Monmouth Stakes

Big Brown will race today in the Monmouth Stakes. The race was carded specifically to draw the Kentucky Derby winner. This will be his first race on the turf since winning his maiden on the surface, cruising to the easiest of victories. The field isn’t much, so he should have no problems.

The best runners in the field include Silver Tree, and Proudinksy. The latter was second in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby as a 3-year-old. I had $100 to win on him in that race, so I remember it vividly. He was getting at the winner, Daytona, late but didn’t have enough punch.

Big Brown should have plenty of punch. I’m sure the connections want to see a nice effort leading up to the Breeders Cup Classic, at Santa Anita. I doubt Dutrow will guarantee a victory here, I’m sure he learned his lesson in the Belmont.

I have to go, its time to get my online horse betting underway. Big Brown won’t offer much value, but I advise against trying to beat him. Good luck, and thanks for reading, and please come back again!

Melbourne Cup

I had the privilege of watching the Melbourne Cup last year. It was great race, a true trek of champions. I don't recall seeing a race at 2 miles before the Melbourne Cup. I ended up betting the horse who ran third, Mahler. He stalked the whole way and went to lead as they hit the stretch. He was reeled in by Purple Moon and eventual winner Efficient. I didn't get to read the PP for the race, but I knew his sire, Galileo, raced in the Breeders Cup Classic. Below is a little info on the race, quoted from Wikipedia.

The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major annual thoroughbred horse race. Billed as The race that stops a nation, it is for three-year-olds and over, and covers a distance of 3,200 metres. It is generally regarded as the most prestigious "two-mile" handicap in the world. The event is held on the first Tuesday in November by the Victoria Racing Club, on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. This day was traditionally only a public holiday within metropolitan Melbourne, but is now also observed as a holiday in the ACT.
The race was originally held over two miles (about 3,218 metres) but following preparation for Australia's adoption of the metric system in the 1970s, the current race distance of 3,200 metres was established in 1972. This reduced the distance by 61ft 6in, and Rain Lover's 1968 race record of 3min.19.1sec was accordingly adjusted to 3min.17.9sec. The present record holder is the 1990 winner Kingston Rule with a time of 3min 16.3sec.
The 2007 winner was Efficient, ridden by Michael Rodd, trained by Graeme Rogerson and owned by Lloyd Williams.

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Saturday Stakes

Mach Ride will try to win his comeback in the Mr. Prospector Handicap, but Grand Champion will attempt to crash the party.


Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes

I’m giving Big Truck the nudge in this one at 12-1. Castelleno isn’t my first choice for jockey but I think that shouldn’t factor in too much. He fired a bullet last out over Gulfstream where the race will take place today. Silver Edition has run in to some monsters of late. He caught Nick Zito’s phenom War Pass second out, and then ran into Betatron. I expect a much better run from him today. You should look for him to check in second. For third I like Halo Najib at 3-1. He could win but I don’t think today will be his day. On the whole I think this is a pretty balanced race and several horses could get it done.

Grade 2 San Pasqual Handicap

I like Well Armed to win this race at 7/2. He won’t have it easy though as Molengao is going to give him all he wants. Heatseeker could possibly run second but I don’t see him winning. The race seems almost surely between my top 2.

Grade 3 Santa Ysabel Stakes

It’s hard to go against Robert Frankel’s filly Turn Away in this one. I expect Bejarano to get this one to the lead and take it on the front end. Initiation could win here but I like her second. For third I’m opting for Final Fling.

Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Handicap

Mach Ride is going to get it done at 5/2. He hasn’t raced in over 3 months but I don’t think that will hurt his chances. Grand Champion has been running well of late and should be competitive here in his first graded stakes start. I like him for second. Keyed Entry and Noonmark both will compete for third.

Who do YOU like?!

2008 Eclipse Awards Finalists

Above is last years big eclipse award winner Invasor(HOY, Older Male.

Below you have a list of the finalists for the 2008 eclipse awards. Scroll down for my selections in each and every category.

Two-Year-Old Male: Kodiak Kowboy, Pyro, War Pass
Two-Year-Old Filly: Country Star, Indian Blessing, Proud Spell
Three-Year-Old Male: Curlin, Hard Spun, Street Sense
Three-Year-Old Filly: Octave, Panty Raid, Rags to Riches
Older Male: Corinthian, Invasor (ARG), Lawyer Ron
Older Female: Ginger Punch, Hystericalady, Nashoba’s Key
Male Sprinter: Fabulous Strike, Idiot Proof, Midnight Lute
Female Sprinter: Dream Rush, Maryfield, River’s Prayer
Male Turf Horse: After Market, English Channel, Kip Deville
Female Turf Horse: Lahudood (GB), Nashoba’s Key, Precious Kitten
Steeplechase Horse: Good Night Shirt, McDynamo, Planets Aligned
Owner: Maggi Moss, Shadwell Stable, Stronach Stables
Breeder: Adena Springs, William S. Farish, Martin and Pam Wygod
Trainer: Steve Asmussen, Kiaran McLaughlin, Todd Pletcher
Jockey: Robby Albarado, Garrett Gomez, John Velazquez
Apprentice Jockey: Tyler Pizarro, Alonso Quinonez, Joe Talamo


Two-Year-Old Male: This category isn't even a contest. Breeders Cup Juvenile winner War Pass is virtually guaranteed this one. The undefeated colt has met absolutely no competition thus far in his career. I expect great things from and I believe he is our greatest hope for a Triple Crown winner.

Two-Year-Old Filly: Although Country Star was very brilliant this year I have to give this award to the Breeders Cup champion and still undefeated Indian Blessing. She ran those fillies off their feet in the Breeders Cup. Country Star ran a great race in the Starlet breaking the track record in the process. Props to her, but once again Indian Blessing is the choice.

Three-Year-Old Male: Curlin wins easy. I've touted this horse all summer and I was right. I can remember a friend at the track telling me I was nuts after I told him I like Curlin to beat Lawyer Ron in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Curlin is an absolutely amazing horse.

Three-Year-Old Filly: Octave and Panty Raid both had good years but nothing compared to what Rags to Riches did. As you probably already know she became the first filly since Tanya 102 years ago to win the Belmont Stakes. She also won the Kentucky Oaks. Rags to Riches is the best filly we have seen in many years.

Older Male: This is a surprisingly weak category this year. The defection of Invasor in March left a huge void that proved irreplaceable. Last years winner Invasor can't be considered in my opinion because he last raced in March. Lawyer Ron had a good year racing at Saratoga but overall I thought he was a pretender and he proved that in the Breeders Cup. Corinthian is my choice here. While he flopped in some of his races he showed 'em who the boss was in the Met Mile and the Breeders Cup Dirt Mile. Since those are both huge races and he won the latter in a very impressive fashion the award goes to him.

Older Female: First let me say I didn't follow this division very well this year. That being said I like Nashoba's Key. She had a poor trip in her Breeders Cup defeat but was an undefeated 8 for 8 otherwise.

Male Sprinter: Another weak division this year. Midnight Lute had it all right when it counted and that earns him the mark here. It's a shame Fabulous Strike was injured because I believe he would've been a fearsome opponent for Midnight Lute. Idiot Proof ran well but in the end was a cut below the top 2.

Female Sprinter: I can still remember throwing down my losing tickets on Dream Rush in the Breeders Cup. She was run down by a very game Maryfield. That wasn't the first time Maryfield beat me, but enough rambling. Marylfield takes this one which shouldn't come as a surprise.

Male Turf Horse: This is going to the hardest choice for me. Kip Deville and English Channel both ran great this year. Both won Breeders Cup races. I can't make a choice here. I'm going with a tie between Kip Deville and English Channel. I'd also like to give an honorable mention to After Market who had a wonderful 2007 campaign as well.

Female Turf Horse: This the second and last division where my knowledge is limited. Ironically Nashoba's Key will win both of these. Lahudood was great in the Breeders Cup but didn't do much outside of that.

Steeplechase Horse: 5 Breeders Cup wins in a row? Of course I'm gonna pick McDynamo! This amazing horse was recently retired but props him and his connections for an outstanding career.

Owner: Shadwell Stable has enjoyed great success for 2 consecutive years now. They campaigned Invasor and Jazil in 2006. This year they managed Daaher and Lahudood. Daaher closed the year with 3 wins in a row including the Grade 1 Cigar Mile beating Midnight Lute in the process. Lahudood claimed victory in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf and the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes.

Breeder: I'm not going to lie to you. I have no idea on this one. Your guess is as good as mine.

Trainer: Another hard choice here. I'm going to opt with Todd Pletcher. He trained 23% winners en route to a record breaking $28,571,697 in earnings. Pletcher raced horses such as English Channel, Rags to Riches, Lawyer Ron, Unbridled Belle, Octave, and Panty Raid, all of whom won Grade 1 races this year.

Jockey: Garrett Gomez is an easy choice here. He broke the record for stakes wins in a year. He rode 21% winners while accumulating
$23,800,074 in earnings. He rode 2 Breeders Cup winners in Indian Blessing and Midnight Lute. Albarado and Velazquez both had great years but were nothing compared to Gomez.

Apprentice Jockey: I'm going to opt for TVG's favorite, Smokin' Joe Talamo. He was brilliant aboard Nashoba's Key. I expect to see great things from him in the future.


Well now that you know who I like, why don't YOU drop me a line by clicking "comments" below this post. Thanks for reading and as always, I hope you enjoyed.

Asmussen plans to keep Curlin sharp as a tack

According to NTRA.com probable Horse of the Year, Curlin, is scheduled to receive his first timed workout since he won the Breeders Cup Classic last out. The article goes on to say that Curlin’s trainer Steven Asmussen has no idea whether he will be retired or stay in training. A likely goal is the Dubai World Cup for which the Donn Handicap and Mine Shaft Handicap were mentioned as preps. The Dubai World Cup is the world’s richest race with a purse of $6,000,000 and is held at Nad Al Sheba race course. The winner in 2007 was Invasor who also won the Breeders Cup Classic. If Curlin can parlay a win in the World Cup to a successful defending of his Breeders Cup title he would pass Cigar for the all time earnings mark. You can find the story here.

I personally can’t wait to see this amazing athlete race again. If he can go undefeated this year and win the Dubai World Cup and Breeders Cup Classic he will go down as one of greatest in the history of the sport. I don’t think he will meet much opposition in the Donn Handicap if that is where he chooses to go. On the other hand the Dubai World Cup wont just fall into his lap. Premium Tap damn near wrangled the win from Invasor last year and will try again this year. He is one fast horse and will probably be the toughest Curlin has ever faced.

Goodbye 2007!

2007 is now behind us. Our sport saw many changes for the better this year and we had many memorable races. Our hearts were filled with grief early in the year as Barbaro finally had to be euthanized. Early in the year we watched as Street Sense broke the juvenile jinx and Curlin and Rags to Riches set the world on fire in the Preakness and Belmont. Through the summer Lawyer Ron turned into a different horse during the Saratoga meet. He couldn't be stopped until he met my personal choice to win the Classic, Curlin, in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The Juvenile division saw many changes as the year moved on. In the end War Pass made it out on top. He is far and away the best 3 year old colt at this moment. Here are a few of my favorite races from this year, I hope you enjoy.


This years Kentucky Cup Classic was very special to me because I touted Hard Spun in the Derby and this was his chance for revenge. I will always remember this race because I was there on Kentucky Cup Day with my dad. It was also a great day because I got to meet Todd Schrupp, and Gary Stevens autographed a hat for me.

I don't know if enough good things can be said about Curlin. This is an absolutely amazing horse. I was confident he would win, but I didn't expect him to run away the way he did. He showed everybody that day what was what and who the best horse really was. I hope we get to see him in 2008!

War Pass is a running machine. This horse has never been headed and is undefeated. I think he has an amazing shot at winning the Kentucky Derby. He proved again how good he is on Breeders Cup day.

How could I not say the Belmont Stakes?! The first time a filly had won the Belmont in 102 years, it was simply amazing. She overcame a bad stumble at the beginning of the race and put away the best horse in the country. Country Star and Indian Blessing have a lot to live up to in 2008.

Those are my favorite races from 2008, I hope you like them. Leave me a comment with your favorite races and I will be sure to check them out. As always thanks for reading.