HRN: My First Trip to Saratoga: A Photo Essay

Each time I post a new article on my Horse Racing Nation blog, I post a notice on this blog. These notices include an excerpt from the beginning of that article and a link to the piece. My latest Horse Racing Nation article is. . .

My First Trip to Saratoga: A Photo Essay

"Every racing enthusiast has a list of racetracks they hope to make it someday. As far as North American tracks go, there is probably one track that likely frequents these lists more so than others: Saratoga Race Course.

This certainly applied to me. I can name off a multitude of other tracks I would love to attend, but Saratoga seems to be one of the tracks that has eluded me. Since 1863, Saratoga has contributed some of racing's most colorful stories to the history books of the Thoroughbred. Year after year, it is the meet that attracts the attention of everyone in the industry, hosting some of the nation's most successful and promising racehorses.

But I thought it would be years before I ever made it to Saratoga. However, something fell together this summer for me to be able to make my first trip to Saratoga Springs, New York. In large part thanks to Horse Racing Nation's own Brian Zipse, I was invited to join the Young Racing Photographers Panel at Equestricon - the first-ever horse racing convention, held this summer in Saratoga Springs. In a whirlwind of events, I found myself in upstate New York to attend not only racing's most illustrious track, but its very first celebration and fan festival.

While Equestricon took up most of my time since I was only there for a few days, I was certain to spend some time at the track in the mornings - although I never got to attend a Saratoga sunrise like I've always dreamed of (maybe another trip!) - and of course go to the races.

Upon my first morning visit to the track, I was instantly blown away by the size and beauty of Saratoga, as well as the mass of people there - even in the morning. It was clear that horse racing is the culture in Saratoga Springs. In awe, I watched morning training with my camera in hand to catch the scenes. After all, it had not sunk in that I was actually at Saratoga; I would need these photos to capture the memories. . ."

Click here to read the rest of my newest Horse Racing Nation article.

Agave Kiss Remains Undefeated

Agave Kiss has raced six times. She has visited the winner’s circle in just as many occurrences. Having followed her since her breathtaking 6 ¼-length maiden victory, I relished the filly’s accumulated next five wins, which came by a combined winning margin of 30 lengths. With plans of contesting in prestigious grade one sprint races at Saratoga this summer, the owner of Agave Kiss, Flying Zee Racing Stables, and her trainer, Rudy Rodriguez, have campaigned the daughter of Lion Heart methodically throughout her career.

After easily winning her debut, Agave Kiss crushed allowance foes at Aqueduct prior to capturing her first stakes win in the Ruthless Stakes. Following a victory in the Cicada Stakes (GIII), the three-year-old chestnut filly captured the Trevose Stakes at Parx Racing in her first race outside the confines of the Empire State.

The daughter of Lion Heart continued her winning ways on Black-Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico Racecourse (May 18) in the Miss Preakness Stakes, going six furlongs – the only distance at which she has ever contested. As usual, Agave Kiss set the pace, breaking very sharply to attain the lead, never allowing the others to come near her. With Ramon Dominguez aboard for the first time, Agave Kiss constantly drew away from the field as the champion rider remained motionless. At the top of the stretch, the striking chestnut filly had a 5 ½-length advantage on the field, which remained the same as she swept under the wire effortlessly without being asked by Dominguez in the final yards.

Among the six fillies Agave Kiss defeated in the Miss Preakness was Millionreasonswhy, a highly-touted Sagamore Farm-owned filly. The daughter of Grand Slam was a graded stakes winner at two who ran second behind eventual champion My Miss Aurelia in the Adirondack Stakes (GII), becoming the filly who came closest to defeating My Miss Aurelia. Prior to the Miss Preakness, Millionreasonswhy had won an ungraded stakes and placed in a graded stakes as a sophomore. However, Agave Kiss easily defeated her in the Miss Preakness.

Clearly, Agave Kiss’ niche is sprinting, considering each of her races – and victories for that matter – have come at three-quarters of a mile. Her main goal has been made the prestigious seven-furlong Test Stakes (GI), which is scheduled for August 4 at Saratoga Racecourse. This race has produced such victors as the champions Go For Wand, Indian Blessing, and Lady’s Secret.

Only one of Agave Kiss’ four stakes wins is a graded stakes victory – her win in the Cicada Stakes. However, the dominance with which she has won implies that she will be competitive in higher company. But it is not just her racing performances that suggest she will be a lucrative graded stakes performer, but her pedigree as well.

Her sire, Lion Heart, is famous for running second behind Smarty Jones in the 2004 Kentucky Derby (GI) and winning that year’s Haskell Invitational (GI). Though Agave Kiss is a sprinter, Lion Heart has sired successful routers in the Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI)-winning Dangerous Midge and the Arkansas Derby (GI)-winning Line of David. However, the son of Tale of the Cat has been primarily successful with one-turn horses, such as the multiple graded stakes-winning Kantharos and the multiple stakes-winning Gran Lioness. He has also been very profitable with fillies following a path similar to that of Agave Kiss, as he is also the sire of the Cicada Stakes- and Miss Preakness-winning Heart Ashley and the runner-up in the 2009 Test, Pretty Prolific. Agave Kiss’ dam, Salty Romance, was a stakes winner and graded stakes-placed runner who has also produced Luxury Appeal – a black-type winner around one turn.

Considering I have followed Agave Kiss since her astounding maiden victory, the undefeated filly’s campaign has been a fine example of how rewarding it is to follow a racehorse from the beginning of its career. Though incredibly exciting for me, I believe the rest of Agave Kiss’ campaign can be quite exhilarating for other racing fans, too, as she looks to extend her undefeated record. Winning streaks have proven to be very effective in building a horse’s fan base, such as in the case of Black Caviar, Cigar, Rapid Redux, and Zenyatta. Of course, Agave Kiss’ name is unlikely to ever be mentioned in the same breath as many of the aforementioned horses, other than when winning streaks are discussed perhaps. And despite the fact that racing is often focused on middle- or classic-distance races, sprinters can capture the hearts of racing fans as well. The brilliant Agave Kiss has the potential to become a very popular filly.




Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

I'll Have Another Showing Shades of Affirmed

Among the most well-known stretch duels in the history of racing, most racing fans can easily picture the image of Affirmed and Alydar deadlocked at the eighth pole at Belmont Park as the pair of chestnut Thoroughbreds battled down the stretch of the twelve-furlong race, their jockeys striving to guide their mounts to a victory in the Belmont Stakes. For Affirmed, a Triple Crown was on the line. For Alydar, the opportunity of redemption was just ahead.

Affirmed's grave
Photo by Terri Cage

The clash between the two in the Belmont did not deteriorate at the eighth pole, but rather, it continued all the way to the wire, at which it was Affirmed that got his nose ahead, capturing not only a win in the Test of the Champion, but the title of Triple Crown winner. He was only the eleventh horse in history to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes, and since then, not a single horse has achieved the same feat.

But I’ll Have Another looks to change that on Saturday, June 9 when he goes to post in the Belmont Stakes. The Derby and Preakness winner will attempt to become the twelfth Triple Crown victor, rather than the twelfth horse since Affirmed won the Triple Crown to triumph in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes but fall short in the Belmont.

Remarkably, I’ll Have Another possesses many similarities to Affirmed. These parallels, which were briefly discussed in my article “I’ll Have Another Keeps Hopes Alive in Preakness,” do not only exist in the two Thoroughbreds’ racing endeavors, but also in their pedigrees and phenotype.

Their connections begin with the female families from which they descend. Their dam lines do not coincide until you stumble across Gallopade, a gray mare born in 1828 who won the eighteen-furlong Doncaster Cup. Continue to backtrack and you will find that both Affirmed and I’ll Have Another hail from female family twenty-three, which has also yielded the additional Kentucky Derby winners Burgoo King, Kingman, Lil E. Tee, Mine That Bird, Ponder, Tim Tam, Winning Colors, and Zev. This female family has proven to be filled with stamina, producing such stayers as the champion Ardross, a winner of several prestigious races at distances of over two miles in Chanticleer, the Grand National victor Cortolvin, and the great filly Twilight Tear, who won several route races.

Of course, the most obvious relationship between Affirmed and I’ll Have Another to those unfamiliar with the sport of horse racing is their appearance. Like Affirmed, I’ll Have Another is a mahogany-colored chestnut with a fairly small white marking on his face. His similarities to Affirmed in exterior extend even further, however. Comparable to Affirmed, I’ll Have Another is a robust individual with a slender neck that ties in appropriately to a powerful, sloping shoulder. The angle of their strong shoulders allows each Thoroughbred to be very well-balanced individuals, being easily divided into thirds at the girth and flank. Like Affirmed, I’ll Have Another also has a long, stout hip that allows him to propel himself forward, giving him much length to his stride.

One of the most riveting parts of I’ll Have Another’s Triple Crown campaign is his young, charismatic jockey, Mario Gutierrez. This is yet another similarity I’ll Have Another shares with Affirmed, who was ridden by the compelling teenager, Steve Cauthen. Though seven years older than Cauthen was when he captured the Triple Crown aboard Affirmed, Gutierrez has only been race riding for six years. Both riders quickly became successful, each winning riding titles within their first year of riding races. Once they each hit the national headlines, they immediately became immensely successful. For instance, Mario Gutierrez’s first grade one victory came in the Santa Anita Derby, aboard I’ll Have Another no less, and he then followed up that win with his Triple Crown journey.

A few parallels between the horses’ trail to the Triple Crown can be found as well. I’ll Have Another, like Affirmed, made starts in California and New York as a juvenile – though Affirmed also raced in Maryland once as a two-year-old. Both colts contested in the Hopeful Stakes (GI) at the renowned Saratoga Race Course in New York, though their results were completely different. I’ll Have Another struggled over the sloppy track and finished sixth of ten, whereas Affirmed met rival Alydar – who ironically appears in I’ll Have Another’s pedigree – for the third time and prevailed by a half-length. As three-year-olds, both colts prepared for the Triple Crown at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California with the San Gabriel Mountains as a beautiful backdrop. Each Thoroughbred captured California’s premier Kentucky Derby prep, the Santa Anita Derby, despite doing it in very different fashions. Whereas Affirmed set the pace for the majority of the nine-furlong race before drawing off to an eight-length victory, I’ll Have Another sat off the leader prior to running down Creative Cause for a nose win. Yet both colts ended a dry spell for Santa Anita Derby victors to triumph in the Run for the Roses: Affirmed was the first Santa Anita Derby winner to win the Kentucky Derby in nine years, while I’ll Have Another was the first winner of California’s most significant Derby prep to capture the Derby in twenty-three years.

In both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, both Affirmed and I’ll Have Another faced a fierce rival. For Affirmed, he went up against Alydar, who he had already formed a rivalry with as a result of their six meetings as juveniles. In the Triple Crown, Affirmed bested Alydar, defeating him in the Derby by 1 ½ lengths and in the Preakness by a neck. Astonishingly, these are the same margins by which I’ll Have Another conquered rival Bodemeister in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, respectively. However, unlike, Alydar, Bodemeister will dodge the Belmont, in which Affirmed battled Alydar intensely down the stretch to prevail by a head.

It is eerie how similar I’ll Have Another has proven to be to Affirmed. It is the hope of racing fans worldwide that the son of Flower Alley will continue to be similar to the most recent Triple Crown winner, as that would, of course, provide him with a Triple Crown victory, thus ending the thirty-four-year drought. Similar in appearance and fight, I’ll Have Another has shown the same determination as Affirmed while hailing from the same female family and participating in similar racing endeavors. With any luck, these parallels are not just coincidences, but rather a hint of what is to come on June 9.




Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Derby Hopeful: Dullahan

A muddy bay gelding skimmed the rail at Churchill Downs, skipping over the sloppy surface as he deserted the eighteen other Thoroughbreds in the 2009 Kentucky Derby (GI). In bewilderment, spectators glanced at their programs to identify the horse who was easily galloping to a Derby victory, their jaws dropping and their brows expressing their surprise.

“Who’s that?” was likely uttered from the mouths of a large amount of people watching the Run for the Roses.

The answer to that question was Mine That Bird, a colt whose racing performances had deteriorated after his championship juvenile season in Canada. As he carried jockey Calvin Borel to his second victory in the Kentucky Derby, he became the second longest shot to ever win the prestigious race.

Three years after Mine That Bird captured the Derby, his half-brother, Dullahan, will go to post in the same race.

Dullahan
Photo: Terri Cage

Things immediately got off to a better start for Dullahan than they did for Mine That Bird. The 2009 Kentucky Derby victor sold for a meager $9,500 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale whereas Dullahan sold for $250,000 at the 2010 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

Dullahan debuted on June 9, 2011 as a juvenile, facing what would end up being one of the toughest fields in a two-year-old maiden special weight of the year at Churchill Downs. Racing wide, the chestnut colt finished third behind the future graded stakes-winning horses Exfactor and Daddy Nose Best.

Going a sixteenth of a mile farther next out in another maiden special weight at the Louisville track, Dullahan faced yet another very talented field. Running an uninspiring fifth, the half-brother to Mine That Bird was defeated by the eventual graded stakes-placed horses Big Blue Nation and Lockout and the future graded stakes-winning Sabercat. Despite finishing fifth, Dullahan still finished in front of several gifted horses, including Daddy Nose Best and Saturday Launch, the latter of which recently finished fourth in the Illinois Derby (GIII).

Dullahan made his turf debut next out in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight at the renowned Saratoga Racecourse. He turned in his best performance yet, rating off the eventual winner before gaining ground on him late to miss by a half-length.

Despite the fact that he was still a maiden, Jerry Crawford’s Donegal Racing and trainer Dale Romans entered Dullahan in the With Anticipation Stakes (GII) at Saratoga. Over a firm turf course, Dullahan settled off the pace set by State of Play, allowing the future stakes-placed runner Sportswriter and the eventual multiple graded stakes-placed Optimizer to race ahead of him for the majority of the race. Facing traffic troubles around the far turn, Dullahan found room to run in the homestretch and though he ran a good third, he could not keep up with State of Play and Optimizer.

Rather than returning to the maiden ranks, Dullahan made his following start in the most prominent Keeneland juvenile stakes of the year, the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity (GI). Starting over a synthetic surface for the first time, Dullahan also ran with a new running style, coming from far off the pace. He was forced to steady on the far turn, but had no issue recovering. The chestnut colt made a breathtaking closing move, swinging wide off the far turn to mow down the leaders in the homestretch. Winning by three-quarters of a length, Dullahan defeated the past or future winners of four graded stakes races.

Like Mine That Bird, Dullahan contested in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Stakes (GI). The result was much better for Dullahan, however. While Mine That Bird finished last, Dullahan closed from the back of the pack to pass nine horses. The chestnut colt maneuvered traffic and was guided to the outside by jockey Kent Desormeaux, making up much ground to finish fourth behind the talented horses Hansen, Union Rags, and Creative Cause.

Dullahan’s sophomore debut was delayed due to a slight illness, but he returned in the Palm Beach Stakes (GIII) in March, revisiting turf as he made his first start at Gulfstream Park. Under Desormeaux, he raced in fifth in the six-horse field for most of the race before closing in the homestretch to finish a length behind Howe Great.

In his final start before the Kentucky Derby, Dullahan returned to Keeneland – the home of his only victory. Like the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity, this start was one of the most prestigious races held at the Lexington, Kentucky track: the Blue Grass Stakes (GI). Dullahan’s race in the Blue Grass was nearly identical to his race in the Dixiana Breeders’ Futurity. Settling near the rear of the field, Dullahan made a dazzling run around the far turn before mowing down the leaders to score. Rather than the graded stakes-winning Majestic City being the final horse he passed in the stretch, Dullahan charged past the champion Hansen to capture the prestigious Derby prep by 1 ¼ lengths.

Dullahan shipped to Churchill Downs shortly after his Blue Grass triumph to begin training under the Twin Spires for the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Dale Romans has expressed that Dullahan loves the Churchill surface, which the colt has trained on countless times. However, though Dullahan may work well over the surface, his poorest performances have come over that very track. Nonetheless, they were not terrible performances. He has finished a decent third, a jaded fifth, and a respectable fourth over the Louisville racetrack. Yet, each time, he has been defeated at least approximately 6 ¼ lengths. But he does seem to be a more mature colt as a sophomore and will have much more training time over the Churchill surface than most Derby contenders.

Clearly, a checkmark can be placed next to Dullahan’s name when it comes to the matter of a Derby pedigree. Though a mare has never produced more than one Kentucky Derby winner, the fact that Mining My Own – the dam of both Mine That Bird and Dullahan – has already produced two grade one winners and Brother Bird – an earner of over $140,000 – in her young broodmare career is very encouraging.

Mining My Own is a daughter of Smart Strike, a son of Mr. Prospector who is the sire of such horses as the two-time Horse of the Year Curlin who won four ten-furlong grade ones, the turf champion English Channel who was victorious in five grade ones at eleven furlongs or longer, and the Preakness Stakes (GI, 9.5F)-winning Lookin’ At Lucky. As a broodmare sire, Smart Strike has produced the dams of twenty-five stakes winners, including the group two-winning Strong Return, the champion Queen’s Plate Stakes (10F)-winning Inglorious, and the Hollywood Gold Cup (GI, 10F)-winning First Dude.

Dullahan is sired by a fairly unrecognized sire in Even the Score, a graded stakes winner by the significant sire Unbridled’s Song. Even the Score is also the sire of Take the Points, who won grade one turf races at nine and ten furlongs. Other offspring of Even the Score include the graded stakes-winning middle-distance filly Four Gifts, as well as the stakes-winning distance horse Scorewithcater, who ironically defeated Mine That Bird in the Borderland and Sunland Derbies. Even the Score has crossed well with mares like Mining My Own who descend from the Mr. Prospector sire line, producing such horses as the black-type-winning Enjoy the Score, the stakes-winning and group stakes-placed Amabo, and a plethora of winners.

Dullahan is inbred 5 X 3 to Mr. Prospector. Inbreeding to this influential superstar has been enormously efficacious, appearing in the pedigrees of such horses as the grade one winners Declan’s Moon, El Corredor, Flower Alley, Pleasant Home, Roman Ruler, Shadow Cast, Strategic Maneuver, Tapit, Volponi, and Whywhywhy.

Just to add to the grandeur of Dullahan’s bloodlines, he descends from female family twenty-three, which has been the root of the pedigrees of many brilliant racehorses, including the most recent American Triple Crown winner in Affirmed, the Canadian Triple Crown-winning female Dance Smartly, 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, the champion sprinter Big Drama, and a total of nine Kentucky Derby victors.

It is definitely logical to believe Dullahan can win the Kentucky Derby. Though he has not performed tremendously well over the Churchill surface, he is getting more training over it than most Derby contenders and is under the care of a trainer who has conditioned a top-four finisher in the past two runnings of the prestigious race. Furthermore, he is the half-brother to a Kentucky Derby winner in Mine That Bird and has a pedigree that suggests he can accomplish the same task as his brother. Dullahan certainly seems to have a better chance in the Derby than his half-brother did and unlike when Mine That Bird bounded through the mud to en route to a Derby victory, it would be no surprise to see Dullahan draped in red roses following the greatest two minutes in sports.

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Union Rags: Another Matz Superstar

With some paragraphs drawn from Derby Hopeful: Union Rags

The sun shone down on the crowd gathered at Churchill Downs as fans awaited the next race, the Breeders’ Cup Mile (GI). Regally Ready had just flashed across the finish line en route to the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (GII) and many people milled around the winner's circle following the race. Among those people was Michael Matz, whose brilliant juvenile colt, Union Rags, would run later that day in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI).

Meanwhile, I stood nearby with my family. I caught sight of Matz, who had been one of my favorite trainers since 2006, when he had trained the ill-fated Barbaro to a brilliant Kentucky Derby (GI) victory. Not only do I respect him for his brilliance at training, but I admire him for the talent he displayed in his Hall of Fame equestrian career and the courage and compassion he showed in saving the lives of four children after a plane crash in 1989.

Photo by Mary Cage

I clutched my program and a Sharpie and walked toward Michael Matz, asking him for his autograph. Very graciously, he smiled and signed beside Union Rags’ name in my program. Before parting ways, I wished him luck.

Of course, Union Rags fell just a head short to Hansen later that day in the Juvenile, drifting out in the stretch while closing. Though Hansen was presented the Eclipse Award for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, many – including me – felt that Union Rags was the most talented juvenile of 2011.

The colt debuted at Delaware Park last July as one of seven first-time starters in the nine-horse field. Sent off at nearly 8-1, Phyllis Wyeth’s colt settled in seventh as the horses began their run down the backstretch in the five-furlong maiden special weight. Jockey Julian Pimentel asked the two-year-old to make his run around the far turn and Union Rags responded eagerly, making an impressive move as the juveniles grew closer to the homestretch. His powerful stride ate up ground as Pimentel urged the colt forward and with an imposing turn of foot, Union Rags swept past Jake N Elwood near the furlong pole to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of 58.25. The final eighth of a mile was run in 12.14 seconds.

After his excellent debut, his connections pointed Union Rags to the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (GII) at the renowned Saratoga Race Course. Over a very sloppy track, Union Rags broke from the rail and raced alongside three other horses as the juveniles galloped along the backstretch. Ridden by Javier Castellano for the first time, the bay colt edged away with the favorite, Stat, as the two-year-olds entered the turn. The two ran neck and neck until the field reached the top of the stretch. Then Union Rags accelerated over the sealed track and drew away under Castellano despite drifting out badly in deep stretch. He crossed the wire 7 ¼ lengths ahead of the rest of the field, immediately appearing on plenty of watch lists, including mine.

To solidify his position as the leading two-year-old colt in the nation, Union Rags made his final start before the Breeders’ Cup in the esteemed Champagne Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park. As the juvenile colts galloped down the backstretch in the one-turn mile, Union Rags settled in mid-pack and was forced to take up slightly when he came in contact with Takes the Gold. He recovered quickly, quickening as the horses entered the final half-mile. Castellano guided the talented colt through traffic on the far turn, nearly taking the path along the rail until an opening appeared and the pair aimed for the lead on the outside. With his beautiful stride carrying him over fast track, Union Rags effortlessly opened up on the field and swept across the finish line with 5 ¼ lengths separating him and the others.

Photo by Mary Cage

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile seemed like his for the taking, but Hansen kept Union Rags from wearing the blanket of flowers in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle. Breaking from post ten in a thirteen-horse field, Union Rags broke smoothly and made his way to the middle of the pack. Due to his post position, the colt was forced to race very wide throughout the race. Castellano asked him for more speed as the two-year-old colts swept into the final turn and Union Rags responded, going widest of all. At the top of the stretch, it seemed as if he could catch the front-running Hansen, but he drifted out in the homestretch and finished a head behind Hansen before galloping out ahead of the winner.

Union Rags finished second in Eclipse Award voting for Champion Two-Year-Old Male, but was made the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. He solidified that title on February 26 in the Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (GII) at Gulfstream Park. Though the race had lost much luster after the scratch of the Holy Bull Stakes (GIII) winner, Algorithms, it also featured blossoming horses like the stakes-placed Casual Trick, the clear winner of two races at Calder in Csaba, the extremely impressive two-time winner in just as many starts in Discreet Dancer, the multiple stakes-winning Fort Loudon, the hard-knocking Neck ‘n Neck, and the promising News Pending. After breaking cleanly from the gate, Union Rags settled off the pace and though he was challenged at the end of the clubhouse turn by News Pending, he continued to rate under Julien Leparoux – who was riding him for the first time. Around the far turn, his long, powerful strides carried him to the lead, which would flourish into an effortless four-length victory in which the whip never touched him.

Of course, one of the major concerns revolving a Derby contender is the horse’s ability to stretch out. Though his pedigree does not scream distance, it does not restrict him to races under a mile and one-quarter, either.

His late sire, Dixie Union, was never considered much of a distance horse. Most of his victories came at a sprinting distance, though he won the nine-furlong Haskell Invitational Handicap (GI). However, the one time he attempted ten furlongs was in the 2000 Travers Stakes (GI), in which he did not rally strongly enough and finished fourth. Dixie Chatter, his multiple grade one-winning son, never won beyond a mile and one-sixteenth and Dixie Union’s brilliant grade one-winning daughter, Hot Dixie Chick, was never victorious at a distance longer than seven furlongs.

However, some Dixie Union offspring have shown affinity for distance. For instance, four of Grasshopper’s five wins came at one mile or farther and he lost to the Kentucky Derby-winning Street Sense by just a half-length in the ten-furlong Travers. Dixie Union also sired Gone Astray, a two-time winner at nine furlongs. In fact, those two nine-furlong wins by Gone Astray came in graded stakes races in which the horse looked capable of going an extra furlong.

Union Rags’ dam, Tempo, is by the influential sire, Gone West, a son of Mr. Prospector who won three graded stakes races at one mile or longer. He also sired many talented distance horses, such as Pacific Classic (GI, 10 furlongs)-winning Came Home, Belmont Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Commendable, Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Johar, and Pattison Canadian International Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)- and Northern Dancer Turf Stakes (GI, 12 furlongs)-winning Marsh Side. In addition, he is the sire of Elusive Quality, sire of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (GI)-winning Smarty Jones.

Tempo’s grandsire is Nijinsky II, winner of the 1970 English Triple Crown who sired many distance horses, including the winner of the 1986 Kentucky Derby and the 1987 Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI, 10F) in Ferdinand, the winner of the 1983 Prix du Jockey Club (GI, 10.5F) and International Stakes (GI, 10.5F) in Caerleon, and the winner of the ten-furlong Canadian Maturity Stakes and Seagram Cup Handicap, the Rothmans Ltd. International Stakes (GI, 12F), the Early Times Manhattan Handicap (GII, 10F), the Arlington Handicap (GII, 10F), and the Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (GI, 12F) in Sky Classic.

Tempo has also produced the stakes-placed Geefour, a full brother to Union Rags. Tempo is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed Dancing Devlette – who was capable of winning at nine furlongs – and the multiple ungraded stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Marry Me Do – who was also successful at nine furlongs. Through Tempo, Union Rags hails from female family number thirteen, the same family that produced the winner of the 1977 Triple Crown, Seattle Slew.

Though Union Rags’ pedigree may give one reason to doubt his ability to get the Derby distance, the colt has undeniable heart and brilliance. His long, authoritative stride shows that Union Rags could likely handle more ground, as does the way he effortlessly pulls away from fields.

You can always find at least one fault in a Derby contender. Union Rags has his own share of them, most notably the room for doubt in his pedigree as far as stamina is concerned. However, he has arguably been the most impressive horse on the Kentucky Derby trail yet this year. Racings fans have every right to be excited about him. Michael Matz has already had a horse in his stable that captured the hearts of racing fans; who's to say he can't have another one?

Union Rags
Photo: Terri Cage

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Derby Hopeful: El Padrino

Several “wise guy” horses emerge along the Kentucky Derby trail each year. One of the first ones to arise on the 2012 trail to the Run for the Roses is El Padrino. He has certainly appeared to be a top Derby contender and currently ranks sixth on my top ten list.

El Padrino debuted on August 20, 2011 at Saratoga over a fast track in a seven-furlong maiden special weight, in which the chestnut colt closed gamely to finish second by three-quarters of a length. He found the winner’s circle about two months later at Belmont Park after remarkably winning a one-mile maiden special weight over a sloppy track. In that race, he settled off the pace before striking to the lead and galloping to a 12 ¾-length victory.

Trainer Todd Pletcher and owner Let’s Go Stable then ran the colt in the Remsen Stakes (GII) at Aqueduct, in which the colt found a position off the frontrunners before being asked for run by John Velazquez around the far turn. Down the stretch, it didn’t appear as if El Padrino would gain any ground on the leaders, but once he was angled out in deep stretch, he seemed to find a gear and rallied to finish third before galloping out ahead of the others.

He made his sophomore debut on January 29, 2012, coming from off the pace to score by 2 lengths over a sealed track labeled ‘good.’ Impressively, he strode past the talented, graded stakes-placed Take Charge Indy to finish the mile and one-sixteenth allowance optional claiming in a final time of 1:42.68. The mile split (1:36.28) was just .11 seconds slower than stablemate Algorithms’ final time in the one-mile Holy Bull Stakes (GIII).

El Padrino is expected to make his next start in the Risen Star Stakes (GII) at Fair Grounds Race Course on February 25, in which he could face Mr. Bowling, winner of the Lecomte Stakes (GIII).

El Padrino’s pedigree hints that he will certainly be able to handle the ten-furlong Derby distance, as he is by A.P. Indy’s outstanding son, Pulpit, and out of a Giant’s Causeway mare. Both his sire and dam side should allow El Padrino to attain the distances of the Triple Crown races.

A.P. Indy, of course, won the 1992 Belmont Stakes (GI, 12F) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI, 10F) and was by the Triple Crown-winning Seattle Slew. Pulpit, El Padrino’s sire, produced Essence of Dubai, who won the U.A.E Derby (GII) when it was competed at the distance of 2,000 meters (about ten furlongs) and the Super Derby (GII, 9F). Pulpit is also the sire of Rutherienne, winner of the Del Mar Oaks (GI, 9F), and Ice Box, winner of the Florida Derby (GI, 9F) and runner-up in the Kentucky Derby.

The dam of El Padrino, Enchanted Rock, is by the 2000 European Horse of the Year in Giant’s Causeway, who won at the distance of ten furlongs several times and has produced horses capable of winning distance races. For example, he has produced Giant Oak: winner of the Clark Handicap (GI, 9F) and Donn Handicap (GI, 9F), runner-up in the Washington Park Handicap (GIII, 9.5F) and Hawthorne Gold Cup (GII, 10F), and third-place finisher in the Breeders' Cup Marathon (GII, 14F). Other horses Giant’s Causeway has sired include Delaware Handicap (GII, 10F) winner, Swift Temper, and winner of the Santa Anita Handicap (GI, 10F), Heatseeker.

El Padrino’s fourth dam, Remedia, is a Reine De Course mare who produced the grade one-winning dam of Chic Shirine – winner of the Ashland Stakes (GI, 8.5F) – and the three-time grade one-winning 1991 Champion Older Female, Queena. Queena in turn produced Brahms – victor of the River City Handicap (GIII, 9F) and the Early Times Hollywood Derby (GI, 9F), La Reina – winner of the Tempted Stakes (GIII, 8F), and Olympic, winner of the ten-furlong Mataji Stakes. Chic Shirine was the dam of Tara Roma, winner of the Ladies Handicap (GII, 10F).

El Padrino hails from female family thirteen, the same family from which Sinndar – winner of the Epsom Derby (GI, 2423 meters), the Irish Derby Stakes (GI, 2414 meters), and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (GI, 2400 meters) – descends from. Another remarkable descendant of this family is the 1977 Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew.

El Padrino also possesses the conformation of a top racehorse, having a long and slender neck that ties in extremely well to his shoulder, which is quite powerful. Though his shoulder could have a more sloping angle to it, it is still angled well enough to allow him to be very evenly balanced. He is very strong through the loin, having a short, sturdy topline. His croup is rounded and long, tying smoothly into his defined gaskins. This allows him to move with drive and impulsion, therefore having a long stride. He is also quite structurally correct, possessing short, strong cannon bones and angular pasterns.

This colt has every aspect of a top Derby contender with his impressive conformation and pedigree, and his performances on the track enforce this. Should he continue his classy performances, El Padrino could very well be on the way to stardom.


Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Derby Hopeful: Union Rags

In 2011, I posted “Juvenile Spotlights” about two-year-olds I had followed since early on in their careers. Now that it’s 2012, everyone’s focus is on the Kentucky Derby. Some horses from past Juvenile Spotlights will be featured, as well as additional horses on the Derby trail.

Union Rags, the early Kentucky Derby (GI) favorite, was one of the most impressive juveniles of 2011. After winning his first three starts by a combined 14 ¼ lengths, Union Rags fell a head short to the fleet Hansen in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI). Yet as the sun set on 2011, many felt that Union Rags was the best two-year-old of 2011.

Union Rags
Photo by Mary Cage

Most didn’t expect to see the early Kentucky Derby favorite in the seventh race at Delaware Park on July 12, 2011, let alone did they assume it would be Union Rags – one of seven first-time starters in the nine-horse field. Sent off at nearly 8-1, Phyllis Wyeth’s colt settled in seventh as the horses began their run down the backstretch in the five-furlong maiden special weight. Jockey Julian Pimentel asked the two-year-old to make his run around the far turn and Union Rags responded eagerly, making an impressive move as the juveniles grew closer to the homestretch. His powerful stride ate up ground as Pimentel urged the colt forward and with an imposing turn of foot, Union Rags swept past Jake N Elwood near the furlong pole to win by 1 ¾ lengths in a final time of 58.25. The final eighth of a mile was run in 12.14 seconds.

After his excellent debut, trainer Michael Matz – most famous in horse racing for training the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro – pointed Union Rags to the Three Chimneys Saratoga Special Stakes (GII) at the renowned Saratoga Race Course. Over a very sloppy track, Union Rags broke from the rail and raced alongside three other horses as the juveniles galloped along the backstretch. Ridden by Javier Castellano for the first time, the bay colt edged away with the favorite, Stat, as the two-year-olds entered the turn. The two ran neck and neck until the field reached the top of the stretch. Then Union Rags accelerated over the sealed track and drew away under Castellano despite drifting out badly in deep stretch. He crossed the wire 7 ¼ lengths ahead of the rest of the field, immediately appearing on plenty of watch lists, including mine.

To solidify his position as the leading two-year-old colt in the nation, Union Rags made his final start before the Breeders’ Cup in the esteemed Champagne Stakes (GI) at Belmont Park. As the juvenile colts galloped down the backstretch in the one-turn mile, Union Rags settled in mid-pack and was forced to take up slightly when he came in contact with Takes the Gold. He recovered quickly, quickening as the horses entered the final half-mile. Castellano guided the talented colt through traffic on the far turn, nearly taking the path along the rail until an opening appeared and the pair aimed for the lead on the outside. With his beautiful stride carrying him over fast track, Union Rags effortlessly opened up on the field and swept across the finish line with 5 ¼ lengths separating him and the others.

The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile seemed like his for the taking, but a brilliant gray colt that had dominated Turfway Park kept Union Rags from wearing the blanket of flowers in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle. Breaking from post ten in a thirteen-horse field, Union Rags broke smoothly and made his way to the middle of the pack. Due to his post position, the colt was forced to race very wide throughout the race. Castellano asked him for more speed as the two-year-old colts swept into the final turn and Union Rags responded, going widest of all. At the top of the stretch, it seemed as if he could catch the front-running Hansen, but he drifted out in the homestretch and finished a head behind Hansen before galloping out ahead of the winner.

Union Rags may have lost the race, but he left a lasting impression on followers of the sport. He clearly has plenty of learning left to do, but he has already showed incredible racing ability. In addition, he has a spectacular pedigree that hints he will only get better.

Union Rags is inbred 3 X 4 to Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector, two of the most influential sires of all-time. His sire is the two-time grade one-winning Dixie Union, who was sadly euthanized in 2010 at age thirteen due to a worsening neurologic problem. The son of the outstanding Dixieland Band also sired the grade one winners Dixie Chatter and Hot Dixie Chick. The sire traced back to many influential sires such as Mr. Prospector, Northern Dancer, and Seattle Slew.

Union Rags
Photo: Terri Cage

Union Rags’ dam, Tempo, is by the incredible sire Gone West and out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Nijinksy mare Terpsichorist. Tempo is also the dam of the stakes-placed Geefour, Union Rags’ full brother. Tempo is a half-sister to the multiple graded stakes-placed Dancing Devlette and the multiple ungraded stakes-winning and graded stakes-placed Marry Me Do.

In addition to his spectacular racing talent and pedigree, Union Rags is very athletically built. The bay colt has a very intelligent face, as well as a clean throatlatch and thin neck. He has a very strong shoulder and its angle allows him to be a very well-balanced individual. He has a strong topline, which is shorter in correlation to a longer underline, which in part allows him to be easily divided into even thirds. He is very structurally correct, possessing short, sturdy cannon bones and very straight legs and angular pasterns.

Union Rags brings to the table all that you want to see in a racehorse. There have already been comparisons to Barbaro, the Kentucky Derby winner that is the horse for which Matz is most famous for training. This is a brilliant colt and he is definitely the rightful early Kentucky Derby favorite.

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Brilliant Speed: Always Brilliant

With turf superstars such as Gio Ponti and Cape Blanco retired to stud, the turf male division must direct its attention to new turf stars for 2012. Though we will lack many of the classy turf horses we've seen in past years, the division will still be deep. Acclamation should return after his spectacular year in 2011, as should the prospering gelding Sanagas and the spectacular Mr. Commons, but where do we look to make the division deeper? We look to the underrated, grade one-winning Brilliant Speed.

Despite carrying the well-known black, red, and white silks of Live Oak Plantation onto the track, Brilliant Speed didn’t exactly turn heads when he made his racing debut. Not only was his performance unimposing, but the colt went off at odds of 20-1, which made him the third longest shot on the board.

Brilliant Speed
Photo: Terri Cage

Most people’s attention was on the winner of the race, Boys at Tosconova, who had debuted in the Kentucky Juvenile Stakes (GIII) – finishing third – and would eventually go on to be a grade one winner. Boys at Tosconova won the five furlong maiden special weight over Belmont Park’s dirt surface by twelve lengths while Brilliant Speed finished 19 ¼ lengths behind him, finishing fourth in a field of seven.

Next out, Brilliant Speed tried the Saratoga dirt surface in a seven-furlong maiden special weight, but turned in yet another lackluster performance, finishing seventh of nine. The bay son of Dynaformer finished behind two future graded stakes winners in that race: the grade three-winning Joe Vann and the grade two-winning and Kentucky Derby (GI) third-place finisher, Mucho Macho Man.

Four weeks later, the Tom Albertrani trainee made his return to Belmont, making his turf debut and finishing third at odds of 9-1 behind the late multiple graded stakes-winning Banned while finishing willingly. He finished third on the Belmont turf yet again in his next start, showing a good turn of foot while going wide to finish behind the future multiple stakes-placed Beachcombing and grade three-winning Derby Kitten.

Brilliant Speed didn’t race for over two months, returning in a mile and one-sixteenth maiden special weight on the turf at Tampa Bay Downs. Despite traffic problems, the bay colt crossed the wire a length and one-half in front of the others.

Ever since, Brilliant Speed has faced only stakes company. Three weeks after his breakthrough maiden victory, the half-brother to the now graded stakes-placed Souper Speedy made both his three-year-old and stakes debut in the Dania Beach Stakes. After encountering traffic problems, Brilliant Speed finished second by a nose to Adirondack Summer. While doing so, the Live Oak Plantation homebred defeated six future stakes winners.

With just inches keeping the colt from his first stakes win in the Dania Beach, Albertrani pointed Brilliant Speed to the mile and one-sixteenth Hallandale Beach Stakes, in which he faced many of the same horses he had competed against in the Dania Beach. However, the colt was to face trouble and just miss yet again. After being forced wide by King Congie, who was later disqualified to third, Brilliant Speed crossed the wire in third and was moved up to second.

Brilliant Speed
Photo: Terri Cage

After over two months away from the races, the Dynaformer colt faced his biggest test yet: the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland. Not only would it be Brilliant Speed’s first try against grade one competition, but it would be his first race over a synthetic surface. In spite of being sent off at 19-1, the colt swept to a narrow victory under Joel Rosario, leaving in his wake horses that had won or would go on to win a total of five graded stakes and eight ungraded stakes.

Even though Brilliant Speed had run primarily on non-dirt surfaces, the talented three-year-old was pointed toward the greatest two minutes in sports – also known as the Kentucky Derby – which of course is run on dirt. After all, the Blue Grass winner had run in the Derby for twenty-eight consecutive years.

At nearly 28-1, Brilliant Speed raced extremely wide and despite closing well, he finished seventh in a tight three-horse photo finish. In nearly any other race, a seventh-place finish is quite a blemish, but by finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby, Brilliant Speed defeated twelve horses, ten of which had won or would go on to win seventeen graded stakes races altogether.

His connections opted to skip the Preakness Stakes (GI) and aim for the Belmont Stakes (GI), the final leg of the Triple Crown. The Florida-bred colt went off at much lower odds in the Belmont than he did in the Derby – 11-1 – due to the fact that he was a “wise guy” horse. Racing wide yet again, Brilliant Speed rallied well over the sloppy track but couldn’t hang on and finished third in the mile and one-half race.

Following seven weeks away from the races, Brilliant Speed returned in the Jim Dandy Stakes (GIII) on Saratoga’s dirt surface. He finished fifth, defeating just two horses: the future stakes-winning Will’s Wildcat and the grade three-winning Scotus.

It was decided that Brilliant Speed would make his return to turf, which he had not raced on since finishing second in the Hallandale Beach Stakes in February. Just over five weeks after his disappointing performance in the Jim Dandy, Brilliant Speed went off as the favorite in the Saranac Stakes (GIII), a nine-furlong turf event contested over Saratoga’s inner turf course. With an imposing turn of foot, the athletic bay struck to the lead in the final furlong, sweeping by the others to score by 2 ½ lengths. Beaten by Brilliant Speed were the winners of seven stakes races total.

Brilliant Speed competed against grade one company on the turf in his next start, the Jamaica Handicap (GI) at Belmont Park. Due to the sluggish pace, the Albertrani trainee sat near the pace throughout the race, though he usually closes from mid-pack. Brilliant Speed and Western Aristocrat, who was making his North American debut, battled neck and neck around the far turn and though Brilliant Speed tried valiantly, he could not pass Western Aristocrat and finished second, beaten a length.

Brilliant Speed
Photo by Mary Cage

Brilliant Speed’s final race as a three-year-old would be one of his toughest tasks to date: the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Turf (GI) at Churchill Downs. Facing some of the most talented grass horses in the world, Brilliant Speed was one of four American-trained horses in the nine-horse field. As the third longest shot on the board, the three-year-old made a rally on the outside on the far turn and took the lead at the top of the stretch, maintaining it until inside the final furlong, when he was overtaken by the gifted European horses St. Nicholas Abbey and Sea Moon.

Brilliant Speed has always faced quality fields, even while he was still running in the maiden ranks. The colt will return for a four-year-old campaign in 2012 and will hopefully continue to display his ability to run against the best. If he does, he will likely be pointed toward some of the nation’s top grass races, as Brilliant Speed has never finished out of the money on the turf and has earned$460,000 – nearly 44% of his earnings – on the grass. The turf is clearly where his brilliance shines.

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.

Looking Back on 2011

The sun has set on the 2011 racing season. It has been a year full of confusion, upsets, and more female superstardom. From the Triple Crown prep races in the first quarter of the year, to the Triple Crown, to the summer’s prestigious meets, to the Breeders' Cup prep races, to the Breeders’ Cup, and to post-Breeders’ Cup racing, Past the Grandstand is looking back on the racing of 2011.

I have described at least one racing highlight of each month:

Amazombie
Photo by Mary Cage

January: While most of the country was left in the cold, dreary weather of the first month of the year, Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California and Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida flaunted their sunny weather during the ninth running of the Sunshine Millions. Florida came away with the most points yet again, but the California-bred Amazombie, who won the Sunshine Millions Sprint, went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (GI) later in the year.

February: Prior to his Clark Handicap (GI) victory via disqualification in November of 2010, Giant Oak had always been considered as a horse that never quite got there. Yet the tall chestnut horse made it consecutive grade one wins when he won the Donn Handicap (GI) at Gulfstream Park on February 5 by two lengths.

March: Game on Dude broke onto the national scene in a controversial Santa Anita Handicap (GI). After a severe bumping incident at the top of the stretch between Game on Dude, Twirling Candy, and Setsuko, the Bob Baffert trainee went on to narrowly defeat Setsuko and survived a long review by the stewards. The win allowed Chantal Sutherland to be the first-ever female jockey to win the prestigious race. The win was just the beginning of an incredible year for the team.

April: Kentucky Derby preps wrapped up in April. Dialed In narrowly won the Florida Derby (GI) over Shackleford, Toby’s Corner upset Uncle Mo in the Wood Memorial Stakes (GI), Midnight Interlude surprised many in the Santa Anita Derby (GI), Brilliant Speed pulled an upset in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI), Archarcharch touchingly won the Arkansas Derby (GI), and Derby Kitten won the Lexington Stakes (GIII) for the Ramseys.

Havre de Grace earned her first grade one victory in the Apple Blossom Handicap (GI) at Oaklawn Park. With her triumph, racing fans got a taste of what to expect from the talented filly throughout the rest of the year.



Plum Pretty
Photo: Terri Cage

May: Bob Baffert had not been victorious in the Kentucky Oaks (GI) since 1999 when the Hall of Famer, Silverbulletday, won the Lilies for the Fillies. However, that all changed when Plum Pretty won the Kentucky Oaks on the Friday before the Kentucky Derby (GI). In the final yards of the race, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro held off a valiant charge by St. John’s River. Had St. John’s River won, jockey Rosie Napravnik would have become the first female jockey to ever win the esteemed race.

The day after the Oaks was the first Saturday of May, otherwise known as Derby Day. Dialed In was sent off as the favorite in the Run for the Roses, but it was Animal Kingdom that wore the garland of roses at Churchill Downs. Despite being sent off at odds of nearly 21-1, Animal Kingdom impressed many with his triumph and as always after the Kentucky Derby, Triple Crown dreams soared.

However, a colt I have followed since his maiden, Shackleford, denied Animal Kingdom the Triple Crown when the son of Forestry gamely won the Preakness Stakes (GI). Despite running a terrific fourth in the Derby, Shackleford went off at odds of 12-1. His odds might have risen due to his boisterous behavior in the post parade, but he proved doubters wrong and earned the classic victory.

June: Ruler on Ice ended the 2011 Triple Crown with a longshot victory in the Belmont Stakes (GI). When Animal Kingdom was practically wiped out at the start, the race was over for the Derby winner. With Ruler on Ice as the Belmont victor, all three 2011 Triple Crown race winners were longshot chestnuts that provided their trainers with their first Triple Crown race wins.

Inglorious won the Woodbine Oaks before defeating the males in the Queen’s Plate Stakes – the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. She became the fifth filly to ever win both the Woodbine Oaks and the Queen’s Plate.

Blind Luck
Photo by Mary Cage

July: The prestigious Saratoga and Del Mar meets opened, providing racing fans with the opportunity to witness some of the classiest horses in the country and brilliant two-year-olds. From Acclamation’s second grade one win of the year in the Eddie Read Stakes (GI) to Stay Thirsty’s dominant breakthrough victory in the Jim Dandy Stakes (GII), the Saratoga and Del Mar meets got off to a great start.

We also saw what many consider the race of the year in the showdown between Blind Luck and likely 2011 Horse of the Year, Havre de Grace, in the Delaware Handicap (GII). Blind Luck edged out Havre de Grace by a nose in their final meeting, which made it the fourth time in their six meetings that the chestnut daughter of Pollard’s Vision finished in front of Havre de Grace. In my eyes, since it was such an exciting race that lived up to its hype, it was the race of the year.

August: August was a great month for racing. On Arlington Million Day, racing fans saw the talent of many classy turf horses, including Cape Blanco when he won the prestigious Arlington Million Stakes (GI). A week later, we got a taste of Royal Delta’s brilliance when she dominantly won the TVG Alabama Stakes (GI) at Saratoga. One week after her win, Saratoga put on another show as Uncle Mo made his comeback, falling short to Caleb’s Posse in the Foxwoods King Bishop Stakes (GI). Later in the day, Stay Thirsty made it back-to-back victories when he won the Travers Stakes (GI). To cap off a great month of racing, Acclamation rolled to his third straight grade one victory in the TVG Pacific Classic Stakes (GI).

*Past the Grandstand got its start!

Havre de Grace
Photo: Terri Cage

September: September got off to a great start. Havre de Grace continued the trend of girl power by trumping the boys in the Woodward Stakes (GI) at Saratoga. In doing so, she defeated top male Flat Out, as well as six other accomplished males. The last time her connections had raced a talented female against males in a prestigious race, it had ended in disaster when Eight Belles was euthanized due to injuries sustained after finishing second in the 2008 Kentucky Derby (GI). This time, though, Larry Jones’ and Rick Porter’s super filly won gloriously, coming out of the race sound.

The Kentucky Cup made its return with WinStar Farm as the presenting sponsor. Though the highlighted race was the WinStar Kentucky Cup Stakes (GII), it was the Bluegrass Cat Kentucky Cup Juvenile Stakes that many will remember the renewal of the Kentucky Cup for.  Hansen won the race by 13 ¼ lengths before going on to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI).

October: Belmont’s Super Saturday on the first day of October lived up to its name despite the dreary weather. Stacelita rounded up her second grade one victory of the year in the Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (GI), Cape Blanco completed his career in an exciting victory over Dean’s Kitten in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Invitational Stakes (GI), Giant Ryan made it six straights wins in crossing the wire victoriously in the Vosburgh Invitational Stakes (GI), Uncle Mo showed his brilliance in the Kelso Handicap (GII), Havre de Grace dominated the Beldame Invitational Stakes (GI), and Flat Out earned his first grade one victory in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (GI).

Keeneland’s prestigious fall meet displayed top class horses yet again, including Gio Ponti’s final victory when he won the Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (GI). Santa Anita flaunted talented horses in graded races as always, including Game on Dude’s triumph in the Goodwood Stakes (GI) and Weemissfrankie’s stirring win in the Oak Leaf Stakes (GI).

Bill Mott, Mike Smith, and Drosselmeyer after winning the
Breeders' Cup Classic
Photo: Terri Cage

November: Of course, the highlight of November was the 28^th running of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships. To my delight, I was in the midst of all the action, watching works in the morning and standing near the rail as horses won the championship races and entered the winner’s circle. My favorite two-year-old colt, Secret Circle, won the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Sprint to kick off the two-day event. It was a championship event full of longshot victories, though superstar favorites like My Miss Aurelia, Royal Delta, and Regally Ready pulled through. Goldikova made her fourth Breeders’ Cup appearance and though she didn’t get the win, she brought plenty of smiles to racing fans. Uncle Mo’s story didn’t play out in fairytale fashion, but like Goldikova, the colt brought happiness to racing enthusiasts. I will never forget standing along the rail near the finish line and winner’s enclosure for some of the most prestigious races in the world, most notably Royal Delta's triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (GI) and Drosselmeyer's incredible victory in the Breeders Cup’ Classic (GI).

Though overshadowed by the Breeders’ Cup, Aqueduct came through with notable grade one races: the Cigar Mile Handicap (GI) and the Gazelle Stakes (GI). To Honor and Serve, a colt I have followed since he broke his maiden, came away with an impressive victory in the Cigar Mile. Awesome Feather, a filly I have adored since before her 2010 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) victory, ran her record to eight-for-eight in the Gazelle.

December: December is a very dull month for racing, but California gave us grade ones to enjoy. There was Killer Graces victory in the Hollywood Starlet Stakes (GI), Liaision’s win in the CashCall Futurity (GI) to commemorate his late sire, and The Factor's triumph in the Malibu Stakes (GI). On New Year’s Eve, the California racing circuit will provide racing fans with the final grade one of the year in the La Brea Stakes (GI).

And of course, Rapid Redux tied the record for the number of single season victories, recording his nineteenth victory of 2011 while running his winning streak to 21.

2011 was a different type of year than the past few years. In 2007, we saw absolutely brilliant three-year-olds in Curlin, Hard Spun, Rags to Riches, Street Sense, and Octave. In 2008, we witnessed the dazzling Big Brown and the continuance of Curlin’s spectacular career and came to know the great Zenyatta. In 2009, we became spoiled with girl power with Rachel Alexandra’s and Zenyatta’s campaigns and were even treated with a very talented sophomore in Summer Bird. In 2010, the year was all about the all-time great Zenyatta. We weren’t as spoiled this year, but we did witness some great racing moments that we’ve never seen before. 2011 belonged to Uncle Mo’s comeback, Havre de Grace’s continuance of girl power, Rapid Redux’s incredible win streak, incredible turf horses such as Acclamation and Cape Blanco, imposing juveniles, and most of all, a lot of longshot victories.

Shackleford
Photo: Terri Cage

And so we move on to 2012, where we’ll see the return of Animal Kingdom and many soon-to-be four-year-olds. On the international scene, we can continue to watch the incredible Frankel and Black Caviar, who will both hopefully maintain their perferct records. Next year’s older male division should be much better than this year’s with the addition of Animal Kingdom, Caleb’s Posse, Mucho Macho Man, Ruler on Ice, Shackleford, Stay Thirsty, To Honor and Serve, and many others. Finally, we have several top sophomores continuing their racing careers into their four-year-old years. In fact, all three 2011 Triple Crown race winners and the three horses that competed in each of the Triple Crown races are expected to come back for a 2012 campaign. How great is that!

The 2012 three-year-old division is looking incredible with the likes of Creative Cause, Discreet Dancer, Gemologist, Hansen, Hierro, Liaison, Secret Circle, Union Rags, and several others.

I also expect girl power to continue next year. Havre de Grace is returning for a five-year-old campaign, Royal Delta is still in Bill Mott’s hands and is even being pointed toward the $1o million Dubai World Cup (GI), superfilly My Miss Aurelia will look to maintain her undefeated record as she points toward prestigious races such as the Kentucky Oaks (GI), and the wonderful Awesome Feather will look to remain perfect and obtain more grade one victories.

Goodbye, 2011. Hello, 2012!

Remember to like Past the Grandstand on Facebook and follow Past the Grandstand on Twitter! Links can be found on the right side of the blog.