Saturday, August 21, 2010

Races Worth a Million!

WOW! That was an incredible race! Just when you thought Gio Ponti had it won, here comes little Debussy on the rail, with his jock pulling a "Calvin Borel" as the announcer called it by flying up the rail!
Gio Ponti and his jockey ran a great race! Coming in a close second, and even though he thought he had it won, the jockey kept urging Gio Ponti on. However, Debussy just "sprouted wings" and ran down the turf champion! I was super excited, because, although I like Gio Ponti (and General Quarters who was regretably way out of the money) I randomly picked Debussy before the post parade because I thought he was pretty and it was odd he wasn't being ponied. (And if you watched after the race, he was trying to bite that his pony horse the entire way back the winner's circle!) When I saw a horse come flying up the rail, I was "come on Gio Ponti! Hold it!" then I saw it was my colt and was "COME ON!!!! CATCH HIM!!! GO BABY GO!!" Funny how things change!

Simply amazing!

Paddy O'Prado was 1st in the Secretariat Stakes, Dean's Kitten coming in 5th.
Eclair de Lune was the winner of the Beverly D. there as well.
Elsewhere at Saratoga, Blind Luck took the win against Devil May Care! Wow! Congrats! If betting I would have been safe here too! Seeing as I would have placed both to win! So, lost one won one! But wow that was a neat race! Blind Luck came zoomin from behind to get into a stretch battle with Harve De Grace. Amazing!


And just an odd tidbit, Debussy the person was a composer of a song called Clair de Lune. Neat!

Congrats to all the winning connections! I hope all the horses come back healthy!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Synthetics Are Out

Santa Anita announced that the track will no longer be synthetic as of the first week of December. After encountering problems with rocks from the base making their way to the surface of the rack, as well as facing endless drainage problems, the dirt surface will be making a comeback.

I'm sure many people are going to be happy about this switch, and hopefully "PolyZen" as some people call the mighty mare, will be just as formidable on her home track after the change.

If the maintenance of these synthetic surfaces is as hard as they seem to be, perhaps this change is for the better. I know the jockeys have had issues with these new surfaces, saying they don't provide the "bounce" that a dirt track does, meaning, if the jockey falls off it's like hitting cement. So, for track maintenance workers as well as the jockeys, this is a good change. Hopefully, the horses will continue to run well on dirt and the number of breakdowns will stay down.
For more details on the track change, check out: Santa Anita Track to go to Dirt

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Zenyatta yatta yatta

She went and did it again! Super Mare Zenyatta won her 18th race Saturday in the Hirsch Stakes. In her same attitude she started picking off horses around the last turn and pulled away in the stretch, holding off a desperate and impressive chase by Rinterval, who would lose by a head. I love watching this mare go. The track announcer makes comments about how easily she loads into the gate, how wonderfully she breaks, the easy pace she runs at, and ears...that's mare never runs with her ears back! I am beyond happy that they continued her career, it is obvious this girl just loves to run!
I do not care what anyone else thinks (primarily commenters on ESPN's online coverage), this mare can be and is a Champion! No matter the surface she runs on or the horses she beats. I don't care what happens in Churchill this fall, if she loses, she loses, but you cannot tell me that revokes her power in her previous 18 races! But whatever, I think she has the potential to win the BC Classic this year. She can handle the distance, I do believe she has handled dirt a few times, and she can and has handled top males. Yes, this one will be difficult for her! She has to beat Quality Road, Lookin At Lucky, and hopefully Rachel Alexandra! That is one heck of a field! She will have to work for it, but I think it is possible!

Other news this weekend, the arguable best older colt, Quality Road, lost out to Blame this weekend in the Whitney Handicap. With this win, Blame automatically secured a spot in the Breeder's Cup Classic through the win and your in program. Blame put on one heck of a performance, with a strong late charge. It was really impressive. In that same race my favorite racing gelding, Mine That Bird, came in fifth...out of six...still love you dude!
Concord Point was also the victor in Saturday's West Virginian Derby. After having some gate issues, he broke well and took the lead early. After that, the grey simply never let it go! Another awesome race!
Congrats to all the winning connections this weekend! It was a weekend full of big races and bigger racers! Hope all the horses come up healthy and work clean to their next start!