South Carolina Gamecocks play at Missouri on TV, but could hear the crowd in the stadium. The Buffs had a 3 and 3 record going into the game - the best record they've had in many years - but they were playing Arizona. I could hear the crowd roaring and lots of noise through half-time,but after the third quarter kick-off, the stadium got more and more quiet. At halftime, Arizona was up by only 7 points (20 to 27), but the Buffs were not able to score again. The final score was 44 to 20. Ouch.
In the meantime, I was watching a heck of a game on the telly. Conner Shaw, the Gamecocks starting quarterback, was injured last week. He was cleared to play last night, but was favoring the sore leg. So Dylan Thompson was the designated quarterback. At the end of the third quarter, the Gamecocks were scoreless, while the Tigers had 17 points. (Last week I rooted for Mizzou over my Gators, but I wanted "the ol' ball coach," Steve Spurrier, to win last night.) Steve was seen speaking to Connor just before the end of the third quarter, and Shaw came out onto the field at the beginning of the fourth. At the end of 15 minutes, the score was tied at 17. At the end of the first Overtime, the score was tied at 24. In the second Overtime period, the Gamecocks could only get a field goal on the scoreboard. The Tigers sputtered toward the goal line, and on their last play, had to make a field goal to tie, and go into a third Overtime period. The poor young man who kicked the ball for the Tigers hit the lacings, and the ball bounced off the outside of the goalpost upright. SC won, 27 to 24. And it spoiled an unbeaten season for Mizzou.
The Gators didn't play yesterday, but I also saw the Oklahoma Sooners, the Oklahoma State Cowboys, and the Ohio State Buckeyes win their games. Overall, it was a good football Saturday.
Today, the Denver Broncos play the Washington Redskins at Mile High Stadium - Mike Shanahan is back in the town that fired him. I like Mike. I like RGIII. I like John Fox. I like Peyton and his receiving corps. I have an awful feeling that I'll be rooting for both teams today...
******
Yesterday, one of the horses exercising for the Breeders Cup Championship races suffered a condylar fracture of his right fore fetlock. Points Offthebench was galloping under jockey Mike Smith, when the colt took a misstep and went down. Mike Smith fell easily and was unhurt. But the big grandson of Alydar was deemed to have an irreparable break, and was euthanized. Points Offthebench was scheduled to run in the Breeders Cup Sprint on 2 November.
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Breeders Cup Information - Part 3
The final four races of the Breeders Cup Championship Races have a total combined purse of $11,500,00. Wouldn't all of us regular working stiffs love to have that money?
Again, horses designated with an * have won a Breeders Cup Challenge Race, and are guaranteed a post position in the starting gate.
The sixth race on Saturday, 2 November, will be the Breeders Cup Turf, a contest for horses of any sex, aged 3-years-old and up. The race covers one and one-half miles on the grass, and there are thirteen pre-entries for the $3,000,000 purse:
*Big Blue Kitten
Grandeur (bred in Ireland)
Indy Point (bred in Argentina)
*Little Mike
Magician (bred in Ireland)
Point of Entry
*Real Solution
Skyring
Tale of a Champio
Teaks North
*The Fugue (bred in Great Britain)
Twilight Eclipse
*Vagabond Shoes (bred in Ireland)
The Breeders Cup Sprint will run next, for horses of any sex, 3-years-old and up, and cover 6 furlongs (or 3/4 mile) on the main track. There are fifteen pre-entries for the $1,500,000 purse:
*Bahamian Squall
Capo Bastone
Fast Bullet
Gentlemen's Bet
Justin Phillip
Laugh Track
Majestic Stride
*Points Offthebench
*Private Zone
Reneesgotzip
Secret Circle
*Sum of the Parts
The Lumber Guy
Trinniberg
Wine Police
The Breeders Cup Mile is the penultimate race, for horses of either sex, covering the distance of one mile on the grass. There are sixteen pre-entries for the $2,000,000 purse:
Boat Trip
Bright Thought
Christoforo Colombo
Flotilla (bred in France)
He Be Fire N Ice
Jeranimo
Magician (bred in Ireland)
Mshawish
No Jet Lag
*Obviously (bred in Ireland)
Olympic Glory (bred in Ireland)
Silentio
Toronado (bred in Ireland)
*Wise Dan
Za Approval
The climax of the program is the Breeders Cup Classic, a one and one-quarter mile race on the main track. It is open to horses of either sex, aged 3-years-old and up, and has a purse of $5,000,000. There are thirteen pre-entries:
Declaration of War
Flat Out
*Fort Larned
*Game On Dude
Graydar
Last Gunfighter
Moreno
*Mucho Macho Man
Palace Malice
Paynter
Planteur (bred in Ireland)
*Ron the Greek
Will Take Charge
And just a silly bit of trivia at the end... Do you know why the monetary prize for horse racing is called a purse? Originally, when a horse race was set up, a neutral party held the amount the race winner would receive - and it was sewn into a silk purse. The idea being that the silk would show any tampering with the stitches, and coin could not be removed from the purse before the race. Of course, today our "purses" are split between the top five finishers, with the rest of the field getting only applause for their payment.
*** Oxbow, the winner of the 2013 Preakness Stakes, has been retired and will stand at stud at Taylor Made in Kentucky. His fee is $20,000 when foal stands and nurses. ***
Again, horses designated with an * have won a Breeders Cup Challenge Race, and are guaranteed a post position in the starting gate.
The sixth race on Saturday, 2 November, will be the Breeders Cup Turf, a contest for horses of any sex, aged 3-years-old and up. The race covers one and one-half miles on the grass, and there are thirteen pre-entries for the $3,000,000 purse:
*Big Blue Kitten
Grandeur (bred in Ireland)
Indy Point (bred in Argentina)
*Little Mike
Magician (bred in Ireland)
Point of Entry
*Real Solution
Skyring
Tale of a Champio
Teaks North
*The Fugue (bred in Great Britain)
Twilight Eclipse
*Vagabond Shoes (bred in Ireland)
The Breeders Cup Sprint will run next, for horses of any sex, 3-years-old and up, and cover 6 furlongs (or 3/4 mile) on the main track. There are fifteen pre-entries for the $1,500,000 purse:
*Bahamian Squall
Capo Bastone
Fast Bullet
Gentlemen's Bet
Justin Phillip
Laugh Track
Majestic Stride
*Points Offthebench
*Private Zone
Reneesgotzip
Secret Circle
*Sum of the Parts
The Lumber Guy
Trinniberg
Wine Police
The Breeders Cup Mile is the penultimate race, for horses of either sex, covering the distance of one mile on the grass. There are sixteen pre-entries for the $2,000,000 purse:
Boat Trip
Bright Thought
Christoforo Colombo
Flotilla (bred in France)
He Be Fire N Ice
Jeranimo
Magician (bred in Ireland)
Mshawish
No Jet Lag
*Obviously (bred in Ireland)
Olympic Glory (bred in Ireland)
Silentio
Toronado (bred in Ireland)
*Wise Dan
Za Approval
The climax of the program is the Breeders Cup Classic, a one and one-quarter mile race on the main track. It is open to horses of either sex, aged 3-years-old and up, and has a purse of $5,000,000. There are thirteen pre-entries:
Declaration of War
Flat Out
*Fort Larned
*Game On Dude
Graydar
Last Gunfighter
Moreno
*Mucho Macho Man
Palace Malice
Paynter
Planteur (bred in Ireland)
*Ron the Greek
Will Take Charge
And just a silly bit of trivia at the end... Do you know why the monetary prize for horse racing is called a purse? Originally, when a horse race was set up, a neutral party held the amount the race winner would receive - and it was sewn into a silk purse. The idea being that the silk would show any tampering with the stitches, and coin could not be removed from the purse before the race. Of course, today our "purses" are split between the top five finishers, with the rest of the field getting only applause for their payment.
*** Oxbow, the winner of the 2013 Preakness Stakes, has been retired and will stand at stud at Taylor Made in Kentucky. His fee is $20,000 when foal stands and nurses. ***
Friday, October 25, 2013
Breeders Cup Information - Part 2
The first five Breeders cup races on Saturday include the two juvenile races, the turf and dirt sprints, and the fillies and mares turf race. (I'll write a bit about the last four races tomorrow.) You might notice the duplication of names in different races - besides being nominated by the breeder, the Breeders Cup also has other criteria, including graded stakes wins, amount of money earned, and points accrued in graded races. Some horses are double-entered to be assured they will be in one of two races that they prefer, if they don't meet the standards of one race. That is, sometimes there are so many qualified entries, that only the horses with the best racing history are allowed - which is also why the number of entrants in each race is limited to fifteen equines in the starting gate. (As with the Triple Crown, some owners with money want to be able to say their horse ran in a Breeders cup race. This set of criteria assures that the best of the best appear on track for the Breeders Cup.)
Again, horses denoted with an * are ones that have won a Breeders Cup Challenge Race and have won the right of a guaranteed post position.
On Saturday, 2 November, the first Breeders Cup race will be the Juvenile Fillies. The race is one and one-sixteenth miles over the main track for a purse of $2,000,000. There are twelve 2-year-old fillies pre-entered:
*Artemis Agrotera
Concave
Dancing House
Designer Legs
*My Conquestadory
Ria Antonia
Rosalind
Scandalous Act
*Secret Compass
She's a Tiger
Sweet Reason
*Untapable
The second Breeders Cup race will be the Fillies and Mares Turf, for females 3-years-old and up. It covers one and one-quarter miles on the grass for a purse of $2,000,000. There are twelve pre-entries:
Alterite (bred in France)
*Dank (bred in Great Britain)
Emollient
Kitten's Dumplings
Lady of Shamrock
*Laughing (bred in Ireland)
Marketing Mix
Qushchi (bred in Great Britain)
Romantica (bred in Great Britain)
*The Fugue (bred in Great Britain)
*Tiz Flirtacious
Vionnet
The Fillies and Mares Sprint is next on the card, with females 3-years-old and up racing seven-eighths of a mile on the main track. Thirteen ladies are pre-entered for the $1,000,000 purse:
*Book Review
Dance Card
*Dance to Bristol
Great Hot (bred in Brazil)
Groupie Doll
Ismene
*Judy the Beauty
Renee's Titan
Starship Truffles
Street Girl
Summer Applause
Sweet Lulu
Teddy's Promise
The Breeders Cup Turf Sprint appears next, for horses of any sex, aged 3-years-old and up, racing six and one-half furlongs (or 13/16) of one mile on the grass. The purse is $1,000,000; and there are eighteen pre-entries:
Boat Trip
Capo Bastone
Caracortado
Chips All In
Christoforo Colombo
Dimension (bred in Great Britain)
Handsome Mike
Havelock
Jeranimo
Mizdirection
Obviously (bred in Ireland)
Reneesgotzip
Rock Me Baby
Silver Max
Spring to the Sky
Tightend Touchdown
Tour Guide
Unbridled's Note
The fifth race is the Breeders Cup Juvenile for 2-year-old colts and geldings. They will race one and one-sixteen miles on the main track for a purse worth $2,000,000. There are fourteen pre-entries:
*Bond Holder
*Cleburne
Conquest Titan
Dance With Fate
Diamond Bachelor
*Havana
Medal Count
Mexikoma
New Year's Day
Rum Point
Smarty's Echo
Strong Mandate
Tap It Rich
*We Miss Artie
Again, horses denoted with an * are ones that have won a Breeders Cup Challenge Race and have won the right of a guaranteed post position.
On Saturday, 2 November, the first Breeders Cup race will be the Juvenile Fillies. The race is one and one-sixteenth miles over the main track for a purse of $2,000,000. There are twelve 2-year-old fillies pre-entered:
*Artemis Agrotera
Concave
Dancing House
Designer Legs
*My Conquestadory
Ria Antonia
Rosalind
Scandalous Act
*Secret Compass
She's a Tiger
Sweet Reason
*Untapable
The second Breeders Cup race will be the Fillies and Mares Turf, for females 3-years-old and up. It covers one and one-quarter miles on the grass for a purse of $2,000,000. There are twelve pre-entries:
Alterite (bred in France)
*Dank (bred in Great Britain)
Emollient
Kitten's Dumplings
Lady of Shamrock
*Laughing (bred in Ireland)
Marketing Mix
Qushchi (bred in Great Britain)
Romantica (bred in Great Britain)
*The Fugue (bred in Great Britain)
*Tiz Flirtacious
Vionnet
The Fillies and Mares Sprint is next on the card, with females 3-years-old and up racing seven-eighths of a mile on the main track. Thirteen ladies are pre-entered for the $1,000,000 purse:
*Book Review
Dance Card
*Dance to Bristol
Great Hot (bred in Brazil)
Groupie Doll
Ismene
*Judy the Beauty
Renee's Titan
Starship Truffles
Street Girl
Summer Applause
Sweet Lulu
Teddy's Promise
The Breeders Cup Turf Sprint appears next, for horses of any sex, aged 3-years-old and up, racing six and one-half furlongs (or 13/16) of one mile on the grass. The purse is $1,000,000; and there are eighteen pre-entries:
Boat Trip
Capo Bastone
Caracortado
Chips All In
Christoforo Colombo
Dimension (bred in Great Britain)
Handsome Mike
Havelock
Jeranimo
Mizdirection
Obviously (bred in Ireland)
Reneesgotzip
Rock Me Baby
Silver Max
Spring to the Sky
Tightend Touchdown
Tour Guide
Unbridled's Note
The fifth race is the Breeders Cup Juvenile for 2-year-old colts and geldings. They will race one and one-sixteen miles on the main track for a purse worth $2,000,000. There are fourteen pre-entries:
*Bond Holder
*Cleburne
Conquest Titan
Dance With Fate
Diamond Bachelor
*Havana
Medal Count
Mexikoma
New Year's Day
Rum Point
Smarty's Echo
Strong Mandate
Tap It Rich
*We Miss Artie
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Breeders Cup Information - Part 1
First and foremost, I made a mistake. Yesterday the pre-entries were given to Santa Anita Race course for the fourteen Breeders Cup World Championship races. Post positions for all races will drawn on Monday, October 28; they were not drawn today. But at least I can share with you the pre-entries for the races, and a few thoughts. One hundred and seventy-two horses are pre-entered, compared with 180 last year. One of the reasons for the lower number is, in part, due to the six ladies pre-entered in the Distaff - no one else wants to run against these six fillies and mares.
Horses designated with an * won a Breeders Cup Challenge Race are are guaranteed a post position.
The first Breeders Cup race to be run will be the Marathon, covering a distance of one and three-quarters mile on the main track, and with a purse of $500,000, open to any horse aged 3 or older. There are ten pre-entries:
Blueskiesnrainbows
Cease
Commander
*Ever Rider (bred in Argentina)
Indian Jones
London Bridge
Old Time Hockey
Pool Play
Suns Out Guns Out
Worldly
I really like the horses that run in the marathon - they are stayers, like the original thoroughbreds - and I really believe that their purse should be $1 million, as well.
The second race will be the Juvenile Turf, for two-year-old colts and geldings, racing one mile on the grass for a purse of $1,000,000. There are 18 pre-entries:
All Cash
Aotearoa
Arpinati (bred in Great Britain)
Bashart
*Bobby's Kitten
Bon Accord
Dance With Fate
Diamond Bachelor
Giovanni Boldini
Got Shades
Home School (bred in Ireland)
Ontology
Outstrip (bred in Great Britain)
Poker Player
Shamshon (bred in Great Britain)
Smarty's Echo
We Miss Artie
Wilshire Boulevard (bred in Ireland)
The Dirt Mile is the third Breeders Cup race on Friday, with three-year-olds and up running one mile on the main track for a part of the $1,000,000 purse. There are 15 pre-entries:
Alpha
Broadway Empire
Brujo de Olleres (bred in Brazil)
*Centralinteligence
Easter Gift
*Fed Biz
Golden Ticket
Goldencents
*Graydar
Holy Lute
Hymn Book
Laugh Track
Pants on Fire
Taptowne
Verrazano
Fourth Breeders Cup race will be the Juvenile Fillies Turf, for two-year-olds, covering one mile on the grass track, for a purse of $1,000.000. There are 17 pre-entries:
Al Thakira (bred in Great Britain)
Chriselliam (bred in Ireland)
Clenor (bred in Ireland)
Colonel Joan
Dancing House
Flying Jib (bred in Great Britain)
Granny Mc's Kittens
*Kitten Kaboodle
*My Conquestadory
Nesso
Ready to Act
Ria Antonia
Rosalind
Sky Painter
Street Sailing
*Testa Rossi (bred in France)
Vorda (bred in France)
Ending the Breeders Cup races on Friday will be the Distaff, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, run at one and one-eighth mile on the main track. There are 6 pre-entries for the $2,000,000 purse:
Authenticity
*Beholder
Close Hatches
*Princess of Sylmar
*Royal Delta
Street Girl
For the information that I use to make my betting choices, go to: http://www.bloodhorse.com/ and scroll down to the green Breeders Cup section, and then down to the grey section that reads Breeders Cup Divisions. Click on the race that you are interested in, and then click on the name of the horse that catches your eye - here you can view the horses's "Bio", with trainer, jockey, owner and breeder information; then look at the pedigree (I like the expanded "Five Cross Pedigree"), and then you can see the horse's auction history, if he/she isn't running for the original breeder.... You find the horse's birth date, where it was born, and what it's registered coat color is. Once the post positions are drawn (on Monday), you can also see the silks the jockey will be wearing in the race.
*************************
Two items of note:
Jockey Calvin Borel's mount in a race at Keeneland yesterday, broke down in the first flight of horses. Borel was struck by the horses following; and the race was declared a no contest. Calvin was taken to the hospital, where it was announced that he had broken the fibula in his left leg. He will not be riding in the Breeders Cup. (Sonic Dancer, his mount, had suffered catastrophic leg damage and was euthanized.)
After a seemingly miraculous recovery period, having suffered a broken pastern and then colic, St Nicholas Abbey has developed a mild case of laminitis in his left fore. He broke the right pastern during a training gallop. Vets are disappointed that, now that the colt is able to walk on his casted right fore, he has developed the early signs of laminitis in the opposite foot. His condition will be monitored closely.
Horses designated with an * won a Breeders Cup Challenge Race are are guaranteed a post position.
The first Breeders Cup race to be run will be the Marathon, covering a distance of one and three-quarters mile on the main track, and with a purse of $500,000, open to any horse aged 3 or older. There are ten pre-entries:
Blueskiesnrainbows
Cease
Commander
*Ever Rider (bred in Argentina)
Indian Jones
London Bridge
Old Time Hockey
Pool Play
Suns Out Guns Out
Worldly
I really like the horses that run in the marathon - they are stayers, like the original thoroughbreds - and I really believe that their purse should be $1 million, as well.
The second race will be the Juvenile Turf, for two-year-old colts and geldings, racing one mile on the grass for a purse of $1,000,000. There are 18 pre-entries:
All Cash
Aotearoa
Arpinati (bred in Great Britain)
Bashart
*Bobby's Kitten
Bon Accord
Dance With Fate
Diamond Bachelor
Giovanni Boldini
Got Shades
Home School (bred in Ireland)
Ontology
Outstrip (bred in Great Britain)
Poker Player
Shamshon (bred in Great Britain)
Smarty's Echo
We Miss Artie
Wilshire Boulevard (bred in Ireland)
The Dirt Mile is the third Breeders Cup race on Friday, with three-year-olds and up running one mile on the main track for a part of the $1,000,000 purse. There are 15 pre-entries:
Alpha
Broadway Empire
Brujo de Olleres (bred in Brazil)
*Centralinteligence
Easter Gift
*Fed Biz
Golden Ticket
Goldencents
*Graydar
Holy Lute
Hymn Book
Laugh Track
Pants on Fire
Taptowne
Verrazano
Fourth Breeders Cup race will be the Juvenile Fillies Turf, for two-year-olds, covering one mile on the grass track, for a purse of $1,000.000. There are 17 pre-entries:
Al Thakira (bred in Great Britain)
Chriselliam (bred in Ireland)
Clenor (bred in Ireland)
Colonel Joan
Dancing House
Flying Jib (bred in Great Britain)
Granny Mc's Kittens
*Kitten Kaboodle
*My Conquestadory
Nesso
Ready to Act
Ria Antonia
Rosalind
Sky Painter
Street Sailing
*Testa Rossi (bred in France)
Vorda (bred in France)
Ending the Breeders Cup races on Friday will be the Distaff, 3-year-olds and up, fillies and mares, run at one and one-eighth mile on the main track. There are 6 pre-entries for the $2,000,000 purse:
Authenticity
*Beholder
Close Hatches
*Princess of Sylmar
*Royal Delta
Street Girl
For the information that I use to make my betting choices, go to: http://www.bloodhorse.com/ and scroll down to the green Breeders Cup section, and then down to the grey section that reads Breeders Cup Divisions. Click on the race that you are interested in, and then click on the name of the horse that catches your eye - here you can view the horses's "Bio", with trainer, jockey, owner and breeder information; then look at the pedigree (I like the expanded "Five Cross Pedigree"), and then you can see the horse's auction history, if he/she isn't running for the original breeder.... You find the horse's birth date, where it was born, and what it's registered coat color is. Once the post positions are drawn (on Monday), you can also see the silks the jockey will be wearing in the race.
*************************
Two items of note:
Jockey Calvin Borel's mount in a race at Keeneland yesterday, broke down in the first flight of horses. Borel was struck by the horses following; and the race was declared a no contest. Calvin was taken to the hospital, where it was announced that he had broken the fibula in his left leg. He will not be riding in the Breeders Cup. (Sonic Dancer, his mount, had suffered catastrophic leg damage and was euthanized.)
After a seemingly miraculous recovery period, having suffered a broken pastern and then colic, St Nicholas Abbey has developed a mild case of laminitis in his left fore. He broke the right pastern during a training gallop. Vets are disappointed that, now that the colt is able to walk on his casted right fore, he has developed the early signs of laminitis in the opposite foot. His condition will be monitored closely.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
A Cold, Frosty Morning
It was 26 degrees when I got out of bed this morning; now, 2 hours later, it's 36. There was a heavy frost on the grass this morning, but most of it has already melted. It's mostly cloudy, but skies are supposed to clear for some nice sunshine by this afternoon. It's fore cast to get up to 62. I'll be headed over to Charlie and Tinkerbelle's house this afternoon, and I hope to leave before the street gets inundated with partying Buffaloes - CU plays Oregon at home this afternoon. But I also have to pick up my meds at the local pharmacy at 1, so I might not be able to miss the crowd. Lovey and Nedi are outside, running around like maniacs, chasing each other and the squirrels. I have the patio door cracked open, but will have to call the kits back inside, as I'm starting to get chilly.
The Breeders Cup races will be run on Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2, at Santa Anita. ... I'm happy to be able to report that St Nicholas Abbey is recovering very well from both his pastern and colic surgeries. ... Zenyatta's first foal, CoZmic One, has left the farm where he was born and is going into training - hopefully to follow in his Mom's amazing footsteps. .... Black Caviar was named the Horse of the Year for the third straight time in Australia. The mare was retired, undefeated in 25 races, in April. She has been covered by Exceed And Excell, Australian Stallion of the Year for the past two seasons. .... And, with the Breeders Cup coming soon, NBC Sports will show a program highlighting the best Breeders Cup races at 5:30 (Eastern time) on Saturday, October 19.
Two things were supposed to happen today on Assateague Island and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge - the Fall Pony Round-Up and the Re-Opening of the Renovated Assateague Island Lighthouse. Due to the US government shut down, neither of these activities will take place. Children and adults who purchased foals too young to separate from their dams at Pony Penning in July, have been waiting for this weekend to return to Chincoteague and take their new pony (or ponies) home. Since the new owners were to pick up their new charges on Assateague, this cannot happen. And, for those of us who have been eagerly awaiting the opening the Assateague Lighthouse following a $1.5 million renovation, that, too, has been postponed. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company will notify the new pony owners when the round-up will take place - as soon as they know. And I hope the CNWR will give several weeks of publicity for the re-opening of the newly refurbished Lighthouse...
The Breeders Cup races will be run on Friday and Saturday, November 1 and 2, at Santa Anita. ... I'm happy to be able to report that St Nicholas Abbey is recovering very well from both his pastern and colic surgeries. ... Zenyatta's first foal, CoZmic One, has left the farm where he was born and is going into training - hopefully to follow in his Mom's amazing footsteps. .... Black Caviar was named the Horse of the Year for the third straight time in Australia. The mare was retired, undefeated in 25 races, in April. She has been covered by Exceed And Excell, Australian Stallion of the Year for the past two seasons. .... And, with the Breeders Cup coming soon, NBC Sports will show a program highlighting the best Breeders Cup races at 5:30 (Eastern time) on Saturday, October 19.
Two things were supposed to happen today on Assateague Island and the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge - the Fall Pony Round-Up and the Re-Opening of the Renovated Assateague Island Lighthouse. Due to the US government shut down, neither of these activities will take place. Children and adults who purchased foals too young to separate from their dams at Pony Penning in July, have been waiting for this weekend to return to Chincoteague and take their new pony (or ponies) home. Since the new owners were to pick up their new charges on Assateague, this cannot happen. And, for those of us who have been eagerly awaiting the opening the Assateague Lighthouse following a $1.5 million renovation, that, too, has been postponed. The Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company will notify the new pony owners when the round-up will take place - as soon as they know. And I hope the CNWR will give several weeks of publicity for the re-opening of the newly refurbished Lighthouse...
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Saturday: Game and Race Day
It's a cool morning here - we're expecting a high of 60 degrees, and the CU Buffs have a home football game against Stanford. Kickoff is at noon, and other than the Buffs faithful, I don't expect much of a crowd (the stadium is two blocks away from my place). Lovey and Nedi both ran outside this morning when I opened the door, but then were back inside within 15 minutes. I don't know what's wrong with the sun and back yard this morning.
I will watch the Gator - Missouri game this morning; then tuck into the Breeders Cup at 1:30 on NBC Sports. I'll have to keep an eye on the LSU - Alabama game, but I won't miss the BC Classic race tonight - it's worth $5 million. I thoroughly enjoyed Blue Blood last night - Tom Selleck gets better with age, and I love Lou Cariou, too. Don't forget to turn your clocks back tonight when you go to bed...
And I hope for faster relief for those folks still suffering without homes, or without power, or with little food or fuel for their vehicles, thanks to Hurricane Sandy. On the east coast, one has to worry about hurricanes and northeasters; in the middle of the country, the worry is tornadoes; out west, we worry about drought, wildfires or blizzards - I can't think of any place in the United States that is totally "safe." To be honest, I miss the storms and hurricanes of the east coast. I dislike the droughts and blizzards I encounter out here. I will always think that I have a dual home - Florida and Chincoteague Island.
Friday, November 2, 2012
My Breeders Cup Betting Today...
OK, because I made a bet for my husband (because he can't), and because I changed my mind on my picks in one race, I started out with $30 to bet with, and ended up with $2,614+. I ended up bombing out on several races, but, overall, I'm pleased.
The Juvenile Sprint was fun. I went with Hightail because of his breeding, and his looks, and, honestly, because D Wayne Lukas was training him. I placed a $10 bet on him to win, and placed several $2 trifecta bets. I included Merit Man on the trifecta bets, because he was the favorite. There were two scratches in this race; Super Ninety Nine was cast in his stall this morning, and the track stewards and veterinarian scratched South Floyd after his warm-up on the track. So there were five horses in the race.... Hightail won; Merit Man was second; Sweet Shirley Mae came in third. The six furlongs were run in 1.09.75; the race had a purse of $500,000. I bet $18 of my $30 on this starting race; my payback was $285.80. So I had money to play with...
There were thirteen starters in the $500,000 Marathon. Calidoscopio won the 1 3/4 mile race in 2.57.50; he was an import from Argentina, and I had no information on him. I made 4 bets on this race, spending $17. I made three win only bets of $5, and, in memory of my husband, I made a $2 exacta that I'm sure he would have made, on Calidoscopio over Grassy. That $2 bet paid $505, while I also lost $15... Calidoscopio ran first; Grassy was second, and Atigun was third. I had chosen Fame and Glory and Sense of Purpose, both of whom were eased and did not finish the race, along with Balladry, who finished 6th, and Jaycito, who was last of the finishers. Bad choices on my part...
In the Juvenile Filly Turf, I had no info on Flotilla or The Gold Cheongsam. As soon as I saw film of Flotilla this afternoon, I switched her onto my betting list. Flotilla won the $1 million race in 1.34.64. My other two choices were Watsdachances and Summer of Fun, who finished second and third. I had also placed a 5 $1 exacta bets and 5 $1 trifecta bets... I spent $25 in bets; my return was $1,853.50. My picks from Thursday's Blog finished second and third; with Sustained scratched by the veterinarian, Moonwalk was 7th, and Infanta Branca was 11th.
The Juvenile Filly was a bust for me - Beholder won the $2 million race in 1.43.68. Second was Executiveprivilege, and third was Dreaming of Julia. I was now betting soft - only to win, and only on the horses I named in the Blog... Dreaming of Julia placed third; Kauai Katie was fourth; Spring in the Air was fifth; and Almost an Angel was last... I lost $20 in bets....
The Filly and Mare Turf was for $2 million, and Zagora won it in 1.59.70. (Again, being a squirrel, and wanting to save most of what I'd already won, I only placed bets to win...) I placed $5 win bets on Marketing Mix, who finished in second; The Fugue, who placed third; Ridasiyna finished fourth, and I'm a Dreamer , who was sixth. At least some of my picks finished in the money, even though I didn't bet that way... (So another $20 gone.)
The Ladies Classic was the last Breeders Cup race of today. I didn't pick the winner here, either - but I'm very happy that Mike Smith won his 15th BC race. Undefeated Royal Delta was the betting favorite, and she stayed undefeated, winning the $2 million race in 1.48.80. Questing, who was expected to shoot to the front of the race, never wanted to run, and was eased well before the finish. The vets could not find anything wrong with her immediately. My Blog picks were My Miss Aurelia, who finished second; Include Me Out, who was third; Awesome Feather was 6th; and Class Included was 7th.
All in all, I spent $120 on my bets. I ended up with $2,644.30, counting the $30 I started with. Not too bad, actually.... I'll start out with $50 in hand tomorrow.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
November One; Breeder's Cup Picks for Friday
November first. The Solemnity of All Saints. All Hallows. Hallomas. The Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertes). Undas. Samhain. And there are many more names for this particular date on the calendar...Most of them are Christian designations; Samhain is Celtic. Such a wide variety of beliefs make up our world; I just wish all the peoples of the earth could get along in peace, with a live and let live attitude... But we are all human and have human failings...
Tomorrow the first 6 of the Breeders Cup races will be run at Santa Anita - a quite of few of the 2-year-olds and imported horses don't have photos to go with their pedigrees; several foreign horses have no info at all, except sire and dam names... So I'm doing some of this "handicapping" without any information, other than the horses name, sire and dam, trainer, jockey, and what country or state they were bred in.
In the Juvenile Sprint, there are 7 entries - 4 colts, 2 fillies, and a gelding; the course distance is 6 furlongs; the two fillies carry 119 pounds, while the boys back 122. I believe that Merit Man is the early betting favorite. I have seen photos of Merit Man, Hazardous, and Sweet Shirley Mae. D Wayne Lukas trains Hightail. Based on breeding, I like Hightail, Super Ninety Nine, and Sweet Shirley Mae. As a wildcard, I'll toss Hazardous, the chestnut gelding into the mix...
The Marathon covers 1 and 3/4 miles; boys and girls race together; ages range from 3 to 9 years. There are 14 entries, and weight carried is based on age and sex; the 3-year-old colt Atigun will carry 122 pounds, the two mares (Almudena and Sense of Purpose) carry 123 pounds, and the other 11 horses carry 126 pounds. There is no information on two of the South American horses, Almudena and Calidoscopio; and photos are available of nine of the runners... Four entrants trace back to *Forli: Fame and Glory, Grassy, Sense of Purpose and Juniper Pass. I like the looks of Atigun, Jaycito, Worth Repeating. I like the pedigrees of Fame and Glory, Balladry, Not Abroad, and Eldaafer. I guess I'll go with Fame and Glory, Balladry, Jaycito and Sense of Purpose.
The Juvenile Filly Turf covers one mile, with all the girls carrying 122 pounds. There are 16 entries, and there are photos of only 6 of the fillies. There is no information on Flotilla from France, or The Gold Cheongsam from Ireland, nor on Infanta Branca... Seven of the 16 go back to *Forli: Kitten's Point, Summer of Fun, Watsdachances, Nancy O, Flashy Ways, Sustained, and Infanta Branca. I like the looks of Spring Venture and Moonwalk. I like the breeding of Oscar Party, Waterway Run, and Moonwalk. With this limited info, I'll pick Summer of Fun, Watsdachances, Moonwalk, and then it's a toss-up between Sustained and Infanta Branca...
There are 8 entries in the Juvenile Fillies covering 1 and 1/16 miles and with all the girls toting 122 pounds. The only filly without a photo is Broken Spell, who is trained by D Wayne Lukas. Renee's Queen, Dreaming of Julia, and Almost an Angel are descendants of *Forli. I like the breeding of Beholder, Kauai Katie, and Spring in the Air. Spring in the Air is a bay filly who has gotten the nickname of "Little Zenyatta", as she likes to perform the Spanish Walk just like the great Z always did. In this race, I'll have to go with Almost an Angel, Kauai Katie, Spring in the Air, and Dreaming of Julia.
There has already been a scratch due to injury in the Filly and Mare Turf; Nereid is out, leaving a field of 11 to cover the 1 and 1/4 miles. This is a weight for age race, where the 3-year-olds carry 120 pounds, while the older ladies carry 124 pounds. The five mares carrying 124 pounds are: Star Billing, Zagora, Nahrain, Marketing Mix, and I'm a Dreamer. The only information I have on the filly Up is that she was bred in Ireland, and is a 3-year-old daughter of Galileo. I like the looks of The Fugue and I'm a Dreamer. I like the breeding of Stormy Lucy, Up, I'm a Dreamer, and In Lingerie. From my reading, I'll choose The Fugue, I'm a Dreamer, Marketing Mix, and Ridasiyna.
Friday's final Breeder's Cup race is the Ladies Classic. The course is 1 and 1/8 miles. There are 8 entrants: three 3-year-olds who carry 121 pounds, and five 4-year-olds who carry 124 pounds. All of the ladies are bays or browns; Awesome Feather is a Florida-bred, and Questing was bred in Great Britain. Grace Hall, My Miss Aurelia, and Questing are the 3-year-olds. In this race, I like all of the ladies' pedigrees; and I like the looks of My Miss Aurelia and Class Included. Grace Hall comes from Unbridled. My Miss Aurelia has Mr. Prospector on top and bottom. Class Included has Broad Brush on top, and Nijinsky II on top and bottom. Questing has Danzig on top and Seekig the Gold on the bottom. Awesome Feather has Awesome Again on top, Gone West on the bottom. Royal Delta has Unbridled and A P Indy. Include Me Out has Broad Brush on top and Phone Trick on the bottom. Love and Pride has A P Indy on top and Storm Cat on the bottom - Who to choose, who to choose..... I'll go with Include Me Out, Awesome Feather, Class Included and My Miss Aurelia.
***WARNING: These are my own, completely unreasonable choices for these races. I do not say any single one of the horses named will actually win a race. I just like to post my thoughts.... Do not bet and blame me if you lose money wagered. You are the responsible person, not me. ***
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