Steve Haskin lists a surprising No. 1 in his Classic rankings.
It is safe to say that never before have three consecutive graded stakes on a single card - at a mile, 1 1/8 miles for fillies and mares, and 1 1/4 miles - produced the three favorites for the Breeders' Cup Classic.
The column is about the Gold Cup's influence on the Breeders' Cup Classic and how to approach the race, as prestigious as it is, with the Classic in mind.
Let's be honest, this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) needs a boost, especially with Zenyattamania and even a double dose of Curlin still fresh in everyone's mind.
Earlier this year, Larry Jones decided to prepare his barn help for what seemed to be inevitable. Many talented horses have passed his way, but this one was different
Now that the preps for the Nov. 5 and 6 Breeders' Cup have been completed, it is time to go over all the races and see who will be and might be showing up.
It's time to look at the prospective Breeders' Cup fields for Saturday, Nov. 6
Monday, October 18, 2010
How does one even attempt to discuss in detail last weekend's stakes extravaganza? And what words are left to describe the Zenyatta phenomenon that haven't already been used?
Thursday, October 07, 2010
A long wait between races is in store for recent impressive 2-year-old winners.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Blame helped celebrate Claiborne Farm's 100th anniversary with a dramatic win in the Whitney.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
As we all know there is always an angle or two we can latch on to in the Breeders' Cup. The trick is finding them among the morass of stakes horses that line up for the 14 races. There probably are more chances of landing a longshot on a synthetic surface, because, in all honesty, does anyone really know how to handicap these races?
Thursday, October 15, 2009
There is so much to discuss after the weekend's stakes extravaganza, but one race that likely had the most profound effect on the Breeders' Cup was the Goodwood Stakes (gr. I).
Monday, October 12, 2009
You can't say there isn't enough to choose from when handicapping Saturday's $350,000 Goodwood Stakes (gr. I), with a smorgasbord of stakes horses all trying to earn their place in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I)
Thursday, October 08, 2009
If Sea the Stars does not make the trip to California, which seems more likely than not, and joins Rachel Alexandra on the absentee list, it will create a void never before seen in the Breeders' Cup.
Monday, October 05, 2009
Now that Rachel Alexandra is through for the year, it is time for Zenyatta, the defending Queen of all Turfdom, to take center stage, and her presence will be a welcome sight in a year where the Breeders' Cup has gone a bit haywire.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
The chances of Sea The Stars being withdrawn from Sunday's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Fr-I) due to soft ground appear slim to none, as the weather forecast calls for little or no rain through next Tuesday.
Monday, September 28, 2009
With Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta, and Ventura, familiar standbys like Forever Together and Music Note, and rapidly rising stars Icon Project, Careless Jewel, and Swift Temper, as well as Goldikova in Europe, this is truly a special year for fillies.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Circle the date Oct. 4 on your calendar. Your assignment is to pray for rain in France - enough to turn the Longchamp turf course soft. The softer the better.
Monday, September 14, 2009
It's time to accept the fact that Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are not going to meet. As the cliche goes, that ship has sailed.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Rachel Alexandra provided one of the great moments in the history of Saratoga when she scored a courageous head victory over older male rivals in the $750,000 Woodward Stakes Sept. 5.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Summer Bird secured his place atop the 3-year-old male division with his resounding victory in the slop in the $1-million Shadwell Travers Stakes.
Monday, August 31, 2009
This year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) is such an odd concoction of grass and synthetic horses and undistinguished older dirt horses it's difficult to make a worthwhile list of potential starters.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
A story about Rachel Alexandra seems out of place in a column about the Breeders' Cup, but who cares. That's between Jess Jackson and the Breeders' Cup decision makers. Even though there will be no launching of the Rachel rocket on Nov. 7, it's still fun to "count down" to the imaginary blast off.
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Are you looking for an early Volponi for this year's Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I)? Well, you just might have seen him on Saturday...on the grass...finishing second. When it comes to the hard-knocking Awesome Gem, who has his good days and his bad days, I can't help hearing Ralph Kramden (yes, I'm a Honeymooners fanatic): "One of these days...one of these days - "Bang! Zoom!"
Sunday, July 26, 2009
This headline was originally written about Casino Drive, who will be discussed later. But Big Brown's retirement obviously takes precedence.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
While the "rivalry" between Curlin and Big Brown has manifested itself through the frequent and often frivolous comments from the horses' connections, there is a real rivalry over in Europe that may very well boil over into the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I).
Tuesday, October 07, 2008The stars will be shining down on Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 4, but many of the brightest ones will not even show up until the middle of Breeders' Cup week. As a result, several New York-based journalists, and one Jerseyite, have changed plans and will inhabit the Big Apple until the big guns complete their serious training.
Tuesday, October 17, 2006With all the talk about Bernardini and Lava Man following their final preps for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I), the name Invasor suddenly has become a mere whisper among the shouting. But for the people of Uruguay, it is their hero who is still the rightful king of Thoroughbred racing.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006The war between Coolmore and the Maktoums that was evident at the recent Keeneland September yearling sale is expected to move north on Oct. 7 when Susan Magnier's Dylan Thomas squares off against Darley Stable's Bernardini and Shadwell Farm's Invasor in the $1-million Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I).
Wednesday, September 20, 2006The main topic of conversation at Belmont Park these days is the much-awaited showdown between Bernardini and Invasor in the Oct. 7 Jockey Club Gold Cup. Both colts are doing extremely well, according to their connections, with Bernardini already on the muscle and itching for a fight. The winner likely will take on the role as favorite for the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Monday, September 18, 2006Unless something drastic occurs between now and Nov. 4, it looks as if Bernardini, Invasor, and Lava Man, barring injury, will be the top guns, although one of those three - Bernardini or Invasor- will taste defeat in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I).
Tuesday, September 05, 2006This may sound like an outrageous question in October, but could it be that we finally are going to see a Triple Crown winner next year? It just very well may be that the stars finally are aligned for it to happen.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005It was a weekend that helped shape the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), Emirates Airline Distaff (gr. I), and John Deere Turf (gr. IT). Of course, no big weekend at Belmont Park this fall would be complete without a controversy surrounding the use of pacesetters.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005Following this past weekend's stakes extravaganza, the field for the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) is pretty much firmed up...America has a budding superstar who can finally end the Europeans' five-year reign in the John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT)...and the Nextel Distaff (gr. I) has found another gem.
Wednesday, October 06, 2004With the Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I) in a state of confusion, this is as good a time as any to predict how this year's Classic picture will unfold.
Monday, September 29, 2003With all signs pointing to Candy Ride being put away for the year, and with Perfect Drift all but certain to bypass the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), America's richest race likely has lost two of its biggest stars, and there is some uncertainty regarding Mineshaft.
Monday, September 22, 2003Although many will have the tendency to dismiss Congaree in the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) after being outkicked by Perfect Drift in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Cup Classic (gr. II), the son of Arazi cannot be blamed for the defeat.
Monday, September 15, 2003Immediately after Mineshaft's incredible victory in Saturday's Woodward Stakes (gr. I), the talk began about the impending showdown with California sensation Candy Ride in the Breeders' Cup Classic - Powered by Dodge (gr. I).
Monday, September 08, 2003Although Hopeful (gr. I) winner Silver Wagon will not be heading to Santa Anita in October, that's not to say we didn't see any contenders for the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) last weekend.
Thursday, September 04, 2003It was a big weekend for the Breeders' Cup Classic-Powered by Dodge, as Ten Most Wanted proved in the Travers that the pre-Kentucky Derby hype was justified. But it's going to be a long time before we see a performance as classy and flawless as the one we saw from Candy Ride in the Pacific Classic.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
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