Triple Crown 2009 AD

[Seabiscuit]

The greatest racing series on the planet is only a few months away. I think economic hard times often lead to the greatest horses (Phar Lap and Seabiscuit in the 30s, Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed in the 1970s)

The coming Greater Depression could usher a new era of super horses

If you spot one of these super horses running for the Triple Crown in 2009 AD you can mention it here

[bezza]

There will be any number of drug addicted 3yo's lining up for this years Triple Crap Series. Whether any of the 2009 edition can prove themselves to be as reliant on drugs as last years winner remains to be seen. Horses THAT addicted to drugs only come along every so often, and Big Brown has left us with big shoes to fill. Only in America can a horse; win the nations biggest race so high on drugs, come out as high as a kite and smash them in the second leg, and then....and this is the best bit.......and then have the trainer come out publicly before the 3rd and final leg of the 'Greatest Racing Series on the Planet' and say "Our horse has been sober since the second leg", only to see it finish so far last that they are still looking for him. The fact he NEVER races again tells the world what most already know---thats he was a steroid champion!

Greatest Racing Series on the Planet......hardly.

[Seabiscuit]

Big Brown did race again after the Belmont, twice in fact. He was triumphant on both occasions

I really enjoyed watching Big Brown plummeting back through the field in the Belmont. It was my racing highlight of 2008

The Triple Crown is just so special, cannot wait for the 2009 edition

[bezza]

Sorry, he did race twice more for 2 very lethargic wins, you are 100% correct.

[leviathan]

Ah yes Biscuit - the Triple Crown 2009...

Big Brown was sensational last year - after infamously disappearing from the field in the Preakness he even more spectacularly disappeared from the field (this time backwards...) in the Belmont - what a sight to behold it was as the smart punters like yourself backed the map horse.... :)
I will check the office tomorrow for my pick for 2009 - i think there are already a few tips floating about..

Since when have you & bezza become best mates???

[imaufo]

The Pamplemousse wins San Rafael Stakes

The Pamplemousse set an uncontested pace in his stakes debut and turned back Grade 1 winner Square Eddie to post a two-length win in the $100,000 San Rafael Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The gray or roan Kafwain colt was left unchallenged on the lead when Brother Keith blew the first turn, then opened a three-length advantage through a half-mile in :45.97 in the one-mile race for three-year-olds.

Square Eddie moved up on the second turn and challenged The Pamplemousse from the outside entering the stretch. The Pamplemousse accelerated gamely after switching leads under jockey Alex Solis and repelled Square Eddie to win easily.

http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/images/The-Pamplemousse-benoit.jpg

"I'm speechless, I really am,� said Solis, whose son Alex Solis II is part of the partnership that owns The Pamplemousse. “This horse has such a high cruising speed. …It feels like he's walking, he does everything so effortlessly. He was so impressive, when the other horses came to him, he didn't see them, he heard them and he just took off.

"I better start going to church and hope he stays sound. My son buying the horse makes it even more special. ...He liked the way he moved."

The Pamplemousse completed the distance in 1:35.31 on the synthetic Pro-Ride surface for trainer Julio Canani.

The Pamplemousse, the 2.60-to-1 second wagering choice in the five-horse field, entered off a 2 3/4-length win in a 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight race on December 14 at Santa Anita. He improved to two wins in four starts and boosted his earnings to $89,280.

The San Rafael is the first Southern California graded stakes race for three-year-olds and serves as a prep race for the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 4. Out of the winning Rubiano mare Comfort Zone, The Pamplemousse picked up $60,000 in graded stakes earnings, which is used to determine the field for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) if more than 20 horses are entered.

Runner-up Square Eddie, the 3-to-5 favorite, finished 2 3/4 lengths clear of Ryehill Dreamer (Ire), who made his North American debut for trainer John Shirreffs after winning a stakes and finishing second in a Group 2 race in Ireland.

Square Eddie won the Lane’s End Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland Race Course last year and closed his two-year-old campaign with a runner-up finish to Midshipman in the Bessemer Trust Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting.

“He should definitely move forward off this. He got tired,� said Doug O’Neill, who trains Square Eddie for owner J. Paul Reddam. “It was his first race in almost three months. Obviously, we wanted to win, but the main thing is for him to come out of this good and go in the right direction."

The Pamplemousse was bred in Kentucky by Clarkland Farm.

[bezza]

Since when have you & bezza become best mates???
I like to keep SB on his/her toes about US racing.......just as he/she likes to put the boot into HK racing.

I'd be a lot more complimentary about US racing if they just did away with the bute and lasix, and got rid of dirt tracks. There is nothing natural about racing in the US, everything is artificial........the horses performance, the tracks they run on etc

[Seabiscuit]

The Pamplemousse is a nice horse but not sure he is Triple Crown material

It was great to see him striding out over that artificial Santa Anita track though

[leviathan]

Well positioned & Vineyard Haven are the early tips from the office for this years KD biscuit.


Bezza -dont be worried by biscuits' dislike of HK racing he is just a cranky old man :)
Good to see you & biscuit becoming friends here online

[bezza]

Its stuff like the below article that does racing in the US a great disservice. If it's so obvious to all and sundry, why doesn't some one step in and fix it?

A Credibility Gap Measured in Lengths


By Andrew Beyer
Tuesday, January 27, 2009;

When a 3-year-old delivers a phenomenal early-season performance, racing fans get excited. They hope that the youngster will be a star of the future, maybe a Kentucky Derby winner, maybe even the Triple Crown winner whom the sport has awaited for decades.

But after a gelding named This Ones for Phil scored a remarkable victory Saturday at Gulfstream Park, many fans -- or at least the cynical ones -- had a different reaction. This Ones for Phil epitomized what is wrong with the modern American racing game.

Thoroughbred racing has become less a test of horses than it is a competition among trainers. The most successful have been dubbed "supertrainers" because they achieve results almost without precedent. They compile winning percentages that dwarf the records of horsemen enshrined in the Hall of Fame. They acquire horses and transform them in ways that history's greatest trainers never dreamed of. Accordingly, bettors disregard the normal logic of handicapping when they evaluate horses saddled by Richard Dutrow Jr. in New York, Bruce Levine or Jason Servis in New Jersey, Marty Wolfson in South Florida, Kirk Ziadie and Jamie Ness at Tampa Bay Downs, Jeff Mullins in California and countless other miracle workers.


Wolfson pulled off an amazing feat when he saddled a pair of modestly bred 2-year-olds, one colt and one filly, in stakes races Oct. 18 at Calder Race Course. Both delivered explosive performances to win by more than 10 lengths, and the two of them ran what were arguably the two fastest races by any of the nation's 2-year-olds in 2008.

The colt, You Luckie Mann, was favored to win Saturday's Sunshine Millions Dash at Gulfstream, and he would have but for the presence of a rival in the care of another supertrainer. This Ones for Phil started his career in claiming company at Calder, raced eight times during the summer and fall and won twice without running notably fast. He had been trained in those eight races by Kathleen O'Connell, a capable horsewoman but a mere mortal, before the animal was sold and placed in Dutrow's care. Even people accustomed to improbable wake-ups under such circumstances were astonished by what happened Saturday.

Wolfson's You Luckie Mann went to the front, but This Ones for Phil made a powerful four-wide move on the turn and blew past the leader to score by more than two lengths. The winner sped six furlongs in 1 minute 9.1 seconds on the same day that high-class older female sprinters covered the distance in 1:10.55, and the effort earned This Ones for Phil a Beyer Speed Figure of 117. No horse so young has ever earned such a high number since the Daily Racing Form began publishing these ratings in 1992.

Not only was the performance extraordinary, but so, too, was the degree of improvement by This Ones for Phil. In his eight starts for O'Connell, the gelding had never earned a figure higher than 81. Dutrow had managed to improve his form by nearly 15 lengths.

Dutrow, of course, was the object of controversy as he trained Big Brown through the 2008 Triple Crown series. His admission that he regularly administered steroids (legally) to the colt stirred a national firestorm that led to the banning of the substances in most jurisdictions. Dutrow's long history of medication infractions was a subject of discussion throughout the Triple Crown. Nevertheless, drug testing is strict in the Triple Crown races, and there was no evidence that Dutrow did anything improper in his handling of Big Brown. He managed the colt flawlessly to prepare him for a peak performance in the Kentucky Derby. He is a skillful trainer who certainly has the ability to improve horses put in his care.

If This Ones for Phil was an isolated case, racing fans might be inclined to hail a brilliant training feat. But in an era when certain trainers repeatedly perform feats that defy the laws of nature and the logic of handicapping, bettors invariably suspect that they are using illegal substances. Other trainers do, too. Jack Van Berg, the No. 2 race-winning trainer of all time, appeared last summer before a Congressional hearing on drugs and was asked about the nature of the modern racing game. He replied: "It's chemical warfare out there."

Such distrust has corroded the very foundation of the sport. Honest owners are reluctant to invest in the game when they believe they can't compete with the cheaters. Many bettors have lost enthusiasm because the art of handicapping has become an exercise in guessing who has the best "juice." The public at large is alienated when it suspects that drugs are tainting the sport's greatest events. This is what happened in last year's Triple Crown series, and it could happen again in 2009.

[Seabiscuit]

I have changed my mind on The Pamplemousse. I like him now. A genuine contender for the Kentucky Derby after his weekend win

[imaufo]

US racing is riddled with go go juice and that may be the reason why they perform so poorly when they go overseas (with the exception of dubai) . I dont know why they allow it as it will be to the long term detriment to USA racing.

A lot to like about Pamplemousse. But its early days and in my crystal ball i see him starting favourite in a big race and some unkown backmarker making mince meat of him in the final 100 and getting up a massive ods. I see a chestnut horse that looks a bit like Lionheart in seabiscuit type colours. He will pay 22-1.

[imaufo]

Edward Evans' homebred QUALITY ROAD (Elusive Quality) established himself as a rising star in the three-year-old ranks with a convincing score in Saturday's $250,000 Fountain of Youth S. (G2), drawing clear to a 4 1/4-length decision in his stakes debut. With John Velazquez up, the James Jerkens-trained colt completed a one-turn mile in 1:35 over the fast Gulfstream Park track.

"He broke good and Johnny got to ease him back a little off the pace, which was good," Jerkens said. "Heading into the turn, he looked like he had a lot of horse and I was very happy then."

"I knew we would have a lot of speed (coming in), but the trick was to settle him in there and make him relax," Velazquez said. "He was ready to run and run today. The closer we got to the finish, the stronger I felt we were getting."

This Ones for Phil (Untuttable) sprinted clear soon after the start, hitting the quarter-mile mark in :23 4/5 with a 1 1/2-length advantage, and continued to show the way through fractions of :45 2/5 and 1:09 2/5 with Quality Road tracking him in second. The eventual winner asserted himself leaving the far turn, rolling past the pacesetter to open a 1 1/2-length advantage in upper stretch, and the Virginia-bred was in complete command the rest of the way.

Sent off the 5-1 fourth choice in the 10-horse field, Quality Road returned $13, $6.40 and $4.60. Theregoesjojo (Brahms), who swung out wide for the stretch run after breaking a step slowly, easily proved second-best at nearly 5-1 and gave back $5.80 and $3.80.

"We are really happy," trainer Ken McPeek said of Theregoesjojo's runner-up effort. "We didn't lay it all down for this race. He wasn't 100 percent cranked and we're excited about going forward from here. I thought he ran a great race and lost to a very good horse. And believe me, the horse that won is one very impressive horse."

It was another four lengths back to the 7-1 Beethoven (Sky Mesa), who trailed the entire field through the opening three-quarters of a mile before making up ground in the stretch and paid $3.80.

Capt. Candyman Can (Candy Ride [Arg]), the 7-2 favorite, finished a length back in fourth. The exotics totaled $77.20 (exacta), $522.40 (trifecta) and $2,093.80 (11-2-7-9 superfecta).

"I thought he ran good," recapped Capt. Candyman Can's conditioner Ian Wilkes. "I wasn't disappointed. Of course, you always hope to win a race like this, but the main thing we wanted to see was that he had the talent to keep moving forward. We will see how he comes back, evaluate him and talk to the owners."

This Ones for Phil, Bee Cee Cee (Songandaprayer), Notonthesamepage (Catienus), Jack Spratt (Candy Ride [Arg]) and Taqarub (Aldebaran) came next under the wire. Break Water Edision (Lemon Drop Kid) stopped in the stretch and was eased. Rocketing Returns (Gone West) and Take the Points (Even the Score) were both scratched.

An impressive debut winner at Aqueduct in late November, Quality Road finished second to Theregoesjojo when making his 2009 bow in a seven-furlong allowance at Gulfstream on January 10. He reversed that outcome on Saturday while improving his record to 3-2-1-0, $182,830. Out of the Strawberry Road (Aus) mare Kobla, the bay colt has an unnamed yearling half-sister by Tale of the Cat. Kobla is a full sister to 1997 champion three-year-old filly and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) heroine Ajina, an earner of more than $1.3 million. She also counts multiple Grade 3 victor Rob's Spirit (Theatrical [Ire]) as a half-brother. Quality Road's third dam is Irish champion Highest Trump (Bold Bidder), whose descendants include multiple English Group 1 winner and highweight Bahri (Riverman).

"He came out of his last race with a little cough, but has trained great since then," Jerkens said. "We've thought a lot of him from his first start. He's got the pedigree to go on, but a one-turn mile is still basically a sprint and a lot different than going two turns.

"We'll talk it over before making a decision on what's next. I'm a New York guy so the Wood (Memorial [G1] on April 4 at Aqueduct) might be one option. On the other hand, he's trained great over the track down here (Palm Meadows) and weather isn't likely to interrupt his schedule, so the Florida Derby ([G1] on March 28 at Gulfstream) is naturally a possibility.

"We missed the first deadline (for Triple Crown) nominations, but we'll put it up in March," Jerkens added. "It will just cost a little more."

http://www.kentuckyderby.com/2009/news/2009/02/28/quality-road-romps-fountain-youth

[Gloryfication]

It costs a lot more in England but I suppose it is a relative expense to the increase in value of the horse with the chance of 'black print'?

[leviathan]

the Derby is over Quality Road will be the winner


Huge win on weekend

thanks biscuit - any side action on your mouse will be gleefully accepted ;)

[jb]

Summer Bird Ends Borel’s Quest for a Sweep

Published: June 6, 2009

In the backstretch, Calvin Borel knew he was losing the wrestling match he was having with Mine That Bird. The little gelding was pulling him, wanting desperately to blow past the nine horses loping ahead of them. This was the mile-and-a-half Belmont Stakes, though, and they were a long, long way from home.

Spectators watch as horses are walked toward the starting gate for an early race.
Borel knew that the Test of the Champion, as the Belmont is known, had been flunked many times because of pilot error in the backstretch. All he had to do was look ahead and inside of him at a fellow Cajun, Kent Desormeaux, who in 1998 moved Real Quiet too soon and lost a Triple Crown by a nostril.

Still, Borel could not restrain Mine That Bird, the Kentucky Derby champion. He had to let the colt loose, and horse and rider took the turn as if fired out of a missile launcher. The crowd rose in unison and roared as Mine That Bird squared his shoulders in the lead for the long stretch run.

Borel shuddered, certain he was going to become the first jockey in history to sweep the Triple Crown on different horses. “I thought we were home free,” he said.

They were not. There was another horse bred to relish Belmont’s grueling marathon distance. He shared a daddy with Mine That Bird — Birdstone — and was similarly named: Summer Bird. Borel’s friend Desormeaux was aboard him and had hugged the rail, saving his colt for nearly a mile and a quarter.

There was no moving early this time — or quitting late. It was Desormeaux who ended the Triple Crown bid by the tender-footed Big Brown last year when he eased the colt at the mile mark and jogged him home in last place.

“I was having an armchair ride,” said Desormeaux, a Hall of Famer said of Summer Bird. “He was doing it himself, and when I found some room he really exploded.”

Summer Bird bounded down the middle of the track like a fresh horse. Ahead of him, Mine That Bird and Dunkirk, who had led virtually every step of the way, were trading heads on wobbling legs. Charitable Man was a length behind.

In the clubhouse, Chip Woolley, Mine That Bird’s trainer, quit hopping on his crutches. His signature black cowboy hat was still. He knew Summer Bird was about to inhale his little gelding and bring a wild, magical ride to a bittersweet end.

In fact, he had sensed it a half-mile before.

“I saw Calvin letting him run up there, and when you do that my horse is going to go,” Woolley said. “I thought he might have moved a hair early.”

Not 40 yards away, the trainer of Summer Bird, Tim Ice, was watching his colt swoosh by Charitable Man, Mine That Bird and Dunkirk and thinking that this was a heck of a way to celebrate his 35th birthday. Ice, an Ohioan based in Louisiana and Arkansas, has been a head trainer for only about year.

Ice had served a long apprenticeship, however, and one of his mentors had been Desormeaux’s brother Keith. Ice and Kent had even shared a house for a stretch while they were working their way up through the grits-and-hard-toast circuits. It was Ice who reached out to Desormeaux to ride his lightly raced colt who had won just once in four career starts.

When Summer Bird crossed the finish line two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Dunkirk, who was neck better than Mine That Bird, Ice was not thinking that he was a pretty smart trainer. Instead, he was grateful that the colt’s owners, K. K and Devi Jayaraman, had entrusted him with most of the 25 horses in his barn.

For their trust in Ice, the Jayaramans collected a $600,000 first-place check for Summer Bird. Those who backed the colt at the betting window were rewarded with an ample $25.80 for a $2 bet to win.

Ice also had something else on his mind.

“If my career goes nowhere from here, I got a Belmont win and they can’t take it away from me,” he said.

For Woolley and Borel, it was not exactly the storybook ending they had intended to write. Their saga had begun with a two-day drive from New Mexico to Churchill Downs, where they stunned the world by winning the Kentucky Derby at 50-1 odds. Borel then left Mine That Bird to ride the filly Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness.

She won, with Mine That Bird finishing a close second. Now that they were reunited for the Belmont, Woolley and Borel had hoped to honor their little gelding. Borel, in fact, had guaranteed a victory.

“We’re a little down, disappointed right now,” Woolley said.

Borel was even more melancholy.

“He ran his heart out,” he said. “No regrets. I thought I was on the best horse going in. It’s been a good roll, and I wouldn’t change it for anything. Don’t take anything away from the little horse.”

[jb]

I havnt seen the replay yet but the guys on telly that work for the HKJC are pretty good form judges & they said said pilot error poss cost Mine that Bird ?

[RicksonG]

Yeah maybe, went about 3/4 wide this time and prematurely ejockulated making his move too early possibly...he said the horse had trouble settling down and had to let him go forward when he did. I guess the new distance might have been an issue ?

The overhead shots of Mine That Bird going for the gap up the rail in KY will live in the memory for a while yet