"Look over there! Look at that white horse!"
This is a cry I've often heard at a racetrack, as people rush up to the rail to see the gray nearest them, prancing and chomping eagerly at his bit in the post parade. From the fairy tale legends of white horses to the noble Lipizzaner horses traveling the world, performing tricks, gray horses are usually the first to be noticed; the first to stand out.
In Thoroughbreds, gray is a recessive gene, which means one or both of the parents of a gray horse must also be gray. Therefore, if you open up the stud book, you can trace a gray line from, say, Tapit, to all the way back in the 17th century and the first Oriental imported stallions. (Gray is a much more common color in the Arabian, the most prevalent ancestor of the Thoroughbred.)
Gray has not always been celebrated in the Thoroughbred: the great horseman Federico Tesio, in his book Breeding the Race Horse, considered the gray color to be a defect, as gray horses were more likely then other colors to develop melanoma. This led to a prejudice against gray horses that stuck around for quite some time after Tesio had left the scene.
The earliest grays were imported stallions and their offspring, such as Place's White Turk (imported 1657), D'Arcy's White Turk (imported ?) and the Fairfax Moroccan Barb (born 1633). D'Arcy's White Turk was the sire of Hautboy (1690), one of the most important early sires of the Thoroughbred breed. The Alcock Arabian (c. 1700), whose parentage is unknown, was the head of an unbroken gray line leading up to even modern day Thoroughbreds. This was done mostly through his daughters and son Crab (1722), a very good racehorse and sire.
These horses laid the foundation for gray Thoroughbreds to come. One of the first good ones in the 19th century was Chanticleer (1843), a top stayer who was known for his courage. He was a son of a mare by the gray Drone (1823), whose bloodlines traced back twice to Crab. Chanticleer is found in the fourth generation of Le Sancy (1884), a French stallion whose influence on the gray color cannot be understated. A multiple stakes winner and leading broodmare sire, he sired two stallions named Le Samaritain; the one born in 1895 was the sire of Roi Herode (1905). One of Roi Herode's sons would end up being the biggest influence on modern gray racehorses.
That son's name was The Tetrarch (1911). A gangly gray, he got his distinctive white body spots from maternal great-grandsire, Bend Or (a chestnut blotched with black and white spots). Years and years later, we can still see these spots on some of his descendants. The Tetrarch was a champion racehorse and retired after injuries with a record of seven wins in seven starts. His most important contributions to the breed rest with his champion daughter, Mumtaz Mahal (1921), often referred to as "The Flying Filly." Two of her daughters gave birth to colts that later became great sires - Mah Mahal (1928) was the dam of Mahmoud (1933) and Mumtaz Begum (1932) was the dam of Nasrullah (1940), a bay stallion and one of the founders of of the greatest sireline today.
Another important descendant of The Tetrarch was Silver Beauty (1928), a daughter of his gray son Stefan the Great (1916). Silver Beauty was the first gray mare in a female family that led up to Foggy Note (1965), a daughter of The Axe (1958), who was in turn a son of Mahmoud. Foggy Note was the dam of Relaunch (1976), a stakes winner who became the leading flag-bearer for the rare Man O' War sireline, now being revived by Relaunch's grandson, Tiznow, and his male descendants. Relaunch's full sister, Moon Glitter (1972), was the granddam of Rubiano (1982), a champion sprinter. A half-sister to Rubiano, Tap Your Heels (1996), produced Tapit (2001), who is now one of America's leading sires.
So far, we've neglected to mention a gray who is possibly the most famous of his color in Thoroughbred history. Besides The Tetrarch, Roi Herode also produced a mare named La Grisette (1915). 45 years after her birth, her daughter Geisha (1943) produced a gray colt named Native Dancer (1950). This colt became a champion, only losing once in 22 starts (that loss occurring in the 1953 Kentucky Derby, where he finished second to Dark Star) and winning over a quarter of a million dollars, a huge amount for that time. Native Dancer left his mark not only on the racetrack but in the breeding shed, as well, as the damsire of Northern Dancer, who was arguably the greatest sire of the 20th century.
Previously mentioned Mahmoud was also the damsire of Determine (1951), who also happened to be the first gray to win the Kentucky Derby. Determine's son Decidedly (1959) was also a gray Kentucky Derby winner; he set a new track record in his Derby victory. From there on out, gray horses made sporadic appearances in the winner's circle on the first Saturday in May. Since Decidedly, six gray horses have won the Kentucky Derby, the most recent being Giacomo (2002) in 2005. Another son of Determine, Warfare (1957), became a decent stallion and makes some small appearances in the pedigrees of modern gray horses.
One of Native Dancer's greatest gray daughters was Shenanigans (1963), best known as the dam of the brilliant Ruffian. Her son Icecapade (1969), by Nearctic, was a stakes winner who sired many stakes winners, including Wild Again, the first winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic. Another gray offspring of Shenanigans, Laughter (1970), is found in the female line of 2013 Kentucky Derby winner Orb, as well as Laughter's daughter, Steel Maiden (1983).
The Tetrarch is also a distant relative of the gray stallion Caro (1967), who sired the likes of 1988 Derby winner Winning Colors (1985); Cozzene (1980), the sire of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Alphabet Soup (1991); and With Approval (1986), a Canadian Triple Crown winner. Caro also sired Carlotta Maria (1984), the dam of Maria's Mon (1993). Two Maria's Mon colts went on to win the Kentucky Derby, one of which is Monarchos (1998), who did it in the second-fastest final time in Derby history. Caro proved his worth twice over as a broodmare sire by giving us Trolley Song (1983), dam of leading stallion Unbridled's Song (1993). As a recent source of gray in modern pedigrees, there is hardly any horse more influential than Caro.
Gray being the ethereal color it is, it is sometimes thought of in a eerie sense. Native Dancer was nicknamed the "Grey Ghost" and, on Halloween night, several races around the country are restricted to gray horses, creating a spooky spectacle for the audience to enjoy. Therefore, it is only fitting that I've finished this blog post in the wee hours of October 31st.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Breeders' Cup Friday Selections and Thoughts
Earlier this week, 12 out of the 14 fields were set for the 30th Breeders' Cup Championships; the Distaff and Classic posts were drawn later than evening. Some connections left disappointed; others pleased. We saw favorites end up on the outside and speed horses draw right next to each other. As I said in my pre-entry preview videos, I would wait to truly break down these races until the fields were drawn. Well, here we are...it's time to get cracking.
Breeders' Cup Marathon (1:45 PM PT)
1) Old Time Hockey (8-1)
2) Cease (8-1)
3) Commander (6-1)
4) Ever Rider (ARG) (7-2)
5) Suns Out Guns Out (10-1)
6) Indian Jones (5-1)
7) London Bridge (8-1)
8) Blueskiesnrainbows (6-1)
9) Pool Play (8-1)
10) Worldly (6-1)
Here's the race that I'm definitely going to have the most trouble with, picking it apart. It's a very wide open race that really looks - to me at least - that any one of these horses could jump up and win. My best chance is to just go down the line and see what these horses have done, so we'll start with Old Time Hockey, who exits that very fast race won by Indy Point (who goes Saturday in the Turf) at ten furlongs. If I think correctly, this will be the farthest Old Time Hockey has gone in his life; trainer Proctor sent him through a mile workout on the 18th in preparation for the marathon event. Cease is also stretching out, coming out of a win in a seven furlong allowance at Belmont Park. Commander has good tactical speed but will have to compete with Blueskiesnrainbows and possibly two foreigners, Ever Rider and London Bridge, for the lead. Suns Out Guns Out wowed in a one mile allowance at Parx last out, but finished a less than stellar fourth behind Eldaafer in the Greenwood (G3) before that. Indian Jones was second by a hard-fought nose in the Greenwood and is very deserving of his second-choice status here. Pool Play and Wordly have ran with the best in their careers, but it's been quite a while since either of them have won.
As any foreign shipper without a start in the States, Ever Rider is both intriguing and dangerous, especially with his frontrunning style (a drastic change from fellow Argentinian and last year's winner Calidoscopio). A win in a routing Grade 2 last out was enough to make him the morning line favorite at a tepid 7-2. If the pace heats up on the front end, Indian Jones might make some noise late; the son of Smarty Jones may be the best American hopeful in this race. London Bridge cannot be ignored, for although he is just a winner on turf, his pedigree (sired by Arch with a 4x4 cross to Alydar) suggests he may take well to the dirt. However - and it gives me great pleasure to say this - I am selecting one of two of the Smarty Jones sons in here to win. Give me Indian Jones, and I should get an even better price on him on Friday afternoon. Without defending champion Eldaafer in here, no one horse should hold strong favoritism in the Marathon.
6-4-8-9 (Indian Jones - Ever Rider - Blueskiesnrainbows - Pool Play)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (2:25 PM PT)
1) All Cash (30-1)
2) Giovanni Boldini (7-2)
3) Got Shades (30-1)
4) Outstrip (GB) (4-1)
5) Bobby's Kitten (5-2)
6) Home School (IRE) (30-1)
7) Aotearoa (12-1)
8) Bon Accord (20-1)
9) Wilshire Boulevard (IRE) (8-1)
10) Ontology (30-1)
11) Poker Player (12-1)
12) Shamshon (IRE) (12-1)
13) Bashart (6-1)
At 5-2, Bobby's Kitten is a slightly more solid morning-line choice than Ever Rider above. He enters this race off of a runaway victory in a stakes at Belmont, but faces some tough, well-bred company. There's a plethora of European-based horses here to face him, led by Outstrip, a gray son of stakes winner Asi Siempre. Last out, Outstrip was third behind War Command in the Dewhurst (G1), but before that, he was a commanding presence in the Champagne (G2) at Doncaster. Also here are Giovanni Boldini, who won an Irish listed stakes last time out in nice fashion, and two Irish-bred stakes winners in Wilshire Boulevard and Shamshon. Not to be forgotten are Bobby's Kitten's American contemporaries, the best of which is Bashart, who won the With Anticipation (G2) at Saratoga this summer before losing to Poker Player in the Bourbon (G3) at Keeneland. Finally, there is Aotearoa, who comes back after thumping Diamond Bachelor here at Santa Anita in the listed Zuma Beach Stakes.
Although Bobby's Kitten is another talented pick of the litter owned by the Ramsey family, there is value in looking away from the favorite, even after that impressive last start. There is certainly a lot of Euro class to pick and choose from; the familiar Godolphin vs. Coolmore narrative manifests itself once more in Outstrip matched against the more humbly bred Giovanni Boldini. Longshot Bon Accord hung late in his last outing, a third in the Bourbon, but he has the pedigree to get the distance. The 30-1 shots all drew into the field after being on the also-eligible list; the most intriguing of them, I think, is Got Shades, who comes into this race after a fourth in the Zuma Beach and a couple of nice stakes wins in Louisiana. In the Breeders' Cup, though, sometimes you have to go with your gut. Ever since his name popped up on the pre-entries list, I've had a good feeling about Aotearoa. His closing kick in the Zuma Beach, handily turning back Diamond Bachelor, who is turning into sort of a wise-guy horse for the Juvenile on Saturday, impresses me enough to select him on top here.
7-5-4-13 (Aotearoa - Bobby's Kitten - Outstrip - Bashart)
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (3:05 PM PT)
1) Taptowne (15-1)
2) Golden Ticket (12-1)
3) Hymn Book (15-1)
4) Brujo de Olleros (BRZ) (8-1)
5) Fed Biz (6-1)
6) Broadway Empire (12-1)
7) Alpha (8-1)
8) Holy Lute (20-1)
9) Centralinteligence (15-1)
10) Verrazano (3-1)
11) Pants On Fire (6-1)
12) Goldencents (4-1)
A/E) Easter Gift (15-1)
The third Breeders' Cup race on Friday's card boasts both a competitive and talented field. There's a few three year-olds brave enough to take on their speedy elders here; two of them are the first and second choice in the race. After a disastrous try at ten furlongs in the Travers, Verrazano will make his final career start cutting back to a mile. The morning line favorite is absolutely devastating at shorter distances, but he'll have to fight past his California contemporary Goldencents, who will be coming for him down the stretch. This race also features a renewed rivalry between Alpha and Golden Ticket; the two colts crossed the wire together in the Travers and haven't met in a race since last year's Pennsylvania Derby. Pants on Fire adds some sizzle to this race after a sparkling Ack Ack (G3) win, and Brujo de Olleros seeks a win after a narrow loss to Graydar in the Kelso (G2). It is a star-studded group of horses with credentials nearly as good as their counterparts in Saturday's Classic. It is such an evenly matched field that you have to ponder...who will come out on top?
As with most races, speed may play a huge part in how this event unfolds. Many of these horses like to be on or near the pace, including the favorite, Verrazano. If Big V is 100%, there is a good possibility that he could run away with this race. However, anything can happen, and we must tread lightly, especially in such an evenly matched race as this. If Pants on Fire runs to his last race, he also has a shot at winning. In the past, this race has not been particularly kind to favorites, and that leads me to Brujo de Olleros, an invader from South America who has shown improvement in each of his dirt starts here. And while he may not find his way into the winner's circle against a field such as this, faithful Hymn Book usually finishes well, crossing the wire in the top 3 in 18 of his 25 lifetime starts. It will be a great race, both to watch and bet, and I'll take a little chance here with Team Valor's Brujo de Olleros, who should sit just off a quick pace.
4-10-11-3 (Brujo de Olleros - Verrazano - Pants on Fire - Hymn Book)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (3:50 PM PT)
1) Nesso (20-1)
2) Al Thakhira (GB) (6-1)
3) Colonel Joan (20-1)
4) Kitten Kaboodle (12-1)
5) Granny Mc's Kitten (20-1)
6) Vorda (FR) (4-1)
7) Street Sailing (15-1)
8) Chriselliam (IRE) (6-1)
9) Dancing House (20-1)
10) Clenor (IRE) (8-1)
11) Ready to Act (8-1)
12) Testa Rossi (FR) (8-1)
13) Sky Painter (15-1)
14) My Conquestadory (9-2)
As with the male juvenile turf race, this is a very competitive field with talented horses on two continents. The early favorite is Vorda, a Group 1 winner who finished second to colt No Nay Never in the Prix Morny (G1). She leads the European fillies, a group that also includes stakes winners Chriselliam and Al Thakhira. Popular My Conquestadory, who made her first start a winning one in the Summer Stakes (G2) against males, will have to overcome an unwieldy post 14. Also from Canada is Ready to Act, who looked a sure winner in her last start before shying at the whip and dumping her jockey in mid-stretch. Hopefully she has much better luck this time around. Then there is the home team, with Clenor coming into this race after two stakes wins and Testa Rossi fighting back all challenges at Belmont Park last time out. Colonel Joan and Street Sailing drew into this race off the also-eligible list, and, though they are longshots, could make some noise in this field laden with terrific juvenile fillies. And let's not forget the pair of Kittens, right alongside each other, who both are stakes winners.
Unlike the Juvenile Turf, however, none of these horses give me that "vibe"...that strong feeling about some horses I seem to get mainly around this time. Now is the time for me to be rational, and the rational part of my brain leads me to the favorite, Vorda, who showed an amazing turn of foot in her last start. However, upon replay review, I was even more impressed by Chriselliam, whose closing rush in her last reminded me a lot of Flotilla's late run to win last year's edition of this race. My Conquestadory looked great in her previous two outings, but will have to be special to win from the far outside post. If not for #14, she would probably be my first choice; because of that, she is bumped down to second, behind the fast-closing Chriselliam. Vorda is a special animal, no doubt about that, and she deserves every bit of her favoritism. Ready to Act could be dangerous if she runs to the ability of her last unlucky start. Clenor has done nothing wrong in Southern California. Indeed, it is a tough race, but I'll try my best to just pick four.
8-14-6-10 (Chriselliam - My Conquestadory - Vorda - Clenor)
Breeders' Cup Distaff (4:35 PM PT)
1) Street Girl (30-1)
2) Authenticity (8-1)
3) Close Hatches (6-1)
4) Royal Delta (8-5)
5) Beholder (5-2)
6) Princess of Sylmar (9-5)
The marquee race of the day is laden with intriguing storylines - Royal Delta going for three Distaff wins, an unprecedented feat; Princess of Sylmar looking to gallop into history as a possible Horse of the Year; Beholder seeking to hold them all off, running wire to wire. Although it plays host to a short field, the Breeders' Cup Distaff is, as always, a stellar race full of the finest dirt fillies and mares in the nation. There's been some buzz in the mornings in the way that Close Hatches looks, and we know that the old warrior Authenticity will run her race. Finally, there is Street Girl, an outsider looking in, but who ran an honest race in the Cotillion behind Close Hatches last time out. Four three year-olds, two older mares. It is a race in which no one wants to see any one horse lose. The chance of a six-way dead heat, however, is, of course, unlikely. So whose name will enter the record books in 2013?
We all know that Royal Delta went wire to wire to win last year's edition, and, when she doesn't inherit the lead early, she doesn't fare too well. Beholder just happens to have the same running style, with similar results. It all comes down to who sits off who or if they both choose to go after each other. That may turn into a pace meltdown which, even if the speed bias from last year's Breeders' Cup is still prevalent, may not end well for both of them. If that happens, it sets up for pace stalkers like Princess of Sylmar and Authenticity. And what of Close Hatches? She is the only filly to beat Princess of Sylmar this year, doing so in wire to wire fashion. Since then, she's proven that she doesn't necessarily need the early lead to win, so she may be closer to Princess of Sylmar than she will be to Royal Delta and Beholder. It is a tough decision here in which my heart and head are torn. My brain tells me to pick Beholder; deep in my heart, I will be rooting for Princess of Sylmar. Gary Stevens has been high on Beholder, and I trust the judgement of a Hall of Fame jockey. She is a dynamo at Santa Anita and may have better tactical speed than her older rival. If, however, she gets caught in a duel with Royal Delta that burns her out, the Princess may just wear them both down, and earn racing's crown at last. Close Hatches is looking good enough lately to hit the board, if not win.
5-6-4-3 (Beholder - Princess of Sylmar - Royal Delta - Close Hatches)
Breeders' Cup Marathon (1:45 PM PT)
1) Old Time Hockey (8-1)
2) Cease (8-1)
3) Commander (6-1)
4) Ever Rider (ARG) (7-2)
5) Suns Out Guns Out (10-1)
6) Indian Jones (5-1)
7) London Bridge (8-1)
8) Blueskiesnrainbows (6-1)
9) Pool Play (8-1)
10) Worldly (6-1)
Here's the race that I'm definitely going to have the most trouble with, picking it apart. It's a very wide open race that really looks - to me at least - that any one of these horses could jump up and win. My best chance is to just go down the line and see what these horses have done, so we'll start with Old Time Hockey, who exits that very fast race won by Indy Point (who goes Saturday in the Turf) at ten furlongs. If I think correctly, this will be the farthest Old Time Hockey has gone in his life; trainer Proctor sent him through a mile workout on the 18th in preparation for the marathon event. Cease is also stretching out, coming out of a win in a seven furlong allowance at Belmont Park. Commander has good tactical speed but will have to compete with Blueskiesnrainbows and possibly two foreigners, Ever Rider and London Bridge, for the lead. Suns Out Guns Out wowed in a one mile allowance at Parx last out, but finished a less than stellar fourth behind Eldaafer in the Greenwood (G3) before that. Indian Jones was second by a hard-fought nose in the Greenwood and is very deserving of his second-choice status here. Pool Play and Wordly have ran with the best in their careers, but it's been quite a while since either of them have won.
As any foreign shipper without a start in the States, Ever Rider is both intriguing and dangerous, especially with his frontrunning style (a drastic change from fellow Argentinian and last year's winner Calidoscopio). A win in a routing Grade 2 last out was enough to make him the morning line favorite at a tepid 7-2. If the pace heats up on the front end, Indian Jones might make some noise late; the son of Smarty Jones may be the best American hopeful in this race. London Bridge cannot be ignored, for although he is just a winner on turf, his pedigree (sired by Arch with a 4x4 cross to Alydar) suggests he may take well to the dirt. However - and it gives me great pleasure to say this - I am selecting one of two of the Smarty Jones sons in here to win. Give me Indian Jones, and I should get an even better price on him on Friday afternoon. Without defending champion Eldaafer in here, no one horse should hold strong favoritism in the Marathon.
6-4-8-9 (Indian Jones - Ever Rider - Blueskiesnrainbows - Pool Play)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (2:25 PM PT)
1) All Cash (30-1)
2) Giovanni Boldini (7-2)
3) Got Shades (30-1)
4) Outstrip (GB) (4-1)
5) Bobby's Kitten (5-2)
6) Home School (IRE) (30-1)
7) Aotearoa (12-1)
8) Bon Accord (20-1)
9) Wilshire Boulevard (IRE) (8-1)
10) Ontology (30-1)
11) Poker Player (12-1)
12) Shamshon (IRE) (12-1)
13) Bashart (6-1)
At 5-2, Bobby's Kitten is a slightly more solid morning-line choice than Ever Rider above. He enters this race off of a runaway victory in a stakes at Belmont, but faces some tough, well-bred company. There's a plethora of European-based horses here to face him, led by Outstrip, a gray son of stakes winner Asi Siempre. Last out, Outstrip was third behind War Command in the Dewhurst (G1), but before that, he was a commanding presence in the Champagne (G2) at Doncaster. Also here are Giovanni Boldini, who won an Irish listed stakes last time out in nice fashion, and two Irish-bred stakes winners in Wilshire Boulevard and Shamshon. Not to be forgotten are Bobby's Kitten's American contemporaries, the best of which is Bashart, who won the With Anticipation (G2) at Saratoga this summer before losing to Poker Player in the Bourbon (G3) at Keeneland. Finally, there is Aotearoa, who comes back after thumping Diamond Bachelor here at Santa Anita in the listed Zuma Beach Stakes.
Although Bobby's Kitten is another talented pick of the litter owned by the Ramsey family, there is value in looking away from the favorite, even after that impressive last start. There is certainly a lot of Euro class to pick and choose from; the familiar Godolphin vs. Coolmore narrative manifests itself once more in Outstrip matched against the more humbly bred Giovanni Boldini. Longshot Bon Accord hung late in his last outing, a third in the Bourbon, but he has the pedigree to get the distance. The 30-1 shots all drew into the field after being on the also-eligible list; the most intriguing of them, I think, is Got Shades, who comes into this race after a fourth in the Zuma Beach and a couple of nice stakes wins in Louisiana. In the Breeders' Cup, though, sometimes you have to go with your gut. Ever since his name popped up on the pre-entries list, I've had a good feeling about Aotearoa. His closing kick in the Zuma Beach, handily turning back Diamond Bachelor, who is turning into sort of a wise-guy horse for the Juvenile on Saturday, impresses me enough to select him on top here.
7-5-4-13 (Aotearoa - Bobby's Kitten - Outstrip - Bashart)
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (3:05 PM PT)
1) Taptowne (15-1)
2) Golden Ticket (12-1)
3) Hymn Book (15-1)
4) Brujo de Olleros (BRZ) (8-1)
5) Fed Biz (6-1)
6) Broadway Empire (12-1)
7) Alpha (8-1)
8) Holy Lute (20-1)
9) Centralinteligence (15-1)
10) Verrazano (3-1)
11) Pants On Fire (6-1)
12) Goldencents (4-1)
A/E) Easter Gift (15-1)
The third Breeders' Cup race on Friday's card boasts both a competitive and talented field. There's a few three year-olds brave enough to take on their speedy elders here; two of them are the first and second choice in the race. After a disastrous try at ten furlongs in the Travers, Verrazano will make his final career start cutting back to a mile. The morning line favorite is absolutely devastating at shorter distances, but he'll have to fight past his California contemporary Goldencents, who will be coming for him down the stretch. This race also features a renewed rivalry between Alpha and Golden Ticket; the two colts crossed the wire together in the Travers and haven't met in a race since last year's Pennsylvania Derby. Pants on Fire adds some sizzle to this race after a sparkling Ack Ack (G3) win, and Brujo de Olleros seeks a win after a narrow loss to Graydar in the Kelso (G2). It is a star-studded group of horses with credentials nearly as good as their counterparts in Saturday's Classic. It is such an evenly matched field that you have to ponder...who will come out on top?
As with most races, speed may play a huge part in how this event unfolds. Many of these horses like to be on or near the pace, including the favorite, Verrazano. If Big V is 100%, there is a good possibility that he could run away with this race. However, anything can happen, and we must tread lightly, especially in such an evenly matched race as this. If Pants on Fire runs to his last race, he also has a shot at winning. In the past, this race has not been particularly kind to favorites, and that leads me to Brujo de Olleros, an invader from South America who has shown improvement in each of his dirt starts here. And while he may not find his way into the winner's circle against a field such as this, faithful Hymn Book usually finishes well, crossing the wire in the top 3 in 18 of his 25 lifetime starts. It will be a great race, both to watch and bet, and I'll take a little chance here with Team Valor's Brujo de Olleros, who should sit just off a quick pace.
4-10-11-3 (Brujo de Olleros - Verrazano - Pants on Fire - Hymn Book)
Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (3:50 PM PT)
1) Nesso (20-1)
2) Al Thakhira (GB) (6-1)
3) Colonel Joan (20-1)
4) Kitten Kaboodle (12-1)
5) Granny Mc's Kitten (20-1)
6) Vorda (FR) (4-1)
7) Street Sailing (15-1)
8) Chriselliam (IRE) (6-1)
9) Dancing House (20-1)
10) Clenor (IRE) (8-1)
11) Ready to Act (8-1)
12) Testa Rossi (FR) (8-1)
13) Sky Painter (15-1)
14) My Conquestadory (9-2)
As with the male juvenile turf race, this is a very competitive field with talented horses on two continents. The early favorite is Vorda, a Group 1 winner who finished second to colt No Nay Never in the Prix Morny (G1). She leads the European fillies, a group that also includes stakes winners Chriselliam and Al Thakhira. Popular My Conquestadory, who made her first start a winning one in the Summer Stakes (G2) against males, will have to overcome an unwieldy post 14. Also from Canada is Ready to Act, who looked a sure winner in her last start before shying at the whip and dumping her jockey in mid-stretch. Hopefully she has much better luck this time around. Then there is the home team, with Clenor coming into this race after two stakes wins and Testa Rossi fighting back all challenges at Belmont Park last time out. Colonel Joan and Street Sailing drew into this race off the also-eligible list, and, though they are longshots, could make some noise in this field laden with terrific juvenile fillies. And let's not forget the pair of Kittens, right alongside each other, who both are stakes winners.
Unlike the Juvenile Turf, however, none of these horses give me that "vibe"...that strong feeling about some horses I seem to get mainly around this time. Now is the time for me to be rational, and the rational part of my brain leads me to the favorite, Vorda, who showed an amazing turn of foot in her last start. However, upon replay review, I was even more impressed by Chriselliam, whose closing rush in her last reminded me a lot of Flotilla's late run to win last year's edition of this race. My Conquestadory looked great in her previous two outings, but will have to be special to win from the far outside post. If not for #14, she would probably be my first choice; because of that, she is bumped down to second, behind the fast-closing Chriselliam. Vorda is a special animal, no doubt about that, and she deserves every bit of her favoritism. Ready to Act could be dangerous if she runs to the ability of her last unlucky start. Clenor has done nothing wrong in Southern California. Indeed, it is a tough race, but I'll try my best to just pick four.
8-14-6-10 (Chriselliam - My Conquestadory - Vorda - Clenor)
Breeders' Cup Distaff (4:35 PM PT)
1) Street Girl (30-1)
2) Authenticity (8-1)
3) Close Hatches (6-1)
4) Royal Delta (8-5)
5) Beholder (5-2)
6) Princess of Sylmar (9-5)
The marquee race of the day is laden with intriguing storylines - Royal Delta going for three Distaff wins, an unprecedented feat; Princess of Sylmar looking to gallop into history as a possible Horse of the Year; Beholder seeking to hold them all off, running wire to wire. Although it plays host to a short field, the Breeders' Cup Distaff is, as always, a stellar race full of the finest dirt fillies and mares in the nation. There's been some buzz in the mornings in the way that Close Hatches looks, and we know that the old warrior Authenticity will run her race. Finally, there is Street Girl, an outsider looking in, but who ran an honest race in the Cotillion behind Close Hatches last time out. Four three year-olds, two older mares. It is a race in which no one wants to see any one horse lose. The chance of a six-way dead heat, however, is, of course, unlikely. So whose name will enter the record books in 2013?
We all know that Royal Delta went wire to wire to win last year's edition, and, when she doesn't inherit the lead early, she doesn't fare too well. Beholder just happens to have the same running style, with similar results. It all comes down to who sits off who or if they both choose to go after each other. That may turn into a pace meltdown which, even if the speed bias from last year's Breeders' Cup is still prevalent, may not end well for both of them. If that happens, it sets up for pace stalkers like Princess of Sylmar and Authenticity. And what of Close Hatches? She is the only filly to beat Princess of Sylmar this year, doing so in wire to wire fashion. Since then, she's proven that she doesn't necessarily need the early lead to win, so she may be closer to Princess of Sylmar than she will be to Royal Delta and Beholder. It is a tough decision here in which my heart and head are torn. My brain tells me to pick Beholder; deep in my heart, I will be rooting for Princess of Sylmar. Gary Stevens has been high on Beholder, and I trust the judgement of a Hall of Fame jockey. She is a dynamo at Santa Anita and may have better tactical speed than her older rival. If, however, she gets caught in a duel with Royal Delta that burns her out, the Princess may just wear them both down, and earn racing's crown at last. Close Hatches is looking good enough lately to hit the board, if not win.
5-6-4-3 (Beholder - Princess of Sylmar - Royal Delta - Close Hatches)
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
A Look at Breeders' Cup Pre-Entries (VIDEO)
I decided to try something new - instead of writing about the pre-entries released today, why don't I talk about them? Part 1 is for Friday, Part 2 is for Saturday. I apologize for poor webcam quality that may occur or any random background noise. Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Finding Love in the Sport of Kings
We've all heard the term "opposites attract," an idea that has some merit. It is nice to imagine someone's good characteristics balancing mine out, and vice versa. Certainly, if I found a mate that agreed with me on everything, it would become boring after a while. What's life without a little debate?
However, there is one issue I am stubborn on when it comes to the dating sphere - you guessed it: horse racing. After all, this girl writing is someone who not only enjoys the sport but lives for it. And when this same girl's (ex) boyfriend yawned and complained through our TV viewing of 2012's Kentucky Derby, you can imagine that she was a little crestfallen. Opposites may attract, but if I don't nab a horse lover, I may never be happy.
My ears perk up when I hear any sort of racing term out of a male's mouth. It's almost like a mating call to me - "I hit the superfecta in the last race at Fonner Park." Wait...say what?! my brain screams, hearing these words. Hell, if they even had heard of, say, Spectacular Bid, I might be willing to give them a chance. But when someone completely shuts down the idea of the sport, it eventually will shut me down to them.
Yes, maybe I'm selfish, and vainly picky. Come on, though! If you're going to make something your life, don't you want your partner to enjoy it alongside you? I'd hate to be attached to someone who was miserable at the track. It not only would bring my emotions down on my account, but on theirs as well; I'm not out to make anyone miserable...certainly not a boyfriend.
Some day it shall happen. I've been invested in the sport for long enough that I'm starting to really make connections. Maybe it'll happen while I'm leaning on the rail, reading the form, waiting for the next race to arrive. Maybe my future husband will appear to me at a yearling sale, bookmarked catalog in hand. We might even collide in a non-racing setting, get to talking, and hey, wow, he knows all the Breeders' Cup Classic winners! Instant points for him!
In the meantime, I don't think I would feel at ease settling for anything less. This is, after all, the Sport of Kings, so it makes perfect sense that this racing fan still waits for her racing Prince Charming.
However, there is one issue I am stubborn on when it comes to the dating sphere - you guessed it: horse racing. After all, this girl writing is someone who not only enjoys the sport but lives for it. And when this same girl's (ex) boyfriend yawned and complained through our TV viewing of 2012's Kentucky Derby, you can imagine that she was a little crestfallen. Opposites may attract, but if I don't nab a horse lover, I may never be happy.
My ears perk up when I hear any sort of racing term out of a male's mouth. It's almost like a mating call to me - "I hit the superfecta in the last race at Fonner Park." Wait...say what?! my brain screams, hearing these words. Hell, if they even had heard of, say, Spectacular Bid, I might be willing to give them a chance. But when someone completely shuts down the idea of the sport, it eventually will shut me down to them.
Yes, maybe I'm selfish, and vainly picky. Come on, though! If you're going to make something your life, don't you want your partner to enjoy it alongside you? I'd hate to be attached to someone who was miserable at the track. It not only would bring my emotions down on my account, but on theirs as well; I'm not out to make anyone miserable...certainly not a boyfriend.
Some day it shall happen. I've been invested in the sport for long enough that I'm starting to really make connections. Maybe it'll happen while I'm leaning on the rail, reading the form, waiting for the next race to arrive. Maybe my future husband will appear to me at a yearling sale, bookmarked catalog in hand. We might even collide in a non-racing setting, get to talking, and hey, wow, he knows all the Breeders' Cup Classic winners! Instant points for him!
In the meantime, I don't think I would feel at ease settling for anything less. This is, after all, the Sport of Kings, so it makes perfect sense that this racing fan still waits for her racing Prince Charming.
Friday, October 18, 2013
30 Years of the Breeders' Cup - A to Z
With just two weeks to go before the 30th Breeders' Cup, it's fun to look back at the storied history of the event. Instead of the regular chronological recollections, here's memories of champions based on the alphabet.
Monday, October 14, 2013
War Pass - The Fleeting Champion
Like many good things in this world, greatness does not last forever. Rather, greatness seems to enter this world with great force, exiting as quickly as it came and leaving only traces of its presence. So many of the brilliant talents in horse racing left us sooner than we would have liked - Secretariat died at 19 from a hoof disease, while Ruffian left her life on the track in her battle with Foolish Pleasure. While not quite to the caliber of the pair just mentioned, War Pass gave us thrills and chills in just seven career starts and only five years living in our world.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Pedigree Profile - El Prado
Lately, one name among any others has been popping up more and more frequently in the pedigrees of American stakes winners. That name is El Prado, the Irish stakes winner of the early nineties who enjoyed a long, prosperous stud career at Adena Springs. He was so important to that stud farm that, even in death, their webpage still has a section for his achievements and highlights.
His pedigree was a product of the best of Thoroughbred breeding, as a son of an English classic winner and out of an Irish classic winner. His sire was Sadler's Wells, a son of the great Northern Dancer, who once commanded an imposing $1 million stud fee. Sadler's Wells became a champion and, upon retirement, launched an amazing stud career not matched by any of his contemporaries. His sireline saturates the English landscape, most importantly through Galileo, who is one of the top sires in the world today.
El Prado's dam was Lady Capulet, winner of the 1977 Irish 1000 Guineas (astonishingly, that was her first racetrack start!) A daughter of English Derby winner Sir Ivor, she was part of a female family full of stakes winners and stakes producers. Besides El Prado, she produced Irish champion Entitled (by Mill Reef, one of England's most celebrated racehorses). El Prado gets his gray color from Mahmoud, a Derby winner who appears three times in this pedigree. There is also inbreeding to Turn-To, sire of the great Hail to Reason, and to Pharamond, a full brother to Sickle (a direct male ancestor of Native Dancer).
El Prado only raced nine times, winning four races. His good breeding paid off; he was 1991's champion two year-old in Ireland. After a disastrous three year-old season, where he finished off the board in all starts, he was retired to stud in America. At Adena Springs, El Prado would do his most important work.
His first crop was born in 1994; a relatively small crop, but with some talented individuals. The first millionaire by El Prado was in this crop - Chindi, a graded stakes-winning gelding who ran a whopping 81 times! Course record equallers El Cielo and Thatsusintheolbean were also members of El Prado's first group of foals. After this first year, El Prado's stock began to go up. In his second crop was Nite Dreamer, a graded stakes winner who finished on the board in a Canadian classic race. Racemares like El Prado Essence and The Happy Hopper, both stakes winners, added to the young sire's intrigue. Quimera became his first Group 1 stakes winner in Argentina.
The good mares started coming to El Prado and, in his sixth crop, he produced his greatest yet - Medaglia d'Oro. A Travers winner, he won three Grade 1 races and finished second in both the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) - twice - and the Dubai World Cup (G1). Medaglia d'Oro retired with $5.7 million in the bank and has since become one of the nation's most sought-after sires, giving us racehorses like Rachel Alexandra, Plum Pretty and Marketing Mix.
His 2001 crop, born two years after Medaglia d'Oro, was one to remember. Kitten's Joy, 2004's champion turf male, is now the leading turf sire in America. Also with recent success as a sire is Artie Schiller, the winner of the 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile. Borrego was a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2005, and Fort Prado was a multiple stakes winner who won stakes well into his eight year-old season. That crop was the gold standard for El Prado as far as sons go. The year after that, though, the lovely Asi Siempre was born. She was a graded stakes winner on both turf and dirt and looked so good that Sheikh Mohammed snatched her up for $3 million. Her son Outstrip (Exceed and Excel) is a graded stakes winner in England this year.
Spanish Moon, born in 2005, was a Grade 1 winner in France, later banned from racing in the United Kingdom due to roguish behavior at the starting gate. Grassy could run very long, finishing second in the 14 furlong Breeders' Cup Marathon (G2) last year. Paddy O'Prado won everything he could as a three year-old, finishing first in four graded stakes, including the Secretariat (G1), and third in the 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1). There is also the popular Winter Memories, a beautiful gray racemare who was one of the leading turf females in 2011 and 2012. She was probably the last great horse for El Prado to offer us before his death a year after her birth. All these names and their accomplishments helped turned a well-bred racehorse into one of America's leading sires.
His pedigree was a product of the best of Thoroughbred breeding, as a son of an English classic winner and out of an Irish classic winner. His sire was Sadler's Wells, a son of the great Northern Dancer, who once commanded an imposing $1 million stud fee. Sadler's Wells became a champion and, upon retirement, launched an amazing stud career not matched by any of his contemporaries. His sireline saturates the English landscape, most importantly through Galileo, who is one of the top sires in the world today.
El Prado's dam was Lady Capulet, winner of the 1977 Irish 1000 Guineas (astonishingly, that was her first racetrack start!) A daughter of English Derby winner Sir Ivor, she was part of a female family full of stakes winners and stakes producers. Besides El Prado, she produced Irish champion Entitled (by Mill Reef, one of England's most celebrated racehorses). El Prado gets his gray color from Mahmoud, a Derby winner who appears three times in this pedigree. There is also inbreeding to Turn-To, sire of the great Hail to Reason, and to Pharamond, a full brother to Sickle (a direct male ancestor of Native Dancer).
El Prado only raced nine times, winning four races. His good breeding paid off; he was 1991's champion two year-old in Ireland. After a disastrous three year-old season, where he finished off the board in all starts, he was retired to stud in America. At Adena Springs, El Prado would do his most important work.
His first crop was born in 1994; a relatively small crop, but with some talented individuals. The first millionaire by El Prado was in this crop - Chindi, a graded stakes-winning gelding who ran a whopping 81 times! Course record equallers El Cielo and Thatsusintheolbean were also members of El Prado's first group of foals. After this first year, El Prado's stock began to go up. In his second crop was Nite Dreamer, a graded stakes winner who finished on the board in a Canadian classic race. Racemares like El Prado Essence and The Happy Hopper, both stakes winners, added to the young sire's intrigue. Quimera became his first Group 1 stakes winner in Argentina.
The good mares started coming to El Prado and, in his sixth crop, he produced his greatest yet - Medaglia d'Oro. A Travers winner, he won three Grade 1 races and finished second in both the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) - twice - and the Dubai World Cup (G1). Medaglia d'Oro retired with $5.7 million in the bank and has since become one of the nation's most sought-after sires, giving us racehorses like Rachel Alexandra, Plum Pretty and Marketing Mix.
His 2001 crop, born two years after Medaglia d'Oro, was one to remember. Kitten's Joy, 2004's champion turf male, is now the leading turf sire in America. Also with recent success as a sire is Artie Schiller, the winner of the 2005 Breeders' Cup Mile. Borrego was a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2005, and Fort Prado was a multiple stakes winner who won stakes well into his eight year-old season. That crop was the gold standard for El Prado as far as sons go. The year after that, though, the lovely Asi Siempre was born. She was a graded stakes winner on both turf and dirt and looked so good that Sheikh Mohammed snatched her up for $3 million. Her son Outstrip (Exceed and Excel) is a graded stakes winner in England this year.
Spanish Moon, born in 2005, was a Grade 1 winner in France, later banned from racing in the United Kingdom due to roguish behavior at the starting gate. Grassy could run very long, finishing second in the 14 furlong Breeders' Cup Marathon (G2) last year. Paddy O'Prado won everything he could as a three year-old, finishing first in four graded stakes, including the Secretariat (G1), and third in the 2010 Kentucky Derby (G1). There is also the popular Winter Memories, a beautiful gray racemare who was one of the leading turf females in 2011 and 2012. She was probably the last great horse for El Prado to offer us before his death a year after her birth. All these names and their accomplishments helped turned a well-bred racehorse into one of America's leading sires.
Monday, October 7, 2013
The Best of the West - Game On Dude
In the midst of Wise Dan's loss to Silver Max in the Shadwell (Polytrack) Mile (and a Sixteenth), Horse of the Year talk has heated to a boil in industry and fan circles alike. Will it be Princess of Sylmar, or Palace Malice, or even Wise Dan still, if he impresses in the Mile? Slogging through the arguments is no enjoyable task, particularly when many of these arguments are lacking one key component - the most accomplished older male in the country.
Yes, though his name has often been left out of the frenzy of these recent arguments, Game On Dude has been quietly putting together one of the best California resumes since Lava Man. This year, he equaled Lava Man's feat of winning the Big 'Cap, the Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic in the same year, something that may never happen again if the Hollywood Gold Cup is not reinstated at a different track. He has amassed over $5.6 million in 15 wins, and, at six years old, this gelding shows no signs of stopping.
His background, though not the most blueblooded, is far from humble. He is a son of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again, whose many champion offspring includes the like of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper and champion mare Ginger Punch. His dam is a stakes-winning daughter of Grade 1 winner Devil His Due, and Game On Dude's pedigree is loaded with names like champion Raise a Native - twice - legendary racehorses Northern Dancer and Dr. Fager, and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
Failing to sell as a yearling at Keeneland, Game On Dude was later sold privately and began to prepare for the races under the steady hand of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The gelding took a little while to get going, not racing until the beginning of his three year-old year. After unsuccessful starts in two Derby prep races, Baffert decided to bypass the Derby. Instead, Game On Dude ran away with the Lone Star Derby (G3), notching the first big win in what was to become a successful career. This victory impressed Baffert enough to run him in the 2010 Belmont Stakes, where he finished a tired fourth to Drosselmeyer, who he would face again later. He exited the race nursing a hind ankle injury and would not return to the track that year.
As a four year-old, Game On Dude came out with guns blazing. A 14-1 longshot, he sat close to the pace set by First Dude and pounced on the turn, taking the lead. Then what looked like a game of bumper cars ensued as Game On Dude bounced off of Twirling Candy, shoving his rival into Setsuko on the far outside. Twirling Candy was done, but the white-faced Setsuko came at the gelding with a furious rally, looking as if he had the race won. Much to everyone's surprise, Game On Dude fought back stubbornly, shoving his dark brown nose in front as the wire flashed by. After a lengthy inquiry regarding the jostling in the stretch, Game On Dude was proclaimed the winner. He was now a horse to be taken seriously.
After a few on the board performances in some Grade 3 handicaps and a second place to First Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Game On Dude turned back the challenge of Awesome Gem to win the Goodwood Stakes (G1), earning him a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Baffert's gelding took the lead immediately as the best horses in the country chased after him. It looked as if he would give up at the far turn, but he turned back challenge after challenge until, in deep stretch, he found himself alone on the lead again. Leading a group of that caliber for ten furlongs at a decent pace was a little too much to ask of the young horse, though, and just as jockey Chantal Sutherland thought she had the race won on Game On Dude, his old rival Drosselmeyer came out of nowhere on the far outside to take the victory. And who else riding him but Mike Smith, Sutherland's ex-boyfriend, avenging his loss on Zenyatta the year previous? It was a race dripping with irony.
2012 would treat Game On Dude even better. After a lackluster finish in the Dubai World Cup, he came back the States and rattled off an impressive string of victories, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and the newly christened Awesome Again Stakes (formerly the Goodwood), named for his sire. He also finished a game second to the fast-closing Dullahan in the Pacific Classic (G1); a track record was set that day. He entered the Breeders' Cup Classic again. This time, he was on his home turf, Santa Anita, and he was a heavy favorite. However, after an uncharacteristically slow start, he lost his golden leading spot to Fort Larned, who would end up going all the way, fighting off the game Mucho Macho Man. Game On Dude finished seventh many lengths behind the winner. After that disastrous run, Chantal Sutherland lost the mount on her gritty gelding.
Now we've arrived at this year's campaign. If Game On Dude was good in his first few years as a racehorse, he has been absolutely sparkling in 2013. After a successful yearly debut in the San Antonio (G2), he returned to the Big 'Cap and notched an eye-popping win by nearly eight lengths - and it looked effortless! After a workmanlike victory in the Charles Town Classic (G2), he returned to California and won his second Hollywood Gold Cup, galloping into history as the last winner of that race at Hollywood Park. It was redemption time for Game On Dude in the Pacific Classic, who had lost the race twice before. No worries, though, for his connections - he destroyed the field by more than eight lengths, the largest winning margin in Pacific Classic history. Bypassing another run in the Awesome Again (G1), he now awaits his third try at the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he will almost certainly be favored again.
After reviewing these facts, particularly the paragraph above, it astounds me how people continue to forget about Game On Dude in the wake of other victories. This year has been his best, and certainly one of the most consistent for an older horse in quite some time. People complain that he's been facing soft fields, but no one has come out to face him. We'll see how the horses from the East do against the best of the West, but, until the verdict of the Breeders' Cup Classic, Game On Dude has his hooves firmly cemented in a Horse of the Year title for 2013.
Yes, though his name has often been left out of the frenzy of these recent arguments, Game On Dude has been quietly putting together one of the best California resumes since Lava Man. This year, he equaled Lava Man's feat of winning the Big 'Cap, the Gold Cup and the Pacific Classic in the same year, something that may never happen again if the Hollywood Gold Cup is not reinstated at a different track. He has amassed over $5.6 million in 15 wins, and, at six years old, this gelding shows no signs of stopping.
His background, though not the most blueblooded, is far from humble. He is a son of Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again, whose many champion offspring includes the like of Horse of the Year Ghostzapper and champion mare Ginger Punch. His dam is a stakes-winning daughter of Grade 1 winner Devil His Due, and Game On Dude's pedigree is loaded with names like champion Raise a Native - twice - legendary racehorses Northern Dancer and Dr. Fager, and Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew.
Failing to sell as a yearling at Keeneland, Game On Dude was later sold privately and began to prepare for the races under the steady hand of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. The gelding took a little while to get going, not racing until the beginning of his three year-old year. After unsuccessful starts in two Derby prep races, Baffert decided to bypass the Derby. Instead, Game On Dude ran away with the Lone Star Derby (G3), notching the first big win in what was to become a successful career. This victory impressed Baffert enough to run him in the 2010 Belmont Stakes, where he finished a tired fourth to Drosselmeyer, who he would face again later. He exited the race nursing a hind ankle injury and would not return to the track that year.
As a four year-old, Game On Dude came out with guns blazing. A 14-1 longshot, he sat close to the pace set by First Dude and pounced on the turn, taking the lead. Then what looked like a game of bumper cars ensued as Game On Dude bounced off of Twirling Candy, shoving his rival into Setsuko on the far outside. Twirling Candy was done, but the white-faced Setsuko came at the gelding with a furious rally, looking as if he had the race won. Much to everyone's surprise, Game On Dude fought back stubbornly, shoving his dark brown nose in front as the wire flashed by. After a lengthy inquiry regarding the jostling in the stretch, Game On Dude was proclaimed the winner. He was now a horse to be taken seriously.
After a few on the board performances in some Grade 3 handicaps and a second place to First Dude in the Hollywood Gold Cup, Game On Dude turned back the challenge of Awesome Gem to win the Goodwood Stakes (G1), earning him a spot in the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs. Baffert's gelding took the lead immediately as the best horses in the country chased after him. It looked as if he would give up at the far turn, but he turned back challenge after challenge until, in deep stretch, he found himself alone on the lead again. Leading a group of that caliber for ten furlongs at a decent pace was a little too much to ask of the young horse, though, and just as jockey Chantal Sutherland thought she had the race won on Game On Dude, his old rival Drosselmeyer came out of nowhere on the far outside to take the victory. And who else riding him but Mike Smith, Sutherland's ex-boyfriend, avenging his loss on Zenyatta the year previous? It was a race dripping with irony.
2012 would treat Game On Dude even better. After a lackluster finish in the Dubai World Cup, he came back the States and rattled off an impressive string of victories, including the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and the newly christened Awesome Again Stakes (formerly the Goodwood), named for his sire. He also finished a game second to the fast-closing Dullahan in the Pacific Classic (G1); a track record was set that day. He entered the Breeders' Cup Classic again. This time, he was on his home turf, Santa Anita, and he was a heavy favorite. However, after an uncharacteristically slow start, he lost his golden leading spot to Fort Larned, who would end up going all the way, fighting off the game Mucho Macho Man. Game On Dude finished seventh many lengths behind the winner. After that disastrous run, Chantal Sutherland lost the mount on her gritty gelding.
Now we've arrived at this year's campaign. If Game On Dude was good in his first few years as a racehorse, he has been absolutely sparkling in 2013. After a successful yearly debut in the San Antonio (G2), he returned to the Big 'Cap and notched an eye-popping win by nearly eight lengths - and it looked effortless! After a workmanlike victory in the Charles Town Classic (G2), he returned to California and won his second Hollywood Gold Cup, galloping into history as the last winner of that race at Hollywood Park. It was redemption time for Game On Dude in the Pacific Classic, who had lost the race twice before. No worries, though, for his connections - he destroyed the field by more than eight lengths, the largest winning margin in Pacific Classic history. Bypassing another run in the Awesome Again (G1), he now awaits his third try at the Breeders' Cup Classic, where he will almost certainly be favored again.
After reviewing these facts, particularly the paragraph above, it astounds me how people continue to forget about Game On Dude in the wake of other victories. This year has been his best, and certainly one of the most consistent for an older horse in quite some time. People complain that he's been facing soft fields, but no one has come out to face him. We'll see how the horses from the East do against the best of the West, but, until the verdict of the Breeders' Cup Classic, Game On Dude has his hooves firmly cemented in a Horse of the Year title for 2013.
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