October 2008 Archives

Here are a few selections worth playing today:

4th -- General Dan goes from optional claimers into a claiming event and has won one of five at the distance.
5th -- The Big One has finished first or second in three of five races at the distance and retains the services of the hustling Martin Pedroza. Lockford deserves a look in the spot as well.
7th -- Dadsalittleunusual lost a photo in his last and is being stepped up in class, a formula that often results in victory. South Coast figures in this spot as well. Martin Jones and Joe Talamo click at 21 percent when they team up, and the 5-year-old gelding has been first or second in seven of 12 starts.
8th -- Stitchit and Paddlin Mud could both win here. They both deserve to be included in any late exotics, including pick threes and pick fours.

On the heels of the fantastic year enjoyed by Zenyatta in 2008, who's your pick as the top filly of all time? Just one rule -- you can only pick a filly you've seen run in person or television.
My picks:
1. Ruffian (right) -- She set records each time she ran, and she was never headed in a race until she broke down in that ill-fated match race against Foolish Pleasure in 1975.
2. Lady's Secret -- She beat the boys and was Horse of the Year in 1986.
3. Personal Ensign -- Won arguably the most exciting Breeders' Cup race ever, edging another great filly in her own right, Winning Colors, at the wire in the 1988 Distaff. She retired 13-0.
4. All Along -- Beat the boys three times in North America in 1983 and was voted that year's Horse of the Year.
5. Zenyatta -- Stamped herself as one of the all-time greats with her BC Ladies' Classic score, and she could move up the ladder if she stays healthy and competes as a 5-year-old.

Our sports media writer Tom Hoffarth reports that Breeders' Cup viewership was up this time. Click here.

A new horse-racing scandal to ponder over your morning coffee, this one touching one of quarter-horse racing's biggest events:

RUIDOSO DOWNS, N.M. (AP) -- The winner of the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs last month has tested positive for caffeine, officials with the New Mexico Racing Commission say.

That could jeopardize the $1 million purse won by the owner of Stolis Winner, the Albuquerque Journal reported Thursday in a copyright story. If the finding is upheld, Jerry Windham of College Station, Texas, could be required to return the purse.

New Mexico racing regulations do not allow any amount of caffeine in race horses, said the Racing Commission's executive director, Julian Luna. He said urine from all 10 horses in the futurity were tested after the race, and only Stolis Winner turned up positive.

Notices for a Nov. 15 hearing on the matter were sent out this week, Luna said. Because New Mexico has a trainer responsibility rule, racing stewards notified trainer Heath Taylor to appear at the hearing.

Windham told the Journal he had heard rumors about caffeine turning up in the test, but had not officially been notified there might be a problem.

He said it's ludicrous to think anyone would risk a $1 million purse by giving caffeine to a top-performing horse.

"I know this, if there was any caffeine, it didn't go through his system," said Windham, a past president of the American Quarter Horse Association.

"It had to be a contaminant" in the test sample from another source, he said.

Caffeine has the same effect on horses as it has on humans -- "It jazzes them up," said Susan Vescovo, vice president of the New Mexico Horsemen's Association.

Racing Commission regulations list caffeine as a Class 2 substance, which has "a high potential for affecting the outcome of a race," according to guidelines on which the regulations are based.

Penalties recommended for Class 2 violations including a suspension of six months to a year, a fine of $1,500 to $2,500 and loss of a purse.

Art is right, the rough economy makes this a terrible time for a dispute over account wagering to prevent out-of-state bettors from playing Hollywood Park races. It's also bad timing because, following last week's successful Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita, California should be cashing in on any renewed enthusiasm for its racing.

So the TOC and ADW companies can't come to some sort of agreement that would let racing rans outside of California bet the Hollywood Park autumn meet. What else is new, huh? I mean, at a time when this great sport is starving for publicity and good will, two of its major players decide that enough is not enough and they are taking their toys and going home. So instead of racing fans in Indiana betting races at Hollywood Park the rest of this meet, they're going to have to find a different favorite track and two stubborn entities are costing everyone in the California racing industry money. I mean, let's do the math here. It seems to me that 4 percent of a little is better than 100 percent of nothing. Am I missing something here? Asked if he was optimistic a deal between the TOC and ADW companies would get done soon, a Hollywood Park official shook his head no. This industry has a patent on making unwise decisions, especially at a time when a slumping economy makes any revenue at all better than no revenue. Are you listening, guys?

Our handicappers' selections turned profits on both days of the Breeders' Cup, and they've kept the momentum on opening day at Hollywood Park, picking a lot of winners and one big long shot.

The consensus -- available in the print editions of this and other L.A. Newspaper Group papers -- picked five winners on top in the eight races Wednesday. It was a favorites-dominated card, but the consensus' top picks returned $20.20 for $16 in win bets.

Ray Nelson, the long-shot specialist, tabbed first-time starter Golden Nicks for a $67.40 victory in the sixth race. Ray had picked Black Eyed Lady on top and Golden Nicks second, but Black Eyed Lady was scratched.

Bob Ike had six winners, including Silver Vista ($11.60) in the nightcap.

At the Breeders' Cup, our consensus had Ventura and Zenyatta on Friday -- for a total $10.60 return on $10 in win bets on five Breeders' Cup races -- and Goldikova, Midshipman and Midnight Lute on Saturday -- for $22.20 in payoffs on $18 in bets.

Thanks to Art Wilson for letting me contribute to his blog.

It's opening day of the Hollywood Park autumn season, the Rodney Dangerfield of Southern California's racing meets. For some people, it's a letdown after the excitement of last week's Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita. But as Art reports in his story today previewing the season, Hollywood Park hopes it will get some benefit from following the Breeders' Cup.

I've always liked the Hollywood fall meet more than most people, maybe because when I started covering racing in 1991, the Turf Festival stakes program was just beginning, and such grass stars as Itsallgreektome, Miss Alleged, Flawlessly and Fraise were headliners. Flawlessly was a particular favorite of mine.

In recent years the meet has been headlined by 2-year-olds. In the past 10 years, the horses voted 2-Year-old of the Meet have included Excellent Meeting, Captain Steve, Point Given, Lion Heart, Declan's Moon and Brother Derek.

Are you interested in the Hollywood fall meet, or are you in post-Breeders' Cup depression? Any personal memories of this meet? Care to share your strategies for betting it?

An overnight purse cut of 7 to 10 percent looms for the Santa Anita 2008-09 meet, with the final decision to be made in the next few weeks. The TOC, which represents owners, has to sign off on the deal. This comes on the heels of Hollywood Park's recent accouncement that it is cutting purses by 7 percent. Del Mar cut its purses over the summer and Fairplex Park, where business was slow this past summer, is considering cuts for its 2009 meet. It's obvious horse racing is not immune from the economic downturn that is sweeping the country.

If you're a Southern California horse racing fan you have to be smiling tonight after Oak Tree at Santa Anita hosted one of the best Breeders' Cups ever.
In my racing column that ran Friday, Oct. 17, I predicted that this would be a tremendous two-day event, and it was all that and possibly more.

Raven's Pass, a 13-1 long shot trained by John Gosden, recorded a 1 3/4-length victory in today's $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita as reigning Horse of the Year and 4-5 favorite Curlin came home fourth. The victory capped a big day for the Euros, who won five of today's nine races and finished 1-2 in the Classic for the first time ever. Henrythenavigator finished second and Tiago was third. The victory was the second on the day for both Gosden and jockey Frankie Dettori.

The Irish-bred Conduit, sent postward at 5-1, closed like a freight train in the last eighth of a mile to win the $3 million Breeders' Cup Turf by 1 1/2 lengths over Eagle Mountain. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Conduit ran the 1 1/2 miles in 2:23.42 and gave the Europeans their fourth win of the day with three seconds. Dancing Forever finished third.

Garrett Gomez continued his winning ways, taking his fourth Breeders' Cup race of the weekend and becoming the first jockey to win three in one day when he guided Midnight Lute to a second consecutive victory in the $2 million Sprint. Midnight Lute's win, a 1 3/4-length score over Fatal Bullet, was every bit as impressive as his 4 3/4-length romp in the slop last year at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Sent postward as the second choice at 5-2, Midnight Lute scored his sixth victory in 13 races and his third in four tries at the six-furlong Sprint distance. Street Boss, the 2-1 favorite, also closed well but had to settle for third best, 1 3/4 lengths behind the runner-up.

Donativum, bred in Great Britain, and the Irish-bred Westphalia finished 1-2 in today's $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita. It appeared midway through the stretch that Coronet of a Baron and jockey Alan Garcia were going to win at 6-1, but first Westphalia came charging to take the lead and then Donativum, trained by John Gosden and ridden by Frankie Dettori, accelerated quickest of all in the final sixteenth of a mile to win by a half-length at odds of 5-1. Westphalia took second by 1 3/4 lengths over Coronet of a Baron.

Eclipse Award-winning rider Garrett Gomez became the first jockey to win three Breeders' Cup races in one year today when he guided the Bob Baffert-trained Midshipman, a 7-2 shot, to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $2 million Juvenile at Santa Anita. Midshipman took the lead approaching the far turn and held off late challenges by runner-up Square Eddie and Street Hero, the Norfolk Stakes winner who finished third. Gomez rode Ventura to victory in Friday's Filly and Mare Sprint and won his first race today aboard Albertus Maximus in the Dirt Mile. It was Baffert's second Juvenile winner. He also saddled Vindication for a victory in 2002 at Arlington Park outside Chicago.

The impressive 3-year-old filly Goldikova became the fifth distaffer to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile, beating defending champion Kip Deville by 1 1/4 lengths. The 9-5 betting favorite, who came in having won three consecutive graded stakes, including two Grade I's, lacked racing room at the head of the stretch but found a hole and accelerated impressively to win going away under regular jockey Olivier Peslier. Goldikova has now won 6 of 9 overall, with two seconds and a third. The Irish-bred daughter of Anabaa joins Six Perfections (2003), Ridgewood Pearl (1995), Miesque (1987-88) and Royal Heroine (1984) as the only female horses to win the Mile in its 25 runnings. Whatsthescript finished third.

Garrett Gomez scored his second victory of Breeders' Cup XXV today at Santa Anita, guiding 6-1 shot Albertus Maximus to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $1 million Dirt Mile. Gomez, who won the Filly and Mare Sprint on Friday aboard Ventura, came charging in the stretch to overtake the leaders and held off a closing rally by runner-up Rebellion. Pacesetter Two Step Salsa took third. Gomez has many other live horses today, including Whatsthescript (Mile), Midshipman (Juvenile), Midnight Lute (Sprint), Out of Control (Turf) and Go Between (Classic) as he attempts to become the first rider to win three Breeders' Cup races in one year.

The prices on the second day of Breeders' Cup XXV continued as Richard Migliore rode 36-1 long shot Desert Code to a come-from-behind victory in the $1 million Turf Sprint at Santa Anita. Desert Code had won three of six over Santa Anita's downhill turf course and was 3 for 5 over the course going in, yet he was 30-1 on the morning line and was bet slightly higher. It was the third Breeders' Cup win for trainer David Hofmans, and all have paid $40 or more. Alphabet Soup won the Classic at 19-1 in 1996 and Adoration went postward at 40-1 in the 2003 Distaff.

Muhannak, who went postward at a more than generous 12-1, prevailed by a head in the inaugural $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon today over Santa Anita's Pro-Ride synthetic main track. Muhannak, bet down from his morning-line price of 20-1, had won 4 of 7 on synthetics in Ireland and Great Britain and was 1 of 2 at the 1 1/2-mile distance. Difficult to fathom why the 4-year-old gelded son of Chester House went off at double-digit odds. The 7-5 post-time favorite, Sixties Icon, had never run 1 1/2 miles and has been a turf specialist for the first 16 races of his career. Trainer Mike Mitchell saddled the place and show horses, Church Service and Big Booster.

Cost of Freedom, declared early this morning from the $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, was scratched after veterinary inspection at trainer John Sadler's barn.

Trainer Barry Abrams has scratched the 5-year-old Add Heat from today's inaugural $500,000 Breeders' Cup Marathon because of a minor injury to the suspensory of his right front leg. Add Heat has won 3 of 34 lifetime and has never raced at the Marathon distance of 1 1/2 miles. Abrams, part owner of Add Heat, said the injury occurred following a routine gallop over Santa Anita's main track Friday morning.

Ancient Title stakes winner Cost of Freedom has been declared from today's $2 million Breeders' Cup Sprint. No official word yet why trainer John Sadler had to scratch the 5-year-old gelding, who was scheduled to be ridden by Tyler Baze. There should still be plenty of early speed in the race to set it up for Street Boss' late kick.

LADIES' CLASSIC
Make it 9-for-9 for the unstoppable Zenyatta.
The 4-year-old filly stayed perfect in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic at Santa Anita on Friday, roaring from last to first around the turn to win and make a case for Horse of the Year honors.
Zenyatta, ridden by Mike Smith, trailed by as much as 10 lengths on the back stretch. When Smith asked, she responded with her trademark push to beat Cocoa Beach by 1½ lengths. The heavy favorite paid $3.00, $2.60 and $2.10 while covering the 1 1-8 miles in 1:46.85.
Cocoa Beach made a late bid and paid $4.60 and $3.80. Cocoa Beach's stablemate Music Note was third and paid $3.80.

FILLY & MARE TURF
Forever Together moved wide in the stretch and pulled away late to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita.
The 4-year-old gray filly prevailed by three-quarters of a length in a wide-open stretch scramble in which the entire 10-horse field seemingly had a shot in the final yards on Friday. Forever Together covered the 1¼ miles in 2:01.58 and paid $11.80, $6.40 and $4.80.
Sealy Hill, ridden by Patrick Husbands, edged Wait A While for second and paid $36.20 and $15.80. Wait A While had a chance in the middle of the stretch before fading to third and paid $3.60.
Jockey Julien Leparoux picked up his second career Breeders' Cup victory by smartly keeping Forever Together outside the jumbled pack.

JUVENILE FILLIES
Stardom Bound put together an electrifying move at the turn to win the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita.
The 2-year-old gray filly bided her time at the back of the field then stormed to the front at the top of the stretch to beat Dream Empress by 1½ lengths. Friday's victory was her third consecutive Grade 1 win for trainer Christopher Paasch. Stardom Bound, ridden by Mike Smith, covered the 1 1-16 miles in 1:40.99 and paid $5.20, $3.20 and $2.20. She is the 15th favorite to win in the 25 years of the event, and seventh in a row.
Dream Empress made a late bid for second and paid $8.80 and $5.20. Sky Diva held off Dave's Revenge by a nose for third, paying $3.60.

JUVENILE FILLIES TURF
Maram held off a challenge from Heart Shaped at the wire to win the inaugural $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita.
Maram, with Jose Lezcano aboard, stretched her unbeaten streak to three, edging a late charging Heart Shaped by a nose Friday. Trainer Chad Brown, a former assistant for Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel, earned the win in his Breeders' Cup debut.
The 2-year-old covered the mile in 1:35.15 and paid $24.20, $13.20 and $6.40.

Heart Shaped, piloted by John Murtagh, paid $11.60 and $6.60.
Laragh, the 5-2 favorite, took command early and led by four lengths at the turn for home before fading to third under Edgar Prado and paid $3.40.

FILLY & MARE SPRINT
Ventura roared past favored Indian Blessing in the middle of the stretch to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, the opening race of Ladies' Day at Santa Anita.
The 4-year-old filly shrugged off a slow start and took command late under jockey Garrett Gomez, moving past Indian Blessing with a powerful move in the final eighth-of-a mile to win by four lengths. Ventura covered the seven furlongs in 1:19.90 and paid $7.60, $3.40 and $3.
Indian Blessing, hoping to become a repeat Breeders' Cup winner for trainer Bob Baffert, held on for second and paid $3.40 and $2.40. Zaftig was third and paid $4.
The win was the sixth Breeders' Cup win for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel, moving him into a tie for third with Richard Mandela and Neil Drysdale.